Bless Minnesota!

Psalm 133 is short but power-packed!  “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity… for there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (1, 3b)  We are about to experience the blessings of unity in the greater Elk River Area as never before!

During April, May and June, the “church of the city” is coming together at a level of unprecedented unity to participate in the state-wide prayer movement known as Bless Minnesota.  Currently there are 24 churches, more than 30 businesses and 14 community organizations along with key city leaders joining arms to see every street in this region “adopted in prayer.”

The process is simple but the impact will be profound!  Participants go to www.BlessMN.org, plug in their home address, or a workplace address, for example, register a “pin-point” on the Google map of Minnesota as a point of inception and begin to pray for the people and places represented by their street adoption.  As they pray they follow Jesus’ teaching in Luke 10 to:

-        Speak Peace and Blessing

-        Reach-Out and Build Relationships

-        Respond to Needs

-        Share the Love, Presence and Power of Jesus Christ

We call it “prayer with legs” because it is action oriented!  It invites the people of God to open their eyes and their hearts to love this world as God loves it and respond to the needs of their neighbors, co-workers and class-mates with the tangible love of Jesus Christ.  It’s not a program.  It’s a lifestyle!

 

The local churches, businesses and organizations involved in BlessMN will start by encouraging their own members, employees, volunteers and supporters to “adopt a street in prayer.”  Then, through the circles of influence and various networks that each of us has the vision can be shared with others.  We are asking God to take BlessMN “viral in the Spirit!”

A “BlessMN Launch Lunch” is taking place next Wednesday, April 2, from 11:45 – 1:15 at Rockwood’s Banquet Center to officially begin this 3-month local initiative.  The goal is to bless the communities and people in this region through at least 1,000 new street adoptions during the next three months.  As we partner together we will also establish a “beachhead in the Spirit” and an example that other communities throughout Minnesota can follow.  I can’t wait to hear the testimonies!

If you have not yet “adopted a street in prayer,” please visit www.BlessMN.org today and join this exciting move of God.  I believe that it is going to transform the State of Minnesota.  I am honored to serve as the Chair of BlessMN.  I want to especially ask our Christ Church family for your prayers and to strive for 100% participation as a congregation.  We have been blessed to be a blessing!

Pastor Greg Pagh

 

 

MN Adult and Teen Challenge

Teen Challenge was started in Brooklyn in 1958 by Rev. David Wilkerson, an Assembly of God pastor who left a rural Pennsylvania church to work among teen gang members in New York City.  Wilkerson also founded the Times Square Church in New York City and is the author of several best-selling books including “The Cross and the Switchblade” which tells the story of the early development of Teen Challenge.

 

Today, Teen Challenge is the largest non-profit, faith-based drug and alcohol recovery program in the United States.  This ministry also serves world-wide in about 100 countries.  The official Statement of Purpose of Teen Challenge is “To provide youth, adults and families with an effective and comprehensive Christian faith-based solution to life-controlling drug and alcohol problems in order to become productive members of society.”

 

Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge serves close to 450 residents on eight campuses around the state.  This Sunday, March 23, the Executive Director, Richard Scherber, along with about 40 men and women currently in treatment, will be leading worship at Christ Church as the Teen Challenge Choir.  They will share music and testimonies that will touch your heart and remind you that our God is in the transformation business!  I strongly encourage you to invite a friend!

 

Near the end of our worship services at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. we will receive a “second offering” just for Teen Challenge.  Checks should also be made out to Christ Church.  We will combine the offerings and pass on one check to Teen Challenge.  Please give generously to this awesome state-wide ministry partner!

 

You are also invited to stay for lunch and fellowship with the choir.  This will give you an opportunity to thank them personally and encourage them in their journey of recovery.  

 

Friends, you may not be struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, however, the message of scripture is that we are all “addicted to sin” and in need of a Savior.  His name is Jesus!  Whatever sin or sorrow… whatever trial or temptation has a grip on your life; I encourage you to call him today.  Only Jesus has the power to truly set you free!

 

Blessings,

Pastor Greg Pagh

Is God Fair?

I can’t tell you how many times in 34 years of pastoral ministry I’ve heard someone say, “It just isn’t fair!  How could a loving God allow this to happen?”  I’ve heard this comment in response to a host of life’s challenges including financial setbacks, job loss, divorce, accidents, missed opportunities, war, natural disasters, human tragedies and the death of loved ones.  There is one key underlying assumption behind this statement.  We assume that God is in the “fairness” business.

This Sunday, March 16, my message will be on the parable of the “Laborers in the Vineyard.”  I encourage you to read it in advance from Matthew 20:1-16.  Almost everybody in the story ends up frustrated, angry and confused, feeling that they had been treated unfairly.  See how you react?  So if God isn’t in the “fairness business,” then what business is God in?  Come and find out as we worship together at either 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. and also celebrate Holy Communion.  What I have to share will “rattle your cage” but also cause you to fall even more in love with the awesome God we serve!

Christ Church has just celebrated an extraordinary two weeks of ministry, some of the best in our 27 year history.  Signs of God’s love and grace were happening all over the place.  Yes, we have reached that “tipping point” and now must seize the moment and “press in” for all that God is ready to “pour out.”  Moving forward will require faith and boldness as never before.  Are you ready for the challenge?

One sign of God’s goodness comes in the form of New Members!  Eleven families will be received into membership at Christ Church this Sunday morning.  We welcome them as friends and partners in the mission God has given us.  Please share a warm greeting!

Friends, may I ask for your prayers and covering for a critical expansion of the Bless Minnesota movement in our local region during April, May and June?  Fourteen local churches and at least 25 local businesses and organizations are joining hearts to see this region “adopted in prayer” and every person blessed by the love of God! 

A “BlessMN Launch Lunch” is set for Rockwood’s Banquet Center in Otsego on Wednesday, April 2, from 11:45 – 1:15 p.m.  Reservations may be phoned in to Tracy at 763-441-5097, ext. 10 or emailed to tracy@christchurchotsego.org.  The suggested donation for lunch, payable at the event, is $12.00.  Bless Minnesota partners and participants are welcome!

As BlessMN begins to expand state-wide, I am specifically looking for someone to come alongside me with administrative gifts and social media gifts as part of the wider Bless Minnesota team of which I am privileged to serve as Chair.  Should you sense a call from the Lord, please email me at greg@christchurchotsego.org.  This job could work well for a college student gifted in these areas.  A stipend may be available.

Love and Blessings!
Pastor Greg Pagh

Seeds, Soil and Harvest!

There’s something really cool about a package of seeds!  I remember selling Burpee Seeds for some kind of a fundraiser as a kid, taking orders from relatives and friends for flowers and vegetables of all kinds, and being so excited when the order arrived.  Seeds represent potential! 

This Sunday I’ll be sharing the Parable of the Sower.  Do you know it?  Matthew 13!  Well, get ready for some new insights and a nice surprise for every who attends!  The story is about a farmer, but we’ll consider just what it means for each of us to sow seeds, be good soil and produce a harvest of great kingdom impact.

Ticket sales are currently at 145 for the movie “Son of God” this Friday night at 7:00 PM at the Elk River Marcus Theater.  You can still stop by the church office tomorrow or the entryway to the theater at 6:30 PM and purchase a ticket for $7.00 for our Christ Church private viewing.  The theater holds 198. Invite a friend to join you!

If you are new to Christ Church, or have never officially joined our congregation, I invite you to join me for a New Member Class either this Saturday, March 8, from 8:30 – 10:00 AM or Monday, March 10, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM.  Childcare is available.  Please contact Donna at donna@christchurchotsego.org to let us know of your attendance.  Welcome!

Let’s continue to work on arriving on time for worship as a church family and even a few minutes early to prepare our hearts to really meet the Lord!  I look forward to greeting you this Sunday morning at either 9:00 or 10:30 AM for another great morning at Christ Church! 

Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night as we Spring forward into a new season of mission and ministry!

Love and Blessings in Jesus,
Pastor Greg Pagh