Pastor's Blog

One Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. – July 4

This Sunday, July 4, we will have one worship service only at 10:30 a.m. in the Worship Center at Ingleside.

In 1 Peter 2:17, the Bible says, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (ESV).

The Message paraphrases it this way: “Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government” (1 Peter 2:17, MSG)

So, that’s just what we plan to do this Sunday as we celebrate our freedom, honor America, encourage one another, and worship God.  I hope you will join us!

Midweek Meal & Adult Gathering Resume July 7

We are planning to resume our Midweek fellowship meal and our Midweek gathering for adults on Wednesday night, July 7.

The meal will be served in our fellowship hall from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.  The cost will still be $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for children, and a $21.00 maximum per family.  We plan to serve from our buffet lines as we did pre-pandemic, and seating will be in the fellowship hall and dining room as usual.

The weekly gathering for adult fellowship, prayer, and Bible study (it will now be called Wednesdays in the Word) will also resume on Wednesday, July 7, at 6:30 p.m. and will be in Room F-300 (above the east entry to the Worship Center).  This gathering replaces the Midweek worship service that was in the Chapel on Wednesday nights pre-pandemic.

Here are a few FAQ about this change to our Wednesday night programming for adults.
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• Why are we making this change?

To bring better alignment with our other Wednesday night programming that focuses on “growing in a group” and “serving in the body.”  On Wednesday nights our worship arts teams will be preparing to lead in worship on Sundays.  Other classes, groups, and studies for adults will also occur on Wednesday nights throughout the year.  Age group programming for preschoolers, children, middle schoolers, and high schoolers will occur in our typical patterns.  There will be opportunities for every age and life-stage to “grow” and “serve” on Wednesday nights at Ingleside.
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• Will this new venue be large enough?

Yes.  Room F-300 will seat a maximum of 80 people.  Pre-pandemic our Wednesday night Midweek service (October 2019 – February 2020) averaged 59 people each week (with a high of 72). Of course, if we outgrow this room, we will relocate to a space that is the right size.
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• Who will lead and teach in the new “Wednesdays in the Word” gatherings?

Over the course of the year, several of our pastors will be speaking and leading during Wednesdays in the Word.  Depending on the season of the year, others of our pastors and ministers will be leading other groups and providing focused equipping and training on Wednesday nights.
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• Will this gathering occur throughout the year?

Yes.  Other than the typical breaks for holidays, we anticipate that Wednesdays in the Word will occur each Wednesday night.
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• Is this an open group?  Can anyone attend?

Yes.  Adults of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend.

As you may know, we have offered a weekly, Wednesday-at-noon devotional message (Truth for Troubled Times) on Facebook Live since April 2020.  As we resume Wednesday night meals and adult programming on July 7, the last episode of Truth for Troubled Times aired on Wednesday, June 30.

Before the pandemic, it was not unusual for more than 500 people to be on our campus on Wednesday nights.  For instance, on January 12, 2020, the Wednesday night participation was 643 people as follows:

By the time school resumes in August, I fully anticipate that hundreds will be gathered at Ingleside on Wednesday nights again to “grow in a group” and to prepare to “serve in the body.”  I hope you will be among them!

It is a great joy to be in this journey with you, and I am convinced that the best is yet to come!

Your Pastor and Friend,