It’s February, Be Happy!

February in Minnesota—I can’t think of a better time to be here! Why? Because February overflows with opportunities to step out in faith, trust God and serve others. Here are two great ways to find a little warmth in the month ahead.

The Micah Project

“…the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

The Micah Project pulls together challenging messages from our teaching pastors, hands-on experiences with our ministry partners, and practical action plans for individuals, families and small groups.

The Micah Project is an initiative of the Not Without You campaign that extends far beyond the walls of Eagle Brook. This is our opportunity for each of us to be the church in the world in a big way. You can find out more about The Micah Project by clicking here.

The Blaine Initiative

I’ve always loved pioneering new projects. And as a long-time church planter, there’s nothing more fulfilling at this point in my life than helping to launch a new EBC campus.

Like The Micah Project, the Blaine initiative is taking shape because of the generosity of those who are giving toward the Not Without You campaign. It’s rewarding to see the immediate impact of our contributions, even though we’re just a few months into the campaign.

Here’s how the Blaine initiative is shaping up:

The Blaine staff and volunteers will lead temporary Sunday evening services at the SLP campus at 4:05 and 6:05 beginning on February 28. Those who wish to serve as Blaine volunteers must complete a serving interest form and check the box marked “Blaine.”

The Sunday evening services will be available until the Blaine campus opens (which we anticipate to be sometime in the fall of 2010).

The Sunday evening services will be a full Eagle Brook weekend experience with live worship, Café 5000, Beyond Books, Kid-O-Deo, Club K-Rock, and the current weekend message (recorded earlier that day).

We’re asking those who plan to attend at Blaine when it opens, as well as a few hundred people who plan to stay at SLP, to make a Sunday evening service their primary choice for weekend worship. This will make seats available for our guests in the regularly scheduled weekend services.

Ah yes, February in Minnesota. With all the opportunities to serve, we’ll breeze through the final weeks of winter. And before you can catch your breath, spring will be upon us. Now that’s something to smile about!

Solving the Attendance Challenge

God continues to stretch us at Spring Lake Park. Last weekend’s attendance exceeded 2,750 people…and more want to come.

It’s heartbreaking to know that many arrived at SLP last weekend and were unable to find parking, so they drove away before the service started. Others found a place to park but had to sit in a less than ideal overflow space because the worship center and Corner House were beyond capacity.

To make matters more complex, we had hoped to open the new Blaine campus by Easter of 2010, but complications have pushed the potential opening to sometime in the Fall of 2010.

As you might imagine, we’ve been scrambling to find a way to open more seats at SLP as well as prepare for the launch of the Blaine campus. We’ve identified a solution, but it’ll take all of us to make it work. Here’s what we plan to do:

From February 28 until the EBC Blaine campus opens.

• Beginning February 28 and running until the Blaine campus opens, we’ll offer Sunday evening services at the SLP campus at 4:05 and 6:05.

• The Sunday evening services will ultimately be lead by the staff and volunteers that plan to serve at Blaine when it opens. It’ll take a few weeks to get all the staff and volunteers in place.

• The Sunday evening services will be a full Eagle Brook weekend experience with live worship, Café 5000, Beyond Books, children’s worship, and the current weekend message (recorded earlier that day).

• We’re asking those who plan to attend at Blaine when it opens, as well as a few hundred people who plan to stay at SLP, to make a Sunday evening service their primary choice for weekend worship. This will make seats available for our guests in the regularly scheduled weekend services.

From now until February 28.

• We still have room in our Saturday 6:05 pm service. If possible, choose this service.

• We’ve installed broadcast gear and added an additional 60 seats in the Student ministry café downstairs in the Corner House. We’ll use the lower room whenever the upper room is full.

• Until the Sunday evening services begin on February 28, those who are regular SLP attenders can serve our guests by choosing to attend at the Corner House before the main worship center fills up on Saturdays at 4:05 or Sundays at 9:05 and 11:05.

I’m grateful for each person who is part of the SLP church family. Your willingness to do whatever it takes to reach others for Christ is remarkable. Thank you for facing into our attendance challenge and taking the steps to resolve it. Thank you for being the church. You get it! And it’s a privilege to serve as your campus pastor.

New Opportunities for a New Year

As the experiences of Christmas drift far from our immediate memories like a corked bottle tossed from a speeding cruise ship bobbing on a calm sea as it disappears into the horizon, I cannot help but thank God for what He’s doing at Eagle Brook, Spring Lake Park.

In spite of the weather, 2,748 people showed up to fill all the Christmas services. Hundreds were first-time guests. Many heard about the God who loves them and said “Yes!” to Christ.

The Ongoing Challenge

The first weekend of the New Year was no less amazing—2,546 people arrived at SLP to worship God. Crowds poured into the worship center as well as the Corner House with a sense of joyful anticipation. Much to our dismay, carloads of people drove away because they could not find a parking place.

Because of the sacrificial generosity of the entire Eagle Brook congregation as revealed in the Not Without You campaign commitments, the new Blaine campus is scheduled to become a reality in the fall of 2010. Opening Blaine will provide another 3,200 seats for weekend worship services in our area (800 seats multiplied by 4 services). Until Blaine opens, we will do everything we can to make more room for those who want to attend SLP.

Next Steps

The next step we will take toward making more seats available at SLP is to email a survey to the SLP congregation on Wednesday, January 13. When you receive it, be sure to complete the survey and submit it as soon as possible.

Corner House

Part of our ongoing strategy to add more seats at SLP is the Corner House—the original church building on the northwest corner of our church property. A live broadcast of the entire Lino Lakes service is available at the Corner House at 4:05 on Saturdays as well as 9:05 and 11:05 on Sundays.

Upcoming Events

Ash Wednesday – For the first time at SLP, we’re going to offer two Ash Wednesday services on the same night. One will be at 6:05 and the other at 8:05 on February 17. Kid-O-Deo (birth through Kindergarten) will be available for both services.

The Micah Project – The Micah Project is all about love, mercy and action. This is the long-awaited event that adds a ray of sunshine on a gray winter day. The Micah Project will make it a sheer delight to be living in Minnesota during the month of February. You’ll want to register for a Feed My Starving Children food-packing slot as well as reserve your time for the Step Into Africa experience. Sign up today by clicking here.

With Gratitude

It is a privilege to serve as campus pastor at SLP. I’m so grateful for each person who attends our campus. Your flexibility in doing whatever it takes to reach people for Christ is an inspiration to me and to all who are observing God’s work at SLP. Thanks for letting God work through you.

Countdown to Christmas

As shoppers complete gift-buying lists and families finalize Christmas dinner plans, Eagle Brook volunteers and staff dash to put finishing touches on the 17 Christmas services that we’re offering on December 23 and 24th.

An Opportunity to Invite

Christmas services are a great opportunity to invite friends, family and neighbors to church. And what better way to experience the real meaning of Christmas than gathering with others to celebrate the birth of Christ. You can be sure that your guests will be inspired by the music and encouraged by a message of hope.

RSVP for Seats

Here at Eagle Brook we use an RSVP system to make sure everyone gets a seat and has a positive experience. Here’s how it works:

1) Attendees RSVP to let Eagle Brook know how many people they’re bringing to the worship center and how many kids they’re bringing to Kid-O-Deo and Club K-Rock.

2) Eagle Brook posts real-time updates of available seating at eaglebrookchurch.com (essential information for last minute service choices).

3) If plans should change, attendees may RSVP or exchange seats at eaglebrookchurch.com.

Corner House

We will offer Christmas services at the Corner House at 6:05 pm on Wednesday, December 23. You don’t need to RSVP to use the Corner House; simply show up. If necessary, we will offer services at the Corner House at other Christmas service times as needed (information is available from anyone with an EBC nametag).

Christmas Services—Arrive Early

Please arrive early, grab your coffee and find a seat. The worship center doors will close at the start of the opening song and reopen at the end of the song.

With all of that said, don’t forget that we’ve got a final message in the Overcome series this coming weekend. Invite someone special to join you for a message of encouragement.

The Big Reveal

We’ve all waited eagerly for this coming weekend. At the beginning of the service, Pastor Bob is going to reveal the results of the Not Without You campaign. Be in your seat early—you don’t want to miss it!

Giving to Not Without You Begins

The total commitment amount that Pastor Bob will announce this weekend reflects the generosity of individuals and families across all three Eagle Brook campuses. It’s with a spirit of deep humility that we approach this unveiling, recognizing the financial sacrifices many are making to reach others for Christ.

This weekend also signals the official beginning of actual contributions to the Not Without You campaign. If you’re prepared to do so, you can participate by bringing a check to the services or by giving online. If you use a check or online banking for your campaign gift, be sure to write “NWY” in the memo line.

I’m confident that the services this weekend will be memorable at many levels. Be sure to come with your heart prepared to express gratitude for all God is doing in and through Eagle Brook.

New! 4:05 Saturday Worship Services at the Corner House

We’ll begin offering worship services at the Corner House at 4:05 on Saturday afternoons beginning this weekend. I want to say thanks to those who volunteered to help launch this new service. Free coffee, soft chairs, and a warm community environment—it doesn’t get much better than that.

 See you this weekend!