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| "The Walk to Emmaus" by Rowan and Irene Matz LeCompte |
ECC shows the
heart of Jesus.
In honor of all those who contributed to our 10th Anniversary Blessings Notebook, this post will feature the pull out quotes from the abundant notes and letters we received from ECC friends during the past month.
In reading each of them, the word that comes to mind is:
There is a word used in song
when the Lord brings His people
through yet another trial.
The word is dayenu,
meaning something along the lines of
If the Lord had merely fed us
during the famine but not given
us a home in Egypt,
it would have been enough.
If the Lord had given us a home
in Egypt but not kept us
from being enslaved,
it would have been enough.
If the Lord had brought us out Egypt
but not parted the Red Sea,
it would have been enough.
If the Lord had parted the Red Sea
but not brought every last one
of us through it,
it would have been enough.
This was their way of saying,
"No matter what the future is,
what You've done for us
is enough."
+ The Understory
pg. 152
We are grateful that God has given us the privilege to help others encounter Jesus in these ways.
Emmaus City
encourages my church
by your love and support,
blesses our city,
and has also blessed my own family
through friendship.
…
I praise God
that one man I had the joy
of sharing the gospel with
had attended an
ECC community party at the Sullivan's,
and another had attended a City Group.
+ Andy H.
ECC has been
a remarkable example
of spiritual maturity
and biblical commitment.
+ Brent A.
The joy, kindness, and loving welcome
that I receive reflects what I believe
Jesus would show
if He were still here walking beside us.
…
ECC shows the heart of Jesus.
…
Thank you, ECC, for being an example
of what I believe church is supposed to be.
of what I believe church is supposed to be.
For reaching out to others.
For loving unconditionally.
For serving your community …
For having the heart of Jesus.
+ Rebecca G.
Through the kindness of individuals
and the collective spirit of love
that permeates the walls,
I've experienced Jesus in a tangible way.
…
ECC has been a place where
I've encountered grace, forgiveness, and
the transformative power of Christ's love.
I've encountered grace, forgiveness, and
the transformative power of Christ's love.
I'm grateful for the way ECC
has helped me grow spiritually,
challenged me to live
out my faith more boldly,
and provided a supportive community
to walk alongside me on this journey.
+ Vito G.
has helped me grow spiritually,
challenged me to live
out my faith more boldly,
and provided a supportive community
to walk alongside me on this journey.
+ Vito G.
It is a gift to walk
the streets of Worcester
and to know that you all are loving
and praying for this city as well.
+ Nicole E.
Our two grandsons
were baptized at Emmaus
and we were blessed
by the presence of God
at that baptism.
+ Trish & Mike M.
I thank God for ECC's commitment
to being Jesus in the community
for the community.
+ David P.
Praise and thanks be to God
for a decade of ministry
for a decade of ministry
in the city of Worcester!
+ Nathan P.
One thing that surprised
and encouraged me
was the time you all gave up
your regular church gathering time
to help host a gathering
for refugee families.
+ Sarah D.
Thank you all
for your faithfulness
to sow Jesus
into the Worcester area.
+ Linda E.
+ Linda E.
I felt heard
and given a space
to ask hard questions
which were thoughtfully,
honestly and
and given a space
to ask hard questions
which were thoughtfully,
honestly and
lovingly answered.
+ Yoanna O.
Churches can guard closely
their resources, time, and ministry
but you gladly give of yourselves.
+ Jarrett A.
their resources, time, and ministry
but you gladly give of yourselves.
+ Jarrett A.
Emmaus City Church
truly taught me
how to be on mission.
...
I believe that
Emmaus represents
what church community
is supposed to look like.
Emmaus is a welcoming church
on a mission to see others
turn from the blindness of Satan
to the beauty of Jesus.
…
My wife and I also truly felt the Spirit
giving us peace
when we took Communion with you.
We left comforted by the God of comfort.
+ Tim & Toni R.
The organic and integrated way
you live out your faith
and ministry together
on mission with Jesus
is an example to the Church-at-large
and an inspiration
and encouragement to me.
...
...
Know that your faithful life
and ministry together
is rippling beyond
what you can immediately see
to produce fruit
of which you may not be aware.
+ Shiloh B.
+ Shiloh B.
Thank you for being
a shelter to those seeking refuge.
Those seeking to catch their breath,
and those who have been discouraged.
and those who have been discouraged.
I have friends who have joined you
and found renewed hope and faith
because of you.
One who was even going
to take her own life.
+ Dale & Elisha K.
God is so clearly at work
in and through the community
at Emmaus City Church.
+ Annika B.
God is so clearly at work
in and through the community
at Emmaus City Church.
+ Annika B.
Emmaus City is a place
of refuge and refreshment,
truth in love,
weeping with those who weep
and rejoicing with those who rejoice,
and rejoicing with those who rejoice,
dear friends who live out
their Gospel hope in ways
that inspire and urge me on.
+ Sara M.
+ Sara M.
Bonus Anniversary Posts:
Final Thought:
When church is only an event,
the sanctuary becomes a theater,
the people become the audience,
the music becomes entertainment,
the preaching becomes the keynote.
But, when
church is the people
both gathered and scattered ...
the sanctuary, people, music, and preaching
become vehicles for
healing, restoring, equipping, and sending.
The purpose of a car isn't to fill it with gas.
It's to go somewhere.
Gas simply helps it get there ...
The purpose of church is not to merely
fill us with information.
It's to equip us to go somewhere.
To live on mission.
Wherever we are.
The gathering is important.
Profoundly so.
But it's not the whole picture.
It's preparation to live on mission.
To bring Heaven to Earth.
To push back darkness
wherever we encounter it.
Church isn't a building.
Worship isn't just music.
Prayer isn't for the experts.
Ministry isn't just for pastors.
Mission isn't something
we add to our life —
it is our life.
Church isn't an event you go to.
It's a family you belong to.
We won't change our world
by only going to church.
We'll change it by
being the church.
+ Ian Simkins
People who believe in the resurrection,
in God making a whole new world
in which everything will be
set right at last,
are unstoppably motivated to work
for that new world in the present.
+ N.T. Wright
May God's Kingdom come, His will be done.
Que le Royaume de Dieu vienne, que sa volonté soit faite. 愿神的国降临，愿神的旨意成就。 Nguyện xin Nước Chúa đến, ý Ngài được nên. Jesús nuestra Rey, venga Tu reino! 🙏💗🍞🍷👑🌅🌇 With anticipation and joy, |
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