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| "Emmaus" by Maximino Cerezo Barredo |
Your hospitality was a beautiful picture
of the welcoming of Jesus
of the welcoming of Jesus
into His family as you brought us
into your city and homes.
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 partners during the past month.
In reading each of them, the word that comes to mind is:
Dayenu
Dayenu
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 partner with others to help people across the world encounter Jesus in these ways.
It was easy to look at America
from afar and see only the ways
from afar and see only the ways
that it was falling,
yet being able to read
specific stories about
a little church in Worcester
and how it was making an impact
on its community by the grace of God
and through the power of the gospel
and how it was making an impact
on its community by the grace of God
and through the power of the gospel
brought me so much hope
for my home country.
+ Siobhan M.
Our ministries
are laboring alongside each other.
God is so good at orchestrating
all of the pieces of the puzzle
to accomplish what He has in store.
+ Amanda B.
This community
has been a supreme blessing
to my family and me,
as well as
to the wider Worcester community.
…
Emmaus City Church
has redefined the experience
of living the gospel for me.
…
During the most challenging times
of my life,
the Emmaus City Church community
was a pillar of strength and refuge.
The genuine living out of faith
by this community
has offered solace and guidance,
reminding me that we are never alone
in our struggles.
the Emmaus City Church community
was a pillar of strength and refuge.
The genuine living out of faith
by this community
has offered solace and guidance,
reminding me that we are never alone
in our struggles.
+ Ron B.
You have shown us
the character and beauty of Christ.
We have learned much through you.
+ Brian M.
I am grateful for all
the deeply committed followers of Jesus
at ECC who are seeking
to make Christ known
to make Christ known
in word and in deed
so that the wider community
might know that
Jesus loves Worcester.
might know that
Jesus loves Worcester.
+ Joel V.
the Worcester chapter,
and my heart
are all strengthened
because of the intentional and
loyal partnership with ECC.
+ Bonnie G.
We believe God loves Worcester
and that He has led
ECC to be planted there
is evidence of the fact
that He loves your city.
…
With warmth,
hospitality,
and joy …
You (are) all there for Jesus,
no matter what.
+ Micah L.
I am incredibly grateful for the ways
in which Emmaus City
supported me personally
…
I knew I could come by
and be in community
when I couldn’t attend
my church community.
+ Rachel D.
You have helped families
feed their families
in the South Bronx
during a pandemic.
You have prayed for us
when we felt like giving up.
We thank God for you.
+ Rich & Fran R.
We got to see
your small group
emerge into a
faithful community of faith.
It was a blessing to watch,
listen to
and experience.
+ Bruce D.
ECC is a beautiful display
of God’s character
and determination
and determination
to make a bigger table.
+ Scott L.
ECC was itself in its own early days,
and was generous
with our new church plant;
but not from a place
of excess or surplus,
but from your own “poverty”.
ECC, you gave not because you had,
but because you wanted to invest
your two copper coins
in God’s Kingdom.
...
We would model your generosity
with whatever resources
the Lord provides us.
…
Thank you for modeling
Kingdom generosity and
helping impart that DNA
into our young church as well.
+ Paul G.
You are a gift to many!
+ Joe R.
Your church family and the ministry
of Emmaus City Groups model the
of Emmaus City Groups model the
New Testament Church.
…
We also thank God
for your opportunities to engage
with other Christian leaders and churches
throughout the area regarding
with other Christian leaders and churches
throughout the area regarding
the Gospel need of carrying out
the Great Commission.
+ David & Jane P.
We're deeply grateful
for your love for our city and
your unwavering commitment
to caring for people wholeheartedly.
+ George & Martha K.
There is a spirit of peace and welcome
that has been evident in my interactions
with my friends at ECC.
...
I also remember a time when
I shared a deep and complex prayer need
that was received
with so much love and understanding
that even before praying together,
with so much love and understanding
that even before praying together,
God answered.
+ Jennifer F.
We are blessed to be able to see
the fruit that has come of your work,
and we prayerfully wait to see
the amazing things that
God will continue to do!
and we prayerfully wait to see
the amazing things that
God will continue to do!
+ Shane & Sarah T.
We are convinced that
Jesus was and is at work
in the love and generosity
of your incredible church community.
Jesus was and is at work
in the love and generosity
of your incredible church community.
You gave us a picture
of what it was like
to be a Kingdom-hearted church,
seeking Jesus' glory
of what it was like
to be a Kingdom-hearted church,
seeking Jesus' glory
instead of your own.
+ Justin & Sarah R.
+ Justin & Sarah R.
When we joined Emmaus City
for a Saturday gathering,
your members encouraged us and prayed for us
for a Saturday gathering,
your members encouraged us and prayed for us
as we began the work
of planting City Light Church.
And you have been wind in our sails
The way that Emmaus City
has so thoughtfully and intentionally
and faithfully loved and served
and engaged the City of Worcester
for now TEN YEARS
is absolutely phenomenal!
+ Michael D.
+ Michael D.
Emmaus City Church
represents for me
the gracious generosity of God.
+ Dave A.
+ Dave A.
You all have cared for me
and the other pastors so well over the years,
and given us a place of peace
and refreshment that has been much needed.
and the other pastors so well over the years,
and given us a place of peace
and refreshment that has been much needed.
…
Your hospitality was a beautiful picture
of the welcoming of Jesus
of the welcoming of Jesus
into His family as you brought us
into your city and homes.
+ Dan & Shellie H.
+ Dan & Shellie H.
I praise God for ECC.
She is a beautiful display
of the love of Christ
for New England and beyond.
+ Sean N.
+ Sean N.
I have been greatly blessed
by your resilience and faithfulness
to embody the true story
of the whole world in Worcester!
+ Scott O.
+ Scott O.
I have always thought of ECC
as a light in a dark world.
…
You all are truly such a gift to us.
We always leave feeling enriched
and showered in God's love.
and showered in God's love.
Where would Worcester be
without each of you?
And more personally, where would
my family be without each of you?
+ Karisa P.
+ Karisa P.
Emmaus City Church
has had a home in our hearts
for many years.
+ Randy & Shirley D.
When we've worshiped with you
we've seen your
faith leading to obedience, your
love reaching out, and your
endurance that comes from hope
in Jesus.
+ Matthew B.
+ Matthew B.
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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