BUNNY SUIT

This year Easter is on April 4th (I can never figure out how the Easter date is selected!), and I've been thinking a lot about how to prepare. So now I have the perfect Bunny Suit picked out and I'm all ready. Ha!

Seriously, Easter is the most significant holiday of the year. It's the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It's the day that changed history forever, the day the human race received the hope of the world. It's the day our faith is founded upon. It's the July 4th of Christianity. So it makes sense we should get ready. Just like we plan our 4th of July BBQ & fireworks show, let's prepare for the most spiritually moving season of 2010.

As with the past couple of years, I'll be participating in "Lent" this year. That's the 40-day stretch leading up to Easter where Christians of all shapes, sizes, and variations will be seeking God through a heightened prayer life and a focused spiritual life. The season starts on "Ash Wednesday" (February 17, 2010). Whether you begin on Ash Wednesday or start sometime closer to Easter, I want to challenge you to step up & seek God in bolder ways this year.

Here are some ideas:

*Fast for 24 hours (anytime from Ash Wednesday - Easter)

*Fast for a week or more (for the best info on fasting, click here: http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/personal-guide-to-fasting/index.htm).

*Fast from something for the entire 40-day Lent period

*Start a prayer journal & carry it all the way through Easter. Spend your Easter worshiping with your church family & reviewing all that God has done in you through this season.

Here are some areas you can focus your prayers on:

*Pray for God to continue to reveal His vision for this community to our church leaders

*Pray for God to give you a personal vision for seeing your unconnected friends & family members find a spiritual home at Westside

*Pray for God to give you 5 specific people to invest in and invite to our Easter Services

*Pray for your church to thrive, to be a center of God's activity, to pursue His vision, and to receive His provision.

*Pray for EVERY WESTSIDER to step up and take part in our Imagine Journey - to become prayer warriors and generous givers so we can see God's vision move forward at God's pace.

*Pray for a movement toward Jesus to be started this Easter season. Pray for Christ to be the King in our community!

Pastor Gabe

MAKIN' ROOM FOR THE BOOM!

Things are heating up in our Children's Ministry - so we're making space for all the new kids that have come our way over the past few months. How exciting! Check out the pics of our building space transformation - we're moving our offices out and moving some kids into the big room in our Community Center.

Stay tuned for expanded opportunities for kids & families on Sunday mornings.

Wanna help serve families on Sundays? Contact bruce@westsidemail.com - there are tons of ways you can make a difference.