What Comes of Growing Up Under an Oak Tree

Luke 6:17-16

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you and insult you
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

This Sunday’s Service can be viewed on our Facebook page @ February 16, 2025

Greetings NewDay Fam!

I was climbing trees before I was, strictly speaking, good enough to have my feet off the ground. I remember this oak tree that, as far as I could tell, must have been as old as the earth. I think of how strong it felt as five year old me scrambled up. I was scared of the USSR under that tree. I wondered if my friend's dad would die in Desert Storm. I remember the economic messaging of the 90's that suggested that unstoppable prosperity would carry me into riches. I climbed higher than the height of my two story house in that tree. I slept on its branches. Don't tell my dad about the last two things, please. I'm still not sure that he knows those stories.

If you've been reading through the "Red Book" devotional, you'll note that the readings for this week are oriented around the title "Choose Life." I think about Psalm 1 (also in our reading for this week) and the Jeremiah texts, and I think about that oak tree in my front yard that seemed like it was immutable - the way a child would think. That tree is and will always be a symbol of a life of order and stability; but it wasn't immutable. Branches grew too large for me to grasp with one hand, boughs drooped and finally fell. It's the same tree, but I don't quite recognize it anymore.

I chose life and I chose that tree, but that tree and my life never promised me it would stay the same. This Sunday we'll choose a life with God together. We'll read through Luke 6:17-26 to see what comes of the choosing, and changing, and challenging life growing up with God under an oak tree.

Peace,
Zach
 

GATHERING FOR SUNDAY
CAN BE FOUND AT:
 
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Following the worship gathering, worship services will be uploaded to our website and will be available at www.newdaycov.org/listen.

NewDay Online Giving: https://newday.churchcenter.com/giving

Search Committee Update 2/14/2025
What's happened: 

  • The search committee met yesterday. We: 

    • updated our CovConnect profile where candidates can learn more about NewDay 

    • decided to contact NewDay members identified as being gifted in and passionate about prayer to form the dedicated search process prayer committee

    • contacted Kara Stromberg, the superintendent of the NW Conference, with follow-up questions to guide our expanded search

    • received direction from the NewDay Leadership Team to open the search to applicants holding various levels of experience and FTE

What's next: 

  • The search committee will provide weekly written and verbal updates on the process via the Friday emails and in the Sunday worship services

  • The search committee will meet again next Weds to work towards next steps: 

    • decide whether and how to gather additional information from the congregation on priorities and hopes for a new pastor, as NewDay has changed since the focus groups last spring

    • explore other ways to recruit candidates from inside and outside the Covenant denomination

    • review the lead pastor job description and update if necessary

    • update the NewDay website

What you can do: 

  • Connect us! If you would like to suggest any candidates to connect with the search committee, please contact one of us. We are happy to take name suggestions and connect with them through the official NW Conference channels. We are unable to share follow-up information about their potential candidacies. 

  • Please pray for wisdom, patience, and creativity for the search committee and for the congregation.

  • Please contact any of us with any questions or concerns at any time.


Pastoral Search Committee email address: newdaysearchcommittee@gmail.com
Members and roles:
Kristi Florek: chair
Charlotte Florek: secretary
Cindi Halleen: leadership team liaison
Curt Harlow: member
Jeff Hester: prayer committee coordinator
Natalie Woodberry: congregational communications liaison

Angela DickinsonComment