Yesterday’s worship service included a highlight of ECHO (if you missed the service, view it here). On July 25, we came together to echo God’s love into our community through service. This year in particular was special for me… seeing our church respond in such an abundant way, with such uncertainty in the air, to provide 235 bags of food for the Mountain View community and 75 community care baskets! Additionally, we were able to serve at some new locations. I want to share an email with you that we received from a teacher at Jonesborough Elementary School, a site we added this year.

Thank you so much for letting the GFC team come today. They totally transformed a couple of areas outside today, which was long overdue for a makeover. It brings joy to my heart to see this transformation for the children we serve. It is now an uplifting area. We can have class, lunch, snack, and social distance outside thanks to everyone’s hard-back-labor for Jesus. Thank you again for adding JES to the Echo list. Blessings to you and praise to the great God we serve. 

How cool is that!? The challenge for us is to not let ECHO be just a day once a year, but a pattern by which we live. “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap… So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…” (Gal. 6:9-10). God desires for us to keep impacting our community through doing good all year long, for as long “as we have opportunity.”

I’m excited to share one such opportunity this coming Sunday. Would love for you to engage online as we begin a new teaching series called “Surprised by Joy.” Paul’s letter to the Philippians is packed with much-needed reminders for us all, especially at a time when joy seems scarce.

Let’s keep seeking to BE the church in this unique season… by God’s grace.

Matt

P.S. Titus shared yesterday that we are making space for smaller groups and gatherings of less than 50 to meet at GFC (with precautions in place). If you’d like to learn more about these opportunities, go here.