Sunday morning was a powerful morning. The message wasn’t anything new to me, but what God was doing in my heart was. I’ve heard about, learned and even practiced the prayer model that Janice spoke about, but for some reason I’d lost the expectation that God can and does show up if we ask Him to.

Over the last few weeks, I have personally been working through some tough realities. When the end of the service came on Sunday, I knew I needed to go forward to get some prayer. I went forward and spoke with a lady that was gentle, loving and extremely compassionate. She listened to me and what I needed from God and then began to pray for me. It was incredible. The words she was praying were speaking right to my heart about the very situation I was working through.

God used this lady and her prayers to speak directly to an area of my life that needed him. My experience reminded me of the importants of praying for people on the spot, with them, not just for them. I believe the challenge for all of us this week is to consider how we might be able to ask the question “Can I pray for you right now?” to the people in our lives.

I’ve listed below the notes from Sunday’s message. Hopefully these will be helpful for you as you pray for others “Right Now”!

5 Steps in the Vineyard Prayer Model:

1. Interview: Talk to God, listen to God as you are talking and listening to the person. Ask the question “What would you like God to do today?”
2. Diagnose: What is the one that I can specifically ask God for today?
3. Select the appropriate prayer strategy.
4. Prayer engagement: Invite the Holy Spirit
5. Post prayer direction: Not advice, but an action step

Reminder: There will be a prayer training event on Tuesday night, September 14 from 6:30 to 9pm at the main church building. Email Terrel Davidson if you are interested and would like to sign up. terreld@lakesareavineyard.com

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

Beth Moore Simulcast Saturday, September 18 9:30am-4:00pm

Ladies you are invited to Community Alliance Church who is presenting Beth Moore live by simulcast. Tickets are $15 (includes a FREE TICKET for a friend if you register your friend when purchasing your ticket. For all questions and to order tickets go to www.joyfuljesstures.com/bethmoore.html .

Prayer in the Upper Room Every Sunday 10:30-11:15

Prayer is our opportunity to partner with God in what He’s doings. It releases his power on earth and the Bible encourages us to pray together. Do you want to see God do more at LAVC and in this community? Take the elevator up to the third floor and join us in prayer.

Newcomer’s Cafe – September 19 at 10:30

If you are new to Lakes Area Vineyard, we would like to invite you to attend our Newcomer’s Cafe. This is a great opportunity for us to get to know you better and for you to hear more about Lakes Area Vineyard Church. We will meet for coffee and rolls in the Senior Citizens center at the Holmes Theatre during the 10:30am service and if you’d like to attend, please register using your connection card or visit the Connection Center. Food and childcare is provided.

MOPS starting September 15 @ 9:00am in the Main Building of LAVC

MOPS is designed to nurture every mother with children from infancy through Pre-K. Members come from all walks of life, but share one desire – to be great moms! At MOPS, you will be welcomed, accepted and inspired to reach your full potential and recognize your influence within your family and world. Registration will begin on September 5.

Do have a heart for children?  Do you desire to encourage moms who desperately need it?  If you answered yes, we need your help in supporting our Mops (Mothers of Preschoolers) Ministry.  We are looking for loving, energetic volunteers for our Moppets (childcare) program.  1st & 3rd Wednesday mornings each month, starting in September.  Please sign up at the information center or call Jennifer Olson, Moppets Coordinator, at 218-847-1705 to volunteer.

Women’s Bible Study Mondays September 13-October 25 from 9-11am

Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, and Kay Arthur explored the life of David and applied it to their lives. You’ll laugh with them, cry with them, and learn to love God with them. The study was recorded at a “Deeper Still” weekend event and made into this 7 week in-depth study. Worship begins at 8:50. All women are welcome. Sign up at the Info Center. Books are $14.50. Childcare is $25/per child.

Coat Give-a-Way for Detroit Lakes Community August 31-September 24

Lakes Area Vineyard Church is teaming up with several other area churches to bless those in the community who have very little by providing gently used coats, hats, scarves, and mittens. Your donations can be dropped off at the Main Building of Lakes Area Vineyard Church during office hours; Tuesday-Friday 9am-4pm.

Wednesday Night Trip Kick-Off September 8 from 6:30-8:00pm

Summer is done and it’s time to start the 2010-2011 school year right by kicking off Wednesday Night Trip. We’ll have lots of food and fun with lots of friends. Come be a part of what God’s going to do on Wednesday nights this year through Trip Ministries.

⁶Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Acts 3:1-10

Isn’t it crazy how focused we can become? If you’re anything like me, when it comes to living out the day, it’s easy to have a one track mind. I have a list of things that need to get done and I need them done my way on my time. Very rarely do I get off course. When I think of Peter and John in the story above, I think about how willing they were to allow their lives and their agenda to be interrupted by what God wanted to do. Then I think about my life and how much “God” I might be missing because I avoid interruptions.

Sunday morning, Job challenged us to consider living our lives being ready and willing to let God interrupt us. To consider the mighty things that God can and will do when we allow ourselves to be open to being used by Him, even if it interferes with our plans.

This week, let’s ask God to help us to be sensitive to what He’s doing and what He wants to do in the lives of the people around us. When we sense His prompting, let’s take the risk to pray for people on the spot and see what God would want to do.

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

Women’s Bible Study Saturday, September 18 9:30am-4:00pm

Ladies you are invited to Community Alliance Church who is presenting Beth Moore live by simulcast. Tickets are $15 (includes a FREE TICKET for a friend if you register your friend when purchasing your ticket. For all questions and to order tickets go to www.joyfuljesstures.com/bethmoore.html .

Prayer in the Upper Room Every Sunday 10:30-11:15

Prayer is our opportunity to partner with God in what He’s doings. It releases his power on earth and the Bible encourages us to pray together. Do you want to see God do more at LAVC and in this community? Take the elevator up to the third floor and join us as we pray.

Newcomer’s Cafe – September 19 at 10:30am

If you are new to Lakes Area Vineyard, we would like to invite you to attend our Newcomer’s Cafe. This is a great opportunity for us to get to know you better and for you to hear more about Lakes Area Vineyard Church. We will meet for coffee and rolls in the Senior Citizens center at the Holmes Theatre during the 10:30am service and if you’d like to attend, please register using your connection card or visit the Connection Center. Food and childcare is provided.

MOPS starting September 15 @ 9:00am in the Main Building of LAVC

MOPS is designed to nurture every mother with children from infancy through Pre-K. Members come from all walks of life, but share one desire – to be great moms! At MOPS, you will be welcomed, accepted and inspired to reach your full potential and recognize your influence within your family and world. Registration will begin on September 5.

Do have a heart for children?  Do you desire to encourage moms who desperately need it?  If you answered yes, we need your help in supporting our Mops (Mothers of Preschoolers) Ministry.  We are looking for loving, energetic volunteers for our Moppets (childcare) program.  1st & 3rd Wednesday mornings each month, starting in September.  Please sign up at the information center or call Jennifer Olson, Moppets Coordinator, at 218-847-1705 to volunteer.

Who am I?

I have no respect for justice.

I maim without killing.

I break hearts and ruin lives.

I am cruel and malicious and gather strength with age.

The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.

I flourish at every level of society.

My victims are helpless.

They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face.
To track me down is impossible.

The harder you try, the more elusive I become.

I’m nobody’s friend.

Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.

I topple governments and ruin marriages.

I destroy careers and cause heartache and sleepless nights.

I wreck churches and separate Christians.

I spawn suspicion and generate grief, make innocent people cry on their pillows.

Even my name hisses.

I am gossip.

-Author Unknown

This is the poem Mike used to start his message on Sunday. At first glance you might think it’s about someone, but then you realize it’s about something that unfortunately so many of us have experienced and been a part of.

If you’re like me, after Sunday’s message you started to realize all the different conversations going on around you that were gossip…almost like you had new eyes and ears to distinguish the difference. It’s hard to steer clear from, especially since it’s such a major part of our society, yet if one desires to speak words of life and be obedient to God, we must, avoid this type of conversation.

As you go about your week, think about the ways in which you can speak loving and life giving words to the people around you, especially as a way to combat gossip.

Have a great week everyone! See you Sunday!

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

Women’s Bible Study Saturday, September 18 9:30am-4:00pm

Ladies you are invited to Community Alliance Church who is presenting Beth Moore live by simulcast. Tickets are $15 (includes a FREE TICKET for a friend if you register your friend when purchasing your ticket. For all questions and to order tickets go to www.joyfuljesstures.com/bethmoore.html .

Prayer in the Upper Room Every Sunday 10:30-11:15

Prayer is our opportunity to partner with God in what He’s doings. It releases his power on earth and the Bible encourages us to pray together. Do you want to see God do more at LAVC and in this community? Take the elevator up to the third floor and join us as we pray.

Newcomer’s Cafe – September 19 at 10:30am

If you are new to Lakes Area Vineyard, we would like to invite you to attend our Newcomer’s Cafe. This is a great opportunity for us to get to know you better and for you to hear more about Lakes Area Vineyard Church. We will meet for coffee and rolls in the Senior Citizens center at the Holmes Theatre during the 10:30am service and if you’d like to attend, please register using your connection card or visit the Connection Center. Food and childcare is provided.

MOPS starting September 15 @ 9:00am in the Main Building of LAVC

MOPS is designed to nurture every mother with children from infancy through Pre-K. Members come from all walks of life, but share one desire – to be great moms! At MOPS, you will be welcomed, accepted and inspired to reach your full potential and recognize your influence within your family and world. Registration will begin on September 5.

Do have a heart for children?  Do you desire to encourage moms who desperately need it?  If you answered yes, we need your help in supporting our Mops (Mothers of Preschoolers) Ministry.  We are looking for loving, energetic volunteers for our Moppets (childcare) program.  1st & 3rd Wednesday mornings each month, starting in September.  Please sing up at the information center or call Jennifer Olson, Moppets Coordinator, at 218-847-1705 to volunteer.

Our words are powerful, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand this. However, it’s really easy for us to forget about this fact and far too often many of us don’t think before we speak. We forget the fact that once our words leave our mouths, we can never take them back whether good or bad, intentional or unintentional.

The bible is clear in showing us that what we say matters and God commands us to be a people that build up and encourage others, not tear them down. Think about the impact just a few simple, encouraging words could have in someone’s life today. The very words you speak could be what gives someone the hope to keep going when they don’t think they can anymore.

Every day we have the opportunity to choose how we will speak to people. Will we be negative, rude, mean or sarcastic? Or will we be positive, encouraging, affirming and loving?  Every conversation, every email, and every text message, we have the opportunity to speak life or death…to be fruit or poison and the choice is ours.

Take some time this week to think about the people in your life and think about how you can be an encouraging voice to them. Be intentional about looking for opportunities and don’t hesitate to act!

Have a great week everyone! See you Sunday!

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

Women’s Bible Study Saturday, September 18 9:30am-4:00pm

Ladies you are invited to Community Alliance Church who is presenting Beth Moore live by simulcast. Tickets are $15 (includes a FREE TICKET for a friend if you register your friend when purchasing your ticket. For all questions and to order tickets go to www.joyfuljesstures.com/bethmoore.html .

Prayer in the Upper Room Every Sunday 10:30-11:15

Prayer is our opportunity to partner with God in what He’s doings. It releases his power on earth and the Bible encourages us to pray together. Do you want to see God do more at LAVC and in this community? Take the elevator up to the third floor and join us in prayer.

Newcomer’s Cafe – September 19 at 12:45pm

If you are new to Lakes Area Vineyard, we would like to invite you to attend our Newcomer’s Cafe. This is a great opportunity for us to get to know you better and for you to hear more about Lakes Area Vineyard Church. We will meet for coffee and rolls in the Senior Citizens center at the Holmes Theatre during the 10:30am service and if you’d like to attend, please register using your connection card or visit the Connection Center. Food and childcare is provided.

MOPS starting September 15 @ 9:00am in the Main Building of LAVC

MOPS is designed to nurture every mother with children from infancy through Pre-K. Members come from all walks of life, but share one desire – to be great moms! At MOPS, you will be welcomed, accepted and inspired to reach your full potential and recognize your influence within your family and world. Registration will begin on September 5.

Do have a heart for children?  Do you desire to encourage moms who desperately need it?  If you answered yes, we need your help in supporting our Mops (Mothers of Preschoolers) Ministry.  We are looking for loving, energetic volunteers for our Moppets (childcare) program.  1st & 3rd Wednesday mornings each month, starting in September.  Please sing up at the information center or call Jennifer Olson, Moppets Coordinator, at 218-847-1705 to volunteer.

We all go through seasons in our relationships with Jesus, and in this particular season for me, Jesus seems to be teaching me a lot about what it means to love others. This is the secret ingredient to being a follower of Jesus and experiencing all that God has for us. Loving God and loving others…seems like its easy enough, but when we put our money where our mouth is, we find out that it actually is more of a struggle than we expected.

We live in a society and culture that values “I” and “me” and unfortunately, whether we like it or not, most of us haven’t been desensitized to this. We live our lives for ourselves and then one day look back and wonder what life was all about in the first place. Living life this way is a complete waste and I know that someday, when I am on my death bed, I want to be able to look back and know I did everything I could with the life I was given. I want to love God and love others well…I want to live my life on purpose, actively loving others and reaching out every day. This is what life is all about.

Sunday was a great day for our church family. We had a great afternoon loving and serving the community of Detroit Lakes. How are you doing today though? Have you been able to actively love others this week? Has your thinking changed a bit? Are you intentionally looking for ways you can partner with God in loving others in practical ways?

I challenge you this week to ask God to give you eyes to see where He’s working and where you can partner with him by loving others in practical ways. Let me know how it goes!

Have a great week everyone! See you Sunday!

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

TRIP Youth Leaders Needed!

Do you want to make a real difference and a lasting impact in the lives of jr. and sr. high students?  Come be a part of Trip Ministries this year.  We have need for quality adults to help with everything from donating supplies for an event, being a driver, to being a small group leader.  You don’t have to be a youth pastor to help point students to Jesus; it all starts with you just saying “yes.”

Vineyardbasics August 15 12:15pm @ the Main Building of LAVC

The vineyardbasics class is the next step after attending the Newcomer’s Lunch and covers valuable and necessary information as you begin your involvement here. We expect everyone that calls LAVC their church home to make this class a priority. The vineyardbasics class functions as a prerequisite to becoming an official member as well. Please register at the Information Center. Childcare and Lunch are provided.

VBS August 8-12

This year, VBS is traveling to Egypt to spend some time learning about Joseph. As VBS draws nearer, we would like to ask for your help. Please join us as we change the lives of our kids and the kids of this community in a fun and engaging time. Please sign up at the information center by July 25, if you can help lead kids through activities and stories, or if you are willing to provide supplies for VBS.

For a while now, I have been wrestling with God about what it means to be His follower. I know that I love Him and that I want my life to look like His, but there seems to be this disconnect between my brain and my heart. I know things, yet my life doesn’t look a whole lot different because I know them. This fact alone has caused me to ask myself some hard questions about what it means to love Jesus and love my neighbor as myself.

As followers of Jesus, we talk about loving all the time. We talk about what it means to love God and what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves. But what about actually putting this command into action? You see, love isn’t just a feeling, but it’s also a commitment and an action. When we love, we serve, we do things for others that help them, bless them and prove our love for them. That’s the whole idea of service. We serve others out of the overflow of our love and our commitment to Jesus and his command to love others.

This week, consider Jesus’ command to love and ask Him to show you some tangible ways to love others through service this week. Maybe it’s mowing your neighbor’s yard? Maybe it’s helping someone at the grocery store with their bill?  Whatever it is, I challenge you to love this week, not just through your thoughts and your words, but through your actions!

REMINDER: This Sunday, July 18 is the All Church Outreach!!!

-          This Sunday we are only having ONE service at 10:00AM at the Holmes Theater.

-          There will be no Children’s Ministry

-          Bring a bag lunch to eat with your team after the service before the parade

-          If you haven’t signed up for a team, please call the church at 218.846.1199

Have a great week everyone! See you Sunday!

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

TRIP – Ottertail Tubing – July 15

Junior & Senior high students! Join us Thursday, July 15 from 10:30am to 2pm for a nice, lazy float down the Ottertail followed by a picnic! Cost is $8 and the registration deadline is July 7.  Visit the Info center to register. For more information, contact Job Barberg at jobb@lakesareavineyard.com

TRIP Youth Leaders Needed!

Do you want to make a real difference and a lasting impact in the lives of jr. and sr. high students?  Come be a part of Trip Ministries this year.  We have need for quality adults to help with everything from donating supplies for an event, being a driver, to being a small group leader.  You don’t have to be a youth pastor to help point students to Jesus; it all starts with you just saying “yes.”

All Church Outreach July 18

On July 18, the Sunday of the Detroit Lakes Water Carnival parade, our church is going to be hitting the streets to show people God’s love in some really practical ways!  We will have one church service at 10 am and then we will all go out and serve the community.

Vineyardbasics August 15 12:15pm @ the Main Building of LAVC

The vineyardbasics class is the next step after attending the Newcomer’s Lunch and covers valuable and necessary information as you begin your involvement here. We expect everyone that calls LAVC their church home to make this class a priority. The vineyardbasics class functions as a prerequisite to becoming an official member as well. Please register at the Information Center. Childcare and Lunch are provided.

VBS August 8-12

This year, VBS is traveling to Egypt to spend some time learning about Joseph. As VBS draws nearer, we would like to ask for your help. Please join us as we change the lives of our kids and the kids of this community in a fun and engaging time. Please sign up at the information center by July 25, if you can help lead kids through activities and stories, or if you are willing to provide supplies for VBS.

“You can only give what you have” is something that Mike said during his message on Sunday morning and it struck a chord in my heart. He was talking about love. Not the “I love coffee or cookies” kind of love, but Agape Love, or sacrificial love. Since then, I have been trying to get my mind around this idea of loving like I have been loved, specifically how I’ve been loved by Jesus and it’s got me thinking about how I am living my life.

As a follower of Jesus, I know that Jesus loves me. I know the gospel and the story of why He came and what He did and is still doing, and I know that it’s changed my life. I know that in no way have I done anything to deserve Jesus’ love, but that’s why I believe it’s so powerful. I don’t deserve it, yet it’s been given to me so freely.

As disciples, Jesus commands us to love in the way that He loves us. He asks us to love undeserving people (all of us) the way He loves us. The idea of loving this way and even living this way can be challenging. Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at different aspects of living life from the inside out. Recognizing what’s been giving to us and then giving it away. Below are the notes from Mike’s message.

Inside – Out: Love

John 13:34-35 & Luke 7:38-47

How to love from the inside out…

-          Experience God’s love first – Luke 7:38-47, Ephesians 5:2

-          Start loving the way you want to be loved – Luke 7:38-47, Galatians 5:13

-          Move to loving others they ways they need to be loved

Have a great week everyone!

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

TRIP – Ottertail Tubing – July 15

Junior & Senior high students! Join us Thursday, July 15 from 10:30am to 2pm for a nice, lazy float down the Ottertail followed by a picnic! Cost is $8 and the registration deadline is July 7.  Visit the Info center to register. For more information, contact Job Barberg at jobb@lakesareavineyard.com

TRIP Youth Leaders Needed!

Do you want to make a real difference and a lasting impact in the lives of jr. and sr. high students?  Come be a part of Trip Ministries this year.  We have need for quality adults to help with everything from donating supplies for an event, being a driver, to being a small group leader.  You don’t have to be a youth pastor to help point students to Jesus, it all starts with you just saying “yes.”

All Church Outreach July 18

On July 18, the Sunday of the Detroit Lakes Water Carnival parade, our church is going to be hitting the streets to show people God’s love in some really practical ways!  We will have one church service at 10 am and then we will all go out and serve the community.

Prayer in the Upper Room Every Sunday 10:30-11:15

Prayer is our opportunity to partner with God in what He’s doings. It releases his power on earth and the Bible encourages us to pray together. Do you want to see God do more at LAVC and in this community? Take the elevator up to the third floor and join us in prayer.

When I became a follower of Jesus, I knew that my life was going to start looking different. Part of it would be God changing me, and the other part was me choosing to live differently because of my love and commitment to Jesus. To this very day, there are things that I notice God doing in my life and there are things that I see that need to change. One of those things is the reality that I need to be more willing to “go” than I have been.

It’s easy as Christians to get caught in the typical “look out for ourselves” lifestyle of this world. It’s really easy to get comfortable and forget about the fact that there is actually a God worth pursuing and a story worth sharing. You see, many of us go through our walk with Jesus not realizing that we have failed to continue to stir the zeal and spiritual fervor we once had, and eventually we buy into the lie that going to church on Sunday’s, attending a small group and praying before meals is actually pleasing to God. Don’t get me wrong, these are good things, but how presumptuous of us to think that this is what our lives are supposed to be all about.

In the Word, we read in countless places where it talks about the importants of meeting together and thanking God for the many blessings in our lives, but even more than that we read about the command from Jesus to “go” realizing that each of us has been given a life and a circle of influence intended to help others experience and know Jesus and bring Him glory.

What would our lives, our families, our communities and even our world start looking like if we all lived the way Jesus asks us to live like? A bold question for sure, yet worth contemplating if you love Jesus.

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

TRIP – Ottertail Tubing – July 15

Junior & Senior high students! Join us Thursday, July 15 from 10:30am to 2pm for a nice, lazy float down the Ottertail followed by a picnic! Cost is $8 and the registration deadline is July 7.  Visit the Info center to register. For more information, contact Job Barberg at jobb@lakesareavineyard.com

Wanted: TRIP Youth Leaders!

Do you want to make a real difference and a lasting impact in the lives of jr. and sr. high students?  Come be a part of Trip Ministries this year.  We have need for quality adults to help with everything from donating supplies for an event, being a driver, to being a small group leader.  You don’t have to be a youth pastor to help point students to Jesus, it all starts with you just saying “yes.”

All Church Outreach July 18

On July 18, the Sunday of the Detroit Lakes Water Carnival parade, our church is going to be hitting the streets to show people God’s love in some really practical ways!  We will have one church service at 10 am and then we will all go out and serve the community.

Prayer in the Upper Room Every Sunday 10:30-11:15

Prayer is our opportunity to partner with God in what He’s doings. It releases his power on earth and the Bible encourages us to pray together. Do you want to see God do more at LAVC and in this community? Take the elevator up to the third floor and join us in prayer.

Think about the people in your life that mean the most to you. Most of us would say that these people are our family, even if they don’t happen to be related biologically. Our “family” are the people that we do life with, the people that we share and go through experiences with, and those we grow with through the ups and downs. These are people we are committed to regardless of the good or bad times.

LAVC is a family. A family of people in process moving toward Jesus, and often we find peace and joy in the good times we experience together. But what about the challenging seasons? How do we do life together then? Do we stick together and press into God or do we let our love and relationship with God and each other slip.

In this season, as each of us is being challenged to grow, I am reminded of our second statement in our vision…”Grow in the truth and transforming power of the gospel.”  As we process through times of challenge, press into God. Seek out truth and ask God to help you to encounter and experience the power of the gospel. As we grow in our relationships with Jesus, no doubt we will grow in our relationships with each other.

Have a great week everyone!

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

Picnic in the Park- June 27 10:00am

Mark your calendars and join us Sunday, June 27 at Long Lake Park for an all church service starting at 10:00am. We will have baptisms immediately following the service and celebrate all that God is doing by having a picnic together! More details to come.

Baptisms- June 27

Regularly here at the Vineyard, we offer opportunities for baptisms. If you have a relationship with Jesus, have never been baptized or if you are considering being re-baptized, the next opportunity will be on June 27 after our all church service at Long Lake Park. If you’re interested, please stop by the info table at the connection center and sign up or fill out a form online at www.lakesareavineyard.com. Simply go to the main page and click the resource tab, then click on the forms button. You will find the baptism form on this page.

White Earth Reservation Summer Volunteer Trip – July 19 – 23

On July 19 through July 23, a team from Lakes Area Vineyard church will partner with a team from two other Vineyard’s to show God’s love to the people of the White Earth Native American Reservation.  We will spend our time in Elbow Lake, serving the community and sharing the love of Christ in practical, culturally relevant ways.  If you have a desire to serve and want to be a part of this team, please pick up a brochure and sign up at the information center.  The cost of this experience is $50/person.

Prayer in the Upper Room Every Sunday 10:30-11:15

Prayer is our opportunity to partner with God in what He’s doings. It releases his power on earth and the Bible encourages us to pray together. Do you want to see God do more at LAVC and in this community? Take the elevator up to the third floor and join us to pray together.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Here at LAVC, our vision is to be a family that gathers searching hearts into the saving embrace of God’s love, that grows in the truth and transforming power of the gospel, and that goes, giving ourselves with genuineness and passion to our God. This vision doesn’t only apply to those that are currently outside our family, but also those that are already a part of it.

On Sunday, Job began a three week series that will highlight the three different aspects of this vision as it pertains to our church family and where we’re at right now. As members of one big family, there are bound to be some ugly things that we see, just like with any family and it’s important to know how we are going to respond when those things happen. To illustrate his point, Job read a childrens book entitled “Sorry” by Jean Van Leeuwen.

Sorry is a story of two brothers who literally miss out on each other’s lives and families all over a few lumps in some oatmeal. It really is quite ridiculous that a few lumps in some oatmeal have the power to split a family causing so much pain, bitterness and resentment. The story concludes with these brother’s great grandsons actually saying “sorry” and everything in the past seems to fade away. It’s just too bad that these families waited three generations to let it go and forgive each other.

Our own family here at LAVC is very similar to our traditional families at home. They are messy and things happen, but in the end we’re all still family. Do you have any “lumps” in your life? Isn’t family more important than a bunch of lumps?

I challenge you this week to consider these things and ask God to show you if there are any lumps in your life preventing you from experiencing the goodness of the family of God.

Troy M. Easton – Pastor, Community and Family Life

News & Events

Picnic in the Park- June 27 10:00am

Mark your calendars and join us Sunday, June 27 at Long Lake Park for an all church service starting at 10:00am. We will have baptisms immediately following the service and celebrate all that God is doing by having a picnic together! More details to come.

Baptisms- June 27

Regularly here at the Vineyard, we offer opportunities for baptisms. If you have a relationship with Jesus, have never been baptized or if you are considering being re-baptized, the next opportunity will be on June 27 after our all church service at Long Lake Park. If you’re interested, please stop by the info table at the connection center and sign up or fill out a form online at www.lakesareavineyard.com. Simply go to the main page and click the resource tab, then click on the forms button. You will find the baptism form on this page.

White Earth Reservation Summer Volunteer Trip – July 19 – 23

On July 19 through July 23, a team from Lakes Area Vineyard church will partner with a team from two other Vineyard’s to show God’s love to the people of the White Earth Native American Reservation.  We will spend our time in Elbow Lake, serving the community and sharing the love of Christ in practical, culturally relevant ways.  If you have a desire to serve and want to be a part of this team, please pick up a brochure and sign up at the information center.  The cost of this experience is $50/person.

Prayer in the Upper Room Starting Every Sunday 10:30-11:15

Prayer is our opportunity to partner with God in what He’s doings. It releases his power on earth and the Bible encourages us to pray together. Do you want to see God do more at LAVC and in this community? Take the elevator up to the third floor and join us to pray together.