Truth is, one of the projects we’re working on is a completely revamped website with Facebook and Blog integration. Unfortunately the process hasn’t gone nearly as quickly as we would like. Hopefully we’ll be able to reveal the new creation some time soon. It’s release will coincide with a steady stream of blog content.

In the mean time. Bear with us… we are hopefully getting close.

It’s designed for those who are new to the Alley community and those who have been around since inception but don’t feel connected.

Entry Point is a chance to hear our story, meet our leaders and connect into the community.

It’s always after worship on the Second Sunday of the month.

Controversial week 1, this coming Sunday will be What does the Bible teach about homosexuality?

Because of the PG-13 nature of this talk there will be an alternative option for kids during the teaching time.

Here’s your chance to vote on week 2… tons of great questions asked.  We will definitely have to visit/revisit many of them in the future… in an effort to narrow down the field for voting, here are the  most echoed suggestions thus far…

1) I am personally interested in hearing a biblical discussion of abortion.  Tim

2) If our God is a loving God . And God is omnipotent why is there pain? Curt

3) Stem cell research might be interesting. Tina

4) I would like to know why children have to suffer. Geri

Please vote with your comments.

Also had an awesome time of  Baptism with a mom and her 3 daughters.  God is good!

And we continue to be blessed by the community meal and everyone involved.

We shifted the schedule slightly.

This week and next we’ll be doing a series that I am very anxious to teach called, Talmid: Follow… with all your heart.

Can’t wait to worship with you!

1) I don’t have a photo, but thanks to President Seitz for stopping in this last week and welcoming us to the LCMS.

2) We’re in our third week of the free community meals and it has been impressive to see!  Pass the word on, every Thursday from 5:30-6:30.  Thanks again to TST catering for generously providing the food!

3) A quick shot of the parade.  We collected trash instead of throwing candy.  It went over very well.  Ironically we were followed by giant orange trash trucks throwing more candy out the side doors.  Also, a special thanks to Mark who spent the whole morning telling people where the bathrooms were as we were the launching point for the parade.

As many of you know last week our appeal for membership as a church in our denomination came before our local district in convention.  Prior to the convention many things false and misleading were said about our church.  Some criticisms were completely false, some were based on personal preference and few if any were Biblically minded.

We were not invited to share our perspective before the convention but were thankful for the opportunity to do so at the convention itself.  We are not afraid of who we are as a church, the call that God has placed on us nor our Savior Jesus, who gave His life for us.   Neither are we afraid of being held Biblically accountable.  That is why we want to be a part of a Biblically founded denomination as we believe the LCMS to be.  And at the convention, God spoke.  The District President gave a powerful, Biblical and compelling opening address about what it means to follow Jesus, share Jesus and be a church that takes risks in Jesus’ name.  I was given an opportunity to share who we at the Alley are as a church and discussion was opened up before the vote.

When the vote came, the people of the convention spoke with an overwhelming vote of approval.  We are thankful for all who sought God alongside of us for wisdom in this.  We continue to pray that God would lead us all the more into the future and that the spiritual forces of evil who fight against the gospel and it’s proclamation would fall on deaf ears.  All glory to God.  May we be counted worthy of the prize for which He has called us heavenward.

By His grace, in His name and for His glory alone!

The plan is that each week we will tackle a controversial topic, Ben will teach on it and then we will go open mic for questions on the topic.

Here’s where you come in.  Help us determine what 2 controversial topics to focus on.

Comment here with your ideas and/or affirmation of other peoples.  Think Biblical, political, ethical… if there’s a controversy and you think it should be addressed from the perspective of God’s word, bring it out.

Let the discussion begin…

I praise God for the way that He is moving in you, His church and the impact that is making on those around us!  

Here’s a pic of Michelle from the foodshelf presenting a Community Partner award to the people of our church!

Here are the kids hard at work!

Here is the final product.