(What has God taught you during the teaching of how “prodigal” or extravagant He is?  What have you experienced during the week that confirmed for you that God is doing something in your life?  Maybe it was something in the life of your child?  If you would like to share any of these stories, we would love to hear them.  Email either pastor@concordiachurch.com or melissa@concordiachurch.com)

Don’t miss this week’s installment:  “Rediscovering Radical Love: The Father’s Feast”

It’s not too early to think about Easter! Stop by the Guest Services table on Sunday and pick up extra invites for your family and friends!  The series we will kick off at Easter is: “The Life You Were Meant To Live”   Take some postcards to work. Share them in your mom’s group. Keep them handy in your bag or car.  If you know of a local community bulletin board (Starbucks?  Panera?) post one there.  (Let me know where you find these community bulletin boards….I would love to keep a list and know where they are)

Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead before you go to sleep on Saturday night!

Thank you for supporting the children in Haiti through purchasing a t-shirt over the last two weeks.  More than $550 are making their way to Compassion International to support the work among children in Haiti.

I was most gratified by the many new people, some visiting for the very first time, saying they wanted to know how they could help launch this new church!  That is so exciting.  Some of them were invited by others, some saw the postcard mailing, some saw the article in the MyHometown magazine (HERE is the link to the online edition, then go to pages 6-7)

The series on THE PRODIGAL GOD: Rediscovering Radical Love is great and continues this next Sunday.  Come to either the CLASSIC worship (hymns and organ) at 8:45am or FAM JAM a fast paced worship experience where music, drama and message are woven together to communicate a BIG TRUTH of God.  Even young children are engaged!  This happens at 10:45am.

This Sunday you will have an opportunity to help children in Haiti through Compassion International.  View this video announcement HERE we will show at church the next two Sundays.

Check out our HereForGood site (Concordia’s Initiative for Good) to read an update on the results from UNDIE SUNDAY which went to benefit children in Tijuana through the ministry of Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones, Mexico

See you on Sunday!

–Melissa Salomon, Concordia’s Community Life Coordinator

PS  Invite your friends

Thanks, all who we’re praying for the GRAND OPENING.  By almost any measure, GRAND OPENING was a GREAT DAY.

• The team clicked.
• The temporary space looked like a worship place.
• Attendance was good!!   Total of 212 for launch, meaning that 75% of the total seats for the morning (and 85% in FAM JAM ) were filled!!
• In our classic style, we experienced God with deep reverence — and we didn’t need a church building for that to happen.
• The FAM JAM concept — experiencing one deep truth of God together in 5-6 minutes “scenes” –  really seemed to resonate with families.   I think the kids perspective of “church” is pretty positive.  Maybe even “fun.”
• And, we  had lots of FIRST TIME GUESTS checking us out for the Grand Opening,  many of whom lingered after, and stopped by to tell me they’d be back next week.

It was a GREAT DAY!!!  Not much to say beyond — ” Thank you team, for working to make it so.”    And, THANK YOU GOD, for making it all happen!!!!

Sort of looks like God knew what He was doing all along.

For those interested in reading “The Prodigal God” by Tim Keller, click HERE to order from Amazon.  You can also find it at your local Christian bookstore.

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The highlight was a video documenting the Concordia journey.  Here is the link.  You can share this link with your friends and family by copying the link into your email messge.    http://www.youtube.com/concordiachurch

PRAYERWALKING begins Tuesday on both the Oxford and the Windingwalk site. Tuesday and Wednesday are scheduled at Oxford at 9am and 6pm or any time at your convenience.  You may also choose to prayerwalk at the Windingwalk site if you are taking advantage of the Chili’s Give Back Event.  On Thursday and Friday, there are prayerwalks scheduled at 9am and 6pm at Windingwalk. Not all times have a leader scheduled.  The Sunday bulletin has information for leading you through your prayerwalking experience.

CHILI’s GIVE BACK DAY. Take the family, take your friends for lunch or dinner at Otay Ranch Chili’s.  A percentage of your bill will be donated back to Concordia Preschool.  You need to take in a special flyer prepared for us.  You can pick up a flyer at the Concordia Preschool before 6pm.  Call 619 656-8100

SUNDAY’S ACTION TEAM: COMMUNITY MUSIC FESTIVAL.  If you want to participate in the Community Music Festival and assist in making this event a success, join Kurt and Disa Zaiser after church on Sunday in the fellowship hall.  The Welcome Center team will join the Community Event Team for this Sunday’s planning.

BETTY PACHECO’S GREEN ENCHILADA CASSEROLE RECIPE.  The big hit of the fellowship meal today was Betty’s Pacheco’s Casserole.  Several people have asked for the recipe so here it is!  This is the exact recipe Betty created for the large party size recipe:

Ingredients:  Corn tortillas (thick ones like the Porkyland tortillas purchased at Costco) – 1 package, 2 rotisserie chickens from Costco hand shredded, 1 large and 1 small cans of Black Beans, drained and rinsed, 2 large cans of Green Enchilada Sauce (Betty used Las Palmas brand), approximately 3 cups of shredded monterrey jack cheese. No salt added and nothing fried! For garnish:  2 bunches of green onions and sour creme.

Betty used cold tortillas and layered 3 on the bottom of her casserole crock pot.  Layer chicken, black beans, sauce and cheese.  Continue layering in the same fashion.  Betty used approximately 5 layers.  Cook for 1 1.2 hours or until bubbly.  To serve garnish with slices green onions and a large dollop of sour creme.  Serve and enjoy!

Six new families toured the new preschool and  families are filling out paperwork to begin on September 1st!

Guests were greeted by Sandy J.

Relays were led by Andres S. and Ryan D.  The games were M&M Relay, Balloon Toss, Red Light/Green Light, and other fun games!

The Cake Walk and the Hokey Pokey were a big hit!

After our Community Sports Day, Concordia volunteers helped out at the Windingwalk Carnival in the afternoon.  We got to see Concordia Preschool families and even staff as well as answer questions of people who noticed our staff Concordia shirts. We also were able to begin promoting the joint project between the Windingwalk Homeowners Association and Concordia Preschool for the September Music Festival to be held at the corner Town Square next door to our Preschool.  It has a wonderful gazebo with grass amphitheatre seating which will be a perfect venue for the music festival.  The community will get to celebrate the talent of young musicians including recording group The Pink Army (a local group of girls averaging 11 years old)

Here is what Pastor wrote for his “about ” page:

My friend and co-worker, Melissa Salomon, has a wonderful blog called “My Beautiful Life.”  It’s so good, and she has so many interesting things going on in her life and ministry that her blog is read around the world.   I doubt mine will be read around the block.   But if it were read, and if I were to give it a title, I’d call my blog, “MY INTERRUPTIBLE LIFE.”

That’s because my life right now consists of the multiple tasks and the constant interruptions of launching a new church, finishing the first stages of a building project, wrapping up a kitchen remodel, and taking children to school,  sports events and music lessons.  Lots of people are as busy, or more busy, than I am.

I call this page “My Interruptible Life” because on this page I’ll share “life” with you, including insights from both my personal and professional life.  And what I’ve discovered is that a whole lot of “life”  (whether  discoveries, personal growth, leadership lessons, family memories, or growing in my relationship with God) happens not when I schedule it, but in those “interruptions” in my plan for the day.

If I blow through those interruptions, I end up missing a lot of  chances to help others.  And I miss the chance to learn something about myself and about ministry. And I miss the chance to grow in my faith.

I don’t really like interruptions.  But what I’ve learned over the years is that God seems to operate more frequently in that “unscheduled time.”   Seems like those special “discoveries” and “quality time” moments  I want with my family happen in that space more often than they do in scheduled time, too.

So welcome to “my interruptible life.”   I hope you can find a thing or two in my journey  that might benefit yours.

1.  LCEF mission partner article….www.concordiatogether.com

2. MyHometown Magazine…..www.concordiatogether.com

“Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.”—Matthew 6:10.

What an amazing day!  The morning was crazy and workers were still installing door handles, checking air conditioning wiring and ducts, wiring the monitors for the check in system, etc……

In the middle of the day, we had an opportunity to pray together and focus on the privilege of being a part of this important work.

Pastor directed the ribbon cutting ceremony and festivities.  Our business partners and restaurants were very generous in their gifts of food and the Concordia ladies did up an amazing refreshments table!  Together we were able to recognize how amazing it is to see  a vision realized especially in the face of considerable obstacles along the way. It was good to recognize the hard work of the entire team.  The Architect Tony Mansour, the amazing General Contractors, Good and Roberts (they had never seen a building this big go up so quickly), Rick Engineering Landscape Architects, David Poole (who stuck with us through 10 extensions in purchasing the property) of Brookfield Homes, etc.

The teachers worked hard getting their rooms up and when we ran out of time, they just hid the rest of the boxes as best they could.  After the ribbon cutting, everyone got to tour the preschool from the amazingly wide hallway through the oneway glass into the classrooms so that the santized classrooms could stay pristine for the Monday morning first day of classes.  The teachers will work yet again tomorrow.

Monday is going to be crazy. Pray for us as we welcome families to their new school (looks like the count is close to 90 on the first day and then on Tuesday another 20 or 30 first timers!)

Here are some photos to enjoy of the day.

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(Note: Moving men not in photo-Dean Frost)

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