Pastor's Update

Let’s Cut-A-Deal

It is the Year of the Revolution. A Revolution that starts with you and with me. A Revolution that begins when we remember what happened at our baptism. And a Revolution that continues this morning as we examine the words of the prophet when he writes the covenant will be written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31).

Our Revolution will only happen when we take the covenant that is written on our hearts, and allow it to change our hearts. Our Revolution will only happen when we realize that our entire lives belong to the Lord. I have found that a simple prayer helps me remember this truth…and helps the Revolution take place in my life.

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. Amen.

I hope that you will join me in this prayer daily for the next few weeks. In doing so, you might realize and remember that your life is not your own. You might find that you are willing to give more generously and to do things that are a bit risky or require sacrifice. When we realize and remember this, a Revolution will happen in you, in Parkway and in our community.

POTLUCK SUPPER AND DON PIPER

Mark Your Calendars Now!
We know of three people, from Scripture, who were privileged to see heaven. All of these men, Stephen and the Apostles Paul and John, were alive when they were given a glimpse of the wonders of heaven. Don Piper, a Baptist pastor, claims to be a fourth, though unlike the other three, he first had to die. Returning home from a conference, Piper’s car was crushed under the wheels of a truck. Medical personnel declared him dead at the scene of the accident. But ninety minutes after this accident, a pastor, waiting at the scene, was told by God to pray for the dead man. He did so, and Piper immediately returned to life. For the 90 minutes that his body lay lifeless inside the car, Piper claims to have been in heaven. He now carries with him memories of paradise and in 90 Minutes in Heaven, a book which has sold over 500,000 copies, he seeks to encourage other Christians with a description of our eternal home. “Because I was able to experience heaven,” he says, “I was able to prepare [friends] for it. And now I am preparing you.”

Reverend Piper will be with us on the evening of January 17th!! It all begins at 6:00 pm.
This is something you won’t want to miss!! Bring a friend!!

Charting Your Course Begins January 18th!

Running Around In Circles? Try Charting Your Course instead! Working step by step in a group of four, you'll recognize your own preferred picture of who God is and how He relates to you. Then you'll create a storyboard of your own life in order to identify your core values and key life lessons. In discussion with a few others and in time alone with God, you'll search out God's vision for your future. The workshop will end with you choosing your next step-that strategic "next action" for you to press forward in the right direction! We will have 3 sessions (January 18, 25 and February 1) from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Childcare is available. For more information, contact Mike Johnson. Come Chart Your Course with us.

HOPE for ONE

We have the opportunity to reach NEW TERRITORY with the message of the Gospel through the gift of music. We are going to professionally record and produce a CD with a mix of Top 40 and Christian songs and mail it out to every residence in New
Territory. There are 4601 homes and 500 apartments. We can reach every home for only $5 per family. What a great and non-threatening way to get into every single family in our immediate area with the message of the Gospel.

We have had some people ask about other areas to reach. Let me assure you, if this is “successful” we will begin to target other ministry areas such as Pecan Grove, Greatwood and River Park. Please help our effort even if you don’t live in New Territory. Everyone can afford to buy for a family, and some of you, maybe a whole neighborhood. Encourage your kids to sponsor a family and make them feel like this is their outreach too. We have designated one of the walls in the worship center as the Wall of Hope. For every family that is sponsored, we will put a card up on the wall that says "Hope for One."

Women’s Retreat

Parkway’s Women’s Ministry is hosting an in house weekend Retreat January 29-30th. Our theme is Tapestry and how friends color the fabric of our lives. “It is our relationships with other women which often bring color and brightness, honesty and security, to our lives.” We will have dinner Friday night followed by a speaker, friends and fellowship. Then on Saturday we will serve breakfast and then a day packed full of topics about Taking Inventory, Prayer and Good Friends, Goal Setting and Silence and Solitude. We hope you will join us. You can register at church on Sundays or register online. If you have any questions contact Debbie Mullen (281-343-7197).

Outreach: 2nd Mile Gifts of Love Thanks 

We are so grateful for the extravagant generosity of our Parkway church family, most recently demonstrated by the donation of toys and volunteer time to serve 100 needy families with Christmas gifts through Second Mile's Gifts of Love program. Many lives were touched for the Lord because of your efforts.  500 families registered to attend Christmas outreach parties at six partner churches. As toys multiplied, Second Mile was able to host an impromptu "overflow party" at the Mission on the Tuesday before Christmas and provide 125 additional families with Christmas gifts.  With still more toys coming in, Second Mile wound up its services on Wednesday of that week and sent a full truck load of toys -- enough to serve 800 children or more – to distribute at a church in the 5th Ward of Houston. So, with partners like Parkway, Second Mile continues serving people in need all around us. On behalf of the Board, staff and clients of Second Mile Mission Center, thank you so much!  To view photos of the Parkway Gifts of Love, visit Second Mile's page on Facebook. 

Safe Sanctuary Training

January 17th 5-5:45pm
Come a little early for the potluck dinner and attend the Safe Sanctuary training. While this is required training for all adults and students who will be volunteering with Children’s or Student Ministry, we would love to have everyone in our church aware of the policy and of the procedures we follow to protect our precious children. The training will be in Room 128 in the Ministry Center and will end in plenty of time for you to be first in line for dinner. Register here.

PLEASE EMAIL KATHY YOUR BIRTHDAY, YEAR NOT NEEDED!!