Church Family,

We are thrilled to share that we are launching a new Young Adult and College Ministry at our church, starting on March 22 at 10am! Zac and his wife, McKaylan Madden, will be leading this ministry. This ministry aims to create a welcoming space where college and young adults can connect with their peers, grow in their faith, and explore life’s questions together. We are also planning gatherings throughout the year for this ministry. We believe this is a valuable opportunity for college students and young adults to build meaningful relationships and deepen their understanding of God’s purpose in their lives.

It was a great crowd this past Sunday, and several first-time visitors attended with us. Thank you for inviting others to St. James. It is making a difference. I spoke with a family that attended St. James in the past, and they returned this past Sunday. This family loved their visit with us and plans to become more involved and continue visiting St. James. We were in week two of "The Church Defined" series.

The message from Sunday focused on the essential role of love in defining the church, as highlighted in John 13:34-35, where Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He loved them. This love is characterized by radical self-sacrifice, in contrast to the superficial use of the term in modern contexts. The sermon emphasized that true love involves serving, forgiving, and supporting one another, reflecting Christ's love to the world.

Additionally, it warns against division within the church, as unity is vital for a strong witness to the community. The message encouraged practical expressions of love through service and humility, urging church members to actively participate in loving actions and seek reconciliation in their relationships. Ultimately, it calls for a commitment to embodying Christ-like love in all aspects of church life, reinforcing that love is the greatest testimony of faith. I pray that you are being the love of Christ in your day-to-day!

We are taking initial steps toward our rebranding to clearly communicate our vision and mission. I met with the nominations team yesterday evening to assemble a team of three to begin working with the branding company. Below is a church survey; please provide input as we begin this process. We have chosen to do this online to improve readability and ease response collection for sharing with the design team.

God is moving at St.James, and I praise the Lord for His blessings on our church.

To God be the glory!

Pastor Brandon