Greetings Mosaic Christ-followers!

With public school having started this week, the reality that summer is fast drawing to a close is pressing in on us. (Do I hear some parents cheering?) 

The change of seasons is always a great time to take stock of new opportunities and old commitments.  It’s good to look back and learn from triumphs as well as mistakes, to see how our past commitments are positively or negatively shaping our present life.  And I find it invigorating to look forward to new opportunities and to making (or remaking) important commitments that keep me growing.

 With that in mind, I want to encourage every one of us to ask ourselves, “What am I committed to this fall that will help me sink my life more into Jesus and grow up more as God’s child?”  This Sunday we will be looking at that idea of being “ROOTED” as we dive back into Colossians 2. 

 This Sunday also launches five days of using our parking lot for the BIBLE TRUCK (really a Bible semi-truck).  This tractor-trailer-long exhibit from the Midwest, hosted by our Russian brothers and sisters down the street at Pilgrim Slavic Baptist Church, will be in our parking lot from Sunday to Thursday this week.  It’s a great opportunity to see how we got the Bible we have and how it has not only become consistently the world’s “BEST seller” but also how thousands of people have paid dearly to translate it and distribute it in some areas of the world. Our kids and teens will be touring the exhibit during their Sunday School classes but adults are invited to do so after our worship service is over (about 11:30a.m.). 

 Additionally, we will ALL need to park in our north parking area (the Mosaic Community Bike Shop parking area on 2^nd Ave. behind our building).  You can access that lot from either Howard St., Wall St. or 2^nd Ave.  Pray for our city as you walk the extra half-block to the Mosaic Center.

 This Sunday is also our last summer–schedule Sunday (10:00a.m. service).  Starting September 10^th, we’ll be back to two Sunday services at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.  The Changing Lives service will remain at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.  Adult Bible Ed will resume on Sundays and Tuesdays starting October 1.  (More on that later.)

 Lastly… for now… we want to take advantage of being a relational church by upping our game with a photo directory.  Here’s how it works.  On Friday & Saturday, September 22-23, we are having Lifetouch photography come to the Mosaic Center and take all of our pictures as a church family.  They will compile them into a photo phone book for each of us.  While we would like to have the name and photo of each of you, how much information we put into the directory depends on what you would like. Each of you get to make that decision. 

The directory also comes as an app if you have a mobile device.  Our goal is to help all of us put names with faces and help our relational experience.   This will also give your pastors an opportunity to touch base with you, answer any questions and see how we might better help you grow in Christ this fall.

Everyone who participates in this process will receive a free 8x10 portrait, and a photo directory as well as the app.  If you would like to take the opportunity to buy some additional photos, there will be price brochures in the lobby.   

So, while we will start actual physical sign ups on Sunday the 10^th of September, you can sign up now on-line for your photo session and beat the crowd.  To get the best time option for you, use the link below to make your appointment.  It’s on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Go to

https://booknow-lifetouch.appointment-plus.com/y3v9s1ps/

Embracing the fall (the seasonal one, of course),

John