Midweek Check-in (July 9, 2025)

Good afternoon, church family!

I am wrapping up a wonderful family vacation this week, and it has been a time of fun and refreshment. CJ’s grandfather, with the help of a few friends, built a cabin near Nederland, Colorado many years ago, and we get to enjoy the mountains each summer with CJ’s extended family.

Here’s a photo of my oldest daughter and her cousin on a paddleboard at Brainard Lake!

I’m reminded of a young pastor who once refused to take a day off. His grandmother called him out on it, asking him why he thought he didn’t need to rest. With a hint of pride, the young pastor responded: “Grandma, the devil doesn’t take a day off so I won’t either.”

To which the grandmother quickly and wisely replied, “And why are you letting the devil be your role model?”

Jesus once sent out His disciples to proclaim the good news and do miraculous works in His name, and they did so with great effectiveness! (Mark 6:7-13). When they returned, Jesus had more plans for them.

He said to the apostles, “Come by yourselves to a secluded place and rest for a while.” They departed in a boat by themselves for a deserted place.

-Mark 6:31b

So thank you for the opportunity to get away for rest and refreshment. I can’t wait to be with you again on Sunday!

Your pastor,

Billy Byler

THANK YOU! Big thank you to the many of you who participated in our fundraiser lunch for Daphiney Saavedra last Sunday. We raised a little more than $6,000 to directly bless her and her family as she prepares for her kidney transplant in 9 days! Please continue praying for Daphiney and Tracy (her gracious, generous organ donor), and if you missed the lunch, you can still support them financially through her GoFundMe page.

LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY: The next Leadership Community is coming on the evening of July 20th - and there will be an Ice Cream Social as well! The whole church is invited! Please sign up in the foyer if you can bring ice cream or toppings. I’ll share more details about this event this Sunday.

JUST FOR FUN

Hey, you read Pastor Billy's midweek check-in all the way to the end! As a reward, check out these crazy stories I came across recently:

·      Used hotel soap is now saving lives in impoverished countries.

·      Joey Chestnut ATE SEVENTY AND A HALF HOTDOGS IN TEN MINUTES to win the annual hot dog eating contest on Coney Island on July 4^th. The second-place guy ate 46 and a half.

·      A horse racetrack in Washington held a different kind of race: 300 people dressed up in inflatable dinosaur costumes.