Hey church family!

I just want to send updates to everyone on some things going on with Diversity in Faith!

First of all, I want to send congratulations to all the parents and kids whose children are graduating, ending their school year, and embarking in summer. In fact, congrats to the many adults who have finished finals as well!

If you have missed a week, our messages are available online at http://sermon.net/div...

We have a number of activities going on in the next month.

First this Sunday May 20th from about 1-4 we are doing our monthly outreach at the church by joining in the NAMI walk to raise awareness about mental health. Contact Tiffany Waller or one of our pastoral staff for more information.

We are starting a series on the book of Acts this week at church. I want to encourage folks to read a chapter a week with their family, spouse/partner, some friends to prepare your hearts. If you want some discussion questions, here is a sight with some: http://www.web-church... . This Sunday we will read Acts 1, then Acts 2.

Also the SERENDIPITY BIBLE usually has good questions for each chapter in the Bible.

On May 27th, we will return to having our relationship group at 4 PM, just before our church service. Please join and invite others wanting to strengthen romantic relationships they are in or to learn how to have stronger relationships.

On May 27th, we are having both Pentecost and a special ordination service. You as a congregation voted to have Jowancka Mintz join our church's pastoral staff as a deacon for one-year. This means that for the next year Jowancka will be assisting in preaching, teaching, visiting, and caring for folks in our congregation as a pastoral leader. At the end of the year the congregation can vote to have her do another year as a deacon, take a break from being on the pastoral staff, or be ordained her in a more permanent way as an elder, which is the Bible term for a pastor. We are going to have a potluck after church that Sunday to celebrate her ordination. Also I am looking for church members of ANY age to do some special readings at church on May 27th, when Jo is ordained as a deacon. Contact me to take part in this. Also any extended friends of the church who want to be present to support Jo in her ministry are welcome.

On June 3rd, we will be doing a special service called a "Jazz Mass" to celebrate Trinity Sunday, followed by a brief church business meeting. A Jazz Mass is like an open mic night at a coffee shop, but as an act of worship. Church members are invited to bring poems they have written or enjoy, songs they can sing, dramas they can act together, testimonies of their own to share, works of art they have made, hand-crafts they have done, and to share any of these that have spiritual meaning for them as their act of worship for that Sunday. Following this time of each sharing we will have a time of communion and prayer together. The theme of the service is Acts 3's statement "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you...".

Also on June 3rd, instead of the relationship group, we will packing bags for the needy at 4 PM, with the relationship group resuming June 10th, at 4 PM. Contact Pastor Kat Royal for more information about the Cody's bag ministry to the homeless.

We meet each Sunday in one of the fellowship halls at St. James Lutheran Church, where we hold our regular Sunday worship service each Sunday at 5 PM. This fellowship hall is in the smaller brick building on the campus of St. James Lutheran Church, directly behind the main sanctuary building.
Please feel free to email me at diversityinfaith@yahoo.com or call me at 910-733-866 for more information.

Diversity in Faith: A Christian Church for All People is a fledgling new church started as a part of the Progressive Christian Alliance (progressivechristianalliance.org). To quote one Progressive Christian Alliance pastor, "We believe that following the teachings of Jesus means we need to support rights for GLBT people, rights for women, and be inclusive of all. We believe Jesus was for all people, not just coming for one elite group. For us, to be Christian is to embrace all God?s children and to speak up for the oppressed."

Also feel free to set up to get updates with us on facebook at http://www.facebook.c... or http://www.facebook.c... or set up a profile at diversityinfaith.webs.com and get updates there.

Blessings!

Yours in Christ's Peace,

Micah Royal

Diversity in Faith: A Christian Church for All People
http://diversityinfai...