Update and Weekly Word

Friends of Shalom,

It's been a busy month. I hope things are well in your life and ministry. Here are some updates on our end.

Ordination: I've finished all my ordination exams for the priesthood. Most of you know I was ordained to the diaconate last summer. Deacons are full members of the clergy in the Anglican Tradition with specific roles in the church service and in ministry. All clergy including Priests and Bishops begin as Deacons. But some deacons are "transitional" on their way to the priesthood. That was my path. I hope to be ordained as a Priest in the coming months!
New Bishop: The Diocese of Cascadia ordained a new Bishop to lead our churches last week. Bishop Jake Worley is the second Bishop of our missionary diocese up here in the PNW (Washington, Oregon, and Alaska). Please keep him in prayer as he begins his ministry.
New Day and Meeting Time: Starting March 31st Easter Sunday we'll begin meeting on Sunday morning at 10am. Please pray for this change and for this new season for us!
New People: At the beginning of the year I began praying for God to send us 10 new folks over the next 2 months. I counted them up... and He's answered that prayer! We've seen exactly 10 adults and kids begin worshipping with us! Please continue to pray for God to connect us with folks interested in our plant and those He is drawing to Himself.
Personal News: Our youngest daughter got engaged! We couldn't be more excited for Ellie and Zac! They are also key members of Shalom and we're so thankful to God for bringing them together.
Prayer: Please continue to pray for the ups and downs as well as the discouragement that's a real part of church planting as well as protection from the enemy.

Here's the Weekly Word

What is Lent? As most of you are aware, we are now in the season of Lent. Here's an article that helps lay out the basics of Lent. I pray this is a rich season in your life of entering into the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and giving (Matthew 6) as we prepare for Holy Week!

What is Lent?

Thanks again for all your support and prayers.

For the Shalom of Kitsap,

-Rob and Beth

Comments

A New Season

Friends of Shalom, It’s a new season! Eating dinner with Beth the other night it just hit me how sooooo many things are new in our lives right now! First, our kids continue to keep growing up. Miriam is about to celebrate her one year anniversary with her amazing husband Tucker. Sam turned 21 this month! Ellie and Asher are so busy with hobbies, work, and friends that we barely see them. At least we have Mack to keep us company. Second, I officially preached my last sermon at Seaside Church ten weeks ago where I have served as the lead pastor for the last decade. It was a beautiful service and I felt like the Lord really gave me a word for my own life as well as for what’s next for my Seaside Fam. If you want to listen to that message you can find it here . Third, I continue to heal from breaking my L2 vertebrae fifteen weeks ago. My surgeon recently gave me the official thumbs up to return to “normal” activities as my body allows. I’m still going to physical therapy and my full heal

Why Anglican?

It’s a fair question. Why would a tattooed, flannel shirt wearing, Acts 29, non-denominational pastor want to wear a collar… a robe… and go “traditional” on us? I mean, isn’t that like going backwards? I thought we left all that stuff behind in the church growth movement of the 80’s that spawned the church planting movement of the late 90’s? What the heck are you doing Rob? Again, these are fair questions I can’t fully address this in one newsletter, but here’s a start. For me the journey begins with the leading of the Holy Spirit. In the fall of 2018 I started noticing that something was off in my soul. Around this time I was invited by Pat and Jenny Tracy to take advantage of a retreat cottage they had set up for pastors from Kitsap County. This began one of the greatest spiritual shifts of my life. The practice of taking 3-5 days away to simply be with Jesus changed me. I began scheduling more retreats and over the years I dove deeper into the contemplative side of our faith.

It's Go Time!

It’s Go Time! This last weekend we celebrated Beth’s 46th birthday by spending a few days down in Oregon with all our kids. We had a great time catching up and enjoying two beautiful fall days together. On the way down my wife reminded me that her birthday was the sixth month anniversary of my cycling accident (I broke my L2 vertebrae back in April). It’s hard to believe that was six months ago! Six months ago, I was preparing to transition out of my last pastorate of 10 years and was also getting ready to begin some initial meetings for Shalom Anglican. Needless to say, my accident changed those plans. The thought crossed my mind, “God, are you trying to get my attention to keep me from planting this church?” But during my weeks of recovery it didn’t seem like the Lord was removing this calling; however, he was slowing me down! I shared with several friends that I wanted to embrace everything the Lord had for me in this time of rest and healing. My typical response would be to plow a

Shalom Anglican

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