Dear sisters in Christ,

Have you seen the billboard telling us the world is coming to an end this Saturday? Yep, May 21st.  Fearfulness and its offspring anxiety and worry have plagued mankind since the beginning of creation: even the great King David wrote, “When I am afraid…”  But thankfully the Psalmist didn’t stop there, for David continues by declaring:  “I will put my trust in Thee.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.” (Psalm 56:3-4)  Perhaps the real problem is we allow fear and anxiety to be our own alternative to relying on the presence, power and promises of our God.  As author Catherine Marshall once said, the greatest discovery we can make is to realize that our own strength is not enough…even to combat our tendency toward fear and worry.  We were created to be God-dependent.  We operate at our best when depending on our Creator, our Sustainer, our Provider, our Defender.  Will you join me this week-end in following David’s example?  “I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

I’m so excited about our Mission Madness event this Sunday afternoon.  I hope you are signed up to participate in one of our 20 different local mission projects!  IF not, please go to our website or stop by the table Sunday morning and let us know where we can count on you.  SO far about 160 people – men, women, children, youth- have said they’ll be there!  The Church Has Left the Building!  Join us!  (T-shirts are available for a suggested donation of $10.  They look great and are a nice quality. Check them out!)

Ryan McCarty, one of our fine young adults here at Central, is working on his Eagle Scout project.  Could you help provide Ryan with some perennials?  He is going to be doing the landscaping around the front of the church and is looking for perennials from all the different seasons to work on keeping that area "in Bloom" most of the year.  You can reach Ryan through his family’s e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  Thanks for encouraging Ryan in this way.  Please be in pray for our young people as Elk River hosts prom this Saturday and graduation activities are soon in full swing.  

Summer Bible study opportunities are right around the corner, too.  Please check out our website, bulletin, or newsletter for a study that will provide spiritual growth for you this summer.  The women’s book discussion, “Magnificent Obsession” is May 24th, Tuesday, 9:30 at the Elk River activity center.  I’ve heard absolutely awesome reports on this book so I hope those of you available will plan on participating.

I had the privilege of attending the International Justice Mission fund-raising banquet this past Tuesday.  The issue of human-trafficking, especially in the area of the sex-trade, is staggering.  Staggering and heart-breaking.  Please be in worship this Sunday as we connect this issue with the story of the slave girl in Acts 16.  We’ll also hear from one of our local young women who will be bike riding across the country to raise awareness of this issue.  WE are never short of things to pray for, are we!  

And so we lean on the words of Jesus in John 16:  “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  
See you Sunday morning – either here or in heaven (on the off chance the May 21st world ends people have it right!) 
God’s peace and power – Sonja Dixon