“I will redeem the years the locusts have eaten”

Joel 2:25

While some wallow in despair over what was for those who were, God is doing a powerful work in what is through the ones who are here now. Those with eyes to see will see.

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

Logistics

Served: ~90ish
Last week's leaders: Bryan, Geoff
Next week's leaders: Ruth, Bryan

Looking Ahead

Bryan is preaching at Castle Church in Norwich this Sunday. Please keep him in prayer.

Service

*SPECIAL NOTE*

It is with outstanding joy to share that the man who walked to us off the street accepted the call to Jesus, got baptized then and there, got on a bus to a detox center for crack, made it through the 3 day detox, secured a spot in a Christian residential rehab, and CHECKED IN ON HIS OWN! PRAISE GOD!!!!!

ehem…. and as for this past week….

We were joined by Carley Crofton who preached, and another friend of Faith 2 Faith Ministry, Kirby Kelly, who has a fine book out on the work of grace in overcoming temptation and habitual sin., “You can be free”… which focuses not only on the power to overcome sin, but the power of God’s grace to overcome our shame after repentance and healing. I’m just a chapter in but am already a fanboy.

We had not even rolled up to City Hall yet when I got a call telling me that there was already an event on the front steps, including a DJ with a PA system. We were not phased a bit but simply moved the church over onto the grass. It turned out that the “event” was a Haitian Flag Day celebration! Thanks to my Haitian Neighbor I learned all about the celebration of freedom and eating of soup so I walked up to the DJ, said hello in French and he immediately asked if I wanted soup! I explained who we were and what we were doing and he turned his PA facing the other direction and lowered it, apologizing for “being in the way”…. and a woman gave me soup! I told him it was not a problem, thanked them for the Celebration Soup, and danced back to the group while the gathered Haitian Community laughed and smiled at and with the odd white guy who was dancing with his soup and knew their Freedom Story.

We were blessed to have the youth group and a number of their leaders (18 total???) from The Barn who were really engaged and deeply loving. It rained while we set up in the grass so the kids handed out ponchos and we set up hot coffee and snacks and the place filled up looking a whole lot like a baseball crown in colored ponchos, but it was a crowd of youth, adults, some homeless, some not, some from the Valley others from the City all hungry for God and community and peace.

And the peace fell upon us all. Carley has a large online presence and ministry but is knew to outdoor preaching. I helped her as she tried to flip through her well-worn Bible and keep it under a clear poncho for her. Precious few souls are willing to stand in the rain and hold out the words of Life…. she has an authentic and dynamic personality and love for Jesus and she connected with the youth gathered there.

I need to repent. There are many youth movements speaking into the social media world and I at times have not given them the mantle (like it was ever mine to give). After spending time with Carey and Kirby and hearing thier stories and passion for the Word of God I am excited at what God is doing in and through this generation that is standing up, speaking out, and loving well.

Carley gave an invitation to hand lives over to Jesus and/or rededicate them to the love, honor, and glory of God. A dozen or so came forward… young and old alike as we all are in need of the Glory and Love of Jesus.

A hunger for deeper love is what we are seeing in all our pockets.

The rain let up and we served lunch and handed out underwear while folks talked and prayed and chewed… in whatever order or combination they wanted too. God was bringing deep healing and joy. I was thankful to give two young women of God a place where they could share the words and power God has given them.

It was a great big beautiful day.

b

From the Community Churches

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1 (New Living Translation)

Our Community Church team continues to grow as God speaks to more and more people inviting them to love the widow and orphan and become part of the family in the diaspora who have had to leave hearth and home as they age.

Rushika and her sister-in-law Anna are new to the family. I’ve known Rushika for several years through my partnership with Valley Simsbury (now Pathway Church). Rushika is a non-western believer and brings the passion that followers in other lands bring. Anna simply loves Jesus and to sing his praises…and she serves on the setup team at Pathway so her gifts are welcomed!

We three, along with Mary, worshipped at West Hartford Health and Rehab this past week to a packed room. Laura, the program director for memory care, always joins us not simply to sit with residents but to be with and in church. We have been friends for ten years now.

I love what happens when Catholics and Pentecostals, Hispanics and Europeans, indecently and memory care all worship together. It is a slice of heaven.

My wife, our daughter Hannah, and myself were in Mystic cheering on our eldest daughter Olivia and her friend Emily as they ran a half-marathon together! I brought my cowbell that I had bought to lead “Praise” at my friend Sue’s funeral as she had asked me before she died. I was thinking about how I used it to cheer her on into Glory as I used it to lift the Spirits of those who ran by…. and two just blew my mind.

“hey, Pastor Bryan! It’s me from the worship team up at Camp Spofford!”

“Hey Pastor Bryan! It’s Justin and Lydia from CrU at Storrs!”

Everywhere is church.

The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale/Chatfield

The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale/Chatfield

The Farmington Station Community Church

The River Ridge Community Church

The West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church

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Bryan
Street Church Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator
(860) 578-2961 TEXT ONLY
bryan@thestreetchurch.org