Jesus, Who's that?

While getting a haircut today I struck up a conversation with the stylist (are they still called stylists when it's Supercuts?). I've had my haircut at this location several times but I had never seen her so I assume she was new. She was making the typical haircut small talk (how bout this weather, did you have a nice weekend, etc). Then she asked me what I do for a living. This question is always a weird one for me. Telling her I am the Associate Minister of Community Life doesn't really do much for most people so I usually simplify it and say, "I'm a pastor".

She responded by saying, "what's that?" I was confused so I repeated it, then said minister. She said, what's that? I'm thinking to myself, where is this lady from?! Then I said Priest, bingo! That's when the confusion really began. She couldn't understand why I don't live at the church. If we meet in a school, how are we a church? What kind of church are you?

It struck me that understanding me and our church probably isn't all that this woman is missing. I wonder if I mentioned grace or salvation or the Cross, if she would understand those things. I take for granted that I have so many Christian friends and live in this comfortable Christian bubble. I often forget how many people still don't know who Jesus is, how many don't understand His love for them, and how many have yet to recieve God's grace. Right here in our own neighborhoods. We need to make His name known!

Prayer Guide

STOREHOUSE CHURCH PRAYER GUIDE
Friday Morning, Sept 26 -thru- Saturday, Evening, Sept 27

FRIDAY MORNING:
Pray that we realize that our inheritance and hope as a church family is in God’s incomparable and incredible great power which is available to us (Gal. 1:12; Eph. 1:18-19; Phil. 3:10).

FRIDAY AFTERNOON:
Pray that our Church, Leadership and Pastoral Staff becomes more surrendered and poured out to Christ, so they can have spiritual breakthroughs by seeking the fear of God and the mind of Christ and the Spirit’s leading (1 Cor. 2:16; Gal. 2:20-21).

FRIDAY EVENING:
Pray for discernment in exposing any plans of the enemy against our Church. Ask Christ to protect us as we wage spiritual warfare against the enemy on behalf of others (Eph. 6:11-12, 16; Col. 2:6-8; 1 Pet. 3:12).

SATURDAY MORNING:
Pray for an increase of vitality, renewal and vision that is from God for us personally and collectively so that the church can be galvanized, then take a hold of, and then be revitalized as a committed community for His Kingdom and purpose.
(Isa. 61:3; Rom. 12).

SATURDAY AFTERNOON:
Pray against gossip, negative criticism, false expectations, unhealthy burdens, strife and weariness that will seek to invade our church family (Psalm 91:5-6, 11; Luke 10:19; Eph. 4: 17, 32-5:1).

SATURDAY EVENING
Pray that our church be a community of grace and forgiveness. That our church has an atmosphere of encouragement by being grateful for Christ’s work in us that enables us to be inspired to give genuine hospitality to all who come though our doors (Rom. 15:4-6; 2 Thess. 2:16-17).

Fasting Resources

Campus crusade has a great "Fasting & Prayer" guide. Check out these short articles:

7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer

How to begin your fast

While you fast

Breaking your fast

A Final Word

How to experience and maintain personal revival

Six vital questions about prayer

The Gathering

Sometimes people leave our Sunday Celebration Service wanting more ... more worship, more teaching, or more prayer time. If that's you, The Gathering was created just for you. The Gathering is a midweek service that we have about six times a year.

It is a break from the regular routine of everyday life and a chance to reflect on God's purpose for us. It's all part of our mission to "KNOW God personally, GROW in relationship with Him, and GO in service". Plan now to attend ... you'll be glad you did.

The Gathering is held at Calvary Vision Church, 550 East Township Line Rd., Suite 200, Blue Bell, PA 19422 (around back of building).

Use this Map (with directions from Colonial Middle School)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH AT 7PM

Men's Flag Football

Nothing says Thanksgiving like Turkey and Football! So before you meet with your family for a big feast, join us for our annual Thanksgiving Day flag football game.

We will meet at 9am sharp (Thanksgiving Day, November 27th) at the Plymouth Community Center on the upper fields at the intersection of Walton Road and Germantown Pike in Plymouth Meeting. Bring a friend!

**Game will be played rain or shine** Click here to sign up

Men at the Cross

This past Friday and Saturday 26 guys from Storehouse Church attended a conference called, "Men at the Cross". There was no fluf at this conference. It had a laser focus on discipleship. The objective of the conference was to give men the tools for discipleship.

The theme verse was: 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV) And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

You will be hearing more about this in the future... stay tuned...

Are you looking for a way to connect with other guys?
Check out the annual Thanksgiving Day Flag Football game. (link)

New Addition to Storehouse Worship Team- Micah Clarke

In recent weeks you may have seen a new face added to the Storehouse Worship Team, singer and guitarist Micah Clarke. Micah and his wife Rachael have been attending Storehouse since May 2007, and while he's new to the team, he's no stranger to singing for those who'll listen.

Micah's parents, both worship leaders for 15 years, instilled a love and appreciation of music early on. "I was singing with my parents a lot growing up," he says. "We would sing songs that my parents wrote together, worship songs, and just classics like the Beatles and James Taylor."

In addition to singing, Micah's dad taught him to play guitar at age 14, and by age 15 he was writing and playing his own music. "Once I learned to play guitar fairly well it was easy to put words to the music I was writing. It came pretty naturally to me. I just wrote about what was going on in my life at the time," he says.

Over the years, Micah has sang for his hometown church, played with high school and college bands, pursued a solo career in Philadelphia, and all the while has progressed in his song writing themes and abilities.

"The type of music I write is reflective of life, its challenges as well as its blessings. I've always felt that God has been at the center of my music; however," he says, "writing for God, to Praise God has taken my writing and passion for writing to an all new level."

Micah now also takes that passion to the Storehouse stage, and he feels blessed to be a part of the team and to serve the church in this way.

You can check out Micah's original music at www.myspace.com/micahclarke, or at an upcoming show, and be sure to say hi—he's a friendly guy.

Infinite Grace: Women of Faith Conference 2008

Friday, September 12^th through Saturday, September 13^th, women met from around the greater northeast to attend this year's Women of Faith Conference, themed "Infinite Grace," at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.

Since 1996, the Women of Faith Association (founded by Stephen Artburn) has been hosting conferences around the country, and each year its speakers have brought with them poignant—and often hilarious—stories, life lessons, and womanly advice.

This year's featured speakers in Philadelphia included Patsy Clairmont, Sandi Patty, Nicole C. Mullen, and Sheila Walsh, and all of the women were equally as dynamic as their messages. Common among all of them was one particular message: God loves you just as you are. They also reminded women that it's okay to be grumpy, we all secretly raid the fridge, and no woman can complete every task on her dozens of Post-It notes.

Highlights included dramatic skits by Nicole Johnson, songs and symbolic dances by Nicole C. Mullen and her students, and humorous words of wisdom by the spunky Luci Swindoll and Patsy Clairmont.

Tickets for next year's conference, "Grand New Day," are already available, and they're going fast. To find out more information about Women of Faith and current and future conferences, go to www.womenoffaith.com.

House Church Profile: Oreland

While September nudges beach gear back in the closet and the kids off to school, it's also the kick-off month for Storehouse-goers to return (or start going) to a house church.

Several new house churches are in effect this year, including the Oreland House Church led by Luke and Erin Amann and Art and Kathy Caruso.

The Amanns are no strangers to Storehouse; Luke has often served on the Operations Team and Erin has added her beautiful voice to the Worship Team on many occasions. The pair will now serve together as co-leaders of the Oreland House Church, and they will soon be joined by their first child, due this fall.

The Carusos have been members of Storehouse since 2004, and you can often spot them with their two young boys, Nicholas and Matthew. In addition to Art being a Leadership Council member and Kathy planning events with the Family Ministry, they will now also open their home to host Oreland House Church. Maya, their affectionate Border Collie, will welcome you too. On-site childcare will be provided.

House churches are often called the heart of Storehouse Church, and they allow attendants to grow closer in community as they spend time in worship and prayer. To see which one you'd like to join, go to http://storehousechurch.com/?grow=house_churches.

Grace

I recently shared a message about GRACE. Become a dangerous church is all about God's Grace. Check out this video (part of Lee Strobel's Case for Faith series) for a great overview of Grace.

Neighborhood: Ministries & Bible Studies

This is a place where you can share about an area ministries or Bible studies. Click the comments button and add the information about what's going on in the neighborhood.

Skylight Newsletter

This is the first post for the skylight newsletter.