This Sunday will be especially significant.  Following an abbreviated service of worship we will caravan to Wayne and Joyce’s swimming pool for a baptism service. There are four of our church family who will be baptized. 

Baptism is the symbolic way we express a consciousness of God that is meta linguistic–the meaning goes beyond words. It is the symbol of being united and vitally connected to a spiritual reality as we follow Jesus. 

You may have been thinking about the next step in your relationship to God. If your soul has been urging you to put your faith in Jesus and become a follower of Jesus then baptism is one of the spiritual treasures you may want to consider. I would love to talk with anyone who might be at this important place in their life. It will surprise you how deep the meaning of baptism can be in your life. 

Worship will be from 11:00 to 11:40 and then we will process to the Navarro’s house.  It is going to be a charged up time together.  Everyone is welcome.

It strikes  me that Jesus was ready to throw a party for every good reason he could find.  He told a story about a man who threw a party for his neighbors to celebrate finding one of his lost lambs.  He told another story about a woman who threw a party for her neighbors because, after sweeping every inch of her house, she found a single coin she had lost.  Then he tells a big story about a man who threw a huge welcome back home party for a lost son that had come home. 

It’s hard to believe that throwing a party is a “Jesus like” thing to do.  But it’s true and that is what we’ll be doing tomorrow as we get together for the 8th annual 5K Fun Run/Worship/Crawfish Boil.  What are we celebrating?  We’re celebrating the fact that we get to live among the greatest people on the face of planet earth right here in Ledbetter, Texas.  Where can you go to find more generous, caring, and fun folks than here?

Now for the even more “Jesus like” part of the party: NO CHARGE!

At Soul Cafe Church we like a verse out of the book of Revelation that says, “Let anybody who is thirsty, Come! and drink of the water of life freely and without cost.”  So tomorrow is Soul Cafe’s way of saying to our tri-county area, and beyond, thank you for letting us be church in this awesome place. Please come join us for some mud bugs, hot dogs, and jambalaya.  There is no charge.  It is  without cost to you.  This is possible because so many people who attend Soul Cafe Church love this community and make a free party possible. 

We love you, Ledbetter. 

Dear Family of Faith,

This Sunday, Soul Cafe Church will have a service of baptism. Immediately after the worship service, we will make our way to Dana and Rady Simmons’ pool. Once assembled, we will be there for about thirty minutes.

Baptism is an important picture of our encounter with the “life giving” Jesus. It is a symbol that we have joined Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection. It is our public declaration that we have become followers of Jesus.

If you have been considering baptism for yourself, please call me and let’s talk about how this could be a meaningful experience for you. There is room for hundreds more.

None of us can predict the future with anywhere near 100% accuracy. While we can attempt to see trends, we don’t know from one day to the next which variable may sneak into the recipe and change everything we had planned for  next week. That uncertainty about tomorrow can be a source of varying levels of anxiety and fretfulness. 

This Sunday, I want us to have a conversation about how Jesus addresses our fretfulness with the good news of another Kingdom.  This Kingdom transcends the limits of our earth bound limitations. This new kingdom has  larger boundaries that embrace the spiritual reality of a Heavenly Father who cares deeply about our critical earthly circumstances. It is not a kingdom that takes us out of the world but one that puts us firmly back into a confusing world with a completely different point of view. This Kingdom is grounded in our trust in our Father to sustain us, save us, lead us, and help us despite what confronts us in an unknown future. 

I can’t wait to talk with you about a life of faith that dials down the anxiety with the assurance that nothing can separate us from a God who is faithfully drawing and calling us forward toward the vision of who we can become. Despite the nasty circumstances and interruptions of a limited earthbound life. In preparation read Colossians 3: 1-17. 

I am compelled to write a thank you note to every one of you who has kept me in the wheelhouse of your concern following outpatient surgery last week.  Your prayers and encouragement have been inestimably appreciated.  I am among the most blessed and contented of God’s creatures getting to live among the greatest people on this planet.  I’ll be better soon. 

Lorri and  I have asked Rene’ Reilly to share with us at worship time tomorrow.  Rene’ has been doing a massively important work in the area of counseling and Bible Study and our annual Women’s Retreat.  Most of you have heard her voice and you are going to be blessed to hear her tomorrow.  Come to worship and be blessed.  ~ Doug

It strikes me that Jesus was ready to throw a party for every good reason he could find.  He told a story about a man who threw a party for his neighbors to celebrate finding one of his lost lambs.  He told another story about a woman who threw a party for her neighbors because, after sweeping every inch of her house, she found a single coin she had lost.  Then he tells a big story about a man who threw a huge welcome back home party for a lost son that had come home. 

It’s hard to believe that throwing a party is a “Jesus like” thing to do.  But it’s true and that is what we’ll be doing tomorrow as we get together for the 7th annual 5K Fun Run/Worship/Crawfish Boil.  What are we celebrating?  We’re celebrating the fact that we get to live among the greatest people on the face of planet earth right here in Ledbetter, Texas.  Where can you go to find more generous, caring, and fun folks than here?

Now for the even more “Jesus like” part of the party: NO CHARGE!

At Soul Cafe Church we like a verse out of the book of Revelation that says, “Let anybody who is thirsty, Come! and drink of the water of life freely and without cost.”  So tomorrow is Soul Cafe’s way of saying to our tri-county area, and beyond, thank you for letting us be church in this awesome place. Please, come join us for some mud bugs, hot dogs, and hamburgers.  There is no charge.  It is  without cost to you. This is possible because so many people who attend Soul Cafe Church love this community and make a free party possible. 

We love you , Ledbetter. 

FUN RUN REGISTRATION 8:15 am / STARTING TIME IS 9:00 am

COFFEE & DONUTS 10:00 am

WORSHIP & PRAISE 11:00 am

LUNCH SERVED starting at 12:00 pm

MUSIC, GAMES, AND FUN TIL 2:00 pm

If you have the time and energy, we’ll be working in the garden from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Sunday afternoon, April 3. Join us for the fun.

The primary tasks are filling and planting the 5x5x5 buckets for any seniors that may care for one. A 5x5x5 bucket is a five gallon bucket, planted with five pole green beans that will produce about five pounds of green beans. The buckets can sit on a patio near the back door and give some of our folks a real garden experience. The other tasks are to plant a row of collards, a row of zucchini, and a block of corn.

It’s great fun and fellowship so bring a hoe or hard rake, join us at the Tipps’ farm at 1022 Persimmon Lane in Ledbetter, and have some fun.

It is an awesome reality that little Ledbetter, that doesn’t even have a stop light in town, is still vitally connected to the whole wide world. To anchor that thought I would like for us to pray for the people of Ukraine from now till Sunday. We don’t know in full the geopolitical dynamics between Russia and Ukraine, but we do know that God longs for safety, freedom and peace for everyone he has created. Even if only for a few seconds, one time each day, turn your heart toward the one who is the Prince of Peace and pray for Ukraine and against the principalities of evil and destruction. This IS our Father’s world.

Dear Family of Faith, Lorri and I have a warm announcement for you. This Sunday, Soul Cafe Church will have a service of baptism. Immediately after the worship service, all who are able to join us will meet at the Navarro’s home, just across Hwy 290 from the church. We’ll have directions for you. Their pool has become a sacred place for Soul Cafe. Once assembled, we will be there for about thirty minutes. Baptism is an important picture of our encounter with the “life giving” Jesus. It is a symbol that we have joined Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection. It is our public declaration that we have become followers of Jesus. Several of our Soul Cafe family will follow Jesus in baptism. If you have been considering baptism for yourself, please call me and let’s talk about how this could be a meaningful experience for you. There is room for hundreds more.

There are several active cases of covid-19 in our community, and in our church family.  We support your decision regarding attendance for Sunday worship and Wednesday activities.  Please do what feels safest for you and your loved ones.  If you decide to attend, we are respectfully asking that we wave ‘hello’ instead of giving hugs or handshakes.  None of us like that one bit, but we do want to honor each other’s concerns.  Masks are not required, but are respected.  We have hand sanitizer, plenty of soap and water, and will have a clean building on Sunday.
Thank you for your understand and cooperation.  Pray for one another. 

Trusting the Father with you,
Doug and Lorri