Our aim is to pursue the unity of believers that Jesus prayed for in John 17:20:
“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
This Saturday our teaching and devotional time will be led by Rev. Tim Hoekstra. Brother Tim is a founding member of the School of the Prophets, and will be addressing our group on the topic “Unity Without Conformity.” Tim is a graduate of Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary and is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. After serving in different churches in the mid to late 80’s as far away as Ripon California, he was called back to his home town of Chicago to plant the church he now pastors, Suburban Life. In 1997 Suburban Life, Back to God All Nations Christian Reformed Church, and Austin Corinthian Baptist Church crossed paths and began a relationship that continues to thrive today.
The Lord began preparing Tim for this ministry of conciliation in his formative years growing up in Roseland neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. In junior high Tim recalls being the only white kid on the softball team. Indeed, his family was among the last to move out of Roseland.
Tim has also been the chaplain at Trinity Christian College since 1999, while maintaining his responsibilities at Suburban Life. Tim and his wife Laura have three children and live in Darien, IL.
We will begin our time together at 7 a.m. with worship and prayer. We will allow plenty of time for discussion and questions.
If you can stay, breakfast will be served at around 8:30 a.m. for a cost of $5.
To the glory of God!
Brother Bob Marsh
323 West Chicago Ave.
Hinsdale, IL 60521
630-290-2388
bob@marshdesign.biz
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1 comment:
This past Saturday Rev. Tim Hoekstra focused his teaching time on Revelation 5: 9, 10:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
members of every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."
Brother Tim used his experience of running the Chicago Marathon on October 22 to give us a little taste of what God has done and will do to redeem people from every people group on earth. The race course covered 15 different neighborhoods of Chicago, many in distinctly ethnic neighborhoods. Tim spoke of the richness of being greeted and cheered on by a diverse crowd of over one million spectators along the course, and the many languages he heard from the participants and the other runners. The race included 40,000 entrants from every state in the US in addition to people from 100 different countries!
Tim reflected on the fact that we will one day all be together in God’s presence, and yet is so difficult for followers of Jesus Christ to live in unity here and now. This is a challenge that we are beginning to address in our gatherings on the first Saturday of each month. If you have been there, you know there is a richness to the worship and fellowship that is “up a notch” from our usual church experience. We believe it is because God intended for us to be together, and he is pleased to pour himself out to a group that is committed to honoring his call to unity.
I urge you to prayerfully consider joining us next time we meet on Saturday December, 2. We need each other, and we honor our Lord when we are unified!
In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Brother Bob Marsh
323 West Chicago Ave.
Hinsdale, IL 60521
630-290-2388
bob@marshdesign.biz
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