Pastor Craig Brown

Go Big... Or?

Whenever there is a conversation about leadership or being a great leader, we typically think of something big. Governments, corporations or even churches like ours seem big. This is typically when we seek bigger and better leaders. The stakes seem higher to us as we scale the "thing" that needs to be led. We express this often with when we vote. A small municipal election rarely turns out more than 40% of the voting public, but a national election will have a much higher turnout. When things get big, we seem to care more and more about who leads.

Moses is a perfect example of a "big" leader. The fledgling nation of Israel fled Egypt under his leadership. Or did it?  When we take a careful account of the biblical story, Moses functions as the representative of God's leadership. It was God who performed the great signs of liberation. God parted the Red Sea. God gave the law at Sinai. God fed the people with manna and quail in the wilderness. In Exodus 17 we read about how God saved the Israelites in a great battle only because he remained in prayer with his hands raised.

While human leaders are important, let us all remember that the best human leader represents God's leadership. Especially in the life of the church, pastors and other lay leaders do their best leadership when they, like Moses, point to a leadership that lies beyond them. When the stakes are big, we must be reminded that it is only in God's leadership revealed in Jesus Christ that there is any hope at all. When seeking leadership for your own life, I encourage you to go big!

Craig+

Come and meet Pastor Craig Brown and family at a Neighborhood Gathering near you! Each gathering will be from 3 - 5 PM at the following locations

1. Saturday, August 3: home of David & Claudia Kay, 5511 Del Cerro Blvd. San Diego 92120
2. Sunday, August 4: home of Suzanne Stofer, 3237 Trumbull St. San Diego 92106
3. Sunday, August 11: home of Kathy & Peter Fait, 9990 Dichondra Pl. San Diego 92131, east side of Scripps Ranch (there will be a west-side Scripps Ranch in Sept.)
4. Sunday, August 18: home of Todd & Lori Sorbo, 2909 Murat St. San Diego 92117, north Clairemont area
5. Sunday, August 25: home of Cynthia Miller, 1720 Avenida del Mundo, Unit 203, Coronado,  92118 

If you live in one of these areas and would like to attend a gathering please RSVP with the date of the gathering to Demmie Divine, 619-297-4366 x108.   

Future gatherings will be every weekend through the end of September. Dates and locations will be announced as they are confirmed.

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It is our hope that by preparing for Sunday's message from Monday through Sunday each week, you will have your life changed on a different level!

Understanding The Bishop Carca�o's Ruling of Law

By The Rev. Craig S. Brown, Senior Pastor

Many of you who subscribe to the regular email news of the Annual Conference may have taken note of the Bishop's recent "Ruling of Law" regarding a resolution at the most recent Annual Conference. The resolution supported action taken by the Western Jurisdiction as outlined in the following statement adopted by the Jurisdictional Conference:  

The works of Jesus are alive and well in our children here at First Church! To keep this momentum going, join us in worship for a Vacation Bible School Celebration this Sunday on July 28! VBS families should meet us in Trotter Chapel, located West of the Sanctuary, at 9:15 AM in their VBS shirts. The children will do a short practice and then join us in the sanctuary worship to sing a VBS song at 9:30 AM. We will have a special section in the front for the family members to sit to get great pictures of the children singing. Following the service, stay for a cake celebration and more songs in the Linder Hall.