Just such important matters are what have led us to launch a spiritual growth campaign called "40 Days of Purpose" from September 11th through October 24th.  Many of you may have seen or read a book called "The Purpose-Driven Life" by Rick Warren who pastors a church in California.  Pastor Warren and his congregation developed materials to use as part of a Purpose-Driven Life Campaign and our congregation will be one of thousands of churches which have used these materials.

      The events of the Campaign give us opportunities to commit to habits of spiritual growth, participate in a small group fellowship, serve in a ministry in our church, share our faith, and worship together to the glory of God.  There will be small group meetings in homes and at church, weekend worship services, individual study and prayer, and church community wide events like the Mission and Ministry Fair and the Celebration Sunday.  More detailed descriptions are available at the Information Table in the narthex at church or on the church web-site.

      I want to ask you to make this Campaign a priority.  Mark it on your calendar and clear places in your fall schedule so you can join in this spiritual opportunity.  Make yourself available to attend the weekend services each week, join a Campaign small group or Sunday School class, and study the daily devotionals.  Youth and children's programs will be focused on the same topics.  We are asking that the church calendar focus on this Campaign as a priority for six weeks.

      For now we are recruiting Host Homes, leaders for the small group meetings, teams to assist in prayer, communications, worship services, and the Fairs and Celebration Sunday.  We will soon begin asking you to sign up for small groups.  Our goal is 40 small groups with 400 persons sharing, praying, studying around the common themes of Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Evangelism.

      We are convinced this campaign will be a rallying point for our congregation and for individuals to discover clarity of purpose in our personal walk with God. There is much competing for our time and attention but I urge you not to miss this opportunity to discover the purposes God has for our lives.  Invite your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers to join in this Campaign.    We are excited to embark on this spiritual journey together this fall.  We ask all of you to pray for this effort and its impact on individual lives and on our church and community.

Grace and peace to each one of you,