guests – Church of the Servant King

Upson Downs 9.15.21

Greetings friends and family! To catch you all up on our recent “doings” I will start with the infusion of new folks into our midst. We welcomed Angie, Trevor, Andres, Isai, and Liesl this past week, so our weekend was spent on work “parties” (WHEE!) to help them get settled in. Yes, we are rather bursting at the seams. We are discussing visions for a new congregation somewhere and are anticipating a move in six months to a year. In the meantime, we will need to find some extra space as the McCorkels are anticipating the arrival of baby #2 next year.
Patty, Jack Read, and I recently spent time in Sellwood visiting and hopefully encouraging the brethren there. Jack just returned Tuesday morning and hit the ground running.
Last weekend we had a Labor Day barbecue and welcomed many guests, friends old and new. We also celebrated Abby’s 4th birthday. It was a grand and glorious time.
Scott and Barb are currently in Atlanta helping with the grandkids and spending time with their daughter and son-in-law. We are glad for their chance to reconnect and pitch in but we will be thankful for their return next week. Speaking of grandparents, Jack M’s mom has been here loving and serving us and getting lots of time with her grandson Rocky, aka “Ruckus.”
My big news is that I finally retired from LAUSD after 37 years. It’s kind of weird and yet kind of wonderful. I discovered that it’s now much easier to lose track of days. Jack, Scott, and I are continuing to offer online exercise classes, and last week we also returned to in person fitness programs. It’s a bit surreal to exercise “socially distanced” and with masks on, but I am so glad to see people face to face (mask to mask?) and to be able to encourage them to be healthy and connect with others.
We are happily busy, celebrating the joy of being “neck deep in what is right and good and true.” We covet your prayers especially for Lyndsie’s health, a shared vision for moving ahead with a new congregation, loving and integrating our new partners, and continuing to love one another. May God’s Church be strong and faithful to God’s call, and may we exhibit the unity Christ appealed for in His prayer of John 17.
Thanks for your faithful friendship, love, support, and interest.
Grace and peace to you all,

For Church of the servant-King,

Regan

Upson Downs 8.24.21

Greetings dear ones! It’s time for an update. The “summer of hospitality” continues as we say goodbye to three guests and welcome five more. What an honor and a privilege. I truly marvel that God has found us worthy to be a cup of cold water to our brothers and sisters. As Cassidie is on modified bed rest in order to maximize pregnancy health, God has graciously provided abundant help. That help has come in various forms such as light housework, dinner preparation, and primarily toting around that big baby known as Rocky. He is rambunctious and adventurous, so he needs some alert supervision. Our guests have generously offered assistance, and we are most grateful.

We started our very very early Bible study with our Burmese brethren. Friday morning is the next day in Myanmar and Jack and Scott hosted our first pre-dawn zoom gathering last week. As our brother Garu wrote, “The word of God is the only joy and hope for their lives which give us strength in time of difficulties.” We will be discussing the feasibility of adding another early morning session. Please continue to pray for Myanmar as it is under siege from many directions.
Other than a few colds, we are generally in good health here. Please continue to pray for Lyndsie as she struggles with chronic conditions and the ongoing attempt to ascertain further issues through more testing. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful and encouraged. We are finding ourselves in need of more space as our families continue to grow. We are on the lookout for housing, so keep your eyes and ears open. We’d be thankful for any helpful tips!
Our outdoor Bible study has resulted in some timely contacts in our neighborhood. It was a great blessing and joy to host the Garcia family and to offer housing to the teens while their apartment was being made ready. They are now settling in and making it a home. On Sunday we had two visitors who dropped into our gathering. I believe Rich would be very proud. I think he would be most pleased, but not satisfied, as he often said.
In our Jesus Centered Bible reading for August, in the introduction to Nehemiah, he is described as an “unstoppable hero with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other.” May we be found as well, with the word of God as our sword, and our sleeves rolled up to steadfastly continue the work of God’s Kingdom in this world.
Thanks again for your prayers, love, support, and partnership. Grace and peace to you all, blessings all ours with “ten thousand beside!”

Regan