Blaine Ground Breaking Service – March 26

A small group of representatives from various groups gathered at the Blaine construction site to break ground for the new facilities.

Blaine Ground Breaking

Construction Begins on Blaine Campus – March 31

Construction is underway and it won’t be long before the walls go up on the new Blaine campus.

Blaine Construction Begins

The Micah Project is leaving its mark on individuals and families, literally transforming our church. Our awareness of those whom Jesus described as “the least of these” is growing. Our passion to be people of love, mercy and action is peaking. And we’re making the necessary adjustments in our personal lives to put faith into action. Way to go Spring Lake Park!

SLP Food Pack with Feed My Starving Children

Nicaragua Mission Trip

One of the highly anticipated opportunities of this summer will stretch many of us beyond our comfort zone. Each Eagle Brook campus will serve on separate dates with OrphaNetwork to provide water, food, housing and education with the goal of building a strong Christian faith with orphans living in Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

On my recent trip to Nicaragua, I was impressed with our potential to make a lasting impact. As you can see in the picture below, the kids are eager for our arrival.

Feeding Center in Nicaragua

The Spring Lake Park mission trip will be August 23-30. We’ve broadened the SLP mission team to include the new Blaine campus. Blaine campus pastor, Matt Anderson, and I will serve together as the trip pastors.

Openings for the trip are limited—those who want to go to Nicaragua will need to apply as soon as possible.

The New Blaine Campus

The soft launch of the Blaine campus is now a reality. Eagle Brook Church-Blaine will temporarily meet in the SLP facilities on Sunday evenings at 4:05 and 6:05 until the Blaine facilities are ready sometime this fall.

We’ll continue offering services at the Corner House on Saturdays at 4:05 and Sundays at 9:05 and 11:05 to make sure we have enough seating for our guests in the main worship center. Thank you for participating as part of the team by using the Corner House to help us reach others for Christ by giving up your seat for a newcomer.

The Micah Project

“…the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

The Micah Project pulls together challenging messages from our teaching pastors, hands-on experiences with our ministry partners, and practical action plans for individuals, families and small groups.

The Micah Project is an initiative of the Not Without You campaign that extends far beyond the walls of Eagle Brook. This is our opportunity for each of us to be the church in the world in a big way. You can find out more about The Micah Project by clicking here.

The Blaine Initiative

I’ve always loved pioneering new projects. And as a long-time church planter, there’s nothing more fulfilling at this point in my life than helping to launch a new EBC campus.

Like The Micah Project, the Blaine initiative is taking shape because of the generosity of those who are giving toward the Not Without You campaign. It’s rewarding to see the immediate impact of our contributions, even though we’re just a few months into the campaign.

Here’s how the Blaine initiative is shaping up:

The Blaine staff and volunteers will lead temporary Sunday evening services at the SLP campus at 4:05 and 6:05 beginning on February 28. Those who wish to serve as Blaine volunteers must complete a serving interest form and check the box marked “Blaine.”

The Sunday evening services will be available until the Blaine campus opens (which we anticipate to be sometime in the fall of 2010).

The Sunday evening services will be a full Eagle Brook weekend experience with live worship, Café 5000, Beyond Books, Kid-O-Deo, Club K-Rock, and the current weekend message (recorded earlier that day).

We’re asking those who plan to attend at Blaine when it opens, as well as a few hundred people who plan to stay at SLP, to make a Sunday evening service their primary choice for weekend worship. This will make seats available for our guests in the regularly scheduled weekend services.

Ah yes, February in Minnesota. With all the opportunities to serve, we’ll breeze through the final weeks of winter. And before you can catch your breath, spring will be upon us. Now that’s something to smile about!

It’s heartbreaking to know that many arrived at SLP last weekend and were unable to find parking, so they drove away before the service started. Others found a place to park but had to sit in a less than ideal overflow space because the worship center and Corner House were beyond capacity.

To make matters more complex, we had hoped to open the new Blaine campus by Easter of 2010, but complications have pushed the potential opening to sometime in the Fall of 2010.

As you might imagine, we’ve been scrambling to find a way to open more seats at SLP as well as prepare for the launch of the Blaine campus. We’ve identified a solution, but it’ll take all of us to make it work. Here’s what we plan to do:

From February 28 until the EBC Blaine campus opens.

• Beginning February 28 and running until the Blaine campus opens, we’ll offer Sunday evening services at the SLP campus at 4:05 and 6:05.

• The Sunday evening services will ultimately be lead by the staff and volunteers that plan to serve at Blaine when it opens. It’ll take a few weeks to get all the staff and volunteers in place.

• The Sunday evening services will be a full Eagle Brook weekend experience with live worship, Café 5000, Beyond Books, children’s worship, and the current weekend message (recorded earlier that day).

• We’re asking those who plan to attend at Blaine when it opens, as well as a few hundred people who plan to stay at SLP, to make a Sunday evening service their primary choice for weekend worship. This will make seats available for our guests in the regularly scheduled weekend services.

From now until February 28.

• We still have room in our Saturday 6:05 pm service. If possible, choose this service.

• We’ve installed broadcast gear and added an additional 60 seats in the Student ministry café downstairs in the Corner House. We’ll use the lower room whenever the upper room is full.

• Until the Sunday evening services begin on February 28, those who are regular SLP attenders can serve our guests by choosing to attend at the Corner House before the main worship center fills up on Saturdays at 4:05 or Sundays at 9:05 and 11:05.

I’m grateful for each person who is part of the SLP church family. Your willingness to do whatever it takes to reach others for Christ is remarkable. Thank you for facing into our attendance challenge and taking the steps to resolve it. Thank you for being the church. You get it! And it’s a privilege to serve as your campus pastor.

In spite of the weather, 2,748 people showed up to fill all the Christmas services. Hundreds were first-time guests. Many heard about the God who loves them and said “Yes!” to Christ.

The Ongoing Challenge

The first weekend of the New Year was no less amazing—2,546 people arrived at SLP to worship God. Crowds poured into the worship center as well as the Corner House with a sense of joyful anticipation. Much to our dismay, carloads of people drove away because they could not find a parking place.

Because of the sacrificial generosity of the entire Eagle Brook congregation as revealed in the Not Without You campaign commitments, the new Blaine campus is scheduled to become a reality in the fall of 2010. Opening Blaine will provide another 3,200 seats for weekend worship services in our area (800 seats multiplied by 4 services). Until Blaine opens, we will do everything we can to make more room for those who want to attend SLP.

Next Steps

The next step we will take toward making more seats available at SLP is to email a survey to the SLP congregation on Wednesday, January 13. When you receive it, be sure to complete the survey and submit it as soon as possible.

Corner House

Part of our ongoing strategy to add more seats at SLP is the Corner House—the original church building on the northwest corner of our church property. A live broadcast of the entire Lino Lakes service is available at the Corner House at 4:05 on Saturdays as well as 9:05 and 11:05 on Sundays.

Upcoming Events

Ash Wednesday – For the first time at SLP, we’re going to offer two Ash Wednesday services on the same night. One will be at 6:05 and the other at 8:05 on February 17. Kid-O-Deo (birth through Kindergarten) will be available for both services.

The Micah Project – The Micah Project is all about love, mercy and action. This is the long-awaited event that adds a ray of sunshine on a gray winter day. The Micah Project will make it a sheer delight to be living in Minnesota during the month of February. You’ll want to register for a Feed My Starving Children food-packing slot as well as reserve your time for the Step Into Africa experience. Sign up today by clicking here.

With Gratitude

It is a privilege to serve as campus pastor at SLP. I’m so grateful for each person who attends our campus. Your flexibility in doing whatever it takes to reach people for Christ is an inspiration to me and to all who are observing God’s work at SLP. Thanks for letting God work through you.

An Opportunity to Invite

Christmas services are a great opportunity to invite friends, family and neighbors to church. And what better way to experience the real meaning of Christmas than gathering with others to celebrate the birth of Christ. You can be sure that your guests will be inspired by the music and encouraged by a message of hope.

RSVP for Seats

Here at Eagle Brook we use an RSVP system to make sure everyone gets a seat and has a positive experience. Here’s how it works:

1) Attendees RSVP to let Eagle Brook know how many people they’re bringing to the worship center and how many kids they’re bringing to Kid-O-Deo and Club K-Rock.

2) Eagle Brook posts real-time updates of available seating at eaglebrookchurch.com (essential information for last minute service choices).

3) If plans should change, attendees may RSVP or exchange seats at eaglebrookchurch.com.

Corner House

We will offer Christmas services at the Corner House at 6:05 pm on Wednesday, December 23. You don’t need to RSVP to use the Corner House; simply show up. If necessary, we will offer services at the Corner House at other Christmas service times as needed (information is available from anyone with an EBC nametag).

Christmas Services—Arrive Early

Please arrive early, grab your coffee and find a seat. The worship center doors will close at the start of the opening song and reopen at the end of the song.

With all of that said, don’t forget that we’ve got a final message in the Overcome series this coming weekend. Invite someone special to join you for a message of encouragement.

Giving to Not Without You Begins

The total commitment amount that Pastor Bob will announce this weekend reflects the generosity of individuals and families across all three Eagle Brook campuses. It’s with a spirit of deep humility that we approach this unveiling, recognizing the financial sacrifices many are making to reach others for Christ.

This weekend also signals the official beginning of actual contributions to the Not Without You campaign. If you’re prepared to do so, you can participate by bringing a check to the services or by giving online. If you use a check or online banking for your campaign gift, be sure to write “NWY” in the memo line.

I’m confident that the services this weekend will be memorable at many levels. Be sure to come with your heart prepared to express gratitude for all God is doing in and through Eagle Brook.

New! 4:05 Saturday Worship Services at the Corner House

We’ll begin offering worship services at the Corner House at 4:05 on Saturday afternoons beginning this weekend. I want to say thanks to those who volunteered to help launch this new service. Free coffee, soft chairs, and a warm community environment—it doesn’t get much better than that.

 See you this weekend!

Weekend 1: December 5/6

This will be the second weekend of the Overcome message series—invite your friends and family.

Last weekend, 2,273 people attended services at Spring Lake Park…and that was on the weekend following Thanksgiving when attendance typically drops. Many who came were the first-time guests of our regular attenders. Way to go!

To make room for all of our guests on December 5/6, we’ll need to continue working together to open up seating in our main worship center. How can you help? Those who have flexibility in their schedule can choose the 6:05 service on Saturday where we have the most available seats. Another option for those who aren’t bringing a guest and are physically able to climb a flight of stairs is to choose to worship at the Corner House at 9:05 or 11:05 on Sunday morning.

The Corner House Worship Center

Weekend 2: December 12/13

This will be the third weekend of the Overcome message series. We will also unveil the total financial commitments our church family made to the Not Without You campaign. This is one of those “you’ll regret it if you miss it” weekends.

We’ll begin offering worship services at the Corner House at 4:05 on Saturday afternoons beginning December 12. We’ll need about 50 people who meet the following criteria to choose to worship at the Corner House on Saturdays:

     You’re a regular attender…

     and you aren’t bringing a guest…

     and you’re physically able to climb a flight of stairs.

Weekend 3: December 19/20

This will be the fourth and final weekend of the Overcome message series—continue inviting your friends and family.

Again, we’ll offer services at the Corner House at 4:05 on Saturday afternoon as well as at 9:05 and 11:05 on Sunday morning.

Christmas Eve Services: December 23/24

If you’ve attended Christmas Eve services at Eagle Brook in the past, you know you’ll want to come and bring a friend—this is definitely a “do not miss” experience.

Services will be on Wednesday evening at 6:05 and 8:05 and Thursday afternoon at 1:05, 3:05 and 5:05.

If everyone at SLP uses the RSVP system, we’re sure to have enough seating in the main worship center for all of our regular attenders and guests.

As always, it takes a huge number of volunteers to make the Christmas Eve services a great experience. If you’re available to serve, please sign up as soon as possible.

Weekend 4: December 26/27

Rest—there will be no weekend services to give our fantastic volunteers and staff an opportunity to be with their families and gear up for the launch of a powerful new message series that will begin on the weekend of January 2/3.

December will be a memorable month in the history of SLP. I hope you’re able to experience all of it.

Not Without You Commitments

Last weekend the entire Eagle Brook church family made personal sacrificial commitments so that thousands of people in the Twin Cities and around the world will have an opportunity to become followers of Christ.

Like many, I’m eager to hear the total amount of our commitments when the final figure is announced during the weekend services of December 12/13.

As I reflect on the services last weekend, the impact of watching God’s church in action is etched in my mind and on my heart. I’m grateful for a church that cares so deeply for others.

Operation Christmas Child

The spirit of generosity was also visibly evident in the lobby of each Eagle Brook campus this past weekend.

Operation Christmas Child

As I walked through the Spring Lake Park doors early Sunday morning, I was drawn to the Operation Christmas Child drop-off table where hundreds of shoeboxes filled with gifts for children around the world were piled high.

When the final service had ended on Sunday morning, the expanded wall of shoeboxes completely filled a huge trailer. Again, I’m grateful to be part of a church that cares so deeply for others.

Improvements at the Corner House

This coming weekend we’ll launch the Overcome message series. We’ve designed this series to give hope to those who, for one reason or another, are out of touch with God.

Many SLP attenders are on board, inviting friends, family and neighbors. Others are making their seat available for a guest in the main worship center by choosing to worship at the Corner House at 9:05 or 11:05 on Sunday morning.

And it gets better—those who consistently attend the Corner House have viewed changes almost every week. One of the next big changes at the Corner House will be the addition of softer chairs in the worship center and comfortable seating in the lobby.

I’m grateful for the volunteers and staff who invest their time and gifts each Sunday to make the Corner House a great, albeit temporary, worship environment.

An Amazing Church

Eagle Brook is an amazing church and Spring Lake Park is an equally amazing campus. As Jolene and I reflect on the past two years, we’re grateful God brought us here from Arizona on Thanksgiving Eve, 2007. I’m so pleased to serve as the SLP campus pastor and I’m thankful for each person that is part of our church family.

Just a reminder, there are no Tahnksgiving Eve services this year. Happy Thanksgiving!