Pastor’s eNote: Weekly Update

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; Praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; Praise his unequaled greatness!” Psalm 150:1-2

We are rejoicing in witnessing God’s great work this past Sunday! The morning began with a group from First Free making sweet connections with SPU students over coffee and donuts in the Tiffany Loop. Then they crossed the street and started filling our sanctuary. It was a sight to behold! More students than we anticipated! I loved seeing folks squeezing in to make room and taking the initiative to warmly introduce themselves. We could feel the energy building and the Spirit moving as we sang our praises together. SPU President Deana Porterfield shared a powerful message about how to trust in the Lord in challenging times with poignant illustrations from her life story.

I am excited to report that we had a total of 298 attending in person, and 135 worshipping with us online this Sunday. After church I heard many stories about meaningful conversations and connections. One person had the opportunity to share the gospel with a graduate student from China, as he answered questions about communion and Jesus. Learning about where students came from and their plans for the future was inspiring. We are praising God for a new spirit of unity and opening doors.

On Sunday afternoon there were 3 of us who attended the SPU Involve-O-Rama: Modern Worship Director Lisa Moe, Fostering Hope Resident Hannah Rogers, and myself. A number of students commented on our service and the beautiful worship they experienced. Students also filled several pages of our sign-up sheets, expressing interest in participating in our music program or Fostering Hope volunteer opportunities. It was a big encouragement to have these young adults line up to engage with us!

It’s wonderful to have Pastor Craig returning this Sunday and continuing our series Gathered to Go with his message, “The Seattle Christian.” God is on the move here! We are praying for eyes to see, ears to hear, and the courage to respond to our call to mission.

Grace & Peace,

Camille Pook
Pastor of Mission & Service

(October 1, 2024)