Hey Friends,

I’m writing to you all today as I prepare for Sunday’s sermon. If this year were like any other year, I’d be prepping for a service that is one of my favorites of the year—our Friendship service. In that service we remember the year that was for our Friendship Ministry and show hospitality to all of our friends as they join us. This year, unfortunately, we won’t be having that service. And it got me thinking about all the special things we miss in our shared worshiping life together.

I have missed our Roots service where our middle school students and leaders share and lead worship. I have missed our GEMS and Cadet services that are such a blessing. I have also missed how our Sunday rhythm begins with faith formation in house groups, Big House Sunday, or, for our children, our Kid Connection. I have missed how that faith formation disciples us and shapes us. And, I have missed coming into worship with all of you.

So, I wanted to take an opportunity to do a couple of things. First, as we think about all our programs, whether that’s Friendship, Kid Connection, Nursery, House Groups, or any other program that you can think of, take some time and pray for those ministries. We don’t know when we will be able to gather again, but even when we are apart, those ministries need our prayers.

Second, take some time and thank the many volunteers that make all these programs succeed. There are so many people to be thankful for. I am thankful that just today some cards came in the mail for some of my children. They love getting mail and were thrilled to receive a note from a teacher in Kid Connection or ROOTS. Maybe you’re thankful for a house group facilitator or a Friendship leader. Whoever it is, let’s express some of that thankfulness today.

Grace and Peace to you.

Pastor Ryan

AACRC worship music on YouTube

Pastor Noah has been hard at work producing songs from individual recordings sent to him by our very own worship team members as part of Sunday worship, as well as editing video musings from our pastors.

Did you know you can access the entire playlist of worship team songs on our church YouTube page, “Ann Arbor CRC“?

Enjoy the playlist of worship songs:

The Sabbath: A Biblical Perspective (episode 2)

We are excited to share Episode 2 of our Sabbath Project. In this episode, Pastor Ryan builds on the first video from Travis West to show how our concept of time and work have been disrupted by Covid-19. And, how the sabbath can be an invitation think about time and work differently and accept the divine invitation to rest.