Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Faith is essential for life.

Hope is a necessity for survival.

But LOVE…love trumps everything.

There is nothing more important than relationships: our relationship with God, and our relationships with other people. That’s why we’re doing this series: Art of Relationships. We kicked it off last weekend (listen here if you missed it) and we’re kicking it up a notch this Sunday: 8:30, 10, 11:30a & 6p. You’re not going to want to miss this series.

Hilary, the boys and I were with Hilary’s grandparents last night. They are visiting from WA and they bought us a nice (early) dinner at a Mexican restaurant. The food was great, but the best part of the night was watching the boys interact with their great-grandparents.

Jake and Patricia are in their late 80’s, but they overflowed with energy when the boys came into the room. 87-year-old Jake chased our hyper 3-year-old Jack around the room. Gma Pat held little Henry with a “I’m in heaven” look on her face.

No TV. They didn’t take phone calls. They weren’t worried about their stocks or healthcare issues. They were simply there—in the moment—with their boys.

It seems that as we age we understand more and more what really matters in life—and what doesn’t. But why wait to wake up to the truth? The answer is RELATIONSHIPS.

See you Sunday.

caleb

P.S.: If you’re married, I’d encourage you to attend our Refreshing your Marriage conference next weekend at Mariners Irvine.

P.P.S: If you’re not in a life group, please consider it. Life is cooler when you’re connected. Email Neil Jansen or sign up on the patio this Sunday.

Have you completed Rooted but are not connected in a Life Group? Come by the Life Group table on the patio. We have a group for you. Contact Neil for more info, njansen@marinerschurch.org

LIFE GROUP CONNECT
Sun, Jan 24, after each service

Join us as we walk through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University course together. With its compelling and engaging content, we’ve seen marriages change for the better and communication between family members improve. For more info visit our website.

Saturdays, Jan 23-Mar 19, 2016, 10a-12p, $103/family
Church offices, 2124 Main St. #260, HB

Join us in making a difference in the lives of students at Oak View Elementary! Volunteer by providing support in reading and/or math on a regular basis, including small group reading, vocabulary practice, educational games, and more. Contact Monica, mbannister@marinerschurch.org

OAK VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Flexible time based on volunteer availability
*Mariners background check required

Coming to a theater near you, “The Art of Relationships,” premieres this Sunday at all services: 8:30, 10, 11:30a & 6p!

Maybe we should have called this series, “The Making of a Relational Genius,” since the Netflix mini-series is all the buzz. With cultural “buzz” in mind, I’m calling the first message in the series this Sunday—“People, Politics, and Winning the Lottery.” It should be fun!

It looks like I might have gotten my almost-3-year-old sick. He’s been down for three days straight. The doctor visit was yesterday and we think we have it taken care of, but the medicine prescribed was expensive. It reminded me how I would spend any amount of money to help my family get well. No cost is too high.

Why? Because relationships are what life is all about. They are the fabric of life. Relationships—and how you interact with others in this world—is of paramount importance. It’s not possible to overstate this point.

Whether your relationships are thriving or taking a nosedive right now, you’re going to want to be at each message in this series. And you will want to invite people in your life that you love.

I’m looking forward to being with you Sunday.

Lastly, if you’re someone who hasn’t yet done Rooted… jump in! I’m kicking off Rooted TONIGHT at the Rodgers Seniors Center (1706 Orange Ave) and I want to see you there! Walk up registration is welcome and dinner is included!

Caleb

Come be encouraged, empowered and equipped as God’s women to serve, to lead and to become Spirit-Fueled Women of Influence! Whether you’re currently serving with Women’s Ministries or if you want to discover how you can be an influence in your world and begin serving – plan on joining us! Email Beth Russell for location and info.

WOMEN’S INFLUENCE WINTER CONFERENCE
Sat, Jan 16, 8a-noon, $10pp, coffee & muffins served

Coming up:
Women’s Influence Spring Conference Sat, April 16

The Daily Walk Bible offers a straightforward and engaging reading plan that provides context and insight as you read from Genesis to Revelation. It’s our hope you will find rest, encouragement, passion and surrender as you read the Daily Walk Bible and see how the Spirit teaches and leads you into a deeper understanding of our Father’s love.

Available at the Welcome Center for $15

Hi!  This is Neil, your Community Life Pastor.

Happy New Year! How has your first week of 2016 been? Hasn’t the rain brought a sense of freshness and new beginnings to the air? While listening to the rain yesterday it felt like the rain was washing through my soul. Worry and regret seemed to flow right out of me. I thought:

What do I have to worry about? I have so much to be thankful for! A wonderful wife, four loving kids, a great son-in-law, and an amazing 4 month old granddaughter. Plus I have a relationship with God, who loves me greatly, and has my best in mind.

I’m not sure why the rain brought that comfort, but it did. I pray God will bring similar comfort to each of you as you begin this New Year. God is good!

Speaking of new beginnings, if you are have not yet gone through Rooted, I want to recommend you sign up for our winter session starting on January 14th. This Sunday (the 10th) is the last day to sign up.

I promise this experience will amaze you, I don’t want you to miss it! If you’ve completed Rooted but are no longer with your group, consider signing up for a Life Group. We have a group just for you.  These two opportunities are the best way to get connected and build community.

Blessings on you and your family! See you Sunday!

Neil

Join us for our new weekend message series where we’ll explore our relationship with God.

Sunday services
8:30, 10, 11:30a and 6p