Our church has come through a thirteen week series on our basic doctrines, looking forward to a season of renewed commitment and new membership.  To honor and celebrate the transition and the advent of summer, our campus is participating in two spiritual disciplines: feasting and fasting.

Throughout the course of his ministry, Jesus frequently fasted from food (Matthew 4:1-11) and expected that His disciples would also fast (Matthew 6:16-17).  Today was a day of prayer and fasting for our campus, as church members around the city at home and work took time to pray for our city, for those considering membership, for those renewing their membership, and for the leadership of Mars Hill.  Twenty people visited the campus throughout the day to take time for silence and solitude in prayer in the candlelit auditorium.  Those assembled this evening broke the fast with communion and corporate prayer.

Ecclesiastes 10:19 A feast is made for laughter….

Being a good Jew, Jesus would have undoubtedly participated in the various annual Jewish feasts and was accused by some naysayers of spending too much time having fun with friends (Luke 7:34).  Wednesday July 2, we will do our best to feast like Jesus at Matthews Beach with barbecue, and baptize several members in the water after a time of teaching and testimony.  All are welcome to join us as we get out of the building and into the community as Christ’s family here in Northeast Seattle.  Bring your own meat and sides – and some to share, as you are able – to Grill and Chill at Matthews Beach on July 2nd from 6-9pm.  If you can’t bring anything, we’ll have extra.  This is our rally point to party and prepare as a community to move forward with the work God has prepared for us this summer.

Isaiah 25:6-9 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”