The Creekside Gazette
Volume 2, Issue 4, May 2009

Wedding Ring
On August 7, 1999 I made a commitment to love honor and cherish my husband, for better or worse, till death parts us. We stood on the platform in the Crown College Chapel, fractured light in a rainbow of colors filtered down on us through the impressive stained glass that characterizes the chapel. We were surrounded by friends, family and hundreds of flowers and bows. I wore a gown that made me feel like a princess and a crown of pearls encircled my curls.

When my grandfather, Paul Wood invited Dave to place the ring on my finger, Dave reached for my gloved hand and tried to pull the ring finger of the glove so my finger could slip out of the slit we had cut. Only he had the wrong hand. He battled the glove, trying to release my finger as I whispered through my smile, “Wrong hand …. That’s the wrong hand.” By the time he got the message, both of my long white gloves were uncomfortably misplaced, but the vows were said and the rings were in place.

In the end it wasn’t the flowers, the dress, the stained glass or the 350 guests that mattered. The commitment we made, and the rings we exchanged are the enduring elements of that wonderful day.

Almost two years ago, the diamond in my wedding ring came loose. I took the ring off and put it in a bag in my purse so I would not loose the gem before I could make it to the jeweler who was to repair it. Somewhere between putting the ring in my purse at home and arriving at the jeweler to have it repaired, the ring was lost. I don’t know if it fell out of my purse or was stolen, but one way or another, my ring is gone. I have never found it.

Thankfully, Dave and I are not married because we wear rings. We are married because we said vows of commitment not only to each other, but before God and 350 witnesses. My precious ring was a symbol of that commitment. It was the way I showed the rest of the world that I had promised my life to someone. I have a new ring now that accomplishes that purpose and no matter what the ring looks like, my commitment has not changed.

Easter Sunday was a special day at Creekside. Not only was it the day we remembered Christ’s triumph over sin and death, it also marked the baptism of five believers.

In a way, a baptism ceremony is a bit like a wedding ceremony. It is the day that a person publically professes and makes a commitment to follow Christ. It is not necessarily the day they decided to follow Christ. That day could be considered the acceptance of Christ’s proposal.

The day Christ rose from the dead was the day God made a way for us to be with Him forever. Isiah, Jeremiah and even Jesus himself refers to the body of believers as the pure bride of God. (Is. 62:5; Jer. 2:2; Jn. 3:29) But before we can become the bride of Christ, we must accept his proposal.

John 3:16-17 may be a familiar passage, but that does not diminish its meaning. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For Christ was not sent into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Condemnation and death is the fate we deserve because we have sinned against God, but God created us and He loves us so much that he was willing to sacrifice his only son so that you could spend eternity with Him.

On Easter Sunday, each of the believers being baptized gave a testimony telling of their spiritual journey and their commitment to Christ. Each of them accepted Christ’s proposal because they were captured by the power of God’s love. Committing their lives to serve God until the day they are delivered to their eternal home in heaven is a direct response to Christ’s proposal. Baptism is a public profession of the faith and repentance that took place at their acceptance of His proposal.

Christ’s sacrifice was the ultimate display of love and his resurrection was the ultimate display of power. All of it was for you. Christ’s proposal is for you. He is whispering to your soul, “I love you and I want you to spend your life with me. I want you to trust me and love me and I want to guide you and provide for you.” He already died for you. Now you have the chance to live for Him. Please contact Pastor Ben Lane if you need more information about having a personal relationship with Christ or about baptism.                                                                                                             -Andrea Nell

Mission & Vision

Come as you are… Leave Transformed!

Creekside’s Mission
Creekside Community Church exists to GO into our world, to MAKE disciples, and to TEACH the saving power of Christ, to encourage with the hope of the cross, and to grow in faith and maturity as God’s Word guides.

Creekside’s Vision
To impact the Kingdom of God by sharing the life-changing love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ in a real, relevant, and relational manner.

Go. Make. Teach.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to thevery end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

PLEASE JOIN US
Sun., May 3: 10:30 a.m. AWANA Award Sunday

PLEASE NOTE
The Ladies Tea scheduled for May 2 has been postponed until further notice.
Creekside’s VBS will be held the week of August 2-6 this year.
Watch the Creekside Gazette for the latest information on these exciting events!

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
WORSHIP—Sundays 10:30 a.m. Staffed nursery available for 0-3 yrs.
SUNDAY SCHOOL—AWANA Will resume in fall.
MEN’S STUDY—Book of 1st Peter Thursdays 6:30 p.m. at Dave G’s

Please call Creekside at 507-964-2872 if you have questions or are interested in a couples or ladies small group.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at 5:42 PMand is filed under Newsletters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.