Bluewater Bay Campus eLetter
From our Associate Campus Pastor
Hey Crosspoint Bluewater Family!
Have you ever wondered what Jesus smelled like?
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (NLT) says “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”
I was thinking about this verse as we've enjoyed some cooler weather this week. There are so many wonderful scents that come along with the fall: cinnamon, pumpkin, crisp leaves and fresh air. Most of these scents also carry with them warm feelings of joy, nostalgia, hospitality, and fellowship. And if these simple smells bring unmistakable feelings and memories...how much more so could our lives carry the unmistakable scent of Jesus' love, grace, and hospitality for us?
Jesus probably smelled like home-cooked meals - with how often he welcomed ordinary, needy people around a table. Jesus probably smelled like sweat - with how he used his carpentry skills to connect with others. Jesus probably smelled like fish and pigs and sick people - with how often he welcomed poor fishermen, "unclean" individuals, and people who were often ignored.
So how could you and I "smell" like Jesus this fall? How could we tangibly share the good news of Jesus with people around us? Here are two GREAT opportunities happening this week to smell like Jesus!
• CANDYPALOOZA: A sweet celebration with family-friendly costumes and plenty of reminders that God's people can have fun together! It’s the PERFECT Sunday to invite friends, wear a costume, and enjoy time together as we celebrate in a sweet way!
• THANKSGIVING MEAL BAGS: Fall is always full of great ways to be Helpful Neighbors, and this year is no exception. If you’d like to help provide food for a local family, we will be running our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive from October 25-November 15. Simply bring items from the list (below) to the racks outside of your worship venue on or before November 15. As soon as the Thanksgiving project wraps up, we will kick off our annual toy drive for the Christmas Store - we will be collecting brand new toys starting on November 22. Keep following our announcements for information on the how and why of the Christmas Store!
• P.S. THANK YOU to our wonderful Serve Day volunteers who got together this past Saturday to serve + "smell" like Jesus! We packed 500 care bags, both for the upcoming EOD school family day and for Bluewater nursing homes.
Whether you're missing the scents of summer or already reaching for that evergreen tree....I hope you will join me this week in "smelling" like Jesus!
Grace and Peace,
Meredith Aylward Jordan, Associate Campus Pastor
