DECEMBER 5, 2024

Hey Lakeshore!

Nate here.

So much is happening as we gear up for the holiday season, and I could not be more excited about it! I’m so excited to experience my first Christmas with my new church family at Lakeshore. I’m praying that this holiday season we would not be lulled into complacency by the same traditions, the busyness, or by anything that is not worthy of our attention. Rather, I pray that we’re put in awe of God in a new way as we celebrate the glory that is the birth of His Son, our Savior. Psalm 119:37 says “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” This Christmas season, I pray we would not be distracted by the worthless, but rather be enamored by the worthiness of Jesus!

Alongside the holidays, we’re deep into our Making Waves 2025 campaign and our Sunday series, Caring Like Jesus. It’s amazing to see God at work through initiatives like last week’s outreach to Greece Central families, this weekend’s Feed My Starving Children MobilePack, and more projects coming up this year and next. These efforts are making a real, eternal impact!

Of course, we serve because God has commanded us to, and because there is a great need right in our city. Did you know that only 10% of the Rochester area is plugged into a Bible believing church? This statistic is heartbreaking to me. The need is great, and we—not someone else—are God’s “plan A” to reach the lost people around us. That’s why ministries like Flower City Work Camp are so important.

"The need is great, and we—not someone else—are God's plan A to reach the lost people around us."

Some of our students will be serving with the project, which is also powered by Making Waves 2025. It’s happening in the spring, from April 14-18, but we need adult leaders to join us, too! Whether it’s helping with house projects, VBS, or sports camps, your time can make a difference for Jesus, right here in Rochester. If you’re interested in how you can get involved, please reach out or sign up here!

I know that together, eternal impact is within our reach. I’m blessed by you, Lakeshore, and I’m excited to see all that God is going to do in this next season!

Pastor Nate

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

I just wanted to send out a note to say thank you for your part in Lakeshore.  Like Paul began some of his letters in the New Testament, I echo his sentiment of “thanking God for you." 

It is an absolute joy to be the pastor of so many amazing people who really want to know Jesus, hunger to grow in Him, and then show Him to others.  I’m extremely thankful to God for you.  Better, I give thanks to God for all of you.

May you have a fantastic Thanksgiving Day, one where you give thanks to God for all the amazing things he has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Warmly,
Vince

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

People all over the world are sick, hurting, and hungry.  Often, it is outside of their control to change their plight and they need someone to help them and care for them if they are to make it. 

During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ was someone who cared for the sick, the hurting, and the hungry with perfect compassion and authentic concern.  Today, people are looking for this kind of care at really high levels.  Along with that, they're looking for hope, a hope that won’t fade over time.  Wouldn’t it be great if they could find it from Jesus?

They can.

God has called the church to be His tangible hands and feet to care for others the way His Son Jesus did.  If we do, we can help people see God’s love in Jesus and trust Him through the means of our care for their physical, temporal needs.  Over the next three Sundays, we'll look at three accounts of Jesus showing His care for others and learn how we can do the same when others need it.  Most importantly, we can help them find faith and eternal life through it all.

If you want to learn how to care for people even more like Jesus does, these weeks will help.  And if you know people who want to care for people even more than they do, invite them to join you.

Warmly,
Vince