Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Four Winds Forecast -- December 2019 

Four Winds Forecast is the monthly newsletter for pastors and leaders of the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene and is shared on my blog for those who partner with us in prayer.

December 18, 2019

Four Winds Forecast

All joy to your world during this Advent Season from your district servant, a debtor, especially so at Christmastime. 

I debated with myself about even sending out a Four Winds Forecast for December, because I know how busy local ministry can be, but I decided to write a few words. I promise to be short. Let me just share 4 things and then the updated calendar, as always, will follow. 

#1: Kim and I were beautifully blown away by the attendance at the Christmas Brunch in Ephrata. 166 came in 2018, and 210 came in 2019. For those unable to be present, we missed you. We hope everyone will save the date for next year. It is December 12, 2020. Yes, another Saturday at midday, if the Lord is willing. We think we will serve lunch not brunch, next year. Yes, Kim is already talking about it. Thanks for supporting her. Her tenderness towards all of you came through in her opening remarks. She loves serving pastors and leaders and spouses at this event and seeing value added to your lives as the district family celebrates together.

#2: I am praying for Year-End Giving for our local churches. In fact, I wrote an endorsement on my Instagram, Twitter and Blog this last week and maybe it would even help you to print a half-sheet insert for your Sunday bulletins between now and the end of the year? Here is the actual commentary I wrote. (This is the kind of thing I cherished receiving from my ds when I was a local pastor:)

"YEAR-END GIVING... IN MY ESTIMATION" A Blog Commentary by Pastor Kerry Willis -- December 17, 2019 (Yesterday’s blog post :)

I posted these paragraphs below on my Instagram and Twitter accounts on Sunday and sensed last evening I should also share it here on my blog. Thanks for praying and obeying about any year-end giving that might be associated with your living.

During this Christmas Season when we remember God’s Gift to us -- His Son, our Savior -- year-end giving is also on my mind.

With that, as a former local Nazarene pastor and now as a servant pastor to local Nazarenes pastors, i encourage you to consider your local Nazarene Church in your careful and prayerful considerations of cheerful and/or sacrificial generosity.

The local church is charged to share hope and holiness in the world. Yes, Romans 10:15, defines the local church. "How Beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!"

The local church is, in my estimation, the greatest non-profit charity for eternal investment on planet earth.

Presence Matters Most! No Invisible People! UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis, Philadelphia Nazarene, District Servant

#3: Gethsemane Gatherings for prayer across our zones are happening again in early 2020. You should be receiving a video in the days ahead. Please consider playing it in your worship services and let us come together to pray, once again.

#4: I hope to see many of you at our Four Winds Prayer Retreat at Black Rock, January 14-17, 2020. For details contact Pastor Jonathan Merki. 

Note: Pray everyday with me at 4:44pm specifically for lost souls.

We at the district pray you will experience a Holy Christmas. Be Light. Go shine. Surveys say that people are more open to receive the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in December than any other month of the year. So we pray: "Lord, this Christmas give us lost souls born again to add to Your beautiful birthday story. Amen and Amen." -- pastor kerry 

P.S. Please, each church pastor, do all you can to see that your local church’s financial allocations are paid in full for this soon-ending financial church year for the glory of God and for the accomplishment of our God-given mission as Nazarenes. I pray Philippians 1:6 over each and every local church. So Grateful. 

* Calendar Dates Up Ahead...

JANUARY 2020

* Jan. 9, THURSDAY, PCDC #4, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. / Fairview Village

* Jan. 14-17, Four Winds Prayer Retreat -- Black Rock Retreat Center, Quarryville, PA

* Jan. 18-19, Pastor Kerry in Revival, Gardners, PA. UMC 

* Jan. 21, Tuesday, DAB, Royersford

* Jan. 26, , Sunday evening, Gethsemane Gatherings, Concerts of Sacred Prayer across the district on each missional zone. Contact your zone leader or Kevin Griffin for information. (Some zones may choose an alternative date. Info to be shared.)

FEBRUARY 2020

* Feb. 1, Saturday, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Familiar Grounds, Pennsville, NJ 

* Feb. 6, THURSDAY, PCDC #4, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. / Fairview Village

* Feb. 15, Saturday, Holiness Symposium / Royersford

* Feb. 18, Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PK leading "Lordship Living" Workshop #3: "The Advantage (Season/Campaign) of Lordship/Stewardship" / Royersford

* Feb. 18, Tuesday, DAB, Location TBD

* February 29, Board of Ministry, Royersford 

MARCH 2020

* Mar. 5, THURSDAY, PCDC #5, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. / Fairview Village

* March 5, Board of Ministry, 1 p.m. until done. Fairview Village. 

* Mar. 22-24, Pastor Kerry in RevivalBridgeton, NJ

* Mar. 28, Chaplain’s Luncheon, Noon, Royersford Office, PA

* Mar. 29-Apr. 3, Pastor Kerry in Revival, Bangor, PA

APRIL 2020

* Apr. 1, Wednesday, Pre-School/Day Care Directors Appreciation and Resourcing Day at our Riverside Reading, PA. Church. Details on the way. Please contact Pastor Kerry to get your director on the list for information.

* Apr. 2, THURSDAY, PCDC #5, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. / Fairview Village

* Apr. 5, PALM SUNDAY

* Apr. 12, EASTER SUNDAY

* Apr. 23, THURSDAY, Tentative Date Change for DAB Conference Call. 

* Apr. 26-28, Pastor Kerry in Revival, LaVelle, PA

* Apr. 30-May 2, THE GATHERING -- DISTRICT ASSEMBLY AND CONVENTIONS, our Crossroads Church, Lewisburg, PA

* June 28-July 5, 2020 Philadelphia District Campmeeting, Erma Campground, Cape May

You are truly beloved and believed in.

Presence Matters Most!  No Invisible People!

UNITY!

Pastor Kerry Willis

District Superintendent

Philadelphia District 

Church of the Nazarene 

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