Hi Awaken Church,

I’m really looking forward to being back to preaching this Sunday—it’s been a little while!

I want to say a sincere thank you to Mike and Derrik for preaching these past few weeks. I’m grateful for their willingness to step in and serve our church so faithfully. 

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been at two gatherings—a theological conference at Duke University and our annual Pastor & Spouse Retreat. They were very different, but shared one thing in common: the gift of fellowship and encouragement.

I often say that we don’t follow Jesus in isolation—we follow Jesus together. We experience that most clearly here, week by week, as a local church family, but it’s also a gift to be reminded that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. 

That’s one of the reasons I’m excited about the upcoming Excel Conference on Saturday, March 7th. It’s an opportunity for learning, worship, and fellowship with brothers and sisters from across the Northeast. This year’s gathering includes keynote speaker Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, along with multiple seminars and full programming for kids, youth, and now Pre-K as well.

If you’re able to join us, I truly believe it would be an encouragement to your walk with Christ.

I’m looking forward to seeing you this Sunday. Grace and peace to you as you head into the rest of the week.

In Christ,

Eric