Monday SOC

My random thoughts (aka "Stream of Consciousness") from this past weekend:

• We wrapped up our 4-week text:_ series this week and I was also able to give an update on the 150 Day Challenge and our Next Steps. I really enjoyed this series and am excited to see how many people are really diving into the text and reading the Bible for themselves. If you missed it, you can check out the video here.

• Attendance was down significantly Sunday as a ton of students were away on a retreat with a Campus Crusade and Impact this weekend. While it hurts our numbers a bit, I am excited for those students since these retreats can literally be life-changing!

• I feel like we have better partnerships with the campus ministry parachurch groups than we ever have had before, which is great. A lot of good things are happening at UCONN in terms of ministry and it is exciting to be a part of it.

• Sometimes I get worried about a "down Sunday" and then i check our annual comparison numbers and am reminded how amazingly predictable the ebb and flow is. Take a look for yourself at how closely the trend lines mirror each other:

• Besides numbers being down, I thought this was a solid Sunday. Not a home run, but it was solid. I felt like I was a bit off personally, but that happens.

• Things I am really excited about right now in no particular order: next week's message, Blue Skies, the growth of our 0-18 ministries, small groups, Project: New Orleans & Panama & AIDS (3 different things), "Together, We Can", Manchester Campus, growth at ECSU, 2020 Vision & 150 Day Challenge, people reading their bibles, Vince's upcoming series called "Best Sex Ever", changed lives... lots going on!

What are you most excited about these days at St. Paul's?