Home > Ministries of Southpoint SDA Church > FAMILY MINISTRIES >
Email | Print | 
.
Family Vespers
.
Updated Jan 30, 2010
An evening of Prayer and Community    A Turkish Meal including Lentil Soup, Bread & Baklava  Lentil Soup

Building Bridges in the Community
Submitted by Patty Bass
 
Despite the rain and threat of the approaching Tropical Storm Hannah, church members arrived at the Southpoint SDA church at 7:00pm on Friday, September 5th, for our very first Family Vespers Program sponsored by the Family Ministries Department.   There were several new visitors worshiping with us as well as our neighbors from the Amity Turkish Cultural Center located on Southside Boulevard. The evening began with prayer by Family Life leader Patty Bass. Songs of praise and thanksgiving were followed by members, including the children, sharing their trials, concerns and burdens of the week while praising God for deliverance and His goodness towards us.

The theme of the Family Ministries department is “Ministering to the whole family so the whole family can minister”. We were so blessed to have children as young as seven sharing how God blessed them during the week. We separated into prayer groups and prayed for the victims of the forthcoming Hurricane Ike, as well as for the families of the victims of the previous Tropical Storms Fay and Hannah. 

The highlight of our evening was a meal and fellowship with Akif Aydin, Director of the Amity Turkish Cultural Center and several of his friends. This cross cultural event is part of their outreach programs during the September Ramadan observances. During Ramadan those of the Islamic faith fast from sun up to sun down, taking no food or drink (not even water). At the end of the day persons participating in the fast share their meal with the community or other families. Southpoint SDA Church was honored that we were chosen to share in this time with our neighbors. The ATCC provided a delicious meal of Turkish food including Lentil soup, bread and baklava. 

We had a wonderful service where we experienced the presence of God and enjoyed the fellowship of our community. 

Family Ministries intends to host several more Friday Family Vespers on the first Friday night of each month. Everyone is invited to our next service.  See you there and God Bless.
 
Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18