By Justin Schaeffer

2 Corinthians 2:14-15
14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

As I participated in the scraping, masking, and painting an entire house, garage, and basement of a foster home in rainy Lynnwood this Sunday along side 50 or so fellow Mars Hillians, I was struck by the fragrance of Christ. It was such a blessing to experience the body of Christ as it acted out His love on His behalf, for His glory, in His name. I really mean it was a blessing. It is a shame that our culture (especially our suburban culture) has developed into such an autonomous society. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.” I hope for those of you who participated this last Saturday, that you got a taste of how fulfilling worshiping God in Gospel Fellowship is.

On May 3rd roughly 120 Shoreline Campus attendees & members spread out through Shoreline and Snohomish County to love others in Jesus name. Here are some praises we lifted up to God this morning at Men’s Morning Prayer from the 4 different projects that we were involved in…

Shoreline School District - Parkwood Elementary(Shoreline)
About 40 people showing up to help love the shoreline schools in Jesus’ name by planting, doing outdoor cleanup, and landscaping. May the Lord be lifted up and glorified in the eyes of the Superintendent and the parents who stopped by to see them work. Mars Hill participated as 1 of 11 Shoreline Churches working together to make Jesus’ name famous in Shoreline through serving the Shoreline School District. We will again have an opportunity to bless the Shoreline Schools during our Back to School Drive that we do in August to help Shoreline kids get the supplies they need to go to School. click here to see a slide show of photos from the event.

Pioneer Human Services – Cypress House (Lynnwood)
Praise for about 50 people showing up to serve these Foster boys in Jesus’ name by painting the ENTIRE exterior, garage, and interior of the basement of a house, hauling away trash, hanging out with the Foster boys, and buying them new house nubmers. Praise that nearly the entire exterior of a home, a garage, and the interior of a basement were able to get painted in one day! It was truly a miracle. Also praise for the people who are new to our campus getting a chance to connect with and be known by our church body. Pray for continued opportunities and for willing servants from our body to love and serve the 5 teenage boys who live there and the women who run that organization.
click here to see a slide show of photos from the event.

Catholic Community Services (Snohomish County)
Praise for about 20 volunteers showing up to serve disabled & elderly shut-ins in Jesus’ name. Praise for the blessing that these people were to our servants and for the opportunities we had to bless them through yard work, chores, errands, and fellowship. Pray that the Lord would continue to provide ways we can bless theses organization and to develop relationships with these people in need to God’s glory and our joy.

Deaconess Children’s Services (Snohomish County)
Praise for about 20 volunteers showing up to love the battered moms and those who serve them in Jesus’ name. Praise for so much work accomplished in 6 hours of cleaning, painting, staining, laying floor tiles, etc… Praise that God was glorified in the eyes of those who serve the down trodden in this small town 65 miles outside of shoreline and for the work He did in the hearts of those who participated to glorify Himself and to impress upon them His grace.

Romans 12:1, 3-8
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

I enjoyed worshiping with y’all corporately as a body this past Saturday. Please continue with me in repenting of the sins of omission that we have committed by forgetting those in need and by forgoing fellowship within the body of Christ through serving others.