God has been good to us at Sonrise. We recently held an ordianation service for two of our young men God has called into the minstry, Ian-Michael Bonthron ,seves as a youth pastor in NE, PA and Andrew Hart, my youngest son serves as youth pastor here at Sonrise.

I have watched both of them grow up in our church, go off to college, I performed their marriage ceremony as they both married wonderful girls, and see them serving the Lord in their respective ministires. It doesn't get any better than this-to see the fruit of your labor and watch it bear fruit to a new generation.

Our Fall Festival on October 31st was a great success. We had 350 come out for a fun time for the family. The rain forced us to move the bouncy inside into our Teen Center. The kids had a blast with that and all the other games. We had over 70 volunteers help us put this event on for our community. Thanks - we couldn't do it without you.

Next on our calander is the Celebration Service this Friday, November 13, as we kick off our Celebrate Recovery ministry. This is a Biblically based ministry to deal with life's Hurts, Hang-Ups and Habits.

Our annual Harvest Dinner is comming soon, Sunday November, 22, Come join us for a time of food, fellowship and rememberance.

One last thought. Share Christmas with children last fortunate than us. Pick up in the lobby Christmas for an Orphan boxes and return by Christmas Eve.

I'm back from the board meeting of WorldHelp in Lynchburg, Virginia. God is doing some incredible things around the world. I'm glad I get to be a small part of it. Sonrise Church right now is partnering in projects to provide aid to an orphanage in Russia, bring fresh water to a village in Uganda, support national missionaries in India and Nepal as well as having launched a major in reach and outreach through "Life's Healing Choices" and "Celebrate Recovery".''

Pray for the God of the Harvest to touch our hearts this fall as we seek new and creative ways
"to touch our community and the world with the love of God from a local church setting".

Next Generation

I was thinking this weekend about the Next Generation of ministry. Acts 18:36 tells us that King David by the will of God served his generation. Each generation must reach it's own generation with the message of redempton in Jesus Christ.

We took 40+ people from Sonrise Sunday night to hear the contemporary Christian group "Calling Levi" at Northstar Church meeting in the High School in Clifton Park, NY. Roscoe Lilly is the pastor. Roscoe is part of the same age group as my sons, so are the "kids" in "Calling Levi".

As I look around Sonrise, a good part of the church is a full generaton younger than me. Our pastoral staff is a generation younger as well. They like Roscoe and the Group "Calling Levi" have the enthuisim of youth. I hang around them as much as possible, their energy and new ideals thrill me. They think I'm encouraging them, in reality they encourage me. I have high hopes for Generations Y and Z .

Have a great week

Master Pastor

The best weeks of the year

We have just finished what many Christians call Holy Week, the 8 days beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday. This is my favorite time of the year. We see the highlight of what our faith is all about, the power of God over death, hell and the grave.

We had two great weeks at Sonrise. Palm Sunday, our friend, chalk artist Everett Britton did his chalk drawing on the cross and the empty tomb. It is powerful, we had a great attendance of 355 with 12 people receiving Christ as Savior.

Yesterday, Easter Sunday we had 337. Lots of special music, thanks praise band, choir, quartet, guest musicians and of course our kids choir, (they stole the program). We saw another 12 people receive Christ as Savior.

God has great things in store, Let's press on .

Pastor Hart

It's Friday but Sunday's a Coming

The late pastor of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in South Central LA, Dr. E.V. Hill was one of my favorite preachers. When he spoke he literally painted world pictures. Perhaps his most famous message, preached not only in his church, but in churches and conferences around the world was on The Cross and the Resurrection of our savior. He titled it "Its Friday but Sunday's a Coming" . In less than two weeks we celebrate those glorious events.

The Cross is glorious because through Christ's death the once and final payment for sin was paid, we have redemption because of His shed blood. The Resurrection is glorious because through His power the final enemy, death is defeated. What a glorious hope is available to each of us.

No matter the Friday's in your life, those times that appear to bring defeat and discouragement, remember that Sunday's a coming.

Keep Looking Up!

Pastor Hart

Weekly Re-Cap 3-24

Some days are diamonds some days are coal. That's from an old Neil Diamond song. This past Sunday at Sonrise was one of those diamond Sundays.