We’re four weeks away from a concert of worship here at DSC with Keith and Kristyn Getty. If you’re not familiar with their names, you are likely still familiar with some of the modern hymns they’ve written for the church. “In Christ Alone,” and “By Faith,” are two songs we sing at DSC from time to time. The concert will begin at 6:30 PM on Saturday, September 20. Click here to register. The cost is $15.

To give you a sense of what to expect on Saturday evening, September 20th, sample from or buy this album and check out a few of these songs recorded live at The Gospel Coalition‘s 2013 National Conference.

“In Christ Alone”

“Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed!”

 “Oh How Good It Is”

Click here to hear and read lyrics to songs written by Keith and Kristyn Getty. And click here to learn more and to register.

The author of Hebrews writes this to believers:

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)

One way we can help our spiritual leaders (DSC’s elders/pastors) lead us with joy is by asking good questions. DSC’s elders are available in the halls around church, by email, and once each year they set aside an evening to take questions in the context of a corporate gathering. We call it, an “Elders Q&A.”

Our next Elders Q&A will take place on the last Wednesday of this month, September 25, at 6:30 PM.

If you have a question, submit it. If you don’t, think of one and then submit it. Here are three ways to ask your questions:

• Submit your question using your bulletin Comment Card next Sunday and drop that in an offering box.
• Email your question to info@desertspringschurch.org.
• Show up with your question on the 25th. The elders will take some questions from a mic in the course of the evening.

Of course, we appreciate your questions early. This helps us notice recurring themes and spend our time in a way that best serves the congregation. Any questions that are not addressed at the Q&A will be answered through the DSC Blog or by email.

Get acquainted with DSC’s elders by reading their biographies on the Leadership Page. Also, audio from previous Elder Q&A evenings is available at our Messages Page under the topic “Elder Q&A.”

Our Saturday Seminar, “How to Study the Bible: Epistles,” is this Saturday, from 9AM – 12PM. If you haven’t registered, you can do so here.

We should read the Bible, meditate on the Bible, and memorize Scripture. We should also study Scripture. This seminar will help you do that with the letters of the New Testament.

Here’s the outline for how we’ll spend out time together:

9:00 AM – 9:50 AM Ryan Kelly will introduce the genre of New Testament letters (using Philippians) and demonstrate online tools for studying the Bible.

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM Ron Giese will facilitate a “Sherlock Holmes” style interactive session in which he gives you a text, shows you what to look for, and lets you find it.

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM Trent Hunter will teach about context using a tool called “tracing” to show how parts of the letter of Philippians work together.

In coordination with this seminar, several helpful books are available at the Book Nook, including Tom Schreiner’s, Interpreting the Pauline Epistles.

For many years we’ve made audio available online each week from Sunday’s sermon on the Messages page. Now, you will see a link to video from Sunday’s sermon as well. If you are a sermon junkie, go ahead and bookmark the DSC YouTube Channel in your browser.

Here’s the video from Sunday’s sermon, “Plain Old, Everyday, Hard (Transcendent) Work,” from 1 Peter 2:13-25.

[RSS and email readers, click here to view this video]

On Sunday we announced details for this year’s Christmas Store, DSC’s largest annual local outreach. By helping children and parents provide gifts for one another on Christmas, we are praying for conversations about Christ in order to share about the free gift of God’s grace in the gospel.

Watch this video for a brief introduction to the heart of this ministry, and click here to learn more.

Here are details from the Christmas Store page about how each of us can be involved:

We have approximately 3,500 items to purchase as a church body. Christmas trees are up with tags listing needed items. Please consider taking 8-10 tags per family unit. Most of the items can be purchased at the dollar store, or for under $10.00. Bring the item back, unwrapped and with the tag on it, so we will know which ministry/church it is to go to. Deposit the item in the box that matches the tag by Sunday, December 9. If you would like to serve at a Christmas store, you can sign up at one of the kiosks in the foyer. For more information, please contact Carolyn Rush at 505.797.8700.

Examples of Christmas tree tags include sports balls, baby dolls, legos, children’s books, school supplies, winter clothing items, tools, wallets, diapers, baby toys, and jewelry.

Christmas provides us with unique opportunities for inviting friends and family to church and for sharing the gospel. Let’s pray, each of us, with the Apostle Paul, “that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”