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This Week
@ The Bridge

Announcements

Kids Kingdom Needs Volunteers
The Bridge Reno

Kids Kingdom is looking for 4 volunteers to help out in our children's ministry.  This will create a larger rotation so that all volunteers will have a change to attend worship service. We need 2 Pre-K – First Grade teachers and 1 Second – Third Grade Teacher.  You would be asked to arrive 15 mins. early to set up and help with snacks.  Then escort the children to their classroom and teach a scripted lesson. We also host a “Shilling Store” each month that all teachers help with.   The other volunteer would be a dedicated helper with the monthly “Shilling Store.” A free background check is required. Please consider serving with this critical ministry in our church and help children come to Jesus and grow in his grace.
 
Worship Team Needs Volunteers
The Bridge Reno

Do you have the desire to minister to God's people through singing and music? Our desire is to build a team of singers and musicians who love to worship.  We also have openings for sound board operators, lighting techs, and camera operators.  We are willing to train the in tech areas too.  If these opportunities sound exciting to you please contact Elizabeth Kirk at eakirk@outlook.com
 
Budget Q & A Meeting
Wednesday, January 24th @ 6:00p
The Bridge Church Reno

In preparation for our annual business meeting we will be hosting a Q & A meeting on the proposed 2024 budget.  This will be a great opportunity for all voting members to ask questions about the proposed budget.  This will also help our annual meeting to go smoothly.  If you have questions about the proposed budget, please plan on attending this important meeting.
 
Annual Business Meeting and Celebration
Sunday, January 28th @ 5:00p
The Bridge Church Reno

On the last Sunday of January we will have our annual business meeting, celebration, and potluck. We will look back at 2023 and take a look forward at 2024 as well as vote on the budget and board of trustees.  Come celebrate with us January 28th at 5pm in Kids Kingdom.  Potluck assignments are as follows: last name starts with A-E = Salad/Appetizer, F-M = Main Dish, N-S = Side Dish, T-Z = Dessert. To view the proposed 2024 board members we will be voting on you can visit this link https://thebridgereno.com/2024board
 
Financial Peace University
Starting Sunday, January 28th @ 11:30a
The Bridge Church Reno - Learning Center – Bring a sack lunch

The Bridge Church will be hosting Financial Peace University on Sundays after church. Financial Peace University is a nine-lesson course that teaches you how to save for emergencies, pay off debt fast, spend wisely, and invest for your future. And no complicated financial blah blah blah over here. For over 25 years, Dave Ramsey’s been teaching commonsense, biblical money principles that work.  Sign up at thebridgereno.com/fpu

Spaghetti Feed Fund Raiser
Saturday, February 10th @ 11a–2p
The Bridge Church Kids Kingdom

This year Thomas Hill with Cookies for Kindness is hoping to give away 1500 free Easter baskets to children in need in our community.  In order to help raise funds for this project we will be hosting a Spaghetti Feed Fund Raiser.  We invite you to participate on Saturday February 10th between 11am and 2pm to hear all about the Easter basket event and help support it.  Ten dollars per person gets you a wonderful Spaghetti lunch and an opportunity to share the love of Jesus to needy children in our community.  Pay at the door or reserve your seat ahead of time at https://thebridgereno.com/spaghetti

Baptism Class
Sunday, February 11th @ 11:15a
The Bridge Church Reno – Learning Center

If you are interested in being baptized or just want to know what the scriptures say about baptism, we will be hosting a baptism class on Sunday February 11th after service. Please sign up using the connection card on The Bridge Church App.
 
 
Blood Drive
Sunday, February 18th @ 9–11:30am
The Bridge Church Reno

Please consider giving blood. Your blood donation means everything. To the emergency team working around the clock. To the loved ones anxiously waiting for news. To the patient desperate to recover.  Be a hero a donate blood. To schedule an appointment visit https://thebridgereno.com/donateblood
 
 Kids Kingdom News
Hope everyone is having a great week and staying warm.  More snow is on the way.  Ms. Crystal is searching for just the right new series for us.  More to come on that.  In the next few weeks I will be giving every family a new registration form.  This is so we can update our files.  Some people have moved and we need to update everything.  If you could fill these out and get them back to me I would appreciate it  .  Thanks and have a great rest of your week.  See you all on Sunday.
 

Message Notes

Jesus Eats with Mary and Martha

You are too busy if…
  • You never get to what you say is important.
  • You feel guilty if you slow down.
  • You never take time to be alone and quiet
  • Little things tick you off 

Choosing What Matters Most.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42

Martha
Values Getting Things Done.
But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.”
Luke 10:40, The MSG
Gets easily distracted and worried about too many things.
Lives a life of frustration and anger.
She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Luke 10:40b

Mary
Knows when to stop and focus on Jesus.
…Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught 
Luke 10:39
Ignores the distractions.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  
Luke 10:40a
Chooses What is Better.
Mary has chosen what is better… 
Luke 10:41a
Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught 
Luke 10:39
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
John 11:32
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
John 12:3
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” 
John 12:7

Jesus’ Assessment
Only one thing is needed.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed."
Luke 10:41
You get to choose.
…Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  
Luke 10:42

Mary Chose What is Better: Will You? 

Small Groups Talk About It

Discussion Questions
  1. Read Luke 10:38-42. Discuss the story as Jesus told it.  
  2. What are the things that stand out in the story to you?
  3. Are you more like Mary or Martha? 
  4. Do you think our culture values accomplishments over relationships?  Why or Why not?
  5. What does it mean to “sit at Jesus’ feet”? 
  6. When Jesus said “only one thing is necessary” what do you think that he meant?
  7. What emotions do you think Martha felt when Jesus said “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Read Luke 10:42. What are your thoughts about that statement?
  8. Read Luke 10:39, John 11:7, & John 12:3,7. What posture did Mary take towards Jesus?  What can we learn from this? 
  9. Getting things done does matter.  So, how do you strike a balance between activity and relationships?  Or can you?
  10. What distractions cause you the most frustration and difficulty? How would you assess your personal time with Jesus? 
  11. What can you do this week to “Choose what is Better”?