8/7 Goode Thoughts - One Month from Today
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I’m a countdown type of person. When there’s something big coming up, I love to find ways of marking the days until it comes. I did it when Amy and I got married. I did it for several of the trips we have taken as a family. I have even done it for when sports seasons are getting started. So, here we are…one month from today (as I’m writing this) we will have our first official service as ResoundingJoy Church! There’s a lot to do and a lot happening, so let’s jump right in!
Worship September 7 and Following – The Session on Wednesday night approved our worship time of 10:30am starting on September 7. This helps those who will have a longer drive to make it to the RJC building.
Our “Launch” – The Session also approved a revision to how we are going to “launch” ResoundingJoy Church. In looking at all that is still needing to be done to “officialize” the merge and also the reality of how we are functioning as a “new church,” we are going consider our first few months as a “soft launch” in a manner similar to how restaurants do “soft launches” to work out the bugs and get a system in place before they have their “grand opening.” So our first few months, we are going to be working on how we are getting to know each other, getting ministries and activities in place and then we will start on a wider emphasis upon how we get the word out about what God is doing in this new journey we are on together.
Outreach – The Session met with John Fong, an outreach and evangelism consultant with the PCUSA during our meeting this week. John is preparing a 30 day plan for outreach and connection for us to use as we start coming together officially. We’ll share more about this in September once we’re all together each week!
New Sign (MUCH BETTER news than last week) – After working through what initially seemed like it was going to be much longer (and more painful process), we got word that all we need to do is work with Colerain Township on the approval of a new sign. That process has started and we are soliciting bids from two companies for the purchase and install of a new electronic sign. Likely for scheduling and supplies, it will not be until later in October when the new sign will be installed. But it’s coming!
Plan of Union – The Session is finalizing the Plan of Union document to go to the Presbytery and that should be finalized and sent to the sessions of the respective congregations for their final approval and then to the Presbytery!
Finances – The teams are continuing to work through the financial merging process. Later today, we are finalizing what bank we will use and then next week we will meet again on how we will be structuring our funds overall (local monies, invested, and endowment). Lee Sanders has agreed to serve as the initial treasurer for RJC. Thanks Lee!
Giving and Generosity – Like we shared last week, we will be having a new online giving portal as a part of our website and our app. This will be fully active by the end of August once our new bank account is set up and we can start making transactions through this system. If you give through your bank through online bill pay systems, please update your information to start having checks mailed to ResoundingJoy Church, 8735 Cheviot Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45251
Expansive Ephesians Bible Study – I have completed the content of the Bible study and am working on the ways that it will be posted on the website and I anticipate that it will be ready to go by the 17th if not before. I would also be very interested if people wanted to get together to do the study in person as well! Let me know!
Wednesdays with Ed – I am continuing to meet on Wednesdays from 12-2 with folks to just get to know one another. Last week we were at Greenhills and this week I’ll be back in the Colerain area. This coming Wednesday I’ll be at White Oak Coffee on 8/13. The address is 5935 Cheviot Rd. Hope to see folks then!
Schedule Stuff – Just wanted to let you all know that we are moving into “back to college” mode for our kids. I’ll be taking our son Zach back to Wooster on Monday, August 18th and then I’ll be flying to Boston after worship on 8/31 to help Eldra move into her new dorm at Tufts in Boston. Amy will be taking Zoë back to Georgia the weekend of August 17th. In addition, I am planning on attending several conferences during the Fall that focus on outreach and new ways of reaching out to the world. One is a PCUSA conference in New Jersey in early October and the other is with a group known as NEXT Church in November. That will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both are mid-week events and I’ll be back for Sundays.
Wow – that’s a LOT! Ok, let’s talk about some expansive moments. One is how beauty can be seen in the combination of a Tervis cup backlit by a nightlight and the other is a beautiful little bracelet that someone left on a bridge railing at Winton Lake.
I’m a countdown type of person. When there’s something big coming up, I love to find ways of marking the days until it comes. I did it when Amy and I got married. I did it for several of the trips we have taken as a family. I have even done it for when sports seasons are getting started. So, here we are…one month from today (as I’m writing this) we will have our first official service as ResoundingJoy Church! There’s a lot to do and a lot happening, so let’s jump right in!
Worship September 7 and Following – The Session on Wednesday night approved our worship time of 10:30am starting on September 7. This helps those who will have a longer drive to make it to the RJC building.
Our “Launch” – The Session also approved a revision to how we are going to “launch” ResoundingJoy Church. In looking at all that is still needing to be done to “officialize” the merge and also the reality of how we are functioning as a “new church,” we are going consider our first few months as a “soft launch” in a manner similar to how restaurants do “soft launches” to work out the bugs and get a system in place before they have their “grand opening.” So our first few months, we are going to be working on how we are getting to know each other, getting ministries and activities in place and then we will start on a wider emphasis upon how we get the word out about what God is doing in this new journey we are on together.
Outreach – The Session met with John Fong, an outreach and evangelism consultant with the PCUSA during our meeting this week. John is preparing a 30 day plan for outreach and connection for us to use as we start coming together officially. We’ll share more about this in September once we’re all together each week!
New Sign (MUCH BETTER news than last week) – After working through what initially seemed like it was going to be much longer (and more painful process), we got word that all we need to do is work with Colerain Township on the approval of a new sign. That process has started and we are soliciting bids from two companies for the purchase and install of a new electronic sign. Likely for scheduling and supplies, it will not be until later in October when the new sign will be installed. But it’s coming!
Plan of Union – The Session is finalizing the Plan of Union document to go to the Presbytery and that should be finalized and sent to the sessions of the respective congregations for their final approval and then to the Presbytery!
Finances – The teams are continuing to work through the financial merging process. Later today, we are finalizing what bank we will use and then next week we will meet again on how we will be structuring our funds overall (local monies, invested, and endowment). Lee Sanders has agreed to serve as the initial treasurer for RJC. Thanks Lee!
Giving and Generosity – Like we shared last week, we will be having a new online giving portal as a part of our website and our app. This will be fully active by the end of August once our new bank account is set up and we can start making transactions through this system. If you give through your bank through online bill pay systems, please update your information to start having checks mailed to ResoundingJoy Church, 8735 Cheviot Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45251
Expansive Ephesians Bible Study – I have completed the content of the Bible study and am working on the ways that it will be posted on the website and I anticipate that it will be ready to go by the 17th if not before. I would also be very interested if people wanted to get together to do the study in person as well! Let me know!
Wednesdays with Ed – I am continuing to meet on Wednesdays from 12-2 with folks to just get to know one another. Last week we were at Greenhills and this week I’ll be back in the Colerain area. This coming Wednesday I’ll be at White Oak Coffee on 8/13. The address is 5935 Cheviot Rd. Hope to see folks then!
Schedule Stuff – Just wanted to let you all know that we are moving into “back to college” mode for our kids. I’ll be taking our son Zach back to Wooster on Monday, August 18th and then I’ll be flying to Boston after worship on 8/31 to help Eldra move into her new dorm at Tufts in Boston. Amy will be taking Zoë back to Georgia the weekend of August 17th. In addition, I am planning on attending several conferences during the Fall that focus on outreach and new ways of reaching out to the world. One is a PCUSA conference in New Jersey in early October and the other is with a group known as NEXT Church in November. That will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both are mid-week events and I’ll be back for Sundays.
Wow – that’s a LOT! Ok, let’s talk about some expansive moments. One is how beauty can be seen in the combination of a Tervis cup backlit by a nightlight and the other is a beautiful little bracelet that someone left on a bridge railing at Winton Lake.
Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Pastor Ed
Pastor Ed
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Archive
2026
January
Week 1 of Bible in a YearJanuary 12 - Genesis 1-2, Matthew 1:-2:12, Psalm 1, Proverbs 1:1-6January 13 - Gen 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2, Prov 1:7-9January 14 - Gen 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Prov 1:10-19January 15 - Gen 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4, Proverbs 1:20-23January 16 - Gen 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5, Prov 1:24-28January 17 - Genesis 13:5-15:21, Matthew 5:27-48, Psam 6, Prov 1:29-33January 18 - Gen 16:1-18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7, Prov 2:1-5Week 2 of Bible in a YearJanuary 19 - Gen 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8, Proverbs 2:6-15January 20 - Gen 20:1-22:24, MAtthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9, Proverbs 2:16-22January 21 - Gen 23:1-24:51, Matthew 8:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Prov 3:1-6January 22 - Gan 24:52-26:16, Mt 8:18-34, Psalm 10, Proverbs 3:7-8January 23 - Gen 26:17-27:46, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 10, Proverbs 3:7-10January 24 - Gen 28:1-29:35, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 11, Proverbs 3:11-12January 25 - Genesis 30:1-31:16, Matthew 10:1-23, Psalm 12, Proverbs 3:13-15January 26 - Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalm 13, Proverbs 3:16-18January 27 - Genesis 32:13-34:31, Matthew 11:7-30, Psalm 14, Proverbs 3:19-20January 28 - Genesis 35:1-36:43, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 15, Proverbs 3:21-26January 29 - Genesis 37:1-38:30, Matthew 12:22-45, Psalm 16, Proverbs 3:27-32January 30 - Genesis 39:1-41:16, Matthew 12:46-13:23, Psalm 17, Proverbs 3:33-35January 31 - Genesis 41:17-42:17, Matthew 13:24-46, Psalm 18:1-15, PRoverbs 4:1-6
February
February 1 - Genesis 42:18-43:34, Matthew 13:47-14:12, Psalm 18:16-36, Proverbs 4:7-10February 2 - Genesis 44:1-45:28, Matthew 14:13-36, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 4:11-13February 3 - Genesis 46:1-47:31, Matthew 15:1-28, Psalm 19:1-14, Proverbs 4:14-19February 4 - Genesis 48:1-49:33, Matthew 15:25-16:12, Psalm 20, Proverbs 4:20-27February 5 - Genesis 50 - Exodus 2:10, Matthew 16:13-17, Psalm 21, Prov 5:1-6February 6 - Exodus 2:11-3:22, Matthew 17:10-27, Psalm 22:1-18, Proverbs 5:7-14February 7 - Exodus 4:1 - 5:21, Matthew 18:1-20, Psalm 22:19-31, Proverbs 5:15-21February 8 - Exodus 5:22-7:25, Matthew 18:21-19:12, Psalm 23, Proverbs 5:22-23February 9 - Exodus 8:1-9:35, Matthew 19:13-30, Psalm 24, Proverbs 6:1-5February 10 - Exodus 10:1-12:13, Matthew 20:1-28, Psalm 25:1-15, Proverbs 6:6-11February 11 - Exodus 12:14-13:16, Matthew 20:29-21:22, Psalm 25:16-22, Proverbs 6:12-15February 12 - Exodus 13:17-15:18, Matthew 21:23-46, Psalm 26, Prov 6:16-19February 13 - Exodus 15:19-17:7, Matthew 22:1-33, Psalm 27:1-6, Proverbs 6:20-26February 14 - Exodus 17:8-19:15, Matthew 22:34-23:12, Psalm 27:7-14, Proverbs 6:27-035February 15 - Exodus 19:16-21:21, Matthew 23:13-39, Psalm 28:1-9, Proverbs 7:1-5February 16 - Exodus 21:22-23:13, Matthew 24:1-28, Psalm 29:1-11, Proverbs 7:6-23February 17 - Exodus 23:14-25:40, Matthew 24:29-51, Psalm 30:1-12, Proverbs 7:24-27February 18 - Exodus 26:1-27:21, Matthew 25:1-30, Psalm 31:1-8, Proverbs 8:1-11February 19 - Exodus 28:1-43, Matthew 25:31-26:13, Psalm 31:9-18, Proverbs 8:12-13February 20 - Exodus 29:1-30:10, Matthew 26:14-46, Psalm 31:19-24, Proverbs 8:14-26February 21 - Exodus 30:11-31:18, Matthew 26:47-68, Psalm 32:1-11, Proverbs 8:27-32February 22 - Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 8:33-36February 23 - Exodus 34:1-35:9, Matthew 27:15-31, Psalm 33:12-22, Prov 9:1-6February 24 - Exodus 35:10-36-38, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 34:1-10, Proverbs 9:7-8February 25 - Exodus 37:1-38:31, Matthew 28:1-20, Psalm 34:11-22, Proverbs 9:9-10February 26 - Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12February 27 - Leviticus 1:1-3:17, Mark 1:29-2:12, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 9:13-15February 28 - Leviticus 4:1-5:19, Mark 2:13-3:6, Psalm 36:1-12, Prov 10:1-2
March
March 1 - Leviticus 6:1-7:27, Mark 3:7-30, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 10:3-4March 2 - Leviticus 7:28-9:6, Mark 3:31-4:25, Psalm 37:12-29, Proverbs 10:5March 3 - Leviticus 9:7-10:20, Mark 4:26-5:20, Psalm 37:30-40, Proverbs 10:6-7March 4 - Leviticus 11:1-12:8, Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 38:1-22, Proverbs 10:8-9March 5 - Leviticus 13:1-59, Mark 6:1-29, Psalm 39, Proverbs 10:10March 6 - Leviticus 14:1-57, Mark 6:30-56, Psalm 40, Proverbs 10:11-12March 7 - Leviticus 15:1-16:20, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14March 8 - Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41, Proverbs 10:15-16March 9 - Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42, Proverbs 10:7March 10 - Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43, Proverbs 10:18March 11 - Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, PSalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19March 12 - Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-31, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21March 13 - Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-52, Psalm 45, PRoverbs 10:22March 14 - Leviticus 27:14-Numbers 1:54, Mark 11:1-26, PSalm 46, Proverbs 10:23March 15 - Numbers 2:1-3:51, Mark 11:27-12:17, Psalm 47, Proverbs 10:24-25March 16 - Numbers 4:1-5:31, MArk 12:18-37, Psalm 48, Proverbs 10:26March 17 - Numbers 6:1-7:89, Mark 12:38-13:13, Psalm 49, Proverbs 10:27-283/17 Goode ThoughtsMarch 18 - Numbers 8:1-9:23, Mark 13:14-37, Psalm 50, Proverbs 10:29-30March 19 - Numbers 10:1-11:23, Mark 14:1-21, Psalm 51, Proverbs 10:31-32March 20 - Numbers 11:24-13:33, Mark 14:22-52, Psalm 52, Proverbs 11:1-33/21 Quick Updates - OGHS, Holy Week, Easter Eggs, and moreMarch 21 - Numbers 14:1-15:16, Mark 14:53-72, Psalm 53, Proverbs 11:4March 22 - Numbers 15:17-16:40, Mark 15:1-47, Psalm 54, Proverbs 11:5-6March 23 - Number 16:41-18:32, Mark 16:1-20, Psalm 55, Proverbs 11:7March 24 - Numbers 19:1-20:29, Luke 1:1-25, PSalm 56, Proverbs 11:8March 25 - Numbers 21:1-22:20, Luke 1:26-56, PSalm 57, Proverbs 11:9-11
2025
July
August
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