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A Message from Pastor Kevin DibbleyIn Plato’s Republic, he tells the Allegory of the Cave. In it, we are to imagine an underground world, where people are chained in a cave for their entire lives. They can only see shadows on the wall cast by a distant fire. In the lesson, Plato has Socrates ask his student Glaucon if the people who have been living all their lives chained in the cave would think the shadows are reality. The student replies ‘Yes.’ But then the wise teacher says: “Now imagine what would happen naturally if the prisoners were released from their shackles and cured of their ignorance. Right after they are released and suddenly forced to stand up, turn their necks around, walk, and look towards the light, these activities will cause them pain; because of the bright glare they would be unable to see those things which they previously had seen only as shadows. Now what do you think they would say if one were to tell them that what they saw before was fooling them, but that now, when they are closer to what really exists and when they face that which more truly exists, they see more clearly, in a straightforward manner? What if that person pointed to the objects as they passed and asked the former prisoners to tell him what they were? Don’t you think they would be baffled and think that the shadows they formerly saw were truer than the objects that are now being pointed out to them?” The allegory goes on to discuss more deeply the path to discovering wisdom and virtue but I think it is a powerful picture of life as a Christian. The Christian, once they have been given spiritual eyes to see, can no longer pretend that the shadow world of living for sin and pleasure and riches is actually life. Conversion is a radical discovery that what you thought was life was only the shadows. True life is found only when you are living in the reality of Christ and the heavenly world of gospel grace. In our study of the Wisdom Psalms, this week we are going to continue in Psalm 119:33-40. The sermon is entitled “Give Me Life!” Twice in this passage, the psalmist says “Give me life.” It is clear in the Bible that what often purports to be life is actually death and what actually seems like death to many is life. How many people live their whole lives unaware that they no nothing of real life? How tempting is it for us to live in the old familiar shadows of a dark world that only casts reflections of the real life of God’s Word. Wisdom is a God-given determination to live in the Real World… anything less is death. Come this Sunday, as we listen to the Psalmist prayer asking to be lead forward into all that is Life. Let’s learn together how to no longer live as we once did in the darkness of a world of sin and death. Let’s seek real Life together in Christ. See you Sunday! Invite a friend. |
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Nursery Volunteers Needed - URGENTWe are in need of additional nursery volunteers to serve just one Sunday a month, especially in first service. Our congregation has been blessed with the addition of new young families and new babies and we love to provide them with a nursery environment with caring, responsible volunteers. However, we don't have enough volunteers to adequately staff the nursery as we would like, so we're looking for some people to step in to help! If you would be able to help out one Sunday a month, please contact Marcia Parel. |
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Nursery & Sunday School Registration is OPENHello Waterbrooke Families, We're excited to begin another wonderful year of Children's Ministry! If you have children in Nursery through 5th Grade, please take a few minutes to complete our Children's Ministry Registration Form for the upcoming ministry year. Even if your child attended last year, we ask that every family complete a new registration so we have the most current contact information, emergency contacts, allergies, and other important details. As you complete the registration, we also invite you to prayerfully consider serving in our Children's Ministry. Whether it's rocking babies in the Nursery or helping children learn God's Word in Children's Church, your investment can have an eternal impact. Our ministry is built by faithful volunteers who serve on a rotating schedule, making it easy to both worship and serve. On the registration form, you'll have the opportunity to let us know if you're interested in serving in:
Thank you for partnering with us as we disciple the next generation. We can't wait to see what God has in store this year! Complete the registration here: |
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Student Ministry 2026-2027 Fall Kickoff!Mark your calendars for September 16 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. for our Student Ministry Fall Kickoff Party! We’re kicking off the new school year Waterbrooke-style with an evening filled with music, food, a bonfire, 9-Square, and plenty of time to welcome new students and reconnect with friends. It’s going to be a great night, and we hope your student will join us! We can’t wait to kick off another great year together! Happy End of Summer to you all!
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Ministry FairOn Sunday, September 13, ministry leaders at Waterbrooke will be available to share the goals of their respective ministries in the Ministry Hub after each service. They'll have tables set up so you can visit with them to learn more about what they do, what their needs are and what their passion is.... to see if it aligns with yours! We are always looking for people to join our teams so we can be more effective for sharing the gospel and advancing the Lord's kingdom. We encourage you to take a little time after the service to speak with the ministry leaders and see if there are areas where you can use your gifts to serve! |
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Women's Fall FellowshipLadies, you’re invited to kick off a new year of Women’s Ministry at Waterbrooke with an evening of faith, food, friendship, and connection! Join us on Thursday, September 17 from 6:30–8:30 PM for a relaxed evening to reconnect after summer, meet new women, enjoy delicious food, and be encouraged in our faith. We’ll hear an encouraging message, share good food and conversation, and spend time building the friendships that help us walk faithfully with Jesus and with one another. Whether you’ve been part of Women of Waterbrooke for years or you’re joining us for the first time, this night is for you. Come as you are, bring a friend, and join us as we begin the year together with Faith, Food & Friendship. |
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MN Adult & Teen Challenge ChoirContinuing a long-standing Waterbrooke tradition, we will be hosting a Teen and Adult Challenge choir on Sunday September 20th. Many of us find these services to be especially moving and we hear stories of God's healing from desperate circumstances. They will be singing at both services (9:00 and 11:00). A Brazilian steak dinner will follow the 11:00 service, giving us a chance to get to know and minister to the Teen Challenge choir members as well as being encouraged by them! If you'd like to donate to Teen Challenge, there will be an opportunity and instructions during the service. We are in need of some volunteers to bring food to the luncheon. We're looking for mac and cheese, caesar salads and brownies. If you can help, please click the link here. |
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Young Adults MinistryWe invite the young adults of Waterbrooke (high school graduates between 18 and 30 years of age) and the surrounding area to participate in fellowship and study in a community seeking to bring glory to Christ. |
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Fall Bible Study - RuthRuth: Loss, Love & LegacyWomen’s Fall Bible Study | Tuesdays, 6:30–8:30 PMBeginning September 22Join us this fall as we journey through the beautiful story of Ruth—a story of loss, love, redemption, and legacy. |
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Mission Trip Summary | Ian MacFarlane| Berlin, GermanyIan recently returned from an eight-day mission trip to Berlin, Germany, where he had the unique opportunity to learn firsthand how missionaries operate in one of Europe's most spiritually complex cities. Working alongside long-term missionaries, Ian helped support an art gallery outreach ministry — the centerpiece of the missionaries' approach to a deeply post-Christian city where most residents have been atheist for multiple generations. He observed how the missionaries have intentionally chosen a relational, presence-based model over event-driven evangelism, using the gallery as a place where non-Christians can witness faith lived out in daily life and gradually find belonging in communal spiritual practice. Beyond practical service — setting up exhibitions, doing community yardwork, and repainting the gallery — Ian received rich teaching on Berlin's layered history, including the lasting trauma of World War II, the oppression of the Cold War, and the deep spiritual loneliness that continues to shape the city today. Ian returned home grateful for the generous support that made the trip possible, and with a deepened understanding of cross-cultural ministry and the Gospel's power to reach even the most spiritually wounded people. "I realized that knowing facts about history is very different from understanding how historical events impacted a people group." — Ian |
