ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 16, 2026
Over the last few weeks, we’ve had some wonderful guest writers for these Etchings, and there are a couple more to come. Each person has been asked to respond to the question of where they see people receiving life-giving waters through the work and ministry of Cypress Creek Christian Church. It could be personal or something one has witnessed, and what I’ve found fascinating is that no one asked to write an Etching was hesitant and no one came back to me to say, “I don’t know what to say.” I find that to be telling in regard to what people are seeing and experiencing.
Over the last four weeks or so, I have touched on that question in one way or another in a few of my Etchings. Like Roger suggested in yesterday’s Etching, it is a bit dangerous to try to create an exhaustive list, for not only would it be exhausting, but it would leave many things out. So I will simply add two more to a growing list, and I hope it inspires your vision to see even more ways we bring those life-giving and life-sustaining waters of Jesus to those who are feeling parched.
First, I think about the Craft Crowd and the marvelous way they raise money for all sorts of outreach programs. The group is extraordinary, meeting on Wednesdays to create all sorts of beautiful and whimsical items to sell, including at the Dickens Market. The other part of their ministry I want to name is the Prayer Blanket Ministry. Each year, the Craft Crowd makes these wonderful Prayer Blankets that give comfort, hope, and peace to so many. They are delivered to our church members, to friends, and even mailed thousands of miles away. It is amazing the impact a small blanket can have on someone in a moment of crisis.
Second, I want to name the Wednesday Men’s Group that gathers for good camaraderie, study, and prayer. At a couple of times in my ministry here at Cypress Creek Christian Church, the group has dropped down to four or five. They chose to keep on going, and now, between in-person and Zoom, we can have anywhere from 15 – 18 guys. The group shares the weekly Joys & Concerns of the congregation, then offering prayer. But one of the things I appreciate is the questions they ask, seeking an update, wanting to know how we can help, or simply a deep word of lament as a person’s story is shared. They send out cards each week, and I personally have been the recipient of a few of those cards. It is a tangible reminder of the prayers of those men, and each time I receive one of the cards, I put it in a prominent place in the house for a week or two. It is another tangible reminder of people’s care.
I can’t count the number of times I have walked into a hospital room and seen a Prayer Blanket placed at the foot of a bed or visited a shut-in to see one of the cards from the Men’s Group. It is difficult to describe the real and sacred impact these items provide. Today, I give thanks for another way the life-giving waters spoken of in scripture are brought to those who are in need.
With both gratitude and awe, I give you thanks, Lord God, for people who genuinely care and desire for their faith to make an impact upon those who are sick, afraid, lonely, or trying to find a new way forward. In all we do, may we reflect Jesus. Amen.
