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I popped in to Amazing Grace Lutheran this morning for their 10 a.m. service. This hillside church has, from my first visit, exemplified the four criteria I look for and have noted as my key visit criteria for this blog since the beginning. I visit here irregularly, so don’t think I was recognized by anyone but the pastor today. I was greeted warmly by six or seven individuals as I entered.

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A friend recently told me about a new Anchorage church, True North, which meets in the Loussac Library’s Wilda Marston Theater on Sunday’s at 10 a.m. Last Sunday I visited True North and these are my impressions.

What Greeting?

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While I’ve been somewhat critical of ChangePoint’s direction in the past, I’ve been intrigued with their leadership in electronic media, especially their recently released app.

I sat down earlier this week with Adam Legg, ChangePoint Communications Director, to take stock at the close of the 2nd month of their app’s availability. Adam was very excited as he shared the app’s numbers.

• downloaded over 1,500 times
• used almost 7,000 times
• 200,000+ minutes (3,300+ hrs.) of use

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This weekend, after attending a Rotary Conference in Homer, I dropped into Church on the Rock’s services. Held in the gym at Homer High, 10:30 a.m. Sunday mornings, this had also been the venue for my Rotary meetings, so I was very familiar with the surroundings.

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A recent Pew Forum survey found American's lack of religious knowledge is quite appalling. For a country that espouses a Protestant majority, it was quite shocking for me to discover that 53% of American Protestants cannot identify Martin Luther as the one who inspired the Protestant Reformation. Original Christian illustration by Jim Sutton: Picture of a halo character - Just thinking

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Smart phones, iPads, and the like continue to receive negative reception from some church authorities in Anchorage. My brother, Robin, is a N. California political cartoonist. I'm happy to share his satirical view regarding this issue.
"Repent...4G" by Robin Thompson (all rights reserved)

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Sand Lake Baptist Sign on Jewel Lake RdOn May 15 I visited Sand Lake Baptist Church located just south of Raspberry on Jewel Lake Road. I had a good visit including a warm welcome by two individuals when entering. A lively song service was in progress led by an excellent pianist/worship leader, a four-person praise group, and good congregational participation.

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ChangePoint recently released an app for the iPhone, iPad, iTouch, and Android. As they are the first Alaska church to release an app, I was very excited to share this news with Church Visit blog readers on my April 20, 2011 post (click here to view).

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Children on Mother's Day by Walter Brueggemann

We are children today of many mothers,
some of us grateful and glad,
some of us cynical and defeated,
all of us living lives that are pure gift
from you and for you.

As we give thanks for our mothers,
so we think of children whom you treasure
and invite close in.
For newborn babies arriving in these restless days,
for children loved and lost awhile--

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Too Precious
Recently I attended a church service featuring a praise band. The music levels were extremely high, at least in the area I was sitting. I noticed a number of very young children down front dancing on the floor in front of the stage. My attention was drawn to several of the children who were holding fingers in their ears, obviously blocking the loudness of the music.

An Easter Prayer by Walter Brueggemann

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…On our own, we conclude:
that there is not enough to go around
we are going to run short

of money
of love
of grades
of publications
of sex
of beer
of members
of years
of life

we should seize the day…
seize the goods…
seize our neighbor’s goods
because there is not enough to go around
and in the midst of our perceived deficit;

You come
You come giving bread in the wilderness
You come giving children at the 11th hour

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Good Friday marks the day Christians worldwide observe the closing moments of Jesus’ life. According to the Gospels, he was condemned, tried, and put to death on a cross (crucified) on this day almost 2,000 years ago. The day is observed with somber ceremonies in many churches. Often altars, pulpits, candelabra, and other church furniture or ornaments are shrouded with black or dark cloth.

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ChangePointApps are revolutionizing the way we use smartphones. ChangePoint, the first Alaska church to develop an app, launched theirs this week.

Follow my church visit activity at Twitter.com/ChurchVisitsPalm Sunday 2011

As Anchorage is so close to the International Date Line, most of the world will have already celebrated Palm Sunday by the time I post this. Palm Sunday is the day most of Christendom commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as recorded in the gospels (Matthew 21, Mark 11, John 12).

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Too many signs at Anchorage area churches violate most principles of good church signage. Each week, I'll be posting pictures of church signs I consider to be the best examples of what a sign should be, as well as pictures of signs that violate principles of a proper sign.

Good Sign Criteria
*Clearly readable at the posted speed limit
*Name of church, church webpage address, service times (optional)
*Lighted

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Summary
After my June 11, 2009 visit to The Crossing @ Birchwood, I posted a less than favorable review. (Click here to read my previous review). During my revisit on April 3, 2011, I found a more congenial service.

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Too many signs at Anchorage area churches violate most principles of good church signage. Each week, I'll be posting pictures of church signs I consider to be the best examples of what a sign should be, as well as pictures of signs that violate principles of a proper sign.

Good Sign Criteria
*Clearly readable at the posted speed limit
*Name of church, church webpage address, service times (optional)
*Lighted

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During my Anchorage area church visits, I see many types of music being performed. Some good, some bad, and a few great! The musical climate in churches is currently the subject of a contentious national debate within the Christian community. From time-to-time, I’ll be presenting some of the streams of this debate in my posts.

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Too many church signs in Anchorage area churches violate most principles of good church signage. Every week, I'll be posting pictures of church signs I consider to be the best examples of what a sign should be, as well as pictures of signs that violate principles of a proper sign.

Good Sign Criteria

*Clearly readable at the posted speed limit
*Name of church, church webpage address, service times (optional)
*Lighted

Follow my church visit activity at Twitter.com/ChurchVisits

SUMMARY
On my previous visit to Community Covenant Church – Eagle River, (Click here to read my previous review) I was most impressed with my experience, making a mental note to do a return visit. This was finally accomplished today at their 11 a.m. service, and was even more than I could ask for.