Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Where we will be during our 3 month sabbatical.

For starter my trip to Valley Forge, PA didn't happen :-/

I was bummed but I know that God is in control and had a good weekend at home.

We are now officially on our "pastoral sabbatical" though still home for a few more days, then off for a long drive that will take us to visit family in Virginia and in North Carolina, and to friends in Savannah, GA, and to Jacksonville, Florida, then on to our main destination in Atlanta, GA where we have many friends, family and grandchildren. We'll be there about 6 weeks, and then off to Nebraska for 2-3 weeks, and then back home to Kane, PA (that will be mid to late June). We'll actually go through approximately 14 states.

Some praises:
The Lord has faithfully provided care for our dog (free) for 3 months.
The Lord has faithfully provided place to stay for the 3 months.

Still need prayer:
1. Finances: Joyce will have a laptop, and working on computer, but we are still going to need other income. Please pray about that - Thanks!
2. Prayer: For fruitful sabbatical of time with the Lord and others, safe travel, and refreshed return to our church in 3 months.
3. Safe travel and no breakdowns, our car is 10 years old.

Our mailing address is: Jim and Joyce Mazzulla ~ Box 676 ~ Kane, PA ~ 16735
You can contact me on my cell anytime during the 3 months at (814) 558-7600

Thanks again for your prayers and any other way you can help us during our sabbatical.

I'll keep you updated over the next 3 months as to how everything is going.

We also invite you all to join my facebook:www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Mazzulla/1054373339

Saturday, March 07, 2009

"CHANGE is the word for me in 2009" AND Sabbatical update

The next two weeks should fly by, as I have so much to do before we go away for my "sabbatical." A little overwhelming but I am so excited about the sabbatical, seeing family and friends, ministry, and seeking God's will for us and our future.

Recently, a couple weeks ago, a brother in Christ in the pool ministry and I talked for about 4 hours. It was such a great time of sharing our hearts, prayer, and fellowship. To God be all the Glory! Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! PSA. 133:1

Also, my friend Tommy and I are getting ready to make a trip to Valley Forge, PA, to meet with some Christian friends at a major pool event in about 1 1/2 weeks (quick 2-3 day trip). I'm also looking forward to fellowship with Tommy as I have only seen him once since moving to PA almost 4 years ago.

Also, in 6 days we place our new leadership in place. This is a new and big step for us at Community Fellowship Church (http://www.kanepa.org/), and we pray it bears much fruit for the kingdom of God.

On my Sabbatical, I prayerfully, have plans to see as many Christian Pool Players Assoc. (CPPA - I founded in 2002) members as possible in our travels and talk to many by phone. This is the year of CHANGE for me, our church, CPPA, and with my Sabbatical, etc.

While change can be scary (atleast to some of us). I believe ALL these changes are in the will of God. AMEN to that!

SABBATICAL UPDATE:

While on the sabbatical, we will be quite busy at times; this will be a sabbatical or rest from all our responsibilities of pastoring our church in Kane, PA.

We have someone on the East coast who volunteered to take our dog Rusty for the entire sabbatical. What a relief that is and what an answer to prayer.

The rest of the time will be spent seeking God for ministry direction, spending time with the Lord, and lots of Bible and Christian reading (Christian pastoral/ministry/theology, an online Bible course - that is fun for me). I will still be working on BibleFood devotions, and blogging some :-)

As shared in my last blog, our main needs for sabbatical:

1. Housing: Places for us to stay (we cannot afford hotels). If you would like us to visit with you for any time period let us know.

2. Finances: Joyce will have a laptop, and working on computer, but we are still going to need other income. Please pray about that - Thanks!

3. Prayer: For fruitful sabbatical of time with the Lord and others, safe travel, and refreshed return to our church in 3 months.

We hope to meet with some of you on the East Coast as we travel by car from Pennsylvania to Georgia (and likely Florida), and then at the end of May to Nebraska (Joyce's family) and cut across country in June back to Kane, PA.

Our mailing address is: Jim and Joyce Mazzulla ~ Box 676 ~ Kane, PA ~ 16735

Thanks again for your prayers and any other way you can help us during our sabbatical.

We also invite you all to join my facebook:www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Mazzulla/1054373339