Love is in the air

Over Memorial Day weekend Ben and I got the chance to go to Tuscaloosa, AL to celebrate the beginning of Jordan and Carlin's marriage. Jordan and Carlin were both students in the college ministry we served in AL and Jordan worked in our office at Calvary as an intern while I was there. Carlin is a teacher and Jordan will start seminary in the fall. I can't wait to see how their life unfolds. They are both very dear to us and we had a blast being a part of their special weekend.

It was a treat for us to get to stay the weekend with our dearest friends and to spend time with people we love and miss!

*Rehearsal Dinner

*Us with the bride and groom

*Sweet friends

*Old staff reunited

*A bubbly goodbye

*So I didn't get a picture from our dinner with the Carrolls or our BBQ with the Brooks. Somehow, I did manage to get a picture of the table set for dinner and the boys doing the dishes...haha

It was such a fun, relaxing weekend for Ben and I. I also got the chance to share an update with Calvary on Sunday morning about what God is doing in SF and how things are going at Epic. It was special for me as they have been a huge support and encouragement for Ben and I.

I cherished the time spent with one of my very best friends. So many undocumented moments of laughter, good conversation and fun times just being together.

*bff + chick fil a...life is good :)

6 years and counting...

So on May 21st Ben and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe all that has happened in the last six years...

Ruston, LA to Tuscaloosa, AL to San Francisco, CA

The last 6 years have been full of the most amazing times and some of toughest times of our young lives. We have seen God's love, favor and faithfulness throughout it all.

My love and respect for Ben as a husband, helpmate, provider, protector, friend and follower of God has increased with each moment of every year.

Ben and I took time to push pause on our busy lives and celebrate. Here are some pictures from the overnight trip we took to Monterey, Carmel and Pebble Beach.

*The Bed and Breakfast

*Pebble Beach

*Famous Pebble Beach "Lone Cypress" and the 18th Green

*Carmel By The Sea

Here's to 60 more amazing years...

Family Fun Day

Epic Church had the privilege last Saturday to coordinate Family Fun Day for Bessie Carmichael Elementary/Middle School. It was a GREAT day!!!

One of our desires and goals at Epic is to love and serve the city well. Shortly after we moved to San Francisco, Ben Pilgreen and I had a meeting with the principal at Bessie to see what their greatest needs were and how we could partner with them. The principal then invited me to join a monthly breakfast meeting with other community leaders who are investing in Bessie. Some people have asked...how did you choose to partner with this particular school?

• Bessie Carmichael is the only public school we found in the SOMA neighborhood where we live and meet as a church.
• They are extremely under resourced and in great need
• The principal was willing to partner with us

We have been able to purchase office supplies for them and help them sort through and organize storage closets and supply rooms. Earlier this year we were excited to participate in Family Fun Day by offering to run two game booths. In one of our monthly meetings I was extremely disappointed when the principal said Family Fun Day was going to be postponed and ultimately canceled. He said too much was going on at the time and they didn't have the resources, volunteers or time to plan it.

After talking with Ben, we decided that we would ask if Epic could coordinate, staff and resource the entire event so that school families wouldn't have to miss out of this fun day together. The principal gratefully agreed and we began the planning. It "just so happened" to work out where we would have a team from The Well UA in the city helping us that week.

It was a really great day! About 200 students/families came out for fun, games and food. It was a great opportunity for our church to interact with the school and to provide an event that would have been canceled otherwise. Here are some pictures taken by one of our volunteers from that day:

I am so grateful for all of volunteers from Epic and The Well UA who helped make this event happen. I am especially thankful for Principal Burgos who allows us to be a part of the Bessie community.

For the good of the city...

Blogging Overload...Celebrate New Life

I had hoped that this would not be my trend as a blogger but it seems to be...at least for now.

I post, I post, I post.....then nothing for weeks at a time...then...blog apology and I post again :)

We will skip the blog apology and get straight to posting!

List of things to catch up on:

Easter, Mission Teams, Baby Shower, Small Groups, Family Fun Day and Recent Events but for tonight....

Celebrate New Life

Epic Church had it's first Baptism Celebration this past Sunday night! Three girls were baptized and it was one BIG party. Here are some pictures and a video from the big night!

*Hey Rim

*Jennifer

*Christine is also a part of our small group

*And here is a video of the whole thing :)

More to come...

Lindsey

Will you pray with us?

As Easter approaches we are asking our church, family and friends to pray together for the next 21 days. Will you join us?

Click here to download or view the prayer guide.

Thanks for joining us as we continue to ask God to work in our lives and in SF-

Lindsey :)