Crack Chicken | Jenna's Favorite Recipes

This is the most addicting way to eat chicken, hence the colloquial name, “crack chicken.”  It’s truly delicious, and guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser! This version is cleaner than a lot of recipes online, which use canned soup or ranch dressing as the base for the sauce. There’s no need for prepackaged, unhealthy ingredients in this recipe, and you still get so much flavor! Serve it over rice or baked potatoes, and you have a hearty meal. Add veggies to get some    extra nutritional value, and you won’t need to feel guilty about how good it tastes!

Ingredients:

· 1 package bacon

· 4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

· 3Tbsp butter

· 1 block cream cheese

· 1/2 cup sour cream

· Garlic powder (to taste)

· Onion powder (to taste)

· Salt & pepper (to taste)

· Heavy cream or chicken broth

· *EpicureanSpecialty truffle parmesan & black garlic seasoning (optional)

· Broccoli, zucchini, or spinach (optional)

 Directions:

1.  Cook bacon until crispy. Let cool, then crumble into small pieces. Set aside.

2. Cook & shred chicken breasts. Set aside.

3. Sautee veggies until cooked to desired tenderness, if using. Set aside.

4. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter, over medium-low heat, then add the cream cheese. Continue heating until cream cheese is melted.

5. Stir in the sour cream, then add the seasonings. You can play with other spices and flavors if you’re feeling adventurous!

6. If the sauce is thick, add a little heavy cream or chicken broth until it reaches the right   consistency. If it’s too thin, stir in some powdered parmesan.

7. Combine everything in a crock pot or baking dish. Heat everything together in the crock pot on low for 1-2 hours, or bake at 350 until heated through (15-20 min).

8. Serve hot over rice, baked potatoes, or even on bread. Or just eat it by itself!

 *This seasoning adds THE BEST flavor to this dish! I’ve found it at Costco, but you can also order it on Amazon. Use just a tablespoon to start with, then add a little at a time until it tastes right to you.

An Invitation to Pray at the Table | Reece's Peaces

At our church, we practice an open table. This means not only is everyone welcome to partake in the Lord’s Supper, but anyone is also invited to lead the church in prayer at the table. Several years ago, we intentionally moved away from the tradition of reserving this role only for elders. We made that change because it reflects our theology. We are an open and welcoming church that believes every Christian is called to be active in some form of ministry. We believe all are called not only to participate in worship but also to lead. 

Even after that shift, many of our elders have continued to be the ones who pray most often at the table. We are deeply grateful for their faithful leadership. But today, I want to extend an invitation to everyone, especially those who haven’t done so before, to consider offering a communion prayer during worship. 

Praying at the table is a simple yet meaningful act. You can write your own prayer, or if you’re more comfortable, I have a collection of communion prayers available each Sunday morning. You are welcome to look through them and choose one that speaks to you. Or, if you feel led, you do not have to prepare anything in advance. You can simply trust the Holy Spirit to guide your words.

We are a church that believes every person has a role in ministry. From the youngest and newest members to those who have been with us for decades, each of you has a gift from God. This is one way to use that gift to bless our community. 

 As we begin this new chapter in our church’s life and ministry, I hope you will consider signing up to pray at the table. You’ll find the sign-up sheet in the gathering area. Whether you're just beginning your journey with Christ or have walked with Him for a long time, you are invited. I hope many of you will take this opportunity to step forward and share in this sacred moment with us. 

The Hymns Of Fanny Crosby | Marc's Music Notables

It might seem unlikely that a blind writer of hymns living in a slum and a wealthy woman living in a mansion would have anything in common, but Fanny Crosby, the blind hymn writer, was a humble woman with a number of distinguished friends. Grover Cleveland, who later became President of the United States, met Fanny Crosby as a young man, and they became lifelong friends.

The friend in the mansion was Phoebe Knapp, the daughter of a Methodist evangelist. When she was just sixteen years old, Phoebe married Joseph Fairchild Knapp, a young man who went on to found the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

The Knapps worshiped at the John Street Methodist Church in lower Manhattan, which is where Fanny Crosby also worshiped, and so a friendship was born. Phoebe, the wealthy matron, often invited Fanny, the blind hymn writer, to her palatial home.

Phoebe enjoyed music and had a music room furnished with a collection of musical instruments. During one of Fanny’s visits, Phoebe invited her to the music room, where Phoebe sat down at the keyboard and played a tune that she had written. “What does that say?” she asked. Fanny clapped her hands in delight and said, “That says, ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!'” And so a hymn was born.

During her lifetime, Fanny Crosby wrote eight thousand hymns, many of which became famous - but “Blessed Assurance” just might be the most famous of all.

OTHER HYMNS BY FANNY CROSBY:
All the Way My Savior Leads Me

Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home

I Am Thine, O Lord

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior

Praise Him, Praise Him

Rescue the Perishing

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

To God Be the Glory

5 Ingredient Frozen Yogurt | Jenna's Favorite Recipes

The perfect treat for a hot summer day, and you don’t even have to feel guilty about it! This delicious frozen yogurt recipe is so tasty! I used frozen mangos and peaches, but you can use whatever frozen fruit you enjoy the most. Berries are perfect!

 Ingredients:

· 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

· 3-4 cups frozen fruit, cut into small chunks

· 1/2 cup organic heavy cream

· 3-4 Tbsp pure maple syrup

· 2 tsp vanilla extract

 Directions:

1.  In a food processor or high powered blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth

2. Stop and scrape down the sides occasionally, then continue blending.

3. If the chunks of fruit aren’t breaking up, add a bit more heavy cream.

4. When desired consistency is reached, taste a small bit. Add additional maple syrup if     desired.

5. If it’s fully blended with a traditional frozen yogurt texture, you may enjoy it right away. If it thinned out, you can transfer it to a loaf pan or medium bowl, cover, and freeze.

6. If fully frozen, remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving.

 *This recipe took inspiration from the website walderwellness.com

Grand Reopening Of The Sanctuary | Reece's Peaces

Mark your calendars and make plans to join us for a very special day in the life of our church. On Sunday, July 20th, we will officially reopen and rededicate our newly renovated sanctuary! 

This has been a long-anticipated moment for our congregation. Over the past several months, we have worshiped in the fellowship hall while construction crews have worked diligently to bring new life into our beloved sanctuary. Many of you have caught glimpses of the progress through windows or during walkthroughs, and while the updates have been exciting to witness, nothing will compare to experiencing the completed space together in worship. 

To mark this joyful occasion, our Sunday morning service on July 20th will begin as usual in the fellowship hall. There, we will gather in prayer and gratitude, reflecting on the journey we have taken together as a church family. Then, during the service, we will transition both        literally and spiritually into the newly renovated sanctuary. As the sound of the organ fills the air for the first time in months, we will walk into a space that has been renewed by God’s grace, guided by prayer, and shaped by faithful hands. It will be a powerful and sacred moment. A celebration of God’s faithfulness, a time of worship lifted to the One who makes all things new, and a joyful gathering of the body of Christ. 

This grand reopening is more than the completion of a building project. It is a symbol of who we are as a church, a people willing to grow, to change, and to invest in our future. The        renovations have created a space that is more accessible, more beautiful, and more functional for our ministries today and for generations to come. It has been a labor of love, made possible through generous donations, dedicated service, and countless prayers. 

Whether you have been with us every step of the way or are just rejoining us after some time away, this is a Sunday you will not want to miss. Come and witness what God is doing here at Hurstbourne Christian Church. Let us gather in joy and thanksgiving, dedicating this sacred space once again to the glory of God and the good of our community. 

We look forward to seeing you on July 20th as we celebrate this special occasion!