Sunday, December 19th

Today was AWESOME at New Community. The worship choir was in the house, and they always add another great layer to our worship gatherings. Thanks to all of you who showed up early for rehearsal and used your gifts and talents to lead us in worship. Here are the highlights from the day.

1. Week 3...Terms of Peace. Having Peace with others. Check out the podcast mid-week if you missed. Here is a teaser: Jesus said, "do not suppose I came to bring peace to the world...".

2. Stephen updated us on our Christmas Offering, he added SIX pieces to our bunk bed. This puts us at over $15,000 toward our christmas offering goal of $20K. You guys rock. To check out one of the ministries we will be supporting with this offering, check out this video:

3. If you want to give to the Christmas Offering, but havent yet, you can go here to give securely online. Be sure to memo it "Christmas Offering".

4. Christmas Eve Service, this Friday night at 5:30 PM. Be here, bring a friend.

5. We announced in both services that beginning next Sunday, we will be moving back to one service as a church. There are many reasons for this, so if you more info email me: cmailto:chris1@newcommunityonline.com. Next Sunday, we will going back to a 10:30 AM worship gathering. See you then.

This coming year is going to stretch us a church. As we move into our 5th year (hard to believe), 2011 will be one of maturity for us. Over the years, you've heard me use analogies like: we have moved through the infancy stage, we are in our toddler years...that we have to crawl before we walk, walk before we run. 2011 will the year that we become young adults in maturity.

God has GREAT things in store for us. I am excited to roll out the 5-10 year vision and strategy for New Community in the coming months. We have seen God do amazing things through the ministry of NC, but let me tell you...He's not done and what is ahead is UNREAL. So, stay tuned as we gear up for an intense ministry season of life-change, community impact and church planting. BRING IT.

Well that's all for tonight. It was an amazing day and it was a pleasure just to be in the room with the most amazing church on the planet.

With the big and safe love of Christ...

Chris.

Sunday, December 12th

Today was an awesome day at New Community Church. I am blown away by how good God is and how awesome the people who attend our church are.

We are going to do our best to do a Sunday Night recap each week as we move forward. So many great things happen on campus each weekend, and I want to use this venue to highlight all that goes down.

1. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE AWESOME. This is never said enough, but thanks to every person that makes NC happen week in and week out. Check out areas to serve here.
2. Our Tech Team had an especially great day today. We had some technical difficulties early on but everyone rallied and our second service was awesome. Our tech team is responsible for creating an engaging environment, and this christmas season they have outdone themselves with hanging the lights, creating great media, and adding the third center screen.
3. We had 4 new adults shadow in the children's ministry today. This is awesome! Thanks for stepping up...you know who you are.
4. I am always blown away by the amount of first time guests that show up each week. It reminds me that even though NC has done great things, we have just begun...thousands of people in Jackson County still havent experienced the big and safe love of Christ, and we will keep pushing on until they do.
5. Erin Porter from Global Samaritans was in the house today. She filled us in on how the international portion of our christmas offering will turn the house they have built for orphans into a home. Your Generosity will provide beds and linens for these orphans in Zambia, Africa. We added three more sections to the bunk bed.
6. As of last Sunday's Offering, we are almost 1/2 way to our goal of $20,000. If you haven't had a chance to give to our christmas offering, you can go here to give online.
7. Week 2 of our series, terms of Peace was powerful. The podcast will be up on Wednesday if you want to check it out. We answered the question: Is Peace with God possible? We learned from Romans 5:1-8 and Romans 3:25 that the terms of Peace God offers is through his son Jesus and that if we want to experience PEACE, then we have to accept it on God's Terms...not OURS!
8. With all the moving pieces of today, i forgot to announce and mention that we will be moving to a Holiday Service Schedule (you should have recieved something in the mail this week). On December 26th and January 2nd, we will worship together in ONE SERVICE...10:30 am. Spread the word.