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“Love is more than a noun—it is a verb; it is more than a feeling—it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing.”
-William Arthur Ward
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Join us for…
AN AVALANCHE CHRISTMAS:
For God Loved - So He Gave
December 20
Community Christmas Dinner Give Away
10am - Come Join the Team!
December 21
Love Candle
Message: An Avalanche of Love
Pastor Chris
Children’s Christmas Presentation
Give away a “Christmas” to someone in need
The Avalanche Consumes!
December 24
Christ Candle
Christmas Eve Service
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Only one hour so you can spend time in worship
and still spend time with your family!
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"Love is what's in the room with you
at Christmas if you stop
opening presents and listen."
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We know how much people love the message outline in the bulletin every Sunday. This is something we’ve done faithfully because you want it! However, we goofed last Sunday and the outline in the bulletin was the outline from the previous week. Therefore, you will find the outline for last Sunday below. Thanks for your understanding. Everyone who has pointed out our mistake has done so with wonderful kindness. We will make mistakes (probably often!) and your understanding is appreciated. Here is the outline:
An Avalanche of Joy
December 14, 2014 – Pastor Chris
Now, for the last 3 weeks I’ve explained the Avalanche Christmas to you, so today I’m just going to ask you to fill in the blanks!
All month long we have talked about God as an Avalanche of GENEROSITY.
And, on Christmas Day we celebrate God’s greatest gift to our world, which is His SON, JESUS.
John 3:16 (NLT) “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
So, Jesus is the example of God’s extreme generosity because God LOVED us.
God LOVED ....... So, He GAVE.
The first Sunday of Advent we lit the Hope Candle and then talked about God as An Avalanche of Hope. Last Sunday we talked about God as an Avalanche of Peace. Today, we’re talking about God as an Avalanche of joy! Joy is the result of the most important things in life and in the soul. It transcends the simple feelings of happiness.
Psalm 51:11-12 (NLT) 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Romans 15:13 (NLT) 13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
God is all about joy! He loves a good party! Check it out in your Bible J
Even during hard times, God has joy for our lives, but too often we close the door and stop the flow. Let me give you a few things to think about.
- Even when life isn’t easy, find joy in your BLESSINGS.
- Find joy in ETERNAL stuff.
- Take the focus off of YOURSELF and discover the joy of GIVING TO OTHERS.
“Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net
of love by which you can catch souls.”
-Mother Teresa
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Last Sunday the Avalanche Grew!
Our Advent series, An Avalanche Christmas, continued last Sunday as Pastor Chris spoke about God as an avalanche of JOY. Although it doesn’t reveal much, you will find the outline for his message in this newsletter.
Each week the avalanche offering has been outstanding! This past Sunday it was $1650!!! Every Sunday we have used the avalanche offering to bless others – sometimes in crazy ways. This week the offering was given to a single mother who has been living in a unit provided through the Coalition of Housing. This young woman has been doing an excellent job of getting her life back on track and the money we gave to her will help reach the next level of independence. With our gift she should be able to get her family into their own home!!! This is after a couple of years of being dependent upon the Salvation Army and the Coalition! Congratulations to Brittany for all she has accomplished for herself and her family over the last few years. Renni Bare from the Coalition was also there to share with us for a few moments. It was both encouraging and heartbreaking to hear about the homeless in Licking County. He told us all that Brittany is a star! He voiced his pride in her accomplishments. You can find information about the Coalition of Housing on their website.
This next Sunday we will continue to share the love and generosity of God with others. Make sure to bring $20 (per person) and we will bless another young family that has been homeless. You will not believe what we will be able to do for this family!
Many people have told us that this is the best Christmas ever at CWC! There is a simple reason: As Jesus stated, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
For more information about the Avalanche Christmas, check out our website and Facebook page. This has been an amazing month of blessings!
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Christmas Dinner
Give-A-Way Preparation Tonight at 6:30!
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A New Capital Campaign has been Created!
Recently, many of our church members met and made a decision for the disbursement of the funds raised through our recently ended Capital Campaign. In this decision, we will apply $25,000 to our property debt and will begin a new campaign to try to pay this off over the next 2 years. You will hear more about this very soon! Although our new campaign has not been formally introduced to the congregation, you CAN begin giving to it now! Beginning immediately, 90% of all funds received (marked as Capital Campaign) will be applied to the property debt. The other 10% will be placed in an emergency fund for the church.
Special thanks to all who contributed to the last campaign and to the members who came to the meeting to help make some important decisions. If you’d like more information about these decisions, please contact Pastor Chris, Michael Herring (Treasurer), Joy Wagner or Matt Booth.
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New Projector and Screen Needed
We have made the case and sent out a plea for the purchase of a new projector and screen for the auditorium. You have begun to respond and we appreciate it! We still need to raise a sizable amount, but as of last Sunday we now have $2,431 in the fund! Our goal is $4,000. Thank you for your help!!! Please place your offering for this project in an envelope marked New Media Equipment or make out a check to the church with New Media Equipment in the memo. Any donation will be greatly appreciated!
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This Saturday is the Christmas Dinner Give-A-Way and if you haven’t signed up to help, it’s not too late! Just be at the church by 8am on Saturday to help with packing and distributing the meals.
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The Class Listing for CORE is Here!
2015 is just around the corner and with the beginning of the year comes the first quarter of Core classes and activities. It is time to sign-up for your class so that our teachers can be prepared with their materials. We are offering 4 adult classes this quarter, you can click on the button at the bottom of this article!
I Thessalonians, Part 2: This class will focus on Chapters 4-5 with topics including living a life of sexual purity; living as insiders and reaching outsiders; spiritual laziness; small group living; and preparing for the return of Jesus Christ.
Financial Peace: Financial Peace Revisited gives you the tools to understand why you are in debt, create a budget you can stick to, set goals you can achieve, and make things right for you and your family emotionally, spiritually, and financially, for good. Dave Ramsey focuses on these topics:
- how to get out of debt and stay out
- the KISS rule of investing—"Keep It Simple, Stupid"
- how to use the principle of contentment to guide financial decision making
- how the flow of money can revolutionize relationships
With practical and easy to follow methods and personal anecdotes, Financial Peace is the road map to personal control, financial security, a new, vital family dynamic, and lifetime peace. This class size is limited to 12. FEES: CORE is covering half of the standard $100 registration fee, the $50 fee is not expected until the end of the class (payments can be made throughout the class, if you need financial assistance, please see MarceeRichardson).
There is No I in Church (reprinted as Gather): Into a culture that prizes individualism above all things, Keith Drury issues a call for believers to return to their roots--the church. This hard-hitting book challenges American Christianity's preoccupation with private religion and boldly asserts that we become holy only together--as the Bride of Christ. In the author's words "We have plenty of spiritual fingers and spiritual ears and eyes, but God longs for a whole church--a body--that is spiritually mature." From public prayer, to preaching, fellowship, and the Lord's Supper, Drury convincingly shows the value of corporate spiritual practices and offers practical tips for transforming the spiritual dynamic of a local church or small group. Books will be used in this class, at a cost of $5 per book.
Hebrews: The letter to the Hebrews reigns unchallenged as the New Testament's finest commentary on the relationship between Christ and the Old Testament. Its stirring message is loaded with theology accessible to any believer who wants to grasp the origin and meaning of faith and will challenge you to live wholeheartedly for Him in every situation, including persecution. Learn how our relationship with Christ is provided to us through the perfect covenant and sacrifice, and how our faith and perseverance will sustain us.
For the kids (K-5th grade), they will be Cooking with Carolyn. The kids will be learning about types of food that God created for us and how they can create healthy, wonderful tasting dishes and snacks. There will also be a time when kids can do homework or study.
We are needing nursery workers. If you are willing to provide childcare during the quarter, please also sign up using this link.
Classes:
- Hebrews (leaders TBA)
- There is No I in Church with Pastors Chris, Lisa, Amber and Zack
- Financial Peace with Kent Morgan and Matt Booth
- 1 Thessalonians Part 2 with Bev Barrett
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This Month in Community Kids
- December 21st: Christmas presentation and celebration!
- December 28th: Get wrapped up in giving.
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Community Breakfast
Saturday December 20th 9-11am
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Please remember the Community Breakfast and invite your friends to come have breakfast. You can still volunteer! Contact Tom Shepard if you would like to get involved! You can make a donation toward the cost of the Breakfast at any time by marking your offering envelope "Breakfast."
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Community Church will be hosting
a Blood Drive with the Red Cross on
Saturday, January 17th
from 8:00am - 1:00pm
in the Lobby
to schedule an appointment call
(740)973-8878
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Here at Community Church we support several foreign missionaries and missions projects. There is literature available to introduce you to those we support. You can also contact someone on our current Missions Team: Marcita Bennett, Michael Herring, Yvonne Miller, Elizabeth Troyer, Linda Whaley, Natalie White, or Pastor Chris. Please take time to go to Wesleyan.org and find the Global Partners link. You will find many of our missionaries listed there. Make the effort to secure their contact information and send them an email or text to share your appreciation for their hard work in God’s Kingdom.
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Christmas Card Ministry
The Community Church Quilters Group will be providing the service of Christmas Card distribution for the attendees of Community. Please drop your cards off between November 30th and January 5th in the replica mailbox in the main hallway outside of room #115. You can pick up your cards from the tables in room #115. Money donations will be used to purchase quilting supplies. No cards will be mailed to addresses. If you have any questions, please see Ruth Steffee.
There will be beautiful and affordable boxed Christmas and All-Occassion cards available for purchase as well.
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If you know of someone who has been sick or could use a visit, please contact Pastor Lisa and let her know. Thanks in advance!
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Please consider helping the Facilities Management team on Sunday after the worship service. We need to set the Worship Center up for the Food Give-a-Way on the 20th and immediately following the event, we will need to reset for worship the next day. Please see Bryan Spurgeon for more information.
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Youth Ministry Christmas Party
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Tonight, December 17th at 6:30pm, the teens will be having their "Thrift Shop and Pajama Christmas Party." Dress up in your coziest PJs and grab a gift for the exchange for less than $10 from the thrift shop and come on out for a night that is sure to be packed full of laughs, good food, great friends and awesome memories!
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New Members are Welcome Here!
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We have received approximately 32 new members over the last 22 months! How about you? If you are interested in membership at Community Church, please contact Pastor Lisa and let her know.
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The young men of Trail Life have been busy over the last year. Take a look at this list of awesome ways they have served their community!
- yard work completed for a retired couple in North Newark
- volunteered at the Davis-Shai House Fathers Day Barbecue and Car Show
- served food at two Heart to Heart banquets
- ran the "Buzz in the Barn" childrens area on Tuesday of the Hartford Fair
- collected worn American flags and completed a flag retirement ceremony
- our Troopmaster and Chaplain taught breakout sessions at the Cincinnati Trail Leader Training
- our troop hosted the State Recognition Banquet on November 8, 2014
- delivered Thanksgiving Day meals
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There are always new attendees here at Community! If you are one of them we want you to know that we are very happy you have decided to worship with us! We encourage you to please introduce yourself to Pastor Chris if you have not done so. He would love to meet you and become acquainted. Also, make sure to contact him or one of the pastors if you have questions or need information. Welcome to Community!
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Have You Recently Become a Christian?
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Many people have recently come to Christ for the first time or have rededicated their lives to Him. If you are one of those people, please share that with Pastor Chris or another staff member. We will not embarrass you in any way, but we want to celebrate with you, pray for you and support you.
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We would like to thank everyone for their food and monetary donations that help “stock” our café supplies each Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. Although our café is always free to everyone, every little donation is helpful. If you would like to provide donations or help our café ministry in any way, you should connect with Renee Dyer.
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Our Student Ministries Wing...
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is a secure area on Sunday mornings. Our sole objective is to protect our children and to make sure their parents are confident that they are safe from any potential harm. All across our nation there have been terrible incidents which could have been avoided if children were not put at risk. Please be understanding of our new security measures and help us care for the children that God has placed in our care.
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There Are Various Ways to Gain More Information About Community Church
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- There are announcements in the weekly church bulletin
- We make announcements from the platform
- There is information on the media screen before the Sunday morning service
- We have a nice website: www.cwcnewark.org
- We have a Facebook page too!
- Leaders send out informational emails from their departments, so make sure we have your email address! In fact, make sure we have all of your current contact information.
- And we send out an e-newsletter every week. Those without email can find paper copies at the Guest Services Center. If you want a paper copy of the e-news before Sunday, please call the office after Wednesday of each week and request a copy or feel free to stop by and get one. You can also access our newsletter via the website.
- This newsletter is growing and becoming more informative every week!
- And, you can always call the church office or call, email or text one of our pastors! We will be glad to help you or answer your questions!
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