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I find myself frequently depressed - perhaps more so than any other person here. And I find no better cure for that depression than to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and seek to realize afresh the power of the peace-speaking blood of Jesus, and His infinite love in dying upon the cross to put away all my transgressions.
Rev. Charles Spurgeon
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Current Sermon Series
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Some thoughts
from Pastor’s last Message:
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Last Sunday, Pastor Chris began a new series called, What Does the Bible Say About________? His first message in the series answered the question about Heaven and Hell. Very few people want to die, but we all wonder what happens when we do. This was highest requested topic for this series. PC began the message by discussing the various words and terms throughout the scriptures that describe what we would generally call heaven and hell. Before looking at a story from Jesus, Pastor made these statements:
“…the greatest problem of discussing this subject is not translation and interpretation. The greatest problem is that some people don’t like what the Bible says, so they reject it and create their own beliefs. We’re really bad this way. You see if people don’t like what the Bible says about God – they just create their own beliefs about Him. If they don’t like what the Bible says about sin – they create their own ideas and definitions. If they don’t like what the Bible says about prayer, or finances, or sex, they just ignore it and make up their own set of beliefs. The greatest danger you face today is not that the Bible might say something you don’t like – the greatest danger is that because you don’t like it, you will reject it.”
Pastor then read and discussed Luke 16:19-31, which is Jesus’ story about Lazarus and the rich man. Both died and went to their eternal destinations. PC shared the following facts from these verses.
Fact #1 – Lazarus and the rich man both died and went directly to their eternal destinations. Our spirits or souls do go someplace when we die. See also: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Luke 23:43
Fact #2 – In these verses there are 2 distinct places described by Jesus. Lazarus went to be with Abraham (Paradise) and the rich man went to Hades (Hell)
Fact #3 – This story is not about what happens to the rich and the poor.
The issue in these verses is not whether a person is rich or poor; or whether a person is privileged or deprived. The issue is turning from sin and turning to God.
Fact #4 – Some people won’t believe.
There’s a way to heaven and a path that leads to hell and we make our choice as to where we want to go. God doesn’t choose that path for us. It’s our choice.
Have you made your choice for eternity?
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Check Out “A Night to Shine”
on the Internet!
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If you missed the announcement, Community Church has been chosen to host A Night to Shine on February 12, 2016. This is huge! We are one of 60 churches (in the U.S. and abroad) chosen by the Tim Tebow Foundation for this amazing event. We are looking for volunteers now! So, go online, check it out and then say “Yes! I want to help!” Liz Morgan is our contact person and organizational leader for A Night to Shine.
Click the link below to send your contact info to Liz today!
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The Youth Team made it home safe and sound! Stay tuned for some exciting information from them about their trip and experiences! Thanks for helping to make this trip possible!
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Help Needed at Seven Baskets
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This Saturday morning, Seven Baskets will construct their new playground equipment at the Community House. The work begins at 9:00 AM. The Community House is located across from Leawood Elementary School, at 1635 S. Hamilton Rd, north of I-70 on Hamilton at the first light. Feel free to call Pastor Chris for more information, or you can call Dr. Jeff Mansell at 614-406-2548.
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Baptism here at Community Church is a public profession of faith in Christ. It is not a commitment to church membership. You don't need to feel like a "mature", well established Christian to be baptized. It is for people who have recently decided to follow Jesus or who have rededicated their lives to Him.
If you have questions about baptism or feel you would like to be baptized, please contact Pastor Chris or Pastor Zack and they will give you all the information needed.
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The list for the next class is growing! Make sure you get your name added by contacting the church office so we can stay in communication and get all of the information to you! We will plan a meeting for prospective members very soon!!
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Important Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
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- September 15 – Heart to Heart
- September 17-20 – Pastor Zack vacation
- September 20 – Family Fun Night (See announcement)
- September 27 –
Chris Conrad, Guest Speaker to launch fall CORE
- October 4-12 – Community Church team to India
- November 5-6 - Heartbeats Banquets
- November 15-21 – 3 Bags Full
- November 22 – Jason Lovins Band
- December/Christmas Season: Avalanche 2.0 (Details coming)
- December 13 – Children’s Christmas Presentation
- February 12 - Night to Shine
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Softball Games Sunday
Please join the Facebook group to see the schedule!
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NEXT: A New Capital Campaign for Community Church!
LATEST UPDATE
Last Sunday, 8/23, $590.00 was given toward NEXT. That's $1840.50 for the month with one Sunday to go!
A principal payment of $1,264.95 was applied to the lot loan on 8/21 reducing the loan balance to $17,269.81! Daily interest is now less than $2.50 per day and continues to fall as we pay off this mortgage. The emergency fund rose by $140.55 to a new balance of $7,646.30.
This all shows incredible progress! Just a year ago (7/10/14) there was a balance of $70,401.49! So, in the last year we have paid over $53,000 on the loan and in the process eliminated a large balloon payment!!! Let’s pay this off and go on to the NEXT big step for financial freedom!!!!
Pastor Chris and Michael Herring
If we continue to make a triple payment of $1,695.00 each month we will make our last payment on the lot in AUGUST of 2016!
Remember: If every adult attendee will give at least $5 per month for NEXT ($10 per couple), we will meet the goal of making triple payments on the lot and eliminate that debt! Of course, the more you give, the faster we can meet this goal. After the lot is paid for we can immediately begin the process of knocking off the mortgage on the church building. Watch for continuing updates, or contact Pastor Chris, Michael Herring (Treasurer), Joy Wagner or Matt Booth for information.
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CORE Sponsored Church-Wide Picnic
Sunday, TODAY at 6:30
The church will provide meats, drinks and plates -
please consider bringing a side or dessert to share!
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Have you noticed our church has quite a few babies lately? With the increase in little ones, we will be opening the minnow nursery on Sunday mornings. The nursery needs to be fully staffed before that can happen, so that is where you come in! We need 8 people who will commit to working in the nursery once a month. If you are willing to serve in this area please email or contact Brittany Dupler at duplerb@hotmail.com.
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August:
WISDOM: Finding Out What you Should Do and Doing it!
August 2nd
If you want to be wise, ask God for wisdom
August 9th
If you want to be wise, hang out with wise people
August 16th
(Promotion Sunday)
If you want to be wise, think before you speak
August 23rd
If you want to be wise, look before you leap
August 30th
If you want to be wise, find out what Jesus said
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Volunteer Spotlight:
Pam Dunn
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Pam volunteers once a month with our check-in. You will find her at the check-in desk greeting and checking in the kids on Sunday mornings. Thanks for being a welcoming face for our families!
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Mission Team from Community
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In October Pastor Zack, Pam Dunn, and Janice Boyce will be traveling with two others from our denomination and headed to India for a missions trip organized by Global Partners. While they are there, they will be working with victims of the sex trade, meeting with a group of locals to help bring awareness to sex trafficking, and working at a youth camp. The three of them would like to invite you to play a role in their trip. You can do this in a couple of ways. First, please consider financially supporting them. You may not be able to go on a missions trip yourself but this a practical way to support those who are currently able to go. Any funds that come in will be evenly distributed between the three of them. To find out how to do this please contact Pastor Zack. Second, and the most important way to support them, is through your prayers. Please be praying the Lord will use them to impact His kingdom. Thank you for your support.
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Dear Church Family,
Quite unexpectedly, we have received the resignation of a staff member. Pastor Amber, who has served our church faithfully for 8 years as Youth Pastor, Pastor of Innovative Ministries, and even office manager, has heard the call of God to make a major change in her life.
Pastor Amber has achieved amazing things while on staff here including a large, dynamic youth ministry. Her stage sets, graphic arts designs, decorative skills, and overall creative abilities will be sorely missed. Her husband, Josh, has been a very special part of her ministry here as well. He often filled the gap when Pastor Amber suffered through her many physical problems. Josh is an amazing young man who has been extremely influential in many lives. This is a ministry team that we will miss more than any of us can begin to realize. They have had their hands in so many things that have made Community a stronger, more progressive, and more complete congregation. Pastor Amber and Josh will remain here at Community as supportive congregants and members. For this, we are very happy. They will do all they can to help us walk through the transition. Their desire is for Community to be a strong, effective body of believers.
I want to make it absolutely clear that Pastor Amber was not asked or even encouraged to leave. This was solely her decision with the full support of her husband. This is all about a vocational change. She plans to return to school and to pursue a new occupation. At first, I was very disappointed and hurt, however, I am now very excited. I see the peace and happiness in her life, and therefore, I want to support her every step of the way. I love her and want her to reach her fullest potential in Christ Jesus.
Pastor Zack and I have already begun the search for an adequate replacement. Once again, as it has been with other transitions, we ask for your prayers and patience. Transitions happen in every church and ours have been relatively smooth. We promise we will do our best to make this transition as smooth and seamless as possible. However, the Spungs have been very special to all of us and the aforementioned task is a big one.
Pray for me and Pastor Zack as we search for our new staff member. And please, pray for the Spungs as they make a dramatic transition in life. As we have for others in the past, we will plan a time to honor and celebrate this special couple in the very near future.
Please, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to call me. I will do my best to answer all the questions you may have.
For His Kingdom,
Pastor Chris
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Heart to Heart
September 15, 2015
“Chosen to Die,
Destined to Live”
with Special Guest Frida Umuhoza
Heart to Heart is a women’s ministry of Community Church that strives to provide Christ-centered encouragement to the women of our Community. We do this by providing an inspiring program and a full-course meal at each event. It is our desire for women to leave feeling renewed, refreshed and ready to serve Him! Keep watching for more event details but be sure to mark your calendar so you don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Frida, a 1994 Rwandan genocide survivor.
Get your tickets starting this Sunday!
They will be available at the Heart to Heart poster at the back of Faith Hall by Guest Services!
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HEARTBEATS
"HEROES FOR LIFE 5K FUNDRAISER"
September 19th
Hey Friends,
I am raising funds for the "Risk Avoidance" program that I that I teach. This program reaches about 2500 students each year. It is very well received by the students. We are funded only by private donations. My goal is to raise $1000. It costs about $25 a student to present our programs.
If you have children or grandchildren, this is an opportunity for them to hear the straight truth about sex and relationships.
Thanks in advance for your contribution. It is easy to do on-line!
Alice Morgan
What is Heartbeats?
Heartbeats… Hope, Help, and Healing
Heartbeats provides life-saving and life-changing services to adults, babies, and teens in Licking County and the Muskingum Valley. Pregnancy support; personal and parenting development; emotional and spiritual healing; and prevention education… all offered in love, free of charge, because every human life matters.
Your support helps provide free and confidential services, including:
- Pregnancy Testing
- Ultrasound Confirmation of pregnancy
- Mentoring with trained client consultants
- Earn While You Learn: Pregnancy, Parenting and Lifeskills Education
- Dreamkeepers: Discovering Sexual Integrity and Healthy Relationships
- Adoption Awareness Education
- Community and Medical referrals
- Abortion recovery, Surrendering the Secret
- Prevention Education for middle and high schools, Relationships Under Construction
Support our Heroes for LIFE and donate to their page.
We thank you for being an Everyday Hero!
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The Community Breakfast will be taking a Summer Break... stay tuned for the next date!
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Are You New to Community?
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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Our Student Ministries Wing...
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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Community Missionaries
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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New Believers!
MANY people have made new commitments to Christ over the last few months. Are you one of them? If so, we want to connect with you to help you grow in your faith and to help you become better connected to our church community! It’s possible that you have made a new commitment to Christ recently but you haven’t let us know! Some have, but others haven’t. If you haven’t, please make sure to contact us to tell us about your decision! We will not overwhelm you in any way, but we want to join you in your journey and support you as needed. So, if you’re a new believer or you’ve recently rededicated your life to Christ, please share that with Pastor Chris or another staff member. We’re here for you!
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Community Cafe
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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