UPCOMING EVENTS & SERVICES
Friday, January 6, 9:30 am: Ladies' Lectio meets in Narthex (children welcome)
Sunday, January 8, 11 am: Blessing Service. View previous services on our Facebook page, or listen on podcast.
Sunday, January 8: Potluck following morning service
CLICK ON LINKS BELOW TO SKIP TO DESIRED CONTENT (or on mobile device, scroll down)
Announcements
Pastor's Notes
Family Matters
Mission Spotlight
Giving
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Get your Jello molds ready.
Potluck after service
THIS SUNDAY!!!
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Greetings Church,
I hope you had a wonderful New Year. This Sunday, we will have our New Year's blessing service. Afterwards, we will have a our first Potluck of the year!
A few months ago, we took the PhCheck, a survey where we evaluated the church's strengths and areas that need improvement. Over the next few months, I'll unpack of few of the results here, so that you can have a better understanding of how we, corporately, rate and understand the church. The responses are divided into different categories and given one of the following ratings: Excelling, Thriving, Sustaining, Struggling, and Challenged.
Our church most consistently found itself in the Sustaining Category, which means that we are maintaining but not necessarily growing. I think that most of us would agree with that assessment. But the good news is that our strongest category a "Christocentric Focus" which borders the Excelling and Thriving ratings. That is huge relief for me, because it means that "we have good bones." The main thing is the main thing at the church, we are a church centered on Jesus and his mission. This puts us in an excellent place to grow and develop.
The area in which we could use the most improvement was "Leader's Rest," which was rated as "Challenged." I confess that a part of the reason that we rated so low, was my inexperience as a pastor. As a new pastor, I have not felt secure enough to take time off. I haven't known how to leave and how to not be involved in every area, Basically, I haven't trusted God or the church enough to rest. So during my five years at the church have never used much of my vacation time-- my time off in September for Alyssa's aunt's funeral was the longest I have been away from the church (2 weeks).
So with that, I will be taking a bit of a break this January. I'll be taking a few weeks starting January 9 for rest, spiritual nourishment, and complete a history class (my last class for ordination). Then at the end of the month, I will travel to Florida for the denomination's Midwinter gathering.
I'll write a bit more about other areas for growth when I return.
Christ is King,
Pastor Criss |
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Family Matters
As parents, we are not immune from negative thoughts and feelings of inadequacy as we seek to parent our children in grace and truth. This week's article from ParentCue speaks to our hearts and minds for encouragement and resolve.
--Walking with you, Pastor Kristi
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Prayer Partner Ministry: Would you consider being a prayer partner with one of our children? In January, we will be re-establishing our prayer partner ministry where adults are paired with one of our children to pray for them. More information to come next week.
Children's Ministry Volunteers needed: With the growing number of pre-K students attending children's church, we will be adding a break-out class for these littles each week. We could use a few more people on the children's ministry team. If you would be interested to serve once a month with our children's church ministry (preK or Elementary age) connect with Pastor Kristi.
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Our two teams are almost complete! We could deepen our list of "subs"--people willing to volunteer on an occasional basis when one of our scheduled people are not available. We are still in need of a few more people to do setup on the 4th Thursdays at the duplex location at 2121 E. 73rd. Set-up involves registering new families, reviewing house rules with guests, helping with serving dinner, coordinating with AWAIC shelter for morning cab pick-ups for school-aged children, and filling out guest logs.
If you could spend a few hours from 5-9 p.m. volunteering in this slot, or would be willing to fill in on an occasional basis, please email Rebecca. Overnight volunteers must be 18 years or older. Background checks are required of all volunteers. If you are interested in assisting in this essential community effort or have any questions, please contact Rebecca at office@anchoragefirstcovenant.com or on her cell at 907-347-9534.
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MISSION SPOTLIGHT
First Covenant supports missions and ministries in Alaska and across the globe. This column spotlight one of those supported ministries each month.
Karl Thistle serves at CYAK as the Resident Director of the Aarigaa House. As the House RD, his main focus is growing the community within the house and intentionally discipling residents. Karl grew up in Willow, AK as the younger sibling in a family of four. Prior to this role, he and his wife worked in the dorms at a boarding school in Galena, AK. During those six years they were able to experience and appreciate a variety of cultures from all across the state. Little did they know, God was specifically teaching and preparing them to serve within this cross-cultural ministry. They have been encouraged by the growth they have seen in the residents and in the program as a whole, and eagerly awaits Christ's continued work at the Aarigaa Discipleship House.
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Click on the Home Altar picture to view Home Altar weekly online or to sign up for a weekly Home Altar email.
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A podcast exploring what it means to be Covenant
A collaboration between Make and Deepen Disciples and the Covenant Companion, join hosts Jane Chao Pomeroy and Cathy Norman Peterson as they explore all there is to love about being Covenant. Join us for conversations about our shared Covenant story and distinctives as we move toward our future together as mission friends. On Apple or Spotify
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Need Prayer? Use this form for prayer requests.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Upcoming Events:
- January 1, 11 am - Worship Service (Happy New Year)
- January 8, 11 am - New Year's Blessing Service with Potluck
- Prayer Chain: Do you feel called to be in prayer for others? You may join our prayer chain and receive email prayer requests. Contact Rebecca at office@anchoragefirstcovenant.com to become a prayer chain partner. These prayer requests are held in confidence by the prayer chain members.
- Want to help out during Worship Services? We are in need of nursery volunteers, song leaders, musicians, audio & video assistance, greeters and more. If you are feeling led to take a more active role, see Pastor Criss, Pastor Kristi or contact the church at: office@anchoragefirstcovenant.com or 907-277-3322
- Would you consider serving in our congregational care ministry as we seek to care for each other well. Pastor Criss is looking for people willing to call 3-5 people each week as part of our Care and Connect team. We often set up meal deliveries. Email criss@anchoragefirstcovenant.com.
- Music, Videos and Bible Lessons are available on RightNow Media. Click on the RightNow picture next to the worship service calendar to go to RightNow Media and start searching. Not yet a member of RightNow Media? Use this link to become a member and receive access to free on-line videos: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Account/Invite/FCCAlaska
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