2 Corinthians 9:8

Dear Members and Friends,

God is on the move at Community!

Our generous God is in the process of transforming us by His grace to be increasingly generous, like Him.  He supplies all that is needed so that “you will abound in every good work.”  In other words, God is in the business of softening our hearts to be aware of the needs of others and enlarging our hearts, so we have the capacity to meet those needs.  So…

What “Move” do you sense God is encouraging you to take? 

Wednesday and Sunday, November 20 and 24 is “Make Your Move” Week at Community.  Everyone will be able to complete their own private “Make Your Move Card.”  This is your opportunity to write down your very own Moves for “Feeding Your Faith” and “Showing Jesus’ Love.

You will complete your card at the end of the sermon and then bring it to the special cross in front of the altar, asking God to help you Make Your Move that you wrote for yourself.  Children can also “draw” their “moves” in their very own Make Your Move card too!  Then in February 2020, your Card will be returned to you for your encouragement and reflection.

Side Two of this letter includes thought starters from the Make Your Move Team who have been working with me on this spiritual growth emphasis.   These are sample “moves” that you and yours can reflect on as you prepare to write your very own personal moves in your own “Make Your Move Card.”

As a team we encourage everyone at Community to prayerfully consider Your Move.

What would it be like if our homes were marked by actively Feeding Faith through increased Prayer, Bible Reading and Thanking God in our homes? 

Pastor Scott

 Interim Pastor

 “Thought Starters” for Your Consideration

            As you prayerfully consider Making Your Move as God encourages you to Feed Your Faith and Show Jesus’ Love—here are some ideas that may inspire you.  These ideas come from Pastor Scott and the Make Your Move Team composed of Rob and Laurie Berry, Sandy Harris, Bob and Nancy Almaguer, Rebecca and Michael Focht. 

The Make Your Move Card you receive in worship on November 20 or 24 will include these thought starters.  Since this is a very personal experience, you will be able to write your very own personal Moves in the card too.  It is our hope that these thought starters inspire you and yours.

1. Make a Move to “Feed Your Faith”

Thanking God / Worshiping Together

            ____ I will Thank God for His blessings daily, even if it has been a “hard” day.

            ____ I will write three things I am thankful for every day and share with my family.

            ____ I will faithfully attend worship services with other Jesus Followers.

____ I will pray for my enemies and practice forgiveness & compassion with others.

          ____ I will pray for 5 minutes every day.

____ I will pray for a different person every day.

          ____

Reading the Bible/ Studying the Bible Together

         ____ I will read my Bible privately or with others at least ____ times a week.

         ____ I will join a Bible study group

         ____ I will add a Bible app to my phone so I can read one verse while I wait each day.

         ____

2. Make a Move to “Show Jesus’ love”

        ____ I will try a new way to serve others based on my unique experiences and interests.

        ____ I will look for a need and meet it.

        ____ I will strive to see family members and those I meet as Jesus sees them.

        ____

Sharing Jesus

____ I will let others see Jesus in me and give an answer for my hope in Jesus.

____ I will invite someone to a CLC event or worship.

____ I will listen to the needs of others so I can carefully share Jesus.

____

Giving Generously

          ____ I will resist a favorite beverage or snack—and give the savings to God’s work.

          ____ I will increase my giving…by giving more regularly or giving more as God leads me.

          ____ I will strive to be content and more generous.

          ____

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look,

God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”                        

Exodus 3:4

But God is not one to let His people atrophy in what is comfortable. Instead, He calls us to “an adventuresome partnership” (pg. 140) that stretches our faith and leads to greater trust in Him.  Our Verse of the Week above is God’s call to Moses.  You may recall the great faith and bold leadership of Moses in his later years.  Do you recall his initial response to God’s challenging assignment?  Let’s see what we can learn from his experience.

The theme for this weekend is about “getting into the game” and having the courage to stop watching and starting taking our move.  Are you ready?  Let’s explore the joy and challenge of following Jesus.

Pastor Scott

P.S.  Seeing Community in action during the Hall-O-Ween event was exciting and awesome!  I’m still trying to figure out how many members and their friends and family joined together as the “joyful servants” making this event happen.  Seems like it was over 75 people blessing around 450 kids (and their parents too).  May the seeds that were sown by our generous love, faithful songs, and Jesus filled children’s message—bear fruit that is even sweeter than free candy—knowing the love of Jesus and his followers!!  To God be the glory!!

With all of this stuff piled up around us, it is easy to lose sight of what ultimately matters. We get buried by all of our stuff, while at the same time desperately grasping for more because we seem to think that all we need is more.

See you in worship

Pastor Scott

or whatever you do,

do all to the glory of God.”

1 Cor 10:31

In the game of life, nobody can “sit this one out” or “take a pass.” Everyone has to take a turn. Every time we are faced with a decision in life – no matter how important or trivial it may seem – we are given a chance to take our turn. And every turn we take, every choice we make, matters.

This week Daniel, a displaced person, living in Babylon far from his home in Jerusalem—has much to teach us about taking our turn.  Even when it seems like it doesn’t matter.  Check it out.  You may even be inspired to take the Daniel Adventure.

Every turn we take also presents us with an opportunity to honor God. Whenever we choose to honor God in some aspect of our life, we align ourselves with His will, as He reveals it to us in His Word. Aligned with God’s will, we become open to God’s work in our lives and receptive to His blessing.

Blessings on your worship

Pastor Scott

By the way—did you know that we are averaging 90 people in bible study each week during our “Back in the Box” Spiritual Growth Campaign?  You can join in for light supper on Wednesday at 5:30 and study from 5:45-6:45 prior to 7:00 Worship.  Or try Sunday morning for light breakfast at 9:30 and study from 9:45-10:45 prior to 11:00 Worship. 

Need a copy of the Phase 1 Report?  You can pick one up at worship or at the church office during office hours.  Or we can send you one electronically.

The meeting to discuss the Phase 1 Report is Sunday, October 20 in the sanctuary 6:30-8:30 pm.  See you there!!

As we think further about how games are played, we note that keeping score defines our reality.  It tells us who is ahead and who is behind. It separates winners from losers. For some, the final score is all that matters. How you get there is just a means to the end.

In life, however, the scores we keep are not always the right ones, or the most helpful. Without even realizing that it is happening, we tend to adopt the scoring system of the world around us (think: workplace, entertainment, family & friends).

This scoring system, in turn, comes to shape our behavior and identity, oftentimes in ways that are contrary to the revealed will of God.

Jesus Christ introduces a new (although in a sense it is old…) scoring system, one that seems odd at first but which, in the end, is the only scoring system that leads to ultimate victory and life. Centered on humility and grounded in service, Jesus’ scoring system turns weakness into strength and (apparent) losers into (true) winners!

Want to hear more—join us for week 2 of the Spiritual Growth Campaign as we take a closer look at “Three Ways to Keep Score.”  The same good topic on two convenient days.

                 Wednesday Night                                             Sunday Morning

                 Light Supper (5:30)                                         Light Breakfast (9:30)

                 Table Group Discussion (5:45)                     Table Group Discussion (9:45)

                 Worship (7:00)                                                Worship (8:30 or 11:00)

Can’t wait to see you there!!

            Pastor Scott

 “Having loved His own who were in the world,

He now showed them the full extent of his love.”

John 13: 1b

In life, however, the scores we keep are not always the right ones, or the most helpful. Without even realizing that it is happening, we tend to adopt the scoring system of the world around us (think: workplace, entertainment, family & friends).

This scoring system, in turn, comes to shape our behavior and identity, oftentimes in ways that are contrary to the revealed will of God.

Jesus Christ introduces a new (although in a sense it is old…) scoring system, one that seems odd at first but which, in the end, is the only scoring system that leads to ultimate victory and life. Centered on humility and grounded in service, Jesus’ scoring system turns weakness into strength and (apparent) losers into (true) winners!

Want to hear more—join us for week 2 of the Spiritual Growth Campaign as we take a closer look at “Three Ways to Keep Score.”  The same good topic on two convenient days.

                 Wednesday Night                                             Sunday Morning

                 Light Supper (5:30)                                         Light Breakfast (9:30)

      Table Group Discussion (5:45)                      Table Group Discussion (9:45)

      Worship (7:00)                                                  Worship (8:30 or 11:00)

Can’t wait to see you there!!

1 John 4: 16a

• Wednesday Night
  • Light Supper (5:30 pm)
  • Table Group Discussion (5:45 pm)
  • Worship (7:00pm)
• Sunday Morning
  • Light Breakfast (9:30 am)
  • Table Group Discussion (9:45 am)
  • Worship (8:30 or 11:00am)

So, being affectionately desirous of you,

we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God,

but also our own selves,

because you had become very dear to us.