Newsletters - Christ Community Church -9

Here you will find the news of events, inside and outside of the church. Articles, opinions, testimonies, and other interesting tidbits to inspire and amuse.

If you would like to contribute a short article, testimony, encouraging word or quote, or an interesting or funny church sign, please speak to Rose.

Contact the church and the office manager will get the information to Rose.

On July 19 I traveled to Warwick, RI to attend the 74th annual Gathering of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, otherwise known as the 4C's. The 4C's is a wonderful network of around 400 churches and close to 800 ministers that our church has been a part of since 1993. Since it is a conference of congregational church, the 4C's isn't a denomination in the way the Presbyterians or Methodists are. As a congregational church, we acknowledge that Jesus is King and Lord over the church as do the other churches in the 4C's.

The Gathering attendance was close to 300 this year. From the moment I arrived on Tuesday afternoon until we all departed on Friday, there was something going on. There were plenary meetings where all the attendees would gather for worship and a talk/sermon. I have to say that hearing 300 voices singing praises to God was incredible! The keynote speaker was ED Stetzer who is part of the Billy Graham organization, a published author, and has made numerous TV appearances among many other things. one of the challenges he issued to us all was "don't live in a cul-de-sac off the highway of God's plan." Ed spoke in the morning and afternoon plenary sessions on Thursday.

There were a number of workshops that I also had the opportunity to attend. The first being an intro to the 4C's which was very informative. The speaker, Nick Granitsas, was pastor of First Congregational Church in Revere, MA for 45 years! He's a wonderful brother whom I was fortunate enough to meet back in March at a New England 4C's conference. We can all be encouraged to know that the 4C's has been around since the 1930's but has roots further back than that.

There were two other workshops that were edifying. The first was on knowing our identity in Christ. I was so taken by this workshop that I will be basing a sermon off of it in the coming weeks! the other was a workshop on starting a Grandparenting Ministry at our church. I ended up purchasing two books from the organization that led that workshop and will be praying about that ministry for us.

There were also delegate meetings where the administrative and business matters of the 4C's were discussed. During the first one on Wednesday morning I was officially acknowledged as a minister in the 4C's along with around 50 others. I had the opportunity to meet Ron Hamilton who is the Conference Minister of the 4C's and has been for some time. He is another wonderful brother in the Lord.

I met quite a few pastors from all around the country. Talking with other pastors is always a good thing to do. It is very edifying to do that. And we also share some ministry ideas with each other. And of course pray for each other.

So it was a blessed week that I believe will benefit us all! As we are al praying, let us also include prayers for the 4C's!

(Some of the items that are covered in the roundtable are covered separately in this newsletter).

MICE! Pastor Chris said there has been evidence of mice in the kitchen, so PLEASE clean up after any kitchen use! Laura is getting an exterminator quote.

MISSIONS TEAM:􏰀􏰇􏰊􏰄􏰎􏰂􏰍􏰒􏰅􏰃􏰍􏰎 􏰀􏰇􏰊􏰴􏰂􏰎􏰴􏰒􏰅􏰃􏰇􏰊􏰒􏰌 􏰀􏰁􏰂􏰃􏰄􏰅􏰃􏰒􏰊 􏰀􏰇􏰊􏰹􏰎􏰂􏰎􏰊􏰀􏰎Needs more members!! Rachel and Robb are currently the only ones. Please pray about joining so we can restart our missions effort. Hoping to help at least one mission by year end. Donations have been coming in.

DEACONS LIST: On the back table in Collins Hall are the lists if you need one. All folks for whom we have info for have been assigned a deacon with home to share needs. If you are not on the list, please let Debbie Laws know.

BAPTISM: If you would like to be baptized, contact Pastor Chris for information. We're planning a baptism ceremony on September 11 after the Sunday services, using the 2-1/2 ft. deep pool that Bob Dubois bought for us (Thanks Bob!!!)

HALLOWEEN PARADE OUTREACH: Pray for God's direction for an effective outreach on October 29. Possibly have folks available to pray with parade goes in sanctuary who desire prayer during/after the parade.

EXALT TEAM: "Time with God is timeless."

Team is exploring music for the baptismal service
Also discussing Rally Day, which will be on September 18. We will need canopy set up the day before. "All hands on deck" to make this a wonderful fellowship time!
Investigating security measures, possibly outside cameras. Please keep in prayer protection of church and attendees
If children start to attend, we need to be ready to teach them. Pray that younger families start attending CCC!
Will need someone to coordinate prayer on October 29

MAKE DISCIPLES TEAM:

Pray and invite folds to our services and events
We NEED some younger folks to keep CCC going because the majority of current attendees are getting "very mature"...(In other words, if things get better with age, we're approaching Magnificent"! ~Rose)
Discussing possible later afternoon bible study in the fall, especially for those who can't make a morning session
"Watch the bulletin...September is loaded!"

PROCLAIM TEAM:

Red Cross blood drive will be in Collins Hall on September 29. Need to finalize advertising and who will be doing what that day here
Movie night - possibly in October
Schoolhouse cleanup crew is saving past costumes for another potential Live Nativity (we can hope!)
Other possible future events being discussed include a potluck dinner, a talent show, and/or a game night
It's important to get everyone involved in at least one team (Exalt, Make Disciples, Proclaim) and/or event.

SCHOOLHOUSE TEAM:

Pastor Chuck said the Lions Club will help with manpower to get schoolhouse cleanup done on Saturday, September 3
IF you have ANYTHING in the schoolhouse, it MUST be removed before SEPTEMBER 3 or it will be tossed!
Don't touch any items marked with yellow tape

MUSIC LOFT STORAGE:

Laura Crowley said lots of non-music related items stored there that are blocking the sound of the organ and should be removed
Old choir robes are not good and should be discarded.