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Moving Forward |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 9/2/2010 11:45 AM | Greetings on this beautiful morning,
The last couple of months have been exciting times at BCC, and the excitement continues into the Fall. In July the Executive Team and Elders, along with Rev. Jennifer and I, spent time in “cluster” meetings of the church seeking to gather information and feedback about where we are and where we need to be going. It is an exercise that should take place every few years, if only to make sure we are on track to be what God would have us be here at the corner of Peachtree and Lanier. There are other good reasons, too. This congregation has changed in the last few years: young marrieds are now starting families, young families are now seeing their kids off to college, empty nesters have become retirees, and that doesn’t even take into account the many new members that have joined us. In short, this was the time to take stock.
For those of you who participated in those meetings, I know you share my excitement at the enthusiasm and the passion that people bring to their church life. We all need certain things from the church, and we all know that certain things are expected from us, too. The ideas were wonderful, the feedback invaluable, and currently, the Elders and Executive Team are hard at work putting some structure to that feedback in order to present the results – along with their recommendations for renewed priorities for the coming year – at our Official Board Meeting on Sunday September 26, following worship.
But some of the things we heard were already in the works, or have already been acted upon. For instance:
We heard that people wanted a prayer group during the week. Starting Wednesday September 8th from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. that group will have a first meeting in the Parlor. Rev. Carol Miller has agreed to facilitate this new startup, and the plan is to meet each Wednesday from 6:30 – 7:15 in the evening. The first meeting will be an organizational and planning meeting to sort out exactly what it is people want from such a group and how that can be best facilitated. If you have an interest, please come next Wednesday and participate.
We heard that several people wanted increased emphasis on adult Christian Education, fellowship, community service/outreach and children’s music. An event that was already in the works fits into these desires nicely. The Fall “Super Sunday” Program begins Sunday evening September 12th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will run 7 weeks ending on October 24th. We will gather for dinner at 5:30, and then at 6:00 split up into different groups for different purposes.
o “Parent to Parent” is a wonderful video/discussion series that we have used before to help parents share with one another, learn some new parenting techniques and simply move toward being the best parents they can be. If you are looking for support or ideas, this is the place for you.
o “Missions and the Church” will be aimed at studying the scriptures that speak to the church’s role in missional work both locally and globally, as well as visiting local ministries that BCC supports to learn more about their needs and how we can help. At the current time, we know we will be visiting The Interfaith Outreach Home and The Suthers Center and are working on one and possibly two more ministries to visit. In addition, we will be doing some brainstorming about how BCC can become more directly involved with community service in our area, and beyond --- such as the possibility of a multi-generational mission project/trip in the future? Come and add your voice to the conversation.
o “Adult Chat and Chill” will be a time for folks to simply talk about what’s on their mind, to share with others and simply be together.
o Children from pre-school through Tweens/Youth will gather with our minister of music, Rev. Beth Parlier, to learn about music and to learn some songs to be presented during Children and Youth Sunday as well as at other services during the year. This program is designed to have all the kids working together for part of the hour and a half time period, and time for different age groups to break out to work on specific age-appropriate exercises and activities. If you child likes to make a joyful noise, sign them up!
So, you can see that there is something for everyone on Super Sundays, so if you are planning on coming, please contact Ruth Luckett at ruth@brookhavenchristian.org or 404-237-3030. Let her know how many will be coming (including kids ages) and where they will be participating. You may also drop a signup sheet in the offering plate this Sunday. Please do it by this Sunday,September 5, so proper plans can be made.
This is only the beginning to responding to the desires and needs expressed in our cluster meetings. Some things will be able to be undertaken relatively quickly, some will take more time. But the movement toward strengthening our church, our witness and our friends and members will be continual and positive. Stay tuned!
For an updated prayer list and list of upcoming events, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayer list:
Please keep Trae Hurst in your prayers as he undergoes hip replacement surgery tomorrow (Friday September 3rd) at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Please continue to keep Cynthia and Darrell Freeman in your prayers. Cynthia continues to work toward healing, but she and Darrell both miss being here with us and send their greetings to each and everyone of the friends and members of BCC.
On September 8th, Kathryn Sabol will be in Piedmont Hospital as doctors induce labor for the delivery of the Sabol’s first child. Please keep Kathryn, Steve and the doctors in your prayers. Also, one way the church can help out Steve and Kathryn is to gather food and deliver it to the Sabols when they bring Baby Sabol home. If you are interested in making a meal for them, please contact Carol Miller at cmmille@emory.edu (and yes, there is not “r” at the end of the name) and she will coordinate things. If you can make something to be frozen, we can gather those meals here at the church and deliver them all at once.
A Celebration - our nephew, Daniel and his wife Rachel welcomed their first child, Sophira Amor Kittle, on Tuesday August 31. My sister and brother in law are in Seattle getting to know their first grandchild and everyone is doing well.
Upcoming Events
Please make sure you sign up for the Super Sundays activities by this weekend! It will help us plan and prepare! Thanks!
This Sunday we will gather together once again in order to celebrate the Lord’s Day together and I hope you will be able to join us. We will begin a sermon series called “Lessons From the King” looking at practical life lessons learned from studying the life of King David. The first in this series is called “Learning to be Worthy” and the scriptures are 2 Samuel 5: 1-5 and Psalm 37. Come ready to think about how you can put away your doubt and worry in order to serve God well. Hope you have a great rest of the week!
Be peaceful,
Brad | | | Permalink | Trackback |
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