A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Holiday themed Service Projects

The Holidays are approaching at record speed this year. Tomorrow is Halloween and before we know it we’ll be gathered around tables carving turkeys instead of pumpkins.  This time of the year our schedules always seem the most full. We’re trying to fit in work and family parties, school and church programs and still find time for shopping.  Even with the busy schedules, this time of the year also has some of the best opportunities for service projects.

A common service project for Christmas is the Samaritan’s Purse “Operation Christmas Child” program.  For those who might not have done this before or who haven’t done it in a while let me fill you in.  Operation Christmas Child is a program that seeks to share the Gospel through the gift of daily necessities.  At Christmas they gather shoe boxes filled with items like wash clothes and toothbrushes as well as small toys and school supplies.  These boxes go to children across seas who are in need of such items.  For a complete list of what to put in the boxes, where you can drop them off and any other answers to questions you might have check out their website.

Another option could be connecting with the Dwelling Place and seeing if your group could host a holiday dinner for the residents and their families.  For more information on how to connect with them check out their website.

Groups could also adopt a shut-in our two to go and visit as a group or in smaller groups. Take turns bringing holiday cheer to those in our congregation who are unable to take part in the same festivities we enjoy.

There are also numerous soup kitchens and homeless shelters in the cities that might be offering holiday meals for their residents.  Groups could volunteer together serving those less fortunate than we are.  Here’s a quick list of places.

If you have other ideas or your groups are already doing something let us know in the comments!

Happy Holidays!

Facilitators Meeting this Sunday!

Calling all Connecting Group Facilitators! We will gather on Sunday in the  Youth Room from 11:45-12:30pm for our meeting. We will share what has been happening in our groups and look at the details for our big Potluck on the 1st.  If you or your co-facilitator are unable to be there please let us know so that we can be sure to get you the information.

The “C” Word. by: Erica McClellan.

Our group prayer always contains the “C” Word.  Cancer.  We do not go one week without praying that someone is healed, encouraged, supported, soothed, appreciated and comforted when experiencing cancer in its many forms – stomach, leukemia, colon, lung, breast, etc.  Heavy word, heavy feelings . . .whew!  Too heavy for nine people around a dining room table – so, pray we must and never cease.  Good too that we have each other.

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matt. 18:20).

We share our anxieties regarding the pain of our loved ones and then give them up to God.  How great is our God?!!!!!

~Erica

“Encouragers” Devotion by: Pastor Greg Laurie

Vince found this devotion the other day and sent it out on email. It does a great job talking about how we as leaders and facilitators are called to be encouragers like Barnabas.

Blessings on your week, Megan, Vince and Betsy.

For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. —Acts 4:36
Acts 9 tells us that it was Barnabas who brought the newly converted Paul to the apostles in Jerusalem. The name Barnabas means “son of encouragement,” and his actions reveal that he was an encouraging guy. We all know a Barnabas—the one who always has an encouraging word. When you are down, that is the person you want to call, because you know he or she will encourage you.

You may not be called to preach and teach like Paul did, but you can be an encourager like Barnabas was. You can do your part, because right now, you probably know someone who needs some encouragement—someone who has failed in life, someone who is hurting, or someone who is a brand-new believer. They need someone like you to stand in the gap. You don’t have to know every verse in the Bible. You don’t have to have the answer to every theological question. You just need to be a real Christian who can show them what it is like to live in the real world.

You can be a Barnabas, an encourager, because everybody needs encouragement. And everyone needs help. Everyone stumbles and falls in some way, shape, or form. Everyone has their down days, even the heroes of life. They may wake up on the wrong side of the bed, be feeling a little cranky, or don’t always have the perfect answer for every question. They are human like you are. They need someone to just encourage them. So be an encourager.

Thank God for the Barnabases of the world who help those in need—and all of us need it at one time or another. These are the unsung heroes who play an important part in the lives of great men and women of God.

‘Tis the Season.

A nice feature of blogs or weblogs is that they can capture a moment in time when the author is writing from a different perspective than the reader. Presently I am writing this blog as inches and inches of white snow quietly fall on our busy city. Branches are coated, roof tops are lined, leaves are weighed down, and the air is swirling white with softly floating snowflakes. It’s the kind of day that makes you think of warm, cozy things and places, like a warm bowl of chili, a soft comfortable seat near a warm fireplace, the warm secure feeling of hosting a friend for a pleasant conversation and hot cocoa or tea. Although, it does seems a bit early this year. In any case, these images are exactly what we intend to have happen at the All Saints Day Pot Luck sponsored by the Connecting Groups coming up on Sunday, November 1^st.  The Fireside room has hosted a great many get-togethers at St. Stephanus over the last century, and hopefully everyone who reads this can relate to the warm, cozy feeling of fellowship with their Christian brothers and sisters in this place. The Connecting Group Pot Luck will be no different. Everyone in the church is invited to come and eat, and talk and give praise to God to the blessings he has brought in our lives. The idea of the food laid out on the tables, in the form of salads, and beans, and hot dishes and desserts is making my mouth water as I write this. And let’s not forget the conversation! That warm cheerful feeling you get when you can sit down over food or a hot drink and talk to, pray for, encourage, confide, or get to know your fellow Christian is what our God-designed social beings crave and desire. Connection! Connecting, with Jesus Christ in prayer and worship and praise, and connecting with each other in fellowship and Bible study, sometimes over food, is what the Connecting Groups are all about. We will have some guest speakers talk about the Connecting Group ministry, and the blessings God has poured out over the last year. So, as you look outside and see the cold, think about the warm, cozy times ahead and please join us on November 1^st in the Fireside room and get to know the Connecting Groups better!

God Bless.

The Connecting Groups at St. Stephanus

The Power of Invitation.

Then He said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.~ Matthew 9:37-38

One of the purposes of Connecting Groups is to invite people to attend our group. We invite people within the Saint Stephanus community so we can get to know one another on a deeper level while learning about Jesus Christ and deepening our faith.

Connecting Groups are also a great opportunity to invite people outside of SSLC to visit a group, especially those who don’t know Christ. As outsiders come into the group hopefully they will see God’s love shine through as they watch brothers and sisters in Christ care for one another and share fellowship. For many this is a less intimidating way to get to know the Good News. Perhaps seeds are planted as new friendships are formed. If the newcomer attends Connecting Group regularly they also become connected to SSLC, and what better way to grow in faith with the support of friends in a small group and a larger community of the church?

You may be asking how do I invite someone and what do I do if an unbeliever comes to the group? Two key elements here are to pray for an opportunity to ask someone and then plan an event that the new friend would want to attend. Take inventory of your neighbors, co-workers, and extended family members, you may be surprised of names you can think of. As for an event, it is best to have them come when you are not doing a typical bible study. Organize a social event such as a game night or have a meal and fellowship. Simply spend time together and converse. As the group plans the social challenge one another to invite at least one person to the event. It’s okay if you get turned down, at least you are getting practice inviting someone.

God works in miraculous ways when it comes to inviting people. Here is a little anecdote from a small group ministry at another church who has a similar small group ministry as ours…

“One of our Small Group leaders invited some new people to group. The night came for their gathering. The new couple found their way to the neighborhood but forgot the address and unknowingly went to a house that was actually three doors down from the host’s house. They knocked a couple of times and then walked right in and went into the kitchen to find this couple sitting down eating dinner. The owners of the house were friendly and introduced themselves and they were all chatting. After about 2 minutes, the new couple, asked where the people were who invited them to group. The couple who owned the house had no idea what they were talking about!They were in the wrong house! The couple who invited them to group lived three doors down!”

Here are three things that happened:

1. The people who came to this wrong house actually were reconnected with the owners of this house. They went to high school together!

2. The couple who went to the wrong house eventually found the right house and had a great story to tell!

3. The people who lived three doors down, who entertained these “strange visitors,” received an invitation and will be coming to dinner with their neighbors who live three doors down.”

What was meant to be an invitation to 2 people ended up getting extended to 4 people! New friendships were formed, old relationships were re-connected. All because of inviting.

Let’s keep the idea of inviting someone new to Connecting Group at the fore front of our minds and in our hearts. Pray about it and watch how God’s wonderful work comes to life!

Do you Tweet?

Now you can follow St. Stephanus on Twitter too (@St_Stephanus) !  The Twitter feed is located in the right coloumn here or on twitter at: http://twitter.com/St_Stephanus.

Happy Tweeting!