Journey to the Center of the Universe - Ch. 8

Important Date: Congress School Opening Celebration, Aug 28, 5-6:30pm

This was a big week for the church plant. The Lord answered our prayer of asking for opportunities to be involved in the neighborhood. Check this out:

* More than 40 from CC participated in the Uptown Trolley Challenge on Sat, Aug 16. This event was created to help expose Christ Church to the neighborhoods of the church plant and encourage prayer support. Robin did a great job of putting the questions together - truly challenging. Uptown organizers were grateful for our filling up the trolley.
* We established a new partnership with Congress Elementary School. The principal and secretary are very excited about our involvement because many needs exist.
* Our immediate Congress projects are:

- getting ready for the school's Opening Celebration, Aug 28, by planting flowers
- helping with children's games at the Celebration (Want to help? Come this Sunday.)
***Lots of opportunities for those speaking Spanish***

* Congress School is very short on equipment for the playground, so we have created the "Buy Congress A Ball Project." Beginning Sunday, Aug 23 Christ Church friends will be able to buy and donate 4 basketballs, 4 soccer balls, and 4 four-square balls. Ten bucks buys a ball - Five bucks buys half a ball. Please help promote it on Sunday.
* Steve attended the East HIlls Council of Neighbors Board Meeting to explain the intention of planting a church and to offer assistance in helping to serve the community. The Board appreciated this information and encouraged ongoing cooperation.
* The Wealthy Heights Organization has asked for help with a promotional brochure. Steve, Robin, and Kimberly are doing some development and design. (Wealthy Heights is project trying to revitalize 5 blocks north off Wealthy.)
* Sunday night was a good time of fellowship and working together on the Prayer Cards. We should have enough cards to consider this project completed - - now for distribution.
* Upcoming -- CC Ministry Fair. A good opportunity to help people catch the vision.

This note's done. Pause and pray.

Journey to the Center of the Universe: Ch. 7

The Journey continues and we are very aware of our obstacles, our weaknesses, and His abundant resources. May the Lord use us to bring His kingdom to the kingdom of this world that we live in, whether on Breton, Uptown, or wherever we are.

Our next journey meeting is Sunday, Aug 10 at 5pm for a very random potluck meal with the meeting to follow, 6-7:30pm.

Our chief work, as we gather every Sunday evening, continues to be prayer -- "Lord, prepare us for this work. Form your church for your glory."

The kids are meeting with us to do memory work, sing, pray, and then meet separately with Eric and Rosie for various activities, including the individually-designed Prayer Postcards (these look great!).

Currently on the front burner --

* Steve and Dick will help the East Hills Council of Neighbors conduct a Tree Inventory.
* August 16 Trolley Day - preparations are underway to have an informal breakfast gathering of Christ Church friends at a local coffee house and then take the 8-stop Trolley Tour of Uptown. Robin will be creating a Trolley Tour Scavenger Hunt, including a drawing and a prize (gift certificate to Gaia). Prayer requests will also be incorporated into the Tour Stops. The purpose of this activity is to encourage the Christ Church family to visit the church plant neighborhoods and to pray.
* We will man/woman a booth at the upcoming Ministry Fair. Dick will explore providing a video loop.
* The Planning Team is investigating the rent/lease environment in East Hills, including pursuing the possibilities of renting Wealthy Theather, Congress School, space in ICCF, plus other options. Some of us viewed an available property at 928 Wealthy.
* We are continuing to look for summer service opportunities. Congress School has been contacted in this regard.

Keep praying that the Lord will open the right doors for us to do this work, if it is His will. Especially pray for the session as they construct the 2009 budget, specifically, "how do we build a Christ Church budget, and an urban church budget when expenses exceed receipts?"

"My God will meet all your needs, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."