Journey to the Center of the Universe - Ch. 10

" . . . and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

We have been calling it a journey. Hebrews calls it a race. It is good to remember that, even if we don't know the very next step, we do know that He has marked it out for us. We keep taking steps toward planting a church. Don't let the gap between chapter 9 and chapter 10 fool you. Much has been happening, even if the blog journals haven't been. For example,

• The chuch plant presentation at the Ministry Fair
• The East Hills Dumpster Day (neigborhood cleanup)
• Congress School Clothing Drive
• Creation of the Wealthy Initiative Brochure
• East Hills Council of Neighbors Board Meetings
• Congress School PTCG Meetings
• Steve's study, study, more study, and licensing
• Winterizing Congress (pass the word)
• Uptown Holiday Hop
• Sunday night Journey Meetings
• Lots of prayer

The Christ Church Session is proposing a budget that will be presented on Dec 10. This budget includes a big green light for the church plant. Even though, we have faced some financial struggles and are making some budget cuts, the church plant remains a top priority. On Dec 10 we will be updating the congregation on the state of the plant, giving us another opportunity to "ignite the fire".

Keep making friends in greater East Hills. Keep making a list of your rich relatives. Keep praying that God would form his church. NEXT MEETING - DECEMBER 14, 5:30pm, including Pot Luck.

OK, Jerry, I agree. This church needs a name.

Winterizing Congress Elementary

Many of the kids at Congress Elementary lack adequate winter clothes and because Grand Rapids Public Schools will not bus them to school if they live within a mile of the school a lot of the kids have a good distance to walk in the cold. Next Sunday we will begin collecting winter clothing for the kids at Congress Elementary: hats, gloves, boots, scarves and coats. You can bring new or used clothing to church, or donate money which we will use to buy clothing. Thanks for whatever help you can provide.

Jerry Stutzman

Journey to the Center of the Universe: Ch. 9

" . . .in all your ways acknowledge him . . ."

CURRENT

1. A good core value for Christ Church - Urban would be, "we will acknowledge Him in everything we do". This means that prayer and praise are always in our hearts and on our lips. Each step of our planning and our execution must be saturated with an aura of acknowledging our need or Him.

2. The end of summer marks a good time for us to stand back and evaluate our progress. Our connections with the East Hills Council of Neighbors, Midtown Neighborhood Association, Uptown Business District, Wealthy Heights Project, and Congress School are a good start at positioning us to serve and develop relationships.

3. Our community involvement has revealed to us two very different demographics - the Marie Catribeans and the Congressional District. This will create some interesting challenges as we seek to minister to both. It is only the gospel that can bring these two groups together into a meaningful and lasting community. Let's begin to pray to that end.

NEXT

4. Now we need to continue to serve in the community to show that we are here to stay. Our persistence will build trust and will open doors of opportunity.

5. We continue to develop our relationships, but next we move to the strategy phase. How can we best serve and minister to the people we are getting to know? What would a worship service in this community look like?

6. We will move ahead targeting an April launch date, yet understanding that the CC 2009 budget is still in progress.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

7. October 6 - East Hills Council of Neighbors Annual Meeting.

8. October 11 - East Hills Neighborhood Dumpster Cleanup

9. October 16 - Congress Parent Teachers Community Group (PTCG)

10.October 16 - Wealthy Street Autumn Stroll.

Those interested in serving at Congress School must fill out a volunteer application which will be used for a background check. Contact Steve for a hardcopy or e-form.

Special thanks to Dick Buist for shooting and producing the Journey to the Center of the Universe video.

Let's continue to look to Him to make our paths straight.

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."

JCU Chapter 6

1. Introduced memory work of Eph 3:20. Remember: we are able to ask and imagine, but He is able to DO it and MORE.

2. Prayer time - Mark introduced the prayer cards and the "super bowl" - good ways for us to be praying for one another during the week. Prayer time during the meeting focuses on specific church plant requests and the cards are used for personal requests.

3. Thanks to the Building Community Team for developing some great plans for the children's program. Upcoming projects include "Art Trading Cards" to be distributed to Christ Church as prayer reminders and also designing an "East Hills Map Play-Mat".

4. Making Friends Team met with Urban Family Ministries and will meet again to finalize summer projects. Possibilities include: Weed 'n Seed Survey, 1-day Kids Carnival, Wealthy Heights Project, and work at Congress School.

5. Session approved funds for Steve and Kris to attend a church planter assessment program.

6. Walter has worked with Presbytery MNA and the Credentials Committee and layed out a schedule for examination, licensing, call, and ordination. Steve will meet with the Credentials Committee at the November Presytery meeting.

7. Trolley Days - see note below. Will encourage CC to be involved again in August.

8. Brief discussion on the importance of having a church name sooner rather than later.

Remember THIS SATURDAY the Grand Rapids Trolley Co., LLC takes shoppers and diners on a free, and fun, cruise to shops and restaurants in the Eastown, East Fulton, East Hills and Wealthy Street business districts. Shoppers can hop on and off at eight stops along the way, with the first Trolley leaving the Fulton Street Farmer's Market at 10 a.m and the last trolley returning at 3 p.m.

"Lord, may your kingdom come and your will be done in Uptown - Grand Rapids as it is in heaven."

Journey to the Center of the Universe: Ch. 5

Next step in the journey: Meeting, July 13, 6pm - 7:30pm, Room 203 - NO MEETING JULY 6

"to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, th him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

1. Keep visiting the neighborhood. Observe. Ask Questions. Take "prayer walks". Ask the Lord to direct us and to ignite His vision within us. Take the kids and let them be involved in what we are doing from the ground - up.

2. Thanks for the quick responses on helping clean up the yard at the home in Midtown. Meet Monday, July 7, at 6:30p.m. at the Fulton Street Farmer's Market. Meet near the brick building. It sounds like we have lots of help so it should go quickly.

3. Building Community Team is finalizing details on the children's programs for our Sunday night meetings. They hope to have programs for all ages by the 7/13 meeting.

4. Walter, Steve G, and Steve H are working out timing and details for credentials, ordination, and assessment.

5. Service projects soon to be reviewed by the Making Friends Team : Wealthy Heights Affordable Housing Project, Wealthy Street Block Party, Projects TBD through Urban Family Ministries, Midtown Community Day.

6. We will introduce the July Trolley Day to Christ Church as an opportunity for all of us to tour the communities.

7. Pray everyday that the Lord would prepare us and prepare the people to we will serve.

8. Reflect on this as a vision - "that the kingdom of the world would become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and that he would reign."