News & Notes
:. CCC's almost-every-Friday e-newsletter
|
Early, Dessert Fest & Daylight Saving Edition
|
March 11, 2010
|
|
 |
|
|
|
This Saturday is the day when we "spring
forward" at bedtime. That's right, campers!
Before you hit the hay, make sure you set all
your clocks and watches AHEAD one hour!
Otherwise you'll be an hour late to church on
Sunday!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
DESSERT FEST REMINDERS
Dessert Fest, our big, FUNdraiser for youth
and local missions is TONIGHT & TOMORROW night.
Which means it's time for our:
TOP TEN DESSERT FEST REMINDERS FOR
THE
CCC FAMILY
10. All seats are reserved
(help
minimize confusion by making sure you sit in
your assigned seat).
9. Set an example for our guests
by NOT
bringing any food or drinks into the Worship
Center.
8. THREE words: "BE A SERVANT!
" Put the needs and desires
of OUR GUESTS above our own! Consider them
first. Give them preference. Specifically
this means...
7. Park at Hillcrest School or in the
remote lot up the hill, and take the
shuttle, leaving the closest,
most convenient spots for non-CCCers.
6. During intermission, let's be
sure to
let our "company" be first in the restroom
lines and in line at the various dessert
stations. (NOTE: There will be plenty of
desserts; but let's allow our guests the
courtesy of being served first.)
5. Since we will not have enough
chairs
for everyone to have a "seat while they eat,"
please allow our guests--especially elderly
patrons and those with handicaps--first dibs
on the chairs.
4. We will have almost as many
visitors
in our building on these two nights as we
have the rest of the year combined. So
...smile. Turn on the charm. Be warm.
Introduce yourself to folks you don't know.
We are hosts! As a church family, let's be
welcoming and leave a positive impression.
(We'd love any guests who don't already have
a church home, to leave with the desire to
come back . . . on SUNDAY MORNING!)
3. Make sure you thank a worker, a
coordinator, and/or a performer!
2. Have a blast! Laugh.
Sing along. Rock
to the beat of those AMAZING "animal" tunes.
1. Pray--really pray--that
God will use
silly, but fun music, cool decorations,
delicious cupcakes and all the efforts of so
many to build relational bridges toward
friends, neighbors, classmates, co-workers, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
COMMUNITY Stuff
> Move over Academy Awards . . . the CCC
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner &
Awards Night is March 26! We are rolling
out the red carpet for our
Sunday morning servants, Learning
Center workers, youth volunteers and small group
leaders. Check your mail for an invitation!
Be ready for a big night hosted by the staff
and elders (and their wives)!
> Sunday, April 4 is our spring
Baptism and also
Easter
Sunday! What a great day to make a public
declaration of your
new life in Jesus Christ. If you are
interested in being
baptized sign up on Sunday's Communication
Card or
contact the CCC office at 251-1951. (And if you
have questions about WHY we baptize, check
out the "Lagniappe" column on the back of the
Sunday sermon outline.)
>The Discovery Dinner scheduled for
Monday,
March 22 has been rescheduled for Monday,
April 19. More details coming soon!
> On April 16 at First Baptist, West
Monroe, Flag of My Father will have
it's world premiere. The full-length feature
film, by R-Squared Productions (a
faith-based, family-friendly production
company in the Twin Cities) features
well-known Hollywood actors William
Devane and John Schneider (and
also CCC's very own Cindi Woods!).
More info is here.
> Some of our February "prayer
warriors" have decided to continue
praying together for CCC at CCC on Tuesday
mornings
at 6 a.m. and on Fridays at noon. We
encourage you
to join them in continuing to lift up CCC
in prayer!
> A new session of DivorceCare
will begin
next Thursday, March 18, at 6 p.m. If you or
someone you know needs help in the aftermath
of a divorce, please call the church office
(251-1951) This is a proven, amazing ministry
that has helped tens of thousands of people
worldwide. Please use the Learning Center
entrance.
> The 2010
Women's
Refreshment and
Renewal
Conference will be Saturday, March 20th at
Temple Baptist
Church. Register online at
www.womensrandrconference.com
or at 255-1318.
> On Saturday, March 27, John Knox
Presbyterian Church will be hosting a
workshop on Sharing Your Faith. The
workshop is $10 and includes lunch. Register
by March 18; call 255-6887.
> Join us on Route 66 (our One-Year
Bible
reading blog). Come on; we want to know what
you think about what you're reading!
Go to www.cccruston.com/blog/.
> Forgot how to view our online directory?
Just go to https://webview.shelbyinc.com/app/07895/def
ault.aspx.
If you already have a password
enter your email address and password. If you
don't yet have a password; click on forgot my
password and follow the prompts.
> Join us in trusting God to work his good
and perfect will in the following lives and
situations:
For Victor Cardenas, Henry
Cardenas' father, who has lung cancer.
For Renee Smith's father,
Harold "Goose" Ferguson, who is battling
pancreatic cancer.
For Sally Modacure, Beverly
Hercules'
sister, who has cancer.
For Bob Milton (two broken
vertebrae) following his recent truck accident
For Jerry Seilhan who will have
surgery this month to remove a tumor from his
lung and chest cavity.
For Stacy Prescott who is
recovering from surgeries for a torn tendon
and broken leg.
For Ray Sanderson, Steve
Sanderson's dad, whose cancer has
returned and is beginning chemotherapy.
For Kim Love as she continues in a
clinical trial being offered by M.D. Anderson.
Regarding Publication of Prayer Requests:
Unless instructed otherwise, prayer requests
received from the CCC congregation are
included in the weekly News & Notes. If you
do NOT want your prayer request included in
this publication, please indicate so on the
Communication Card or notify Elizabeth
Turpin, CCC's Office Coordinator, at
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
LEARNING CENTER Jazz
> The Preschool Easter Egg hunt is
coming up on
Sunday, March 28th from 3-4:30 p.m.
Sign up on Sunday's Communication Card!
If you would like to donate plastic
Easter Eggs or individually wrapped Easter
candy collection baskets will be in the LC
foyer and the breezeway on Sunday.
> This Sunday is the last day to sign
up for the parenting workshop on Sunday,
March 21st! Come
join us at 9 a.m. in the 5th/6th grade room,
as we explore the
"Importance
of a Dad in the Lives of His Children".
Please
sign up on
Sunday's communication card.
> There will be NO M&M's or Club
56 on Wednesday, March 31 due to Spring
Break.
> The will be a Club 56 Girls
Lockin at
CCC on April 9! 5th and 6th grade girls be
on the lookout for more information coming soon!
>We ask you to please keep our CCC
expectant mothers (and their babies) in
your prayers--
Tracy Bennett, Brittany Griep,
Gwen
Swanbom, Bethany Rush,
Jessica Stephenson and new to the list
this week Ellie Puckett!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
YOUTH Junk
> Sr. High and Jr. High youth will NOT
be meeting on March 31st. during Spring
Break week.
> Sr. High WILL be going on a Spring Break
Retreat to Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas
(hiking trials, canoeing, and oh so much
more) on March 26-28. We'll be leaving
Friday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. and returning
Sunday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
MINISTRY Opportunities
> We're still looking for summer time
(June-August) Sunday morning greeters.
> Steve
and Janet
Wilson need help providing snacks (like
the delicious cupcake being eaten by Grant
Bowling in the picture on the left) for 10-15
people for
DivorceCare on Thursday nights. Not
much for
cooking?
Financial support is needed to help provide
childcare for
those attending DivorceCare as well.
If you are interested in volunteering in any
of these areas sign up on Sunday's
communication card.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
BIG DAYS!
"Happy Anniversary!" wishes to
the following folks:
- March 13 - Tom & Dell Jones (1982)
- March 17 - Neal & Laura Wesson (1984)
- March 18 - James and Barbara Spady
...and "Happy Birthday!" greetings to
these
celebrating CCCers:
March 11 - Hannah Claire Baker, Tyler
Osborne,
Brittany McCray
March 12 - Leslie Causey, Gary McKenney,
Dawn
Whitman, Rachel Kleinpeter
March 13 - Bob Milton
March 14 - Jackson Powell, Lily Fon
March 15 - Hank Broocks, Emily Broocks,
John Ward, Dennis Trauth, Margarita Cazenave,
Taylor Kilpatrick, Krystal Corbitt, Teddi Young
March 16 - Natalie Sims, Barbara Spady
March 17 - Curtis Newton, Kelly Dingler
Arabie, Anna Bowling
March 18 - Brigitte Matejowsky
March 19 - Haven Schroeder
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Important DATES
Th, Mar 11 & Fri, March 12 - DESSERT FEST
Sun, Mar 21 - Parenting Course; Elder
Report @ CCC
Tues, March 23 - Elder Report (@ CCC)
Wed, March 24 - Elder Report (during
M&Ms)--Worship Center
Fri, March 26 - Volunteer Appreciation
Celebration
Sun, Mar 28 - LC Preschool Easter Egg Hunt
Mon, Mar 29-Fri, April 2 - SPRING BREAK
Sun, April 4 - Easter Sunday & BAPTISM
Sun, April 11 - NEWCOMER LUNCH
Sun, April 18 - Parenting Class
Sun, May 2 - Baby Shower for Life Choices
Sun, May 9 - MOTHER'S DAY & Baby Dedication
Sun, May 16 - SENIOR SUNDAY!
|
|
|
|
|
The Next Step?
Back on NFC Championship Sunday (January 24), we
gathered for a 2010 "State of the Church"
report.
At that meeting
the Elders:
- Reminded us of our God-given mission &
vision
- Highlighted some of our 2009
"successes"
- Shared some very "revealing" 2004-2009
ministry
trends (membership numbers, worship attendance
figures, small group participation, baptisms,
giving, etc.)
- Gave us a current financial report, as
well as some conservative 2010-2011 financial
projections (based on current giving patterns)
Among the many "takeaways" from the meeting:
- CCC has much to be thankful for--God is
faithfully doing some neat things in and
through our body!
- We have some some ministry shortcomings
that must be addressed ASAP.
- Our expenses (building notes &
maintenance + general
operating costs) are currently exceeding our
giving
by some $85,000 annually.
- We have a very large staff for a church
our size.
- We need to better align our
resources
(human and fiscal) and our ministry
efforts
with the mission/vision God has given us.
As we departed the meeting (to watch our beloved
N'awlins Saints become NFC Champs!)
the Elders challenged us to devote the entire
month of February to asking God for wisdom,
direction, courage, and strength for the
body. They also asked each member and
attender to provide
honest, constructive feedback (via a
congregational survey)
on all areas of CCC life and ministry. While
this was going on, the Elder Board also
solicited counsel from some seasoned leaders.
It's now March. As promised, the Elders are
preparing to
report back to the body--what the
congregational survey revealed as well as
some immediate action steps we need to take.
All CCC members and attenders are being asked
to attend one of three
evenings--Sunday, March 21 at 6 p.m. in the
Student Ministries Room; Tuesday,
March 23 at 6 p.m. in the Student Ministries
Room; or Wednesday, March 24 at
5:30 (during M&Ms) in the Worship Center.
These meetings have been strategically scheduled
during normal small group meeting times in
order to encourage maximum participation. The
Elders are asking our small groups, in lieu
of their
regular meetings the week of March 21-25, to
gather at CCC to discuss
the results of the survey and to hear about
our plans as we move forward.
We are believing God that these meetings will
be healing, unifying, informative, helpful,
and instrumental in helping us move forward
into a new season of fruitfulness for Christ.
Thanks for your co-laborship in the gospel
|
|
The Good Word |
| |
|
"If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared."
Psalm 130:3-4
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth Turpin |
(318) 251-1951 |
elizabeth@cccruston.com |
|
|
|
