The Connection Taylorville Christian Church Summer 2017

The

C

SUMMER 2017

onnection

In This Issue: Gather. Grow. Go. HeadStart Community Involvement Missions for Taylorville Upcoming Sermon Series Baptisms and New Members Thanks, Hospitality Team!

Summer at TCC Easter at TCC Intentional Church Conference Highlights and much more

Love God. Love others.

Sunday Worship Services: 9:00 a.m. (Blended) 10:30 a.m. (Contemporary)

Gather. Grow. Go.

by James C. Jones

Gather. Grow. Go. It’s a simple strategy to have a big impact on our community. We want to communicate our love for God and others through both our words and our actions. As we continue to develop this strategy, we recognize that we do a good job of gathering. We come to together each week for worship. We strengthen each other as we share in this experience together.

As a church, we’re working on growing. Many people are involved in small groups and Bible studies that help them develop a deeper connection with God and with others. Many in our church also share their time and abilities as they serve in the life of the church. This too helps them develop relationships with other Christians and with God. We continue to plan for new ways to engage more people in growing in the life of the church.

We also need to go, to get out in our community and serve people in need. Jesus called his followers to “go and make disciples,” and we never want to be far from this command. Lots of us have a desire to go and do something impactful, but we’re not exactly sure what to do. In this issue of The Connection, we want to focus on some new opportunities to impact our community and share the message of Jesus in a loving way.

First, TCC has developed a new partnership with the Taylorville HeadStart program. HeadStart is designed to provide learning opportunities and resources for children and families with needs. After examining several community organizations, a special task force including several TCC leaders decided to focus on HeadStart because of the good work that they are doing and their openness to community partnerships. By providing education for both children and parents, they are helping these families provide for their children intellectually and emotionally. By partnering with HeadStart, we believe that we can do just what Jesus would have done in our community.

But what will this partnership look like? You can read further on the following page, but in short, it will take several forms. We can donate needed items, provide meals for their family training gatherings, and volunteer time to help in the center. Everyone can get involved in some way, and we can make a difference together.

Another opportunity to go into our community is Missions for Taylorville. Twice a year, volunteers from many churches and organizations gather on a Saturday morning to do yard work and minor repairs for homeowners in Taylorville who don’t have the resources to do these jobs themselves, either because of limited finances or physical ability. By spending just a few hours, we communicate God’s love for people who are in need. I’d love for you to join us in the hospital auditorium on Saturday, June 3, at 8:30 to share in this service opportunity.

We can go in lots of ways, but we all need to choose something because going allows us to share the message of Jesus with people who might never hear otherwise.

Love God. love others.

HeadStart Community Involvement Q: Why partner with HeadStart?

A: They need our help! Serving allows many people to participate by giving back to the community that needs our help.

Q: How will we help?

A: We’ll serve in three ways:

1. Provide a meal for a family training event this Fall.

2. Volunteer to help at HeadStart when needed.

3. Donate items that are needed.

Q: What if I can’t get involved?

A: You can! We’re partnering in a way that allows for many people to get involved in a variety of ways, so whatever your schedule, abilities, and resources, there’s a way you can help.

Q: What is HeadStart?

A: Head Start began in 1965 and provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. The program’s services and resources are designed to foster stable family relationships, enhance children’s physical and emotional well-being, and establish an environment to develop strong cognitive skills. The transition from preschool to elementary school imposes diverse developmental challenges that include requiring the children to engage successfully with their peers outside of the family network, adjust to the space of a classroom, and meet the expectations the school setting provides.

Q: What are some additional benefits to serving?

A: You’ll build relationships with people who attend TCC, perhaps people who attend another service or have just begun to get involved. You’ll get into the community, seeing needs that go beyond your own life. You’ll build relationships outside the church, reminding you of the importance of looking for opportunities to reach others in your daily life.

Q: How can I sign up to help?

A: You can begin collecting items to donate right now, and bring them to the church on June 25th. If you want to help in other areas, please contact the church office (217-8246621) or Mike and Jenny Bell (mijejumi96@yahoo.com). They’ll put you on a contact list and let you know when we have more details. Also, watch the bulletin, Facebook, and video announcements for updates.

Supplies for HeadStart: Paper towels Toilet paper Foam 9-10” Styrofoam plates Napkins Facial tissue Aluminum foil Wax paper Plastic cling wrap Plastic ware (forks, spoons, knifes)

Bring your donations June 25August 6.

Upcoming Sermon Series: May 21: Invest May 28: Invite June 4: God First June 11: Nothing in God’s Place June 18: Respect for God June 25: Give to God

July 2: Follow Your Parents July 9: Respect Life July 16: Be Faithful to Your Spouse July 23: Respect Others July 30: Speak Truth August 6: Be Satisfied

When you miss a Sunday, if you want to listen to a sermon that challenged you or want to share with a friend, you can listen to past sermons at taylorvillechristian.com or through the free Taylorville Christian app.

Let’s Celebrate Baptisms and New Members!

Baptisms: Griffin Gergeni, Lindsay Schneider, and Tracy Mahan New Members: Ryan and Danielle Mireles

Thanks for providing hurricane relief to Haiti!

Have you noticed the change in Sunday morning announcements?

We’re now using video announcements! We hope the new way to share what’s coming up will get people’s attention and help everyone get involved.

Because of the new announcement approach, we plan well ahead to allow time for videography and editing, so if you have something to be included in Sunday morning announcements, please get it to the church office or Susan Lawrence early.

The parking lot looks great!

Thanks to everyone who gave time (and patience) through the process. We now have much needed additional parking spaces.

The new concrete area to the north of the building will soon be striped for handicap spaces, located conveniently close to the north entrance near the office.

Summer at Taylorville Christian Church

We need your help with donations and volunteers to make these great events happen this Summer at TCC!

easter at tcc

Intentional Church Conference Highlights Staff and volunteers attended the Intentional Church Conference in Decatur in April. In case you missed it, here are some highlights!

God never asked you to change someone; he asked you to point them to Jesus.

(Caleb Kaltenbach)

God’s heart and God’s house is for everyone.

(Gene Appel)

A lack of love for the lost is a moral failure. Love is the tension of both grace and truth.

(Gene Appel) (Caleb Kaltenbach)

The Church is a beautiful mosaic of broken lives that God has united together to glorify himself.

(Caleb Kaltenbach)

Value is determined by what someone is willing to pay for it. John 3:16 (Gene Appel)

The gospel which isn’t for everyone everywhere isn’t for anyone anywhere.

(Gene Appel)

It doesn’t matter what you know if you have no compassion to show.himself.

(Caleb Kaltenbach)

I think the church should be the safest place to have conversations.

(Caleb Kaltenbach)

The church should have the evangelism pedal to the metal!

(Gene Appel)

Do less inside the church walls and more outside them.

(Gene Appel)

Be intentional about being a church unchurched people love to attend.

(Caleb Kaltenbach)

Love has no exception clause.

(Caleb Kaltenbach)

Take the plank out of your eye and use it to build a bridge towards other who are different than you.

(Gene Appel)

We can all practice 3D evangelism: Decide to engage. Make the decision that you will get to know your neighbors, the parents of your kids’ friends, etc.

Develop a relationship. Create settings where people can connect with one another.

Invite peple into your home.

Discern the next steps. Wait until people are ready for an invitation. Don’t be weird.

Taylorville Christian Church 1124 N. Webster Taylorville IL 62568 217.824.6621 TaylorvilleChristian.com office@taylorvillechristian.com Ministry Staff: James C. Jones Lead Minister james.jones @taylorvillechristian.com Ken Manning Worship/Seniors Minister ken.manning @taylorvillechristian.com Zach Crowley Youth Minister zach.crowley @taylorvillechristian.com

Support Staff: Steve Basham Ministry Assistant steve.basham @taylorvillechristian.com Debbie Frye Administrative Assistant deb.frye@taylorvillechristian.com Susan Lawrence Small Groups/Communications susan.lawrence @taylorvillechristian.com Mike Profeta Jr. High Youth mike.profeta @taylorvillechristian.com Beth Piatt Early Childhood beth.piatt @taylorvillechristian.com Shelby Smith Contemporary Worship Coordinator shelby.smith @taylorvillechrisitan.com Susan Boyd Custodian