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January 2020
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Note from
Pastor Mark & Lora Jesus didn’t do an orientation with his disciples. It was more of a disorientation! In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is uninstalling old testament paradigms and downloading new covenant principles. He leads with the phrase, “You have heard that it was said,” and follows it up with, “But I tell you.”
Next
Change always create disequilibrium, and that’s disorienting. But as we enter a New Year, I’m praying that God would reorient us around His plans, His purposes. That may mean a radical step of obedience. It may mean a completely new perspective on life. The good news? You’re one decision away from a totally different life!
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Contents
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The Art of Vulnerability
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J-Term Groups
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Does Your Marriage Need a Date Night?
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What’s Going On
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Live Album Recording
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NCC Families
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Coming Up at NCC
Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor Lora Batterson
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BY DAVID KRAFT This January, our J-Term course “The Art of Vulnerability” will explore the topic through the lens of different creative mediums. To anybody hoping to understand more about themselves, about others, or about developing meaningful community around them, this is for you.
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our years ago, I found myself alone in a crowded room. And no, I don’t mean I was in a room of strangers. I was actually at an NCC leadership retreat surrounded by people I knew. I had been attending NCC for 6 years and I had led small groups, joined mission teams, and done local service projects. Still, I found myself isolated, feeling unable to access deeper, more meaningful community, not knowing what had gone wrong. That moment catalyzed a journey of learning the value of leaning into the discomfort of vulnerability, and led to the development of more significant relationships with those around me. It has been anything but easy, requiring an unsettling amount of honesty, discomfort, and work in understanding my David Kraft has attended NCC’s Lincoln Theatre campus for the past ten years and will be leading The Art of Vulnerability, a group that will be offered at Ebenezers Coffeehouse this J-Term.
own identity. With that, I had to wrestle with difficult questions – do I believe I am worthy of love, or able to accept a love I cannot earn? Do I know myself well enough to show that true self to someone else or have I spent too much time practicing a performance? Navigating these questions hasn’t been straightforward or easy, but it has been the most rewarding journey I’ve embarked upon. By leaning into the discomfort of vulnerability, I have been able to experience the love, grace, and peace of God in ways I wasn’t previously aware of. Along the way, I discovered a passion for creating spaces that invite others to recognize the power of vulnerability and grow in the ability to be themselves in the safest possible way. What if we were a church that leaned into the discomfort and promise of vulnerability? ●
Find yo u course r J-Term today!
J-Term is a collection of small to mid-size groups that meet during the month of January. If you’ve never tried out a group before, this is the perfect chance to do so. Grow in your faith and make some connections along the way. Sign up here: ncc.re/jterm
THE STORY Pastor Heather Zempel Tuesday, January 14, 21, 28 at 7pm, The Miracle Theatre Explore the chronological story of the Bible through the lenses of geography, culture, and history. We will discover tools to help us read the Bible, understand its message to original audiences, interpret it in contemporary culture, and apply it to our everyday lives.
THE ART OF VULNERABILITY David Kraft & Other Storytellers Thursday, January 16 & 23 at 7pm, Ebenezers Coffeehouse Does our community with one another reflect the creative nature of God? Building authentic community is an artistic endeavor — it takes transparency, acceptance, and vulnerability. Join us for two evenings exploring vulnerability within community through creative storytelling, guided reflection, and interactive activities.
CRACKED UP (MOVIE, PANEL DISCUSSION) Michelle Esrick (Film Producer), Darryl Arrington, Candace Wheeler Monday, January 13 at 6:45pm, The Miracle Theatre (tickets at ncc.re/now) In Cracked Up we witness the effects adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have across a lifetime through the incredible story of actor Darrell Hammond. Producer, director, and filmmaker Michelle Esrick will answer questions following the film.
HEALING CONVERSATIONS SEMINAR Candace Wheeler Thurs. Jan. 30 - Sat. Feb. 1, Capital Turnaround Cost: $180. Register at r199.org/healing-conversations Participants will discover a sense of compassion, empathy, and sensitivity for those whom we are walking alongside on their healing journey.
PRACTICAL PEACEMAKING: WORK, FAMILY, COMMUNITY Pastor Jenni Clayville, Jocelyn Broman, Peter Hartwig Thursdays, January 16, 23, and 30 at 7pm, in Arlington - Ballston Campus Join us as we continue the peacemaking conversation and apply it to our everyday lives, specifically in the areas of work, family, and within our communities.
THE GIFT OF SABBATH IN A HURRIED WORLD Pastor Jon Vaughan, Jasmine Chestnut Sundays, January 12, 19, and 26 AFTER SERVICE; PY Campus Join us in a series of practical conversations and shared experiences on how we can all (elementary-age kids and up!) enter into and participate in the gift of God’s Sabbath rest.
NEW YEAR, NEW MONEY MINDSET Chris Woods and Jan Haggerty Saturdays, January 11 and 25; 10:00-11:30am; Kingstowne Campus Does God have a claim on how Christians spend their money? What does the Bible say about borrowing? Are there rules or guidelines for giving or tithing? Is the church accountable to anyone for how it spends the money it is given? Chris Woods, financial planner, and Jan Haggerty, budget coach, will guide us through an exploration of these important but confusing issues and get us started in the New Year with financial goal setting in light of a Christian framework.
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January 2020
Does Your Marriage Need a Date Night? by Nina Schmidgall, Family Ministries Director
D
ate nights are an important part of a thriving marriage. However, sometimes over the years, it has felt like date nights did more damage than good. There were times Joel and I found ourselves disconnected before we had even pulled away from our house! The pattern repeated itself in a similar fashion each time. After securing a night on the calendar, hunting down a babysitter, rushing home from work and furiously preparing the house, we would finally hurry out of the house and into the car. I would turn to Joel expectantly, “We did it! Now where are we going?” My face would fall when I realized there wasn’t a plan. While Joel loves the spontaneity of planning on the go, I prefer a plan to make sure each moment is maximized. After so much work to prepare for a date night, I would feel pressure for the night to feel valuable and well-utilized. I was convinced that a plan would set us up for a deeper connection. Joel, on the other hand, loved the excitement of deciding what we
should do while driving away from the house. It felt like a grand adventure to go out together and see what options might present themselves. Spending time to plan the details of the night made it feel like work rather than a reward. It was a perfect recipe for conflict! We would spend the first fifteen minutes of each date frustrated at one another before we found a way forward. It has taken years of practice to approach time together in a way that is rewarding for both of us. We now pre-determine who will take ownership of the date night, taking turns for who plans and when we will relax into spontaneity. Maybe you and your spouse have a hard time making date night work for you too. We believe that date nights are worth the work! It is worth the investment of intentional time, even if it doesn’t meet your expectations at first. We hope you’ll join us for the special date night we’ve prepared just for you.●
Friday, February 7, 6:30-9pm Capital Turnaround
DINNER DATE NIGHT
770 M St SE, Washington, DC 20003 RSVP at ncc.re/marriagedate
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WHAT’S GOING ON
Second Saturday Serve Saturday, January 11 ncc.re/secondsaturday Every second Saturday, we get together to meet tangible needs in our communities. Second Saturday Serve: DC - Rally and project overview at 9:30 am at Ebenezers Coffeehouse Performance Space. Second Saturday Serve: VA Alexandria- Potomac Yard Movie Theaters 9am Arlington- Chick Fil A Ballston Quarter 9am Gainesville- Email pam.gilray@theaterchurch.com No long-term commitment is necessary and all are welcome. See you this Second Saturday!
Deeper Night of Worship Monday, January 6, 7pm The Miracle Theatre Slow Down • Pray • Listen Everyone is welcome. Deeper is for anyone who wants to learn to quiet themselves in God’s presence, receive personal or prophetic prayer, longs to worship, and wants to expand their prayer life.
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January 2020
Darrell Hammond’s Cracked Up Movie Monday, January 13, 6:45pm ncc.re/secondsaturday
The Miracle Theatre Tickets and more info at ncc.re/now Join us for a special screening of Cracked Up to support our partner, Restoration 199. Restoration 199 is a local agency providing holistic support to survivors of sexual trauma. In this award-winning documentary, witness the impact that childhood trauma can have across a lifetime through the incredibly courageous and personal story of comedian, actor, and Saturday Night Live star Darrell Hammond.
Divorce Care 13-week sessions beginning this February— Mondays in DC and Tuesdays in VA. Sign up and get more info here: ncc.re/divorcecare Healing from divorce is not easy. At DivorceCare, people in separation and divorce find tools, teaching, and support to help deal with their pain and have real hope for the future.
The Jesus Way: A Live Album Recording Wednesday evening, February 26, 7-10pm at Capital Turnaround Come together to begin the season of Lent with a special night of worship as we record our new album, The Jesus Way, live at Capital Turnaround.
“The Jesus Way is songs we’ve written for our church. We’d love to have you pour out your praise with us as we record them live. Our prayer is that these songs lead you more fully into the presence of Jesus.” - Worship Pastor Chris Douglas
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Groups
NCC FAMILIES
Spring Semester Launches Soon! ncc.re/groups
Whether you’re looking for a Bible study, a family-oriented community, or a crew to go hiking with, we’ve got a group for that! The spring semester will launch on February 9.
A1:8 Missions
NCC Kids (birth-5th grade)
Baseline is happening this spring!
Stay tuned for more details. Are you signed up to receive our emails? Don’t miss a thing and make sure you are signed up to receive our emails at ncc.re/kidsinsider. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates!
Partner with Us
Join us in partnering with our friends experiencing homelessness. We have many ways you can engage, including a weekly meal and Bible study at the Living Room, doing outreach with meals through Inservice, or Manassas Hunger and Homeless Outreach. Email endinghomelessness@theaterchurch.com.
Join a Team
NCC Youth (6th-12th grade)
New Year, New Team Opportunities It’s a new year and a new opportunity to serve! Interested in volunteering with NCC Kids? Email us at kids@theaterchurch.com!
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January 2020
Winter ESCAPE 2020
February 14-17, 2020 Early registration discount good until Sunday, January 12 For all students in middle and high school. A great opportunity to step away from the pressure, deepen faith, think honestly, dream beyond themselves, and experience Jesus in a fresh way. ncc.re/escape
Subscribe to the monthly Parent Insider:
kidsofncc
Learn, be inspired, get encouraged:
therealnccyouth
kids@theaterchurch.com parentshareblog.com
COMING UP AT NCC
Learn more at ncc.re/now
Monday, January 6
Deeper Night of Worship
Saturday, January 11
Second Saturday Serve
Sunday, January 12
J Term Begins
Monday, January 13
Cracked Up Movie Showing
Monday, January 20
Martin Luther King, Jr Birthday
Saturday, January 25
Spring Leadership Summit for all NCC Active Leaders
Sunday, February 9
Spring Groups Launch
3 Ways To Give “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
theaterchurch.com/giving TXT “$(amount) NCC” to 45777 Cash or Check
(Find offering envelopes at the Connections Table)
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WEEKLY GATHERINGS AT NCC CAMPUSES God created us to support, encourage, and rely on one another. Find community each week at NCC. Worship • Be transformed, inspired, and filled as you come into the presence of God Learn • Grow in faith as we hear teaching from the Bible we can apply to our lives Connect • Develop meaningful relationships and grow in community Go • Get equipped to love and serve each other, our neighborhoods, and around the world
BARRACKS ROW Saturday Nights, 5pm Pastor Marion Mason — theaterchurch.com/barracksrow Washington, DC
E-news: ncc.re/enewsBarracksSat •
Facebook Group: Barracks Row Saturday Night NCCers
CAPITOL HILL
Sundays, 9am & 11am Pastor Joel Schmidgall — theaterchurch.com/capitolhill E-news: ncc.re/enewsCapHill •
Facebook Group: Capitol Hill NCCers
LINCOLN THEATRE Sundays, 10:30am Pastor Dave Schmidgall — theaterchurch.com/lincoln E-news: ncc.re/enewsLincoln •
Facebook Group: Lincoln Theatre NCCers
BALLSTON
Sundays, 9:30am & 11am Pastor Jenni Clayville — theaterchurch.com/ballston E-news: ncc.re/enewsBallston •
Facebook Group: Ballston NCCers
GAINESVILLE Sundays, 10am
Virginia
Pastor Robb Schmidgall — theaterchurch.com/gainesville E-news: ncc.re/enewsgvemail •
Join our Facebook Group: Gainesville NCCers
KINGSTOWNE Sundays, 9am & 10:30am Pastor Marion Mason — theaterchurch.com/kingstowne E-news: ncc.re/enewsKT •
Facebook Group: Kingstowne NCCers
POTOMAC YARD Sundays, 10am Pastor Jon Vaughan — theaterchurch.com/potomacyard E-news: ncc.re/enewsPY •
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