Cicero Christian Church Newsletter - June / July 2007

This newsletter was not published and mailed in paper format. The following articles were submitted for the newsletter. Click on the listing below to skip to the article.

ServeFest 2007 - June 23

Financial Peace Revisited

7 Principles for Deepening Small Group Relationships

Hawaiian Escape - June 9

Youth News

Children's Ministry News

Vacation Bible School - July 9-13

Pork Tent Service at Indiana State Fair - August

Joy Arama! Christmas In July - July 14

Mephibosheth Ministries News

Crosslight Christian Daycare

New Members

Financial & Attendance

 

Saturday - 9am-noon

ServeFest is a concentrated single day event to saturate the community with simple acts and gifts of kindness.

we'll be giving away in and around our community your choice of

bottled water

at the intersection of highway 19 and Jackson streets

visor or sunglasses

at the Cicero pool and the baseball park

first aid kits

at the intersection of Brinton and Stringtown Pike

bag of non-perishable groceries

into the community at God-specied homes - relying on God to send
them to those individuals who need a bag of groceries!

What is Needed?
PARTICIPATION and SUPPLY DONATIONS

So, why do we do an event such as ServeFest? It’s simple-to show the love of Christ in a practical non-threatening way to the community. We are not asking for anything in return. Do these projects meet a need?  Absolutely! How many times have you gone to a sporting event and forgotten your sunglasses? Have you ever been in your car wishing you had a nice cold drink of water? When was the last time you needed a bandaid and didn’t have one? Do you know someone who has chosen to pay a bill or purchase medicine instead of groceries? Reaching out-planting a seed.  Over time these events will prove to be effective in drawing those to Christ.

How can you help? I am so glad you asked! There are several ways you can participate. First, you can volunteer your time from 9 to noon on June 23. Second, you can donate needed items. Third, you can assist in preparing the donated items for ServeFest.  Fourth, you can pray. We need prayer warriors to lift up each of these projects, the volunteers and recipients.

We will close out ServeFest with a celebration picnic lunch at the church.

Come on out and watch what God will do with our simple offerings to the community.

The following donated supplies are needed to accomplish this event:

Case(s) of 16 ounce bottled water (any brand)

Large boxes of regular sized bandaids

Individually packaged antibiotic cream

Individually packaged antiseptic wipes

Individually packaged Tylenol or equivalent pain reliever      

Non-perishable grocery items (please stick to this list - we'll make up bags; don't bring veggies - we have plenty; visit Aldi's for bulk no-name brand with excellent prices!)

  • boxed meals (hamburger/tuna/chicken helper or all-in one box meals)
  • canned meals (chicken & dumplings, stew)
  • mac & cheese
  • canned meat: chicken, tuna, beef; pasta
  • pasta/rice (side dish boxes or pouches, spaghetti)
  • fruit
  • peanut butter & jelly
  • soups
  • breakfast cereals

Please drop these items off at the Kindness in Progress (KIP) table located in the Narthex outside of the sanctuary before June 23. They will be labeled with "you've been served" and be ready for the event June 23.

send an emailYour participation in this event is vital.  If you are able to participate, please sign up in the foyer or email Nancy at the link to the right.

Wear your "Kindness in Progress" Shirt or pick one up at the event. Dress comfortably for some walking.

   

Financial Peace Revisited

Summer is fast approaching us which means summer vacations, days on the lake, mowing the yard, road trips, and graduations to attend. Summer is filled with so many wonderful opportunities for us to feel alive and spend money. We tend to have the false belief that if we want to truly feel alive and experience adventure then we must spend money to do so. The problem is that many people don’t have the money to spend so when they go on their vacation, the vacation ends up following them home through credit card payments and finance charges. The best vacation is the one that does not follow you home!

This summer we encourage you to truly experience adventure as well as freedom from the debt trap that so many people find themselves facing. You can do this by experiencing Financial Peace in your life and it can start now. This summer instead of spending all your money on the vacation or the new car that you could not really afford to begin with why not get debt free by following the following Baby Steps created by Dave Ramsey:

Baby Step #1 – Save $1,000 in an emergency fund.
Baby Step #2 – Pay off debt by using the Debt Snowball strategy.
Baby Step #3 – Save 3 – 6 months of living expenses.
Baby Step #4 – Invest 15% of household income into retirement.
Baby Step #5 – Start College Funding for Children.
Baby Step #6 – Pay off home early.
Baby Step #7 – Build wealth and give.

If this sounds exciting to you then come and join during the summer on Wednesday nights as we learn more about experiencing Financial Peace the way God has intended for you to experience it. Our Wednesday night sessions begin at 6pm with a meal provided at 5:30pm.

   
 

7 Principles for Deepening Small Group Relationships

By Brett Eastman, Founder and CEO, Lifetogether

Don’t we all long to be a part of something fun, exciting, and life-giving?

The sitcom Friends captured this desire. Every week 50 million people watched six actors pretending to have relationships with one another. Its popularity was fueled by the deep longing we all have to be connected in community.

The advertising world has caught on to this yearning as well. Ads like MCI’s promise to connect us with our family and friends. The “felt need” is clear. But the real need is found in the biblical word, koinonia, which means “fellowship.” God’s plan from the beginning was that each one of us would belong to a spiritual community, where we all would be known and we would know others.

How can we create a community like this? How can we connect with one another?

Here are seven principles to help you CONNECT with the people in your group and to help them connect with one another.

C

reate a one-another community. In the New Testament there are over 50 different references to “one another”: love one another, bear one another’s burdens, pray for one another, and serve one another are just a few. This can’t happen only on Sunday mornings; it needs to happen in other settings, like small groups.

Once you’ve invited your circle of friends and they show up, remember you don’t have to be a Bible scholar to create a one-another community. Your job is to ask the questions, look around the room, and wait for someone to respond. When someone voices a response, affirm them, no matter what they say. Don’t feel like you have to answer every one of the questions yourself. It’s like a ping-pong game: just get it started and keep the ball in play.

Another way to create a one-another community upfront is to schedule socials and meals together. Pull families together and get to know each other. Schedule casual gatherings, like a pizza dinner, before the meeting starts. During this time, your group has time to check in on prayer requests. Throughout the six weeks, rotate homes, so that people embrace the group as their own.

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pen your heart. Being authentic lets your group know you don’t have it all together either. When we communicate openness, that makes it safer for everybody else to be open as well. It’s healthy to say, “You know, good question. I don’t know,” “I’m not sure,” or “I’m lost.”

You are the role model, and they’ll follow your example. When you’re authentic, your group will be more authentic.

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aturally group members together for deeper discussion. It’s important that every meeting permits discussion time. When your group gets larger than 7, it’s more difficult for everyone to share. So break into discussion groups of 3-4 people. The more airtime an individual has leads to greater life application; and that’s when you’ll see lives transformed.

Also, this allows time for people to share prayer requests. You don’t want to get halfway around the room during prayer request time and suddenly say, “Oops, we ran out of time.” Break into smaller groups so you have time to share prayer requests pray as well as for one another.

Remember when people feel heard, they feel loved; when they feel loved, they return; and when they return, life transformation happens.

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ever run from challenges, questions, or even conflict in your group. Remember, the Bible says, “Iron sharpens iron.” The group that doesn’t have sparks actually doesn’t have as much life. Healthy groups have conflict.

There are practical things you can do, however, to ensure that conflict doesn’t dominate your small group. First, agree to make a small group covenant. This agreement outlines the ground rules for your group. If you write down your expectations early on, conflict will occur less later on.

Second, facilitate discussion to help evaluate the progress of your group. After a few weeks, assess how things are going and just throw out the questions: “How’s it going? What is one thing you like, one thing you think you’d change if you could?” You may want to have them do it on 3x5 cards to make it safer. Issues that arise from these responses are ones to address immediately so controversy doesn’t ensue.

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ncourage shared ownership. When this happens, the group moves from being “your” group to “their” group. Remember to rotate the facilitation of the group at least by the 2nd or 3rd week. Get out your group calendar and record where the group will meet, who will host, who will lead worship, and who will bring refreshments. This will develop ownership on a variety of levels.

Also make sure that each group member has a responsibility. Some people may not be ready to lead worship or plan a ministry project, but everybody can take a responsibility by teaming up and doing something together. It could be planning a social, or following up on absent group members, or participating in a ministry project. Sign them up, pair them up, and follow up. If you don’t follow up, it won’t happen.

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ultivate a group of friends. The Bible says that early believers gathered in temple courts and house to house, week to week. This model ensured members would always connect with one another, even if they missed a meeting at the temple.

Because the early church embraced this model, they added to their numbers daily. Everyone wanted to be a part of the fellowship. Who are you going to add to your circle? If you invite friends to join the group, they’ll have a greater tendency to come back themselves because they’ll be surrounded by friends.

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ake time to do life together. Don’t miss anniversaries, wedding parties, baby showers, job promotions, and even house closings. Celebrate one another’s lives.

I recently had a birthday, and when I got to the group they made my favorite dinner and favorite dessert. They asked how they could pray for me. Though the group isn’t supposed to be about me, on my birthday I wanted the whole night to be about me. The beauty is that they loved on me and made me feel special. This is the longing in each of our hearts.

   

sponsored by ATOMIC Men's Ministry

   

Friday, June 1 - Incoming Sixth Graders

7-9pm

Youth entering grade six in the fall will be having a movie night as part of their transition from Children's Ministry to Youth Ministry! We'll be watching "Night at the Museum" at Chad & Megan Allen's home in Wareham's Pond (behind the church).

Senior High will have the opportunity to go on a retreat in Brown County designed to draw them closer to God and one another.

Watch for details!

   

Promotion Sunday is
June 3

Sunday School - 8:45am

Children entering sixth grade in the fall promote from the 3/4/5 grade class to youth ministry middle school upstairs in room 206.

Children entering third grade promote from the 1/2 grade class in 116 to the 3/4/5 grade class in 113/114.

Children entering first grade promote from the 4/5 yr /Kdg class in 117 to the 1/2 grade class in 116.

Children age four move to the 4/5 & K Sunday school class when they are ready, usually after their fourth birthday (this can happen anytime during the year)

 

Children's Ministry Intern

Kathy Berger is with us this summer mentoring under the leadership of Children's Minister Ben Radant. She is entering her junior year at Johnson Bible College where she is on the Children's Ministry / Preschool/Daycare program of study. She hails from Illinois, and is engaged to marry Troy Thornburg, also a student at JBC, in August. Kathy is also working one day a week in our Crosslight Christian Daycare, and experiencing our disability ministry programming with Mephibosheth. Kathy brings to us a love and knowledge of sign language as well as her desire to minister to children.

   

   

Indiana State Fair Pork Tent Service 2007

Mark your calendars!

August 8-19, 2007

posted 4/18/07

This will be the fifth year that the Lord (and the Indiana Pork Producers) has provided us a fun way to raise some money for the church. For the last four years we have provided 17 volunteers a day for the twelve days at the Indiana State Fair. We are provided tickets to park and enter the fair and we get all the food we can eat from the pork producers. This is our August "Kindness in Progress" Challenge. It is a great way to get to know others from the church, invite your family members to join you, and serve. Kip (our kindness in progress servant evangelism mascot) will be there! We earn $10,000 for our efforts ($5,000 a serving line).

Beth Roberts met with the new Indiana Pork coordinator for this year on April 18, and several positive changes are coming our way. I feel this will be even more of a partnership as we not only get to serve the customers of the Pork Tent, but the Indiana Pork Producers staff as well.

1) We all get to work together in one tent this year (likely tent A, in front of the grandstand) manning our two serving lines. In the past, they have split us between tent A and B.

2) We will need only 14 volunteers a day instead of 17

3) Our shift start time is an hour later at 10am instead of 9am

Food Server Safety Training

New in 2007, the State Board of Health is requesting volunteers to attend training on food serving safety. We have worked with the State Board of Health and the Pork Producers to have this training at church instead of having to attend the training at the State Fair Grounds the week before the fair.

Training is scheduled for Wednesday, August 1 at 6:30pm and will be conducted by Eric Roosa, a ServSafe certified instructor. It should only last about an hour, and all who volunteer are encouraged to attend.

Volunteer Signup

Just be patient...you'll get your chance to sign up soon enough.

Youth 14 and above are welcome. You can sign up for a half day (10-3 or 4-9) shift and you can sign up for multiple shifts. You will have some break time to explore a bit of the fair, and if you leave hungry, it's your own fault. Get creative - I'm looking forward to working with my aunts and uncles and cousins this year!

We need your help - mark your calendars now - in 2006 - 184 different individuals chose to serve the church in this way and you can join the fun as well! Watch the website

click here for State Fair website

A signup sheet will be posted in the foyer starting in late June or July.

Tickets will be distributed before the fair begins or can be picked up in the church office

   

Christmas in July

Celebrating the Spirit of Giving CHRISTmas all Year

Saturday, July 14 - Social Hour 5p, Dinner 6p

Noblesville Township Community Building at 372 South 8th Street in Noblesville.

Bring a dish large enough to feed 10 people - if your last name begins with A-J, Salad; K-S, Vegetable; T-Z, Dessert. Meat, mashed potatoes, tableware and drinks will be furnished.

Bring a gift for the children at White Mountain Apache Reservation, the mission of Dunamis Christian Ministries. You may pick up a list at the information desk in the foyer.

Sign up at the information desk.

   

   

Genesis Garden Supplies Needed!

We are looking at getting some more color in our garden and building up what we already have. We want to make our garden a wonderful place for everyone to enjoy. Some of the projects that THE WAY day program will possibly taking on are: staining all of the garden boxes and benches, planting more plants and vegetables, and raking and maintaining our garden! We are also exploring the possibility of expanding our garden to the grassy area by the offices and playground. Our dream for this area is to have hostas, hanging baskets, a bird feeder, and a picnic table.

Wish List for the Genesis Garden:

Miracle Grow Liquafeed Starter Pack
Miracle Grow Liquafeed All Purpose Plant Food Refill
Fertilizer Spikes
2 Honeysuckle Plants
Bags of Song Bird birdseed
2 Hanging Baskets
Sunflowers
Lily Bulbs
Tulip Bulbs
2 Gallons - Cabot Mahogany Flame wood stain
Garden Trellis for climbing plants
Herbs (preferably ones that give off a scent)
   

Thank you!

Our fifth annual Basket Auction was another success because of the generous donations received from this church family and the community. We received $7,224 that will help us continue to provide activities and programming, including Friends Unlimited, Camp Mephibosheth and administrative expenses. Thank you once again for being the Hands and Feet of Jesus, helping us to reach out to individuals who have disabilities.

Introducing Our Summer Intern

Emma Reed

Hello! I just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you! My name is Emma Reed and I will be interning with Mephibosheth Ministries, Inc. this summer. I have a long history of working with individuals with disabilities and Becky Moore. I met Becky for the first time when I was in kindergarten as she was the assistant in my classroom. After moving on from kindergarten I had students in my elementary school classes who had disabilities. I was able to gain my first experience working with these individuals through working with them in and out of my classroom. When I was in fourth grade I was able to participate in a program called Big Friends. During this time I went to the special education classroom and worked with the students doing whatever the teacher had me do. Most importantly I formed relationships with these students. After elementary school I did not have much contact with special education as there were not really any big classes in the middle school. In high school I was able to be a student assistant for one period a day in the special education classroom. All of these experiences led me to Ball State University where I am currently in my junior year majoring in Special Education – Severe Interventions.

I have been involved with Mephibosheth Ministries, Inc. for five years. I began attending camp as a volunteer in 2002 and I fell in love with the program. After camp I began attending Friends Unlimited and was equally impressed with this program. The things that I have been able to experience at camp have been life changing for me. I always seem to come home from camp with “recharged batteries”. Although camp can be very exhausting it is always awesome to see the incredible things that these campers are doing for the Lord. When I was approached with the idea of interning with Becky this summer I jumped at the opportunity. God has really been working on me to find my true calling in life. As I said before I am currently working towards my special education degree but in working with Mephibosheth Ministries, Inc. I have found a love for disabilities ministry. My ultimate goal is to go back to school at Johnson Bible College and get my degree in disabilities ministry. I am extremely excited to be working with everyone this summer and all the possibilities that lie ahead! I have a lot of ideas and look forward to a great summer! If you have any questions for me you may reach me through email or at the church.

   

CCD SUMMER CAMP 2007!!

You won’t want to miss it! Minimal Space Available in Limited Classrooms! Program starts Monday, June 4.
Our summer calendars and fees ARE available by clicking here!

In house field trips for the little guys (ones and twos),
Off site field trips for the threes, fours, fives, schoolagers once a week.
library day, water day, and wheels day for all ages.  The older children (1st –6th grade) are so busy all summer long they are hardly in the building!

Tumble Time (gymnastic tumbling and cheer) is going to be offered this summer on Friday mornings for an additional fee.  More information to come!

Plant Sale Fund Raiser

Our plant sale was a huge success.  We were able to profit $627.00 this year.  Thank you to everyone who purchased plants. 

Now enrolling for FALL!

Children ages 6 weeks through 12 years

Open 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. weekdays

Bible-based curriculum

Nutritious breakfast, snacks, and hot lunches

Inside and outside play area

Come see what the excitement is all about!

We have a great before- and after- school program for your older child too. We provide transportation to kindergarten (HH pm Kdg and some Noblesville schools) and are open on those school closure days too!  Let us know how we can meet the needs of your family. Stop by and take time for a tour and more information.  Director Jenni Roosa or Asst. Director Jody Boyd 984-4653 ext. 25

   

Loretta Baker

   

$36,485

 

March 11, 2007 offering

+ $6,055

 

March 18, 2007

+ $2,710

 

March 25, 2007
(40 day challenge given)

+ $1,785

 

April 1, 2007

+ $1,585

 

April 8, 2007

+ $1,339

 

April 15, 2007

+ $1,254

 

April 22, 2007

+ $1,820

 

April 29, 2007

+ $1,780

 

May 6 , 2007

+    $730

 

May 13 , 2007

+    $735

 

May 20 , 2007

$56,277

 

On June 1, a payment for $50,000 will be placed on the variable interest rate portion of our mortgage principal. Additional payments will be made as the year progresses.