The Current for September 5, 2010
“To Know Jesus Intimately and Make Him Known”
2010 Men’s Retreat
October 15th -16th
At New England Keswick in Monterey, MA
www.nekeswick.com
This is a great opportunity to learn, worship, pray, and share with men in your community. Please fill out aregistration form and return it by October 3rd. Don’t let financial concerns keep you from attending. If you have any questions, please contact Doug or Kate at the church office at 860-648-2970.
Grow Zone "Move-Up Sunday"
Grow Zone “Move-Up” Sunday is scheduled NEXT SUNDAY,September 12th. On this day, the Grow Zone teachers will have an Open House in all their classrooms at 9:30 a.m. so that the kids can meet their teachers. Donuts, juice, and coffee will be provided. After meeting their teachers, kids will return to service with their parents where the teachers will be prayed over. The kids will then be dismissed and their teachers will escort them to their classes. Please bring your filled-out Registration Forms with you to the Open House. The forms have been e-mailed to everyone. If you did not receive one, please pick one up at the Welcome Table. If you have any questions about “Move-Up Sunday”, please see Linda Gorman, Diego Florez, or Kate Skaff. Thank you!
Servant Team Suggestions
We are currently taking suggestions for next year’s Servant Team. If you would like to suggest someone, please see any of the current members of the Servant Team by October 8th. Thank you!
Labor Day Ice Cream Social
Darrell and Doreen Perillo will be hosting an Ice Cream Social at their house in South Windsor TOMORROW, September 6th from 1 p.m. until “whenever”. Please bring along your favorite ice cream. They will provide the toppings. Remember to wear your bathing suit and bring a lawn chair!
Potluck Lunch on September 12th
In honor of Pastor Teodoro and his wife Maria visiting us from Nicaragua, we are having a Potluck Lunch after service NEXT Sunday, September 12th, from noon to 2:00 p.m. New River will provide the beverages, but we ask that everyone bring a dish to share. You can bring either a main dish, a side, or a dessert. If you have any questions, please contact the church office at 860-648-2970.
Christmas Gift Ideas
If you are looking for Christ-centered Christmas gift ideas, donating items through Gospel for Asia may be for you! The primary aim of Gospel for Asia's ministry is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who have never before heard His name. 2.7 billion people of our generation are still unreached with the Gospel. Today, we have the great privilege of helping them come to know Jesus. If we will commit to live for what is eternal, this generation can be reached with the Gospel. You can donate items such as bibles, bicycles, winter clothing, radios, and blankets to missionaries to help spread His Word. For more information, please visit www.gfa.org.
A Coalition of Churches
Did you know that New River is part of a coalition of churches? The Connecticut Coalition is a group of CT Christian & Missionary Alliance churches joined together to encourage, support, and partner with our C&MA missionaries and national believers in Congo and Thailand to advance the Kingdom of God. The CT Coalition maintains a personal connection with our missionaries in Congo and Thailand and keeps our CT churches informed and praying.
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 6th-14th — Pastor Teodoro & wife Maria visit
September 6th — Ice Cream Social
September 12th — Grow Zone “Move-up Sunday”
September 12th — Potluck Lunch
September 23rd — “The Bridge”
October 15th & 16th — Men’s Retreat
November 12th — Vision Banquet
February 25th-27th — Holy Spirit Weekend
If you have any questions about any of New River’s events/programs, please contact the church office at 648-2970. Thank you.
Understanding Life Groups
This week we continue our series called “Debunking Life Group Myths”*
with Myth #4: “Muliplying Life Groups is just another church growth gimmick.” It is true that the largest churches in the world are “Life Group” churches. The Yoida Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea has 1.2 million members and over 150,000 Life Groups. And it is true that since the 1980’s some American churches have hopped on the bandwagon in an attempt to become the next mega-church. However, when a ministry strategy is launched with this as a motive, it usually fails.
A ministry built on multiplying Life Groups is not easy. New River has been doing it for 14 years and it has been a difficult road. The one thing keeping us on that road is we believe God wants us to do it. Our dream did not come from a book. It came from a desire to build a community of people committed to relational discipleship. If we were doing this simply as a gimmick, we would have given up on it years ago. We cannot give up! The best way to grow healthy disciples is in the context of Jesus-centered relationships. We’re stickin’ to it!!
*loosely adapted from an article by Randall Neighbour entitled “Myths about cell groups and cell churches”; Group Life Journal, January, 2010 edition, page 9.
Praying for a Church Building
James 4:2 says “You do not have because you do not ask God.” Our Servant Team is stepping up our efforts in prayer for a church building. We encourage you to join us in asking God for a building. Lately, our pastor has been praying for the Gerber building on Kelly Road. Would you join him in asking God for this facility? Just imagine what God can do with this! All things are possible with Him.
New River Financial Update
Our church treasurer, Keith Jones, has presented us with our current financial status. We are currently operating with a deficit of approximately $25,000. The word “deficit” sounds imposing, but we remain confident that God will provide for all of our needs. “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:19
PRAYING TOGETHER
We finished our 2009 study "The Year of Prayer", but that doesn't mean that we will not be focusing on prayer in 2010. In fact, we would like to dedicate an area of our bulletin to prayer requests from you. Please submit any prayer requests to Kate Skaff at secretary@newriverchurch.org. Received requests will be published in the next week's bulletin. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask Pastor Doug.
NURSERY VOLUNTEERS 9/12:
Sarah Kerendian
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Diego at 860-648-2970 or diego@newriverchurch.org. Thank you for your willingness to serve God’s children!
WANT PRAYER?
We have a team of people who love to pray for others. If you have a prayer need, please see one of our pastors (Doug Rowse or Diego Florez) today and they can introduce you to our prayer team. You do not need to carry your needs alone. Let us do it with you. |
