NEWS FROM THE BRIDGE

THANK YOU for your prayers and support.  We have already received a great start toward our September 23 launch but there is still very much to do. 

Linda and I were at a New Church Developers Training Camp a couple of weeks ago.  It was so very encouraging to find that we are mostly ahead of schedule and that there are not any critical mistakes or omissions that we have made.  At this conference, one of our tasks was to list all of the things that needed to get done before the doors were opened.  Below is a small sample of that list:

¨      Purchase a new computer system and select a data base program.

¨      Add 10 new prayer partners to our prayer team.

¨      Design advertising.

¨      Develop a vision statement.

¨      Organize an Easter Sunday community service and 3 additional “taste and see” services.

¨      Find a church school director and business manager.

¨      Purchase equipment and supplies.

You just might be the one.  We still are looking for a person or a couple of people who will be able to coordinate and lead our church school and we also have begun to search for a person who has the skills to be our business manager.  Please consider God’s leading in your life in one of these areas.

Please remember a couple of upcoming events:

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January 7 we will be leaving Faith CRC parking lot at 8:30 and going to Crossroads CRC to check out a church that we hope to look a little like in about 5 years.  We will watch them set up for about a half-hour and stay for their 10:00 AM service and be back about 12:00.

* * *

A four week course called “Discovering your Spiritual Gifts” led by Cindy Vander Laan will be offered on Sunday January 21 – February 11 at 11:00 AM. 

* * *

Sunday February 25 and March 4 at 11:00 AM learn “How to Build a Successful Small Group” from Todd and Cindy Wessels.

Both of the above classes will also be repeated at the Bridge Church on the following Wednesday evenings at 7:30 for people who are not able to attend on Sunday.  Please call our office and let us know if you are planning to attend.  There is no charge for these classes.

Blessings,

Nick Ahrens
        Pastor

815 464-4455.

 

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED

            Church School is looking for some people who would be willing to teach a Church School class for four weeks, or as a substitute is needed.  If teaching is an area that you might have some interest in but a full year commitment is too much, please consider subbing as a way to discover if this is a gift area of yours.  Contact Keith or Greg Feeman if you are available.

ADULT EDUCATION OPTIONS

             With a new year (and a true new millennium) upon us, we want to invite you to consider joining us at 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings for 45 minutes and take advantage of some adult education options.  Beginning on January 21 and running through February 11 (only 4 weeks) we are offering the first two of a number of Adult Education classes.  Cindy Vander Laan will be leading a class time on “How to Discover Your Spiritual Gifts”.  Identify and learn how to use the gifts God has blessed you with in this four week class.  We are also offering a discussion series on “Discover Life”, a Bible series led by Sandy Clair.  Plan now to join us in either of these adult options in the New Year.

            Other adult classes coming in the spring are a parenting series entitled, “Parenting By Heart”.  This is a four-week video series that will run in March.  There will also be a membership class offered, led by Pastor Ouwinga.  A young adult topical Bible study is a third class on its way as well as a young couples class in April or May.

            One other option that will be offered is a small group leaders seminar for anyone interested in starting up some small groups here at Faith.  This seminar will be a joint venture with the Bridge Community Church.  There will be a Sunday morning opportunity and a mid-week option for this two week seminar.  More information will be coming out later.  The tentative dates for this are February 25 and March 4, 2001.

SOME NEW YEAR’S WISHES FOR YOU

During the new year may you have:
Enough happiness to keep you sweet
Enough trials to keep you strong
Enough sorrow to keep you human
Enough hope to keep you happy
Enough failure to keep you humble
Enough success to keep you eager
Enough friends to give you comfort
Enough wealth to meet your needs
Enough enthusiasm to make you look forward to tomorrow
Enough determination to make each day better than the day before.  

GEMS

              The way our alternate Wednesdays fall this year, we did not have a regular meeting during the month of December.  Don’t worry though, it all evens out with our three meetings scheduled for January.

            We did, however, have a wonderful Christmas party.  In spite of all the snow we received that evening, almost all of our GEMS came for an evening of celebration.  We enjoyed pizza and even icee treats for dessert.  I still can’t believe how many girls ate a gold treat on that cold night, but they did enjoy it!  We played two games which the girls absolutely loved – hot potato and the toilet paper race.  Many parents observed the hot potato as they came to pick their daughters up.  The girls also enjoyed various games within their own classes during a gift exchange and craft time.

            The counselors also enjoyed a special evening at Fox’s in December.  We gathered for dinner and a gift exchange.  Though steeling is wrong, it was definitely a lot of fun during the grab bag game.  Being able to talk among each other (without our usual responsibilities to the girls) was a real treat for all of us.

                                    Nancy G.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT MEETING
JANUARY 24

7:15 – 8:45 p.m.

            Teachers, sponsors, counselors, please reserve Wednesday evening, January 24, for an Education Leaders Meeting.  We invite all Education Department people to come together that evening for some training and planning.