Donated for tomorrow’s church-wide garage sale…A REAL HONEST – TO GOODNESS – VELVET ELVIS!!! I’M NOT KIDDING! THIS THING COULD GO FOR HUNDREDS!!! This is the coolest thing I’ve seen all week.
Archive for September 5, 2008
Dear Living Stoners – just a few things as we gear up for a brand new message series this Sunday “and on the Sixth Night!” I’m very excited about it and you should be too! Don’t miss it and bring a friend with you.
A couple of things to keep in mind for Sunday:
1. Instead of an opening song after our countdown (which by the way we have actually started five minutes before we begin) there is an introductory video. You DO NOT want to miss the video so I would encourage you to be there early enough to take care of what you need to take care of and be in your seat ready to go at 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.!
2. Another factor of time is checking in your children. Because we have invited the community to join us, our experience is that check-in takes a little longer. For the next four weeks, the kids will be in the children’s area THE WHOLE service. So, please adjust your time to check them in at 8:45 & 10:45 and allow space and time for guests!
3. We are excited about a couple of new things that are going to begin THIS Sunday in regards to our children in the month of September.
- One, they begin a brand new curriculum on Sunday. For the older kids it is “The Story of Jesus” (AHHH…VERY IMPORTANT) and for the younger kids it is “God Made Us.” Get your kids there to learn some very important truth!
- Two, the ages will be better divided into groupings and learning capabilities (Nursery, 2s & 3s, 4 year olds – 1st grade, and 2nd grade – 4th grade).
- Three, each class will have a LEAD TEACHER who will be with the kids for the ENTIRE month. This will provide continuity, greater relationship, and security for the kids. I’m very excited about that. Plus…I know who the LEAD TEACHERS are…and they are FABULOUS!! There will still be a rotation of helpers each week – but there will be a LEAD TEACHER that is constant per age.
4. Because the messages are on sex, we have rated this message series PG-13. We won’t be crass or vulgar – but we will be honest and direct in our conversation. Because these are adult topics, we want ALL of our children to be in Children’s Church rather than in the auditorium. There are some exceptions (e.g., a guest whose child isn’t ready to go to the children’s area because of the newness of the entire experience, a child who is just having a difficult morning, etc.) but in the main, this is our recommendation and expectation for the morning.
5. Because the messages are on sex, could someone get my grandmother and parents out of the auditorium as well 
! (OK Memaw…you’ve been warned!)
6. And finally, continue to do what you do best…show hospitality!!! Receive well. Welcome well. Receive people into our church as you would consciously receive them into your home. Be sensitive to where you park, where you sit, how many donuts you take for yourself (which by the way…they are not intended to serve as your breakfast), and what kind of environment you set for those around you. For example, a) your full-blown conversation during communion with a friend is ruining the experience for someone else next to you who is trying to reflect on the body and blood of Jesus…go to lunch together after to catch up…and while there debrief the topic of sex, or b) you getting up five times during the sermon to get a coffee refill, go to the bathroom, take a cell phone call, etc. is distracting those around you who are trying to listen to a message but can’t help but visually follow your movement out the doors…plus…you are also distracting the preacher . There is a way we can continue to ensure our environments are informal and accessible to people who have no or hardly any “church experience” and still be places that are still respectful and considerate of others.
