Ooops, ok ok I know I promised to blog more often but sometimes you just get busy. There are lots of things happening around here, we started playing softball again and have 14 guys playing, including some of us old guys.
We are planning new ministry outreach programs so keep your eyes open for whats to come!
The new video equipment is installed and looks fantastic, it really changes the look and feel of the worship center, now we just have to paint, carpet, new sound system etc...
Short conversation for now!
Later
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Hi all, a lot of stuff going on around here so let me see if I can bring everyone up to date.
Yesterday we spent several hours putting together the new set for KidMo and it looks terrific! We had our largest group of volunteers yet and we really go most of it done, we hope to post some pictures this week as well. Of course the whole church smells like paint, but that should dissipate soon.
In the worship center they are busy putting up the new screens and projectors and should be done this week. It is going to make a major impact on our worship time as we will be able to see the Cross during the entire service that stands above the baptismal.
We have created a men's softball team that starts playing the first week of April. Hopefully we will have all the players we need but it looks to be a lot of fun and an opportunity to invite new people to be part of NCC.
As we head into Spring it is exciting to watch God do amazing things with nature and with this church. We are continuing to be blessed by new families and friends who are becoming a part of our fellowship. We are trying our best to train them as disciples through our Sunday morning education program that started a new set of classes this week. The response and quality of teaching remains high and we are optimistic that people will continue to grow and be excited about their faith.
We have also moved our Sunday night services to a Friday evening prayer time. It is our hope and intention that Sunday evening becomes family time. In our culture our time has been stretched and we don't allow time for our family or take a true Sabbath. Pray that our families use this opportunity to grow together in their faith.
Yesterday we spent several hours putting together the new set for KidMo and it looks terrific! We had our largest group of volunteers yet and we really go most of it done, we hope to post some pictures this week as well. Of course the whole church smells like paint, but that should dissipate soon.
In the worship center they are busy putting up the new screens and projectors and should be done this week. It is going to make a major impact on our worship time as we will be able to see the Cross during the entire service that stands above the baptismal.
We have created a men's softball team that starts playing the first week of April. Hopefully we will have all the players we need but it looks to be a lot of fun and an opportunity to invite new people to be part of NCC.
As we head into Spring it is exciting to watch God do amazing things with nature and with this church. We are continuing to be blessed by new families and friends who are becoming a part of our fellowship. We are trying our best to train them as disciples through our Sunday morning education program that started a new set of classes this week. The response and quality of teaching remains high and we are optimistic that people will continue to grow and be excited about their faith.
We have also moved our Sunday night services to a Friday evening prayer time. It is our hope and intention that Sunday evening becomes family time. In our culture our time has been stretched and we don't allow time for our family or take a true Sabbath. Pray that our families use this opportunity to grow together in their faith.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Hello world,
I am freezing! We are in Erwin TN skiing with the youth group seniors. (OK, that is pretty much all of the youth!)
Eliza and Christian are pretty adept but Kate, Tony, Richard and Amber are all beginners. It is 6pm and Richard, Amber and myself are sitting in the nice warm ski lodge while the others are out getting ready for night skiing. I hope we have some pictures turn out so you all can experience our adventure with us.
We left Columbus at 7 am and got here about 2 pm, had a little traffic coming in, and are leaving to go home at 8 am tomorrow. We are having fun but everyone will probably sleep all the way home, except me of course, I am driving!
Talk to all of you soon!
I am freezing! We are in Erwin TN skiing with the youth group seniors. (OK, that is pretty much all of the youth!)
Eliza and Christian are pretty adept but Kate, Tony, Richard and Amber are all beginners. It is 6pm and Richard, Amber and myself are sitting in the nice warm ski lodge while the others are out getting ready for night skiing. I hope we have some pictures turn out so you all can experience our adventure with us.
We left Columbus at 7 am and got here about 2 pm, had a little traffic coming in, and are leaving to go home at 8 am tomorrow. We are having fun but everyone will probably sleep all the way home, except me of course, I am driving!
Talk to all of you soon!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Never to busy to post!
Hello, as I was recently informed we have not updated this blog in quite some time so let me see if I can catch everyone up!
Things are moving pretty fast around here, we are adding new families and ministries all the time. We recently completed an expansion of the media/sound room that doubled its space and actually allows people to perform their ministry on Sunday's. We have several volunteers that are helping with that but are always looking for more.
This week we start construction on our new video screens. If you haven't been to our building we have one large screen that covers the cross and baptistery area but are putting in 2 smaller screens on either side of the stage. We received a generous donation to make this possible and can't wait to see the finished product.
Our KidMo program continues to grow, if we had all the kids here at one time we would have well over 20! Eliza Davenport continues to serve as our intern and is responsible for the production of KidMo and does a tremendous job with help from many volunteers. This next 5 weeks program is called "Beefessians" and it is based on a western theme, the set has a general store, hay, saddles barrels etc. and looks great.
This Wednesday we are using the set to have a Valentine banquet themed "Roped and Tied: a celebration of love" and looks to be good food, fun and some silliness!
Next week I am taking some of the youth on an overnight ski retreat, a chance for us to get away and spend some time together while I "watch" them kill themselves on the slopes!
We continue to see many visitors at NCC and are hoping to make connections with them to become a part of this ministry. Over the past few weeks we have met on Sunday evening as a congregation to try an find our focus as a church and where our strengths and weaknesses lie. Hopeful we can concentrate on Kingdom building initiatives that not only benefit our congregation but us as individuals as well.
"Invite someone" has become our stream of conversation, we are starting off with the basics of our faith and learning and practicing inviting people to our building. Of course we know that this is not the only means of sharing the Gospel but we have to start somewhere. This will hopefully lead people into our new adult education program called A.C.T.S. (Academy for Christian Teaching and Service)
A.C.T.S. begins Sunday February 15th and is designed to create a greater learning environment and a wider range of topics for people to expand their knowledge base and grow in their faith. We are introducing new teachers and bringing back some that have taught in the past. Basically our focus is in 4 areas:
1. Bible intensive
2. Christian Living
3. Foundations of faith
4. Exploring our faith
Response has been tremendous and 2 of the 4 classes are completely filled.
That is NCC's update and will blog you later!
Things are moving pretty fast around here, we are adding new families and ministries all the time. We recently completed an expansion of the media/sound room that doubled its space and actually allows people to perform their ministry on Sunday's. We have several volunteers that are helping with that but are always looking for more.
This week we start construction on our new video screens. If you haven't been to our building we have one large screen that covers the cross and baptistery area but are putting in 2 smaller screens on either side of the stage. We received a generous donation to make this possible and can't wait to see the finished product.
Our KidMo program continues to grow, if we had all the kids here at one time we would have well over 20! Eliza Davenport continues to serve as our intern and is responsible for the production of KidMo and does a tremendous job with help from many volunteers. This next 5 weeks program is called "Beefessians" and it is based on a western theme, the set has a general store, hay, saddles barrels etc. and looks great.
This Wednesday we are using the set to have a Valentine banquet themed "Roped and Tied: a celebration of love" and looks to be good food, fun and some silliness!
Next week I am taking some of the youth on an overnight ski retreat, a chance for us to get away and spend some time together while I "watch" them kill themselves on the slopes!
We continue to see many visitors at NCC and are hoping to make connections with them to become a part of this ministry. Over the past few weeks we have met on Sunday evening as a congregation to try an find our focus as a church and where our strengths and weaknesses lie. Hopeful we can concentrate on Kingdom building initiatives that not only benefit our congregation but us as individuals as well.
"Invite someone" has become our stream of conversation, we are starting off with the basics of our faith and learning and practicing inviting people to our building. Of course we know that this is not the only means of sharing the Gospel but we have to start somewhere. This will hopefully lead people into our new adult education program called A.C.T.S. (Academy for Christian Teaching and Service)
A.C.T.S. begins Sunday February 15th and is designed to create a greater learning environment and a wider range of topics for people to expand their knowledge base and grow in their faith. We are introducing new teachers and bringing back some that have taught in the past. Basically our focus is in 4 areas:
1. Bible intensive
2. Christian Living
3. Foundations of faith
4. Exploring our faith
Response has been tremendous and 2 of the 4 classes are completely filled.
That is NCC's update and will blog you later!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Hello!
We made it back from the land of fire and brimstone!
As you may have known we were in Southern California very near to where the recent fires have been. My aunt was evacuated, she lives in Yorba Linda, if you saw the news lately you probably saw that city regularly. Michael Stephen our oldest works at Brea mall, the fire cam within 1 mile of the mall and his home as well. But other than bad air quality they are all doing fine and we are praying for all the people who lost their homes in this horrific disaster. It seems now that 2 of the fires were set by arsonist, what a sad tale.
Maggie and I had a wonderful trip and were able to relax and visit with old friends and family. Saturday we were in Oceanside California and helped a small group from my friends church paint a home for mentally challenged adults. I know it doesn't sound much like a vacation but it was truly rewarding. Sunday morning we worshipped in a Korean/American church in Anaheim, Michael Cranston, our middle child, sang with the choir from Hope International University and the choir and orchestra from the church. It was an amazing time of worship and praise and one of my old professors happened to be preaching that day, Bonus!
We are home and well rested and ready for the holiday season and the new year. I hope each of you are prepared to go to work! God has great things planned for His church in Fortson/Columbus and as faithful followers we need to step up and prepare the way for the lost.
May God bless each of us and our endeavors as we unite for the sake of the Kingdom.
Cranston
We made it back from the land of fire and brimstone!
As you may have known we were in Southern California very near to where the recent fires have been. My aunt was evacuated, she lives in Yorba Linda, if you saw the news lately you probably saw that city regularly. Michael Stephen our oldest works at Brea mall, the fire cam within 1 mile of the mall and his home as well. But other than bad air quality they are all doing fine and we are praying for all the people who lost their homes in this horrific disaster. It seems now that 2 of the fires were set by arsonist, what a sad tale.
Maggie and I had a wonderful trip and were able to relax and visit with old friends and family. Saturday we were in Oceanside California and helped a small group from my friends church paint a home for mentally challenged adults. I know it doesn't sound much like a vacation but it was truly rewarding. Sunday morning we worshipped in a Korean/American church in Anaheim, Michael Cranston, our middle child, sang with the choir from Hope International University and the choir and orchestra from the church. It was an amazing time of worship and praise and one of my old professors happened to be preaching that day, Bonus!
We are home and well rested and ready for the holiday season and the new year. I hope each of you are prepared to go to work! God has great things planned for His church in Fortson/Columbus and as faithful followers we need to step up and prepare the way for the lost.
May God bless each of us and our endeavors as we unite for the sake of the Kingdom.
Cranston
Friday, November 14, 2008
Already Friday and need to catch you up on what we are doing! The weather here is spectacular and we have been able to visit with most of our friends out here, of course we have spent a great deal of time with our boys. I think all we have done was eat though.
Last night we went to an indoor go-cart racing facility. This are not average go-carts, you have to where helmets and neck braces and racing suits with gloves. We raced with 8 other people but had to qualify before we actually raced, I qualified 4th! (not bad for the oldest one out there) I finished the race 5th just after my son but we beat 3 of the four "street racers" who talked a good talk but couldn't perform as promised. I think they all felt bad that the old man beat them so bad!
We are heading down to the San Diego area today, probably get to the beach either today or tomorrow, and spend some time with another old friend.
We are really getting a lot of rest and able to enjoy ourselves without much pressure to "have" to be anywhere, it is nice and relaxing.
Blog you tomorrow, if I don't forget!
Cranston
Last night we went to an indoor go-cart racing facility. This are not average go-carts, you have to where helmets and neck braces and racing suits with gloves. We raced with 8 other people but had to qualify before we actually raced, I qualified 4th! (not bad for the oldest one out there) I finished the race 5th just after my son but we beat 3 of the four "street racers" who talked a good talk but couldn't perform as promised. I think they all felt bad that the old man beat them so bad!
We are heading down to the San Diego area today, probably get to the beach either today or tomorrow, and spend some time with another old friend.
We are really getting a lot of rest and able to enjoy ourselves without much pressure to "have" to be anywhere, it is nice and relaxing.
Blog you tomorrow, if I don't forget!
Cranston
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Its Tuesday, the second day of our vacation and we are currently sitting at the Salt Lake City airport waiting to go to LA. We spent the evening last night with 3 of my friends and their wives as we shared a meal, told tall tales and shared our lives. It is always fascinating to me to spend time with people from different parts of the country and to hear their perspective on faith, politics, parenting and all other things that come up in conversation.
Portland was cold and rainy and we are hoping for more moderate weather in LA, I am sitting here in shorts in anticipation. We hope to spend the day with our oldest son Michael Stephen and have dinner with both our boys and some other friends from the area. Michael Cranston (our #2 son) is the marketing manager at a restaurant called Ruby's and we get to eat for free!
If you travel through airports much you are aware at how interesting people are. I enjoy hearing their conversations,, some people are working, some are traveling for fun and then there are those who are traveling because of family crisis. But it is comforting that for the most part people are friendly and polite while we share this short time of our lives together.
Blog you tomorrow!
Cranston
Portland was cold and rainy and we are hoping for more moderate weather in LA, I am sitting here in shorts in anticipation. We hope to spend the day with our oldest son Michael Stephen and have dinner with both our boys and some other friends from the area. Michael Cranston (our #2 son) is the marketing manager at a restaurant called Ruby's and we get to eat for free!
If you travel through airports much you are aware at how interesting people are. I enjoy hearing their conversations,, some people are working, some are traveling for fun and then there are those who are traveling because of family crisis. But it is comforting that for the most part people are friendly and polite while we share this short time of our lives together.
Blog you tomorrow!
Cranston
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
