onnection - church...web site: onnection the vision of community a congregational survey was...

Community Connection J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0

“MONDAYS WITH

PETE”

If you’d like to re-

ceive Pastor Pete’s

Monday morning e-

mail devotional

“Mondays with Pete”

please send your e-

mail address to him

at

[email protected]

OR...you can read

his weekly devo-

tional on the church

website

pete.srbcc.com.

P. O. Box 1723

(3524 U.S.

Highway 98 W)

Santa Rosa

Beach, FL

32459

Phone:

(850) 267-2599

Fax:

(888) 398-5768

Email:

[email protected]

Web Site:

www.srbcc.com

Connection

The Vision of Community

A congregational Survey was conducted with 32 responses, as well as, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analy-sis of Vision Committee Members.

Review of the above showed that 50% of the items referred to the lack of young families and youth and singles ministries. Looking at the interview questions, sections 2 & 3 made no mention of youth, but section 4 had 9 of 21, or 43% of responses mentioning requests for greater attention to youth. Interestingly, however, when asked what God wants the church to look like (5) or how to accomplish vi-sions for the future (6), only 1 of 15 suggestions referred to growing the early childhood demographic and 2 of 13 mentioned a teen min-istry with no other mention of youth. Thus, it seems to us that peo-ple see, feel, think there is a need for youth ministries, but don’t verbalize a vision or strategy for accomplishing this goal.

Action Item: Post a sign-up sheet to form a steering committee for people who are moved to lead the congregation in this ministry. That group can gather, review the history of the Church’s historical experiences in this regard, and move forward as the Lord leads them.

Action Items:

Survey Preschool parents to gather the following information:

Do they have a church home?

What are they looking for in a church where they either currently at-tend or would attend?

Continue outreach to mature adults by developing a stronger/better plan and congregation involvement to reach them.

Continue to support community service organizations (ESL, Recovery programs, missions, etc.) as well as Church programs such as Grief and prayer.

Create a plan to increase congregational involvement from the 10 to 20 percent current level which is limited by age (driving after dark) and physical ability.

Continued from front page

The Vision of Community

Action Item: Create Outreach Committee to expand and develop:

A marketing plan

Newcomer contacts

New member focus on mature age group plus “younger adults”

Action Item: Create Fellowship/Small Group Committee with Primary focus on small groups for Bible-study and prayer plus “fellowship” activities in home, church or community to include CCW, Men’s group, etc. Initially, this will need to be Church driven by survey, bulletin, sign-up sheets and personal contact.

Action Item: Expand efforts of Congregational Care Committee to keep in touch with congregation on a regular basis to assess needs, wants and ministry opportunities, as well as, wellbeing of individuals and the need for pastoral care. Worship Service: Continue and promote a strong bible-based message that does not compromise the fundamental truths of our faith. Continue building and changing the music programs to expand congregational participation with expanded small groups, praise singers with Scooter, and expanding Brandon’s superior piano ability. Action Items: Consider alternating deacons or other involved members to make

announcements at beginning of service to publicize the many options for service. Continue to encourage congregation to invite a friend/neighbor to church. Grow the num-ber of the Church’s current giving base to offset the loss of many strong older givers so our current status of 15% of the congregation giving 65% of the Budget can be expanded to meet needs.

Continue to support community service organizations (ESL, Recovery programs, missions, etc.) as well as Church programs such as grief and prayer.

Action Item: Increase communication to the congregation about these groups and the impact the church is having on lives they are touching.

Action Item: Increase communication to the congregation about the Mission agencies we support through our budget.

A Church that Lives Up to Its Name

Born from a natural disaster that destroyed three churches in the local area, Community Church has remained

one of the oldest churches in South Walton. The 70+ year history of the church shows the importance of

working and worshiping together as one body to reach the community. Considering its initial formation as

ONE congregation from Baptist, Methodist, and Catholic members, preferences were set aside for the com-

mon good and glory of God. It is this spirit of unity I encourage us to maintain as we go through changes to-

gether in the year ahead—may we all seek God in prayer as our individual roles within His Body to grow more

relationally with one another through this time.

Since coming on staff at Community Church as associate pastor and minister of music, I have intentionally

sought to create an environment for authentic worship that encourages all generations to concentrate on God,

connect with Him through Christ and His Church, care compassionately for one another and continue growing

in grace and truth. We must stand committed to God through Christ and seek to be a family of believers.

We also strive to serve our community in several ways and live up to our name. Although the church has un-

dergone several building campaigns, the original church building (now called “the chapel”) has a multiuse func-

tion throughout the year for several of its outreach ministries. The chapel has also been the meeting place for

the El Shaddai Hispanic Congregation on Sunday and Thursday evenings for almost ten years. We host semi-

annual services where the congregations worship together in English and Spanish all for the glory of God.

Community Church is an active member of the South Walton Ministry Association, which seeks partnership

with other SoWal churches to build the Kingdom of God. Our weekly ukulele and Bible study ministry to our

area’s senior living and memory care facilities continues to grow in its effectiveness. Our church also hosts

several organizations throughout the year, including but not limited to Girls Scouts of South Walton, a local AA

Chapter, a mental health support group, grief support ministries, KALEO Summer Ministry, various Snowbird

events/activities, and an English as a Second Language Ministry. The summer Vacation Bible School (VBS) is

one of our most rewarding ministries.

The Community Church Preschool has been in operation for 11 years, providing 50 kids (each year) with a head

-start to their elementary education. The outstanding cadre of teachers and leaders has ensured the pre-

school’s continued success and relevance to all who attend. We are continually seeking ways to connect and

grow with younger families in our community who do not currently have a local church.

The church believes that missions are the heart of the Great Commission and is involved locally and globally

for the sake of the Gospel, providing support to Caring & Sharing of South Walton, Canaan Recovery Founda-

tion, Camel Club, Benevolence & Disaster Relief and partners with Mission Aviation Fellowship, Student Mobi-

lization, Wycliffe Bible Translators, and Samaritan’s Purse. This year, the church became a hub for the SoWal

drop-off for the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry.

Although we will need to adapt our methods to overcome the challenges of reaching people in the 21st centu-

ry, we stand by our commitment to preserving the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—the Light and Hope

of the world. Community Church has remained one of the oldest surviving churches in our local area and I

pray we will continue to remain relevant and a vital part of our community for many years to come and all that

God desires us to be.

P A G E 4

Now would be a great

time to attend a Bible

Study on Sunday

mornings at 8:45am!

Mid-Week

Bible Study

We are studying The Church in Babylon. Come join us for this great time of study and fellowship. Bring your lunch and come ready to learn about God’s Word.

C O M M U N I T Y C O N N E C T I O N

Join us Sunday mornings at

9:30am in the re-ception area for

treats and fellow-ship before we go into worship. Hot

coffee and cold lemonade are

always included.

Please “Like” our “Community

Church of Santa Rosa Beach”

Facebook page to stay up to

date on info and future events.

Watch Community Church Services LIVE via

LIVESTREAM© from your computer, iPad,

tablet, smart phone/TV, or even on digital

media players like Roku© via the

LIVESTREAM© app. Simply go to

live.srbcc.com You will need to sign up for a

free account.

Pastor Pete’s Sunday School Class meets upstairs in Room 209 and they are studying an Advent Study: TBD The Men’s Sunday School Class meets upstairs in Room 206 and they are studying Numbers; Deuteronomy. The Ladies’ Sunday School Class meets upstairs in Room 208 and they are studying Nehemiah, MacArthur Bible Study.

live.srbcc.com

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1 2

How do we live faithfully in a country becoming more and more hostile to our faith in Christ?

Daniel faced this challenge just as we do. A captive in a pagan land, Daniel resolved to faithfully follow God while also serving in a nation that hated his God. Can we do the same? Like the Israelites in Babylon, we must learn to engage our culture without being spir-itually destroyed by it. We are moral and spiritual exiles in a culture growing increasingly hostile toward Christianity. But God is faithful. Let us move for-ward in hope, remembering that it is in times of darkness that God’s light shines most clearly.

On January 8th, we will begin a 10-week, small-group Bible study on Dr. Erwin Lutzer’s recent book entitled, The Church in Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness. In it, we will walk through the many parallels between the church in America and God’s people in Babylon and embolden you to be a Gospel witness. You’ll be encouraged not to compromise your faith even when under constant pressure from all corners of society. And more than all this you will have a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ, as you consider the biblical role of those in exile. This Bible study offers ways for the church to respond and engage in mean-ingful ways that are linked to biblical truth and values, while at the same time winsomely impacting the world.

The books for the study are available in print for $10. The study will begin Wednesday, January 8th at 11:45am, upstairs. Please sign-up in the foyer or contact the church office at 850-267-2599.

P A G E 6

Come To

Worship

December 24th @ 7 pm Christmas Eve Candle-

light Communion “God’s Most Welcome

Gift” Isaiah 9:6-7

January 12th

Baptism of the Lord Sunday

Remembrance Baptism

Series: Seeing God More Clearly in 2020

Matthew 3:13-17 “An Invitation that

Went Astray”

December 29th “Beyond a Friendly, Cuddly Christmas” Matthew 2:13-23

January 19th Series: Seeing God

More Clearly in 2020 John 1:29-42

“Aha! I See it Now”

C O M M U N I T Y C O N N E C T I O N

PLEASE KEEP the following people on our Prayer List in your thoughts and prayers:

Please pray for: church family: Mo Davis, Pastor Reyes, Linda

Fullerton, Debbie Gillham, Hugh Buffham and Joan Carpenter,

Doug McGinnis, Bill and Dorothy Thorns, , David and Ariete Burch,

Pastor Pete and Pastor Scooter

friends & relatives: Brailey Elizabeth Mae Tidwell, Tamara Lyd-

olph, Nancy McLean, Jeneen McCall Simmons, Jeremy Riehle, Sa-

mantha Cooper, Ronnie Thompson, Bruce Varner, Judy and Bob

Delatte, Hazel Farr, Marvin Bloss, Susan, Stephanie Dover, Carter

Rushing, Tanner, Von Ward, Joy Thomoson, Cassandra and Noel,

Anna Tessoff, Pauline Moore, Debbie Brown, Shirley Hunt, Jeffrey

Soileau and Residents of Brookdale and Somerby.

Thanksgiving for prayers answered: Betty McLean, Pauline Moore, Rex Lysinger and Leola McCall

(Please notify the church office if someone can be taken off the prayer list. Thank you.)

(Need info from Scooter)

January 5th Epiphany Sunday

Communion Sunday Series: Seeing God

More Clearly in 2020 Isaiah 60:1-6,

Matthew 2:1-12 “Saved by the Light”

January 26th

“When God shakes things up.”

Isaiah 43

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

29 8:45am Bible Study 9:30am Fellowship 10am Worship Svc 5:30pm El Shaddai (chapel)

30 11am Shelter House 7pm AA Group

31

2pm Brookdale Devotional

1 New Years Day OFFICE CLOSED

7pm El Shaddai praise practice (chapel) 7:30pm AA Group

2 OFFICE CLOSED 10am Comm. Ukes 5:30pm MHA 7pm El Shaddai (chapel)

3 OFFICE CLOSED 9am Snow-bird Singers 1pm SB MahJongg

4

5 COMMUNION 8:45am Bible Study 9:30am Fellowship 10am Worship Svc 5:30pm El Shaddai (chapel)

6 11am Shelter House 1pm SB Bridge (FH) 6pm SB Euchre (FH) 7pm AA Group

7

9:30am ESL


3:30pm Beg. Uke class

6:30pm ESL

8

10:30am Prayer Mtg

11:45am Bible Study 1pm Bulletin Folding 1pm SB Bridge (FH) 7pm El Shaddai praise practice (chapel) 7:30pm AA Group

9

10am Comm. Ukes (upstairs)

1:30pm SB Book Club

5:30pm MHA 7pm El Shaddai (chapel)

10 9am Snow-bird Singers 1pm Snow-bird Mah-Jongg

11


13 11am Shelter House 1pm LTL (chapel) 1pm SB Bridge (FH) 6pm SB Euchre (FH) 7pm AA Group

14

9:30am ESL

11:30am Cong. Care Mtg. (upstairs)


6:30pm ESL

15 11:45am Bible Study 1pm Bulletin Folding 1pm SB Bridge (FH) 7pm El Shaddai praise practice (chapel) 7:30pm AA Group

16




18 10am Gulf Cem. Ann. Mtg (chapel)

2:30pm CCW Bridge (FH)

19 8:45am Bible Study 9:30am Fellowship 10am Worship Svc 11am Fellowship Dinner 5:30pm El Shaddai (chapel)

20 11am Shelter House 1pm SB Bridge (FH) 4:15pm FC Mtg 5pm Board Mtg 6pm LTL (chapel) 6pm SB Euchre (FH) 7pm AA Group

21 9:30am ESL


3:30pm Ukesters

6:30pm ESL

22

11:45am Bible Study 1pm Bulletin Folding 1pm SB Bridge (FH) 7pm El Shaddai praise practice (chapel) 7:30pm AA Group

23




25


27 11am Shelter House 1pm LTL (chapel) 1pm SB Bridge (FH) 6pm SB Euchre (FH) 7pm AA Group

28

9:30am ESL


3:30pm Ukesters

6:30pm ESL

29 11:45am Bible Study 1pm Bulletin Folding 1pm SB Bridge (FH) 7pm El Shaddai praise practice (chapel) 7:30pm AA Group

30 10am Comm. Ukes (upstairs)

11:30am Comm. Ukes Outreach (Brookdale)

1:30pm SB Book Club

5:30pm MHA


1

P A G E 8 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 1 2

Upcoming Community Cruiser Trips

“Come and go Cruisin with us!”

February 9th

“Bandstand”

The Tony Award winning Musical that explodes with infectious music and high octane, heart-stopping dancing.

Tickets are $49. Will meet at the church at 5pm to go to dinner.

Sign-up deadline January 26th.

March 15th

Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival

One of the largest arts and crafts festival in the region. Stroll the streets a quant Fairhope and browse the arts and crafts. We’ll leave the church at 7:30 am for the tow and half hour dive to Fairhope. We’ll stay until everyone is tired. A little gas money is all that is needed. Lunch is on

your own.

Deadline for sign-up is March 11th.

Call the church office @ 850-267-2599 for more information.

Happy New Year to all Community Church Members and Friends. The English as a Second Language mission will begin the fifth year on January 7th, 2020. There are many reasons for the success of this program: the commitment of the volunteers each week, the support from the staff, and the budget and gifts provided by the church members makes possible the training and curriculum needed for the staff and students. The faithful students who continue to come using their English in greetings and conversation provide the rewards of the mission. Learning to speak English is not an easy task but necessary if you want to be successful in your job and commu-nity. Thank You for all the help you have provided.

January 7th begins the spring semester. Enrollment is now open for new and re-turning students. A new citizenship class will also begin. There will be basic classes for beginners, plus levels 1,2, and 3. The curriculum centers around vocabulary and sentence structure for use in everyday conversation . The doors are open for every-one so if you know of any one who needs to improve their English please invite them to attend. Classes are at the church every Tuesday 9:30 am and 6:30 pm for a two hour class.

Dot Taylor

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas break! We look forward to having a very Happy New Year with our sweet students! Thank you for keeping our mission in your prayers.

Learning Through Loss

Take heart as you transition to living without your loved one. As you treasure the past, take small steps to reshape your life. Try new activities, seek out new challeng-es, meet new acquaintances and explore deeper relationships with old friends. You can find new joys, new hope, a new sense of purpose. And along the way, you may discover surprising new depths to yourself. In this season of Learning Through Loss we will explore new challenges, friends and activities.

Learning Through Loss Winter Session (Meeting in the Chapel)

Jan. Feb.

1-13-20 @ 1pm 2-3-20 @ 1pm

1-20-20 @6pm 2-10-20 @ 6pm

1-27-20 @ 1pm 2-17-20 @ 12pm @ Stinky’s Fish Camp

(Stinky’s 5960 W Co Hwy 30A SRB, FL 32459)

COMMUNITY UKESTERS (YOUTH UKULELE GROUP): This ukulele group is open to 3rd through 8th graders. Students are taught how to play the ukulele and are expected to practice and perform monthly for Somerby Memory Care. The group classes meet up-stairs on Tuesdays 3:30-4:15pm at Community Church beginning January 21, 2020. Pa-rental support is also expected for crowd control (rotational) and for transportation to performances. Class sizes are limited and open on a first come, first served basis. COMMUNITY UKES (ADULT UKULELE GROUP) This ukulele group is open to all adults (no matter what age). Students are taught how to play the ukulele and are expected to practice and perform monthly for Brookdale Sen-ior Living and Memory Care. The group classes meet upstairs at Community Church every Thursday from 10-11am beginning January 9, 2020. December was quite busy with wonderful outreach opportunities with both our ukulele groups. The Community Ukes opened for the Ecumenical Christmas Choir at Saint Rita’s on Sunday, December 8th and accompanied the annual SRBCC Preschool Christmas Pro-gram. They also joined with the Community Ukesters to play for the National Wreaths Across America Event held at Historic Gulf Cemetery in Santa Rosa Beach on December 15, 2019 (See pic below). If you are interested in the ministry, come join us! Pastor Scooter will hold a UKULELE BEGINNER/REFRESHER CLASS ON TUESDAY, January 7, 2020, from 3:30-4:30pm. For more information or to get involved with either of the Ukulele groups, please contact Pastor Scooter at 850-267-2599 or email him at [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS IN SOUTH WALTON

Good Grief Luncheon – Emerald Coast Hospice

This casual lunch is open to anyone who has experienced a loss and is looking for some support and com-

pany through the grieving process. We encourage attendees to also bring a friend or family member. Eve-

ryone orders off the menu and pays for his or her own lunch. Please come and enjoy the

conversation and companionship of others who may be missing their loved ones. Our grief support staff

and volunteers will be there to dine alongside you each month, so please ask for the Emerald Coast Hos-

pice table.

Location: Applebee’s, 8670 U.S. Hwy 98 W, Miramar Beach.

Time/Date: 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

RSVP/Questions to Lori Ziegler, Bereavement Coordinator

at [email protected] or 850-837-2589.

Grief Support Group – Emerald Coast Hospice

Structured support groups occur every other week, in your local library. Join a caring group of people who

walk you through one of life’s most difficult experiences–the loss of a loved one.

Location: Coastal Branch of the Walton County Library at 437 Greenway Trail,

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459.

Time/Date: 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

RSVP/Questions to Lori Ziegler, Bereavement Coordinator


Grief Support @ Good News UMC (Christian)

Monthly Grief Support, using the book On Grief and Grieving by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

Location: Good News United Methodist Church, in the prayer room ( 4747 US

Highway 98 W., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459)

Time/Date: Every 4th Thursday at 2 p.m.

For further details please contact the church office at (850) 622-9191.

Healing Steps Walking Group

Emerald Coast Hospice’s walking group is free and open to all care givers and bereaved individu-

als who have experienced the death of someone significant in their life. It is a time to walk, at a re-

laxed pace, with others who are grieving and offers an opportunity to share ideas, comfort and

companionship. This program combines informal support with fresh air and exercise.

Location, Time, Date:

Tuesdays in Miramar Beach, 9-10:30 a.m. resuming Nov. 5, 2019 after a summer break.

Thursdays in Destin, 9-10:30 a.m., resuming Nov. 5, 2019 after a summer break.

For further details please contact Lori Ziegler, Bereavement Coordinator


Community Church Women

As we start a Yew year we are thankful for the accomplishments of this group and look forward to another great year.

Our cookbook is a big success. If we are not sold out, we will be selling books before and after church in January. The cost is $20 and all funds go toward support for a local mission.

CCW will meet Friday March 6th at 11:30 in the church fellowship hall. We will enjoy a potluck luncheon and then have our business meeting. We are planning on have someone from Communities of Transformation speak to us about this program and what kind of results they are seeing.

We will also vote on mission project/s to receive proceeds from the cook-book project.

Fellowship and fun activities will be planned throughout the year so we will keep you posted.

Please give our new members

Brian and Jodie Fish a warm

Community Church

Welcome!

Deepest Sympathy

To the family and friends of

Marie Starks. You are in our thought and prayers.

PLEDGE CARDS AND TIME AND TALENT SURVEYS ARE DUE IN THE CHURCH OFFICE. THESE ITEMS ARE CRITICAL PLANNING TOOLS FOR OUR CHURHC LEADERSHIP FOR 2020 AND THE CHANGES COMING TO US. PLEASE RETURN THEM OT HE CHURCH OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 2019 NEED TO BE IN THE CHURCH OFFICE NO LATER THAN SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29TH.

AT HOME COMMUNION

If you are shut in, ill, or missed Communion at church for some reason and would like to have Com-munion please contact Pastor Pete or the church of-fice and we will make an appointment and bring Communion to you.

Community Connection

If you have any news or announcements you would like to see in our monthly newsletter, please call the church office or email Tiffany at [email protected].

We collect coupons, used cell phones and donations for Path of Grace and Caring and Sharing. Call the church office if you would like infor-

mation on these missions.

Also, when collecting coupons, please make sure you cut these out and put into a Ziploc bag. These can be placed in the gold box outside of the

church office.

CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED THE FOLLWING DAYS DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON:

DECEMBER 20TH; DECEMBER 25-27TH JANUARY 1ST & 3RD

TO:

THE COMMUNITY CHURCH

(3524 U.S. Highway 98 West)

Post Office Box 1723

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Grow in Your Faith – Get into the WORD!

Sunday Morning Pastor’s Study — 8:45 am, Room 209, Facilitator: Pastor Pete, Current Study: TBD

Sunday Morning Men’s Study — 8:45 am, Room 206, Facilitator: varies, Current Study: Numbers; Deuteronomy

Sunday Morning Ladies’ Study — 8:45 am, Room 208, Facilitator: Susan Hall, Current Study: Nehemiah, MacArthur Bible Study

Wednesday Noon Adult Study — 11:45 am, Room 209, Facilitator: Pastor Scooter — Current Study: The Church in Babylon

onnection - church...web site: onnection the vision of community a congregational survey was...

Documents