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 Based upon the feedback from dozens of participants at the "Family Meeting" held October 7, we've decided to change the service time at CGCC-West from 11 am to 10 am. The new service time will begin on Sunday, January 6. We will continue with our regular 11 am service time through the end of December.
With an earlier start time comes a change in site prep and childcare. House churches will need to plan to be at CGCC-West an hour earlier with the new start time. However, we’re excited to make this change that was requested by so many of our brothers and sisters.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nate Smith at nate@cground.org.
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This Sunday is the second of two collection dates for the capital campaign. Please place your contribution in a Building Fund envelope (located next to the offering basket) and place your donation in the basket. For full details about the campaign, please click here.
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 For first-time visitors, and even regular attenders, it’s comforting to know that there’s somewhere to go to get your questions answered and find out general information about Common Ground. At our Midtown location, that place is the Welcome Center. At CGCC-West, it’s the Information Table.
Both the Welcome Center and Information Table are staffed by knowledgeable volunteers that can share information on available resources, the building and a variety of other topics. Not sure when donations are accepted for the Capital Campaign? Just ask a volunteer. Looking for a book that was suggested by one of the pastors? It may be available for sale at one of our locations – just check with a volunteer.
Interested in joining the team at Midtown or West? Simply email wc@cground.org and be sure to mention which site you attend. Don’t worry – you don’t have to know everything to volunteer. We’ll provide you with all the information. Just bring your willingness to serve and share information with others.
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 On December 18 and 19, we’ll be moving the church office from our current site at 6151 N. Central Avenue to our new Midtown building at 4550 N Illinois Street. During these two days, the church office will be closed. However, we hope to be back up and running on Thursday, December 20. Please note that staff will have limited access to email and voicemail on these days, but that we will do our best to respond to our messages on Thursday.
If you have any questions, or are available December 18 or 19 and would like to assist with the move, please contact Marissa at marissa@cground.org or 251.1494.
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There is a lot of need in Indianapolis, and it’s sometimes hard to know how to start loving people like Jesus would. One house church has taken some steps in the direction of simply serving the homeless in downtown Indianapolis. They don’t go every week, nor do they have an elaborate plan for when they get there. After all, it’s not about them and their efforts, but about doing something small for their neighbors.
The night before serving, house church members meet to make sandwiches and pair them with fruit. They take the simple meal, and some bottled water, and head down to the park near the circle. Breaking into small groups, they hand out the food and sometimes pray for the people and their needs. Usually, they just listen to the stories told by their new friends.
This house church has learned some practical lessons while serving. These include:
- Don’t hand out warm water in the summer – have a wagon or cooler with ice in it.
- When giving fruit, provide bananas instead of apples. Not everyone is able to eat an apple.
- In lieu of bus fair, have bus passes on hand to give if asked.
- In the fall and winter, bring hats, gloves and scarves to hand out.
The only requirement for this type of service is a heart to spend time with people. While providing food is nice, talking to our neighbors and making them feel valued may be the most important part of serving. After all, the homeless are often referred to as the forgotten. We have the opportunity to show them that not only are they not forgotten, but they are loved and cherished children of God.
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 Advent Readings
The season of Advent calls the church to prepare for the coming of the
Messiah. This preparation is not seasonal, but this season reminds us
to always be prepared. These daily readings will help us to cultivate
lives that are continually and actively readying ourselves for the
coming of the Lord. Download the readings.
ServLife Items for sale this Sunday
Products made by indigenous workers from third world
countries will be available for
sale before and after our worship services at both locations on
December 9 and 16. All of the proceeds from the products you purchase will be
given to the artists.
Christmas Services
We will hold regularly scheduled services on Sunday, December 23 at both our Midtown and West locations. In addition, we will hold Christmas Eve Services at our Midtown location (6151 N. Central Avenue) at 5:30 pm and 7 pm on Monday, December 24. While children’s ministry will not be provided, children of all ages are encouraged to participate in this shortened service. We hope you’ll make plans to join us on Christmas Eve.
Redistribution
The Redistribution brochure is still available online, in the Welcome Center at Midtown and at the Information Table at West. An update on the total donated for redistribution will be made this Sunday. Stay tuned!
Holiday office hours
The church office will close for the Christmas holiday on Friday, December 21 and will reopen on Tuesday, January 2. While we will hold our Christmas Eve services at 5:30 pm and 7 pm at our Midtown location on Monday, December 24, the church office will not be open that day.
Adopt a family
The church office has received many letters from families requesting Christmas assistance. If you would like to adopt a family, simply contact Shawn in the church office and she can send you the letters, via e-mail, to review. Once a family has been chosen, contact them and determine how you, or your house church, can best show this family love and consideration this Christmas season. Contact Shawn at shawn@cground.org or 251.1494.
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