New to Common Ground and wondering what our church is all about? Want to join a House Church? Over the past several months, we have been reworking our “Membership Class” and “House Church Orientation.” These are now available as a combined class during our Training and Equipping weekends. Intro to Common Ground and House Church will first be offered April 25 and 26. Childcare is available for those registering by April 11.

 

Intro to Common Ground (Friday, 6 pm to 8:30 pm) is for anyone new to Common Ground, including those who are already in a house church, but have not attended the former Membership Class. During this time we will provide an overview of the mission, goals and vision of our church. We will also discuss tangible ways in which individuals can partner with the mission of our church. Intro to House Church (Saturday, 9 am to 1pm) provides a broader understanding of why we value house churches and will prepare attendees for a launch of a new house church.

 

Intro to House Church is an intentional, philosophical shift from the former House Church Orientation. In the past, we have simply sent an interested person into an existing house church based on where they live or what days they can meet. What we have found is that this has the potential to disrupt the culture of the existing groups because there is no relational connection prior to the new person joining. This has frustrated both the groups and the individuals attempting to make a connection. So, we are attempting some new strategies to help incorporate new people into our groups. This will include both starting new groups with interested people as well as a more formal introduction to house church that will allow interested people to be able to enter existing groups with clearer expectations and a better understanding of what house church is about. While there is no perfect system, we are trying to be more responsible in shepherding our network of house churches and integrating new people.

 

You can register for Intro to Common Ground, Intro to House Church or both via our website. If you have questions, contact Nate at nate@cground.org.

Seven vision trips were planned for 2008, and there are still five remaining that you are encouraged to experience. Our trips are strategically planned in cooperation with our partners around the globe. We believe that seeing, tasting and touching what God is doing around the world reminds us that there is a world out there that God is redeeming and our bearing witness to that helps in the restoration of heaven on earth. You will see things, taste culture and touch people that will stain you heart and that staining helps builds the new community that God is establishing.

 
Please consider joining us on one of these five remaining trips. We encourage you to ask God for eyes to see, ears to hear, minds to think and hearts to feel with that are not your own, but that of the One making all things new.

To learn more about the remaining 2008 vision trips, including deadlines and fees, download the list of trips. If you have additional questions, please email missions@cground.org.

“How does this church get their financial support?” “Why don’t you take an offering?” “Where do we give if we wanted to?” These are just a few of the questions that we regularly get at our church. We don’t pass a plate through the rows on Sunday which is the most obvious way that you would know how a church supports itself. We have a wicker basket. No, there is no deeply spiritual reason as to why we use a wicker basket. It went something like this on opening Sunday, “Where do we put our offering?” “Let’s try that basket over there.” Anyway, over the past 7 years, all of our tithes and offerings have passed through the wicker basket.

 

Great things have happened over the years and the wicker basket has been the place where the mission of our church has been supported by the generosity of the people.

 

However, we are in a season right now where we need to ask for more of you to participate in the ongoing mission of our church. We haven’t talked a lot about our finances over the past 7 years because in many ways, we have not had to. Each year, our offerings are more than enough for that year’s proposed budget. Because of that, we have been able to bless many organizations and people who are doing kingdom work in Indy and around the world.

 

Currently, our offerings are down compared to this time last year. There are likely many different possible reasons why, but we wanted to take a minute to make you aware of the situation. The elders are aware and are prayerfully considering what needs to happen in order for us to be a financially responsible body. Therefore, as part of the solution, we are in the process of identifying places where we can cut proposed expenses out of the budget. However, the elders feel the things that will be cut and the things that will not be able to be added due to this potential financial shortfall are a vital part of what God has called us to as a church.

 

The reality of giving at our church is that a small percentage of the people who are a part of our community carry the majority of the financial load. Therefore, another potential remedy is that our giving can increase substantially. Given our attendance and the number of people who are already committed to giving, we believe that we are giving way below our potential as a church. In fact, we believe that not only is it very possible for us to meet the budget for this year, but to give to such an extent that we are able to go above and beyond what we even imagined possible. This is where you can help. If you are new to our church or if you have been around for a while and you are not giving, we would ask that you begin to give a regular amount on a consistent time schedule throughout the year. Additionally, to those of you who currently give regularly, prayerfully consider an increase.

 

It would be over spiritualizing this to say that you have a responsibility to give 10% to the church because it is what “good Christians” do. We are asking you to give because of what God is doing among us. We are excited about the opportunities that we have and we know that the more people who participate in all areas of life of our church, the more opportunity there is to share the love of God in Christ.

 

With an increase in giving, we have the opportunity to expand our Spiritual Formation to include students and families by hiring a Pastor to oversee this ministry. We have the opportunity to continue to extend resources to South Africa, Turkey, India, downtown Indianapolis and beyond. We have the opportunity to continue to plant churches in hard to reach parts of our own country. All of these opportunities require resources and we are confident that God has already provided those resources with those who are connected and committed to our church. We are asking that you take this opportunity to join with what God is doing among us.

 

We have retired the wicker basket but you can drop your offering in the box at the back of the Sanctuary at our Midtown location or in the box at the welcome table inside the auditorium at CGCC-West. There isn’t a big spiritual reason for this change either.

 

Blessings,

Jeff

Join the women of Common Ground for a time of rest and reflection on the story of Jesus in your life. This retreat will give you an opportunity to reflect on God’s work in you and through you. Our goal is for you to see more clearly what God is doing in your life and what your Kingdom purpose is in daily life. Due to sleeping arrangements and the nature of the retreat, we are unable to accommodate infants or children.

 

When: 6 pm Friday, April 11 to 4 pm Saturday, April 12

Where: Camp Allendale in Trafalgar, IN

Cost: $50 (includes lodging on Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday)

 

Space is limited and registration closes April 1. To register, please complete the online registration form. Your registration will be considered complete once the $50 registration fee has been received in the church office at 4550 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208. You will receive a confirmation email from the planning team once your payment has been received and your registration completed. If you have questions, please contact Christin Nevins at christin.nevins@gmail.com.

 

Music Worship Team Try Outs - Saturday, April 5
Interested in joining the Music Worship Team? Information and sign ups are in the Welcome Center at Midtown and at the Information Table at CGCC-West.  Vocalists are scheduled from 10 am until 11 am and musicians from 11 am until Noon at our Midtown location at 4550 N. Illinois Street.

CGCC-West Church in the Park - Save the Date!

Baby Dedication