December 5, 2008

1.	ServLife Store - this Sunday!
2.	'Tis the season
3.	2009 teachers needed
4.	Redistribute Christmas Concert - next weekend!
5.	January Training and Equipping
6.	Christmas Eve services
7.	Holiday office hours
8.	Quick Updates

Who We Are

House Churches

ServLife International will present the ServLife Store before and after every service at our Midtown and West locations this Sunday, December 7 and next Sunday, December 14. This is your opportunity to engage in an act of justice and take care of some holiday shopping by purchasing quality, handmade items that make a difference.

The products in the ServLife Store are made by talented artisans in regions where ServLife is working and are fashioned by women who are working to escape the brutal trap of extreme poverty and human trafficking. By purchasing these products, you help provide viable economic alternatives for these women.

Get a preview of items available for sale online and learn more about ServLife International, their mission and other ways you can make a difference by visiting their website at www.servlife.org.

It looks like shopping mall parking lots are not the only areas that are targeted by thieves this time of year. Please be aware that there have been several car break-ins in the Midtown area recently, including in and around our parking lot at 4550 N. Illinois Street.

These crimes have occurred during a variety of hours, so please take extra safety precautions when cleaning the church building, attending evening meetings, participating in a wedding and when worshiping on Sunday. If you plan to leave valuable items in your car such as a purse, briefcase or electronics, please lock them in your trunk.

As you look forward to 2009, would you consider making time for our children’s ministry? We have prepared our teaching schedules for 2009 and are nearly 20 teachers short for the year. Each volunteer is only asked to commit to teaching 2 months – that’s only 8-10 days for the entire year! Below is a list of the immediate teaching needs:

Midtown

Toddler Teachers
Preschool Teachers
2nd-4th Grade Teachers
5th-6th Grade Teachers

CGCC-West

Toddler Teachers
Preschool Teachers
K-1st Grade Teachers
2nd-4th Grade Teachers
5th-6th Grade Teachers

Ready to help? Just click this link for access to the children’s ministry volunteer application. Please return the completed application to Martina or the church office (you can drop it off or fax it to 317.251.1498). Once your application has been processed, we’ll be in touch with you to schedule training. If you have any questions about the children’s ministry, please contact Martina.

Join us on Saturday, December 13 at 7 pm for a Christmas concert to benefit Redistribute at Common Ground. The concert is free, open to the public and a great opportunity for families to celebrate the Christmas season through music and giving.

Mark your calendars and plan to join us for Christmas music and an opportunity to redistribute some of what you have to those who do not. To learn more about the opportunities to Redistribute, download the Redistribute Booklet.

Save the Date! The next Quarterly Training and Equipping is January 24, 2009 from 9 am to 3 pm at Midtown (4550 N Illinois Street). We plan to offer the following classes:

New Testament Survey
Introduction to Spiritual Formation
Good $ense Budgeting
Peacemaker 1
HC Leader Primer on Revelation
Marriage Mentoring

Watch for more details in a few weeks about these classes and instructions for registration.

Common Ground will hold Christmas Eve services at our Midtown location (4550 N. Illinois Street) at 5:30 pm and 7 pm on Wednesday, 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!

The church office will close for the Christmas holiday at the end of the day on Tuesday, December 23 and will reopen on Monday, January 5. While we will hold our Christmas Eve services at 5:30 pm and 7 pm at our Midtown location on Wednesday, December 24, the church office will not be open that day.

What does that mean for you? Volunteers scheduled to serve during that period, such as teachers, should plan ahead to ensure they have the materials they may need while the office is closed. House churches scheduled to clean should contact the office prior to the end of day on Tuesday, December 23 for their alarm codes and combination to the lock box if they do not already have that information.

Have questions about building access during the holidays? Please contact the church office.

Calling all Middle School Children

If you are a parent of a middle school child, we want to know who you are. Please contact Chris Sprinkle via email or at 696-3885.

Adopt a Family

Interested in helping a local family this holiday season? Letters from families requesting Christmas assistance are still available in the church office. If you would like to review the letters, email the church office or call 251.1494.

Snow Cancellations

If we experience snow on a weekend, you can check the following for service cancellations:

Our website – www.cground.org. A closing announcement will be at the bottom of our homepage.
On television – closing announcements will run on RTV6, Fox 59 and CW4.
On the office phone – we’ll record a message stating services are cancelled at 317.251.1494.
In the yard – for those who make it all the way to the building at Midtown or the school at CGCC-West, we’ll place signs in the yard announcing that services are cancelled.

Children's Choir

The children's choir will lead worship at the morning services on Sunday, December 14. Parents, please ensure that your children arrive early per the note you will receive from their teacher this weekend. Please mark your calendars!

No Evening Service on Sunday, December 28

Please note that there will not be a 7 pm service at our Midtown location on Sunday, December 28.

Service Opportunity at Midtown

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is looking for childcare providers for their spring session. We welcome men, women, young and old to join us in the celebration of guiding our children. Meetings are the first & third Friday mornings, January through May. Please contact Carey Siegler to discuss details, schedule and needs.