When Common Ground first began, Nicole and I hosted a monthly gathering in our home called “Pizza with the Pastor.” The goal of the gathering was to share the vision, values and story of our community for those who were new to CGCC. Over the next several years, we used a membership class to communicate the same information. Recently, however, we have not had a good place to share what our church is about.

 

Our recent church-wide survey revealed some very interesting information. One of the more interesting reflections is that 61% of the people who call CGCC their church family joined us in the last 3 years. This is an amazing statistic. What we realize is that this large population of fairly new people can be a catalyst to the vision and mission of what God is doing among us - and we have certainly seen this in very tangible ways within our community. We also recognize that many of you haven’t had the opportunity to hear the story of how CGCC came to be what it is today. Where did we come from? Why do we “do church” the way that we do? Where are we heading? These questions (and others) may be some that you are asking, and we haven’t had a really good place for new people to get to know the story of the CGCC community.

 

Because of that, we are offering a context where some of this information can be shared and the story of CGCC can be told. Beginning on the first Tuesday in February, and continuing on the first Tuesday of every month, we will offer an informal gathering where you can hear the story of CGCC and dialogue about some of the questions that you may have. This will be an informal time of fellowship and conversation where one of our leaders and I will be available to share the story and vision of the church. We will talk through some of our doctrinal beliefs, our vision and mission, our leadership structures, and the way we are organized as well as the why behind some of this.

 

This is not a membership class but a conversation about what God has done and continues to do through this community and how you can be a part of it. In addition, if you have previously attended some variation of our membership class, you don’t need to attend this gathering.

 

In order to allow for good dialogue, we are going to limit each gathering to 20 people. We will also offer childcare and yes, pizza. The first gathering will be Tuesday, February 3 at 6 pm. You can register for both the gathering and childcare by following this link to our website.

 

Blessings,

Jeff

Many college students are hungry and thirsty for something deeper and more fulfilling than partying, hooking up, getting the grades or landing a good job when they graduate. For many of these students, they just don’t know what it is that they’re trying to find. Campus Crusade for Christ seeks to be a spiritual resource for students as they ask questions about the meaning of life and what they should be living for daily. Each week we offer Bible studies, discussion groups, campus-wide events and even one-on-one discipleship. We also meet monthly in the basement of Common Ground's Midtown location in a setting we call “The Well.”

 

The Well is designed to be a place where students can come and drink deeply from God’s Word in the context of a community of other seekers, believers and even skeptics. We unashamedly open God’s Word to see what He has to say to us about issues of everyday life. We want students to be able to come and gather with other college students, to drink from God’s Word in their own lives, and then to take what they have heard/learned back into their dorms, Greek house, classroom or athletic team. Hundreds of students have come out to The Well this semester to engage with God and His Word and we have seen lives impacted as a result of the Truth being spoken.

 

Meetings are Friday nights from 7:30 pm until 8:30 pm in the Community Room at Midtown. The time includes worship, testimonies, monologues, videos and other ways to hear about changed lives, and then time is spent in God’s Word together. Meeting nights this semester are January 16, February 27 and March 20.

 

To learn more about The Well and Campus Crusade, please contact Mark Schuitema.

Join us for the next Revive – An Evening of Prayer and Worship on Friday, January 23 at 6:30 pm at our Midtown location (4550 N. Illinois Street). This quarterly gathering is an opportunity to corporately worship and pray about the purpose and direction of our church.

We invite you to come and engage in prayer with us as we seek Him. Registration for Revive childcare has closed, but you are welcome to join the waitlist.

 

 

The next Quarterly Training and Equipping is January 24 from 9 am to 3 pm at Midtown (4550 N Illinois Street). The following tracks will be offered:

There is no cost to attend Training and Equipping and snacks and a light lunch will be provided for all adults. While the deadline to request childcare for children age 0 through 12 has passed, you may join the waitlist. For additional information, including complete course descriptions and to register, please visit the online Training and Equipping Registration. The deadline to register is this Sunday, January 18.

 

Looking for a new resource to help your children learn about Jesus? Check out the monthly Parent Pages available on the children's ministry page on our website.

Each month, pages are posted that are age appropriate and provide a great way to incorporate the Lord into your family’s daily life. Parent Pages include an overarching topic that guides the month’s weekly themes, Bible verses, discussion topics and activities. Pages are in PDF format and there is no charge to download them. Download as many as you like - they make great discussion guides for babysitting activities or even playdates.

 

A new parent page is available every month. Be sure to check out the January pages today!

 

Are you ready to Redistribute? Please download our Redistribute catalog. Donation envelopes are available in the Information Center at Midtown or by the offering box at CGCC-West. Donations for our Redistribute partners will be accepted through this Sunday, January 18.

 

Resolved to get involved in 2009?

Volunteers are needed in our children’s ministry at both Midtown and CGCC-West. You are only asked to commit to teaching 2 months – that’s only 8-10 days for the entire year! Contact Martina to learn more.

 

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is looking for childcare providers for their spring session. Meetings are the first & third Friday mornings, January through May. Please contact Carey Siegler to discuss details, schedule and needs.