Jesus invited His followers to experience the Gospel - life in the Kingdom of God. This invitation was not theoretical; it was incredibly practical and hands-on. Jesus spent three years training and equipping His disciples to live transformed lives and to minister as ambassadors.

 

One of our primary values at Common Ground is to follow the way of Jesus and to equip disciples for kingdom living. In the past, this was expressed in quarterly one-day training sessions. In 2010 Training and Equipping (T&E) is being restructured in order to cultivate deeper growth. Below are a few Q&A’s that address the changes.

 

There will be two different approaches to T&E in 2010: the usual one-day sessions and a new multi-week option. The schedule is as follows:

Why a multi-week T&E?

By having more time together, a multi-week T&E can make greater usage of self-reflection, group interaction, relevant assignments and practicing spiritual disciplines. These classes are designed to be more than an academic downloading of information. They are meant to form us, not just inform us. That is why they are fairly short (6-10 weeks) and why participants are asked to commit only if they can attend all the classes (or miss no more than one) AND accomplish the work that is assigned.

 

What will be taught at T&E in 2010?

T&E classes will be selected by following the grid introduced in the Balanced-Life of Jesus series this past summer. The grid consists of four quadrants that express different ways Jesus lived and equipped His disciples: Word, Spirit, Solitude/Community and Justice. In addition, T&E will consistently have a marriage/parenting option.

 

The primary purpose for T&E is to enhance discipleship opportunities, directly benefiting the house church network. One option would be for house churches to choose the multi-week T&E as their gathering, perhaps getting together for dinner during those weeks to stay relationally connected.

 

Curious?

You are invited to give the new T&E a try beginning in March. To kickoff this new approach, gender-specific tracks are being offered. Click here for class offerings and visit our website for registration.

One way we seek to fulfill Common Ground’s mission of being formed into the image of Jesus is by offering various training and equipping opportunities outside of our regular Sunday gatherings. With these events comes our desire to provide childcare for the participants.

 

Common Ground is seeking more than twenty adults who have experience with and enjoy caring for children age 0-12 in a dynamic setting. These individuals must be willing to provide all the necessary primary care for infants and facilitate independent and group activities for older children. You do not need to be a “teacher” but you do need to be willing and able to:

All applicants will be required to undergo background, sex offender and reference checks. Days and times of service vary depending on our needs. If selected, you will be added to our pool of childcare providers and have the opportunity to serve in both volunteer and paid capacities. Please note that this opportunity is separate from teaching and volunteering in our Sunday children's ministry.

 

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Martina.

The third annual St. Thomas Aquinas/Common Ground Blood Drive is Sunday, March 7 from 8:15 am until 1 pm. Volunteers are needed to assist with setup during the afternoon on Saturday, March 6 and to work the drive on Sunday. Childcare is available while you volunteer on Sunday and this is a great opportunity for a house church to serve together.

 

Interested in volunteering? Please contact Marissa. If you’re interested in donating blood, sign-up sheets will be available at both sites later in February.

 

Resolved to get involved in 2010?

Volunteers are needed in our children's ministry at both Midtown and West. To learn more, contact Martina.

 

Intro to Common Ground is an opportunity for those who are new to Common Ground to learn about the vision, values and story of our community. The next gathering is Tuesday, February 2 at 6 pm. Attendance is limited and a light dinner and childcare are provided. To learn more about this gathering, including future dates and registration, please follow this link.

 

 

Giving statements for 2009 were mailed last week. Once you receive your letter, please review it carefully to ensure that it does not contain any errors. If you have questions about your letter, or have not received it, contact Stef.

 

To learn more, please see the article above.