Our change to a multi-site church offers us many opportunities to impact the city of Indianapolis with the Gospel. With two locations, we want to continue to remind ourselves that we are still one church who gathers on Sundays in different locations.

 

This Sunday, November 11, we are going to share together in a Unity Gathering at Clowes Memorial Hall on the Butler campus at 10:30 am. This Unity Gathering is an opportunity to celebrate what God is doing in our church, and to remind us about the bigger picture and how we fit into it. Services at our Midtown and West locations will not be held that day so that we can all gather together in one place.

 

Children’s ministry will be provided for infants through age 2, and parents are required to provide a photo ID when they drop off their child. In addition, coffee and pastries will be provided beginning at 9:30. We hope that everyone will come early and enjoy a time of unity and fellowship prior to the worship service.

 

For a map of the area, please download the service flyer.

This summer, Carter Shepherd traveled to Uganda with the African Children’s Choir. The African Children’s Choir is made up of children from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa. They have been spreading the joy of the Lord for the last 23 years throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Africa.

 

The choir will be in Indianapolis for the Indianapolis Symphony’s Yuletide Celebration from November 20 through December 24. Due to Carter’s continued involvement with the choir, Common Ground has the opportunity to serve as the host church for the choir for the week of December 7 through the 14. During that week, the children will practice and hold their school classes at our Midtown location.

 

Opportunities exist for families to serve the choir while they’re in town. Carter is currently organizing volunteers who are able to provide housing, transportation and/or food for choir children and chaperones. If interested, please contact Carter at 450-1211 or e.carter.shepherd@gmail.com. To learn more about the African Children’s Choir, please visit their website at www.africanchildrenschoir.com.

“The Golden Compass” is a big budget, high star movie based on the first in a trilogy of children’s novels titled “His Dark Materials” by Philip Pullman. There is a ground swell of controversy around the books which have not been as popular in the States as they have been in Great Britain. Many Christian critics of the series are warning Christians to keep their children away from the movie and the books.

 

Some believe that this trilogy is the atheistic anti-serum to the “Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis. More moderate commentators suggest that Pullman’s issue is more of a “fundamental objection to ideological tyranny and the rejections of this world in favor of an idealized afterlife, regardless of creed.” In other words, the stories aren’t bent on bringing down Christianity specifically, but more generally monotheism (one God religious belief systems).

 

So, how should we respond? I believe we should respond in this particular situation as we would in any situation where our Christ-centered world view meets the views and thoughts of this present world. We should educate ourselves and engage in dialogue whenever we have the opportunity. Mr. Pullman and New Line Cinema have spent a lot of money and time to bring a discussion about God to the big screen. This time, instead of the message being overtly Christian, it is overtly not. What a great opportunity for conversation with our friends and family who will see the movie and read the books and may not believe that God exists or that He has a name or that He has given His son to die and be raised again for the redemption of the world. What a great opportunity to give anyone who asks us the reason for the hope that we have. Don’t believe everything you read on the internet and e-mail forums. If you want to engage in discussion about the book, read the book.

 

And for parents and the church as a whole, this serves as a reminder that our children rely on us to help them navigate as Christ followers in a world that continues to challenge this way. We must help them! That is our role not just with this one movie, but with all of the decisions that they are faced with everyday. We are to be an ear to listen and a safe place to process the world in which they live. We are to help them think critically and responsibly and to begin to apply the principles of the kingdom of God in practical everyday situations. Boycotts are the way of fear; engagement is the way of the cross. Let’s not hide or run from opportunity.

Ever feel underwhelmed by the footnotes in your Bible and desire to have other study resources at your side? Ever want to know the meaning of the original Greek or Hebrew word that was used in a particular passage? Ever wonder where to go to learn more about the culture during Biblical times? Glad you asked! Listed below are a few internet resources that our staff have found useful over the years. While none of these can substitute for the Holy Spirit’s influence and leading in your life, we hope that you will find these relevant for your ongoing spiritual formation.

 

www.biblegateway.com - The Bible Gateway is a user-friendly, searchable Bible in over 50 versions and 35 languages.

 

www.blueletterbible.org – The Blue Letter Bible is a searchable Bible with an embedded reference library that is continuously updated from the teachings and commentaries of selected pastors and teachers. It also has an interlinear Strong’s concordance and Hebrew/Greek lexicon for every verse in the Bible.

 

www.followtherabbi.com – Follow The Rabbi contains a collection of articles and diagrams that illuminate the Jewish culture leading up to and including the time of Jesus.

 

www.ntwrightpage.com – This website contains the freely available sermons, writings and commentaries by N.T. Wright (the bishop of Durham, UK, and well-respected New Testament scholar.)

This Sunday, November 11, is the last day CGCC will accept filled shoe boxes. There will be a collection area on the foyer of Clowes Hall for the boxes, so feel free to bring them with you to the Unity Gathering. If you have any questions, contact Marissa at marissa@cground.org.

If you would like more information on membership, the church beliefs and core values, please join us on Monday, November 12 at 6:30 pm. Childcare and pizza will be provided. Please RSVP to Marissa at 251.1494 or marissa@cground.org by Noon on Monday.

 

Have feedback regarding the e-news? Feel free to contact Marissa at marissa@cground.org.