Dear HCN Family,
As we celebrate Advent this month, I pray that God will bring a new and fresh reality of His divine presence into our hearts and souls. His arrival both 2,000 years ago and His arrival yet to come changes everything. Being sandwiched between the first and second coming of Christ, shapes our very existence and identity in every way!
So don’t let this season be viewed as something you dread, or some obligatory gauntlet of parties and events. Rather, let this gauntlet of parties and events be an ongoing celebration of who we are because of who HE is! Think about how all that we are, all that we believe in, and all that we have hope in, all started with Christmas. So, think about every Christmas gathering you will be a part of this season and see it as an opportunity to usher in the Kingdom of God, even if it’s one small slice at a time.
NEWS AND UPDATES
Here’s what is happening in the HCN life over the next few weeks.
Christmas on Luna Lane – Sunday December 13th 6:00 pm.
Join us, invite your friends, family, neighbors, and loved ones to come and celebrate Christmas with us this year through a great night of worship, music, and celebration. Admission is non-perishable food items to support our food pantry and our partnership with Walton Ferry Elementary.
Also, we are encouraging everyone to bring a plate of Christmas cookies with you if you can for that evening as we will be serving desserts during the event.
Children Sunday School Teacher and Volunteer Opportunity
I refuse to use the word need any longer. I refuse to “recruit” anyone else to be a Sunday School teacher for our children. To recruit someone implies that we have to sell you on it or convince you to do it. From now on, we will use the word invite and the word opportunity. We will not beg. Christ only wants those who are willing to follow Him wholeheartedly. So we will no longer recruit. Why? Because it is a priveledge to serve Christ and to invest into our children at HCN. And, we will not just take anyone who is willing to to go and be a children’s Sunday School teacher. it is important to have spiritually mature, responsible, and capable Sunday School teachers for our children. That being said, you’ve heard me share this opportunity before but we have had almost no response. Quite honestly I’m embarrassed and a little ashamed at the lack of response. So, I want to remind everyone of this opportunity again. We are looking to fill two Sunday School teacher positions along with two Sunday School teacher assistant positions. If you would like to be invited into this opportunity, please contact Melanie Harris. If you feel like it would be a dread or obligation, than don’t even bother. We want people who realize the amazing potential our children have and are to be disciples of Jesus and if I weren’t a senior pastor already pastoring adults, I’d be jumping at the chance to be a part of shaping and influence young minds and lives for Christ. Sunday School teachers and/or volunteer workers of children and youth have the amazing opportunity to shape and direct a young life to Christ and impact the Kingdom of God for the rest of their lives. So pray about this if you feel that God may use you in this way.
Christmas Tree Decorating (Tonight)
There will be a lot of people here this evening for rehearsal for Christmas on Luna Lane, but we want to invite anyone else who would be interested to come and join Patty McDowell as she will be here setting up and decorating a Christmas tree or two in the lobby. If you want to join her, you can come at 5:00 pm.
Upcoming HCN Dates and Events
– Children’s Christmas Party – Friday Dec. 11th – 6:00 pm
– Women’s Ministries Christmas Party – Saturday Dec. 12th – 6:00 pm
– Christmas on Luna Lane – Sunday Dec. 13th – 6:00 pm
– Staff and Board Christmas Party – Friday Dec. 18th – 6:00 pm
– Men’s Ministries Breakfast – Saturday Dec. 19th – 8:00 am
– Teen Christmas Party – Sunday Dec. 20th – 6:00 pm
HCN VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK
This week’s HCN Volunteer of the Week is Seth Campbell. Seth is a core member of our church. He and his family serve in so many ways and contribute to the life of HCN. Seth has served as a board member, men’s ministries leader, support staff member, worship team member, and sound and media tech. His gifts and abilities are amazing and each week he serves Christ with passion. Seth currently serves as a part of our worship band and assists with running the sound booth. This week, Seth spent a lot of time helping Pastor Caitlin sell some of our old sound equipment which is money we will be able to use for ministry in other ways. Thank you Seth for being a part of our church family and for using your gifts and resources to build up the Body of Christ at HCN. We love you!
THIS SUNDAY WORSHIP
As we continue to go through our season of Advent with the theme, “Let There Be Light”, last week we focused on HOPE. This week we will be focusing on the aspect of Preparation. I can’t wait to gather with you all for worship on Sunday anticipating a great day in the Lord and praying that the Holy Spirit meets with us anew!!!
May the Lord bless and keep you!!!