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The Park Newsletter 2.17.12
Good morning! I hope it has been a great week in your world.
We all know what it feels like to run away. Jonah of the Bible is no different. He ran from God and the purposes He had in store. It’s pretty amazing that God did not abandon Jonah completely. The faithfulness of God in the lives of his people is truly amazing.
It reminds me of something David wrote about in Psalm 16:
“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
This scripture encourages me as I am sure it does you as well.
I also wanted to highlight our current volunteer recruitment. Our passion behind volunteers is that we understand you have a ministry outside of the Park. Because of this, we ask anyone who calls the Park home to volunteer once a month in any area of ministry that takes place on Sunday morning. The great benefit of this is that the ministry is shared by all on Sundays which allows your ministry throughout the week to remain a central focus in your life. This is what we desire!
To sign up for a once a week opportunity at the Park click on this link:
https://thepark.ccbchurch.com/
w_form_response.php?form_id=15 Have a great Friday and we look forward to seeing you this Sunday at the Park!
Chris
Announcements:
Serving the Servants - Mark it on your calendar: Tomorrow, February 18th we will be serving local police officers by taking delicious food items (home-baked, store-bought, healthy, not-so-healthy) to a few stations around San Antonio. We will be meeting at 10:30am at Taco Haven (1032 South Presa Street, San Antonio, TX 78210-1360) and then branching out from there. Come join us!
Starting Point - Do you have questions about the Park? Would you like more information about how to get more involved? Stick around after service on February 19th for about 30 minutes. We would love to connect with you and give you more information about our faith community.
Current Preaching Topic – We don’t do too many sermon “series” at the Park. If you join us on any given week you will us studying through a book of the Bible. We will continue studying through the book of Jonah this Sunday. Read it this weekend!
2011 End of Year Giving - Letters for 2011 giving went out a few weeks ago. If you gave in 2011 and haven’t received a donation letter by next week please let us know. Thank you for your financial gifts to The Park!
Contact:
Prayer : prayer@theparksa.org
Preaching & Vision : scott@theparksa.org
Family Ministry : jen@theparksa.org
Media & Sound : kyle@theparksa.org
Community & Mission : chris@theparksa.org
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The Park Newsletter 2.10.12
Good morning! I hope all is well on this rain-filled Friday.
We just completed a great study through the book of Titus and now set our sights on Jonah. It’s a great story of purpose, fear, doubt, and mercy. Read it this weekend to get a jump on the teaching.
As you will find, Jonah was fairly reluctant to serve and didn’t want to do the task laid out nor go in the direction given. It’s a great lesson in the purposes of God in our lives and our weakness sometimes in following through. I am sure we can all relate to this truth. The question I always ask myself is, “if God calls, knowing and believing He is good, is there any reason to hesitate?”. It’s a question to constantly wrestle with in life.
But here is the great truth straight from Jesus as he appeared to his disciples after being resurrected…
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ~ John 20:21
In the same way Jesus was sent, so we are also sent. God is a sending God. He pursues and brings together those who are far off. We now carry that same message to the people around us and it begs the next question: are you living as one who is sent? Is there a place in our city where you are sent by God to proclaim, through word and action, the good news of the gospel?
We look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 10am!
Chris
Announcements:
Current Preaching Topic – We will start studying through the book of Jonah this Sunday. Read it this weekend!
2011 End of Year Giving - Letters for 2011 giving went out a few days ago. If you gave in 2011 and haven’t received a donation letter by next week please let us know. Thank you for your financial gifts to The Park!
Serving the Servants - Mark it on your calendar: on February 18th we will be serving local police officers by taking delicious food items to a few stations around San Antonio. We will be meeting at 10:30am at Taco Haven (1032 South Presa Street, San Antonio, TX 78210-1360) and then branching out from there. Come join us!
Lunch after Church - on Sunday, February 12th a few people will be going out to eat after the service. The location is Bigz Burger Joint (2303 N Loop 1604 W, San Antonio TX). Mark it down as a great chance to meet a few people and enjoy some great conversation!
Starting Point – Do you have questions about the Park? Would you like more information about how to get more involved? Stick around after service on February 19th for about 30 minutes. We would love to connect with you and give you more information about our faith community.
Contact:
Prayer : prayer@theparksa.org
Preaching & Vision : scott@theparksa.org
Family Ministry : jen@theparksa.org
Media & Sound : kyle@theparksa.org
Community & Mission : chris@theparksa.org
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The Park Newsletter 2.3.12
I hope your Friday is off to a great start!
2012 is already off to an amazing start and we are excited about all that is happening around our community. If you haven’t already, you should click through our new website. Kyle Isenhower has done an amazing job reconfiguring our web presence to be more creative, effective, and user-friendly. Go to www.theparksa.org
“Remember where you came from. If not for the grace of God, where would any of us be?” Last week’s message from Titus 3:1-7 is still ringing through my head and heart. If you missed it, you can listen to it online on our website. Messages are posted within a week or two. I highly encourage you to take a listen if you missed it.
It has been great to see so many new faces on Sundays! If you are one of those new faces please know we are excited to have you. And if you aren’t a new face I have a challenge for you: go meet someone new. Community is a core value of The Park and it’s one of the many things I love about our church. Thanks for making it an amazing place to be!
We look forward to seeing you at Oak Meadow at 10am!
Chris
Announcements:
Current Preaching Topic – We are studying through the book of Titus. Read chapter 3 this weekend!
2011 End of Year Giving - Letters for 2011 giving went out a few days ago. If you gave in 2011 and haven’t received a donation letter by next week please let us know. Thank you for your financial gifts to The Park!
Serving the Servants – Mark it on your calendar: on February 18th we will be serving local police officers by taking delicious food items to a few stations around San Antonio. Stay tuned for more information!
Lunch after Church – on Sunday, February 12th a few people will be going out to eat after the service. The location is still TBD but mark it down as a great chance to meet a few people and enjoy some great conversation!
Contact:
Prayer : prayer@theparksa.org
Preaching & Vision : scott@theparksa.org
Family Ministry : jen@theparksa.org
Media & Sound : kyle@theparksa.org
Community & Mission : chris@theparksa.org
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School of Theology
School of Theology
This winter we are launching one of The Park’s four key environments, the School of Theology. Together we will dive deep into specific topics of study lead by our faith community. The School of Theology runs for six weeks from February 1st to March 7. Classes are two hours in length, Wednesday nights from 6-8. We will be meeting at Oak Meadow United Methodist. Dinner will not be provided but you are welcome to bring a meal. The classes, by design, are in depth so prepare for homework and lively discussion. Go to www.theparksa.org and click “Equip” and then click “School of Theology” or click the link below to sign up.
Click here to register for a course
Here is a listing of the courses being offered:
{Missional Life}
Believers in the first century understood that the mission of Jesus did not end at his ascension and with their conversion. The faith life they had was expected to be flexible, fast-moving, and unbound. The aim and heartbeat of this class will be to challenge, provoke, and motivate you to embrace the missional DNA and impulse of the early church in your own life.
{The New Reformation}
We will be studying Greg Ogden’s book, one of the primary inspirations for planting The Park, “Unfinished Business, Returning the Ministry to The People of God.” The church is awakening to the truth that ministry is not just the domain of clergy, but belongs to the entire body of Christ. We will study together how each of us can move from passive to active Christ followers breaking the walls down between clergy and the people of God. Along this journey we will re-envision the church from the role of caregiver to equipping enabler.
{The Book of James}
James was the brother of Jesus and the first pastor of the Church in Jerusalem. His letter, a hotly debated addition to the cannon of scripture, is full of hard hitting, direct lessons for those of us living the life of a Christ follower. In this class we will study the each chapter of the book of James and learn together what it means for works to flow from our faith.
{Spiritual Formation}
This course begins with a recovery of sight. It’s about seeing God with new eyes. We will invite students to create a space where the life of God in them can be nurtured and developed. This will include exposure to and practice of the ancient spiritual disciplines of prayer, solitude, worship, lectio divina, self-examination and awareness. Students will gain exposure to a variety of spiritual readings and practices that began in the earliest days of the church and which may since have been forgotten. This class is intended to provide you with necessary tools for the journey both inward and outward.
{Biblical Finances} (10 Week Class)
- $55 for couples and $45 for singles for required materials which includes workbook, studybook & regular book. Needs to be ordered prior to the class at http://store.crown.org/category_s/70.htm (would recommend ordering by 1/12/12 so the pre-studying could be completed)
- This is a 10 week class, the last four sessions will meet in the leader’s home.
- Highly recommended that Your Money Counts (regular book) is read prior to 2/1/12.
Service Project: Serving the ServantsSaturday, January 27, 2012 @ 10amThis month we will re-visit our local SAFD servants. Our plan is to visit the city’s top 3 stations by call volume. We’ll plan on meeting at the school (Oak Meadow) and then split up and go from there. These men and women are very busy each and every shift, and could use some TLC.
So come one, and come all and show these service people how much we appreciate what they do for us. Remember baked goods, or store bought – they’ll love it all!!
Contact Brandon at redgriff@hotmail.com or 210.865.9232Have a great weekend! Read Titus 3 and we will see you Sunday at The Park!Chris -
2nd Anniversary @ The Park
Hello and happy Friday to all of you!
We are excited to be launching into our 3rd year as a community of faith here in San Antonio. What better way to celebrate the prior two years than having cake at church?! We hope you will join us this Sunday after service for a time of celebration for all that God has done.
“Ready for Good Works” – a study of Titus:
If you haven’t been tracking with us through the letter to Titus you can catch up by reading the letter (all 3 chapters) before Sunday. We will be starting on chapter 2 this week so come ready to process the living and active scriptures. There’s great gains made in our hearts when we have already read and studied the scriptures before hearing the message on Sundays. So, study hard!
Announcements:
Starting Point – Sunday, January 22nd
Join us if you are curious to find out more about the Park, have questions, or just want more information about our community. We will meet right after service. For more info contact Chris at chris@theparksa.org
Serving the Servants – Saturday, January 28th
This month we will re-visit our local SAFD servants. Our plan is to visit the city’s top 3 stations by call volume. We’ll plan on meeting at the school (Oak Meadows) and then split up and go from there. These men and women are very busy each and every shift, and could use some TLC. So come one, and come all and show these service people how much we appreciate what they do for us. Remember baked goods, or store bought – they’ll love it all!!! For more info contact Brandon Griffin 210.865.9232
School of Theology – Starts on February 1st and runs for 6 weeks
We are excited to be launching our School of Theology. Together we will dive deep into specific topics of study lead by our faith community. The School of Theology runs for six weeks from February 1st to March 7. Classes are two hours in length, Wednesday nights from 6-8. We will be meeting at Oak Meadow United Methodist. Dinner will not be provided but you are welcome to bring a meal. The classes, by design, are in depth so prepare for homework and lively discussion.
To sign up for a course go to http://t.co/5coiIJGt
Have a great weekend and we look forward to seeing you Sunday at 10am at the Park!
Chris
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Thanksgiving
Good morning!
I hope you have had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. It’s a great opportunity to give pause and reflect on the blessings of God. Even in the difficult financial times our nation is in, we are still a rich people in faith, hope, and love.
We are excited to be starting a new study on Advent over the next 4 weeks. We will be camping out in the book of Isaiah as we look at the story of Christ as it was spoken of by this prophet.
PJ’s for Pre K: Bring pajamas for pre-k kids THIS SUNDAY! We are working with Oak Meadow to give PJ’s to kids this Christmas. Don’t miss this opportunity!
Some key dates to remember as we close out 2011:
Saturday, 12.10.11: Serving the Servants – Join us as we go to a women’s shelter to drop off much needed items. They need cotton balls, nail clips, Q-Tips, wash cloths, gently used clothing in all sizes and all toiletry items are always appreciated. For more info and to sign up contact: Brandon Griffin at redgriff@hotmail.com
Sunday, 12.18.11: Blueprint Gift Delivery – We are excited to be partnering again this Christmas with Blueprint. This is a great ministry that works on inner-city homes in San Antonio. The homeowners are greatly appreciated by gifts from our church. Over the next 4 weeks you can sponsor a homeowner by picking up a blue ticket off of the Christmas tree at The Park on Sunday mornings. Contact chris@theparksa.org for more info.
2011 has been an amazing year in the life of this community and it’s not done yet. We look forward to all that He has in store!
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” – Psalm 100:4
See you Sunday at 10am
Chris
www.theparksa.org
- Need prayer: send us a message at prayer@theparksa.org
- Vision & Teaching – scott@theparksa.org
- Media & Sound – kyle@theparksa.org
- Family Ministry – jen@theparksa.org
- Community & Serving – chris@theparksa.org