Well it's official - the holidays are here! The sanctuary was decorated as we learned the meaning of Advent (Latin for"the coming"), the significance the advent wreath (reminds us of God's eternal nature- no beginning and no end), evergreen branches (eternal promise of renewal), holly (red berries point to Christ's blood shed and the green eternal life in Christ), and mistletoe (symbolizes peace - don't get caught under the doorway), Chrismons (check out the neat tree ornaments our kids made proclaiming the names of Christ), poinsettias and the candy cane (ask one of the participants to explain it!)
Friday night we will enjoy another Family Movie Night by showing Ratatouille. "Remy is a young rat in the French countryside who arrives in Paris, only to find out that his cooking idol is dead. When he makes an unusual alliance with a restaurant's new garbage boy, the culinary and personal adventures begin despite Remy's family's skepticism and the rat-hating world of humans."
We have lots of popcorn and our new HD screen is working out great! We start at 7pm so be on time and why not bring a friend!
Our new series entitled "When Angels Speak" will begin this Sunday when we will focus on the myths and truths about angels and focus on the angel visitation to Mary. We have some great media, music and food for all who come out.
Make sure you mark your calendars for the 11pm Christmas Eve service and bring those empty milk jugs in so we can light the path to The Grove with luminaries.
There are so many great things happening at The Grove - time won't let me tell you them all - so stay tuned!
In His Grip,
Jeff
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thanksgiving
Cough, cough, hack, hack.
Not exactly the way I expected to spend my Thanksgiving! It was already going to be a little strange in that Cindy and I would be celebrating it alone, but to get sick on top of it?
Isn't if funny what we let get us down? In my message this Sunday I will be sharing why our thanksgiving must be continual and not contingent. We have too many examples in the scripture of those who have praised God in the middle of pretty bad circumstances. I hope I can do justice to this important topic.
While I have your attention I want to take time to give thanks for my friends and family at The Grove!
This has been a turbulent year for us as a congregation and for many of your families - and yet - we have grown closer together and are unified in our call and mission to "Know, Go, show and Sow".
Thank you to a hospitality team that week after week shows the love of God to first time guests and regular attenders alike.
Thank you to a worship team that week in and week out bring the best they've got to help us enter into the presence of God.
Thank you to a media team that always makes my messages better.
Thank you to some pretty amazing folks we call coaches who love our kids and teach them God's Word every week.
Thank you to life growth group leaders who care for our members through thick and thin.
Thank you to a steering committee who provide Godly direction to this church.
Thank you to all who serve in various roles - too many to list here.
Thank you to all who support the Grove through their time, treasure and talents.
The holidays are upon us and I am really looking forward to our Hanging of the Greens this Sunday evening at 6pm. Bring a dessert and a decoration for our meeting place and watch how we can transform it as we remember the symbolism of the season.
1 Thes 5:18 - "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Jeff
Not exactly the way I expected to spend my Thanksgiving! It was already going to be a little strange in that Cindy and I would be celebrating it alone, but to get sick on top of it?
Isn't if funny what we let get us down? In my message this Sunday I will be sharing why our thanksgiving must be continual and not contingent. We have too many examples in the scripture of those who have praised God in the middle of pretty bad circumstances. I hope I can do justice to this important topic.
While I have your attention I want to take time to give thanks for my friends and family at The Grove!
This has been a turbulent year for us as a congregation and for many of your families - and yet - we have grown closer together and are unified in our call and mission to "Know, Go, show and Sow".
Thank you to a hospitality team that week after week shows the love of God to first time guests and regular attenders alike.
Thank you to a worship team that week in and week out bring the best they've got to help us enter into the presence of God.
Thank you to a media team that always makes my messages better.
Thank you to some pretty amazing folks we call coaches who love our kids and teach them God's Word every week.
Thank you to life growth group leaders who care for our members through thick and thin.
Thank you to a steering committee who provide Godly direction to this church.
Thank you to all who serve in various roles - too many to list here.
Thank you to all who support the Grove through their time, treasure and talents.
The holidays are upon us and I am really looking forward to our Hanging of the Greens this Sunday evening at 6pm. Bring a dessert and a decoration for our meeting place and watch how we can transform it as we remember the symbolism of the season.
1 Thes 5:18 - "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Jeff
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Competition
For some that word conjures up excitement and a ready spirit - for others fear. If you were like me and one of the last kids chosen to be on their team, it's the second one.
Ahhh, it's that time of year when my blood runs maize and blue and I can't stand red and white (actually I've been reprimanded, its red and scarlet. Whatever!)
Anyway, this Saturday the yearly rivalry between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines commences in Ann Arbor. We'll celebrate this competition at The Grove on our big screen over some chili dogs and nachos and cheese starting at 11:30am.
But all this talk of competition reminded me of a meager attempt at songwriting that I did years ago. I was part of a Christian rock band called "The Common Bond" and we travelled around the country sharing mostly original tunes. It was at the same time I had started my first church, Detroit Contemporary Christian Center in an old Jaycees Hall that smelled of stale beer and bleach.
Well one day as I was struggling to figure out why church attendance seemed to fluctuate so much, I thought about this word, competition. If my memory serves me right (because I wrote the song on a napkin and who knows where it is now) part of the chorus went, "There may be competition for Sundays, but there's no competition for the Lord, (hold that thought I think I know where my older song folder is)............nope can't find it but wait.........better yet I found an old recording of it now I've got to find a cassette player --hold on.......
OK, it was fun thinking how good it was in my head and then why did I go and listen to it?
Anyway, continuing, "There may be competition for Sundays, but there's no competition for the Lord, there's no need to fear your Mondays, when He's armed you with his shield and sword."
So where am I going with this? Well, this week I'll conclude our series on "Making the Most of Your Life" by talking about our weekends. I'll talk about something that I've found to be crucial in my walk with the Lord - a Sabbath. I hope to open your eyes to some ideas you hadn't thought of and maybe the lyrics of my song are relevant to you today.
Anyway, all this talk of chili dogs has me salivating so I guess I'll sign off and look forward to seeing you Saturday at 11:30am for some fun competition and then Sunday at worship- that is if nothing else is calling your name!
In His Grip,
Jeff
Ahhh, it's that time of year when my blood runs maize and blue and I can't stand red and white (actually I've been reprimanded, its red and scarlet. Whatever!)
Anyway, this Saturday the yearly rivalry between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines commences in Ann Arbor. We'll celebrate this competition at The Grove on our big screen over some chili dogs and nachos and cheese starting at 11:30am.
But all this talk of competition reminded me of a meager attempt at songwriting that I did years ago. I was part of a Christian rock band called "The Common Bond" and we travelled around the country sharing mostly original tunes. It was at the same time I had started my first church, Detroit Contemporary Christian Center in an old Jaycees Hall that smelled of stale beer and bleach.
Well one day as I was struggling to figure out why church attendance seemed to fluctuate so much, I thought about this word, competition. If my memory serves me right (because I wrote the song on a napkin and who knows where it is now) part of the chorus went, "There may be competition for Sundays, but there's no competition for the Lord, (hold that thought I think I know where my older song folder is)............nope can't find it but wait.........better yet I found an old recording of it now I've got to find a cassette player --hold on.......
OK, it was fun thinking how good it was in my head and then why did I go and listen to it?
Anyway, continuing, "There may be competition for Sundays, but there's no competition for the Lord, there's no need to fear your Mondays, when He's armed you with his shield and sword."
So where am I going with this? Well, this week I'll conclude our series on "Making the Most of Your Life" by talking about our weekends. I'll talk about something that I've found to be crucial in my walk with the Lord - a Sabbath. I hope to open your eyes to some ideas you hadn't thought of and maybe the lyrics of my song are relevant to you today.
Anyway, all this talk of chili dogs has me salivating so I guess I'll sign off and look forward to seeing you Saturday at 11:30am for some fun competition and then Sunday at worship- that is if nothing else is calling your name!
In His Grip,
Jeff
Monday, November 5, 2007
Spring Forward, Fall Back
Spring forward, fall back. Beginning in 2007, most of the United States begins Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November. Wish we were springing forward!
Did you know fall back means different things?
Wikipedia states: "Fall back is a feature of a modem protocol in data communication whereby two communicating modems which experience data corruption (due to line noise, for example) can renegotiate with each other to use a lower-speed connection. Fall back is also a military term and command meaning to retreat and temporarily cease combat."
If you were blessed to be in attendance on Sunday at our 24 month anniversary then you would agree that the military definition doesn't fit The Grove! We are not retreating nor are we ceasing combat. I guess you could say we are springing forward!
Many first time attenders and several returning for the second time. We enjoyed a great breakfast buffet - our worship team created another great environment for worship with their version of "More To This Life"- we viewed pictures from the past 24 months and we started a new series entitled, "24, Making The Most of Life".
Next Sunday we'll hold a tail gate party and enjoy our new wide screen and watch the Browns and Steelers.
The month of November is dedicated to signing up for one of our Life Growth Groups (small groups) and we are on our way to having everyone involved in this life growth experience.
Our new web site is under construction - feel free to check it out and give me your impression. It is www.grovechurch.cc
See you Sunday when we'll talk about Making The Most of My Life: Family Time.
As always feel free to make comments or contact me with prayer needs or concerns.
Jeff
Did you know fall back means different things?
Wikipedia states: "Fall back is a feature of a modem protocol in data communication whereby two communicating modems which experience data corruption (due to line noise, for example) can renegotiate with each other to use a lower-speed connection. Fall back is also a military term and command meaning to retreat and temporarily cease combat."
If you were blessed to be in attendance on Sunday at our 24 month anniversary then you would agree that the military definition doesn't fit The Grove! We are not retreating nor are we ceasing combat. I guess you could say we are springing forward!
Many first time attenders and several returning for the second time. We enjoyed a great breakfast buffet - our worship team created another great environment for worship with their version of "More To This Life"- we viewed pictures from the past 24 months and we started a new series entitled, "24, Making The Most of Life".
Next Sunday we'll hold a tail gate party and enjoy our new wide screen and watch the Browns and Steelers.
The month of November is dedicated to signing up for one of our Life Growth Groups (small groups) and we are on our way to having everyone involved in this life growth experience.
Our new web site is under construction - feel free to check it out and give me your impression. It is www.grovechurch.cc
See you Sunday when we'll talk about Making The Most of My Life: Family Time.
As always feel free to make comments or contact me with prayer needs or concerns.
Jeff
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