Southland Vine The

December 18, 2013 1630 W. Republic Road * Springfield, MO 65807

417.881.7405 * gosouthland.org

Southland Christian Church ...

equipping you to LIVE OUT your faith

as you ENCOUNTER God, CONNECT with others,

GROW DEEP and BUILD UP one another.

What’s Inside …

2-3 General Reminders & Info

4 "WE DO!"

5 What MATTers to Me 6 Les’ Latest ... (Children/Youth)

7-8 southlandwomen

9-10 Encounter

11-12 Connect 12 Grow Deep

13-14 Build Up

15 January Serving Schedule

16 Live Out

Christmas Eve

Service Tuesday,

December 24

at 6 PM

Upcoming Leadership Meetings:

January 9 @ 6 PM All elders, staff & ministry leaders.

January 23 @ 6 PM Elders

We will publish the next edition of The Southland Vine on January 22.

The Elders & Staff of Southland Christian Church

And may you have a blessed 2014!

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Check out pages 11-12 for the materials each of our Connect

Groups will be using starting Sunday, January 5. If you’re

feeling dis-connected and not already in a group, it’s a great

time to become a part of one!

"THANK YOU" Notes ...

From time to time, we receive cards, notes, etc. expressing gratitude to the SCC family. Since there is not a great place to display these cards, we will share them with you here in The VINE.

COMING SOON ... Ozark Christian College's "Preaching and Teaching Convention" - February 24-26, 2014.

An opportunity to take a quick trip over to Joplin for a time of refreshment and encouragement. Maybe it's just for a day. Maybe it's just for an evening. It will be worth whatever time you can give to make it happen.

For more information, check out the OCC website (http://occ.edu/PT).

A reminder about OFFERING ENVELOPES ... We do have envelopes available in the

foyer. If you give by cash and want a record at the end of the year for tax purposes or if you

want the extra privacy/security of envelopes, you can pick up either a box or a bundle of 20

envelopes in the office. If you do not use envelopes, all checks will still be automatically tracked

for purposes of your tax records – receipts for 2013 giving will be sent to you in January.

JANUARY

5 SUNDAY

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Address Revision:

Jon & Katy Carmichael Family

1312 W. Whiteside St.

Springfield, MO 65807

*New phone number for Diane Yates: 316-804-9065

To share a prayer requests with the Southland church family, you can e-mail us at prayer@gosouthland.org or call the church office.

We encourage you to take advantage of Southland's online presence ... check out our website

to listen to sermons, register for VBS, check out upcoming events, etc. Don't forget: you can also

get information by "liking" our "Southland Christian Church" Facebook page.

We are excited to be utilizing the YouVersion “app” for tablets, smart phones, and other electronic devices during our Sunday services. Among other things, it's a great way to follow along with the sermon and even take electronic notes. You can even send your own notes to your e-mail account from right there within the app!

See the posters around the building for specific instructions on how to find our LIVE event using this app each week: “SCC – Sunday ENCOUNTER.”

FINANCIAL UPDATE ... November 2013 (the most recently completed month)

We want to provide this basic info to keep you aware of what's happening. Keep in mind, this is a snapshot of one month. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have through the office staff.

INCOME ...

Regular tithe for the month - $36,704 (since Sept. 2013 = $121,679)

Average weekly tithe for the month - $9,176 (for Sept.-Nov. 2013 = $9,359.92)

Weekly budgeted goal - $8,650 (This is based on an estimated annual budget of $450,000 ... NOTE: This is our target; we adjust as necessary along the way.)

Love Offerings - $605 ($20 to the building)

updates

IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER...

There are times when we may have to either cancel or adjust our schedule due to winter weather. These changes will be made as soon as reasonably possible and communicated in these two main ways:

* On website: gosouthland.org * Via e-mail to our "Vine" distribution list (to have

your e-mail address added to this list, contact the office)

PRAYER

Got Questions?

While we work hard to communicate all the right information, we know there may be additional questions you have about Southland ... especially if you are new around here! If you have questions, please contact the office and someone on staff will help you out. To e-mail questions, send them to the following address: gotquestions@gosouthland.org.

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One of the great privileges and joys of following Jesus is being joined together with other believers as His church.

Here at Southland, we express that vital connection in part through our “Membership Covenant.” It provides

the basic parameters for belonging to the church family here – the commitments we have made to Christ and

one another as His people. Now, these are not just our own ideas. Rather, they are our attempt to communicate

the teaching of God’s Word when it comes to His Church – just what does it require of us to belong to His Body?

In this section of the Vine, we will be reviewing these commitments – 1 from each of the 4 sections of the

covenant in each edition. It’s a way for us to keep fresh in our hearts and minds just what it means to be

connected to one another as His church here at Southland.

GENERAL LEADERSHIP (elders/staff) COMMITMENT … We covenant to cultivate a growing personal relationship

with Christ as His followers so we can continue to become more and more like Him. Leaders can only effectively

help others follow Jesus if they themselves are travelling that same road. As one author noted, the church

doesn’t need “travel agents” who tell people about a journey with Christ, but “tour guides” who help show

others the way. That’s why this is such an important leadership principle in God’s Word and why it’s a

foundational commitment for our leaders. While it can sound audacious, the attitude of any church leader

should be the same as what Paul shares in 1 Corinthians 11:1 – “follow my example as I follow the example of

Christ” (NIV).

ELDERS’ COMMITMENT … We covenant to lovingly exercise discipline of members when necessary for the glory

of God, the good of the one caught in sin and the health of the church as a whole. Part of Christian community

means we have the responsibility to correct fellow believers caught in sin (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians

6:1 and Jude 22-23 for examples). It’s not about harsh or judgmental condemnation. Rather, it’s about love

and restoration – helping someone who has wandered astray to find their way back to a right relationship with

Christ and His Body. Jesus’ own teaching from Matthew 18:15-18 lays out the process for how we participate

in such church discipline as leaders (see the attachment to our membership covenant).

STAFF COMMITMENT … We covenant to work with volunteer ministry leaders and other staff in designing and

effectively implementing the work of ministry here. In the New Testament, we see individuals serving as those

who carry-out a specific ministry responsibility in the church (e.g. Acts 6:1-7). Here at Southland, we call them

“ministry leaders” … those who help guide and direct the ministries of the church. It is the role of staff to

partner not only with fellow staff members, but also with all such ministry leaders as we carry-out God’s

priorities here at Southland – both designing and implementing ministry so that it accomplishes His work.

MEMBERS’ COMMITMENT … We covenant to be faithful stewards of the resources God has graciously provided,

regularly giving to Southland and God’s Church of our time, abilities and financial means in a way that is

reflective of how Christ Himself gave – sacrificially, generously and willingly. Belonging to a church carries the

responsibility of being a CONTRIBUTOR with what He has given to us. This includes our financial giving. The Old

Testament establishes a basic pattern of material giving to the spiritual family (see a similar NT theme in Rom.

15:27 and 1 Cor. 9:11). Of course, it also should include our time, abilities, etc. In all of these areas, we take of

what God has blessed us and give for the good of others just as He gave. It’s part of how we follow Him!

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What MATTers to me …

Even if you’ve never worked in a store, it’s pretty easy to understand the concept of taking inventory. It’s a process of looking to see what products are currently in a store’s possession. What’s on the shelf? What is in storage? Essentially, inventory is about taking a snapshot – where are we as of right now? I have never personally worked in retail, but even so, I’m familiar with the concept of inventory. Probably the closest I ever came was when I worked in the library at Ozark Christian College. At one point, the head of the circulation desk gave me the responsibility of taking a portable scanner and taking inventory of all the books we had in the library. To this day, I still pretend to think that it served a valuable purpose, not just a task to fill time. Once I had scanned thousands of books, we had a much clearer picture (not to mention a more comprehensive electronic listing) of all that we had on the shelves.

From time-to-time, we will use the phrase “taking inventory” as a metaphor for assessing our lives. Just as a store takes inventory to get a clearer picture of where things stand, when we take inventory of our lives, we’re looking for a clearer picture of our current situation. Where is my life? What is in good shape? What’s missing? What are my strengths and weaknesses? In the context of leadership, Max DePree has stated that “the first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.” It’s about getting an accurate assessment of where things currently stand. After all, just like on any life journey we take, knowing where to go so that we arrive at the right destination begins with knowing where we are. As true as that is for groups of people, defining reality is also a necessary step for each of us individually, even when it comes to our journey as followers of Christ. If we want to become all that God wants us to become, at some point along the way, we actually have to take an honesty inventory of where we currently are.

In many ways, this is a time of year when it’s common for us to “take inventory” of our lives. As we consider making new year’s resolutions (or, at the very least, as we think about how we should make them), that process begins with getting a clearer picture of where we are. Resolutions are typically the response to something that’s not right in our lives. After all, someone with 2% body fat most likely isn’t going to make a resolution to get in better shape. That’s the kind of resolution reserved for the more rotund among us, myself certainly included! As we assess where we are, we begin to get clarity about where we need to improve. It all begins with questions designed to help define reality – questions to help us take inventory of our lives.

So, as followers of Jesus, what would such questions look like? Let me offer you some to consider – as I reflect on this past year and where I am today vs. where I was at the beginning of 2013, here are the types of questions I am asking myself:

Does my life demonstrate love for God and love for people? Is that love only a matter of words and feelings or is it being LIVED OUT through my actions?

Do my thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions resemble those of Christ? Am I displaying the reality that I am being made “more and more like Him” as the Holy Spirit does His work of transformation in my life?

When it comes to the time I spend in reading God’s Word and prayer, is that increasing or decreasing? Is that time helping me to better hear God’s priorities for my life or is it just a time for me to tell Him what I want to see happen? Does time in His presence lead to a change in how I am living?

Is my participation in the life of God’s church where it should be? Am I more or less active than I was a year ago? Have I become more connected with others? Are others in Christ being blessed by my service to Him?

Does my life indicate that I am LIVING OUT His priorities – sharing the Good News with those who do not know it … working to bring about God’s values in the midst of this world as I shine His light in the midst of darkness … displaying more of the fruit of His Spirit in my life (see Galatians 5:22-23) so that His presence is increasingly evident in me … living a courageous life empowered by His strength in me?

We’re preparing to turn our calendars to 2014 (that seems so odd to type!). It’s a great time to reflect back as we allow the Holy Spirit to help us take inventory and get a clear picture of where we are. Even more, it’s a time to prepare to move forward and become even more what He wants to make us. For each of us individually and for us collectively as His church, may it be a great year of growth on our journey as followers of Christ!

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Mark Your Calendars:

The Despicable Youth Lock-In with Countryside

Christian Church … Register Friday, Jan. 10 at 7pm / Depart Saturday, Jan. 11 at 7am.

Bring $15.00 for 12 Hours of non-stop excitement. Laser tag adventure, caged dodge ball, minion roller skating, midnight arcade, hilarious movies and late night concessions.

The "Souper" Bowl Luncheon –

Sunday, January 26

To all our “Souper” Bowl Luncheon “Newbies:”

Join us for Delicious Chili, Soups & Desserts!

To those who have previously attended:

Oh, yeah … you’ve tasted … you loved it … it’s back … come and get it! This is a fundraiser – proceeds benefit travel expenses for Believe Conference.

The Middle School BELIEVE Conference NEW DATE! Friday & Saturday, April 4 & 5 at the Family Arena in St.

Louis

Imagine a building with 2,000 middle school students jumping up and down praising God with great worship! Staying up late in a hotel and experiencing unforgettable messages. Sign up now for BELIEVE!

Total cost per person: $65.00 $40.00 pre-registration is due Sunday, January 26th Adult sponsors attend for a reduced rate, See Les Londeen.

Group Huddle Bible Study

Spring Semester Resumes Jan. 19

Worship, small groups, and more! New Series: "Followers of Jesus"

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No other holiday brings out unspoken expectations as does Christmas! We approach each Christmas with visions of beautifully decorated homes, harmonious family gatherings and plates of homemade cookies. The desire to build memories and make the season special is fresh every year. The guilt and frustrations of family tensions and unfinished to-do lists from the previous year have faded and we anticipate once again a “perfect Christmas.” Recipes are dusted off, dinners are planned, homes are decorated with care and gifts are wrapped. With each layer of activity the expectations build.

However, somewhere in the midst of the hubbub, we are often forced to admit that we are going to have to compromise on some of those expectations. It is really hard to let the family know that there simply wasn’t time to make all the homemade cookies they love. It is especially difficult to let go of those “we all gathered ‘round to listen to the Christmas story” expectations. Kids get stressed out at Christmas too; at the very times you want them to act angelic, they don’t.

Last year, in a personal protest against what Christmas has become, I did not decorate at all. In fact, the only way you would have known it was Christmas in our home was the stack of cards we received and the goodies from friends in the kitchen. The grandkids opened presents and there was way too much food, but it was not anything different than one of our big family birthday dinners. It was wonderful to be free of some of the expectations because I went into the season choosing to not have them. But what my protest revealed was something quite unexpected. While it is true that snowmen, nativities, Christmas cookies and all the other trappings have nothing to do with the true meaning of the season, they do provide a backdrop of sorts that make this time of year stand out – they separate these days from all the other days on the calendar in a visual way. There was one other thing I learned last year: through my self-imposed “no expectations” Christmas, I also did not have the same sense of hope and renewal that I had in years past. Even with all the Christmas carols and other events, my yearly “re-set” button was not pushed, and I have concluded that it was because I had not set aside the time as special in any truly significant way.

I have had a whole year to process the lessons I learned. I have had a whole year to re-think my expectations of Christmas and how it should be celebrated. I went into last year thinking that all the fuss was unspiritual and bordered on dishonoring to God with its worldliness. I came out realizing that, while some worldly store benefitted from a purchase of a nativity set, I also benefit when I look at that nativity in the middle of the night or while I am drinking my morning coffee and am amazed all over again that God became flesh – for us. In the dark of my home, when the only light in the living room is the glow from my lighted snowmen, I am reminded of the Light of the World who came to push back darkness.

Finally, there is one verse that has gone over and over in my head. It is Luke 2:19:

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

The shepherds came to see, the town was notified by the shepherds of all that they had been told and Mary with her newborn child was in the center of the commotion. This verse gives us some wonderful insight into what our expectations should be at Christmas. Mary did not withdraw from life – the shepherds found her with the baby. Scripture gives us no indication that she rejected the attention she and the child received from their curious visitors. Instead, in the midst of the adoration and activity surrounding her and her son, she treasured and pondered. Maybe that’s the attitude we need. Perhaps our focus should be on the things that each Christmas brings that cause us, like Mary, to treasure and ponder what God has done. Perhaps our expectations of Christmas should be that we come out of the season expecting to be filled with a new desire to treasure and ponder the magnificent promises we have in Christ. Perhaps it is not that having expectations is wrong, but that, for followers of Jesus, the expectations need to be adjusted to those that will cause us to treasure and ponder the hope we have in Him. Have a Blessed Christmas!

southlandwomen

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southlandwomen WINTER BIBLE STUDY

“Do you feel overwhelmed? Inexperienced? Intimidated? Insufficient? Too old? Too young? Too invisible? Too afraid?

Gideon’s story involves far more than a wet fleece and a battle won with 300 soldiers. His epic victory actually tells of one

man’s struggle with his own weakness… If you’ve ever struggled with insecurity or had trouble accepting your limitations,

this study will help you see how God can use your weakness to unlock His strength.”

MORNING SESSION BEGINS JANUARY 14 AT 9:30

EVENING SESSION BEGINS JANUARY 16 AT 7:00

(CHILDCARE PROVIDED FOR BOTH SESSIONS

THE NEW SEMESTER STARTS JANUARY 2 (MORNINGS) & JANUARY 7 (NIGHTS)

IT’S A GREAT TIME TO JOIN US! MOMS SET APART “M. S. A.” is a ministry designed for moms with any age children still at home.

M. S. A. Mornings Contact Amber Neil … msamornings@gosouthland.org

M. S. A. Nights Contact Kristie Martin… msanights@gosouthland.org

BOX TOP GIRLS

NEXT MEETING: JANUARY 3 @ 6:30 Mike Owen will present a Self-Defense Class for moms and daughters.

THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE, SO BE SURE TO MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR!

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Weekly ENCOUNTER ... a time to gather in God's presence together.

Plan NOW to go! See Debbie Nelson for more

details.

10,000 Reasons | Revisited

Last year, I wrote an article with my own reflections of the song 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman. Two weeks

ago I was doing a quick web search, looking for scriptures that would go well to supplement the song within our

encounter time. As I searched, I stumbled upon a devotional written by the author, Matt Redman. Since this

song has become a large part of our encounter time and a personal, spiritual inspiration to several members of

our church body, I wanted to share what Matt Redman had to say. Here it is:

A music producer once commented that in the world of pop you can only really write four kinds of song: “I

love you,” “I hate you,” “Go away,” or “Come back.” That is an amusing, and yet astute, observation. But

gladly, when it comes to writing songs towards the God of all eternity, we have a whole different color palate

to work with. When I talk about the reasons for God’s worth and say there are ‘ten thousand reasons for my

heart to find’ that’s actually a huge, poetic understatement. The reasons for the praise of God are so wide and

wonderful that we could sing from now until forever and never run out of ideas as to why He is quite so

worthy.

Think about the world of nature for a moment. As of now, scientists have described over 1.7 million species of

animal, plant and algae on earth. Mammals make up one of the smallest groups – with less than 6000

members known. For insects on the other hand, we’re aware of about 1 million different species. And in all

categories, there are more species becoming known every year. In fact, in some places like the depths of the

ocean we’ve hardly even begun to explore, there are countless more species to find and identify. But let’s

stick for a moment to those 1.7 million species we know of so far. I think we could safely say that every kind

of plant, animal or other living thing created by God is a reason for His praise. So we’ve hardly begun and

we’ve found 1.7 million reasons why we might respond to him. Next, look up at the stars – scientists are now

saying there are more stars in the known universe than there are grains of sands on all of the world’s beaches

and deserts. So, right there we have billions and billions more reasons to utter up an offering of praise. Next,

we look to our own lives – the countless blessings weaved into our everyday existences, and the miracle of life

itself. We think about families and social circles, and provision in our lives. And we praise, and praise, and

praise again. Perhaps that’s why at the end of Psalm 30 the worshipper says:

“…my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.” (Psalm 30:12)

The psalmist knows of a multitude of reasons why we should worship God. And he knows of not one reason

why he should refrain from doing so. He can’t think of a single motive why he should remain silent. The same

must be true of our own lives. The worship of Jesus should be vibrant, creative and colorful as we unfold our

hearts in praise. There will be an eternity of reasons to adore and revere him.

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During the Christmas season, we have been in a series of sermons titled “Living Nativity … Bethlehem’s Story in Everyday Life.” In this series, we have been looking at how we can LIVE OUT the story of Jesus’ birth through our lives. We will wrap-up this series in the final two Sundays of the month.

December 22 “Living out the Good News”

December 29 “Living out Light in the Midst of Darkness” (Les Londeen preaching … John 1:4-5)

As we turn the calendar to a new year, we will be launching a two-part series on the church. In the month of January, we will be focusing on God’s basic design for the church – where does it fit in God’s plans for His people in Christ. In the month of February, we will be identifying some of the blessings and benefits that are supposed to come with belonging to His Body.

It can be easy at times for us to diminish the important place God has designed the Christian community to play in our lives. When we talk about our “personal relationship” with Christ, so much of our attention is just paid to how Jesus impacts me, myself and I. This isn’t the kind of faith lived out by New Testament Christians. For them, being connected to other believers was not seen as OPTIONAL, but OPTIMAL. It is how God still intends for us to follow Jesus – connected to others in Christian community … what He calls His CHURCH. During this series, we hope to re-capture a love for the church as God has designed it to be.

During the month of January, here are the themes we will be looking at as we consider “God’s Community Blueprint” for His church ...

January 5 The Church as the PEOPLE of God – It’s a WHO, not a WHAT

January 12 MYTHBUSTERS: “I don’t really need the church to follow Jesus.”

January 19 His People Designed to Carry-Out His Purposes in the World – Our Mission in the World

January 26 Life Together in Christian Community – Our Responsibility to Fellow Believers in the Church

If you miss a sermon, you can catch it online! Go to the "Sermons & Media" tab on the home page of our website. Once there, click "Launch Sermon Player" to find the one you want to hear.

UPCOMING PREACHING CALENDAR

On January 19, we will be recognizing “Sanctity

of Human Life Sunday.” It is a day when as part

of our time together, we affirm our commitment

to God as the Creator of ALL human life. As such,

we acknowledge that all people – regardless of

the stage of life they are in – have value as those

created in His image. Because we are His people,

we see life as He sees life.

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CONNECT Ministries ... a place to discover Christian community.

We have designed our CONNECT Ministries to help people discover Christian community. They provide the right kind of place to build relationships with other believers, pray with and for one another as we strive to follow Jesus faithfully and consider how God’s Word applies to our lives. Please see the "CONNECT Counter" in the foyer for information about where these groups meet weekly (mainly 9 and 10:30 on Sunday mornings), and for more details about any upcoming events (also listed below).

GET CONNECTED!

One of the reasons most often given when people leave a church goes like this: “I didn’t ever feel connected.” A sense of belonging and community is a vital part of the church. It’s also a major way we grow as followers of Jesus. That’s why we’d love for you to find a place where you can get connected!

This is especially a great time to join a CONNECT Group. On January 5, all of our groups will be starting new materials. We have listed the content for each group below. This “rotation” will run through the months of January and February. Stop by the “Connect Counter” for more information.

CONNECT Groups that meet at 9 AM on Sunday mornings …

Free at Last (in the Fellowship Hall) … this group will be using a curriculum based on

Culture Shock, a book written by Chip Ingram. The material will focus on how to give

Biblical answers to some of the more polarizing and controversial topics that are

present in our culture today.

The Refuge (in the Gathering Room – off of the Great Room) … this group will

be doing a Bible study through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

The Morning Branch (in the Great Room) … this group will be using a curriculum

based on The Christian Atheist: Believing in God, but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist.

The material will focus on ways where our lives don’t match what we claim to

believe about God. How do we develop a more authentic, God-honoring life of faith?

CONNECT Groups that meet at 10:30 AM on Sunday mornings …

Free at Last (in room #6) … this group will be doing a topical Bible study on angels and demons.

Empty Nesters (in the Fellowship Hall) … this group will be focusing on the church – this will loosely be

paralleling the sermon series for January and February.

(continued on the next page)

JANUARY

5 SUNDAY

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G ROW DEEP Ministries ... an opportunity to plant deep roots in Jesus and God's Word.

At Southland, a significant way we help people grow is through our Deeper Life Groups (a.k.a. "D-Groups"). While we occasionally offer other teaching opportunities, this is our primary way of helping people plant DEEP roots into Christ and God's Word (see Colossians 2:6-7).

To be a part of a Deeper Life Group, please fill out one of the GREEN CARDS

found at the Welcome Center.

CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE FOR D-GROUPS MEETING ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS BEGINNING AT 6 PM.

Make sure you check periodically at the CONNECT Counter in the foyer for more details about upcoming events!!

1. Dec. 30 … “Un-decorating” the church and Potluck lunch. 10:30 a.m.

2. New Year’s Eve party at Pam and Bill Foster. 6:00 p.m. Sign up in foyer.

3. Movie Night Jan 17 at 6:00. Ham and Bean dinner followed by the movie

COURAGEOUS

Shirley 773-8094 * Dorothy 827-6997 * Sue 883-8536

CCoonnnneecctt MMiinniissttrriieess –– UUppccoommiinngg EEvveennttss::

CONNECT Groups that meet outside of Sunday mornings …

242/Sync (6 PM @ Jon & Katy’s house) … this group will be using a curriculum

based on The Christian Atheist: Believing in God, but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist.

The material will focus on ways where our lives don’t match what we claim to

believe about God. How do we develop a more authentic, God-honoring life of faith?

The Evening Branch (contact Matt for location as it sometimes varies) …

this group will be using a curriculum based on Forgotten God, written by

Francis Chan. The material will focus on how we can better live in awareness

of and dependence upon the Holy Spirit – God’s presence inside of us.

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This section of the Vine provides a central place for you to be informed about how to become active in service at Southland. One of our major priorities is to be a place where God's people BUILD UP one another. In fact, according to Ephesians 4:16, the overall health of the church (the Body) depends upon each part doing its "own special work." Through our acts of service, God uses us to help others grow. At the same time, here’s what is beautiful about God's design: what we do for the benefit of others even has benefits for our own growth as followers of Jesus. That's why we share this section with you. While we cannot include every potential opportunity to serve, we want to (1) highlight some specific areas where we have a need for help, (2) make you aware of special opportunities to serve and (3) provide a place to thank some of our volunteers.

Opportunities to BUILD UP ... a way to serve others and even help ourselves grow.

To volunteer to serve in any area of ministry, please fill out one of the BLUE "Build Up" response cards at the Welcome Center. We will pass your name along to the appropriate leader.

THANK YOU for your generous giving for the Thanksgiving baskets. Your donations made it possible to provide 60 families with a meal. That is DOUBLE the number of baskets we distributed in 2012! As always, the giving heart of our church rose to the challenge. We are especially thankful for the help of the school teachers who were instrumental in finding families in need of the food. Well Done Southland Family! - From the G6:10 Team

Winter weather brings special challenges. Things like snow and ice covered sidewalks, frozen gutters, leaks and slippery parking lots. THANK YOU to everyone who has seen the different needs and jumped in to help with …

… shoveling walks and spreading salt … cleaning up messes caused by leaks in the building … busting up ice in the gutters … helping people get safely to and from their cars

Winter weather has a way of highlighting weaknesses in buildings, but it has highlighted the strengths of the servant hearts in our church. Thank you to all who have helped!

A big THANK YOU to Susan Gouge and her team for leading our 1st service worship during the month of December! Joining Susan is her husband, Jeff, Becky Hamm, Tami Barrett and Amelia Latimer (the same basic team is handling Christmas Eve as well). It has been a great opportunity to celebrate the story with the more traditional Christmas songs. Thank you for using your talents to help us worship Him!

THANK YOU to the Children of Praise team – both kids and leaders – for the 2013 performance of “Behold the Lamb” on December 15. See the next page for more information about those who volunteered their time to lead the group.

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SHOWCASING A GROUP OF SERVANTS:

For years, one of the most anticipated Christmas traditions at Southland has been the Children of Praise Christmas production. On that evening, the children shine as they display their talents while reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas. As a church we have the privilege of watching children develop and grow in both talent and stage presence over the course of the years between 4 years old and 6th grade. The 4 year old who simply sat down during a song, later becomes one of the soloists, and in turn, becomes a role model for the next group of 4 year olds. You can even notice how the children have grown in their understanding of the Lord and His Word from year to year. As we watch the programs, it is hard to miss the sincerity and enthusiasm with which the children present the Christmas story. They earnestly want everyone to know the importance of the message. Of course, all this singing and acting does not simply happen in a vacuum. Every fall, a group of adults and teens begin weekly practices with the kids. It takes a whole team of adults with a special skill set to keep a room of 30 or so children focused on a common goal. Even when it is something they want to do! There are so many details involved in producing a children’s program:

How many parts do we have? How many kids can do those parts?

Does every child have something special to do or say?

How do we keep 4 and 5 year olds occupied while others practice?

What do we need for the set?

Those are just a few of the details. Each and every one of them takes time and energy to figure out. AND, we might add, much of this is done in the midst of one of the busiest, most stressful times of the year.

This year’s production was the first for a team led by Jon Carmichael. The rest of the team included April Carmichael, Terra Gegg, Amanda Hamilton, Amelia Latimer and Amber Neil. They did an excellent job beginning with the selection of the program all the way through to the show-ending “hoola-hoop” song. If you were not able to attend, you missed something special!

Thank you, Jon and Team, for all the hours of planning, preparation, and practice. Your hard work was on full display Sunday night! And, thanks to our Children of Praise for an unforgettable performance.

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SERVING SCHEDULE – January 2014

Communion Prep: Warren and Carolyn Burros

GREETERS WELCOME CENTER 1/5/14 - 1ST SVC 1/5/14 - 2ND SVC

Empty Nester Connect Group 9:30 Free At Last Connect Group

Shawn & Amelia Latimer Vernon & Edith Moody

1/12/14 - 1ST SVC 1/12/14 - 2ND SVC

10:30 Free At Last Connect Group The Refuge Connect Group

Mike Seal/Mike Lippert Ken Nelson/Marty Hamm

1/19/14 - 1ST SVC 1/19/14 - 2ND SVC

Empty Nester Connect Group 9:30 Branch Connect Group

Jay and Kim Tyler Dennis & Kay McCann

1/26/14 - 1ST SVC 1/26/14 - 2ND SVC

10:30 Free At Last Connect Group 242 Connect Group

Dustin and Lacey Shumaker Sue Malina/Dorothy Marti

SERVERS 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE 1/5/14 Various People Austin Presko Team

1/12/14 Various People Doug Graves Family

1/19/14 Various People Ben Jennings Team

1/26/14 Various People Les Londeen & Youth Ministry

NURSERY CHECK-IN 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE

1/5/14 Amanda Hamilton Amanda Miller

1/12/14 Linda Jones Debbie Gray

1/19/14 Jill Sims Jill Cobb

1/26/14 Lacey Shumaker Susan Graves

NURSERY 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE 1/5/14 Dustin & Lacey Shumaker/Amanda Hamiliton Stewarts and Millers

1/12/14 Kelly Loftis/Laura Lippert/Melissa Mittag Debbie & Kayla Gray/Danielle Keeton

1/19/14 Jill Sims/Linda Jones/Joy Shearin Cobb Family/Suzi Bryant

1/26/14 Debbie Little/Margie Pierce/Erica Shaw Graves Family

Wee Cruisers’ LEADER

Li'l Cruisers’ LEADER

Cruisers’ LEADER

1/5/14 Kristin Londeen Elizabeth Kubitschek

AJ and Terra Gegg Shelby Ritz

Brad and Ashley Worthy

1/12/14 Debbie Jennings Victoria Kubitschek

Brad and Marsha Foster Alexis Simpson

Les

1/19/14 Katy Carmichael Linsey Drake

Emily Sampson Anna Martin

Shawn and Amelia Latimer

1/26/14 Tammy Worthy Jessie Worthy

Sara Emmerton Allison Ritz

Austin and Amanda Presko

COMPUTER 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE

1/5/14 Jordan Marsh Sonya Simpson

1/12/14 Dan Gray Dan Gray

1/19/14 Katy Carmichael Jay Butler

1/26/14 Karl Simpson Sonya Simpson

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To keep you informed about Southland’s foreign missions partners, we strive to provide updates when available in the alcove of the auditorium (by the map). This is really the main way that one of our teams is able to communicate information. Their location makes any online presence too risky. We do make their newsletters available as they come in.

There is a website for the “Central India Christian Mission.” Check out www.indiamission.org for more information about some of the global Kingdom work we get to partner in here at Southland.

In addition to the normal updates we provide in the alcove and through Connect Groups, we have available some information about how to sponsor a child through CICM. You can pick-up a sheet with all the specifics in the alcove. It’s a great way to make a practical and personal difference in a child’s life as you help share the love of Christ as well!

OPPORTUNITIES TO “LIVE OUT” YOUR FAITH

One of the key purposes of the G6:10 Ministry is to offer opportunities for us to LIVE OUT faith (see Galatians 6:10!). That is

not so much about creating new events, but helping keep the SCC family aware of events that are already happening,

especially with our local ministry partners. The goal is not for everyone to participate in every single event. Rather, we want

to lay these opportunities before you so you can decide how/where/when to participate. Maybe it's with your own family. Maybe it's with others in your D-Group. Maybe it's with a Connect Group. Maybe it's by yourself. However it is, we want to provide you with some very specific ways you can participate in Kingdom work as you LIVE OUT your faith!

LIVE OUT Ministries

... a path for putting faith into action.

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

- Galatians 6:10

www.cchonthe.net

www.show-mehome.com

www.pccchoices.org www.maranatha biblecamp.org

www.occ.edu

Here are our local ministry partners with their websites so you can find out more about them: