For those interested in spending a little more time with the chronology behind the book of Nehemiah, here are the three time line graphics that I’m using in my August 30th message. (Click on the picture for a larger image.)
Thanks to all who have taken the Fall Participation Survey. If you haven’t had a chance yet, I want to really encourage you to do so. We need virtually everyone to express an opinion so we can organize the Trinity Vision Small Groups and the Age Graded Sunday School classes. (see the previous blog post for details).
The link to the survey is: Fall Participation Survey
Thanks!
Take the Survey Today!
When we started the Education Summit we promised to have new plans in place by the end of the summer. It’s coming down to the wire, but we are ready to describe the plans for this fall and next spring, and to solicit your input regarding where you and your family will fit in so that we can finalize classroom assignments, teachers and leaders.
We’ve been working several issues that came out of the Education Summit: (1) The new single worship service format; (2) the strategy and logistics for small groups; (3) the strategy and logistics for children’s Sunday School; and (4) the implementation of Trinity Vision Small Groups.
Visually the plan we’ve come up for the fall looks something like this:
The single worship service will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 10:45 a.m. It will be followed by a brief fellowship time. The Sunday School hour (or Education time) will begin at 11:05 a.m. (preceded by a bell at 11:00 a.m.) and end at 12:15 a.m.
Trinity Vision Small Groups
During the Sunday School hour, everyone (including children) not participating in age-graded classes will be invited to be part of a temporary small group. Our vision for the fall is to create community among the entire congregation. As we transition to a single worship service, we want to provide a forum for introduction and interaction with people you may not have had the chance to meet previously. In addition, we will be using the same material to help cast a single vision for all of us.
On August 30 (during Sunday School hour) we will meet as a large group to learn about the content of the Vision Study. On September 6, leaders will be introduced, also in a large group setting. These leaders will be contacting individuals to be in their groups for the time period beginning September 13; this first week will be spent getting to know each other and sharing/praying together. The next two Sundays in September will be spent hearing from an elder and then discussing the vision topic in our small groups. During the weeks between September 13th and September 27th as many groups as possible will meet in homes to fellowship, praise, pray, share and continue discussion.
Beginning in October the process will repeat for three weeks with new groups and then be suspended for church campout week. A final cycle of this format will occur the first three weeks of November. At that point groups will form on a more permanent basis independent of Sunday mornings with optional meetings during the holidays.
Here is a calendar showing the groupings and the topics to be studied:
Age Graded Sunday School (Nursery to Jr. High)
Age Graded Sunday School is a continuation of what is currently in place. The vision is to be a resource to families in assisting in the education of children providing additional Biblical instruction from gifted and called teachers. We will be grouping children (those not attending a Trinity Vision Small Group) by ages and or grades to allow for focused instruction geared to their particular level of understanding. As Jesus said, “do not hinder†the little children from coming to Me, our goal would be to come along side the “diligent†teaching being done in the homes to allow the children to hear the same things from another adult encouraging the children to come unto Him. (Matt 19:14, Duet. 6:4-9)
Small Groups and Sunday School Topical Groups for the Spring
In the spring “Affinity†small groups will be formed that will meet at various times and locations throughout the week (usually with no Sunday morning component) based on geography, gender, topics, marital status, age, et cetera. Final details will be provided after incorporating lessons learned and other feedback from our groups in the fall. Non age-graded Sunday School classes will be resumed with various topics during the Sunday School hour. There may also be one or two Sunday Morning Small Group(s) that meet during this time.
Visually, here’s the way the plan looks for the spring:
Take the Survey!
In order to finish organizing all this, we very much need your input. We have created a survey which asks about your participation in the Trinity Vision Small Groups, Age Graded Sunday School, and whether you would like to be a leader in any of these. You can fill out the survey for yourself, or for yourself and others, even your whole family.
Here is the link to the survey:
Thanks for your help!
A little over two weeks ago Frank Kittle told me that during L.I.F.E. the Viewsonic projector had emitted a loud pop and a puff of smoke and stopped working. Classic symptoms of a bulb failure.
Did anyone ever tell you how much these bulbs cost? An internet search found them available for as much as $400, and as little as $177 on Ebay.
You don’t have to guess which one we bought. Unfortunately I didn’t notice the fine print on the listing which said “bulb only.” It turns out that the bulb is normally sold in an assembly that looks like this:
But I didn’t know that at the time. So when the bulb came I just took the box to church. On Saturday afternoon, after moving the Pinards I ran over to church to do some work and ’swap and test the new bulb’.
Famous last words. When I opened the projector I found much glass, a thoroughly busted bulb and a partially melted assembly. I easily pulled the assembly from the projector, and then spent two hours failing to get the bulb out of the assembly.
‘The Truth Project’ class needed the projector on Sunday. So I got up extra early, brought a few new tools, and tried again. Then I prayed ‘The Prayer.’ If you hang around me much you know that ‘The Prayer’ is ‘Oh Lord, let this work!’ God gave me a little insight and the right tools, and I was finally able to get the bulb out.
I then spent an hour putting the new bulb back into the assembly and re-assembling the projector. By this time it was almost the start of first service. I prayed ‘The Prayer’ and tested the projector. It worked.
God’s grace reaches even to geeks!