MAGAZINE CREDITSEDITOR IN CHIEF

Josh Shirlen

MANAGING EDITORArianne Teeple

ARTJosh BurginJosh Shirlen

CONTRIBUTORSJocelyn Rimbey Sacks

Michelle SwickRachel Perry

On the coverDorothy Constants.

The Christmas season always brings many guests to Bay Area. If that is you, welcome! I’m writing with you in mind. Occasionally I get to visit other churches. Every time I approach the entrance of a new church building, I feel just a bit anxious. If it’s hard for me (and I’m an extroverted pastor), no wonder it’s hard for others to visit BACC. So thanks for stepping out of your comfort zone. Last month, I answered the question, “What business are we in?” In a single word, we are about “Jesus.” We seek to love and follow Him. In two words, we are about “making disciples.” A disciple is simply someone who learns from and follows another. We are disciples of Jesus who seek to help others become disciples of Jesus. That’s the “business” to which God has called us. This month, I want to briefly answer another question, “How’s business?” In

Greg St. CyrLead Pastor

other words, how are we going about making disciples? If you are new to Bay Area, here is what I’d like you to know:

We believe that people come to know God most intimately in the context of relationships. In community, we receive spiritual encouragement. This is why we are committed to what we call “missional communities.” Perhaps that phrase is a bit “churchy” so let me explain. “Missional” refers to being sent or being on mission. We see ourselves as a people who have been sent by Jesus. A missional community (MC) is a community of Christ-followers who are on mission for God to love and serve others in the name of Jesus. Such a community embodies three simple things. Together, we “love God back,” “love one another,” and “love our neighbors.” That’s it. Being a part of a healthy MC will help connect you with God, enable you to make meaningful friendships, and engage you in the thrill of being on mission for Jesus. Besides missional communities, we gather together on Sundays to worship and sit under God’s Word. Through the gatherings, God’s Spirit transforms our minds and hearts. Our children’s ministry, “The Deep Blue,” is a thought-through dynamic way to help disciple your children to love God and follow Jesus. Our student ministry, besides being incredibly fun, connects teens in meaningful relationships with adult volunteers who are not only pretty cool, but more important are all in for

Jesus! Besides these ministries, there are a host of other means to help us become disciples who make disciples: learning communities; ministry to women, men, and Hispanics; short-term mission trips; the Care Network; Prayer Team; Celebrate Recovery; and more.

And finally, we are about spreading the Good News of Jesus around the world. We do this by planting churches. Whether in downtown Annapolis, Silver Spring, New York City, Poland, or India, we are committed to helping everyone have an opportunity to follow Jesus. So if you are checking out Bay Area during this holiday season, know that we are a people seeking to follow Jesus and help others to follow Him. And know that we are glad you are here. We’d love for you to be a part of the Bay Area family as together we become passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations! Merry Christmas!

For a comprehensive list of all BACC staff, elders and deacons, please visit bayareacc.org/leadership

Brent Squires, Student Ministry Pastor – brent.squires@bayareacc.orgBrian Hopper, Missional Community Pastor – brian.hopper@bayareacc.orgCasely Essamuah, Global Missions Pastor – casely.essamuah@bayareacc.orgEd Kelley, Executive Pastor – ed.kelley@bayareacc.orgGail Wiles, Children’s Ministry Director – gail.wiles@bayareacc.orgGreg St. Cyr, Lead Pastor – greg.stcyr@bayareacc.orgJanet Graves, Women’s Ministry Director – janet.graves@bayareacc.orgJocelyn Rimbey Sacks, Connecting Director – jocelyn.rimbey@bayareacc.orgJosh Shirlen, Gathering Team Leader – josh.shirlen@bayareacc.orgLeanne Lane, Care Network Director – leanne.lane@bayareacc.orgLynn Dutton, Financial Administrator – lynn.dutton@bayareacc.orgMicah Pringle, Worship Leader – micah.pringle@bayareacc.orgPat Linnell, Teaching Pastor – pat.linnell@bayareacc.orgRon Dutton, Operations Director – ron.dutton@bayareacc.orgTres Cozad, Technical Director – tres.cozad@bayareacc.org

BAY AREA LEADERSHIPELDERS

Bill SmithBrian Mallare

David McPeakDennis Brady

Greg St. CyrJ Upton

John BattanKeith Riniker

Peter GodfreyRich HeathRoger Ishii

Tim DotsonTom DalpiniTom Hogan

Warwick Fairfax

884 Chesterfield Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401 Gathering Times: 8am 9:30am 11:15am

We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at feedback@bayareacc.org and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.

LETTER FROM THE LEAD

“We believe that people come to know God most intimately in the

context of relationships.”SOHOW’SBUSINESS?

This work is Mr. Gonzalez’s magnus opus. It’s a graduate level work of art, literarily speaking. It’s around 400 pages and follows the Early Church all the way through to the Reformation. Around 1500 years of events are covered, often including the back stories of these events.

For those of you who know something about Church history, you know that the early Church was formed between 30 AD/CE and 313 AD/CE; this is normally called the “Formative Years” segment of Church History. Beginning in 313 AD/CE on (when the Edict of Milan by Emperor Constantine), the Church is then called the “Imperial Church.” This is the period when many of the Church Councils were formed and debated significant issues of theology and practice. From 423-800 AD/CE, it’s the

Medieval Church, which describes the beginning of the collision between Eastern Church and the Roman Western Church. Also during that time, Islam crashed onto the scene. Around 800 AD/CE comes Charlemagne, and the face of Christianity changes drastically again, which leads into the Middle Ages and the unwise and unfruitful Crusades (7 of them, FYI). Finally, the era of the Pre-Reformation was fully developed and explained by Mr. Gonzalez, including some of the USA denominations and their formations.

Church history is so interesting as one follows the events and personalities as they collide and establish doctrines and polity that are prevalent today! If you’d like a book that is academic in nature and can be read as is or used as a reference, then Mr. Gonzalez is a home run for you. If you’d

BOOK: The Story of ChristianityAUTHOR: Justo Gonzalez

like something simpler with more maps and illustrations, then try “The Church in History” by B. K. Kuiper. it’s terrific and much easier to read with really interesting charts.

Either way, it’s always good to know one’s personal, national, and religious history. This knowledge was certainly one of the marks of the early Jewish Christians; they knew where they’d come from and they knew the Meta-Narrative of the faith. Church history helps us all to learn from our forefathers and become a more well-rounded Christian.

- Ed KelleyExecutive Pastor

So many people over the years have commented that they really don’t know or understand Church history. In fact, in the last learning community I taught here at BACC, Worlds Colliding, this issue came up again and several folks would love to attend a class on how the Church became the Church. Perhaps we can find room for that in our Learning Community matrix in the future, but in the mean time, The Story of Christianity is a rich resource for those whom would enjoy the historical record of the Church.

Bing Crosby“White Christmas”

I mean… do I really need to give a reason other than simply saying it’s Bing?? As classic Christmas as you can get!

It’s time for merriment and joy! So naturally the recommendations I have for this month are Christmas albums. Download these gems and get to listening… you only have one month out of the year to do it.

Johnnyswim“A Johnnyswim Christmas”

This husband and wife duo have produced another incredible album, and this time around it’s a Christmas album. Their vocal

chemistry is second to none, so pick this thing up and get to listening.

by: Micah Pringle (BACC Worship Leader)

MICAH’S MIX

My wife and I have a sign hanging in our kitchen that reads, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” It’s one of our favorite quotes from Julia Child. Personally, we love to cook and host people. So when I heard about how Travis and Ashley McDaniel have used their love of Mexican food to start and grow a missional community, I was not only intrigued, but excited. Shortly after Travis moved to Annapolis in 2013 to join his then-fiancé Ashley, they knew they wanted to start their married life together with community around them. Both had been part of BACC but hadn’t felt connected to it as a couple. So they began inviting friends, co-workers, neighbors, and folks from BACC to join them at their favorite Mexican restaurant each week for dinner. They would send out a text to everyone they knew, inviting them to dinner and then seeing who would show up. At first it started out slowly with a few folks, but over time the number of people grew. And as the number of people grew, so did the level of friendships and relationships. People from Travis’s work began connecting with people from BACC. Neighbors began to meet and befriend folks who worked with Ashley. Consequently, a new community was slowly forming around the table with tacos and burritos. After several months of weekly Mexican meals, Ashley and Travis decided to mix it up and invite everyone back to their house for their dinners. This not only helped folks save some money, but it also gave everyone a chance to contribute to the meal. This transition provided the opportunity to take friendships deeper. After receiving some missional community training, they decided to officially start an MC. So twice a month, they hold Taco Tuesdays where people would gather to share a meal together and be in community. The other Tuesdays of the month, they hosted an informal study where those who went to Taco Tuesdays were invited. Similar to the original dinners,

it started out slow at first, but over time, more and more began to join them for their study. And this is where the beginning of their missional community really thrived. With a rhythm of “OUT” (the intentional opportunity for not-yet believers to be in community with Christ followers) and “IN” (the intentional focus of growing together as a believing community), the Lord used their missional community to reach and bless folks. The depth of community they have experienced is reflected in the stories of folks who have been impacted. One member had the opportunity to move for her job. In making her decision, she factored in the relationships that she had forged through the missional community. She ultimately decided to stay because having an “extended family” in her MC was important to her. When Travis and Ashley’s apartment began to get too crowded, they saw the Lord provide by leading them to a house that could accommodate more people. This was a huge answer to prayer for them. And since the move, the Lord has continued to grow their MC and give a place for fellowship and social gatherings. What is noteworthy here is how the Lord took a simple love of Mexican food and used that in Travis and Ashley’s life to be a doorway for people to come and grow in the Lord. This is a great picture of how the McDaniels stepped out in faith, seeking something that they needed and wanted (community), and how the Lord also used it to serve others.

If you are are interested in joining a Missional Community, join us for our MC Taster (second Sunday of every month). It’s a luncheon and info session led by our MC Pastor, Brian Hopper. You’ll learn what an MC is, what it isn’t, what it looks like to live in community, and hear of open MC opportunities.

From Mexican Food to Community

SPOTLIGHT

ONMISSIONAL COMMUNITY

By: Brian Hopper

Photo by: Arianne Teeple

We currently meet at 10 AM in a private upper room of a Starbucks. You read that right - a Starbucks! I don’t think we would have ever dreamed that we would be meeting in such an environment. But this location has been everything we had hoped. The open, inviting, coffeehouse-feel allows us to be the welcoming people we want. And the coziness of the store allows for the “family feel” we are striving to attain for our church. Members of our church family have faced some difficult times during these first few months. However, these challenges have also been an opportunity for us to come together and carry one another’s burdens as a family. A great example of this can be seen in the life of one of our team members. His mother, Yoshiko, lives in Philadelphia, and is suffering from dementia. Her live-in boyfriend of 30 years says that he can no longer provide care for her and wants to leave. They have worked out an agreement that will allow the boyfriend to exit on December 15, and he will sign his portion of the house over to the mother. However, they have since learned that there is a transfer tax of nearly $2500 that must be paid to finalize the paperwork. As members of our family at Redeemer have become aware of this difficult situation, our brothers and sisters in Christ are now actively raising support to supply the financial needs for Yoshiko’s care. This is what we mean by family. This is a beautiful example of how we are living out the model set by the early church: “And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:45). For this, I am grateful. Furthermore, we are gaining traction on our model for family life, discipleship, and reaching the lost in our community. We are now two months into our life as a church in Washington, D.C., and the Lord is leading us toward forming missional communities as the primary vehicle for us to make disciples.

Currently, we are gathering on Sunday evenings with 20 faithful attendees who are invested in the vision of the church. Through the rest of this calendar year, we will be working together as a family to flesh out what these communities will look like for us. The ultimate vision is for us to form missional communities throughout the Washington, D.C. area to serve the people of the city. We believe that this focus will allow us to make disciples of Jesus in the everyday rhythms of life. These small, more intimate communities will also provide a

platform for us to invite not-yet believers of Christ to be in community with us as we live out the good news of Jesus through sacrificial service, fellowship with God, and life-on-life discipleship.

When praying for His church, Jesus made a connection between our oneness and the world believing in Him. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may

be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21).

It is our conviction that we are to invite others into our lives as we are unified in

our communion with Christ. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “So, being affectionately

desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” We are continually begging God to break our hearts for people groups in our city to whom we can not only share the gospel but also our lives, because He has given us such a desire for them. Please pray with us as we seek to love God more completely, love ourselves more correctly, and love others more compassionately - for the glory of His name!

CHURCH PLANTING

As we gather together on a Sunday morning, we recognize how kind Jesus has been to us in our short life at Redeemer City Church.

By Steven Lee

By: Pat Linnell

What is the good life? I suppose it depends on whom you ask. If you ask Budweiser, the “King of beers,” the good life is watching the big game on a big screen with all of your young, attractive co-ed friends while grilling meat in the backyard of your perfectly manicured green lawn. Or if you ask Corona, the “Cerveza Mas Fina,” the good life is lounging on a beach chair with your significant other watching the sunset over a tropical beach – don’t forget the lime. Your average Joe might say the good life is having a roof over your head, food on your plate, and gas in the tank. Your average country song says the good life is found on a red dirt road where you reunited with your lost dog and recovered your stolen tractor. Opinions and questions abound regarding the good life. Do you have to be married to live the good life? Have kids? Own a home? Drive a truck? What if it’s the journey that counts, not the destination, like the magnet on my fridge tells me? What if Deepok Chopra is right, and the good life simply happens when we are happy. What if Oprah is right, and all we need to do is put positivity out in the universe, and it will come back to us? What is the good life, and how do we get there? We run into two very different people in the Gospel of John looking for the good life, and Jesus lovingly tells them that they are both going about it the wrong way. One guy’s name is Nicodemus and he

is considered very religious. He is part of a group of men who were turning to religion to find a better life. His friends were called the Pharisees, and these guys wanted to get the most out of life - and even secure a heavenly life - by following rules for God. The problem is that most of the rules that they worked so hard to keep really had nothing really to do with God. To Nicodemus, life was good when he checked off his religious to-do list. Things like attending synagogue, staying ritually clean, and tithing every little bit of every little thing he owned were some of the many rules he needed to keep. Nicodemus is not unlike many of today’s practicing “religious” folk who are expecting God to bless them, and people to honor them, for performing their duties. On the other side of the search was an unnamed woman who was scandalous and in pursuit of the good life in a much different way than Nicodemus. She was from a town called Samaria and carried some complicated religious baggage. She was not likely practicing her faith but was instead looking for the good life in the arms of men. We learn that her story consists of a small parade of relationships that did not pan out as expected. She was currently in her fifth marriage-like situation where she was probably living with the latest “Mr. Right Now” who was not honoring her enough to put a ring on it and to take her off the market. The woman from Samaria is not unlike many of today’s non-religious folk, looking for the good life through relationships or experiences that might feel good momentarily, but are not healthy or God honoring.

Jesus lovingly shows them both that there is truly a good life, and one does not arrive at it through religion or rebellion. You can read for yourself these conversations in the Gospel of John, chapters 3 and 4. But here’s the gist: the good life is found in a relationship with God, not in religious works for God or a distant rebellion from God. Jesus calls this good life, eternal life, and it implies both quality (pure joy now) and quantity (that lasts forever in heaven). In John 17, Jesus, while praying, says: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Jesus says that the very best life we could ever imagine, the goal of all our hopes and desires, is met in knowing God the Father through Jesus the Son. Our identity, status, security, love, joy, and peace are all satisfied when we truly trust in God. Doesn’t it make sense that the inventor of life is where you’d find the life you have always wanted? Life, after all, has always been His idea. To the religious ones working for the good life, Jesus says that there is not enough good works that can be done to earn the right to enter into it. Instead, He says that eternal life is a gift to be accepted, not a thing to be earned. To the wandering hearts, Jesus says that the good life stems from drinking deep from drinks that He is pouring, not earthly taps that are bound to dry up. Jesus freely gives living water, He freely gives eternal life, and He longs for us to share all of this with Him. Where are you looking for the good life today? In the American Dream? In the bar scene? On the sports field? By being holier than the next guy? In your super green grass, with an extra large grill, watching the big game on your big screen? Jesus has something better. He has the true and everlasting good life, and He went as far as His very death to secure it for you. This life is within your reach right now, no matter your relationship status, religious baggage, job prospects, financial portfolio, or even your choice of beer. No matter where your dog has run off to or where your tractor might be. Wherever you are looking for the good life, perhaps today is the day you abandon your religion, or rebellion, and trust in Jesus and find what you have been searching for all this time.

THE GOOD LIFE

When my husband and I first heard about Beyond884: Room For People we were asked to consider whether or not to give. That part was easy. The bigger challenge was discerning how much of a faith pledge to make. Pastor Greg advised each of us to pray and come up with a number. He kept saying, “Don’t worry about how much, because it’s not about the money.” That freedom encouraged us so much. We didn’t feel “guilted” into giving or that is was our duty or obligation. Rather, we wanted to give. And as my husband Norm and I prayed about it, we came up with the same number! We didn’t have to compare our gift to others as it was what God led us to give. What challenged me is that it was truly a faith pledge for us. We had never pledged that much to anything before.

Our lives are far from perfect, and it has been a year of joys and sorrows. It is that brokenness that is welcome here at Bay Area. It is also the acceptance, freedom, joy, and challenge that is found in Christ and in His people of Bay Area Community Church. I want to share that. Why wouldn’t I want to make room for people!?

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as, “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We’ve heard it a million times, but am I really a person of faith? This is what excited me so much about our pledge. We had never saved

that much for anything, but we were both thrilled to be able to give it away (give it back, actually). We had no idea where the money would come from, but we knew if God gave us the number, He would provide.

Did I really believe that? Little by little we started saving the energy credits from our BGE bills, or I would skip haircuts, or we might get a reimbursement check or a bonus from work.

As we listened to ideas of how others found the money for their pledges, we realized that perhaps we could do the same. And in January of 2014 we were able to pay off our pledge! The goal, in my mind, was not that Bay Area could raise $7.1 million, but that 884 families would rise up to trust God to provide for their pledges. If we could trust Him for that and actually see His faithfulness in this small thing, what more could we trust Him for? How

would that faith change us and those around us? We could begin to truly live in the freedom of His purpose for us as individuals and of His body in this place. Beyond884 is so much more than a pledge campaign, and Greg was right: “It’s not about the money.” It is about a Savior, knowing Him and making Him known!

Beyond884: Room for People is a vision to follow Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples all over the world, from right here at 884 Chesterfield Road to Annapolis, DC, India, and Sudan.

If you’d like to learn more about Beyond884: Room for People or how you can support this eternally-minded cause, visit www.beyond884.com.

By: Carole Sue Mayfield

CAROLE SUE’S

STORY

L E A D E R S H I P P R O F I L E

By Meredith Thompson

t is Chyloe Cheetham’s prayer that the children of Bay Area Community Church would have their first taste of a relationship with Jesus long before they

turn 14, the age at which she first began to understand the depth of God’s love for her that she had never been able to grasp as a child. This Hawaiian-born, Glen Burnie resident grew up attending mass with her family every Sunday, but it wasn’t until early in her high school years that her now-husband Jeremy, a strong believer then and now, invited her to church and she first experienced a personal connection with her Savior. When her first daughter, Malia, was born 10 years ago, 21-year-old Chyloe began to take her faith more seriously. “That’s when it became real. I didn’t want her growing up not having a relationship with Jesus or not knowing who He was, so I started to dig a little deeper and surround myself with friends who were believers,” she explained. Chyloe and Jeremy first visited Bay Area Community Church in the wake of Jeremy’s mom’s passing and were immediately drawn in by the welcoming greeters and Children’s Ministry volunteers. “That Sunday after we left, I said to my husband, ‘I think this church feels like home,’” Chyloe recalled. “Our girls were sharing how much they had learned, and we both looked at each other and were like, ‘This is our new home.’ That was four years ago.” This mother of two, who had served as preschool coordinator at her family’s previous church, reached out to Bay Area’s preschool coordinator on her second Sunday in church and offered to volunteer. Two months later, she was surprised to find an email in her inbox asking her to head the preschool ministry. “I called my husband and said, ‘I think this is God’s way of telling us that we are supposed to be here,’ because I was back doing what I loved,” Chyloe said with a smile. Today, Chyloe serves as the Children’s Administrative Coordinator and assists Children’s Ministry Director Gail Wiles with scheduling events to strategic planning, maintaining the ministry’s calendar and website to brainstorming ideas for next year, and everything in between. Additionally, she oversees and trains a group of volunteers who welcome new families each

Sunday morning. But above all of her administrative duties, Chyloe most enjoys investing in the little ones her ministry serves. “Speaking into the lives of ‘itty-bitties’ and planting that first seed, that was planted in me as a teenager, is amazing,” she highlighted. “I [enjoy] loving families and sharing how simple having faith conversations with your kids can be.” Chyloe emphasized that the mission of Bay Area’s Children’s Ministry centers on discipling children. On Sunday mornings, she said, the ministry’s purpose isn’t simply to provide childcare, but to point children to Jesus. As the church grows, Chyloe hopes the Children’s Ministry will also expand as it continues to disciple children with the help of additional volunteers and parents. She recognizes that her team – comprised of seven women who oversee the ministry – are the driving force behind the church being able to disciple the over 400-and-counting children who stream through its doors each Sunday. When she’s not working or helping her elementary-aged daughters with their homework, Chyloe enjoys crafting, going out for girls’ nights, carving out personal time to study the Bible, and above all, spending time with her family. “I’m trying to do away with the excuses of why there isn’t enough time to be in the Word,” she confessed. “I’m ready to focus on my personal relationship with Jesus and my growth – it’s hard to do that in ‘mommy mode,’ working, and being a wife.” Chyloe and Jeremy are also preparing to become leaders of a missional community. Chyloe exudes passion for her service at Bay Area, expressing appreciation not only for her fellow staff members but also for the level of support the Children’s Ministry receives from the church. “Being in ministry is not a job – it’s such a gift that we are able to be on staff and be paid here – instead it is all about being in community and being part of a staff that as a team, as a church family, wants to disciple children and their families,” she summed.

I

Chyloe cheetham

he Christmas season is here, and with it comes the age old carol, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” You’ll hear it on

the radio sung by a slew of famous vocalist. It will play in the background at the multiple Christmas parties you’ll attend, and undoubtedly, you’ll sing it in church. But when you hear it, and sing it, will you call into question the lyrics? In the first verse, the lyrics exclaim that there is “peace on Earth” and reconciliation between God and mankind. Is that true? Think for a moment if a new Christmas carol came out with the lyrics, “God sprinkled millions of dollars on our heads.” Wouldn’t that cause you to stop and think, “wait a minute, either Chris Tomlin is just out of his mind, or there is a serious pay day I’m missing out on.” Well the claim of this carol is even bigger than that. Peace and reconciliation for all. To be honest, these days that seems about as fictitious as the millions from heaven. Yet still we sing this same carol.

So what’s the deal, and what is this song teaching us about God and Christmas? It’s my belief that this is a song about hope and the potential for peace and reconciliation through the incarnation of Christ. Consistent with God’s character, He is not forcing Himself upon us, but at Christmas, he reached out in a big way with the peace offering of all peace offerings. To say once and for all, lets come together.

But this potential for peace on Earth and reconciliation with God remains entirely up to us to realize. That is why the song lyrics seem fictitious. It’s not because they are untrue, but because we haven’t responded to the offer. The real truth of the matter, and of the song, is that when we trust that Jesus died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for our sin, and was resurrected from the dead, we are reconciled to God. And once that trust is given, He empowers us by His Holy Spirit to become ambassadors of peace in the world, and therein we find the hope of “peace on Earth.”

Tragically, so many of us miss it. Empty lyrics sung year after year. Potential lost.

Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Dorothy Constance, a long-time member of our Bay Area Community. She shared with me her story of reconciliation with God, and how she nearly missed the opportunity for peace on Earth because of hurt from sin her father had committed against her in her youth.

Dorothy was born in Poland to a Polish mother and father. Soon after her birth, her father sent her and her mother away, divorced them, and began a new life for himself in the U.S. She spent her youth without a father, having never known

“Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled…”

T

By Josh Shirlen

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO FIND PEACE ON EARTH?

him. When she was nine, the principal came to her grade-school classroom to dismiss her from class. Her father had shown up in Poland and demanded that Dorothy be released to his custody so that he could take her to America. Her mother r e l u c t a n t l y a g r e e d because she wanted a more prosperous life for Dorothy than the life of poverty she was able to provide. So Dorothy and her bullish Father set off to the U.S. to start their life together. Dorothy had hopes of l iving the “American dream” but those dreams soon turned to a nightmare. H e r f a t h e r , Z y g g i , was a violent man. He became physically and mentally abusive to Dorothy, striking her and withholding emotion. As a young girl in a foreign land, Dorothy recalls feeling lonely, self-conscious, and powerless. For years, she battled feeling that she was causing her own suffering.

One of the menial things Zyggi would beat his daughter for was when Dorothy wouldn’t finish her dinner. Dorothy remembers sitting at the table for hours trying to finish dinner to avoid being hit. One evening, she became sick at the table and vomited. To her surprise, her father responded with compassion, it was the first time she experienced this. She felt as though she had discovered the key to her father’s emotions, her sickness. This single instance was so profound to her that she developed an eating disorder, becoming bulimic as a means of accessing her father and regaining control of her life.

Years later, the torture she endured under her father’s rule came to a head. Dorothy packed her bags as a young adult and left her father’s New York house. Friends took her in, and she began a life on her own, separate from her father—the chasm between them greater than ever.

Dorothy went on to meet and marry her husband, Steve, and to have two daughters, Chloe and Olivia. She entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ, making Him the Lord of her life. She understood what Jesus had done for her and how she was forgiven, reconciled to God through His sacrifice. The “God and sinners reconciled” line from our Christmas carol was realized in her life, but what about “peace on Earth?”

Dorothy explained that her understanding of forgiveness, at that point in her journey with Jesus, was to simply try to forget. To ignore what she had been through with her father and “put it on the shelf.” In short, there could be no peace, not in her power.

Years passed with little contact from her father. Her daughters barely knew him. Christmases came and went with no “peace on earth” for her side of the family. When she did talk to him, it was very sterile and formulaic conversation, as if she was fulfilling an obligation. The fruit of an offense unreconciled.

When she received word that her father had stage four lung cancer and didn’t have long to live, she knew it was her duty to go and care for her ailing father. But there was something more on her conscious; where would he spend eternity? Dorothy did not know about her father’s salvation. Did he deserve forgiveness? Did she want him in heaven with her? She was scared to death to broach the subject with him.

She looked to the Bible, and God spoke to her clearly through 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” She knew, contrary to her own desire, she must go to her father and minister to him.

With her husband by her side, she flew to Florida to care for her father, her abuser. Imagine that, sharing the love and compassion of Jesus with the person you fear most. Sharing the Gospel with your enemy. By Zyggi’s bedside, Steven and Dorothy shared the salvation message with him and prayed for him. And just like, after decades of enmity, Dorothy experienced peace on Earth.

Looking back, Dorothy recalls the euphoric feeling of freedom after being obedient to her heavenly father by serving her earthly father in spite of the hurt she experienced.

“Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”

While listening to Dorothy’s story, it occurred to me how normal her story is. t’s all of our stories. Sure, we didn’t all go through the physical and mental abuse she endured, but we’ve all been wounded and have caused pain. There is separation—a spouse, a parent, a child, a brother or sister, a friend or neighbor, or even God. We have enmity dividing us. It is our willingness to live in that separation that prevents reconciliation, that prevents peace on earth.

So, here are two questions for you this Christmas inspired by “Hark the Herald Angel Sing”:

1) Have you been reconciled to God by receiving the free gift of forgiveness through his son Jesus?

2) Has the grace you’ve been shown by God through Jesus lead you to be an ambassador for reconciliation, bringing peace on Earth to the people in your life?

At Bay Area Community Church, we place a high value on creative expression. In fact, much to my delight, I’ve even heard us referred to as a “creative church” on multiple occasions. This pleases me primarily because we worship a creative God. A God who created each one of us in His image, of which creativity is a primary trait. It’s my personal conviction that my job as an artist is to mirror back to God the creativity He possesses in an act of worship and honor. It is my hope that in this process, people would be swept up in what has been made, and pointed to Jesus. This is why I, and the Creative Team at Bay Area, do what we do, and with particular enthusiasm at Christmas.

This year when planning the decor for our Christmas experience I knew I wanted to swing back toward a more traditional one, contrasting the unconventional cement instillation of 2013. We would use Christmas trees again, and a palate of red and green to create a warm and inviting environment. I thought a lot about Bay Area, what we’ve experienced, and who we’ve become over the last year. I thought about the growth we’ve had and all the new people to our family. It was that reality that nudged me to create something that spoke of the foundation of who we are: Jesus followers. I thought it valuable to make a statement concerning our firm foundation on the incarnate son of God.

In light of this vision, I conceptualized Christmas trees that give the illusion of growing up from the soil of 884 Chesterfield Rd. penetrating the building’s various surfaces as they climb upward. The trees represent the truth and unstoppable message of Christmas - that it preceded us and that we have placed our ministry upon it.

For design, I was inspired by the BearsCave by Paul Coudamy (a contemporary French architect) and by “Whoville” by Dr. Seuss. I envisioned creating a whimsical installation of curving trees composed of panel wood. The design would have to be space conserving to accommodate the many people traversing the space but stunning enough to stop people to contemplate the creative energies that went into the tree construction and the symbolic nature of their apparent growth.

It is the sincere hope and prayer of the entire Creative Team that the creativity expressed in this year’s Christmas installation would glorify God and His son whom we celebrate. Also, we are believing God to use the work to draw people to Himself.

There were many people involved in the completion of this project, both staff and volunteers. I’m so grateful for the hours of hard work they’ve invested to see it come to life. Though none of them did it for my gratitude, I would especially like to thank Tres Cozad, Jarred Johnson, Arianne Teeple, and Josh Burgin for their talent and commitment.

Merry Christmas,Josh ShirlenCreative DirectorBay Area Community Church

BEHIND THE DESIGNChristmas at Bay Area

Josh Burgin sketchesAbove are the initial brainstorming sketches, drawn to help visualize

the project before moving onto the computer and creating final designs.

ust about everyone is familiar with the term “social media.” Chances are, you have a Twitter account, Facebook account, or both. Maybe you even have an Instagram account to take

pictures of your cat or what you had for dinner last night. Maybe you have none of these, and if that’s the case I applaud you for being a Thoreau in our modern time.

Maybe you’ve overheard teenagers talking about something called Vine. This isn’t some hip new way to refer to Jesus. Yes, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches, but just to make this clear, they’re probably talking about another form of social media.

While Twitter is for sharing short, 140-character messages called “tweets,” Instagram for sharing photos, and Facebook for sharing both and more, Vine is for sharing short video clips limited to only 6 seconds called “Vines.” Launched in 2012 by Twitter, the video-sharing app had a slow start, leaving some unsure of its success. However, Vine soon became the most used video-sharing app and now boasts over 100 million people watching “vines” each month. Vine has established itself and has definitely been adopted by many young adults and teens. When checking out Vine for the first time, you will see that there are a wide variety of styles in each posted. From funny to creative, to artsy, to contemplative, or just random, there is something that anyone would like to watch on Vine. Go to YouTube and search “Vine Compilation.” People take their favorite vines and put them together into one video. There is hilarious and creative stuff out there. Of course, just like most things online, there is some crude humor to be found. To be honest, there is some downright offensive material on Vine, and often times, the content is shared by young people. In the midst of this, I still believe there are redemptive qualities for using Vine.

Jake Holland is an example of a “Viner” who uses his talents for good. Holland has over 150,000 followers on Vine and is well known within the Vine community. He describes himself as a “real-life cartoon character,” and has almost 600 hilarious Vines uploaded, none of which are crude or offensive. Jake

is a graduate of, and currently works for, Liberty University. In a time when views are generated by shock value, Holland does it without getting his hands dirty. There are others similar to Holland who generate hope as well as entertain. Several proclaim the love of Christ and use scriptures in a culture where there doesn’t seem to be a lot of purpose or hope. In his book, Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers, Dr. Chap Clark explains that there is a youth subculture he refers to as “the world beneath.” There is a surface level to youth culture that adults share with

students. We may like some of the same movies or music, but there is a deeper, non-public underground world that we often don’t see. We can’t see it because we aren’t adolescents ourselves. In Youth Ministry 3.0, Mark Oestreicher says, “the best we can do is sit on the stairs that lead to it and be available to kids passing in and out of it.”

The more we familiarize ourselves with the

culture of our kids and of the hundreds of students around us, the better chance we have of initiating meaningful conversations with them - conversations that can lead to deeper subjects such as God, the Gospel, and Jesus. So many conversations have opened up because I was familiar with a funny post on Vine that had been going around. Now I’m not saying that a Vine account is necessary to create a meaningful relationship with a teenager, but sometimes making ourselves aware of things like Vine can give us the position in a student’s life to speak truth. Truth that can give new meaning and purpose to a student’s life. Truth that can make a passionate, maturing follower of Jesus.

J

Making Sense of an Ever-changing Youth Culture

By Austin MacCubbin

LOCAL OUTREACH

Larry and thepile of white paper

By Trevin HoekzemaPhotos By Arianne Teeple

e’re driving down West Street in Annapolis. I see Washington Street and turn left; it’s like entering a different world. As I stop at the intersection of Clay

Street, I take note of the boarded up business on the corner. I drive one more block past row homes and pedestrians and arrive at the Stanton Center. I’m with Chelsea MacCubbin, Executive Director of Walk The Walk Foundation.

We’ve come to meet with Larry Griffin, president of We Care and Friends, an outreach to the city of Anne Arundel County, headquartered in the Stanton Center. The Center is also home to a medical clinic, dental clinic, and a youth service organization. Our hope is to collaborate on sponsoring needy children this Christmas.

I introduce Larry and Chelsea, eager to connect their like-minded organizations, as Larry directs us to his quaint upstairs office. We move through the hallway, and I recognize James, a man who stayed a week at Bay Area last year with 18 other h o m e l e s s p e o p l e during “Winter Relief” (a program run by the Lighthouse ministry to house homeless men and women during the winter months). I’m encouraged to know he is still being provided for.

I also notice a lady dropping off some paperwork. She then signs her name on a list and takes a brown paper bag out of a big box. Before she leaves, I catch a glimpse of the stamp on the side of the bag, “With Love From Your Friends at Bay Area Community Church.” It reminds me of how involved we are as a church with We Care and Friends. Happy Helpers for the Homeless, a BACC program, donates 300 bagged lunches to We Care every week.

Once seated in Larry’s office, we have a chance to discuss the mission of We Care and Friends and how Bay Area might help:

Chelsea: “Larry, can you tell me about your role with We Care and Friends?’

Larry: “Ha, well, where should I start? Right now, I’m getting ready for Thanksgiving. Every year, I coordinate with local businesses and organizations to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for over 3,000 people in the community.”

Chelsea: “How do you guys manage to do all that? Do you have a big donor base?”

Larry: “Haha, no we don’t. We’re just getting by right now. I don’t get paid, our administrators don’t get paid, just our intern gets paid, and it’s not much. I’d rather use donations for helping people than getting paid.”

Trevin: “What’s your motivation, Larry? You’ve got so much going on with We Care and Friends, and you’re not making

money to help sustain yourself?”

Larry: “Well, you see, I was a drug addict for 28 years, homeless for 2 and then turned my life to Dr. G, and I haven’t looked back! Luckily, I have a queen for a wife that puts up with me, too.”

Trevin: “Ha, I love your name for Jesus, Larry; such a great picture: Dr. G! So what about Christmas, Larry? I know Bay Area has helped sponsor a hundred-or-so kids the past two years with you guys. How many children do you help provide Christmas for each year typically?”

Larry: “Well last year, we helped about 600 kids with assistance from you guys and a couple of other organizations. Yep. I started doing it in 1990, and we’ve been sponsoring at least that many children for a long time now. I can’t quite remember all the fine details, but it’s been a lot.”

Trevin: “That’s awesome, Larry, and you guys do so much more, too, don’t you?”

Larry: “Just this morning I was down under the Eastport bridge trying to help out some guys that are living under there. We go out on the streets to talk with people about their lives; to help people find the proper resources for housing, work, clothing, and food; to mentor youth; to help people with drug addiction find and fund long-term treatment; to support people returning to the community from drug rehabilitation programs or prison; and to give free support to individuals and

families in need. We do it all the way up to Glen Burnie and down to Deale.”

We finish our meeting, focusing the rest of our time on logistics for our Christmas collaboration. On our way out the door, I take a look at that pile of white papers the lady from earlier had provided. It had a list of four children with their names, ages, genders, and Christmas wish lists. I know that that paper will end up going to me and Chelsea, and we’ll pass it to a sponsor at Bay Area Community Church. It’s a great feeling.

I say a prayer to “Dr. G,” asking Him to provide for We Care and Friends and to give us as a church wisdom and insight into how we can continue our financial and volunteer support. I ask Him to raise up specific volunteers who will personally partner with Larry downtown.

W

Are you one of those volunteers? We Care and Friends is one of the local outreach organizations that Bay Area supports financially on a monthly basis. We want to do more and know that there is an opportunity for many of you to get involved. If this organization strikes a chord with you, and you want to learn how to get more involved with them, please email outreach@bayareacc.org, and Trevin will send you an email.

“When my mom told me she wanted us to go on a missions trip to Africa, I thought she was crazy.

I told her there was no way she would drag me on that plane,” said Kyle Carey after I asked him about what his original thought was about going to Ghana. His mom had signed them up to be a part of one of Bay Area’s short-term mission’s teams this summer. Between that moment in March and now, Kyle has come a long way.

Kyle is a fun, intuitive, and passionate young man with an amazing heart for the Lord. He is a sophomore at Annapolis Area Christian School and loves being involved in his local swim team and singing in his school’s men’s ensemble. Kyle also keeps himself busy by playing on his school’s soccer team and attending Bay Area’s “Fuel” student gatherings.

I had the privilege of traveling to Ghana with Kyle and the rest of our team this summer, and it was a complete joy to serve alongside him. If you talked to Kyle about his short-term missions experience and the time that led up to the trip, he would probably tell you that it consisted of a total flip in his thinking and feelings toward Ghana and missions in general.

He said to me, “I was afraid that I was going to be in the middle of nowhere with nothing except prayer. I had heard about people going to Africa. The only stories about missions I had heard were all bad, and my knowledge was limited. I had a fear for my life. That changed really quickly when I heard Casely and Angela talk about Ghana in the first few meetings.”

One of Kyle’s favorite experiences during his time in Ghana was having the opportunity to share his testimony at a school

that he and his team had visited. After sharing his testimony, he was then able to counsel some students who faced similar situations to the ones experienced in his life. He explained, “It was as if God put them there intentionally for me.” This was just one of the things Kyle saw the Lord do during his time in Ghana. Kyle also shared about a girl named Mavis who left a big impact on his life. He was able to tell her who Jesus is and answer the many questions she had about this man, Jesus. He still makes it a point to pray for her, that she would come to a greater knowledge of whom Jesus really is.

Since his time in Ghana, Kyle says that he has become more on fire for the Lord than he ever and has developed a greater desire to share the gospel with those around him. During my time talking with Kyle about how things have changed for him since his trip, he said something very thought provoking. “One of the biggest things is how I see God. I see him more in the size and capacity that He is. When you live in a 25-mile square radius, you get comfortable. When you travel overseas, you see how big God really is. I feel like God was popping my personal bubble. God was popping my bubble and telling me to get out for Him. You need to get out and live it out.”

Is it just me, or can we all learn something life transforming through this story? Sometimes it’s for our good when God pops our personal bubble because then we are free to experience His work and power. How are you stepping out and allowing God to do life changing things within you?

If you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, whether by death, divorce, a broken relationship or relocation, it can make “the most wonderful time of the year” something far less joyous. In fact, trying to celebrate the holidays can be downright miserable. Heartache and sadness sometimes comes in waves and intermingled with bittersweet memories. There is often a sudden realization that family celebrations and traditions will never be the same again. Even if you carry on family traditions and celebrations for the sake of other family members, there is still a hole in your heart that aches for their presence. What can you do to help cope with the deep losses during a time of joy? Here are seven essentials that can help you grieve through the holidays:

1. Take care of yourself physically. Holidays can be physically demanding/draining, especially if this is your first holiday experience without your loved one. The acronym DEER (drink, eat, exercise and rest) may help you to stay focused on caring for yourself.

2. Think back to how you celebrated the holidays. What was your role in the celebration? How might that be different now that your loved one is not present? Begin to consider how you might want to handle traditional ways of celebrating these holidays now. If you have children or others to consider when deciding how to celebrate the holidays consider what is important to them. Talk about it!!

3. This year you may merely try to survive the holidays - get through them. That is okay, especially when you remember that the holidays come every year. You can skip them once or maybe twice with the confidence that as you move through your grief you will have more energy to deal with the holidays the next time around.

4. Death puts things in perspective. Since the death of your loved one, many of the routine things that previously concerned you may mean almost nothing at all. Some of the festivities and all the hubbub of a particular holiday might seem ridiculous. This is understandable during the grieving process. Reassure yourself that eventually you can come to a new and deeper understanding of each special day.

5. Talk with others. It’s important to talk with others about the reality that your loved one has died and that therefore your life will feel and be different. It’s healthy to talk about this with others!

6. If you accept a holiday invitation to someone’s home, give yourself some leeway. Be upfront with them when you accept the invitation, letting them know that you may well excuse yourself at some point if you are feeling uncomfortable. You may not want to host an event during the first year after a loss. As a guest you can leave when you want to or even cancel at the last minute.

7. Remember that a “something” attitude rather than an “all-or-nothing” attitude is a healthy way to approach many issues. You don’t have to do everything – you can = do something, even if it is something small. Perhaps you could pick one activity that you traditionally did on this occasion that has special meaning to you. Plan to do that activity again this year, begin to face the pain of change - to accept the empty chair (missing loved one) as a part of your celebration.

If you’re suffering this holiday season, the Care Network and Bay Area Community Church are here for you. Connect with us online at Bayareacc.org/carenetwork.

CONNECT WITH BAY AREA

Would you like to be baptized?

For more information...• K-5th contact: gail.wiles@bayareacc.org• 6-12th contact: brent.squires@bayareacc.org• Adults contact: arianne.teeple@bayareacc.org

BAPTISM

H A P P E N I N G S

If you’re new or just have a question, we’d love to meet you and help you get plugged in. Look for a member of our connect team in a blue shirt in the lobby after each

Sunday gathering or visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/waystoconnect

CARE NETWORK

There are times when every one of us experiences difficulties such as the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, divorce, job loss, addiction, discouragement, spiritual crisis, loneliness, parenting difficulties, and many other challenges. God’s intention is that we engage with others and not walk alone through these circumstances! And Jesus wants to see us through the challenges instead of avoiding them or going around them. The Care Network is a free, confidential, Christ-centered ministry that assists those seeking help by serving as a bridge to hope and healing through a variety of resources. We offer appropriate referrals and resources such as a Care Coach, a Missional Community group, financial assistance, Celebrate Recovery, Christian Counselors, or an appropriate agency or program in the community. If you need some help or have questions, email leanne.lane@bayareacc.org for more information.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery is for anyone seeking a richer life through worshipping God and being in community with others. Don’t let your hurts, habits, and hangups keep you isolated. Let Celebrate Recovery be a place of healing, hope, and community for you! We meet every Monday night, even on holidays, at 7 PM for worship, a lesson/testimony, open share groups and fellowship. We share a meal together every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month from 6-7 PM. The 3rd Monday is a potluck dinner. Stop by our kiosk in the lobby every 1st Sunday of the month to talk with Celebrate Recovery representatives and learn more. Contact Tom at tmuth57@gmail.com or leanne.lane@bayareacc.org for more info.

CELEBRATION PLACE This is a free, 52-week complementary resource for children, ages 1-12, of parents attending Celebrate Recovery on Monday nights. So while adults explore topics that bring healing and wholeness, children discover the same truths in age appropriate ways. There is limited space, so please be sure to secure a spot for your child/children. Contact Jen Marshall at celebration.station.group@gmail.com for more information.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

KIDCARE TEAM MEMBERSOur team consists of individuals who have a heart for kids. Our workers are paid and we are consistently looking to add to our team. We provide KidCare to all ministries of Bay Area from The Well, Celebrate Recovery, Missional Communities, and different events throughout the year. If you or someone you know are interested in joining, contact jen.marshall@bayareacc.org or visit the Children’s Welcome Desk on Sundays for more info.

TRUNK OR TREATThe turn-out we had was unbelievably awesome! There were 1,500+ people in attendance and we broke our record for trunk participation. To top it off $250 of the trunk host fee went to blessing Creative Paradox, a local outreach we partner with.

DEDICATION CELEBRATIONLast month we had the joy of celebrating with four BACC families who made an intentional decision to take the next step in raising their children for Jesus at the Parent Dedication Celebration. We look forward to partnering with them in discipling their children.

Jason and Dianne Mallare have a heart to serve children and love seeing how God made each of them. Their own sweet family consists of three beautiful girls, a baby boy, and their dog Eli. They serve together as a team in our two’s room twice a month. Dianne says you would never guess that her husband is an awesome beatboxer.

Families are blessed by you both every month; thank you for planting the seeds of God’s love in the hearts of BACC’s littlest ones.

Erin DiCandilo serves as Floor Leader in the Coral Reef. She is married with two children and has been at Bay Area for a year and a half now. As a family, they are passionate about serving and being involved in community. She loves serving in the Deep Blue because she gets to see the children’s excitement while they learn about the God that loves them. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family creating memories. Thank you, Erin, for your dedication to and love for the families of the Deep Blue!

Tim Woda is a dedicated volunteer during the 11:15 gathering. He is a 2nd grade community group leader, and the children simply adore his energetic personality. Tim says, “Not only is it rewarding to watch first hand as the kids start to come to know Jesus personally, they are my weekly reminder not to take things, or myself, too seriously. My second graders leave me with a smile on my face every week.” Thank you Tim for all you have done and continue to do!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

MARRIAGE MINISTRY Have you been married 10+ years and have a deep desire to see couples start and stay strong in their marriages? If you have a heart for marriages and want to serve or learn more about the Marriage Ministry at BACC, please visit www.bayareacc.org/carenetwork or contact leanne.lane@bayareacc.org for more info.

PREMARITAL MENTORINGAre you engaged or thinking about getting engaged? Premarital mentoring is just what you need! Strong marriages are the cornerstone of a healthy, Jesus-centered family. Our marriage ministry equips future and existing marriages with the tools they need to make it in marriage. The premarital mentor program pairs couples with marriage mentors, couples who have been married for 10+ years, to help prepare them for marriage. It doesn’t matter whether a BACC Pastor is officiating at your wedding, being prepared is the key! This is the best gift you can give each other as you start your life together as man and wife. Contact Todd & Kim Christner at premarital.ministry@bayareacc.org for more information.

DIVORCE CAREHave you experienced a divorce and perhaps been a part of a DivorceCare group or another Jesus-focused support group? The Care Network is looking for those individuals/couples who have been supported and encouraged through attending a support group and now may be interested in leading a divorce support group here at BACC. Contact leanne.lane@bayareacc.org for more information.

PRODIGAL CHILDREN SUPPORTLuke 15: 11-32 tells us the parable of the lost son. He leaves home, lives his life the way he wants to, and thankfully, he eventually returns to his father. This child has become known as the “Prodigal Child.” While this parable is part of Jesus’s messages describing God’s love for all of us, for some families it is reality. The journey/trial of having a prodigal is incredibly challenging. If you are a parent that has a prodigal, you are not alone. Contact leanne.lane@bayareacc.org for more information about how BACC can lend support & encouragement to you.

HOSPITAL/HOMEBOUND VISITATIONIf you or a loved one is in the hospital or homebound we would love to serve you. Contact us so that we can learn more about how to be of assistance. Contact leanne.lane@bayareacc.org or phone at 443-837-3718.

How Do I Support The Cause of Beyond884: Room For People?

Preferred Methods (no fees charged)

Direct Debit: Go to www.beyond884.com/give to download the form. Mail completed form to the BACC Finance Department and we will debit your checking account directly each month.

Personal Check: Write “Beyond884” on the memo line and drop it in the offering basket on Sunday or mail the check to BACC (884 Chesterfield Road, Annapolis, MD 21401).

Bank Check: Process through your bank’s Bill Pay service online for a bank check to be sent to BACC. Be sure to note “Beyond884” on the memo line.

Operating Budget Financial UpdateOctober 31, 2014

New Fiscal Year Began September 1, 2014 Fiscal Year Giving Goal $ 3,832,000

YTD Giving Goal $ 605,650YTD Received $ 564,954YTD Actual vs. Goal 6.7 % Behind $ (40,696)OCTOBER Giving Goal $ 278,270OCTOBER Received $ 311,369

Building Debt Status as of October 31, 2014

Balance Due $ 1,891,879Fiscal YTD Donations $ 2,750

For weekly financial updates, please visit us online at www.bayareacc.org/financials

Please be sure to designate all Building Fund Donations on the Memo Line of your check: “One & Only Life” for Existing Debt or “Beyond884” for the Building Expansion & Beyond884 Outreach. Please note all undesignated checks will go toward the Bay Area Operating Fund.

PRAYEROur missionaries around the world need our relentless prayer. Sign up to receive prayer updates by going to bayareacc.org/globalmissions and filling out the sign-up form on the bottom of the page. Please also pray for our short term missions teams leaving in early 2015.

Please consider giving, over and above, to support those going on short term missions this year. You can give by going to bayareacc.org/stm and hit GIVE.

FINANCIALS

GLOBAL MISSIONS

DISCOVER BAY AREANew to Bay Area? Welcome! Join us in the Bay Cafe for Discover Bay Area on December 7 from 12:30-1:30 PM to learn more about who we are, what we are about, and how you can get plugged in. It’s a great chance for you to get to know us and for us to get to know you. Free lunch included. No RSVP needed - just bring yourself! We hope to see you there! Our next Discover is January 4.

CONNECTING MINISTRY

Learning Communities are smaller groups of people that focus on learning, applying, and living out the Bible. On Sunday mornings, the groups meet and have three main emphasis of learning: head, heart, and hands. These different tracks help not only develop theologically, but also in our character, and practical life.

EVANGELISM TRAINING WITH ED KELLEYJump into this 2 week intensive right now in December. Come learn how to practically share your faith and point people to Jesus in regular conversation on December 7 & 14 in The Docks at 11:15 AM.

Below is a list of new learning communities starting just after the holidays. For more information and to sign up, go to bayareacc.org/learningcommunities

MAN UP - Starts 1/18/15This is an 8-week course addressing timely topics for men. Come meet other guys who are pursuing Jesus, and learn how to practically live out your faith. Topics include: being a man like Jesus, humble servanthood, sex, money, and status. THE NEW TESTAMENT PUZZLE – Starts 1/11/15What if someone asked you, “Hey, what is the New Testament all about?” How would you respond? Sometimes the Bible can be very puzzling to us, but within its pages we find a cohesive story that can be understood and applied to our everyday lives. This learning community will help you put together the puzzle of the New Testament. FREED UP FINANCIAL LIVING – Starts 1/11/15Are you struggling financially? Could you use some support in getting your finances in order, and even have the ability to become a cheerful giver? Come be a part of this practical learning community that will give you tools to get out of debt, manage your finances, and actually have fun doing it. APOLOGETICS – Starts 1/25/15There are many different worldviews out there, and many different views about Jesus and the Bible. This learning community will help you understand, and give good reasons for the things Christians believe. Come get equipped in how to answer hard questions from the world around us.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES

UGANDA: HIV/AIDS Ministry and renovation of medical clinicFebruary 2015, led by Leanne Lane & Angela Essamuah (FULL)

WOMEN’S MINISTRY

MEN’S MORNING BIBLE STUDYTuesdays from 6-7:30 AM in room 236. Email Dennis at dbradylaw@aol.com for more information.

MAN UP EVENTFellas – it’s time to huddle up here at 884. Come out Saturday, January 17 at 4 PM for a BBQ dinner and a frank discussion about the realities of following Jesus in 2015. You will have the opportunity to connect with other guys and hear from Greg St.Cyr, Brian Hopper, Ed Kelley, Pat Linnell, and a few others about manning up for Jesus. Practical and straightforward discussions will cover topics such as: humble servants, titans of industry, prioritizing your mind, strength in numbers, lady chasing, and other distractions. Space is limited for this one-time event. Cost is $10. Sign up online at: bayareacc.org/learningcommunities and click on the MAN UP RSVP form.

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Did you know BACC has an entire ministry devoted to prayer? The BACC Prayer Ministry is made up of teams of individuals devoted to gathering in prayer for the church worship gatherings, the pastors, our missional efforts and missionaries, the ministries of the church, those who are sick or saddened by grief and those who are wrestling with life’s struggles. The Prayer Ministry provides an opportunity for us to gather together and share our hearts with our Father who loves us. Let’s pray together. The prayer room is located on the second floor of BACC. For more information about prayer or the teams, go online to www.bayareacc.org/prayer or contact pat.linnell@bayareacc.org

PRAYER MINISTRY

LOCAL SERVING OPPORTUNITIESMissional Communities often don’t know how to get involved with serving locally. We’re here to help. Email trevin.hoekzema@bayareacc.org to start the conversation. There are many organizations in the Annapolis area that will be blessed by your involvement; we’d love to connect you with them.

NICKELS FOR HAPPY HELPERSStarting today through the middle of January 2015, Happy Helpers will receive donations from customers at Whole Foods. When customers like you bring in their own bags for groceries, they have the option to receive a 5¢ credit per bag OR they can donate the 5¢ to Happy Helpers. This is a great opportunity for Happy Helpers to further their partnership with Whole Foods and gain traction on their goal to provide more and better lunches for our friends downtown. Spread the word.

GIFTS FOR CHILDREN VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESWe’re looking for volunteers - no previous experience necessary. Contact: Trevin at trevin.hoekzema@bayareacc.org for more info.

December 7: last day to distribute names and need help collecting giftsDecember 14: last day to collect giftsDecember 15: 11 AM-2 PM and 5-8 PM - need help organizing gifts in WTW warehouseDecember 17: Join the BASM high schoolers as they organize the distribution day. Great time for families and missional communities to serve together as well as for high schoolers to get community hours.

LOCAL OUTREACH

AUDIO/VIDEO TEAM: We’re looking for a few more passionate, committed people to partner with our Sunday production team. Contact micah.pringle@bayareacc.org

BAY CAFÉ: Interested in serving in the Bay Café? Contact deb.shipley@bayareacc.org

CHAIR MINISTRY: Serve on the chair set-up/tear-down team. Contact ron.dutton@bayareacc.org

COMMUNION TEAM: Interested in preparing the communion elements on Sunday mornings once a month? Contact arianne.teeple@bayareacc.org

PARKING MINISTRY: Serve by directing traffic and greeting those arriving at church. Contact Steve at parking@bayareacc.org

SAFETY TEAM: If you are passionate about safety or have experience in security, law enforcement, EMS, First Responders, come be part of helping our church stay safe. Contact Ed at safety@bayareacc.org

STUDENT MINISTRY: If you are interested in serving middle and high school students contact michaela.graf-jones@bayareacc.org

WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Interested in serving on an event committee for Women’s Ministry this year? Contact janet.graves@bayareacc.org

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

MC TASTERGet a taste of what a missional community is through our MC Taster event. Join us on December 14 for a light lunch and some info from our Missional Community Pastor, Brian Hopper. We’ll spend about an hour together in community with each other, in loving God, and thinking about how to engage those around us. RSVP online at bayareacc.org/mc-taster-rsvp or email mc@bayareacc.org for questions.

MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES

From HERE to THERE. “A disciple who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40. At The Well, our women’s Bible study, we grow from HERE to THERE in our relationship with God. No matter your starting point, God desires a closer relationship with you.

THE WELL MORNING STUDIESJust like any other relationship, we need to learn how to communicate well in our relationship with God. So this next semester we will focus on learning to listen and talk to God to bring us closer to Him.

HE SPEAKS TO ME: Preparing to Hear from God Join us as we learn from Priscilla Shirer to see how God spoke to a young boy, Samuel, how he learned to respond to God, and the ways God speaks to believers today. This 7 week Bible Study will take us close to the heart of God and teach us to recognize His voice. Wednesdays 9:30 - 11:30 AM, January 14 - February 25. Cost $15.

LORD, TEACH ME TO PRAYThis Kay Arthur study, based on the Lord’s Prayer, gives practical lessons helpful for women to learn how to talk to God through prayer. Wednesdays 9:30 - 11:30 AM, March 14 - April 15. Cost: $15.

CROSSROADS ON THE JOURNEY:Pursuing a Lifetime Commitment and TransformationThis small group purposes to disciple women new to the faith journey as they take the next steps in learning to study God’s Word, pray, rely on the Holy Spirit, and discern their spiritual gifts. Taught by Mary Kaye St Cyr & Jamie Stadler on Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 AM, January 14 - March 25. Cost $15. Contact Jamie Stadler at jamiens826@aol.com

KidCare available for The Well morning studies only. Cost $55/1 child, $75/2+ children, for the January 14 - April 15 semester. Contact jen.marshall@bayareacc.org

THE WELL EVENING STUDIESCHILDREN OF THE DAY: A study of I & II ThessaloniansEnjoy the latest video taught series by Beth Moore with other women in the BACC Warehouse. Large group & small discussion groups will bring you closer to God & each other. Tuesdays, from 7-9 PM, January 13 - March 24. Contact Darby Cate at darby@dougcate.com

CROSSROADS ON THE JOURNEY: Pursuing a Lifetime Commitment and TransformationThis small group purposes to disciple women new to the faith journey as they take the next steps in learning to study God’s Word, pray, rely on the Holy Spirit, and discern their spiritual gifts. Taught by Janet Graves and Deb Shipley on Tuesdays from 7-9 PM, January 13 - March 24. Cost $15. Contact Janet Graves at janet.graves@bayareacc.org

Register at the Women’s Ministry kiosk in the lobby on Sundays, December 28, January 4 & 11 or at bayareacc.org/womens/spiritualgrowth

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH FOR SINGLE MOMSSingle moms, join us for our “Beautiful You, Loved & Chosen by God” Christmas Brunch Saturday, December 6, from 9-11:30 AM. KidCare is available with advance reservation. Register online at bayareacc.org/womensevents or contact janet.graves@bayareacc.org for more info. “Let the King be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord.” Psalm 45:11

WOMEN OF LEGACY (55+)This group of women meets to encourage each other in their walk with Jesus and to leave a lasting legacy for others. Join us at our Christmas lunch on Monday, Dec. 8 at 11:30 am. We will also volunteer at Operation Christmas Child on Monday, Dec. 15 in Baltimore to help get the boxes ready for shipping to children in need. Contact: Cedulie Sanchez at luisandcedulie@gmail.com

QUILTS FOR KIDS We will meet on Saturday, December 20, at BACC. If you would like a quilt kit, have a quilt you would like to donate, or have a question about this ministry, please contact Janet Hogan at annapolisqfk@gmail.com

MICHELLE GOODACRE has honored us with her first year of service at Bay Area. She is no stranger to students as she is a committed worker at Camp Wabanna and has nannied for a living as well. One of the highest goals on her bucket list is to hike the Appalachian trail in one journey. She loves the outdoors and is extremely resourceful – one winter while

camping in Wisconsin she made a shelter out of fallen trees and snow during -16 degree weather. We are blessed to have such an outgoing and creative person working with our 9th grade girls and are looking forward to making our own memories with her.

MIKE MCGUNIGALE is a new leader with us this year but is not new to the student ministry scene. Using his impressive juggling skills, Mike has been presenting the Bible to students for UPWARDS sports, VBS, youth groups, and summer camps for ten years. His favorite juggling memory was juggling at an assisted living facility for his wife’s grandma. She went on to be with the Lord shortly after he juggled there, so he is grateful that he had that opportunity. Mike loves to learn and read books that deepen his faith, such as Christian classics and apologetics, though he has a habit of buying more books than he has time to read. His good humor and humble spirit make him a great mentor to our 11th grade guys and we are grateful to have him on our team.

LEADER SPOTLIGHT

High school students, join us every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 PM for our mid-week gathering where students grow deeper in their walk with God through group-based discipleship. Each Amplify gathering features free food, games, and gender/grade specific Community Groups led by trained and caring adult leaders. Students will experience true community and discipleship in the context of their peers; all in a fun environment. Contact brent.squires@bayareacc.org for more info.

MIDDLE

Come out to Bay Area Community Church on December 12 from 7-9 PM for Club 678, our monthly middle school Friday night hang out. Club 678 happens on the second

Friday of every month. This month’s theme is Ugly Christmas Sweater! Dig into to your closet of yesteryear and dig out the tackiest, loudest, and most festive Christmas sweater you can find. There is a prize for the best Christmas sweater. Contact austin.maccubbin@bayareacc.org with questions.

SUNDAY TEACHING SERIES: CATCHING FIREWhen you were a little kid, did you ever try to light something on fire using a magnifying glass? Did you love sitting around a campfire? Or dream about the day when you’d be old enough to light the fireworks yourself? It seems there’s something in all of us that is fascinated by the power of fire. But along with that power comes a lot of responsibility. Depending on how it is used, fire has the power to make our lives better or to destroy everything we care about. But flames aren’t the only things with that kind of power. The Bible teaches that our words, our comments, and our conversations, can have a lot in common with fire. We’ve all seen how words used recklessly can quickly get out of control and leave everything a charred mess. But imagine what would be possible if we began using the power in our words for something good and beautiful instead? What if instead of using our words to destroy, we used them to build something amazing?

STUDENT MINISTRY

WOULD YOU RATHER READ GO&MAKE IN A DIGITAL FORMAT?

View it at BAYAREACC.ORG

CHRISTMAS EVE4, 6, 8 & 11PM