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3 opportunities in November to cultivate a GLOBAL perspective of God’s Kingdom …
Sunday, November 3 “The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church” (see page 2).
A day to raise awareness and join in prayer for those around the world suffering because of their faith in Christ.
November 15-17
(Details on page 17)
November 20, 6-8 PM A “come-and-go” evening with our foreign partners in North Africa.
See page 2 for more details.
Southland Vine The
October 23, 2013
1630 W. Republic Road * Springfield, MO 65807
417.881.7405 * gosouthland.org
Upcoming Leadership Meetings:
November 7 @ 5 PM Elders & Staff
November 21 @ 6 PM Elders
Southland Christian Church ...
equipping you to LIVE OUT your faith
as you ENCOUNTER God, CONNECT with others,
GROW DEEP and BUILD UP one another.
We will publish the next edition of The Southland Vine on November 20.
What’s Inside …
2-3 General Reminders & Info 3 Baptisms & New Members
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 November Serving Schedule
16-17 Live Out
GGeett iinnvvoollvveedd!! MMoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn iiss aavvaaiillaabbllee oonn tthhee ““LLiivvee OOuutt”” ppaaggee 1166
iinn tthhiiss eeddiittiioonn ooff
TThhee SSoouutthhllaanndd VViinnee..
Daylight Savings Time
ends Sunday, November 3.
Remember to …
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GGeenneerraall RReemmiinnddeerrss aanndd IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn ......
Here are more details about two important events in November …
Sunday, November 3 – “The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.”
There are many people around the world that “share our faith, but not our freedom.” Pressure that we are beginning to feel in our culture seems small in comparison to what is a constant and far more intense reality for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe.
We will devote time to this day in both our ENCOUNTER time and in our CONNECT Groups. It will be a time to open our eyes to God’s global Kingdom and express our solidarity in Christ with our fellow believers – we are “one with them.” We will do this by both raising awareness regarding the issue of ongoing persecution of Christians and, more importantly, by joining our hearts in prayer. This is a reality that we are told to expect as followers of Jesus in this world (see John 15:18-21; 2 Timothy 3:12 and, of course, 1 Peter 4:12-19). Above all, our prayer will be for the faithful endurance of God’s people so that the message of Christ may continue to spread!
Wednesday, November 20 (6-8 PM) – An evening with our foreign partners with “Team Expansion” in North Africa.
(Names withheld intentionally for protection – these are our partners whose information we make available in the alcove and in Connect Groups). This is an opportunity for us to interact with them. They will be in the Great Room (at the south end of the building here at SCC) from 6-8 PM. It will be a time where we can dialogue with them, learn more about their work and find out how we can be better partners. We will have desserts and coffee available for the evening. Feel free to come-and-go as you’d like for this informal meet-and-greet.
FINANCIAL UPDATE ... September 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 - $48,795.00
Love Offerings - $950.00 (includes $20 to IMAGINE Fund for the building)
Average weekly tithe - $9,759.00
Weekly budgeted goal - $8,650.00 (This is based on an estimated annual budget of $450,000 ... NOTE: This is our target; we adjust as necessary along the way.)
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.”
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Add:
Betty Spalding
3617 W. Winchester
Springfield, MO 65807
(417) 883-1793
"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.
…
- Norma McConnell
…
- Cindy Benefield
PRAYER
To share requests with the Southland church family, e-mail to
[email protected] or call the church office.
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: [email protected].
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.
updates
Welcome to our newest
SCC members!
Congratulations to Victoria Kubitschek who was immersed into Christ on
September 29, 2013.
Jeff & Kathy Marshall
David & Karen Duncan
Don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 3. Remember to “fall back” Saturday
night before you go to bed!
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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 COMMITMENT (for both elders and staff) … We covenant to have our families involved
in the life of Southland. In 1 Timothy 3, Paul lays out key characteristics for those who would serve as elders.
One section of these qualities references a leader’s family (3:4-5; see also Titus 1:6). Leaders need to set an
example for the church community in the way they lead and disciple within their own biological families (side
note: we think it’s appropriate to extend this to staff as well). A key part of such discipling is to have those
who live within our households participating in the life of the church. Our expectation that others will have
their families involved at Southland is backed up by our own actions … having our families involved.
ELDERS’ COMMITMENT … We covenant to follow the example and leading of Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, as we
care for and nurture the congregation as shepherds of His flock. 1 Peter 5:2-4 essentially identifies the role of
elders as “under-shepherds” to Jesus, the “Chief Shepherd” (see also Hebrews 13:20 for a similar title). Jesus
has delegated a great responsibility to the elders of a congregation. Ezekiel 34 shows God’s harsh critique for
those shepherds who neglect their sacred work of caring for others. The desire of elders today should be to
serve in a way that shows faithfulness to this task – modeling the Good Shepherd in our care for His flock.
STAFF COMMITMENT … We covenant to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance for how we creatively implement His
plans in our specific areas of ministry. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul demonstrates a “whatever it takes” attitude in
the work of the Good News – becoming “all things to all people.” In no way does this open the door for us to
compromise the message of God’s Word. However, it both allows for and, even more, demands the use of
creative methods for sharing that message. No matter what specific area of ministry we might be serving in,
the goal is to allow the Holy Spirit to be the One who creatively develops within us the right ideas and plans so
that we may effectively carry-out the important work of ministry He has given us to do.
MEMBERS’ COMMITMENT … We covenant to support the doctrine established by the leadership, affirming it in
any teaching capacity and choosing not to be divisive in a potential disagreement with these beliefs. This is part
of following the leadership God has established. Because of the importance of God’s Truth (a key point of
emphasis for elders in the NT), it is vital that Southland’s members likewise affirm sound, healthy doctrine.
While we acknowledge that there are matters of debate, the basic teaching laid-out in the covenant identifies
our core beliefs. For Southland to maintain its identity as a church that is faithful to the teaching of God’s
Word, its members must care about this kind of doctrinal integrity. That’s why this commitment matters.
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What MATTers to me …
With the presence of children often come what we could call “PARENTAL PET PEEVES.” Like other “pet peeves,” these are things that parents find particularly annoying. Most likely, all parents have their own set. Perhaps the list could go something like this (all of these are in the forms of an exasperated parent speaking to a child):
“How many times do I have to tell you to chew with your mouth closed?!” Of course, this specific pet peeve can be applied to any number of issues with manners and politeness while at the dinner table: using a shirt as a napkin, slurping a drink, putting elbows on the table, etc.
“Why is it so difficult to put the (insert whatever item you’d like: toys, clothes, crayons, etc.) away when you’re done with them?”
Is it really that hard to turn off the light when you leave the room?”
“Don’t blame me for the results of choices you made – if you’re reaping the unpleasant consequences for your actions, it’s not my fault.”
A mom might add something like: “Is it really that difficult to turn the clothes inside-out when you put them in the hamper?!” (NOTE: this pet peeve is applicable to undomesticated husbands as well!)
Near the top of my parental pet peeves list is this: “don’t act like you’re entitled to blessings you have freely received.”
Somewhere along the line, kids become convinced that they have been endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights … and it’s a list that goes far beyond what’s included on the Declaration of Independence. Endowed with the right to the trendiest of wardrobes, the latest tech gadget or gaming system, their preferred menu of food options, access to whatever entertainment funds they might want, and, at some point, even their own desired vehicle. After all, what else are parents for but to give their kids the life they want? So seems to be the prevailing logic today. And should parents find it appropriate for certain expectations to be tied to these rights? Well, how dare they! Maybe I’m overstating it, but it’s hard to deny this reality at work in our world today.
Of course, as a parent, I want to bless my children; I desire to give to them – to provide not just for their needs, but to go even beyond that. And yet, when it seems like freely-given blessings are being embraced as entitled rights, there’s something in my fatherly heart that hesitates. After all, we somehow survived childhood without these “rights,” right? And, maybe, just maybe, the choice to yield to these demands might actually be unhealthy for our kids, perhaps even feeding the sense of what is owed. After all, when blessings become rights it’s hard to be content. When freely-given gifts become viewed as entitlements, it’s difficult to be grateful.
Well, isn’t it a good thing we grow out of this perspective! If only that were true. Sadly, the same parental pet peeve that I have seems to reflect an all too common attitude we can have towards our heavenly Father. It’s hard for me to imagine that in the midst of His great love for us He doesn’t get more than a bit frustrated with us at times!
As we near the month of November and a season of thanksgiving, it seems appropriate that we work to cultivate in our hearts the right attitude towards God and His blessings in our lives. It’s fundamental to so much of our life of faith. After all, the grace that allows us into a relationship with Him is about an undeserved and unearned gift. From there on, the life we live as His children is one of receiving His blessings, not claiming what is rightfully ours. Of course, this even extends to the physical and material bounty we have been given to enjoy. Through it all, it’s impossible for us to live the kinds of lives that are responding to His goodness if we fail to embrace what we have as undeserved blessing. We will not worship as we ought unless we see the grace of Jesus’ sacrifice as the beautiful gift it is. We will not praise as we should unless we recognize the ways He has poured out His faithful love and blessings upon us. We cannot live as faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us as long as we cling to money and possessions as what we have earned all by ourselves. We aren’t reaping what we deserve; we’re children living under the gracious provision of our Father in heaven!
Perhaps this is the best place to start: may we make this a time of year when we start seeing what we have as freely-received blessings, gifts bestowed on us by our loving heavenly Father. As James writes, every “good and perfect gift” we have comes from Him (James 1:17). Jesus even reminds us that this is His Fatherly desire – to bless us with “good gifts” (Matthew 7:7-11, especially v. 11). May we revel in His bountiful blessings, content and grateful for all His undeserved goodness in our lives!
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LLeess'' LLaatteesstt UUppddaatteess ffrroomm tthhee CChhiillddrreenn’’ss && YYoouutthh MMiinniissttrriieess
FALL SERVICE PROJECTS FOR YOUTH:
COOKIES FOR COLLEGE KIDS!
Saturday, November 16 at 6-9pm
It's time to roll up your sleeves and get your hands sticky. Come enjoy a night of free pizza, videos and delicious cookie baking. Let's make some memorable care packages for our college students. Generous taste testing will be allowed.
Meals-A-Million … Sunday, November 17 at 5pm
Take a bite out of hunger! Southland's youth and sponsors will join several other church groups to form fun assembly lines packaging meals. This incredible event provides much needed nutrition to children all over the world. We plan to leave after the 2nd service, and return to the church at 5:00pm (No Group Huddle). You'll need to bring money for a quick lunch as well as the "Friends Against Hunger" release form.
Rake & Run … Saturday, November 23 from 10am to 2pm
They'll never know what hit them! Imagine an army of volunteers equipped with rakes, leaf blowers and trash bags decimating every fallen leaf. If you'd like to be part of this team, be sure to wear comfortable clothes and a good pair of work gloves. This clean-up effort is designed to help elderly people in our congregation and around the church neighborhood. Bring money for a fast McDonald's lunch between projects.
Hello, Parents!
Practices began on October 13th, but there is still time to join this year’s Children of Praise Christmas production titled “BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD: the TRUE tall tale of the coming of CHRIST.”
Here is a quick look at this year’s schedule: Normal rehearsals … Sundays, 5-6pm, October 13 – December 8
Dress Rehearsal & Pizza Party – Friday, December 13 @ 6pm
Final run-through – December 15 @ 4pm (Dinner served @ 5pm)
Main Production – December 15 @ 6pm
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In his book “Celebration of Discipline” Richard Foster writes:
Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people or gifted people, but for deep people. … We must not be led to believe that the [spiritual] Disciplines are only for spiritual giants and hence beyond our reach, or only for contemplatives who devote all their time to prayer and meditation. Far from it. God intends the Disciplines of the spiritual life to be for ordinary human beings: people who have jobs, who care for children, who wash dishes and mow lawns. In fact, the Disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our relationships with our husband or wife, our brothers and sisters, our friends and neighbors.
One of the disciplines that Foster writes about is the discipline of prayer. As he puts it, “…real prayer [is] to think God’s thoughts after Him: to desire the things He desires, to love the things He loves, to will the things He wills.”
The Apostle Paul was a champion of prayer. His urgent calls for prayer in the letters he wrote reveal the importance of this discipline in his life. Consider verses like 1 Timothy 2:1 (“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”) and Philippians 4:6 (“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”). Such texts show us that prayer was a central part of not only Paul’s life, but also his teaching. Through Paul’s Holy Spirit-inspired words, we can glean the importance of prayer within the heart of God. In fact, because of the Spirit’s inspiration, we could conclude that Paul’s words actually reflect God’s desire that prayer be a priority in our lives.
Something quite significant is supposed to happen in prayer. Read what Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 … “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We often struggle to know how we can decipher God’s will in our lives. Yet, I wonder how many regularly do this one thing that obviously is His will in our lives. We are to be a praying people and a praying Church. Before we do anything else, we are to pray. In fact, as we go through our days taking care of children, cleaning house, sitting at our desks at work, tending to errands and chores, even in the midst of all that, we are to be in prayer. In the midst of all that’s on our mental plates, we are to have in the backgrounds of our conscience this attitude of prayer: an ongoing internal dialogue between God’s heart and ours. This is God’s stated and known will for us as followers of Christ.
Why then do we struggle with this discipline of prayer? Why is it that we will talk to others and hesitate to do the one thing in any given situation that we are commanded to do? After all, from Genesis through the New Testament, mighty men of God believed that their prayers moved God – that they could affect the outcome of a situation. They lived with the awareness that prayer was necessary if they were to be in tune with God’s heart. Yet, for some reason, many today view personal prayer as a last resort. There is something apropos in the “meant-to-be-funny” line: “Prayer! Has it finally come to that?” Sadly, that statement reflects a trend in the lives of many followers of Christ today. We will do everything else before we pray. How is it possible that so many have minimized the practice of one of Christ’s primary activities while He was on earth? It is a good exercise to read through the gospels and note the times and reasons He prayed. He depended on this form of communication with His heavenly Father. Even more, He thought it so important that He left us a sample of what our hearts and priorities should be in prayer (Matt 6:9-13). That being the case, we have obviously gone astray if we do not value this discipline to the same degree.
Maybe part of it is the way that many are discouraged before they even start to pray. Perhaps they have set up some illusion that prayer is reserved for the “super-saints” – or, as we call them, “prayer warriors.” And yet, nowhere in Scripture do we find effective prayer as a gift or skill relegated to only a select few. To overcome this
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false thinking, it helps to remember that Moses was not great with words, but he believed that when he prayed it made a difference. We also need to remember that God meets us where we are. He does not stand back until we reach a level of excellence in our prayer form before He tunes in. He is not the English teacher grading our grammar and oratory skills. As we practice prayer and grow spiritually, He is the caring Father bending to listen and even through the process helping us to grow into a deeper and more meaningful understanding of prayer. Just as I would not expect my 6 year-old grand-daughter to be able to have the same skill level I have in the kitchen, God does not expect us to be instant experts at prayer. What He wants is for us to bring Him our hearts, consumed by the messiness and joy that is this earthly life, and honestly lay them before His throne. He does not hear the prayer of a “prayer warrior” first, and move others to the end of the line. If he cared enough about you to cause the Holy Spirit to work specifically in your heart until you came to Him in repentance, seeking salvation, then He also cares enough about you personally to listen to what you have to say. In fact, as we pray, God is actively using our growth in prayer as a tool to transform our hearts so that we begin to pray less from the standpoint of our desires and more from the standpoint of His desires.
We are continually urged to live out life here on earth as “Strangers,” people set apart from the world to pursue holiness. It is hard to imagine that this or any other goal we have in Christ can be attained to any degree of excellence if we do not place prayer as one of our highest, most valuable disciplines. Again, the words of Richard Foster:
Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of the spiritual life. Of all the Spiritual Disciplines prayer is the most central because it ushers us into perpetual communion with the Father. … Real prayer is life creating and life changing. Prayer – secret, fervent, believing prayer – lies at the root of all personal godliness.
As we strive to live peculiar lives that honor Christ and bring glory to the Father, may we return to the practice of unceasing prayer! May we tune our hearts to God’s heart through lives of petition and submission! May we once again to become a people whose first, middle and last recourse is to seek God’s heart through the discipline of prayer!
Box Top Girls A ministry designed for ALL GIRLS age 10 through high school & THEIR MOMS
Next BTG meetings: November 1 and December 6 (both at 6:30 here at SCC).
For more information about Box Top Girls, see Amy Ritz – BTG Coordinator. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOMS SET APART “M. S. A.” is a ministry designed for moms
with any children still at home.
M. S. A. Mornings meets November 7 & 21 at 9 AM. Contact Amber Neil for more information … [email protected].
M. S. A. Nights meets November 5 & 19 at 7 PM. Contact Kristie Martin for more information … [email protected].
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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.
The following is an essay written for a class at College of the Ozarks by one of Southland’s own. It is a reflection on finding worship in everyday life.
Humanity’s Song by Lauren Hembree
The world is constantly participating in a song that reaches past humanity’s ears, passes the Heavens,
and sings joyously to its Creator. However, our world on a smaller scale is still joining with the world’s
song. The College of the Ozarks campus has its own song, and it only takes a few moments to become
immersed in it. On an even smaller scale, each of our lives has its own song to sing to our Maker, and it is up
to us as individuals to become in tune with this song.
The concept of being “in tune” can mean different things to different groups of people. Musicians
match their instruments or voices to a pitch to become in tune. A mechanic would say that an old car needs a
tune-up to be in tune. Teachers may study new developments to continue to be in tune with advancements of
their field. While there may be several definitions of this idea, as Christians we are called to live our lives in
tune with God. One way we can accomplish this is to recognize, understand, and join Creation’s song.
To further recognize and appreciate Creation’s song on campus I decided to sit near Lake Honor, open
my ears and mind, and simply listen. I always enjoy walking by the ducks and watching them waddle around,
so I thought I’d enjoy listening to them participate in College of the Ozarks’ song. When I first sat down, I
could only focus on the loudness of the man-made fountain in the lake, but I knew there would be more if I
simply listened.
Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of noticing and enjoying nature, so I was not
surprised when I began to hear the wind whispering through the trees as the leaves swayed along. Students
returning to classes and workstations provide a scuffling beat along the sidewalk, their footsteps accompanied
with staccatos of laughter. A few ducks—now comfortable with my presence—begin to wander around with
webbed feet scuttling along the ground. They add a plucking sound as their beaks pull at tufts of the earth,
and a symphony of insects hidden in trees and grass crescendos over time to join the music.
In the sermon “God the Music Lover,” Elizabeth Rice Achtemeier claims that God made the world
because He is a music lover. He takes joy listening to His creation praising through song. Although I agree
with most of Achtemeier’s points, I disagree that humanity’s periodical silence is an altogether bad thing.
Actemeier equates sin with silence when she states, “He [God] will not rest content with our sin and silence.”
While I agree with her overall point that God has an ultimate plan to deliver out of darkness through Jesus, I
do not think sin and silence should be used synonymously.
Leopold Stokowski said, “But musicians paint their pictures on silence. We provide the music, and
you provide the silence.” If creation is a musician, then sometimes humans need to provide enough silence to
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UPCOMING PREACHING CALENDAR October 27 … “Standing Firm” – Refusing to back down regardless of what comes (1 Peter 5) … final sermon in the series on 1 Peter.
November 3 … Participating in “The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.”
From then on in the month of November, we will be in a series of sermons titled “Think Giving: Bountifully Blessed … Privileged to Give.” In 2 Corinthians 8:7, Paul encourages believers to “excel in the grace of giving.” Throughout chapters 8-9, he emphasizes that giving is not a duty or obligation. Rather, it should be seen as a privilege – it is a blessing to receive from God, but even more to have the joyous opportunity to give. During this season when we think about God’s bountiful blessings, we want to take the time to focus on such giving as our response to His goodness.
Nov. 10 “Privileged Giving” (2 Corinthians 8-9 & the Biblical theme of giving as stewards of God’s blessings).
Nov. 17 “Expectant Giving ... Giving in Anticipation of God’s Ongoing Blessings” (2 Cor. 9:6-15 – guest preacher).
Nov. 24 “Green-Tape Giving … Giving as an Expression of Eternal Priorities (Matt. 6:19-24 & 1 Tim. 6:17-19)
Dec. 1 “Christ-like Giving … Giving as Sacrificial Love – Following the Example of Christ (2 Cor. 8:9)
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.
actually hear it perform. This is not an act of rebellion or obliviousness; it is an act of worship and
appreciation to God for the amazing compositions He created for us. Therefore, silence cannot be an act of sin
when applied in this way.
If people act in appropriate silence, it will be nearly impossible to resist praising God in song and with
their lives as praises. Achtemeier states in her sermon, “Yes, all creation praises its Maker. We only hear a
few of the sounds at one time, but Thomas further suggests that if we could hear the combined sound that
rises from the universe, it would lift us off our feet.” I believe hearing a small handful of those sounds has the
ability to lift us up in praises to God.
If we take the time to listen, we can begin to hear and experience Creation’s song. Achtemeier
proclaims that to restore humanity’s song we must “become lovers of God, because we see the love with
which he first loved us.” When we realize how grand, magnificent, all-powerful, and loving our God is, we
can join with planets and stars, winds and trees, ducks and insects by raising our voices and lives to the One
who created us. Then, not only will humanity’s song to our Maker be restored, but also our individual lives
will be in tune to the will of our awesome God.
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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!
The Goulds in concert – November 15 at 7pm … details on flyers around the building (dessert reception will follow the concert).
Decorate the church for Christmas – November 29 at 3 pm.
Shirley 773-8094 * Dorothy 883-4209 * Sue 883-8536
More CONNECT Group events on page 12
When our CONNECT Groups get together each week, there are three emphases: building
relationships with one another, praying with/for one another and discussing God’s Word
together. Different groups usually focus on different content – all intended to help us LIVE
OUT God’s Word. Occasionally, we have focused on a church-wide curriculum. It’s a good
opportunity for everybody to be discussing the same basic theme.
Starting November 10, we’re going to again do this as we
focus on a 6-week discussion through The Treasure Principle.
In this case, it’s a series that will also be paralleling our
sermon series.
During these 6 weeks, we will be focusing on how we can
“unlock the secret of joyful giving.” This is not a general focus
on how to be better at managing money, nor is it about
giving more as a means to get more. It’s about choosing to
make the wisest of financial investments possible – to “store
up” treasures in heaven. Ultimately, our giving is not about
our duty/obligation, but our privilege.
This is a great time to join a Connect Group if
you haven’t yet done so!
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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!!
Picnic & Ultimate Frisbee Chesterfield Park
November 2 @ 11 am
We will be serving dinner to
Christian Campus House
freshman on November 6.
Please see Amy Ritz for
more information.
Tim Hawkins
7pm Nov. 23 at Remington’s
Childcare will be provided for the evening at SCC. Kids
can be dropped-off at 6:30 … no meal provided.
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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.
For many reasons, carpets are a mainstay in churches. They muffle sound, reduce fall risk, and
help warm spaces. The flip side of that is that they show traffic patterns, stains, and spills. In a
building that sees as much use as ours, the carpets really take a beating and can look “tired”
pretty quickly. That is where David and April Carmichael come in. Some time back they
offered to “own” the carpet cleaning in our building and after the BBQ in September, they spent
an evening spot cleaning the carpet in the auditorium. Thank you both! It made a noticeable
difference!
*************************
Thank you to everyone who answered the call to help in the nursery, Wee Cruisers, and Lil’
Cruisers! It was thrilling to see so many new names added to the serving schedule!
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SHOWCASING a TEAM of SERVANTS: SOUTHLAND’S MOWING TEAM
Usually this space highlights an individual who displays a servant’s heart through the volunteer work
they do here at the church. This month, however, there is a whole crew that deserves our recognition
and thanks: the men of the mowing team. This team, led by Dennis McCann, begins serving in the
early spring and continues to work through October. They ensure the lawn all around the church is
mowed and trimmed each week so that it is presentable for Sunday morning. If you have taken a
good look at the size of the lawn, you will recognize that this is no small task! Even though the men
work in teams of two and rotate on a set schedule throughout the mowing season, they are still
working at least 3-4 hours every time they mow.
The men who serve on this rotating team are:
Mike Seal, Adam Shaw, Mark Miller, Billy Constantine, Justin Virtue,
Bart Barrett and Dennis McCann
In addition, there are two other men who have spent hour after hour this summer mowing what we
loving refer to as the “Back Forty” (the large field south of the storage sheds). Truman Haynes and
Keith Wall have taken it upon themselves to make sure this field is mowed, saving the church the
hundreds of dollars we have previously spent to have it brush-hogged by a lawn service. The next
time you walk to your car, take a moment to look at the size of the field and consider the time it
would take to mow it on a regular size riding mower – then you will have some idea as to how many
hours Truman and Keith have given to keep it maintained.
In the midst of all the Sunday morning activities, it is easy to take for granted the external appearance
of our church. But, you might be surprised at the number of comments we hear about that very
subject from neighbors and visitors. It is just another reminder that how we handle the “external”
property reflects our “internal” priorities. In a world where Christians are criticized and scrutinized,
even something like the appearance of our lawn can and will be noticed!
Thank you, gentlemen, for all the hard work you put in this mowing
season for making the lawn look great!
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE:
There are always projects around the building and grounds that need attention. If you have some time and would be willing to volunteer, in this capacity, let the office know and we will find a place for you to help. ATTENTION LADIES! WE NEED WOMEN WHO ARE WILLING TO SPEND TWO MORNINGS A MONTH PLAYING WITH BABIES WHILE THE MOMS ATTEND “MOMS SET APART.” WE MEET THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS OF THE MONTH. PLEASE CONTACT JILL SIMS OR DEBBIE NELSON.
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SERVING SCHEDULE – November 2013
Communion Prep: Mike and Carolyn Owen
GREETERS WELCOME CENTER 11/3/13 - 1ST SVC 11/3/13 - 2ND SVC
10:30 Free At Last Connect Group 242 Connect Group
Shawn & Amelia Latimer Shirley Bloss/Edith Moody
11/10/13 - 1ST SVC 11/10/13 - 2ND SVC
Empty Nesters Connect Group 9:30 Free At Last Connect Group
Dustin & Lacey Shumaker Ken Nelson/Marty Hamm
11/17/13 - 1ST SVC 11/17/13 - 2ND SVC
10:30 Free At Last Group Refuge Connect Group
Jay and Kim Tyler Dennis & Kay McCann
11/24/13 - 1ST SVC 11/24/13 - 2ND SVC
Empty Nesters Connect Group 9:30 Branch Connect Group
Mike Seal/Mike Lippert Sue Malina/Dorothy Marti
//13 - 1ST SVC //13 - 2ND SVC
SERVERS 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE 11/3/13 Various People Austin Presko Team
11/10/13 Various People Doug Graves Family
11/17/13 Various People Ben Jennings Team
11/24/13 Various People Les Londeen & Youth Ministry
NURSERY CHECK-IN 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE
11/3/13 Erica Shaw Amanda Miller
11/10/13 Joy Shearin Debbie Gray
11/17/13 Jill Sims Jill Cobb
11/24/13 Stacy Gambill Janet Kubitschek
//13
NURSERY 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE 11/3/13 Erica Shaw/Amanda Hamilton/Debbie Little Stewarts and Millers
11/10/13 Kelly Loftis/Joy Shearin/Linda Jones Debbie & Kayla Gray/Kayla Bryant
11/17/13 Jill Sims/Dustin & Lacey Shumaker Cobb Family/Margie Pierce
11/24/13 Stacy Gambill/Laura Lippert/Melissa Mittag Kubitschek Family
//13
Wee Cruisers’ LEADER
Li'l Cruisers’ LEADER
Cruisers’ LEADER
11/3/13 Gabrielle Carroll Elizabeth Kubitschek
AJ and Terra Gegg Shelby Ritz
Brad and Ashley Worthy
11/10/13 Debbie Jennings Victoria Kubitschek
Brad and Marsha Foster Shelby Ritz
Shawn and Amelia Latimer
11/17/13 Katy Carmichael Kayla Bryant
Emily Sampson Anna Martin
Les
11/24/13 Tammy Worthy Jessie Worthy
Sara Emmerton Britney Shearin
Austin and Amanda Presko
//13
COMPUTER 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE 11/3/13 Jordan Marsh Sonya Simpson
11/10/13 Dan Gray Dan Gray
11/17/13 Katy Carmichael Jay Butler
11/24/13 Karl Simpson Sonya Simpson
//13
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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
Want to participate? It’s easy! Here’s what you need to do …
1. At the south end of the auditorium, there are cards for different grocery items needed to fill the sixty baskets. We encourage you to be generous based on your circumstances when selecting cards of the items you will purchase.
2. Purchase the items (on the cards which you have selected) as soon as possible.
3. Bring your items to the church and place on the designated tables by Sunday, Nov. 24. We’ll take it from there!
Thanks for participating with us and living out your faith in a practical way as together we “do good!”
This year, the G6:10 Ministry has set a goal of 60 Thanksgiving baskets to
help families in need!!!
Obviously, to make this happen, we need everyone’s help!
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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.
www.cchonthe.net
www.show-mehome.com
www.pccchoices.org www.maranatha biblecamp.org
www.occ.edu
Part of our effort to equip people to LIVE OUT faith is to help cultivate a global perspective through our missions ministry. It’s why during our ENCOUNTER time, we regularly mention international events as they impact God’s Kingdom. It’s why we’re participating in “The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church” on November 3 and hosing one of our foreign partners on November 20 (see page 2 for more details on these events. It’s why we strive to keep information from our foreign partners before you – so that you can be aware and join in prayer!
It’s also why we want to remind you about a special event coming to Kansas City … The International Conference on Missions.
This is about as close as this conference gets to us. It would be a great opportunity to be inspired and challenged when it comes to God’s GLOBAL Kingdom. For more information, you can check out the website (http://www.theicom.org/conference/kansascity2013). This is the same basic information we have tried to communicate in CONNECT Groups. Southland has registered for the event as a church. You can register for NO COST by following this link: https://www.regonline.com/ICOM_badges2013. This link will allow you to register with your own information. Please let the office know if you need help.
Try to make it a priority to catch at least part of this conference!
Here are our local ministry partners with their websites so you can find out more about them:
