Filed under: Weekly News and Events
News and Events // February 18, 2008
Jesus B Sermon Series // Sundays at 9:00am & 10:45am , Main Auditorium
As Christians we’re often called to be Jesus to the world. But is that really possible? What does it mean to have “the mind of Christ” and be His “hands and feet” to others? Pastor Jim Lyon explores what it means to be Jesus in the current Sunday sermon series, “Jesus B” derived from the New Testament book of Matthew. Purchase CD and cassette recordings at the Information Center for $3. Subscribe to the podcast or listen online at MadisonParkChurch.org.
Everlasting Love Tour // February 29 - March 1 at MPC
Since 1998, more than 200,000 people have heard the life-changing truths about relationships found in the Song of Solomon. Come to the Everlasting Love Tour, Song of Solomon Bible Conference, February 29-March 1, at Madison Park Church and see your relationship transformed through relevant biblical teaching by featured speaker Kyle Idleman, great music led by Jon Abel. Register at the Information Center or online at www.songofsolomon.com. Send a special email invitation to your friends and family at MadisonParkChurch.org.
Join the Journey // Saturday, March 15 from 9:00am - 12:00pm
Join the Journey provides the essential information you need to know before calling Madison Park Church your church home. The class answers questions such as who we are, what we believe, and our church membership process in a relaxed, fun, and interactive format. You’ll meet others who are on the same journey as you and begin the process of getting connected. The 3-hour course is offered one Saturday morning each month. The next course is scheduled for Saturday, March 15 from 9:00am - 12:00pm in Room 176/178. Sign-up online.
Palm Sunday Celebration // Sunday, March 16—9:00 & 10:45am
Join us as we begin the commemoration of Holy Week. We’ll remember Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, His suffering and crucifixion.
Maundy Thursday Service // Thursday, March 20—7:00pm, Main Auditorium
Come worship through the ordinances of Holy Communion and Feetwashing. Featuring the Women’s Ensemble.
Tenebrae // Friday, March 21 // 7:00pm, Main Auditorium
Latin for “the darkening,” Tenebrae is a moving portrayal of the passion of Christ through beautiful, contemplative music and narrative presented by the “Voices of Praise.”
Easter Sunday, March 23 // 9:00 & 10:45am, Main Auditorium
Two identical services at MPC celebrating Christ’s resurrection. Each service will include inspiring music featuring the “Voices of Praise” choir, a live orchestra, and an inspiring message from Pastor Jim Lyon.
Ministry Happenings
Students Selling Eggs: MPC Students will be taking orders for Chocolate covered Easter Eggs until March 2. The ¾ pound eggs cost $6.00 and come in a choice of peanut butter, chocolate peanut butter, maple walnut, cherry, coconut and cookies and cream flavors. They will each be hand dipped in milk chocolate and made by Student Ministries. They will be packaged in a beautiful, pastel Easter box complete with green Easter grass. All proceeds benefit the Student Ministries trips. Prepaid orders may be placed with any MPC Junior High or High School Student. If you are unable to locate a student, contact: Shelly Stottlemyer at the Church Office or sstottlemyer@madisonparkchurch.org.
J.O.Y. Luncheon: All seniors are invited to gather Thursday, February 21 at noon in the Commons for the J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) luncheon. Linda Teeple, weekly writer for the Anderson Herald, will be the guest speaker at 1:00pm. Contact: Esther Crnkovich at (765) 649-3323, or bobandesthercrnk@aol.com.
Singles Attend the Everlasting Love Tour: Singles are invited to attend the Song of Solomon Everlasting Love Tour at MPC on February 29 and March 1. The cost is $35. To sign up and attend with MPC Singles, contact Sarah Trick at the Church Office.
The Life Abundant: A new Sunday class will begin March 2 at 9:00am in Room 180. The class will explore life beyond trying to be a “good Christian” and experiencing the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10. Contact: Sarah Trick at the Church Office.
Loving and Nurturing Your Teenager: Pastor Keith and Retha Stork will lead this seven-week Sunday morning class for parents of students in 6th through 12th grade beginning March 16 at 9:00am in Room 178. This will be a great opportunity to share parenting success stories (and bloopers, too) with other parents. Learn how to maintain stability in a teen world of radical changes and how to transfer control as a parent to your developing young adult. Contact: Sarah Trick at the Church Office.
Singles Dinner and a Movie: All singles are invited to enjoy dinner and a movie on Saturday, March 29 at 6:00pm in Crossroads Auditorium. Cost is $5. Contact: Sarah Trick at the Church Office.
Student Ministries Mission Trip to Ecuador and International Youth Convention July 7- 18, 2008: Students in grades 8-12 are invited to participate in a Mission Trip to Ecuador followed by a trip to San Antonio, Texas, for the Church of God International Youth Convention. Participants will fly into Quito, Ecuador, to assist missionaries Greg and Linda Robertson in the construction of a new church. Then they will travel to San Antonio, Texas, to join other students from around the world at International Youth Convention 2008: “Reflect.” The total cost of the combined trip is $1,650.00 (plus food for IYC). The sign up deadline is February 27 and requires a non-refundable deposit of $150. Students may choose to participate in International Youth Convention without traveling to Ecuador. The dates of this trip are July 13-18. Students will travel by chartered bus from MPC to San Antonio, Texas. The cost is $500 (plus food) and requires a non-refundable deposit of $75. Registration forms are available at Crossroads Auditorium and the Church Office. Contact: Student Ministries at the Church Office.
Opportunities to Serve
To find a place to volunteer contact Marti Freeman at the Church Office or mfreeman@madisonparkchurch.org.
Easter Volunteers Needed // Sign-Up in The Commons: This Easter, consider the gift of service. Volunteer during one of the two identical Easter services. Ushers, Greeters, Traffic Managers, Valet Parking Attendants and Hospitality Room Hosts are all needed. Sign up on March 2 or 9 at the volunteer table in The Commons. Contact: Marti Freeman, Volunteer Coordinator at (765) 642-2000 or mfreeman@madisonparkchurch.org.
Volunteers Needed to Make Chocolate Eggs: Eighty volunteers are needed to assist Student Ministries with the Chocolate Easter Egg making fund raiser. Volunteers are needed to mix, mould, dip, box, set up and clean up on March 13, 14 and 15. Day and evening time slots are available. Sign up on Feb 24, March 2 or 9 at the volunteer table in The Commons. Contact: Marti Freeman, Volunteer Coordinator at the Church Office or mfreeman@madisonparkchurch.org.
Touch The World Trip Interest Meetings: Join the hundreds of MPC-goers who have had life-changing experiences on Touch The World trips. Interest meetings will be held on Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm on the following dates:
Hurricane Katrina Rebuilding Project—February 20 in Room 179
New York City—February 27 in Room 179
Wounded Knee, South Dakota—February 27 in Room 175
Indonesia—March 19 in Room 178
Dove Harbor V Bike Ride—March 26 in Room 177
For more information on Touch The World trips, contact Outreach and Missions.
Family News
To submit a threads announcement regarding a birth or death, please contact Debbie McCafferty in Pastoral Care.
In Sympathy with:
Kristi Craib and family at the loss of her father, Richard Merrill on February 2.
Dorothy Jackson and family at the loss of her sister, Alice I. Patterson on February 2.
Rejoicing in Baptism with:
Michelle Newton, Morgan Hale and Drew Wilson who were all baptized on February 3.
Sarah King, Phoenix King, and Carl Ingram who were all baptized on February 10.
News You Can Use
Communications Assistant Needed: Madison Park Church is accepting résumés for a part-time Communications Assistant to help with the weekly publication of threads, website updates, press releases, and various tasks assigned by the Communications Director. Applicants must have proficiency in writing and ability to manage multiple projects. Contact: Rob Spaulding at the Church Office.
Touch the World Trip to Africa Postponed: Due to the violence in Kenya, Africa, the Touch the World trip scheduled for February has been postponed. New details will be published in threads when they are available. Contact: Jackie Corn in the Church Office.
Invited to Pray: The community is invited to pray for government leaders, local pastors and a spiritual awakening in Anderson on the first Thursday of every month at noon in the Anderson Mayor’s Conference Room, located on the 5th floor of City Hall, 120 East 8th Street, Anderson. Contact: Joe Arena, South Meridian Church of God (765) 620-1968.
Installation Service: The Church of God at West Anderson, 2205 Park Road, invites the community to join them in celebrating the installation of Pastor Jared Fields on February 24 at 4:00pm. Contact: The Church of God at West Anderson at (765) 643-2969.
Alzheimer’s Disease Support Group: The Alexandria Care Center will begin hosting a monthly support group for people affected by Alzheimer’s Disease on February 28 at 7:00pm. The guest speaker that evening will be Neurologist, Dr. Blankenship of the Alexandria Care Center. Contact: Sandra Patty (765) 724-4478 or cpjulius@insightbb.com.
Bible Study Fellowship International: BSF will hold introduction classes on March 3 and 17, 6:55pm, at Kingston Avenue Baptist Church, 5403 Kingston Ave, Anderson. BSF is an interdenominational men’s group that uses challenging questions, lively discussion, interesting lectures and written notes summarizing the study. Contact: James McWilliams, (765) 608-4445, (765) 425-7010 or jamcw2007@yahoo.com.
Lighthouse Café // Wednesdays from 5:15pm until 6:30pm
Enjoy a freshly prepared meal and mini-salad bar in The Commons. Cost: Adults-$5, Children and College Students (with ID)-$3 (maximum of $20 per family).
February 20: Northern Italian Spaghetti/Kids Option—Pizza with Chips
February 27: Chicken and Noodles/Kids Option— Chicken and Noodles
Holy Grounds // Sundays, 8:00am-12:30pm & Wednesdays, 6:00-6:45pm
February Proceeds Support: Haitian Children’s Health
Purchase a drink or treat at Holy Grounds and a portion of the cost will help send needy Haitian children to the doctor. Just $4 (U.S.) is enough to pay for a child’s office visit and medicine. Come early or linger after the worship service to enjoy conversation and refreshments at Holy Grounds coffee bar. Visit MadisonParkChurch.org to view the full menu. MasterCard and Visa accepted.
Filed under: Jim Lyon - Posts
A Little Extroversion
by Jim Lyon, senior pastor
I’m profoundly introverted. That means that I process thoughts and ideas, almost to the extreme, internally, privately. My mind is always switched on, my brain seems to be in overdrive, and my head spins with ideas all of the time. But, I rarely speak about them.
Yes, yes, I know you hear me talk incessantly. In a way, I am paid to talk. But, talking out loud is not my nature. I have to work at it. Because, I’m an introvert.
That’s not to say that I don’t have conversations routinely. I do. The problem is, many of those conversations are in my head; I’m so dysfunctional that sometimes I can’t remember if I actually had a conversation out loud with someone or if I just had it in my mind—a conversation in which I spoke to and listened to myself (and just thought it was you). I’m a mess.
At Home in Student Ministries
They’re loud. They’re energetic. They’re hyper and passionate. They’re even a little intimidating. But to 54 volunteers who serve the junior high and senior high students at MPC, they’re the highlight of the week.
Crowds of students in grades 6-12 attend MPC services weekly, filling Crossroads Auditorium with laughter, music and discussion. To care for that many students, it takes a team of committed, passionate adults.
More than 54 volunteers work with Madison Park Students in various ways including small group leaders, driving buses, camp and trip counselors, Area Bible Studies, Wednesday and Sunday program leaders, worship band members, tech crew and administrative support.
