:: AIP#78 - Ladies Night, 2 Serves in 1, Village Leaders, + The Holidays! ::

[click here to view the original, much prettier version of this post]

There's a lot going on this week in The City Church!

First, this Thursday is our first "Ladies Night," a girls-only event you should attend & bring non-City friends to! Then, this Sunday is our second "SERVE" Sunday, which we finally have details for - and it's actually TWO SERVES IN ONE!

Finally, we've got applications out for Village leaders [I can email you one if you're interested], and we need your input on our first-ever City Church holiday schedule.

Details on all this is below - read; RSVP/give feedback on our online network, and have a great week!

See you all Sunday/Monday,
Ben


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:: LADIES NIGHT DETAILS [+ GUYS, MARK YOUR CAL'S] ::
While we hope that everyone in The City Church is making connections, building relationships, and getting to know each other on your own, we are trying to provide an opportunity or two each month for you to get to know each other. Our November opportunities are coming up soon, and here are the plans so far:

LADIES NIGHT (let us know you're coming here)
Thursday, Nov 12, 6:00pm (*NOTE THE EARLIER TIME*), City Church ladies (and anyone you want to bring along for a night of awesomeness!) will meet at 6pm at Brad and Heather Thompson's place (address below) and head to Arlington. We'll eat at The Cheesecake Factory, and bowl at the newly established Splitsville Lanes (.com) for the most classy bowling you've ever seen. It will be a great night, and if you feel like you haven't met many folks yet, here's your chance! Be there, and if you have questions or need more info, email Jess Connelly. Schedule:

• 6:00pm Meet at Heather's House (email Ben for directions or find Heather on our online network; I'm not posting her address on such a public forum) to carpool
• 6:30pm Dinner at Cheesecake Factory in Arlington (yum)
• 7:30ish Bowling at Splitsville (also in Arlington) $5/game, $4 for shoes
  

Let us know you're coming on our online network, here. If you're not signed up for the network, email Jess (link above), or sign up for the network here.

MAN NIGHT (let us know you're coming here)
Friday, Nov 20 is MAN NIGHT - we'll tell you the plan in an email later this week (if you want to help with details, email Ben). BUT, we can guarantee it will involve steak, and there will likely be cigars and tasty beverages involved. Full plans soon, but make plans to be there!


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:: THE CITY CHURCH "SERVE" - THIS SUNDAY :: Meet at the Hudsons' - 6436 Curzon Ave, 12pm | RSVP here

FINALLY - HERE ARE THE DETAILS FOR THIS SUNDAY: TWO SERVES IN ONE

Please forgive the delay as we got details nailed down... Here's the plan: we'll meet at noon, at the Hudsons' casa, and over a delicious lunch, we'll introduce our "City Church Christmas Serve," which will begin Sunday and wrap up Sunday, Dec 13.

From there, we'll head to Day Resource Center, which is open on Sundays for homeless community to gather, watch TV, hang out, shower and clean up a bit. We'll serve both the workers and the homeless community in the Lancaster area, hanging out and talking with them, building relationships, handing out personal items for their shower times, and doing whatever else the workers need.

We'll carpool over from the Hudsons'; wear clothes without brands on them, avoid much jewelry, and remove valuables from your car if you're planning on driving. It's generally a safe area, but we want to be respectful of the situation of those we're serving.

Let us know you're coming here, or email Ben.


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:: THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING - GIVE YOUR INPUT! ::

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means Christmas, New Years, and of course, Canada's Boxing Day are right behind it! Since this is the first holiday season in The City Church's history, we need your help figuring out holiday plans. Please take a second, copy the dates below, and reply on our online network* (here), & let me know if you'll be around on the following days. [*If you're not on the network yet, feel free to email me back or sign up for the network here]

Please write "yes" or "no" after each, to let us know if you'll be in Fort Worth for potential City Church gatherings:

• Nov 26 - Thanksgiving (we might ask some folks to open their homes to folks who don't have family here)
• Nov 29 - Post-Thanksgiving Feast (everyone bring leftovers to Sunday's Village)
• Dec 13 - Christmas Dinner (knowing some of our college folks leave for Christmas, our last Village for this "semester" will be a celebration Christmas dinner)
• Dec 20, 27, Jan 3 - we're trying to plan our Sunday gatherings well through the holiday weeks
• Dec 24 - We're considering a Christmas Eve gathering if folks are in town
  

Thanks for your input; it helps us a ton! And even though the University Park Shopping Center beat me to it with their Christmas wreaths and lights already, let me be the first to offer you a ridiculously premature "happy holidays '09!"


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:: VILLAGE LEADERS - PREPARING FOR JANUARY ::
Please be in prayer for strong, godly leaders as we make preparations for an exciting 2010!

In the decentralized structure of The City Church, we value Village leaders highly as you play an important role in our church family. You carry great weight and spiritual responsibility for the folks you'll help shepherd. Because of this and because we want to "equip the saints" well, we don't have the luxury of "filling an empty leadership spot with a warm body." Nor would we want that luxury; it would allow us to slack off!

So in order to set up Villages well as we send you on mission into neighborhoods in January, we're praying for strong, godly leaders to step up and lead Villages. Here's how this first round of leaders will prepare for our "launch":

• We have Village leader role descriptions and packets available. Email Ben if you want one, and you'll have two weeks to pray, consider, and complete them.
• Later in November, leaders-in-training will begin gathering regularly for several weeks of hands-on preparation for leading your Village.
• One weekend in January, our leaders will spend a final "Training Weekend" together (it won't be the entire weekend; we'll either go Fri-Sat or Sat-Sun).
• Then we'll commission you together with our church family, and beginning January 24, we'll send you with your Village, as a community on mission to your neighborhoods.
  

We don't want to "out-plan" God and set a specific number of Villages or leaders we're looking for, but we are praying for several of you to step up and help lead our mission, for the glory of God and the good of Fort Worth. Please be in prayer for us as we work to complete this process, and pray for the folks who will emerge as leaders as we prepare for the next step in The City Church's short history!

:: AIP#77 - Why Aren't We More Missional? ::

Here's a great blog series from my friend and Acts 29 coach Jonathan Dodson, who pastors Austin City Life in ATX. ACL has been focusing on mission this fall, and these are some of the thoughts Jonathan has shared with their church family over the past months. Many thanks to him for thinking well and deeply through these things and for sharing them. They're quick reads; I hope you'll read them and roll them over in your mind throughout the day!

• Equipping for Mission (practical, everyday ideas)
• Why Aren't We More Missional? (part 1)
• Why Aren't We More Missional? (part 2)
• Why Aren't We More Missional? (part 3)
• Mission is More than a Command

Finally, and related, Jonathan wrote this article for Boundless webzine, which is just as intriguing as its title:

• Stop Going to Church
  

:: AIP#76 - Monday Missions #5 ::

For several Mondays this fall, I'm posting some practical ideas o help answer the question "what does 'living on mission' look like every day?" These are just example ideas to hep you live with "gospel intentionality"; consider how you could tweak each to fit your life. As you do, I'd love your input, ideas, and creativity as well. If you have ideas for the list, email me or comment below, and I'll get them up here in the coming weeks*. Here's this week's list:

1. Take classes: adult ed classes, cooking classes, fitness classes, or whatever other classes are offered in your community.
   
2. Coach a little league team – and as you do, get to know parents, other coaches, etc.
3. Volunteer at your kid’s school – and as you do, get to know parents, teachers, etc.
4. Teach lessons: if you’re good at something, share that skill, and build relationships as you go.
   
5. Throw a July 4th party for your neighborhood.
   
6. Throw a Labor Day or Memorial Day party for your neighborhood.
   
7. Throw any other holiday party for your neighborhood - even Boxing Day.
   
8. Do the same for your office or your co-workers.
   
9. Brew green beer and have folks over on St. Patrick’s Day.
   
10. If you’re really bold, explain the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day as you all enjoy green beer together. [Do you know the real reason for the day so many folks get plastered?!]

[*Note: Some of these suggestions are original; some have been collected from others. In gratitude to them, and as an encouragement to you, I freely pass them along to copy, read, repost or otherwise use liberally. However, one reason for compiling this list is for an upcoming booklet/workbook, so I ask that you link back to this site if making any of it public, by including: "Ben Connelly, www.oneglory.org." Thanks!]

:: AIP#75 - Weekend Happenings ::

This is by no means comprehensive, but just a couple things to throw your way that we've heard about, going on in Fort Worth this weekend. Click each for more info, post below if you know more, and check 'em out as we love our city!

FRIDAY, NOV 6:

• First Friday on the Green (historical/hospital district)
• First Friday at the Modern (Museum of Modern Art)
• Fort Worth Swing Dancing Syndicate (1st Jefferson UUC)

SATURDAY, NOV 7:

• Brain Tumor Walk (Trinity Park)
  
• Ryan Place Chili Cookoff (historical/hospital district)

SUNDAY, NOV 8:

• The City Church's Sunday Village (the Hudsons' casa)

AND OF COURSE, ALL WEEKEND LONG...

• The Dickies 500 (Texas Motor Speedway)
• "The Sounds of Music" (Bass Hall)
  
• Plus great museums ("The Alps" is at the Sci/Hist Museum), restaurants, parks, & more
  

:: AIP#74 - Monday Missions #4 ::

For several Mondays this fall, I'm posting some practical ideas to help answer the question "what does 'living on mission' look like every day?" These are just example ideas to hep you live with "gospel intentionality"; consider how you could tweak each to fit your life. As you do, I'd love your input, ideas, and creativity as well. If you have ideas for the list, email me or comment below, and I'll get them up here in the coming weeks*. Here's this week's list:

1. Join a PTA or become a “room parent” for your kids’ school.
   
2. You eat three meals a day; 21 meals a week – set a goal and eat that many meals each week with a non-believer.
3. Shop at locally-owned stores.
4. Run your business with integrity, with more of a focus on making an impact than making a profit.
5. Attend wine tastings, grand openings, and other society happenings in your community.
6. Do things within your business that contribute to the community: give things away, offer discounts, make donations, etc.
7. Focus your contributions on things that build up the kingdom of God.
8. Watch movies your parents wouldn’t approve of: movies shape culture; you need to know what other folks are watching.
   
9. Buy a dog. Take it for walks. Talk to people. That’s getting to know your neighbors.
   
10. Make sure you clean up that dog’s messes in your neighbors’ yards.

[*Note: Some of these suggestions are original; some have been collected from others. In gratitude to them, and as an encouragement to you, I freely pass them along to copy, read, repost or otherwise use liberally. However, one reason for compiling this list is for an upcoming booklet/workbook, so I ask that you link back to this site if making any of it public, by including: "Ben Connelly, www.oneglory.org." Thanks!]

:: AIP#73 - NorthWood Church Planting ::

Wanted to share a quick blog post and picture from Bob Roberts Jr, on our two-day training this week [more on this coming soon]. NorthWood Church in Keller has planted 110+ churches already, and we're honored to have their influence, coaching, and mentorship as we move forward!

Here's the post.

And as a little bonus, here's another post from Bob, from a roundtable we rode over to a couple months ago. He was very encouraging to me, even as he exhorted me where I'm weak in ministry and experience. Plus he gets to do some really cool stuff with folks of all religions across the world, and is seeing God move in really cool ways. Spend some time on his blog!

:: AIP#72 - Mission makes Jack-o-Lanterns Smile ::

In case you haven't seen it yet, every Monday for the past few weeks I have been posting practical ways to live out the "everyday mission" we've been talking about (find the "Monday Missions" posts here: http://is.gd/4IlHV). On last week's post, I threw out a couple ideas of how we can engage this weekend's "holiday" - arguably the most neighborhood-oriented day of the year for many of us, ironically?! - for the gospel:

• Stay in and give candy and encouragement to kids, and to parents too.
• As you build relationships, create a safe place/party for kids to trick-or-treat in your neighborhood.

Here are a few more I might add:

• Try to take the few seconds while kids are at your door to shake hands with the parents: find out where they live.
  
• Then, follow up with them in a few more days and ask them over for dinner.
• As you take your own kids trick-or-treating, stay in your local neighborhood, even if Mira Vista DOES have better candy options!
• Throw a Halloween party for Christian AND non-Christian co-workers, neighbors, and friends, all together in one room.
• Spend money on really good candy: as a reflection of all that Jesus does for you, be generous and giving with your neighbors, instead of being stingy and cheap!
  

What are some ideas you might add? How will you spend this day, which is community built right into our culture, for the good of the gospel and for the good of your neighborhood?