Sunday's Service - March 29, 2020 at 10:30am | Join us this Sunday for Worship ONLINE! | Combined Worship Service - 10:30am Last Sunday's online Worship with Pastor Mike Hileman and Connecting Life Church seemed to work out well. (Thanks Mike!) In light of the need to practice social distancing, we are continuing to take Mike up on his offer to spend Sunday mornings together online. Use the link Connecting Life to hop on to their Facebook page and let's learn together from Pastor Mike's message, at 10:30am on Sunday morning. Remember that while we are apart, we can still pray and Worship as a church family. | Our in-person Bible studies are currently paused. The ladies are working out a plan to again meet virtually by using Google Duo. We will keep you posted as we try things like this so that we can continue walking in the Word together. Do you have any favorite verses, an uplifting devotion, or a prayer request? Please send them in and share with your church family! | Stay in Touch One of the easiest ways to stay in touch right now is through social media. If you don't have an account, now may be the perfect time to sign up for Facebook and Instagram. We post at CGCC on Facebook and CGCC on Instagram frequently. We would love to be able to connect more with you through these online platforms. They are excellent at helping us to share thoughts and stick together through this difficult time. | Missing Our Garden/Sprout/Nursery Kids! While we are apart, try some Bible learning at home. There are many great resources online, and one we sometimes turn to at CGCC is Ministry-To-Children. With children having to stay home and miss Sunday School, they are offering lessons that have been adapted to be easily used at home. This week's featured lesson surrounds the story of Lazarus, and reflects on the recognition that God is always working in our lives, even if we feel like we don’t understand what He is doing. Click here to access it: Lazarus Raised | The Lord's Prayer Series We will get back to our study on the Lord's Prayer as soon as we can resume meeting. In the meantime, hold on to these words: The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. | The Youth Group has been in touch using the power of text messaging. (Definitely tech to be extremely thankful for right now!) One of the things they were asked to do was to share a thankful thought...a God Sighting...that has jumped out at them as they are staying home. Several have sent in their answers, and hopefully others will soon. I am honored to share the following thoughts from our Youth: I'm thankful today for my relaxation and a wonderful youth director. ~ Audrey Shannon I'm thankful we are able to do school in our pajamas. ~ Maci Vignon I am thankful for miso soup for lunch and time with my cats. ~ Chris Lynch Big thanks to the youth for being willing to share. The Youth Group challenges all of you to look for God all around you right now. Spot the helpers and the good things that are happening. Search for a happy thought, a reason to be thankful, an unexpected blessing in this difficult time and share them with your family at home and your church family. We all need to remember to "be thankful in all circumstances." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 | Prayer To quote Alistair Begg, senior pastor of Cleveland's Parkside Church "It’s an amazing privilege to pray for others—to be able to come before the living God and seek Him on behalf of someone else." (Not familiar with Alistair Begg? A simple search on YouTube will take you to many videos. If you've taken a class with Dr. Pat, you have certainly learned from Alistair Begg's wisdom. Thanks Pat!) Despite not being able to gather for prayer and Worship, Christians across the world are certainly being granted the blessing of plenty of time for prayer. It is so important that we all take time each day to lift up our voices to God, talk to Him, and pour out our hearts. We know He hears and we also know that prayer sustains and changes the one who prays. May we all feel God's comfort and grace as we spend time in prayer. And, don't hesitate to send your prayers requests into Common Ground! Your church family is still here, wanting to pray for you and with you. | Serving Others "The only way to rise to the beauty of love is to rise and serve." Ann Voskamp Make no mistake, we are all called to serve each and every day but perhaps never more than we are called right now in these strange times. You may be serving by being "on the front lines" in your job as a doctor, nurse, store clerk, truck driver...the list goes on to encompass so many essential workers. You may be serving by teaching, by parenting, by caregiving, by cooking. Maybe your service comes in the form of working hard on your schoolwork or listening to your parents or helping out at home. Maybe you are praying for our leaders and our country, volunteering, making masks for our healthcare workers, or encouraging others through notes, emails, phone calls, chalk messages on sidewalks, or bears in windows. Whatever form your service takes, whatever you are able to do now, it is all important. None of us have ever been through days quite like this before and we are all being called to forge a path through uncharted territory. May we all rise to the occasion, call on the strength of God, act as the hands and feet of Jesus, and show His love through our daily actions of service. | March Speakers 29 - Pastor Mike Hileman ~ at 10:30am online via Facebook Live: Connecting Life | www.goodnessgrows4all.org Our Mission Statement: To cultivate personal, social, and community growth through gardening, education, and opportunity for people of all abilities. ~~~ | GG Temporarily Suspends Voc-Hab Program In keeping with the Governor and Dr. Acton's recommendations to slow the spread of the virus, GG made the tough call to keep our clients at home. With our small group, our initial plan was to stick it out and stringently follow all the safety measures, but we came to the decision that it was wiser and safer for us all to limit contact as much as possible. The faster this virus gets stopped, the faster we can get back to growing goodness together! | Rachel is Still Tending the Plants! Limited shares in our Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA) are available here this year. April 30 is the last day to get the Early Bird price on a Weekly Share. The final payment deadline to subscribe is May 29. If you have questions, want to learn more, or want to subscribe, we'd love to talk to you about it! | OUTREACH and MISSION OPPORTUNITIES | Coat & Clothing & More Giveaway ~ October 10 Keep saving all your clothing and outerwear items for our fall giveaway. Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers that we will accept donations all year! Hanging out at home provides a tremendous opportunity to sort out all the items you no longer need/use!!! Clothes for all ages and sizes needed, along with coats, bags, purses, shoes, housewares, books, stuffed animals, toys...whatever clean and useable items you think might help someone in need. Bags and boxes for people to carry their "new" items home with them are also needed! Drop items off under the front awning by the glass doors facing the road. | For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. .....When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me. Matthew 25: 35-36, 40 ~ What can YOU do? | LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS/EVENTS | If you know of any interesting news or events, please let us know, so that we can pass it on to others! | While we should not be attending events and gathering in groups, communities are banding together in so many ways! Check out the ideas below that can get you and your family working on a project at home and then out of the house as you walk or drive to spot what others have done. Isn't it wonderful when people take the time to care for others and strive to brighten up their days??? | Goin' on a Bear Hunt Place a bear in your window, on your porch, or in your yard (or any other creature, if so inclined). Kids can hunt for them while on family walks or drives through the neighborhood. Friend to Goodness Grows, Kathy Keaggy, has been spearheading this activity in Columbiana. There are folks from as far away as Australia and the UK also particpipating! | Timely Messages Online There are so many resources online to help us get through these days. Here is an uplifting message that Pastor Mike posted yesterday, focusing on James 1:2-3. Finding great joy in times of trouble. Take a listen: Encouragement | CELEBRATE! TODAY - National Spinach Day March 28 - Barb & Tim Doran March 29 - National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day March 30 - Doctors' Day April 1 - National Walking Day April - National Pet Month If we don't have your special days, please let us know! | ON THE CG CALENDAR March 26 - April 1, 2020 . . . As it is for everyone right now, our schedule is up in the air as we follow the "Stay at Home" order for however long it is required. But, rest assured, CGCC staff and leadership are still here. We still must bring in the mail, pay the bills, plan for the future, and reach out to others while GG keeps on prepping for the growing season...the work continues, both on W. South Range Rd. and as we work from home. We are available if you need us and we cannot wait to gather with you in person! Sunday, 10:30am - Online Worship ~ Hope to see you there on Facebook Live! | Seeking to reflect the unconditional love of God, our mission is to help people connect - to God, to one another, and to God's purpose for the world. | Come grow with us! Common Ground Church Community 2310 West South Range Road North Lima, Ohio 44452 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For more information, call 330-549-9408 or contact us by email at commonground.secretary@gmail.com. | |