| Sunday's Service - December 6, 2020 | Advent Sermon Series ~ A Christmas Carol The featured Scripture is: Luke 2:11-18
for Mike's message: A Christmas Carol Part 2: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." Join us Sunday ~ In-Person & Online ~ Worship at 11am Connecting Life Church Facebook Page Come Grow With Us! | Candle Lighting ~ Second Sunday of Advent The Snyder Family (Frank, Jill, Dustin, and Colin)
will lead us in a reading of Isaiah 11:1-5; 10
as they light the Candle of Peace. | | Rich & Barb Weimer, Lighting the Candle of Hope | Worshiping Together Spend Sunday morning with us ~ online or in-person at 11:00am.
Use the Facebook link Connecting Life and let's grow together! We can continue to join
together in Worship and Praise and Prayer, whether in the Sanctuary or on Facebook. Please send your prayer requests in for our Joys & Concerns email that will go out on
Monday morning! The CGCC website has a Contact/Prayer Request page, you can
email Jen Lynch directly, or use commonground.secretary@gmail.com. ~~~ | Connecting Life Church Membership Meeting Tomorrow, December 4, at 7pm via Zoom
We will be voting on the 2021 Budget. The 2021 Budget Proposal
will be emailed to you prior to the meeting to review.
It is important for all members to attend if possible. | Decorating the Chrismon Tree We want YOU to help add some new decorations to our Chrismon tree in the Great Room. Stop at the table next to the tree to grab an ornament kit to take home. Craft supplies and directions are provided. (Not provided ~ scissors, glue, and a hole punch.) Have fun assembling this special ornament at home, then bring it back to church and hang it on the Chrismon tree. We can't wait to see all the new symbols of Jesus added to this special tree! | Info Requested for Christmas Eve Bulletin Please send in names of loved ones you would like to honor in our Christmas Eve bulletin.
Email any name you would like included to jlynch02@gmail.com by December 20th.
If you have any questions, please talk to Pastor Mike or Jen Lynch. ~~~ | | Bible Studies & Ministries | We will be following the health and safety directives during small group meetings and events as well as Worship. Masks and social distancing are required anytime you are in our building, as we try our best to stay healthy together. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! | Sunday Morning Bible Study
9:30am, upstairs in the Activity Room ~ Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Ladies Bible Study
Friday, at 9am in the Activity Room ~ Who Do You Say That I AM? by Becky Harling | Wednesday Morning Prayer Group
10am, participate via Zoom ~ Personal Meeting ID: 6936117456, Password: prayer | LifeGroups
Designed to help adults grow as Christ followers:
* Taylor LifeGroup: Sundays, 6pm at the Crawford/Taylor house
* Weimer LifeGroup: Tuesdays, 10am on Zoom - Next meeting December 8th. | Children's Ministry Collide Kids Wednesday - Have you ever gotten annoyed with someone? Maybe a brother or sister? Do you know that God never gets annoyed with you? Isn't that amazing? In this lesson we'll learn that, because God doesn't get annoyed with us, we don't have to get annoyed with others! Grab your kid(s) and spend 25 minutes together singing, dancing, laughing, and learning! We would love for you to also have your child(ren) memorize this week's scripture verse and motions and upload a video of them in the comment section under the video on the CLC Facebook page! Have a great week, Collide Kids! | Looking Toward 2021
Despite a deep desire to meet as a group, the spread of COVID in our valley makes returning to meetings more of a risk than we are willing to take with our youth. It was a blessing to be able to meet several times during the fall, to get to help with the Coat & Clothing Giveaway, and to kick off our YG Christmas Food Drive. In order to continue to do our best to protect our community, we will not hold any meetings in December. There is no way to know yet what January will bring, but we will watch the news, follow the safety guidelines, and prayerfully consider our path forward. To all the youth, please know this was not an easy decision to make. Gathering with you all is a joy and an honor. Let us continue to pray for one another, our families, and our community leaders as we all strive to care for each other during this pandemic. This turn of events will not keep us from having a successful Christmas Project! We still have time to shop and donate items through this Sunday. All youth group members should be reminding their loved ones about our work to help the hungry in the tri-county area. If you and your parents are up for it, mask up and head out to gather your donations! Every item and every dollar will go a long way to helping members of our community! | | How a Second Harvest Food Drive Works | Youth Group Christmas Project 2020 We appreciate all the donations that are coming in! This weekend is the last chance to donate for this Christmas Food Drive!
All non-perishable food items are accepted and deeply appreciated. The items that are most used year-round are peanut butter, cereal, canned veggies & fruits, tuna, dry pasta, soup, and
mac & cheese. The holiday items that are most needed are boxed stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, gravy mix, canned yams, and canned veggies. Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated. Every $1 donated allows Second Harvest to distribute $11 worth of food,
or the equivalent of 6 meals, to hungry families. | Prayer For whom are you praying today?
How can we pray for you?
We are here to pray with and for you, anytime! Prayer needs sent by early Monday morning will be included in the weekly Joys & Concerns email. We are also glad to send out prayer requests and praise reports anytime throughout the week! | Encouragement Thank you to Darla Smith for writing and Marcia Kreps for sharing Darla's uplifting words with us. "Looks like winter is here in Ohio. Thank you, God, for your beautiful seasons you give us. (Some of us) delight in it! I pray you all had a blessed Thanksgiving with your family. It was different with all that is going on, but I am truly blessed and thankful for all of you!" "The Word God gave me this week is a double word. “Silent” and “Listen" - same letters and different words. This really made me look at my life. Are we being “silent” enough so we can “listen” to what the Holy Spirit is trying to reveal to us every day? Have we become so busy in our lives that we are not able to “listen” amidst all the hustle and bustle? In the “silent,” there can be such a sweet peace. In the “silent,” God will wrap His arms around us and tell us everything will be ok. In the “silent,” we can “listen” for His guidance to walk our path that we are on. God’s presence will be in front of us – behind us – beside us – around us in the “silent." I pray the Holy Spirit will continue to teach us as we are “silent” and “listen.” I pray we are so in tune with the Holy Spirit that we get “silent” and “listen” even before He speaks. Let’s “listen” in the “silent” and learn from the Master." "I pray your week is blessed in every way and full of love!" "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track."
~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) | New Devotionals Available Stop in the Great Room to pick up the Our Daily Bread
for Dec/Jan/Feb as well as an Advent devotional.
Please feel free to take one to friends or family members. | Thankful Thoughts Help us fill the foyer window with all the things for which you are grateful. Next time you're here, take a moment to add your thoughts to a seasonal shape and tape it up. Not coming to church in person? Please email us your thankful thoughts and we will gladly put them in the display for you. We would love to fill the window up before Christmas! So many reasons to give thanks! | Rock Kidz Uganda Fundraiser Handmade bracelets and a necklace are available at the front desk. All proceeds will go to the construction of Divine Junior School. These would make great Christmas gifts while raising money for a good cause! | Christmas Goodies ~ Free to a Good Home Next time you are at church, check out the table of decorative Christmas items in front of the pew in the Great Room. One of our friends was on a cleaning out binge and thought that someone else might put these items to use this Christmas season. Any items that remain after Sunday will be tucked away for next fall's Giveaway. | December Worship ~ Online & In-Person Pastor Mike Hileman ~ Sundays at 11:00am
Join us at church or online via Facebook Live: Connecting Life We will continue to be guided by the health and safety guidelines set forth by the
governor and the health department, so we require masks to be worn in our building.
We're excited to welcome you to Worship, in church and online! ~~~ | Christmas Eve Service ~ December 24th at 3:30pm Come worship with us during our afternoon service, complete with special music and candle-lighting. This year's service will look different than any before it, but it will still be a joyous time as we celebrate the birth of Christ. Social distancing guidelines will be followed and masks must be worn. We will livestream on Facebook so everyone can feel comfortable joining in to this time of worship and praise. | www.goodnessgrows4all.org Our Mission Statement: To cultivate personal, social, and community growth through gardening, education, and opportunity for people of all abilities. ~~~ | News of the Week Everyone returned from Thanksgiving break refreshed and ready to work! Monday was spent making jam, wrapping up our candle sale (Great big thanks to all who purchased a candle!), and doing some drawing. Then Tuesday brought our first snow day of the season and we all had an unexpected day off. We hope this won't happen too often this winter but we don't want to take any chances with the safety of our GG family! Wednesday we went back into the kitchen to make more jam then spent the afternoon out in the fresh air getting some exercise while building snowmen and a snow fort. Today we are excited to be making more ornaments for our GG tree in the Café. Stop by and check it out when you can. | Jungle Jam & Juicy Jam Goodness Grows Jungle Jam and Juicy Jam available at Reach for the STARS online: Shop Local.
They even provide curbside pickup in Salem to encourage social distancing.
We are also glad to arrange a jam pick up here at GG.
Jam makes a great gift! | | OUTREACH and MISSION OPPORTUNITIES | Goodness Grows The non-profit ministry of Common Ground Church Community, Goodness Grows is always busy on our property. GG works with students and adults with disabilities, providing vocational habilitation training in a fun and hands-on way. The GG crew also maintains the grounds and cleans the church building. There are many ways to support GG, including:
* Online Shopping ~ Just use Amazon Smile - choose Goodness Grows as your charity of choice.
* Volunteering ~ Give of your time and get back lots of love & smiles!
* Donating Items ~ We are always in need of items like basic jam making supplies such as regular 8oz. canning jars, lids, sugar, and white vinegar.
* Purchasing Our Products ~ Proceeds from jam & crafts go right back to our programs.
* Charitable Giving ~ As a small non-profit, Goodness Grows depends upon generous supporters who give monetary support. A contribution to Goodness Grows is tax-deductible, to the extent allowed by law. Your donations help us to continue our mission of working with people of all abilities. | Rock Kidz Uganda, Inc. Their mission is to Advocate, Advise, Advance the ministries
of Divine Soccer in Masaka, Uganda for the benefit of the
children of the community. Sponsorships can be made to Rock Kidz Uganda, Inc.,
1814 E. 3rd St., Salem, OH 44460 or via Pay Pal at rockkidzuganda@gmail.com.
Learn more on Facebook at: Rock Kidz Uganda.
Check out their new website: www.rockkidzuganda.org. | Brightside Toy Drive Toys will be collected until the week of the event, which is being held on
Saturday, December 19. Call 234-320-4005 for more information. | | Scarf Drive Thru December 11 | Coat & Clothing & More Giveaway ~ 2021! Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers that we collect items year-round...clothes for all ages and sizes, along with coats, hats, bags, purses, shoes, housewares, books, school supplies, stuffed animals, puzzles, toys... anything clean and useful! We have a donation barrel and storage space ready to go. | 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! ~~~ | | Christmas Fun Tonight in Salem | Cookies for Santa Take Home Boxes Must be pre-ordered by December 16th.
Missing the tradition of visiting Boardman Park to make cookies for Santa? Boardman Park will provide you with some essential needs like cookie dough, cookie cutter, crafts, icing, and, of course, sprinkles! Pre-order your box on the Park website or by calling the Park office at 330-726-8105. Cost: $5 for Boardman Residents and $7 for Non-Residents. You can pick up boxes from the Park Office -The Georgeanna Parker Building - on Friday December 18th 8am-4pm or Mon-Wed December 21st-23rd 8am-4pm. | Coping with Grief and the Holidays Friday, December 4 from 6-7-pm
Library Anywhere on Zoom
Join Kim Calhoun from Hospice of the Valley as she explains the importance of understanding grief and how to cope with anxiety, sadness and emptiness during the Holidays.
Ordinarily, we think of the holidays as a time of joy, sparkle and celebrations. But when one is coping with grief, holidays may be out of the ordinary. As the holidays approach, think about how to take care of yourself during this difficult time, or to be aware of the effect the holidays may have on grieving family or friends. It is important to recognize the benefit of understanding grief and implementing some strategies that can assist in coping with feelings of anxiety, sadness, and emptiness. Please register with an email address. A librarian will reach out to you and provide you with a Zoom link. (You do not have to be on camera.) Register Here | Holiday Nights Beech Creek Botanical Gardens and Nature Preserve
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays from 5-9pm thru December 20, and 5-9pm December 26-30
More details & ticket info: Outdoor Family Fun | Blood Drive - Mahoning Chapter, American Red Cross Saturday, December 5 from 10am-3pm
Austintown Public Library
Taking blood donations to help our community. For appointments, or to find a different blood drive, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit www.RedCrossBlood.org. | Lisbon Christmas Parade & Light-Up Ceremony The Lisbon Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas parade will be held from 5-6:30pm this Saturday, December 5, at the Columbiana County fairgrounds. This will be a drive-thru event featuring floats that remain in place while motorists drive through the fairgrounds. Also on the 5th, in downtown Lisbon, the Christmas tree, the gazebo, and the square will have an official lighting up ceremony. | CELEBRATE! Today - National Disability Day
December 4 - National Cookie Day
December 6 - St. Nicholas Day
December 7 - National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 8 - Randy & Tracy Hartley
December 1-7 - National Handwashing Awareness Week If we don't have your special days, please let us know! | ON OUR CALENDAR December 3-9, 2020 . . .
Weekdays, 9am-2pm - GG at Work
Tonight, 6:30pm - Praise Band
Friday, 9am - Ladies Bible Study
Sunday, 9:30am - Sunday Morning Class
Sunday, 11am - In-Person & Online Worship
Sunday, 6pm - Taylor LifeGroup
Tuesday, 10am - Weimer LifeGroup
Wednesday, 10am - Prayer Group via Zoom
Wednesday, 12pm - Collide Kids Online | 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
Connecting Life Church
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. | |
