| Sunday's Service - May 31, 2020 | Join us this Sunday for Worship - 10:30am Spend Sunday morning online with us as Pastor Mike delivers his sermon. Use the Facebook link Connecting Life and let's learn together. Remember that while we are apart, we can still pray and Worship as a church family. AND, send in your prayer requests for our Joys & Concerns email that will go out on Mondays! We would love to see and pray for the prayer needs of everyone from Common Ground and Connecting Life as well as anyone else in need of the power of prayer! *Since Connecting Life Church has a public Facebook page, you can follow the above link and watch church service. You don't even need to have a Facebook account. | Big News as We Move Forward Dear Church Family, During this unprecedented time we have deeply appreciated the connection with and support from Connecting Life Church (CLC). Pastor Mike and his team have opened their hearts and welcomed the chance to work with all of us from Common Ground. If you have seen the online worship services (and if you have not, we urge you to jump onto the CLC Facebook page and watch some of the online sermons available there), you may have heard both Mike and Kim mention CGCC, some of the things we do, and reference how we are working together. They even put together a logo using their symbol and our tree, which is a very nice touch. At this time, we don't yet know when we will commence worshiping together in person again. (But, we are meeting tonight to focus on a plan. We'll keep you posted!) What we do know is that we have the responsibility to steward all that God has given us at Common Ground Church Community. We also know that we have the responsibility to share the Good News and be the hands and feet of Jesus. When in-person worship resumes, we will continue to partner with Pastor Mike and CLC at Common Ground Church Community to explore what having two churches working together to advance the kingdom of God could look like. As we have done before, we will have a time of "dating" to see if and how we can fit together. (Pastor Mike refers to this as spending a season together.) We are excited about this possibility and about what God can do through us and our church home. We hope you are excited about continuing this faith journey with CGCC. May God bless all of us and all of our efforts as we walk together, seeking to make our community stronger. As always, any questions, thoughts, or concerns can be directed to a member of Session. We are always available for conversation and prayer. Yours in Christ,
The Session of Common Ground Church Community | Bible Studies Our Sunday morning Bible study is currently paused.
The ladies Bible study has been keeping in touch by email and meeting via Google Duo throughout the stay at home time. We are meeting in person tomorrow morning at 9am at the church to begin chapter 8 of our book "Parables" by John MacArthur. We'd love to have you study and chat with us! Do you have a favorite Scripture or an uplifting devotion that has helped you get through
the last few months? Please send them in and share with your church family! | Missing Our Garden/Sprout/Nursery Kids! While we are apart, try some Bible learning at home. This week's featured lesson from Ministry-To-Children is based on Acts 2:1-21 where the Holy Spirit empowers the early church to share the message of Jesus. Head on over to that lesson right here: Pentecost | Youth Group Quarantine Challenge Continues Youth Group members continue to receive a variety of challenges. Participants who complete a challenge and text their answer to Jen by each deadline will earn points...to be translated into prizes when we can meet again. A quick non-Bible challenge will arrive today, with bonus points going to the first to answer! The next Bible Search Challenge will go out soon. Remember, when the next Bible Search Challenge arrives, this is an excellent resource to access a ton of different Bible translations: Bible Gateway. | Devotions at Home Looking for more resources to use at home? Wanting to add to your Bible study/devotional time? Here is a great website to check out: Our Daily Bread. If you enjoy the devotionals we provide at Common Ground, you will definitely find something here that brings you comfort or causes you to think about things in a new light. Our Daily Bread has resources, videos, and readings for all ages, such as this Family Devotional all about kindness. There is always something new to find in the Word of God! Note: Our Daily Bread has been working with a reduced staff due to the pandemic, so the devotional booklets for June/July/August have not arrived yet. We'll let you know when they are available. | Prayer For whom are you praying today?
How can we pray for you? Whenever you have a prayer request, please don't hesitate to send it in! We are all still here to pray with and for you. If you want to share your prayers and praises like we do in church for "Joys & Concerns," please take a minute to send them in by early Monday mornings for inclusion in the weekly Joys & Concerns email. Connecting Life Church folks, we would love to hear your prayer needs as well! Thank you! | Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12
~~~ | Encouragement Another inspiring devotional about community. Bret Lamsma's reading from May 25th contains much that speaks to the time we are living in right now. (This is the website that the passage below comes from: Today. Community Is . . . the Little Things When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. — 1 Kings 19:13 Eli has enjoyed some big moments in his life. He is part of a close-knit family, a good church and youth group, and a meaningful group of friends. His family homesteads on the Colorado plains, and he recently visited Africa on a mission trip. But when he thinks of community, Eli thinks of the little things that his closest friends do together. He thinks of watching movies, working on cars, and talking about football. In those little moments of life Eli finds comfort, safety, and a feeling of connectedness that are very important to him. God is present in big things, and God is also present in the small, mundane, and quiet things of life. God does huge miracles, saves countless people, and heals debilitating diseases. God also watches over us in our weakest times and knows the minute details of our lives. God is present in the whispers of our lives when it seems as if no one is there and nothing matters. Community is similar. It isn’t just present in the big and life-changing moments. It isn’t just present in huge groups. It is present in the quiet, little things of life too. Sometimes we aren’t even looking for it, and it just shows up. It is present in quiet conversations over coffee, in small game nights, in family meals, or in a garage as friends work on a car. What small moments do you find community in? Maybe when you look for community in those situations, you’ll see it all around you. Prayer ~ Lord, help us to notice the small moments of community we can have with others and with you. Amen. | May Worship Pastor Mike Hileman ~ Sundays at 10:30am online via Facebook Live: Connecting Life We remain online for May and will let you know what the plan is for June as soon as possible. We will continue to be guided by the health and safety guidelines set forth by the governor and the health department. When in-person Worship resumes, we still plan to use the Facebook Live platform so that folks who prefer to remain at home will be able to continue worshiping with us. | 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 While it was a shortened week due to Memorial Day, it was still an exciting one. On Wednesday we welcomed Shawn and Keegan and Tori and Dustin, making it the first day that multiple clients were here together since March 20th! It is wonderful to be getting back together. We are carefully following all the guidelines, using masks, washing hands, and screening for coronavirus symptoms while enjoying a much more normal routine. As it is the end of May, our crew was kept very busy with transplanting and other farm work. We predict some tired folks by the end of this first week back to a busier schedule! | Almost CSA Time! Order/payment deadline is TOMORROW, Friday, May 29. Last chance to join!
We are so pleased to have eleven subscribers who have officially registered and paid for this season. Can't wait to see them all on June 25th. We tremendously appreciate their support. | Jam For Sale Check out Reach for the STARS online to get your Goodness Grows Jungle Jam and Juicy Jam. Here is the link to their website: Shop Local
They even provide curbside pickup in Salem to encourage social distancing. Tonight from 6-6:30, they will be on Facebook Live, featuring home decor items made by local artisans and Ohio-based companies -
Hello Summer Online Preview | Benefits of Gardening Spring is in full swing and summer is coming fast. Now is the time to get outside, soak up some sun (while wearing sunscreen, of course), and play in the soil. Here at Goodness Grows, our crew is constantly planting, weeding, and watering or thinking about planting, weeding, and watering! Check out this fascinating article that our friend Marilee shared on Facebook: How Dirt Makes You Happy. We have plenty of places here for you to get your daily fill of happiness from the soil! Stop by anytime and enjoy the benefits of being outside in nature getting your hands dirty. | | 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, stash them away until we meet again, or contact Rachel, Jill, or Jen to see if we are available to accept a drop off. | Masks for Uganda Thank you so much to all those who have been able to donate masks to be sent to Uganda! If you are still working on masks, or would like to get some to donate, there is still time. Please contact Jen Lynch by the beginning of next week to arrange a mask pick up. All your time, efforts, and generosity are beyond appreciated! | Donation Drop-Off Benefiting The Salvation Army The Salvation Army is still in need of donations of nonperishable food items, water/water bottles, laundry soap, toilet paper and toiletries. Make your donation outside of the Southern Park Mall's food court daily between the hours of 12-5pm. Scheduled now through June 5. Thank you for your donation! | Weeders Always Welcome! You are always invited to spend some time enjoying the beauty of God's creation on our property. Take time to appreciate His handiwork while pulling some weeds in the flower beds!
Goodness Grows works to try to keep the beds looking good but when the fields and
gardens need attention, some things must wait. All help is appreciated!
As the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." | 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! | Reprise Performance of Opera Western Reserve's Madame Butterfly Friday, May 29 at 7pm
Stambaugh Auditorium has been presenting a weekly digital watch event of past performances. Since opening in 1926, Stambaugh Auditorium has hosted countless concerts and events providing entertainment, education, and celebration for the people of the Mahoning Valley. Due to the unprecedented situation that has changed so much, it will most likely be sometime before large events will return. Until then, we will revisit some of the performances of the past. This Friday, they will show Madame Butterfly, performed by the Opera Western Reserve at Stambaugh Auditorium in 2018. Find it here: Stambaugh Auditorium or at the direct link to their YouTube Channel. | March for Jesus Mahoning Valley Saturday, May 30, 2020
March for Jesus Mahoning Valley plans to present a Virtual March in which Christians from across our city from different cultures, backgrounds, and denominations Prayer/Praise Walk through their neighborhoods, communities, and cities for Jesus two-by-two. It will be streamed on the Facebook Page and YouTube channel. Streaming will begin at 11am and end at noon with live Praise and Worship as well as prayers being prayed from people across the Mahoning Valley! Check out the website for the links and to learn more: Praise Walk | Kids Out And About Pittsburgh Newsletter Follow this link to find virtual events and activities for all ages to enjoy: Things To Do. Even as communities begin to re-open, many activities and locations remain canceled or closed. But, fun and educational online events are still being offered, including some "Virtual Summer Camps." Check it out and see something new! | | The Ward Beecher Planetarium Presents | CELEBRATE! May 29 - Learn About Composting Day
May 31 - Pentecost
June 1 - Linda Neel
June 3 - National Egg Day
June - National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month (Perfect month for CSA to begin!) If we don't have your special days, please let us know! | ON THE CG CALENDAR May 28-June 3, 2020 . . . Friday - CSA Deadline
Sunday, 10:30am - Online Worship
Weekdays, 9am-2pm - GG at Work CGCC staff and leadership are still here and we are still working to be YOUR church! We still must bring in the mail, pay the bills, plan for the future, and reach out to others while GG keeps on working 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! Hope to see you "at church" 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. | |
