| Christmas Eve Service - December 24, 2020 | Advent Sermon Series ~ A Christmas Carol The featured Scripture is: Luke 2:1-20
for Mike's message: Silent Night. Join us on Wednesday at 3:30pm to celebrate the birth of Christ.
In-Person & Online via Facebook I pray that each of you will experience the richness of Jesus this Christmas. I know things
look different this year. So many things have changed. It is easy to become sad this time of
year. However, I want to remind each of you that our God has not changed. His love for you
hasn't changed, His plans for you have not changed, and His message of good news for you
has not changed. I want you to be encouraged this Christmas that
Jesus didn't come to condemn you, but to save you. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but to save the world through him. - John 3:16-18 Friends, as we celebrate Jesus' birth this Christmas, let us praise Him for fulfilling
the work He was sent to do on the cross. May the truth of the salvation we have received
bring us hope, peace, joy, and love this Christmas. From Stacy, Becca, Hannah, Sarah, and me, Merry Christmas!
- Pastor Mike Hileman | | Sunday's Service - December 27, 2020 | New Sermon Series ~ The Armor of God The featured Scripture is: Ephesians 6:10-14
for Mike's message: The Belt of Truth. Join us Sunday ~ In-Person & Online ~ Worship at 11am Connecting Life Church Facebook Page Come Grow With Us! | Candle Lighting ~ Christmas Eve James & Tiffany Crawford will lead us in a reading of Isaiah 9:2-7 as they light the Christ Candle. | | Shannon Family, Lighting the Candle of Joy | 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. ~~~ | Christmas Eve Service ~ December 24th at 3:30pm You are invited to 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, extra seating is available in the Great Room, and masks must be worn for the entire service. Anyone who is unable or unwilling to wear a mask is invited to participate online. We will livestream on Facebook so everyone can safely join this time of worship and praise. If you are experiencing any symptoms associated with illness, we ask that you remain at home and join us on Facebook. We can't wait to worship with all of you, near and far! | Chrismon Tree Thank you to everyone who has already returned their beautiful creations! If you still have one at home, please bring it in and hang it on the Chrismon tree in the Great Room on Christmas Eve. | 2020 Year-End Contributions The Finance Committee would like to remind you that, to be included in 2020, your contributions need to be received by or postmarked by December 31st. Thank you for your generous support all throughout the year! | | 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 ~ Next meeting January 8
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: On hold during December
* Weimer LifeGroup: Every other Tuesday through February, 10am on Zoom, Next meeting on January 5. | Children's Ministry Merry Christmas to all of our Collide Kids and families! We look forward to learning and growing with you in the new year! | Youth Group Merry Christmas!
We look forward to planning Youth Group as
soon as it is safe to do so in 2021. | 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 Is Jesus Coming to Your House? a Christmas devotion from Today. A story is told about a group of animals that were living together in a stable. There were all kinds of animals: mice, sheep, some chickens, some cows, a donkey, a horse, and even a rat. They lived together as a family, and their stable was their home. Then one day a little mouse heard a rumor. He heard that someone was coming to their house. In his excitement he jumped on top of the horse and shouted, “Someone is coming to our house.” And then he whispered, as if it were a secret, “Joseph and Mary are coming to our house, and Mary is going to have a baby.” That story prompts me to ask, Is Jesus coming to your house? As you are about to celebrate the birth of Jesus, ask yourself this question. As we have our parties and exchange gifts, do we pay attention to what we are celebrating? Will the birth of Jesus be at the center of our celebrations? On the first Christmas, the Lord Jesus “moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14, The Message). That’s Christmas in a nutshell: the Lord Jesus has come into our world and into our lives. Will we invite him into our hearts? That’s the important question each of us must answer. Lord Jesus, help us to concentrate on what Christmas is all about. Help us to worship you, our Savior, and help us to make room for you in our lives. Amen. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 | December & January 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 Break Goodness Grows will be closed for Christmas and New Year from December 24th through
January 3rd, resuming normal hours on Monday, January 4, 2021. The church office will not
be open on a set schedule during this period. If you need to reach us, please don't hesitate to
call, text, or email and we will get back to you as soon as possible! | 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 Today is our last day at GG for 2020. We're celebrating Christmas with gifts, games, cooking, ornament making, and more as we end this crazy year on a high note. This short week has still kept us busy here. We've set up for the Christmas Eve service, played in the snow, cleaned, and had lots of fun. We all wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We'll see you in 2021! | 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. Check out our jam table in the Great Room.
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. 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! | 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! ~~~ | Library Programs Cooking with the Library
Wednesday, December 23, 7-7:15pm on Facebook Live
Join our Librarians live on Facebook @librarymahoningcounty each week as they share a short cooking video. The Night Before Christmas
Thursday, December 24, 5pm on Facebook live
Get ready to watch a storytelling of The Night Before Christmas on the library's Facebook page. Check out a copy of the book from the library before Christmas Eve to follow along or read again later. Blood Drive by Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross
Tuesday, December 29, 11am-5pm at the Poland Library
Proudly serving the needs of St. Elizabeth Hospital. Taking blood donations to help our community. For appointments call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit www.RedCrossBlood.org. | Joy of Christmas Light Display Featuring 1 million lights and 80+ displays, the Joy of Christmas is open nightly now through December 27 from 6- 9 p.m. in Harvey S. Firestone Recreational Park in Columbiana. The drive-thru light show features and benefits local charities and civic organizations, as well as historic Harvey S. Firestone Recreational Park. Donations: $10/vehicle | Regional Theatre Christmas Celebration The show will be available through December 31. This year, the Community Foundation of Western PA & Eastern OH, in partnership with the Youngstown Playhouse, New Castle Playhouse, ACTS, Red Barn Players, and GACT, are bringing a Christmas celebration right to your living room. Join us for a family friendly celebration of holiday favorites such as: “O Holy Night,” “I'll Be Home for Christmas,” “Mary, Did You Know?,” “Jingle Bells,” and more, performed by your favorite local theatre talent and accompanied by the amazing Brent Alexander. ~ WATCH HERE | CELEBRATE! December 24 - Christmas Eve
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 25 - Nathan Shannon
December 27 - Fred Kenngott If we don't have your special days, please let us know! | ON OUR CALENDAR December 23-30, 2020 . . .
Today, 9am-2pm - GG at Work
Tonight, 6:30pm - Praise Band
Thursday, 3:30pm - Christmas Eve Worship Service
Sunday, 9:30am - Sunday Morning Class
Sunday, 11am - In-Person & Online Worship
Wednesday, 10am - Prayer Group via Zoom | 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. | |
