SunHills January Update

  • Jan 12, 2012

Happy New Year!  2012 is off to a great start and I have several things to highlight for you as we look ahead into January.

MISSIONS HIGHLIGHT

But before we jump to January, I want to thank you for your support and participation in our Compassion Projects leading up to Christmas.  There were a number of opportunities to serve in our community (and beyond) and many were blessed because you chose to be an example of Christ’s love and live the mission.  Here are a couple glimpses into the impact of your service.

From Cheryl Brown,  who coordinated SunHills’ participation in the Gifts of Mercy project:  “The Gifts of Mercy project provided 161 gifts to the children of White Rock Village, 67 of which were provided by our SunHills church family.  Our team of SunHills volunteers distributed the gifts to the children at the end of the Christmas party that Faithful Stewards put on for the White Rock Village families.  We had a great time seeing the looks on the kids’ faces when they received their gifts - some of them were priceless.  One of the things I enjoyed most about the volunteer team we had for that evening was that it included several children and teens - this was a great service opportunity for all ages. (Our youngest volunteer was Shane Strutz and it was great to have him serving with us!)  I was also very blessed by the enthusiasm with which our SunHills family participated in taking the tags and providing the gifts…”

And from Rodney Bughao, who led a team to serve breakfast to the homeless on Christmas morning:  “We had a great time Christmas morning. Everyone was ready to serve. Everyone used their initiative to set up the tables, food and drink. Very little direction was required. It was a vision of the Church body at work. There was a lot of fellowship, a lot of prayers and a lot of Christ's love was visible. Those we served seemed genuinely thankful for God's servants. As we were blessing them, they were giving blessings to us…”

NO OTHER GOSPEL

Eugene Peterson writes about his experience as a pastor and wanting to see people live in the freedom we have in Christ.  He looked at the church he was serving – people whom were “fairly affluent, well educated, somewhat knowledgeable about the Christian faith” and yet, he says, “I realized how unfree they were…  They were living huddled, worried, defensive lives. I wanted to shout in objection:  Don’t live that way!  You are Christians!  Our lives can be a growth into freedom instead of a withdrawal into anxious wariness.”  (Traveling Light)  Instead of shouting, he turned to the New Testament letter of Galatians.

Galatians is the great letter of Christian freedom – the freedom we have in the good news of Jesus (the gospel) - and this letter is going to be our Sunday morning focus for the next few months. Galatians makes it clear that there is ‘No Other Gospel’ and none is needed because the good news of Jesus has the power to lead us into lives of joyful and loving freedom.

As we move through this book – beginning Sunday, January 15 – here are some things you can do to make the most of our growth in this life of freedom:  read the book of Galatians, particularly the section that we’ll be coming to for the Sunday services (always posted on the web);  be here consistently to stay with the flow and development of the book, if you do miss you can get the message on-line; and connect with others in a Small Group to be growing together.

In my study of Galatians I am using the English Standard Version (ESV) because I like the ESV’s accuracy in translation.  (For more about the ESV and translation philosophy see http://www.crossway.org/bibles/esv/translation/philosophy/).  Our church Bibles are NIV so you may notice some slight variations as we look at this book together on Sundays but you’ll be able to follow along regardless of what translation you are using.  There are a number of good Bible translations available; the important thing is that we are looking to, listening to, learning from, and living according to what is in God’s word.

SMALL GROUPS

Last Sunday, January 8, we had our launch for the winter/spring session of Small Groups.  We have groups for men, women, and couples/mixed, which meet on various days and times.  Most of our groups will be starting within the next couple weeks so if you haven’t signed up for one yet, be sure to check out the clipboards in the lobby on Sunday or here on our website under the Small Groups tab.  All of our groups are posted online.

I am also pleased to let you know that Jackie Adams, our Director of Women’s Ministry, is expanding her role to become Director of Adult Ministries, with a particular emphasis on the ministry of Small Groups. Our Elders and Board of Directors included provision in our 2012 budget for this position. It is a privilege to have Jackie as part of our staff team and I’m thrilled to have her servant leadership in this important area of ministry.

GUEST SERVICES

Are you interested in serving at SunHills?  Guest Services volunteers have the incredible opportunity to welcome people each week and help create a memorable experience for everyone coming to SunHills.   If this sounds like you, please plan to attend our Guest Services Orientation on Sunday at 12:45 pm in the auditorium.  This meeting is for all new and existing members of the Host Team, Hospitality Team, Usher Team, and Logistics Team.  Lunch is provided.  To learn more about Guest Services, contact Amy Dockendorf, .

MEXICO

Once again, our High School Ministry is partnering with Azusa Missions to send a team to Ensenada, Mexico during spring break for a week of outreach. For 2012, our trip will be Mar 30 to Apr 7.

Join us Sunday, Jan 29,  at 6 pm in the SunHills auditorium for our all-church Burrito Bash - an opportunity to taste, see, and hear how you can support our outreach to Mexico!  $1 tickets will be on sale this Sunday.

BUDGET

We give thanks to God for the generous giving throughout 2011, including strong year-end giving.  Your cheerful giving is a delight to God, leads to his praise, and furthers his work (2 Corinthians 9:6-15).  Let’s begin 2012 with the same faithfulness in joyful generosity.  Thank you!

Called to be free (Gal. 5:13), dan