Current Events

11 Oct

Posted at 11:55h in Current Events, Press Releases by
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For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a new beginning. T.S. Eliot Over the twenty-three years serving this church, I’ve seen many staff ministers come and go. Each brought their own talents, gifts and mindsets to their respective ministry areas and each left us richer for their time with us. Each new minister arrives amidst feelings of renewal and promise for our future. So, this weekend we say farewell to a long interim and warmly welcome our new Children’s Pastor, Annie Sutton. Our new beginning...

04 Oct

Posted at 15:59h in Current Events by
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One of the growing concerns I have as a pastor, attempting to lead and love in this current era, is what seems to be a nation’s fading capacity to be shocked. Events and realities that would have left us aghast even one generation ago have tragically become normalized as a part of the daily news cycle. We have come to expect the drama, the vitriol, the violence, until gradually, gone unchecked, unexamined, unchallenged, the soul is numbed, desensitized to how far away from center we have slipped. Then, occasionally, something happens to stretch the bandwidth of our tolerance. Vegas. From 32 floors up, a sea of 22,000...

13 Sep

Posted at 07:00h in Connection, Current Events by
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It’s just plain fun when the JCBC family gets together.  I love it when we intentionally slow the pace of our lives – just for a little while – and simply gather.  We celebrate, delight in and even re-kindle long treasured friendships, and often times, make some new friends in the process.  No time restraints.  No agenda.  Just the joy of each other. Let’s do it again on Sunday, October 1st. On that day, we will gather for [BE] Fed – the 2017 version of Food Truck Sunday.  Immediately after worship, make your way to the back parking lot – near the...

30 Aug

Posted at 14:03h in Connection, Current Events by
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The table is set. Our Connection, Formation, and Mobilization Ministries– while always evolving and improving – are humming along.  Our Worship Ministry has expanded to include both Blended/Traditional and Contemporary worship opportunities – each excellent in their own way.   Greeters are greeting.  Teachers are teaching.  Singers are singing.  Servants are serving.  Leaders are leading.  Communities are communing. Yes, the table is set.  So, now what? JCBC…it’s time to Go and Tell.  More directly…it’s time for EVERY ONE OF US TO GO AND TELL.  Even more directly…it’s time for YOU to go and tell.  It is up to us to tell others that JCBC...

16 Aug

Posted at 11:17h in Current Events by
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When you know your “why” anything is possible. When you know your why, then your who, what, when, where, and how become simply a matter of consistent effort and energy over time. When our church voted to expand our worship options for the sake of reaching those who otherwise may not encounter the JCBC experience, we claimed our “why”. We knew (through two years of deliberate dialogue and discernment) that there was (and is) something remarkably unique about who we are as a congregation. We knew that our way of doing community is uncommonly strong among churches. We knew that our theologically progressive message is...

24 May

Posted at 11:03h in Current Events by
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It is with gladness in my heart that I bring good news. After many months of searching, and countless hours of discernment over breakfasts, lunches, and mid-morning coffee interviews, we are now ready to present a candidate to serve as JCBC’s first contemporary worship leader. As I have shared in a previous blog, our goal has been to seek out the person God has prepared to join us in this exciting new adventure for our church. Over the course of these many months, we have met with numerous individuals whose musical gifts and abilities are remarkable. Truly remarkable. Yet, our deeper desire and loftier...

10 May

Posted at 11:29h in Current Events by
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Some say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  I believe that to be an understatement. When you simply glance at any one of the Mother’s Day pictures taken at JCBC so many of you have stuffed in your bibles or carefully placed in photo albums, floods of words, thoughts, emotions and memories emerge.  A thousand just won’t do it. To be sure, we will again offer the time honored tradition of Mother’s Day pictures this coming Sunday.  Immediately following worship, our photographers will be on hand in two venues.  For the more traditional approach, gather your family in the courtyard...

03 May

Posted at 11:28h in Current Events by
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As you read this blog, we find ourselves 95 days away from the launch of JCBC’s first ever multi-venue worship experience.  Even now, construction has begun in our Family Life Center to make ready that sacred space for worship (once again). August 6th is coming, and hearts are high with hope! We have made remarkable strides in the last two years as a congregation in discerning the call of God upon us. Together, we have glimpsed the bright future God has prepared, and with courage we have mobilized our faith to take a new and next step together. With 95 days remaining to...

26 Apr

Posted at 12:42h in Current Events by
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In last week’s blog, I shared a detailed update on the progress being made on a number of fronts as we prepare for the launch of our multi-venue worship experience in August. One of those fronts is the development of a long-range comprehensive marketing strategy for JCBC. As you read this blog, a number of us are engaged in an all-day strategy session to initiate that process. Today, representatives from our Marketing Focus Group, our Pastor’s Council, and our Pastoral Staff are hosting a company called “The A Group” (a.k.a. TAG). TAG is an organization specializing in church marketing strategies. TAG is...

19 Apr

Posted at 11:19h in Current Events by
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The unmistakable reality is this. God is up to something in us and around us at JCBC! Now, with less than 4 months to the launch of our first ever multi-venue worship experience, I want to update our JCBC family on the exciting progress being made on several fronts. Faith2Next Pledges I trust that you know by now that our goal of $3.2 million in pledges has been reached and surpassed in the most exciting way. At the time of this writing, the total amount pledged is now $3,453,596.00. Take a long hard look at that number. That’s $46,404 shy of $3.5 million in commitments. Put another...