Friday, September 4, 2015

FASTING AND CORPORATE PRAYER

Our church will be fasting for 10 days as a corporate body on Tuesday, September 8 until Friday, September 18th. Fasting is a spiritual discipline utilized to help us focus and gain stamina for the next season of ministry.  You are encouraged to prayerfully consider abstaining from something you enjoy and utilize that time for prayer, meditation and reflection on how to implement that which you have heard from the Lord.  We often suggest the Daniel Fast (fruits and vegetables only). If that's not your cup of tea consider fasting from sweets, social media, television, candy, music or any other activity you often indulge in when you could be talking with God. There will be fasting guides, with all the information needed to fast, available on Sunday, September 6.  Daily we will have a prayer call at 6:00 a.m..  Dial (641) 715-3200. The access code is: 250999. The call will not last more than 15 min. We have had a summer full of food, fun and fellowship. As the fall sets in this is a perfect time to intentionally commune with God for clarity of purpose and be filled with the strength to finish our the year strong.

SERVOLUTION 2015

October is Servolution month and this year our goal is 600 hours! The Church in the World Ministry has some fun & unique community service projects planned this year; registration starts this month. We would like for every SEUCC member to participate in at least 1 project.

So be on the look out for additional details and PLEASE SIGN-UP!

NEW WELLNESS MINISTRY

SEUCC has launched a wellness ministry! The “Wellness Matters Ministry” is filled with knowledgeable individuals who are passionate about serving and doing what God has called us to do. The purpose of the Wellness Matters Ministry is to promote spiritual, physical, emotional and mental health and wellness within the SEUCC congregation and community. Recognizing that our lives and health are gifts from God, this ministry will provide information and experiences that will help us be good stewards of our bodies, minds, emotions and spirits. It will encourage us to make a vow ‘to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God’ (Romans 12.1)

The Wellness Matters Ministry launched at our July 12th, 2015 worship service. The introduction with cardboard testimonies was heartfelt, healing, and touched many individuals throughout the congregation. We would like to give a special thank you to everyone who participated in that moment. God bless you all. 

We also conducted a complete Wellness survey during our launch, and we thank you all for the feedback! The information provided will assist the team in determining how we will implement our agenda to serve the congregation and community. Many exciting activities kicked off that we hope to continue to provide in the near future. We encouraged you to accept the Wellness Water challenge where you reduced or eliminated sweet drinks and/or caffeinated drinks for 50 days! There were several options to choose from in our fitness program, with 7 weeks of walking/running provided for those who were interested on Mondays at 6:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Wednesdays at 7:15 a.m.  Also, fitness classes were offered for 5 weeks: chair yoga and traditional yoga on Mondays from 5-6 p.m. and 6-7 p.m., and Zumba for 4 weeks on Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. These were all very successful trials; we thank everyone who participated!

The Wellness Matters Ministry would like you to save a few dates for future events: Community Resource Fair (In collaboration with the Church in the World Ministry) Oct. 31st, 2015, and HIV/AIDS Awareness Sunday Nov. 29th, 2015. Future initiatives will include educational seminars, mobile health services, a community garden, support groups, and a SEUCC 5k Walk/Run

VISION CONFERENCE 2015: REPAIRERS OF THE BREACH: THE CALL TO BE MORE THAN A WITNESS!

Please join us for the 2015 Vision Conference on September 8, 9, and 10th.  The Rev. Dr. Leslie Callahan, St. Paul’s Baptist Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will preach on September 8th;   Rev. Dr. Todd Davidson of Antioch Baptist Church will join us on September 9 along with the Antioch Mass Choir.  The conference will close out on September 10 with Rev. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman, Methodist Theological School, Delaware OH.  The SEUCC choir and Praise Team will perform under the direction of Dr. David Thomas.  Make plans now to join us.  You won’t be sorry when you hear these outstanding people of God.  For further information, please see Pastor Courtney Clayton Jenkins.

Sunday, February 1, 2015

BLACK HISTORY MUSICAL FEBRARY 27

To celebrate and honor Black History Month this year, SE- UCC is going to present “Black History Musical: This is My Story; This is My Song,” on Friday, February 27 at 7 PM in the Sanctuary.  Director Vicky Barnes has planned  a journey through African-American religious music of all genres, from spirituals to traditional Gospel to Modern Gospel.  Performers will include the Chancel Choir, the Wright Family, the Praise Team, the Dance Ministry led by Brigette Fitzgerald, and Praise and Worship Leaders Stacy Arielle and Ronald Rucker.

Danita Harris of Channel Five will serve as emcee.

The program is free!  Come prepared to clap your hands, tap your feet, and sing along.

PASTOR'S CHAT AND CHEW FEBRUARY 26

Join Pastor Jenkins on Thursday, February 26 from 6-7:30 PM for a "Chat and Chew" on the Pastor's book of the month.  Bring a dish to share and your thoughts about the book for discussion.
The book is Motivation Manifesto: 9 Declarations to Claim Your Personal Power by Brendon Burchard. The book retails for $19.99 but is available on Amazon.com for $10.09. You can contact Diana Scott if you need to order the book and don't have Internet access.

PASTOR’S BIBLE STUDY FEBRUARY 25 – APRIL 1

Beginning during Lent and continuing until Easter Week, Pastor Jenkins will be leading a Bible Study series on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room.

Topic: Breaking Free: Discovering the Victory of Total Surrender

Description: Join Pastor J as we study selected passages from the book of Isaiah, drawing several parallels between the captive Israelites and what it means to be free in Christ.  During this season of Lent, learn how to remove obstacles that hinder freedom by identifying those things which are holding you captive and how to overcome them.