Extraoridinary Normal - They were quite the characters

Beginning next Sunday, May 16th, we will be focusing for 5 weeks on different characters of the Bible.  Our goal for this series is to find several characters and aspects of their stories that will compel people to want to read their Bible more.

I would still love to have your submissions for characters to discuss.  Please comment here and tell me who you would like to suggest and what about their story it is that you find compelling.

Characters of the Bible Series to Launch After Mother's Day

Just after Mother's Day we will begin a series focusing on different characters of the Bible.

We're in the planning stage for this and I'd love your input on a couple of aspects:

First, what would you call this series? Some of the suggestions on the table now are:

Extra Ordinary
Cowards, Tramps and Thieves
Characters Welcome
Ordinary People
Most of Us are Like the Rest of Us

Next, what characters would you like us to address?

Let us know here.

[image by wintertwined]

Fighting for the Family

To follow our Easter services we will launch a series that will be all about the importance of family relationships and the importance of fighting to have strong family relationships.

Here is some copy that describes this series. It will be largely based on the series by Northpoint called Fight Club.

Of all relationships in life, few are as important or as complicated as the relationships between fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, or sisters and brothers. These relationships impact us more than we want to admit. Although we are tempted to write these relationships off when they are painful, we still know that there is something in us that needs that connection.

The week titles will be:

It's worth the fight
Get in the ring
Choosing Sides
The Final Round

What creative ideas do you have for a title for this series?

What marketing suggestions do you have?

Easter Services: The Wall

This Easter we will be using a service called The Wall. Here's some copy explaining the concept behind it:

Some of us bump up against walls where circumstances in our lives seem too much for us to overcome on our own. God is very available to help us conquer any of those walls. And one wall that we all face, even if the rest of life has been smooth, is the mortality wall. To break through this wall, each individual has to make a personal decision as to whether they'll respond to Christ's resurrection power and reach out in repentance and faith to take his hand and accept his offer of a glorious eternity with him. This message encourages each person who is up against any wall to ask, seek, and knock—and be assured that God will answer.

What ideas for creative elements would you suggest?

Year at a Glance!

For 2010 the Planning Team that decides our service and series topics met and decided to put together a plan for the entire year.

While we reserve the right to change things if we feel necessary, this does give us a plan to work from and gives you services and series to begin cooking up ideas for way ahead of time.

I have posted the series in the right column of Muse under the heading: Future Series. But I will also list them here for ease of communication:

• February - Balanced
• March - A Place for Everyone (artwork is from LifeChurch's series of the same name)
  
• April - The Best of Me (working title-a series re: potential, purpose) or a series on Family
  
• May/June - Characters of the Bible (possibly based on UnRated by Granger)
• July - Summer Series (multiple teachers, multiple subjects)
• August - Spiritual Formation Series
• September - evangelism series
• October - Fall Big Push Series on Family or Relationships
• November - Person of God/Attributes of God series
• December - An Unexpected Christmas

Please go ahead and let your wheels start spinning and start commenting your ideas for these series. I will post series postings as we approach the individual series and know more.

Thanks again for your ideas and your time! Together we can create services that use the arts to reach people for Christ!

[image by redstamp.com]

Results of our Planning Day

Thanks to Anonomous (I know who you are! :)) and to the planning team for your input and thoughts as we worked to layout a general plan for 2010 weekend services.

I'm excited to say that we have some topics on the table for the year with the clear understanding that we will leave room for change if we feel God is calling us to do so.

I will roll out some of the topics here so you all can start your creative wheels spinning with ideas for the series.

Finances - Balanced is the packaging for this and it will be heavily based on the Northpoint series of the same name
Evangelism - Everybody
Reaching personal potential
Characters of the Bible - similar to a series by Granger called UNrated

OK, that should give you plenty to start your wheels spinning. I'll post weekly titles etc. later.

Thank you again for all your input and creativity!

Concrete: The stuff you build your life on

In November we will launch a new series called Concrete based on a series of similar title by Erwin McManus at Mosaic.

We'll be taking a look at the basics, the foundations on which we build our relationship with Christ.

The series will include weeks on the following:

What is a church (and why should I belong to one)?
How do I pray?
Why do we sing?
What to do with the Bible
What following Jesus looks like


Please go ahead and start thinking of and posting ideas for this new series.

What to do with August?!

It seems that we're going back and forth on what to do with the series for August. Here is the latest of what we have discussed. Let's please continue and wrap up the discussion. We need to have at the very least a commitment to a concept by the end of this week as the set team is meeting Sunday to begin the brainstorming process for the set.

We're looking at going with a series based on the "30 Days to Live" idea from LifeChurch.tv and the "Live Like You Were Dying"Campaign.

Here are some suggestions to get the conversation started:

series title suggestions:

Really Live
Life
Making the most of it
Carpe Diem


Let's do a four week series that would include the following topics:


1. Living in the moment
Other possible titles: Seize the moment; now; embrace today
Scripture references: Prov. 27:1; Matt 6: 25-26

2. Living for forever
Other possible titles: eternity; eternal perspectives;
Scripture references: 1 Cor 9:24-26; 1 Thes 4:16-18

3. Living a legacy
Other possible titles: Building the next generation; leave a legacy;
Scripture references: Psalm 78:5-7; Psalm 127:3; Eph 6:4

4. Living at peace
Other possible titles: keep short accounts; live with a clean slate; forgive; fighting for peace
Scripture references: Matt. 6:14; Rom 12:17-19

Please post comments here with your suggestions and keep the conversation going until we've arrived at our series.

Thanks!
Deana