January, 2015
***
’
!***
!
Dan and Melissa Lamb were baptized
into Christ by Mike on Friday, December
26, and came forward on Sunday,
December 28. Dan and Melissa have
two children, Jack and Nora.
Cliff and Anita Harris transferred
their membership to SCC on Sunday,
December 28. Cliff and Anita have two
children, Drew and Grant.
!
'
/
Sunday, January 11, 2015
At the end of each of the services, SCC members will cast their vote for
the leadership of SCC whose term has expired.
Elder (current): Ray Evans. NEW Elder to be voted on: Kevin Barth.
Deacons (current) to be voted on: Jeff Asher, Jeff Belcher, Terry
Bumpus, Aaron Erndt, Eric Fisher, Tommy Hatfield, Lloyd Huffer II, Gary
Steele, and Brett Westervelt. Our leadership will also present a brief
review of 2014 and take a look forward to 2015. Following the
meeting, you are invited to a potluck luncheon in honor of our newest
church members!
Please bring a dish or two to share. Be sure to add a little extra—the
new members and their families will be our guests and will go first in line!
44 people have made commitments to Sunbury Christian in 2014!
Dates To Remember. . .
2
January Calendar
Men’s Bible Study & Breakfast. . . . . . . . . . .Men
Friday, January 9 | 6:30 - 7:30 A.M. | Church Gym
Contact: Mike Bratten |mike@sunburychristian.com| 740.965.3821
The first Men’s Bible Study of 2015 will begin with a
breakfast! All men are invited to join in on this time
together to study God’s Word.
Lit n’ Latte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Women
1 - New Year’s Day
3 - Upward Practices Begin
4 - Jr. High Youth Group | 6 - 8 p.m. | Barths’ home
4 - Sr. High Youth Group | 6 - 8 p.m. | Fishers’ home
4 - Men’s Basketball—Open Gym Begins | 6 - 8 p.m.
Thursday, January 29 |1:45 P.M. at Sunbury Library
7 - FEAST Kickoff! | Dinner: 6 p.m. | Classes: 6:40 - 7:40 p.m.
Contact: Shirley Dunahugh|tldunahugh@embarqmail.com
9 - Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study | 6:30 a.m.
Do you love to read? This group is for you! All ladies
are welcome to come. January’s book: Proof of Heaven;
A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife
by: Eben Alexander
Miscellaneous Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All
11 - Congregational Meeting/New Members’ Luncheon
12 - Elders’ Meeting | 7 p.m.
17 - Upward Basketball/Cheerleading First Game Day
18 - Sanctity of Life Sunday
18 - Jr. High Youth Group | 6 - 8 p.m. | Barths’ home
Newsletter deadline: 15th of each month.
18 - Sr. High Youth Group | 6 - 8 p.m. | Fishers’ home
Bulletin deadline: Weds. 8:00 p.m. Please call or
e-mail Debbie with newsletter or bulletin requests.
(debbie@sunburychristian.com) All announcements
will remain in the bulletin for a maximum of 3 weeks.
25 - Ordination Sunday
Prayer Requests: All prayer requests will be listed
in the bulletin for 2 weeks unless updates are
available. If you would like to be added to the e-mail
prayer chain, please e-mail Debbie.
Sunday:
Men’s Basketball—Open Gym | 6 - 8 p.m.
Sun. - Sat.:
Small Groups (See Bulletin Board)
Meet on Various Nights Through the Week
Borrowed Items: If you are borrowing any items
from the church (pans, chairs, tables, etc.), please let
the office know before taking them. There is a sign-out
sheet in the copy room.
Building Usage: If you would like to use the church
building (or gym) for a personal event (birthday, etc.),
please contact the church office to obtain the necessary
paperwork and to be placed on the church calendar.
2015 Faith Promise: Remember that January is
when we begin to honor the Mission pledges we made
this past November. Our Pledge Total: $84,721.00
Winter Weather: During the week, if Big Walnut
Schools cancel for the day or there is an early
dismissal, all church activities are cancelled for that
evening. If there is a delay, all activities will continue
as scheduled. If the weather is questionable on
SUNDAY morning, please check our website or these
TV stations: NBC 4, ABC 6, CBS 10.
Thank You! The office staff would like to thank
the Elders and the Congregation for your gifts
and thoughtfulness during the holiday season.
We appreciate your kindness and generosity.
What a wonderful church we serve!
29 - Women’s Lit n’ Latte | 1:45 p.m. | Sunbury Library
WEEKLY
Mon., Tues.
& Thurs.:
Upward Basketball & Cheer Prac. | 6 - 9 p.m.
Monday:
Women’s Bible Study | 5:30 a.m.
(Maxeiner’s home)
Tuesday:
Preschool Open Gym Playtime | 6 - 7 p.m.
Wednesday:
Wednesday Night FEAST | 6 - 7:40 p.m.
Friday:
Men’s Bible Study | 6:30 - 7:30 a.m.
We Are Right on Target!
An Excerpt from our Christmas Letter
Jeff Hull (our Capital Campaign Chairman) said we are
“right on target!” The giving has been awesome, the
committees are making good progress, and we believe that
we are where God wants us to be! In addition to new
people still coming and our attendance still growing, we
have paid all our bills PLUS an extra $30,000 on the loan for
our land beyond the expected payments!
THANK YOU for your continued faithfulness in giving!
Jesus said . . . If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to Me.” - John 12:32
December Attendance Averages
1st Worship
Service
2nd Worship
Service
Total Worship
Service
155
257
412
Hearing From Our Leadership. . .
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“Beyond These Walls”
By Mike Bratten, Sr. Minister
At a recent Elders' Meeting, we decided that we need to make a larger impact in our community
. . . NOW! While we are gearing up to relocate where people can find us, we cannot afford to
wait. People need to know that we are alive now. People need to find out that we care for them
now. A new location, a new building should only be an extension of who we ARE. And we want
to be a church who is Building Meaningful Relationships with Jesus Christ and Those We Meet
. . . our Mission Statement.
When we come together, we are building relationships with Jesus Christ and His church.
“Beyond These Walls” will be an intentional effort to do a better job of going OUT, meeting
people in THEIR comfort areas, on THEIR turf. While each of us is called to make a difference where we live
(neighbors/work/etc.), there is something to be said for making a difference as the “body of Christ.” People need to
know that we are more than just nice people. There are LOTS of nice people in the world. But WE are “giving the cup
of cold water in the name of Jesus, because we belong to Him,” and people need to attach the gift with the Best Giver of
all, Jesus Christ.
For JANUARY, this is what we are going to do. Because it's a cold month, we will pray for those in our
community and send letters of encouragement. It's a GREAT first project, that goes “beyond these walls.” We will
send letters to designated folks in our community -- simply thanking them for what they do, letting them know that
we are praying for them, and putting a Scripture verse with it. If you have a family of 4, one could write the letter, all
could sign it, and all could pray over the letter and for the person(s) before sending it. Each bulletin will have the
names & addresses of those we are praying for. It will impact our community and begin the whole thing with prayer!
* One more thing: I need 11 ideas for the remaining 11 months of 2015. . . ideas which get us OUT, doing things IN the
community. During the month of January, please submit ideas that the Elders can consider, and we will take it from
there to “Beyond These Walls.” God bless! Mike
“You ARE Making A Difference”
By Dawn Boehm, Children’s Coordinator
As a teacher, I often
find myself
questioning my
effectiveness. Am I
reaching the children?
Am I sharing the love
of God with them as I
teach? Once in a while,
we catch a glimpse of
our fruits being
multiplied, but most of the time, we must just
have faith that His plan is being carried out. I
came across a poem by Loren Eiseley called
“The Starfish Story,” and it reminded me of
the real reason I work with children. It reads:
“One day a man was walking along the beach,
when he noticed a boy hurriedly picking up
and gently throwing things into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “Young man,
what are you doing?” The boy replied,
"Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The
surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll
die.” The man laughed to himself and said, “Don't you realize there are
miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can't make any
difference!” After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up
another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man,
he said, “It made a difference to that one.”
Did Jesus not leave the entire flock of sheep to find one lost? Did He
not tell us to celebrate the return of the prodigal son? So it is with
teaching, praying, studying and living a Christ-centered life. If we are
to be effective, we must realize that even if it only makes a difference
in the life of one child, it is worth it. God has put us in a powerful
position as parents and teachers. We have the ability to make real and
lasting change in this world, one child at a time. Keep offering the lifegiving water of Jesus; you ARE making a difference.
Messages From God’s Word - “Questions Which Must Be Answered”
Jan. 4 - “What can a man give in exchange for his soul?” - Matt. 16:26
Jan. 11 - “Will THE Son of Man find faith on earth?” - Luke 18:8
Jan. 18 - “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” - Luke 10:25
Jan. 25 - “Are You going to restore the kingdom at this time?” - Acts 1:6
“Building meaningful relationships
with Jesus Christ and those we meet”
Sunbury Christian Church
250 Rainbow Ave.
Sunbury, OH 43074
First Service: 9:00 A.M.
Sunday School 9:00 A.M.
Coffee & Fellowship 10 - 10:20 A.M.
Second Ser vice: 10:30 A.M.
Nursery - Grade 6 | Classes & Kids Club
Michael Bratten, Senior Minister
Ken Muller, Associate Minister
Casey Shofner, Youth Minister
Lloyd Huffer II, Teen Minister
Dawn Boehm, Childr en’s Coor dinator
Debbie Clem, Secr etar y
Trish Stewart, Office Assistant
Church Office - (740) 965-3821
*** NOTICE: If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please
cut out the above label, write “remove” on it, and send to the above address.
Or, you may e-mail Debbie Clem, debbie@sunburychristian.com, with your
address information. ***
Jan Erndt, Administr ator
Sonshine Preschool - (740) 965-2630
Visit our Web Site:
www.sunburychristian.com
E-mail addresses are available.
Youth And Misc.
Wednesday Night FEAST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All
Wednesday, January 7 |Dinner: 6 P.M. |Classes: 6:40 P.M.
Youth Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jr. and Sr. High
Sunday, January 4, 6 - 8 P.M. & January 18, 6 - 8 P.M.
Contact: Mike Bratten |mike@sunburychristian.com| 740.965.3821
Contact: Casey Shofner |casey@sunburychristian.com| 740.965.3821
Join us for a mid-week refreshment, both spiritually and
physically! We begin with dinner for the family followed
by classes for all ages. Dinner cost: Adults: $3,
Children:$2 (age 3—6th Grade) and Family Max: $10.
January 4 & 18 - Jr. High at the Barths’ Home &
Sr. High at the Fishers’ home. 6 - 8 P.M.
Please bring your Bible and a friend!
Two new adult classes!
Adult Class (Sanctuary) Led by: Mike Bratten
“The Bible for Dummies” - Includes one general principle
which helps to understand the Bible and two specific
ways to apply that principle.
Women’s Study (Rm. 6) Led by: Erica Maxeiner
“What Love Is” - A Bible Study of I, II, III John—Author:
Kelly Minter. This class will include a DVD, discussion,
and a study guide.
Friday, March 27, 3 P.M. - Saturday, March 28, 7 P.M.
Mark your calendars for February 11! In conjunction
with Lifeline Christian Mission, we will pack food for the
hungry. This is a family friendly activity that has a big
impact. All are welcome!
CIY SuperStart Conference. . . . . . . . . Grades 5 & 6
Contact: Casey Shofner |casey@sunburychristian.com| 740.965.3821
This year at SuperStart, with the help of the Real
Encounter BMX stunt team, preteens will explore
Ephesians 2:8 and unravel what it means that God’s grace
is an undeserved gift, freely given. Cost: $65 per student
(includes admission and hotel). For more information
regarding this trip, please see the information outside
Casey’s office or visit: www.ciy.com/superstart .
Deadline for sign up: January 25