8/7 Goode Thoughts - One Month from Today
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I’m a countdown type of person. When there’s something big coming up, I love to find ways of marking the days until it comes. I did it when Amy and I got married. I did it for several of the trips we have taken as a family. I have even done it for when sports seasons are getting started. So, here we are…one month from today (as I’m writing this) we will have our first official service as ResoundingJoy Church! There’s a lot to do and a lot happening, so let’s jump right in!
Worship September 7 and Following – The Session on Wednesday night approved our worship time of 10:30am starting on September 7. This helps those who will have a longer drive to make it to the RJC building.
Our “Launch” – The Session also approved a revision to how we are going to “launch” ResoundingJoy Church. In looking at all that is still needing to be done to “officialize” the merge and also the reality of how we are functioning as a “new church,” we are going consider our first few months as a “soft launch” in a manner similar to how restaurants do “soft launches” to work out the bugs and get a system in place before they have their “grand opening.” So our first few months, we are going to be working on how we are getting to know each other, getting ministries and activities in place and then we will start on a wider emphasis upon how we get the word out about what God is doing in this new journey we are on together.
Outreach – The Session met with John Fong, an outreach and evangelism consultant with the PCUSA during our meeting this week. John is preparing a 30 day plan for outreach and connection for us to use as we start coming together officially. We’ll share more about this in September once we’re all together each week!
New Sign (MUCH BETTER news than last week) – After working through what initially seemed like it was going to be much longer (and more painful process), we got word that all we need to do is work with Colerain Township on the approval of a new sign. That process has started and we are soliciting bids from two companies for the purchase and install of a new electronic sign. Likely for scheduling and supplies, it will not be until later in October when the new sign will be installed. But it’s coming!
Plan of Union – The Session is finalizing the Plan of Union document to go to the Presbytery and that should be finalized and sent to the sessions of the respective congregations for their final approval and then to the Presbytery!
Finances – The teams are continuing to work through the financial merging process. Later today, we are finalizing what bank we will use and then next week we will meet again on how we will be structuring our funds overall (local monies, invested, and endowment). Lee Sanders has agreed to serve as the initial treasurer for RJC. Thanks Lee!
Giving and Generosity – Like we shared last week, we will be having a new online giving portal as a part of our website and our app. This will be fully active by the end of August once our new bank account is set up and we can start making transactions through this system. If you give through your bank through online bill pay systems, please update your information to start having checks mailed to ResoundingJoy Church, 8735 Cheviot Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45251
Expansive Ephesians Bible Study – I have completed the content of the Bible study and am working on the ways that it will be posted on the website and I anticipate that it will be ready to go by the 17th if not before. I would also be very interested if people wanted to get together to do the study in person as well! Let me know!
Wednesdays with Ed – I am continuing to meet on Wednesdays from 12-2 with folks to just get to know one another. Last week we were at Greenhills and this week I’ll be back in the Colerain area. This coming Wednesday I’ll be at White Oak Coffee on 8/13. The address is 5935 Cheviot Rd. Hope to see folks then!
Schedule Stuff – Just wanted to let you all know that we are moving into “back to college” mode for our kids. I’ll be taking our son Zach back to Wooster on Monday, August 18th and then I’ll be flying to Boston after worship on 8/31 to help Eldra move into her new dorm at Tufts in Boston. Amy will be taking Zoë back to Georgia the weekend of August 17th. In addition, I am planning on attending several conferences during the Fall that focus on outreach and new ways of reaching out to the world. One is a PCUSA conference in New Jersey in early October and the other is with a group known as NEXT Church in November. That will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both are mid-week events and I’ll be back for Sundays.
Wow – that’s a LOT! Ok, let’s talk about some expansive moments. One is how beauty can be seen in the combination of a Tervis cup backlit by a nightlight and the other is a beautiful little bracelet that someone left on a bridge railing at Winton Lake.
I’m a countdown type of person. When there’s something big coming up, I love to find ways of marking the days until it comes. I did it when Amy and I got married. I did it for several of the trips we have taken as a family. I have even done it for when sports seasons are getting started. So, here we are…one month from today (as I’m writing this) we will have our first official service as ResoundingJoy Church! There’s a lot to do and a lot happening, so let’s jump right in!
Worship September 7 and Following – The Session on Wednesday night approved our worship time of 10:30am starting on September 7. This helps those who will have a longer drive to make it to the RJC building.
Our “Launch” – The Session also approved a revision to how we are going to “launch” ResoundingJoy Church. In looking at all that is still needing to be done to “officialize” the merge and also the reality of how we are functioning as a “new church,” we are going consider our first few months as a “soft launch” in a manner similar to how restaurants do “soft launches” to work out the bugs and get a system in place before they have their “grand opening.” So our first few months, we are going to be working on how we are getting to know each other, getting ministries and activities in place and then we will start on a wider emphasis upon how we get the word out about what God is doing in this new journey we are on together.
Outreach – The Session met with John Fong, an outreach and evangelism consultant with the PCUSA during our meeting this week. John is preparing a 30 day plan for outreach and connection for us to use as we start coming together officially. We’ll share more about this in September once we’re all together each week!
New Sign (MUCH BETTER news than last week) – After working through what initially seemed like it was going to be much longer (and more painful process), we got word that all we need to do is work with Colerain Township on the approval of a new sign. That process has started and we are soliciting bids from two companies for the purchase and install of a new electronic sign. Likely for scheduling and supplies, it will not be until later in October when the new sign will be installed. But it’s coming!
Plan of Union – The Session is finalizing the Plan of Union document to go to the Presbytery and that should be finalized and sent to the sessions of the respective congregations for their final approval and then to the Presbytery!
Finances – The teams are continuing to work through the financial merging process. Later today, we are finalizing what bank we will use and then next week we will meet again on how we will be structuring our funds overall (local monies, invested, and endowment). Lee Sanders has agreed to serve as the initial treasurer for RJC. Thanks Lee!
Giving and Generosity – Like we shared last week, we will be having a new online giving portal as a part of our website and our app. This will be fully active by the end of August once our new bank account is set up and we can start making transactions through this system. If you give through your bank through online bill pay systems, please update your information to start having checks mailed to ResoundingJoy Church, 8735 Cheviot Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45251
Expansive Ephesians Bible Study – I have completed the content of the Bible study and am working on the ways that it will be posted on the website and I anticipate that it will be ready to go by the 17th if not before. I would also be very interested if people wanted to get together to do the study in person as well! Let me know!
Wednesdays with Ed – I am continuing to meet on Wednesdays from 12-2 with folks to just get to know one another. Last week we were at Greenhills and this week I’ll be back in the Colerain area. This coming Wednesday I’ll be at White Oak Coffee on 8/13. The address is 5935 Cheviot Rd. Hope to see folks then!
Schedule Stuff – Just wanted to let you all know that we are moving into “back to college” mode for our kids. I’ll be taking our son Zach back to Wooster on Monday, August 18th and then I’ll be flying to Boston after worship on 8/31 to help Eldra move into her new dorm at Tufts in Boston. Amy will be taking Zoë back to Georgia the weekend of August 17th. In addition, I am planning on attending several conferences during the Fall that focus on outreach and new ways of reaching out to the world. One is a PCUSA conference in New Jersey in early October and the other is with a group known as NEXT Church in November. That will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both are mid-week events and I’ll be back for Sundays.
Wow – that’s a LOT! Ok, let’s talk about some expansive moments. One is how beauty can be seen in the combination of a Tervis cup backlit by a nightlight and the other is a beautiful little bracelet that someone left on a bridge railing at Winton Lake.
Grace, Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy,
Pastor Ed
Pastor Ed
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