Vision week 4

Great job Samuel Green on Sunday, bringing us a message on the value and need for COMMUNITY as part of week 4 of our vision rollout. Just a reminder, our vision for Clinton FCC is to become a PASSIONATE COMMUNITY of DISCIPLE MAKERS. This Sunday, which is also Palm Sunday, will wrap up our vision roll out series and hopefully begin the process of making this vision reality for our church and our community! Here are several important items of take note of:

#1 - EASTER Sunday is less than two weeks away! Sunday April 1 (no joke) is such an important day, and right now, we want you to be intentional with your ONE - the one person God has laid on YOUR heart to connect with in the name of Jesus. Sunday, we handed out ALIVE cards in the bulletin - they are also available in the office and at the welcome center - these cards are NOT for you! We want you to take 1, 2 or 10 of them and share with someone else - be intentional by inviting others to join you on April 1 as we celebrate our greatest joy - that Jesus is ALIVE!

#2 - EASTER Offering 2018 - we are supporting an effort that launched in November in Peoria as part of ICOM - to help plant three churches in Illinois over the next two years. Our goal for this Easter Offering is $5,000.00 - will you give generously to this important challenge?

#3 - Elder Nomination process - Nominations will be accepted March 18 - April 22 - you can find the forms at the welcome center and in the office - any questions about the process should be directed to one of the Elders.

#4 - ROOTED - our church wide launch of ROOTED will begin Sunday April 8 - sign ups will be accepted through April 2. I really want YOU to join a 10 week ROOTED group - here are several questions/answers about ROOTED:

? When will the groups meet, and where? A - Groups will meet on Sunday mornings at FCC beginning April 8 for 10 weeks - 9:10am is the start time and groups will meet for 90 minutes throughout the FCC building.

? Is there a cost? A - yes, $35/per person, which includes the ROOTED book, the prayer experience, the serve experience, and the celebration. Partial or Full Scholarships are available if a need exists - see Samuel Green for more info.

? Will I be part of this group forever? Or can I return to my existing SS class or existing community group? A - You are only making an initial 10 week commitment - if you are in an existing class or group, you are free to return to that group. It is our hope and even our experience that some (hopefully many) ROOTED groups will transition into permanent community groups.

? Can an existing SS class or community group do ROOTED together? A - Possibly - depending on the size of the group/class and the willingness of the entire group/class to make the ROOTED commitment together.

? Is ROOTED actually a secret plan by Greg and staff to eliminate SS altogether? A - Absolutely NOT. In fact, I'm embarrassed to even have to type this, but two different folks connected w/ our church have drawn this conclusion and shared it verbally, and I wanted to address it head on. I am deeply committed to our SS program - the Faith Builders class I lead regularly averages between 45-55 each week - why would we want to kill this? Let me say it again - ROOTED is awesome and I am "all in" personally, but the goal is ROOTED is NOT to kill/eliminate SS at FCC.

#5 - Elective Class - Larry Roberts is teaching a brief 3 week elective on Easter, they are meeting in the FLC Alcove and all are welcome to participate at 9:30am on Sundays March 25 and April 1.

#6 - Good Friday CAMA service - our annual community service will take place at Lane Christian Church on Friday evening March 30 at 7pm.

#7 - Intentional Church Conference - Saturday April 21 in  Decatur, hosted by Decatur FCC and sponsored by Clinton FCC - I have a spot for YOU! Great main session speakers include Dave Dummitt from 242 Church in Michigan and Roger Storms from Mesa, AZ. Our own Cody Monkman and Samuel Green will lead breakout sessions. Are you in?

#8 - Fan the Flame - The next Fan the Flame concert will be Sunday evening April 22 at 6pm, featuring Jason Gray and Chris August - all profit from the concert will benefit the Vault project here in Clinton!

#9 - Coffee at the Crossing - enormously huge shout out to Emilee Monkman and her team at CatC - they do a great job giving us our morning "go juice" each Sunday, and your donations support missions - what a cool concept? Drink Coffee and fund missions! Thanks for supporting this awesome ministry!

#10 - Nelson's Chicken Dinner Fundraiser sponsored by Rotary - Tuesday May 1 from 4:30 - 6pm - tickets will be available at FCC on Sunday mornings beginning April 15 - see any Rotary members (Russ Utterback, Rennie Cluver, Mark Hobbie, Bryce Lynch, Jered Shofner, Josh Shofner, Karle Koritz) for a $10 ticket that will help feed the hungry in DeWitt County!

Special PRAISE - Norman Emery was baptized Sunday during 2nd service by his wife Rachel - praise the Lord - and he even returned to the stage with his shirt still wet to play bass for the final worship song! What an encouragement!!!

Special PRAYER request, part 1 - please continue to pray for Ernie and April Harvey - he remains hospitalized in Bloomington-Normal and they need our prayers during this difficult season!

Special PRAYER request, part 2 - please continue to pray for Delmar Sandage - his battle with cancer has many ups and downs and this is a tough season for Delmar and Amy - lift them up!

Blessings to each of you - see you Sunday as we conclude our vision series with a message entitled OPEN!

GT