Vision week 5 and Easter at FCC

Yesterday concluded our five week VISION roll out - now the really fun and challenging part begins - making this VISION become reality for Clinton FCC! Once again, our visions is: to become a PASSIONATE COMMUNITY of DISCIPLE MAKERS. Yesterday we shared how part of this VISION is seeing FCC become, more than ever before, an OPEN and INVITING church! What do we mean by OPEN?

First - we want to embrace the principle of the OPEN CHAIR - there is ALWAYS room for one more in our worship services, our classes, our ministry teams, our church.  We never want to fall into the trap of becoming a CLUB - either literally or in the hearts/minds of others. REALITY: each of us is simply a SINNER in need of a SAVIOR! Clinton FCC: OPEN to everyone to hear the best news of all: JESUS SAVES!

Second - we want to embody the practice of having an OPEN CAMPUS. God has blessed our church is a crazy way! We have a beautiful and spacious campus with multiple areas of gatherings and ministry - and we have so blessed to be debt free! My heart for our church: FCC becomes a GO-TO organization in and for our community when needs and opportunities present themselves!

Third - we want to be driven by individuals and families that have OPEN HEARTS. We want the values of COMPASSION and HUMBLE SERVICE to guide us and drive us in all that we do! My heart for our church: Our DNA is becoming and being the HANDS and FEET of Jesus in our community and context!

Finally - we want to continually raise OPEN HANDS to the Lord is submission and service, always having open eyes, ears and hearts to where the Lord might be leading us both individually and as a church body. We must be careful to steer clear of a couple of enemies: ARROGANCE and COMPLACENCY - these "land mines" will corrupt and kill VISION before we know it. My heart for our church: FCC will continually seek GOD'S WILL for our church.

I am so excited about the future of our church - will you join us on this journey? Let's do it!

This Sunday is the biggest day of the year for Christian churches, including FCC. For over a month now, we have asked you to consider this question: Who is your ONE? It's NOT too late to invite someone or several to join you this week at FCC to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus! We have regular Sunday morning service times - 8:15am and 10:45am - and we would LOVE to see hundreds of guests and visitors this week! Come and celebrate the fact that Jesus is ALIVE!

ROOTED! It is NOT too late to get plugged into a ROOTED group - registration is open until Monday April 2 - here are several answers to questions some have had:

Q - 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.

Q - 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.

Q - 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.

Q - 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.

Q - Is ROOTED actually a secret plan to eliminate SS altogether? A - Absolutely NOT.  We are deeply committed to our SS program - ROOTED is awesome and I am "all in" personally, but the goal is ROOTED is NOT to kill/eliminate SS at FCC.

Several other quick reminders this week:

** Reload for men - Tuesday March 27 (tomorrow) at 6am

** Tuesday afternoon - the Spencer Toohill visitation will take place at FCC from 4-8pm

** CAMA Good Friday service - this Friday March 30 at 7pm at Lane CC

** Easter morning services at FCC - 8:15am and 10:45am

** Blood Pressure Checks - due to Easter, Blood Pressure checks will take place in April on Sunday April 8.

** Young at Heart returns in 11 days! Friday April 6 at 10:30am - if you are 55 and over, YAH is for you!

** Sunday April 8 - ROOTED groups launch!

** Saturday April 21 - Intentional Church Conference in Decatur - there is room for YOU and the registration fee has already been paid!

** FAN the FLAME - Sunday night April 22 at Clinton FCC at 6pm featuring Jason Gray and Chris August!!!

Prayer requests:

Finally, please continue to pray for former FCC ministry staff member Ernie Harvey as he continues to recover from a couple of surgeries - he is in the hospital in Bloomington-Normal. I would encourage you to NOT visit, but instead to encourage the Harvey's via a card or via social media. If you do visit, please limit the time you stay - Ernie has a really hard time asking people to leave so he can rest - so let me say it: only stay for 5-10 minutes so he can rest.

Please pray for the Toohill family as they prepare for Spencer's funeral visitation and funeral service on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Please pray also for the many HS students who are grieving the loss of one of their own. It was so moving to see so many come forward for prayer during second service on Sunday, and I am so thankful for caring hearts - Ben Pertl, Michelle Witzke and so many others - who are tirelessly ministering to students during this tough season, this storm of life. Psalm 34:18 is a great reminder for all of us: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Praise the Lord and may the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1) bless and sustain the crushed and brokenhearted this week!

Have a great week - see you Sunday! Who's your ONE?

GT