A Note from Nick
We Need You!
 We
recently finished our 40 Day Prayer Emphasis where we asked for God's direction in how He wants the leadership at The Avenue to be structured. When we say
"leadership" at The Avenue, it means more than just eldership or church
governance - it includes everyone who ministers and serves. This month, the Strategic
Leadership Team (SLT) will be discussing what the best approach is for getting your ideas about how to move forward in establishing what "leadership"
looks like for our church.
I
want to challenge you this month to:
-
Pray
for the SLT meetings in November. (16th & 30th)
- Engage in future discussions that will help us establish how to
structure our leadership at The Avenue. (pastors, eldership, and ministry
teams)
- Feel empowered to speak up about how to move forward in our mission.
I
believe it is paramount for us to continue to strive toward involving and empowering everyone who is feeling led and has ideas about how God is leading our church as a whole, and not just leave that up to the pastor or SLT.
I look
forward to link arms and hearts with you to see how lives, homes,
marriages, and community will be transformed due to the work of God through The Avenue. We pray for
God to protect us as we strive to achieve the vision and mission he has laid
before us. Winston Churchill spoke these words during World War II,
"To build may have to be the slow and laborious
task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day."
I thank God for all of
you as we strive to impact our culture with the transforming love of Jesus!
Your Friend,
Nick |
Save the Dates
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events!
11/13 - Students Pizza & Games Night
All students grades 6-12 are encouraged to join The CrossWalk gang at the Tucker's new house this Friday night at 6pm! Bring $2, and come ready to have a great time! Click here for directions!
 11/22 - Baptisms
Our baptism service will be Sun., Nov. 22 at the indoor pool at the Hilton. We'll be simulcasting the baptisms later that morning to show during our 10:45 service. If you'd like to be baptized and have not contacted Nick, DO IT NOW.
11/29 - NO Kids & Students Classes
We will NOT have Avenue Kids nor The CrossWalk classes on Sun., Nov. 29 due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. Enjoy the morning with your family and join us at 10:45 that morning for worship service!
12/5 - Missional Christmas Party
Join the Avenue Kids ministry on Sat., Dec. 5 for a Christmas party at a domestic violence shelter from 10-noon. Even if you don't have children these ages, please join us! A must-attend meeting for anyone attending the party at the shelter will be on Sun., Nov 22 at 10am.
12/5 - Students Christmas Party
The CrossWalk will be having their Christmas party on Sat., Dec. 5 at 2pm. The party will be at the Tuckers' house.
 12/6 - House Worship at 10:45am
Our house worship weekends provide an intimate setting to hang out, eat, and discuss what God's teaching us at The Avenue. Please plan on attending the home that your life group is assigned. (details coming this weekend). If you don't have a life group, check the available homes this weekend and sign up for a location nearest to you!
12/7 - First Mondays
Please remember that our next First Mondays will be on Dec. 7 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Hilton.
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Attendance & Giving
October Statistics
Giving
Gifts received in October
$10,134
Budget needed for October
$13,600
$3466 under budget
Attendance
Average attendance in October
128
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The End Will Justify
Danielle's Ah-Ha Moment
 The past few weeks, I've been knocked over the head with one big ah-ha: I wouldn't have learned the lessons any other way.
I'm a young gal who's had colon cancer twice. It's absolutely not fair, nor does it make sense; however, it can be used for good. Through it I've learned many lessons with the key ones being Jesus is the only chance I have to be free from this disease-forming body, and Jesus suffered himself, and knows what it feels like.
I've known these things, I grew up a church kid. But not until I faced cancer did I really know them. I've come to the harsh reality that I wouldn't have learned them any other way. Sure, it feels extreme, but that's what it's taken for me to learn these truths because of the way my mind works. Your "dump story" might be what it's taken to get through to you. I'm not saying we necessarily deserve the suffering, but God's allowing us to go through trials for invaluable lessons. He doesn't cause the trials, and He hurts over them like we do, but He also uses them to show us new sides of Himself. And that's a show worth sticking around for.
Don't let the dump series end on a sad note. Be real with your suffering and feel how you feel! But after you've processed it, find a way to stand up under it. We did this series to offer hope. To show that NOTHING is too big for God, and that even when He seems absent, He's not. He's even got a purpose for what we're going through. We opened with Relient K's song "Let it All Out" a few weeks ago. Soak in these lyrics from the song, and hold fast to this truth:
"If the burden seems too much to bear,
remember... the end will justify the pain it took to get us there."
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Odds and Ends
Just a few bits of news from The Avenue
SLT Nominations
We announced a few weeks ago that we're currently praying for a few additional SLT members. We're looking for balance in the team to better represent our church's population. Here are the qualities we're looking for in an SLT member:
- Male or Female
- Growing, mature follower of Christ
- Serve at The Avenue
- Plugged into a life group
- Have the best in mind for The Avenue
- Resonate with the mission & vision
- Lead a missional lifestyle at home, at church, and in the community.
If you'd like to nominate an individual for the SLT, please let us know! Email us and share who's on your heart!
Life Group Break
All of our life groups will be taking some type of break between Thanksgiving and the New Year. While the lengths and style of break will vary, each group is encouraged to meet for a Christmas party and take some time off to get ramped up for 2010!
If you'd like to join a life group, please let us know and we'll work toward finding a group for you to get involved with in January!
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Photo of the Month
We had a great turnout for the
Swap & Shop! We're planning another one for next Spring!
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