Well, it was good to get back to our regular service schedule even though my body wasn’t ready (thanks to a head cold). Great crowds at 9am & 11am and 4pm wasn’t too bad. Our attendance for the day was 434 which is a 49% increase from the same Sunday last year. (By the way, none of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers! Thank you for serving. You make it happen!)
RCBand went with the acoustic vibe this week and while they did a superb job, I sure missed Mr. Slammin’ Hamann and his drum box! Man, I love me some drums. I’ve always wanted to take lessons, too. Ashton begins lessons next week. Kidding.
Here was Sunday’s song lineup:
1. Loving, Forgiving, Saving (RC original)
2. All For You (RC original)
3. Rain Down (Crowder)
4. I Exalt You (Remixed by Lp)
To help remove the sting of no drums Lp unleashed DJ Ezra (Cory Vance) upon us. Cory mixed the turntables for a special song that rocked the house! Rumor has it we will see and hear more this Sunday.
In place of a sermon our pastoral staff and I spent the allotted time casting the vision for 2011. After a funny mock video (MeChurch), we revealed this year’s theme word: FOCUS.
F O C U S
Here’s a synopsis from each pastor:
Chad Ingham (Children’s Pastor – SkyQuest)
- New Teaching Method (Understanding, Learning, Practicing, Application)
- Parent’s Role
- Fundraising
Juan Rios Jr. (Youth Pastor – AMPD Youth)
- 2010 Review (AMPD grew from 34 students on roster to 86)
- Goal for 2011 (250 students, 25 leaders/mentors)
- Bus Update, Plan (Currently using 2 buses, plan to uses 3rd to create mobile church)
Lyndon Perry (aka Lp, Worship Pastor)
- RCBand Recording (goal to release one song/month, complete album via iTunes by Thanksgiving)
- AMPD Band (will oversee and develop, infuse into RC worship)
- SkyQuest Worship (will oversee and develop worship experience for JungleQuest & SkyQuest)
Chris Papazis (Focus Groups/Teaching Pastor)
- The importance of planning (“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” ~Abraham Lincoln)
- Introduced book Sticky Church by Larry Osbourne, explained RC’s plan to create sermon-based small groups to be called Focus Groups.
- Sermon-based Focus Groups will be intentionally designed for maximum growth and minimum burnout.
- Unity (entire pastoral staff will lead or teach a Focus Group in 2011)
- Timeline
- First Quarter (build the first Focus Group prototype)
- Eight week trial run in April
- August (full blown launch)
I shared the following Scriptures:
1 Timothy 4:13 (NLT)
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I FOCUS on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead… (Focusing on the vision)
RC Vision: To reach and impact the Peoria area and our world by delivering the Word of God through relevant worship, discipleship, and relationships.
Romans 16:27 (MSG)
All our praise is FOCUSED through Jesus on this incomparably wise God! Yes! [WORSHIP]
1 Timothy 4:13 (NLT)
Until I get there, FOCUS on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. [DISCIPLESHIP, RELATIONSHIP]
This will happen organically at our upcoming Focus Groups.
“Performance-based programming must give way to intentional relationships and community.” ~Ed Stetzer
Now what?
Philippians 3:15 (MSG)
So let’s keep FOCUSED on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet!
We prepared our hearts to partake communion together by reading Galatians 3:1 and having RCBand lead us in Oh the Blood of Jesus.
Galatians 3:1 (MSG)
You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear FOCUS in your lives. His sacrifice on the Cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.
There you have it. Our vision for 2011 is to focus on discipleship and relationship through sermon-based small groups called Focus Groups. (We already focus on worship every Sunday at our regular services.)
To do the above effectively is going to require less focus on other things. We prefer to have laser focus and conduct five things with excellence rather than twenty things without excellence. This will require an honest examination and evaluation of every area of ministry: Does it contribute to our vision? Is it producing fruit? Is it conducted with excellence? Is it RC 2.0? Would anyone notice if we stopped doing it? You get the idea.
Thank you for trusting, supporting, and running with the vision.
Together we are going to make a difference in 2011.
Focused,
~PC
