SPCC | December 2023 Newsletter

DECEMBER 2023 | ISSUE 5

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER Southpointe Community Church | Monthly Newsletter

FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD. Luke 2: 11

Christmas

SUNDAY 12.3 Communion

“No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes.

The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne everything - to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

TUESDAY 12.5

You see, the best thing about this Story is - it's true.

DECEMBER EVENTS FRIDAY 12.1

SP KIDS | First Friday Gingerbread Competition 6PM

WOMEN | 1st Tuesday Supper Club 6:30-8:30PM

SUNDAY 12.10 SPCC | Night of Worship 5:00PM

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

SATURDAY 12.17

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle — the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.

SUNDAY 12.24

And this is no ordinary baby. This is the Child upon whom everything would depend.”

-the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

cookies & fellowship to follow childcare 0-3 ROUTE 56 | Christmas Party SP STUDENTS | Christmas Parties

SPCC | CHRISTMAS EVE Candlelight Services 9:00 & 10:45AM, 3:00PM livestream at 10:45AM no childcare at 3:00PM

SUNDAY 12.31

SPCC | 1 SERVICE 10:00AM

BAPTISMS AND NEW MEMBERS IN NOVEMBER Baptisms: Lana Rose Burdett Riley Jane Longard New Members: Wes and Julie Bland Ryan and Cari Hines Peter and Jessica Koenen Edward and Julie Longard

DECEMBER BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS from Matt JOY TO THE WORLD

Daily Readings for Advent by- Charles H. Spurgeon

In the midst of the busyness of December, take 5 minutes each day reading about the joy that can only be found in the good news of Jesus Christ.

WATCH FOR THE LIGHT

Readings for Advent & Christmas by- Collected Authors -Pastor These 50 devotions invite the readerMatt to contemplate the great themes of Christmas that the coming of Jesus has for each of us - not only during Advent, but every day.

ONE THOUSAND GIFTS

A dare to LIVE FULLY right where you are by- Ann Voskamp This book helps you find joy in the small things in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and even the death of a loved one.

NEW BUILDING UPDATE Milestone 1: Purchased 114 acres at 7581 Nolensville Rd. for $1.48M. By God's grace, we were able to raise funds to purchase this property in July 2020.

Milestone 2: God is Able | Building Fund:

How is this happening? $3.4M – God is Able Pledges ($2.6M has been received) We have secured financing and are working with the architects to finalize plans.

Currently:

This month or next we will begin construction of the bridge that needs to be built before any other construction can begin. Building materials have increased quite a bit since we started the process and we are adjusting the plans to build in phases. We will start with a footprint that can easily be transformed as additional funds are raised.

Upcoming:

We hope to break ground in the new year with our revised plan, and will share updated renderings before the end of the year. We have been blessed to raise $2.7M so far, and we anticipate receiving the outstanding pledges of $838K by March of 2024.

MINISTRY UPDATES Women The Women’s Ministry will continue our 1st Tuesday Supper Club in the new year. On those evenings, we will share a potluck dinner together while engaging in a short devotional, prayer time, and discussion questions.

Men Save the date for our Men's Retreat.

This transformative experience will be enriched by the insights of guest speaker Darrell Jones, promising a weekend of spiritual growth and camaraderie against the backdrop of nature's beauty. Don't miss the opportunity to forge lasting connections and deepen your faith at this immersive retreat.

CLASSES COMING IN JANUARY

Ephesians is a book to teach and inspire us to have a passion for the glory of God and the preeminence of Christ in all of life and all the world. It challenges us to make Jesus Christ the unavoidable issue in all things to all people.

SPCC

SP STUDENTS

It’s time to registration for our Summer Camps. For SP Kids K-4 we will have Pine Cove City here at SPCC. Route 56 will go to Dayton, TN for Kids Camp. Our 7th-12th Grade SP Students will head to Atlanta, GA for RUSH at Perimeter Church.

In February our High School Students will attend Winter Camp at Camp Widjiwagan with Christ Presbyterian, Covenant, and West End. We are so excited for this time of community and connection sandwiched between the chaos of the holiday season and settling back into school.

Theological Foundation for Leaders (TFL) is a class designed for mature believers. While this class aims to provide a solid foundation in both Systematic and Biblical Theology, the ultimate goal is to help you see God more clearly and in seeing Him more clearly, to love and treasure Him more than anything.

y r t s i n i M SPOTLIGHT Stephen Ministry provides care to people of Southpointe and members of our community.

What do Stephen Ministers do?

Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one caring ministry that uses the Stephen Series system, established in 1975 and is used in over 13,000 churches. Stephen Ministers are trained to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting.

Stephen Ministers are members of the congregation that are trained to listen, ask thoughtful questions, pray, share scripture, and bring comfort during difficult times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time. They meet for approximately one hour, one time per week.

Testimonials

What is Stephen Ministry?

Is Stephen Ministry right for me?

Think about any time you have had a problem and shared it with someone in your life – whether a friend, family member, co-worker… People around you are quick to give you advice. We have no shortage of self-help material from books to websites to daytime talk shows, you name it.

But sometimes what you really need is someone objective, who does not judge you, does not just tell you what to do but instead LISTENS to you. Helps you take your time, process how you are feeling, checks in on how you are handling things, gives you comfort and prayer.

Stephen Ministers aren’t there to give you advice or to tell you how to solve your problems. We have a saying: we are the care giver, but God is the cure giver. We want to get you connected to God, the ultimate healer.

We’ve seen God do great things through this ministry, some examples are: greater connection in marriages - coping with divorce - overcoming anxiety grieving through loss - confidence to take the next steps in career dealing with overwhelming stress - making difficult decisions “Stephen Ministry allows us to impact hurting people using spiritual tools that point to Christ.”

- Stephen Minister “I learned to listen intently and connect more deeply. I can be of greater service to my care receivers, family, and congregation.” - Stephen Minister “They didn’t fix me, they loved me. My connection to God was strengthened and He brought me through.” - Care Receiver

How to request care: Sign up on our website HERE or call 615-746-7722 (x701).

We take confidentiality seriously. Only the Stephen Leader will access the request and talk to you for an initial intake call, then assign you to a Stephen Minister. Only the Stephen Leader and Minister will know you are meeting with them, not even the other Stephen Ministers will know. During ongoing supervision meetings names and specifics are not given to protect confidentiality. If this sounds like a ministry you could use during a difficult time, we encourage you to reach out.

We look forward to serving you.

DECEMBER Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

Friday 1

2

9:30AM MOPS

Sunday Worship 9:00AM Worship 10:45AM Worship

6:00PM KIDS FF Gingerbread

4

3

5

7

6

6:15AM Prayer

8

9

15

16

21

22

23

28

29

30

6:00PM CR

6:00PM Route 56 6:00PM Students

6:30PM WOMEN Advent Study

6:30PM WOMEN Supper Club

10

11

12

6:30PM AHG Trail Life 7:00PM AA

13

14

6:15AM Prayer

5:00PM Night of Worship

6:30PM WOMEN Advent Study

17

18

6:00PM CR 7:00PM MEN Bible Study

6:30PM AHG Trail Life 7:00PM AA

19

20 6:15AM Prayer

6:00PM Route 56 Christmas Party 6:00PM Students MS Christmas Party 6:30PM WOMEN HS Christmas Party Advent Study

24 9:00, 10:45AM 3:00PM Christmas Eve

6:00PM CR

7:00PM AA

26

25

6:15AM Prayer

CHRISTMAS DAY

31

27

6:00PM CR

10:00AM Worship

7:00PM AA

WEEKLY EVENTS INFO

GIVING UPDATE

GENERAL FUND August

$146,677 of $116,000

September

$111,650 of $116,000

October

SUNDAY -Worship 9:00 & 10:45AM -Route 56 6:00-8:00PM drop off around back -SP Students 6:00-8:00PM drop off Back Lobby

$124,641 of $116,000

TUESDAY: -Celebrate Recovery 6:00-9:30 Back Lobby

$2,761,130 of $3,332,727

WEDNESDAY: -Morning Prayer 6:15-7:00AM Back Lobby

budget

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

9:30AM MOPS

(includes $80,590 non-pledged) pledged

GIVE HERE Coming in 2024 Sun 12.31 | SPCC 1 Service at 10:00AM Tue 1.2 | WOMEN 1st Tuesday Supper Club Sun 1.7 | SP STUDENTS starts for 2024 Sun 1.7 | ROUTE 56 starts for 2024

Matt Ballard | Lead Pastor spcommunity.org 615.746.7722 info@spcommunity.org 7227 Haley Industrial Drive, Nolensville, TN 37135

THURSDAY: -The Right Direction Group (AA) 7:00-9:00PM Back Warehouse.

-AHG Nolensville 6:30-8:00PM every other Thursday -Trail Life Nolensville 6:30-8:00PM FRIDAY: -MOPS 9:30-11:30AM every other Friday STEPHEN MINISTRY Are you or someone you know in need of someone to talk with? Our Stephen Ministers listen, pray with you and encourage you in your faith as you face challenges that are too much to bear alone.