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/ April 2018

Welcome to National Community Church!

Note from

Pastor Mark & Lora Whether it’s your first time or hundredth time at National Community Church, thanks for worshiping with us this weekend. We hope the entire experience is life-giving. We want to invite you to be part of what God is doing at NCC by getting plugged into a small group, mission, or ministry team. And, of course, we want to be part of the dream God has given you. Thanks for the privilege of serving you on your spiritual journey!

Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor Lora Batterson

Welcome!

Get involved.

It’s the best way to meet people and make NCC your church home!

New to NCC?

There are so many great ways to jump into the life of NCC.

See you at the Connections Table!

We want to meet you, answer your questions, and give you a gift. We can show you how to get connected at your campus. or . . .

Fill out the tearout card in the center section of this issue and drop it in the offering. or . . .

Go to ncc.re/connect and fill out the quick form. We’ll be in touch soon!

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• Join one of our small groups. ncc.re/groups

• Join a team and serve at your campus. ncc.re/team

• Join a local or global mission team or show up at Second Saturday Serve as we work together to make a difference in our communities. ncc.re/onmissioneveryday

If you’re new to church or new to following Jesus, pick up a Next Steps booklet at the Connections Table, and check out our Alpha groups. ncc.re/alpha

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Subscribe: ncc.re/podcast | Learn more or get involved: ncc.re/connect 2

/ April 2018

What Happens When You Go On Mission

by Direna Cousins (India Mission Co-Lead, 2018) and Hana Viswanathan (India Mission Co-Lead, 2017)

arm embraces, handmade garlands, laughter from voices shouting, “Didi! Didi! You’re here; we’ve been waiting all day!” We cherish the welcome we receive when we visit our extended family in Pune, India.

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For the last four years, NCC’s India Mission Team has served alongside our ministry partner Sparsh. Led by Timothy Hiwrale, Sparsh seeks to transform the lives of those affected by human trafficking and drug addiction—focusing mainly on women and children. Sparsh provides a home for children of sex workers and other vulnerable children, supporting their basic needs as well as their emotional, social, and spiritual development.

NCC mission teams are incredible but also uncomfortable (in a good way) as we immerse ourselves in different cultures and customs. God often disrupts our plans in order to make room for the Holy Spirit and display His heart in action. While on mission, we saw how Timothy and the children were able to reflect God’s kingdom, His heart

for each of us, and what it means to be like Christ. We showed up expecting to serve and the roles were reversed.

As our relationships with our mission partners grow, we share not only in their joys, but also in their burdens. Christians in India face discrimination and persecution, and Sparsh faces overwhelming opposition on a daily basis. Despite this, Timothy told us that “they’re never going to stop making Jesus known.” His faith inspires us to go deeper in our own faith here at home. Going on missions helps us grow in our understanding of and empathy for the diverse living experiences of our brothers and sisters around the world, strengthening the kingdom of God. We hope you will consider joining an NCC mission team!

If you’d like more information about NCC’s mission to Pune, India, please email india@aoneeight.org.

How to Join an NCC Mission Team 1. Start by exploring and praying through the mission teams at ncc.re/missionteams.

2. Email the mission teams you’re interested in and plan to attend their next info session.

3. Following the info session, the mission team leader will send you an application link.

4. After you submit the application to join the team, you’ll be notified if you’re accepted.

5. Attend a commitment meeting and the subsequent team meetings. You will get set up to raise funds, learn more about the culture you’ll be stepping into, and grow together as a team before you leave on mission.

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What’s going on New Sermon Series!

Her Voice: Countering the Noise

Join Us!

Saturday, April 28 9:30am - 11am The Miracle Theatre

In the beginning, God created us in His image. We have been creating God in our image ever since.

When we have a distorted image of who God is, it distorts our vision of ourselves and others. What has most shaped your view of God? A parent?

A tragedy? A Sunday School teacher? Culture?

An unanswered prayer? The way to see past the counterfeit is to have an intimate relationship with the genuine. Join us for this 6-week series, “God in the Hands of Angry People,” as we dismantle the God who is not.

Join us for a gathering of women from all NCC locations to have a conversation about anchoring our faith in a turbulent culture. How do we stay connected to the Spirit and hear His voice amid all the distractions and pressures around us? Lora Batterson will share some thoughts and we’ll hear practical tools from our campus pastor wives.

Camp Kid Jam

Second Saturday Serve

Calling all 2nd-5th graders! Register for Camp KidJam, an incredible week of jam sessions, small groups, fun, games, and memories to last a lifetime!

This year’s camp is in Norfolk, VA. Spots are limited.

Second Saturday Serve is a monthly opportunity to serve our local partners throughout the DC/NOVA area with no strings attached. Join the team at your campus and pitch in! All are welcome. Visit the Connections Table at your campus for more details.

July 16 - 19 ncc.re/campkidjam2018

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theaterchurch.com/media

/ April 2018

Saturday, April 14

“The Talk”

(Probably Not the One You Heard Growing Up)

by Ryan Zempel, Pastor of Recovery and Care

id you get “the sex talk” growing up? I’m pretty sure I was given the talk at the same time as my brother Jesse—who is three years older than me. And all it did was reinforce that this is an embarrassing subject we don’t talk about.

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When it comes to sex, most parents— and the Church—have done a woefully inadequate job of casting a positive vision of sexuality, instead reducing it to a list of do’s and don’ts. Well, actually, mostly don’ts.

Country artist Butch Hancock once said: “Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you’re going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth, and you should save it for someone you love.”

All joking aside, this represents a significant failure to fully understand and live out deep spiritual truths about our relationships, our bodies, our desires, and indeed the very meaning of life.

This May, we are excited to bring in three speakers—Christopher West, Deb Hirsch, and Bob Ragan—to cast a positive Christian vision of sexuality and to help us all better understand God’s plan and purpose for our lives.

As Christopher West has stated, “The problem with our sex-saturated culture . . . is not that it overvalues the body and sex.

The problem is that it has failed to see just how valuable the body and sex really are.”

We hope you can join us!

Join our Special Guest Speakers this May! 7pm at The Miracle Theatre Find bios and more info here: ncc.re/sextalks

Monday, May 7 Christopher West

Monday, May 14 Deb Hirsch

Our Bodies Redeeming Sex Proclaim the Gospel

Monday, May 21 Bob Ragan

Sexuality, Holiness, and Suffering theaterchurch.com

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NCC Families

NCC Kids (birth-5th grade)

Calling all 2nd-5th graders!

Register for Camp KidJam, an incredible week of jam sessions, small groups, fun, games, and memories to last a lifetime! This year’s camp is in Norfolk, VA. Spots are limited, so reserve your spot today. ncc.re/campkidjam2018

Subscribe to the monthly Parent Insider:

kids@theaterchurch.com

NCC Youth

Learn, be inspired, get encouraged:

parentshareblog.com kidsofncc

(6th-12th grade)

therealnccyouth

A1:8 Missions

Small Group Leader/Parent Mingle NCC Youth Small Group Leaders are adults who are roaring advocates, huge fans, and committed mentors to your children. They are devoted to serving your family, partnering with you in your child’s spiritual development, and helping your child navigate their teenage years.

Meet your Small Group Leaders at your campus this month. More info available at your campus NCC Youth Gathering.

Email steffen.humbert@theaterchurch.com with questions.

Small Groups

Join a Mission Team

Join a Small Group

Child advocacy, anti-trafficking, and evangelism are just three of the nine causes we believe are central to how we live on mission every day—in our own neighborhoods and beyond. More than 30 NCC mission teams partner with people and organizations around the world to address these causes. Prayerfully consider joining a mission team this

It’s never too late to join a small group! Not sure what type of group is the right fit? Consider a sermon discussion group, online group, or activity group meeting near you.

Check them out at ncc.re/groups.

ncc.re/missionteams

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/ April 2018

ncc.re/groups

Join a Team

Join the Utilities Team Commitment: 1-2 times per month volunteer@theaterchurch.com

If you’re a behind-the-scenes, task-oriented person, this is a great team for you. Help set up and tear down services to create a functional and welcoming place for people to enter into community and encounter Jesus. Help set up signs and flags, tables, kids toys, and foam flooring.

Coming Up at NCC

Learn more at ncc.re/events

Saturday & Sunday, April 7 & 8 New Sermon Series Begins: “God in the Hands of Angry People” April 14 - April 21

NCC Mission Team on site in Puerto Rico*

Saturday, April 14

Second Saturday Serve at your campus

Sunday, April 15

Bolivia Mission Team Info Session

Sunday, April 22

Cuba Mission Team Commitment Meeting

Saturday, April 28

Her Voice, 9:30 - 11am, The Miracle Theatre

Sunday, April 29

Bolivia Mission Team Info Session

Monday, May 7 Sex Talks, featuring Christopher West

7pm, The Miracle Theatre ncc.re/sextalks Monday, May 14 Sex Talks, featuring Deb Hirsch

7pm, The Miracle Theatre ncc.re/sextalks Friday, May 18

NCC Kids Dads & Daughters Camping Trip

Monday, May 21 Sex Talks, featuring Bob Ragan

7pm, The Miracle Theatre ncc.re/sextalks

*Follow NCC’s A1:8 Missions on Instagram to pray for our mission teams (@aoneeight).

3 Ways To Give “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:7

theaterchurch.com/giving TXT “$(amount) NCC” to 45777 Cash or Check

(Find offering envelopes at the Connections Table)

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Sozo is simple, fast, Spirit-led, and next effective for inner Let us help you take your steps!prayer Visit the New to healing. Sozo prayer helps people better hear theyour Holy Connections Table and we’ll make surefrom you get Spirit so they can walk through process of freedom and own Bible and our Nexta Steps guide.

You can read Following wholeness. this Getworkbook trained inon effective Sozo prayer from one your own, but we encourage you of Sozo Inner Healing do it withpractitioners, a group of friends or in a small group. leading Dr Margaret Nagib.

Jesus?the country’stoWant to talk with someone about your new faith?

Prayer Training

Contact campus and consider joining an Register and findyour out morepastor at ncc.re/sozo

Saturday, September 16, 9am - 5pm Ebenezers Coffeehouse

Alpha group. More info here: ncc.re/alpha.

Your NCC Campus Community Sustainable apprenticeship to Jesus, effective mission, and real relationship—that’s our deepest desire for every person who’s part of NCC. This happens best in community at your campus.

Here are a few ways to stay informed about what’s going on at your NCC campus.

Barracks Row

Ballston - Sundays, 9:30am & 11am

Pastor Heather Zempel theaterchurch.com/ballston NCC Kids at 9:30am E-news: ncc.re/enewsBallston Join our Facebook Group: Ballston NCCers

Gainesville - Sundays, 10am

Pastor Robb Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/gainesville E-news: ncc.re/gvemail Join our Facebook Group: Gainesville NCCers

Echostage - Sundays, 9:30am

Pastor Marion Mason theaterchurch.com/echo Subscribe to E-news: ncc.re/enewsEcho Join our Facebook Group: Echostage NCCers

Kingstowne - Sundays, 9am & 10:30am Pastor Joshua Symonette theaterchurch.com/kingstowne E-news: ncc.re/enewsKT Join our Facebook Group: Kingstowne NCCers

Lincoln Theatre - Sundays, 10:30am

Pastor Dave Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/lincoln Subscribe to E-news: ncc.re/enewsLincoln

Join our Facebook Group: Lincoln Theatre NCCers

Potomac Yard - Sundays, 10am

Pastor Jon Vaughan theaterchurch.com/potomacyard E-news: ncc.re/enewsPY Join our Facebook Group: Potomac Yard NCCers

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205 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

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202-544-0414

@NCC

Virginia

Washington, DC

Saturday Nights, 5pm Ashley Anderson Sundays, 9, 10:30, and noon Pastor Joel Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/barracksrow Subscribe to E-news: ncc.re/enewsBarracks Join our Facebook Group: Barracks Row NCCers