September 2019 NEXT

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/ September 2019

It may take a little work to find the perfect group— but it’s worth it! Fall Groups kick off this month.

NEW TO NCC? We want to meet you, answer your questions, and show you how to get connected.

Fill out the tearout card in this issue

Visit the Connections Table

OR

Go to ncc.re/connect

OR

GET INVOLVED Jump into life at NCC!

New to faith? Pick up a Next Steps booklet at the Connections Table. ncc.re/nextsteps

Join a small group. ncc.re/groups

Join a local or global mission team. ncc.re/onmissioneveryday

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205 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

/nationalcommunitychurch

@nationalcommunitychurch

Interested in joining the NCC team? ncc.re/jobs 2

/ September 2019

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

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Note from

Pastor Mark & Lora No one modeled community better than Jesus. Yes, he performed miracles and taught in parables. But his discipleship method was doing life with his disciples, which included lots of camping, fishing, and hiking. One of our goals at NCC is to grow smaller and smaller as we grow bigger and bigger! When we live out the ups and downs of life in the context of small group community, it’s a whole new ballgame. We gain so much, and give so much. Friendship. Mentoring. Accountability.

Encouragement. Collective wisdom.

Innumerable plates of nachos!

Next

We have dozens of groups launching this fall.

If you’ve never joined a group before, can I encourage you to take a step of faith this fall and give one a try? Learn more on page 6.

Contents 2 Welcome

Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor Lora Batterson

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Small Groups

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How to Find the Right Group For You

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What’s Going On

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NCC Families

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Coming Up at NCC

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YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE AWKWARD TO GET TO THE AWESOME 4

/ September 2019

by Amanda Seidler, Groups Pastor

L

et’s be honest—joining a small group can be as awkward as being a middle schooler on the first day of school.

For some of us, it’s a lot of pressure to find the right group online, and then email a stranger to ask to join. Then there’s the stress of deciding whether to actually knock on the stranger’s door or run back to the comfort of your bed and Netflix.

However, as anyone who’s experienced it will tell you, you sometimes have to go through the awkward to get to the awesome. On the other side of that door might be authentic friendships, life-giving words of inspiration, the discovery of new dreams, or even an endless supply of chips and salsa. Whatever is on the other side, know that it is worth it!

Keely Norris attends our Capitol Hill campus and shares her and her husband’s experience: “My husband and I frequently get the question, ‘Why did you move here from Florida?’ Our biggest prayer when leaving the town in which we grew up, met each other, went to college, got married, and so much more was for us to find true, genuine community.

we were diligent about before moving. We perused the long listing of groups online and emailed a few leaders, hearing back from most, but there was one that stuck out: Sam and Deborah Hwu’s Married Couples Small Group.

“Although they lived further away from us in comparison to other groups, they were incredibly persistent and welcoming just via email. We showed up to their house the second week of groups last fall, and we’ve been coming back every week.

“Our memories of this past year are filled with conversations about books, exploring the Bible, and serving locally together.

We have great memories of meals shared around their table every other week, at our table for Easter, and at Peking Gourmet Inn. It has reminded us that God calls us to share life with one another for reasons much greater than ourselves. This is the reminder we needed as we made our move a year ago. This community has made this city feel like it has been home for much longer than a year. If you are thinking about joining a group this semester, trust me—it is worth it!”

“So we committed to joining a small group together, which hadn’t been something nationalcommunity.com

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Groups at NCC: The Basics Groups run on a semester schedule

Spring Fall

Summer

How to Find the Right Group:

1.

Pray First.

Pray and reflect on where you are right now in your spiritual journey. Ask God to guide you to the right group for this season.

2. Do the Research.

Look on the web at ncc.re/groups.

Consult with your campus Groups director.

Find their contact info at ncc.re/groups, or connect with them in person at your campus.

3. Narrow it Down.

Identify 3-4 groups that pique your interest. Email the leaders directly to learn more.

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/ September 2019

We have groups for: Families

Couples

Co-Ed

Students

Groups meet throughout DC, VA, and MD from Gainesville to Baltimore.

Group Directors are available to advise you at each NCC campus.

4.

Take a Chance.

It’s okay to visit before you commit! Group leaders expect and welcome this—feel free to try different groups before you settle in.

5. Commit.

Even if it doesn’t feel perfect, make a commitment to engage with this group for the semester.

6. Contribute & Lean In! The more you put in, the more you’ll grow.

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WHAT’S GOING ON

Freshmen of the City

Deeper

New to the DC area and between the ages of 1830? Freshmen of the City is a 12-week experience designed to engage young leaders who want what they do to matter. Make DC a place where you thrive, not just survive! Learn more and sign up at ncc.re/freshmen.

Slow Down • Pray • Listen

Tuesdays at 7pm beginning Sept. 10 The Miracle Theatre

Alpha

Mondays at 7pm beginning Sept. 23 Ebenezers Coffehouse If you’re questioning your faith, returning to faith, or just exploring what you believe—the Alpha Course might be a great place to start. Learn more and sign up at ncc.re/alpha.

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/ September 2019

The first Monday of every month Monday, September 9, 7pm - 9pm The Miracle Theatre This month, we’ll be focusing particularly on the group life and community life of our church.

Everyone is welcome. Deeper is for anyone who wants to learn to quiet themselves in God’s presence, wants to receive personal or prophetic prayer, longs to worship, and wants to expand their prayer life.

Freedom from Hurts, Habits & Hangups Wednesdays, 7pm

Do you want to be free from shame, fear, control, perfectionism, pride, despair, or anxiety? Do you want to rid yourself of past baggage due to abuse, adultery, family dysfunction, or abortion? Find freedom working the Christ-centered 12 Steps at CR. You can join at any time! ncc.re/cr

update Our Capitol Hill Campus has been meeting in our new space since July.

We’re taking the month of September to publicly launch this new campus.

Capitol Hill NCCers are inviting friends, and we’ll be blanketing the neighborhood and the web with invitations to come and check us out.

Our 128-year-old building began life as the Navy Yard Car Barn. An unusual paint job in the 1980s gave it the moniker most people have been using—The Blue Castle. Now we’ve renamed the building with a nod to its history and with great hopes for its future. We’re thrilled to announce that it’s official: welcome to the Capital Turnaround.

Construction is well under way for our 20,000-s.f. kids ministry area, which will serve as a Child Development Center during the week.

We want to hear from you! Watch for an opportunity to participate in an online update/Q&A session one evening this fall.

Thank you for your investment in Yes & Amen!

• You can make a pledge at: ncc.re/yes

• Track your giving here: ncc.re/central (go to the GIVE tab and click on “pledge.”) nationalcommunity.com

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NCC FAMILIES

NCC Kids (birth - 5th grade)

NCC Youth (6th - 12th grade)

Baseline is happening this Fall! Baseline is our faith foundations small group for elementary aged kids and their parents. Email kids@theaterchurch.com for more details.

Thanks for Your Support!

Thanks to kids and families for supporting the annual School Supply Drive! NCCers donated hundreds of backpacks and thousands of supplies. We were able to support six partner schools and organizations across DC and Northern Virginia.

We are back for a new school year! We believe that this generation is the church NOW, and can’t wait to see what God has for this ministry this year. Join us at any of our four locations this month! Email our youth pastor Brooke.Perry@ theaterchurch.com if you have any questions.

Subscribe to the monthly Parent Insider: kids@theaterchurch.com Learn, be inspired, get encouraged: parentshareblog.com

Missions

DC NCC Youth Sundays // 5 - 7pm @ Performance space of Ebenezers Coffeehouse Alexandria NCC Youth Sundays // 6 - 8pm @ Cap City Church

kidsofncc

Ballston NCC Youth Sundays // 11am - 12:15pm @ Ballston Quarter Regal Cinema

therealnccyouth

Gainesville NCC Youth Wednesdays // 7 - 8:30pm @ 7096 Darby Knoll Gainesville, VA 20155

Help Prep Meals for the Living Room The Living Room is a small group that brings people together from all walks of life to fellowship and study the scriptures over a meal. While all are welcome, many individuals in this group have found themselves living on the streets, in a local shelter, or as part of the working poor. The Living Room meets every Wednesday night at Ebenezers. We could use some help preparing meals for this group, and feel free to join us for fellowship.

Go to https://linktr.ee/aoneeight for more information.

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/ September 2019

COMING UP AT NCC

Learn more at ncc.re/now

Sunday, September 1

NCC Kids Promotion Sunday

Monday, September 2

Labor Day - NCC Offices Closed

Saturday, September 7

Fall Leadership Summit (for all current NCC leaders)

Sunday, September 8

NCC Youth Promotion & Open House

Sunday, September 8

Fall Small Groups Launch

Monday, September 9

Deeper Night of Worship

Tuesday, September 10

Freshmen of the City Begins

Saturday, September 14

Second Saturday Serve in DC and VA

Monday, September 23

The Alpha Course Begins

Saturday, September 28

NCC Worship Leads Worship at Nationals Park

Sunday, September 29

NCC Kids Sunday Funday

NCC Worship at Nats Faith Day! Saturday, September 28 Nationals Park

Watch the Nationals take on the Cleveland Indians, then stay postgame to worship God on a fine September Saturday evening.

Worship with your favorite worship band and hear testimonies of Faith from Nationals players.

Special ticket prices and reserved sections for NCCers. Consider inviting some friends! ncc.re/baseball

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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WEEKLY GATHERINGS AT NCC CAMPUSES God created us to support, encourage, and rely on one another. Find community each week at NCC. Worship • Be transformed, inspired, and filled as you come into the presence of God Learn • Grow in faith as we hear teaching from the Bible we can apply to our lives Connect • Develop meaningful relationships and grow in community Go • Get equipped to love and serve each other, our neighborhoods, and around the world

BARRACKS ROW Saturday Nights, 5pm Pastor Marion Mason — theaterchurch.com/barracksrow Washington, DC

E-news: ncc.re/enewsBarracksSat •

Facebook Group: Barracks Row Saturday Night NCCers

CAPITOL HILL

Sundays, 9am & 11am Pastor Joel Schmidgall — theaterchurch.com/capitolhill E-news: ncc.re/enewsCapHill •

Facebook Group: Capitol Hill NCCers

LINCOLN THEATRE Sundays, 10:30am Pastor Dave Schmidgall — theaterchurch.com/lincoln E-news: ncc.re/enewsLincoln •

Facebook Group: Lincoln Theatre NCCers

BALLSTON

Sundays, 9:30am & 11am Pastor Jenni Clayville — theaterchurch.com/ballston E-news: ncc.re/enewsBallston •

Facebook Group: Ballston NCCers

GAINESVILLE Sundays, 10am

Virginia

Pastor Robb Schmidgall — theaterchurch.com/gainesville E-news: ncc.re/enewsgvemail •

Join our Facebook Group: Gainesville NCCers

KINGSTOWNE Sundays, 9am & 10:30am Pastor Joshua Symonette — theaterchurch.com/kingstowne E-news: ncc.re/enewsKT •

Facebook Group: Kingstowne NCCers

POTOMAC YARD Sundays, 10am Pastor Jon Vaughan — theaterchurch.com/potomacyard E-news: ncc.re/enewsPY •

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Join our Facebook Group: Potomac Yard NCCers

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