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/ March 2018

NCC’s famous Easter Eggstravaganzas are March 24 and 31!

Note from

Pastor Mark & Lora As we enter the second half of our 40-Day Prayer Challenge, let me encourage you to keep circling! And if you’re new to NCC, it’s not too late to start the prayer challenge. Prayer is the difference between letting things happen and making things happen. Of course, that doesn’t mean God answers prayer on our timeline! But prayer has a way of sanctifying our waiting and enabling us to seize the opportunity when it comes our way. Let’s stay humble, stay patient, and stay focused.

Keep circling, 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

/theaterchurch

@theaterchurch

@NCC

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

/ March 2018

Why You Should Draw the Circle!

by Pastor Heidi Scanlon

n his book Draw the Circle, Pastor Mark encourages us to try a new way of praying—not the only way, but a different way—to “circle” in prayer things that are on our hearts: our passions, our dreams, our hopes. So why would we do that? I’ll tell you why.

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Most of modern religion is in the business of behavior modification. But God is in the business of captivating our hearts with His love.

His fatherly affection draws us to Him. He is portrayed in the story of the prodigal son as the Father who is always standing at the end of the driveway of our lives looking for us. You can almost picture Him running toward us with His arms opened and stretched out wide.

Jesus portrayed the love of the Father for us when He too stretched out His arms to receive us, except that He stretched His arms out on a cross. Jesus said, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen

the Father.” How do we see Him? Arms opened wide. And now that He is resurrected, the Bible tells us that Jesus is seated right beside the Father in heaven and that He is advocating on our behalf. So why should we draw the circle?

Because this is our God who loves us.

God wants to hear from you. Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” In Psalm 138:3, David says, “When I called, you answered me, and you greatly emboldened me.” God’s love for us is the very thing that gives us holy confidence to approach Him in prayer.

The backdrop of every great leader in the Bible is a life of prayer. Not just asking of God, but becoming intimate friends with Him in prayer.

There is nothing magical about 40 days.

Researchers say it takes about three weeks to begin to develop a new habit. Why not try something that will take your intimacy with God

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The 40-Day Prayer Challenge continues. Engage with us as we look toward Easter!

• Deep Dive Tuesdays with NCC Prayer Pastor Heidi Scanlon, Tuesdays at noon on Facebook LIVE • SUBSCRIBE to daily or weekly prayer prompts through Facebook Messenger ncc.re/messenger • FOLLOW NCC on Instagram for prayer inspiration and Instastory takeovers • TWEET your prayers: #nccprays • Join us for morning prayer: 7:14am - 8:00am Tuesdays-Fridays through March 30 at Ebenezers Coffeehouse, Washington, DC

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What’s going on

NCC’s Eggstravaganzas are March 24 and 31!

• Volunteer to serve • Invite your friends!

What do 48,000 plastic eggs, cotton candy, and “somebunny” in a costume have in common? YOU! Last year, NCC campuses hosted more than 13,000 people at our famous community Easter egg hunts.

We need hundreds of volunteers to pull off our FIVE Eggstravaganzas in DC and VA! Sign up to serve here: ncc.re/eggz

Raised to Life!

Easter Baptisms

Saturday, March 31, Barracks Row Interested in gettting baptized? In baptism, we are immersed in the story of Jesus and raised in the power of His resurrection to new life! Easter is an important and memorable time to make this signifcant step of faith. We would love to celebrate with you and be part of your faith journey. Email baptism@theaterchurch.com for more information and to get started.

Invite your friends and neighbors to come! All the details are here: eggstravaganzadc.com

Easter Celebrations at NCC Good Friday Services Friday, March 30 ncc.re/goodfriday

As we anticipate the joy of Easter and Jesus’ resurrection, we must also move through the suffering of the cross. Join us Good Friday at 6pm at Lincoln Theatre (DC) and at 7pm in Gainesville (VA). Please check the link above for details and child care info.

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/ March 2018

Saturday & Sunday, March 31 & April 1 ncc.re/easter Christ the Lord is risen today!

Join us as we celebrate the life we find in the resurrection of Jesus! We’ll be holding a few extra services to accommodate your family and friends, so be sure to invite them along. Keep an eye on the website for the latest details.

Why We Do Eggstravaganzas

by Ashley Anderson

’ll never forget an email I got from an NCCer who is a local teacher. As soon as she heard about our Eggstravaganzas, one student came to mind that she wanted to invite.

He was bright and funny, and he was experiencing homelessness. His family lived in a local shelter. Careful not to bring

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this up around other students, one day the teacher asked him to stay after class.

She told him all about the Eggstravaganza, how much fun it was going to be, and that she’d love to take him. As she was talking, he got a dejected look on his face.

He assumed that this would be one more thing that he couldn’t afford to attend.

The moment that she added that all of it was free, his face lit up. For one weekend out of the year, his Saturday could look exactly like all of his classmates’ Saturdays.

For one weekend out of the year, the playing field was leveled for him.

Eggstravaganza is high-fun, it’s lowbarrier, and everyone is invited. That’s why for the eighteenth year in a row, we are gearing up for Easter Eggstravaganza. This year we’ll be hosting five Eggstravaganzas around DC and Virginia. These are huge Easter egg hunts with games, prizes, and other entertainment designed to bless families and invest in our communities.

That’s what this event is about. It’s about serving the kids of senators and people living on the streets; the kids of businesspeople and stay-at-home parents.

Bringing a diverse group of people together and blessing them equally is one way we see the Church come alive.

NCC’s Eggstravaganzas are happening in DC and VA! Sign up to serve ncc.re/eggz DC: Capitol Hill • Langdon Park

Invite your friends and neighbors! eggstravaganzadc.com VA: Arlandria • Gainesville • Springfield

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NCC Families

NCC Youth (6th-12th grade)

Subscribe to the monthly Parent Insider:

kids@theaterchurch.com

Celebrating a life-changing Winter Escape!

Over 100 6th-12th graders attended our annual Winter Escape. It was an incredible weekend of building relationships and meaningful discussion about how God’s love is unrivaled.

Celebrating our new look!

Our amazing youth ministry has a great new look and name! Every week, NCC Youth meets across several locations. Learn more by emailing steffen.humbert@theaterchurch.com.

Learn, be inspired, get encouraged:

parentshareblog.com

NCC Kids

kidsofncc therealnccyouth

A1:8 Missions

(birth-5th grade)

Observing Lent together We have loved seeing families participate in Lent together using our NCC Kids Lent poster.

We’re memorizing the Lord’s Prayer, circling one big prayer, and giving up one thing to anticipate Easter and the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.

Download it here: ncc.re/lentposter. It’s a great resource for everyone­—not just for families!

Small Groups

Anti-Trafficking

Join a Small Group

Join our Love146 DC team to visit hotels in DC, MD, and Northern VA to raise awareness of trafficking in our area. We work with hotel staff who can use their unique positions to identify potential trafficking situations. We also provide in-depth training sessions for hotel staff who want to take a proactive approach to combating trafficking.

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.

carabshirley@gmail.com

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/ March 2018

ncc.re/groups

Join a Team

Connections Team

Commitment: 1-2 times per month volunteer@theaterchurch.com

Help create an inviting and engaging space for people to feel welcome as they encounter Jesus at NCC. Help set up tables, signs, and other welcome materials. You’ll be the friendly face of NCC and answer questions, invite people into community, and help people get involved.

// continued from page 3 to the next level? As David wrote in Psalm 5:3 (Passion translation): “At each and every sunrise You will hear my voice, as I prepare my sacrifice of prayer to you.

Every morning I will lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.”

What an incredible example—to think about the

Coming Up at NCC

pieces of your life and to lay them before our loving Father every morning (or in Pastor Mark’s words, “to circle” them in prayer). How will God answer what we circle in prayer? I don’t know. But a great prayer to pray is “Lord, let your fire fall on the pieces of my life.”

Friends: Draw the circle! Pray daily with us throughout Lent.

Learn more at ncc.re/events

Monday, March 5

Deeper Night of Worship, 7pm, The Miracle Theatre

Tuesdays-Fridays throughout March

40-Day Prayer Challenge: Morning prayer at Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 7:14am - 8am

Saturday, March 10

Second Saturday Serve at your campus

Saturday, March 24

Details at eggstravaganzadc.com DC: Langdon Park Eggstravaganza hosted by NCC Echostage VA: Arlandria Eggstravaganza hosted by NCC Potomac Yard Gainesville Eggstravaganza hosted by NCC Gainesville Kingstowne Eggstravaganza hosted by NCC Kingstowne

Friday, March 30

Saturday, March 31

Good Friday Services: Lincoln Theatre-DC and Gainesville-VA (check for updated details at ncc.re/goodfriday)

Saturday-Sunday, March 31-April 1

Capitol Hill Eggstravaganza hosted by NCC Barracks Row Easter Celebration Services Saturday, March 31, 5pm: Easter Service at Barracks Row Sunday, April 1: Easter Services at Barracks Row: 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am, noon (NCC Kids at 9am & 10:30am) Easter Services at all other NCC Campuses take place at regularly-scheduled service times *NCC Kids programs offered at all services except Barracks Row-Noon and Ballston-11am

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 Mike Whitford theaterchurch.com/ballston NCC Kids at 9:30am E-news: ncc.re/enewsBallston

Saturday Nights, 5pm Pastor Mike Whitford Sundays, 9, 10:30, and noon Pastor Joel Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/barracksrow Subscribe to E-news: ncc.re/enewsBarracks

Join our Facebook Group: Ballston NCCers

Join our Facebook Group: Barracks Row NCCers

Gainesville - Sundays, 10am Pastor Robb Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/gainesville E-news: ncc.re/gvemail

Pastor Marion Mason theaterchurch.com/echo Subscribe to E-news: ncc.re/enewsEcho

Join our Facebook Group: Gainesville NCCers

Join our Facebook Group: Echostage NCCers

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

Georgetown - Sundays, 5:30pm

Pastor Jeremy Steffens theaterchurch.com/georgetown E-news: jeremy.steffens@theaterchurch.com

Join our Facebook Group: Kingstowne NCCers

Join our Facebook Group: Georgetown NCCers

Potomac Yard - Sundays, 10am Pastor Jon Vaughan theaterchurch.com/potomacyard E-news: ncc.re/enewsPY

Lincoln Theatre - Sundays, 10:30am

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

Join our Facebook Group: Potomac Yard NCCers

Join our Facebook Group: Lincoln Theatre NCCers

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202-544-0414

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Washington, DC

Echostage - Sundays, 9:30am