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NCCers from our Gainesville campus getting in the Christmas spirit

Note from

Pastor Mark & Lora

Celebrating Advent

Advent is all about expectation.

I know the Christmas season can get crazy, as in crazy busy! But I hope you’re able to step back and marvel at the Christmas story. The birth of Christ ushered in a new day, a new normal. Perhaps God wants to birth something new in you during this season. Think of the month of December as an “off ramp” from 2017 and an “on ramp” to 2018. As we prepare for a new calendar year, God wants to do something new in you. And it starts with Advent expectations.

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Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor Lora Batterson

Welcome!

The best way to meet people and get connected is to become involved.

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. And let us 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 weekend ministry team. ncc.re/ministry • 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

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December 2017

s soon as we take our last bite of Thanksgiving turkey, our attention seems to turn to shopping lists, lights, parties, and all the traditions of Christmas. “’Tis the season,” we say. What is the season for? And why does it carry with it the magic that it does? There is one special tradition in the church calendar that most appropriately captures the magic of Christmas: Advent. Based on the Latin word adventus, meaning “arrival” or “coming,” the season of Advent takes us through a process of anticipating the arrival of Christ and helps us prioritize Jesus as the center of all our holiday activities.

Historical Advent practices were quite rich, involving symbolic candle lighting and use of color as outward representations of inward hope. In the early nineteenth century, faith-filled families celebrated Advent by drawing a chalk line every day in December until Christmas Eve. As part of these traditional Advents, the story of Jesus was read in scripture, sung about, and conversed over. While today’s modern Advent calendars have more to do with chocolates than chalk, it is still an opportunity to engage in the age-old practice of preparation and growing in excitement for Christ’s arrival.

You’re invited to use our Advent reading plan (see page 5) to shape your quiet time for the next few weeks. Each set of readings focuses on a particular individual in the Bible and guides us to posture our hearts in a specific way: The Prophet Isaiah: Waiting & Hope John The Baptist: Preparation & Repentance Mary and Joseph: Obedience & Joy Jesus: Celebration & Restoration These readings are un-dated but are best read in sequence. Go at your own pace; don’t worry if you have to miss a couple of the readings. Just let the message of each scripture build a sense of holy anticipation as Christmas approaches!

The arrival of Jesus that we commemorate each Christmas is cause for great celebration—quite simply, it’s a party!

Listen to NCC Worship’s The Thrill of Hope album to help you worship during the season of Advent. We pray it reminds you that hope, repentance, joy, and restoration are just as real and available in Christ today as they were at the very first Advent.

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What’s going on in December

Serve this Christmas with DC Dream Center

Expecting, Waiting, Rejoicing

Drop off toys by Monday, December 18

Weekends in December ncc.re/media

Partner with DC Dream Center to make Christmas special for kids. Drop off new toys (in packaging) for children aged 3-12 by Monday, December 18 to the Dream Center or the Southeast White House.

You can also adopt a child or an entire family for Christmas. Just contact Ms. Tina at christina.henderson@dcdreamcenter.com.

We’re so excited to present “Wonderful Anticipation,” our Christmas sermon series.

If you’re traveling this Christmas season, we don’t want you to miss a bit of it! It’s easy to keep up with weekend messages. You can watch sermons online at theaterchurch.com or subscribe to our audio or video podcasts at itunes.com.

Advent Reading Plan

THE PROPHET ISAIAH

JOHN THE BAPTIST

MARY & JOSEPH

JESUS

WAITING & HOPE

REPENTANCE & PREPARATION

JOY & OBEDIENCE

CELEBRATION & REDEMPTION

¨ Psalm 130:5-6 / More Than Watchmen

¨ Malachi 3:1-4 / Burning Away Dross

¨ Isaiah 35 / Highway Of Holiness

¨ Isaiah 61:1 / The Anointed One

¨ Isaiah 9:2 / The Light Of The World

¨ Isaiah 52:7-8 / Beautiful Feet

¨ Isaiah 7:13-14 / The Virgin Will Conceive

¨ Isaiah 9:6-7 / He Will Be Called Wonderful . . .

¨ Isaiah 11:1-6 / Led By Little Children

¨ Luke 1:5-25 / Great In God’s Eyes

¨ Luke 2:1-20 / Good News & Great Joy

¨ Isaiah 64:1-4 / No Ear Has Heard

¨ Luke 1:57-66 / His Name Is John

¨ Luke 1:26-38 / Let It Be With Me According To Your Word

¨ Micah 5:2-5 / A Ruler From Bethlehem

¨ Luke 1:67-79 / Prophet Of The Most High

¨ Haggai 2:6-9 / Future Glory

¨ John 1:19-27 / Not Even Worthy

¨ Isaiah 40:1-11 / Clear The Wilderness For The Lord

¨ John 3:27-30 / He Must Become More; I Must Become Less

¨ Luke 1:39-45 / Blessed Because You Believed

¨ Revelation 21:5-6 / Alpha & Omega

¨ Matthew 1:18-25 / As The Angel Commanded ¨ Luke 1:46-55 / Great Things ¨ Psalm 24:7-10 / Open Up, Ancient Doors!

Holiday Services at National Community Church Saturday, December 23, 5:00 pm: Christmas Eve service at Barracks Row

Thrill of Hope

The Best Way to Start 2018

Worship along with one of our longtime favorites!

NCC Worship’s Christmas album features fresh interpretations of classic Christmas music, including O Come, O Come Emmanuel and Little Town of Bethlehem. Buy it on Amazon Music Unlimited or itunes, or listen with Spotify.

Monday, January 8, 2018 ncc.re/events

Sunday, December 24: Christmas Eve service at Lincoln Theatre, 10:30am Christmas Eve services at Gainesville, 9:30am and 10:45am.

All other NCC campuses will be closed so we can worship together at Lincoln Theatre or Gainesville. All kids will join parents in services this weekend.

As the new year gets underway, let’s worship and pray together! Over 400 people have been gathering for these powerful prayer gatherings! Intimate, acoustic setting. Join us at 7pm at The Miracle Theatre, 535 8th St SE, Washington, DC.

New Year’s Eve Weekend, December 30/31: Join us for regularly-scheduled service times at most NCC campuses.

(Exceptions: No services this weekend for Barracks Row-12 noon or Georgetown; these services will resume Jan. 7)

NCC Worship’s own Christmas Album

Kids ministry available for nursery through kindergarten. All other kids will join parents in services.

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December 2017

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Coming Up at NCC

NCC Families

Crosswalk Kids (birth - 5th grade)

NCC families were given Advent ornaments to use through the Christmas season. Each day, families walk through God’s plan of creation, forgiveness, redemption, and the coming of Jesus as they read Scripture and hang a corresponding ornament. Anticipate the coming of Jesus together all month long!

Subscribe to the monthly Parent Insider:

kids@theaterchurch.com

Uprising Youth

Learn, be inspired, get encouraged:

parentshareblog.com

(6th-12th grade)

crosswalkncc therealuprisingyouth

Winter ESCAPE 2018 Retreat

February 16-19, 2018 Discount available through Friday, January 12 For all students in middle and high school.

For many students, Winter Escape is the beginning of a deeper faith and God-sized dreams!

Get all the details here: ncc.re/escape

Small Groups

A1:8 Missions

Ministry Highlight

Learn more at ncc.re/events

Saturday, December 23

Christmas Eve Service at NCC-Barracks Row, 5 pm

Sunday, December 24

Christmas Eve/Sunday Services at National Community Church: NCC-Lincoln Theatre, 10:30 am NCC-Gainesville, 9:30 am and 10:45 am *All children will join their parents in these services

Monday, December 25

Merry Christmas!

Saturday-Sunday, December 30-31

Regular service schedule at all campuses except: • No 12 noon service at NCC-Barracks Row • No 5pm service at NCC-Georgetown (Crosswalk Kids available for nursery - kindergarten only)

Monday, January 1, 2018

Happy New Year!

Monday, January 8

Deeper Prayer & Worship Night

Monday, January 8

REFRESH begins

Saturday, January 13

Second Saturday Serve

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

Pray about Joining a 2018 Mission Team

Introducing REFRESH

Take some time this month to prayerfully consider going on a 2018 Mission Team. As you plan for the coming year, pray through whether a Mission Team may be an opportunity for you to invest your time and resources. Go to aoneeight.org/missionteams to find more information on how to go and how to give.

We’re excited to announce a brand-new series of short-term groups this January. We’ll offer various topics such as soul care, leader training, prayer, or finances.

The perfect way to hit “reset” as you begin a new year!

Watch for details here: ncc.re/events

New to Following Jesus?

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December 2017

First Impressions volunteer@theaterchurch.com “You are seen, you are valuable, we love you exactly where you are, and you belong here with us!”

That’s what the First Impression Team communicates each week to everyone at each NCC campus.

We create a welcoming, inviting, prepared, and safe place for people to encounter Jesus and find community at each NCC campus.

We’d love to have you join our team!

Let us help you take your next steps! Visit the Connections table and we’ll make sure you get your own Bible and our Next Steps guide. You can read this workbook on your own, but we encourage you to do it with a group of friends, or in a small group.

Want to talk with someone about your new faith?

Contact your campus pastor, and consider joining an Alpha group. More info here: ncc.re/alpha.

Thank you for your generous support of the mission and ministries of National Community Church!

If you would like to make a contribution to NCC as 2017 draws to a close, please visit theaterchurch.com/giving. The last day to give a tax-deductible donation for 2017 is December 31.

Any donation given at church, postmarked, or given online

by Sunday, December 31, 2017 will be receipted on your 2017 Giving Statement. You can access your giving history anytime at theaterchurch.com/giving. An email with instructions for accessing your final 2017 giving statement will be sent out by January 31, 2018.

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 effective prayer for inner healing. Sozo prayer helps people better hear from the Holy Spirit so they can walk through a process of freedom and wholeness. Get trained in effective Sozo prayer from one of the country’s leading practitioners, Dr Margaret Nagib.

Sozo Inner Healing Prayer Training

Register and find out more at ncc.re/sozo

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

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

Saturday Nights, 5pm Pastor Mike Whitford Sundays, 9, 10:30, and noon Pastor Joel Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/barracksrow E-news: ashley.anderson@theaterchurch.com

Ballston - Sundays, 9:30 & 11am Pastor Mike Whitford theaterchurch.com/ballston Crosswalk Kids at 9:30am E-news: ncc.re/enewsBallston

National Community Church - Ballston

National Community Church - Barracks Row

Gainesville - Sundays, 10am Pastor Marion Mason theaterchurch.com/echo E-news: echostage@theaterchurch.com

Pastor Robb Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/gainesville E-news: ncc.re/gvemail

National Community Church - Gainesville

National Community Church - Echostage

Georgetown - Sundays, 5:30pm

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

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

National Community Church - Georgetown

Potomac Yard - Sundays, 10am Lincoln Theatre - Sundays, 10:30am

Pastor Dave Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/lincoln E-news: lincoln@theaterchurch.com

Pastor Jon Vaughan theaterchurch.com/potomacyard E-news: ncc.re/enewsPY

National Community Church - Potomac Yard

National Community Church - Lincoln Theatre

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205 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

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202-544-0414

@NCC

Virginia

Washington, DC

Echostage - Sundays, 9:30am