Archive for Community Life
Commissioning of Open House This Sunday
This Sunday during our worship gathering, we’ll be having a very special commissioning service for the people of Open House. The leaders and all those connected in community with Open House have been invited to worship with us. We’ll be praying for them as they embark on a new stage in their journey as a church!
Open House is the first church plant of The Bridge. From our start in 2004, we have understood our calling to be a “church that plants churches” — to become many instead of mega. A lot of prayer and listening to God from 2005-2008 led to this new thing that would become “Open House!” Eight people from within our community began meeting together in the Fall of 2008, dreaming about a fresh expression of church that would reach more people and connect them to Jesus!
After a season of prayer and forming their initial identity, they began gathering “publicly” for worshp in the Spring of ’09. Saturday evenings worshiping together in the old Ministry Center were interrupted just a bit(!) as we made the transition to the new facility last fall. But after a brief time of meeting in homes, as soon as the front of the new Nexus Building was available, they began worshiping there. They continue to worship in the front cafe at the building each Saturday night at 6:00.
I encourage you to read more of the story of Open House at their website.
It began as a group of people from The Bridge. It has grown into a unique community with it’s own spiritual DNA. They are connecting with new people and continually growing! It is an exciting time in the life of Open House – and that means it’s an exciting time in the life of The Bridge Community, because we’ll always be one church! I hope you’ll be there this Sunday as we celebrate what God has done and look forward to what he’ll do next!
Youth Kick Off Party!
A message from the Youth Leadership Team:
We want to share with you some exciting news about youth ministry developing @ The Bridge!! We’re having a Kick-Off Party this Saturday from 6:00-9:00pm outside on the grounds of the Nexus Building. It will be a fun evening with games – ping pong, air hockey, foosball, and pool to name a few – hot dogs, s’mores and more!! We’ll have a fire pit for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs.
Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to come and bring their friends. Everyone who signed up to volunteer with the youth should come also. Let’s all get to know each other better!!
You’ll be hearing more and more about things happening in our Youth Community soon! Let’s make this first event a great time together!!
If you have any questions about the party this Saturday or anything else going on with middle and high school ministry, contact the Youth Leadership Team by email.
Fall Clothing Drive: The “Closet”
Preparations are underway for a great event this fall – we’re calling it “The Bridge Community Closet.” We’re doing a clothing drive, looking for donations of gently used fall and winter clothing. Then, on October 23 at 8:00am, we’ll open the doors of the Nexus Building to welcome anyone and everyone to get the items they need. And it’s all free!
A team of volunteers has organized the event and they are leading the way to making it happen. But, we need all the help we can get! How would you like to help prepare for the event, doing behind the scenes things like sorting and organizing clothes? Or how about spreading the word about the event and helping us get more donated clothing? We have flyers you can post at work or in your neighborhood or small informational cards you can give to friends and family to let them know how to give their un-needed clothes. Click here to contact one of the volunteer leaders and they can let you know how to plug in.
This Saturday, September 18 from noon until 4:00pm, we’ll have our first of two “drop-off” days. The Nexus Building will be open and people can bring their clothes to donate. The second drop-off day is October 16.
You can read all the details about the event here. If you’re ready to get involved or donate, fill out the form here.
As the days get shorter, the weather gets cooler, and you settle into your Fall “routine,” please consider how you can be a part of this special event. In the next few weeks, you’ll probably be making the transition from summer to winter clothes. As you do, set aside some of those items you don’t need and move them from your closet to our “Closet!”
The Church Scattered: Marcia Orban and the Work of Clarity
The church gathers and the church scatters. We are the church not only when we come together for worship, but also when we are sent out on mission!
Our church community is made up of an amazing group of individuals! So many of those who call The Bridge their home church are engaged in ministry outside the walls of the building. And this is the way it’s supposed to be! You are the church “scattered” into your unique world of family, work, and neighborhood, and family.
This is the first blog entry in a series focusing on some of the ways Bridge Community people are serving in the world.
I asked Marcia Orban to tell us about the work she does in Elizabethtown at Clarity … Solutions for Women.
What is Clarity…Solutions for Women?
At Clarity, our mission is to serve Jesus Christ. He has called us to serve Him by serving a very specific group of people; those facing (or at risk for) an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.
We serve our clients through a variety of programs. Check out our web site to see some of the services we offer.
Sharing the hope and healing found in and through Jesus Christ is the center focus of this ministry. We pray with and for our clients. We share the truth of the gospel and help clients grow in understanding of what it means to truly follow Christ.
Clarity is a ministry of the body of Christ. We are financed completely by donations from individuals, churches, Christian businesses, and organizations.
If you would like to be a part of what we’re doing, here are some ways you can help:
- Volunteer! We need volunteers to answer phones and greet clients, act as mentors, stock and organize the resource room, work with men, clean, do maintenance and yard work, help with special projects and mailings, and many other things. Want to learn more? Email me.
- Pray! Many of our clients would like someone to regularly pray for them. Call us at 270-234-1122! We will be delighted to give you the first name of a client who desires prayer.
- Donate! We gladly accept donations of new or gently used maternity clothing, children’s clothing 0-4T, diapers, wipes, and baby equipment. We welcome financial donations.
- Walk! Our annual Walk for Life will be held September 18th. Join us for this fun, easy paced two-mile walk. If you can’t walk, sponsor someone who is walking! Contact Tracey for more information on how to register.
Have You Signed Up for the New Directory?
For just a few more weeks, we’re collecting information for the new Bridge Directory. We have set up a form here on the website that you can complete in a matter of minutes.
If you call The Bridge ‘home,’ we invite you to fill out the form. All the information will be compiled so we can have basic contact information. We want to take your feedback and create a plan for better, more efficient communication with the community in the future. So, please take a moment now and fill out the form!
Thanks
The Bridge Podcast in iTunes
If you used to listen to sermon audio from The Bridge podcast in iTunes, then you know it has been out of date for some time now. Well, that problem has been fixed and you can now access the updated podcast!
Click here to go to the iTunes store. You can then subscribe and receive all new sermons automatically when they’re made available. Also, while you’re there on our podcast page, leave a review for others to see!
If you don’t use iTunes there are other ways you can listen to past messages.
Listen online. Past messages are always available at the podcast page. You can listen anytime!
Subscribe via email. Any time a new message is made available, you receive an email message with a link to listen online or download the audio file.
Subscribe to the RSS feed. If you regularly read blogs or listen to other podcasts, you subscribe to the feed of our podcast and access it through your preferred RSS feed reader.
If you’ve never used the podcast feature on our website before, why not take a minute and check it out, maybe even share it with a friend! A good place to start might be the recent series on prayer – all the messages in that series can be heard here.
A Look at the Renovation Work
A couple of Saturdays ago, we had a great work-day at the building! We accomplished a lot, had fun working together, and we also had the greatest lunch break ever! Check it out …
This Week: Ways to Serve and Connect
We believe the Christian life is not a spectator sport and it wasn’t meant to be lived solo, so here are a few ways to plug in and connect with others this week!
Outreach Event Saturday
This Saturday is the annual Heartland Festival at Freeman Lake Park. Our friends with Open House are doing a fun outreach that day. They’ll be walking around the park handing out free drinks and registering people to win a free iPad. It is $1 to enter to win and all the money is going to benefit the work of Warm Blessings, Inc.. You can read more about the event here.
Here are the ways you can plug in and serve:
- 1st Shift – 9am – 12:30pm
- 2nd Shift – 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Each shift needs 8 people: 4 people to run the booth and converse with people; 4 people to walk around the festival passing out bottled Gatorade and water.
We also need 2 people to help load up supplies at the Nexus Building at 8am on Saturday.
Please contact Mike Steele if you will be available to help during either time slot. More details will come to those who sign-up.
Fish Fry, Community Group Kickoff!
The Community Group led by Randy Ramsey will be starting up again after a summer break. Anyone who would like to connect with this Sunday night group is invited to a fish-fry at the Ramsey home Sunday night. Be sure to contact Laura to find out the details.
Hospitality on Sunday Mornings
We’re looking for a few more people to fill out the schedule for Sunday morning’s food and coffee table. Are you interested in helping make the space a bit more welcoming by setting up the food table, making coffee, or serving? Contact Shaun Brock to let him know.
Work Night, Wednesday
From 6:00-9:00 pm, we’ll be doing renovation projects at the building. We hope to finish the flooring in the hallway and knock out a few more “finishing touch” projects around the building.
Clean-Up on Saturday
From 10:00 – Noon on Saturday, we’d like to have a team of 4 (at least) come to the Nexus Building to clean and prepare the space for Open House (Saturday evening worship) and our Sunday morning gathering. If you’re interested in serving in this way, please email us. Thanks!
Friday Thoughts on Prayer
A guest blog post from Randy and Marcia Orban:
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Imagine, for a moment, knowing or raising a child who never begged for anything! Try imagining a child who never, ever asked for anything! As you contemplate that scenario, you might initially think, “that would be wonderful!’ However, it wouldn’t be long before you would be saying, “this child is really strange!”
Imagine for another moment, knowing or raising a child who would walk up to a total stranger, asking them to buy the food, clothing or toys they wanted. This just doesn’t happen!
Children ask from those whom they know and trust. Children ask from those whom they know will provide for them. So it is to be in our relationship with our Father in heaven.
Charles H. Spurgeon once said, “Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the kingdom.” God delights in our asking because we are His children.
No need is too small for God. Hebrews 4:14-15 tells us that Jesus is now our high priest who makes intercession for us before God the Father. He was tempted in all things and he sympathizes with our needs and weaknesses. All we need to do is honor God by taking all of our needs before his throne in prayer. We can know and trust Him! We can freely receive His mercy and grace.
………..
Please join us for a time of prayer this Sunday from 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. We will pray for our morning worship gathering, the leadership, and all who attend. Come join us if you are free to do so. If not, take a moment to lift up some of the needs below:
- Tonight, pray for God’s protection and blessing on our “Family Night” get together in Radcliff.
- For Saturday, remember the ministry outreach of Open House. Pray that lives are changed for Christ Jesus!
- On Sunday, Wayne will continue his teaching on prayer from the Word. Smother him with your prayers!
- Lift up Matt and all the worship team. Pray for our worship to be a fragrant aroma before God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
……….
Peace in Christ Jesus, Randy & Marcia
Update On Building Renovations and a Big ‘Thank You!’
Hey friends, here are some key thoughts to keep you informed and encourage you!
Progress
Once again we have had a great week of progress. Can you believe that we have blacked out ceilings in the cafe and hallway?! AIR CONDITIONING TOO! (Sorry to yell in all caps-can you tell I’m excited) Now we have finished grid ceilings in all of the classrooms and offices, Kidspace flooring is covered, and flooring is making its way across our cafe. In addition to this, we have a bit more parking as the old septic tank has been collapsed and filled in.
Thank You!
These things have all happened because of incredible people like you. We have come this far because of the time, money, and resources you have offered. If you have inconvenienced yourself in any way to help make this a reality, know that it has been the collective moments of many people like you who have made this happen.
Saturday is Clean Up Day!
This Saturday, and every Saturday for the next few weeks, will be focused on cleaning up to prepare for Sunday morning. If you’ve ever swept or vacuumed, you are overqualified : ) We will also be setting out chairs and setting up sound and projection for Sunday worship. Our space is large, so the more people we have present the better. If you have push brooms or shop vacs, please bring them with you.
Matt’s Deep Closing Thought!
If you feel like you’ve missed out on being a part of things, please know it’s never too late to jump in. We still have a lot of finishing projects to do. I personally have been rescued at times by a few of you who’ve not been able to come by as often but happened to stop in to see if they could help.
Just this week, I thought about how incredible it is to have been a part of constructing this space. We all have individual goals, homes to tend to, or maybe businesses to grow; but this space points to something bigger than ourselves. It’s quickly becoming an open resource for our community and a sanctuary or safe haven to those who are in need or aren’t connected to Jesus. I truly hope that each of you who call The Bridge “home” or “family,” will not miss out on the blessing of being a part of this chapter of our story. Even with all of our progress, there is still plenty of time to join in the work of finishing together what we began together.
If any of you have questions or availability on days other than Saturday, shoot me an email to find out what needs to be taken care of.
Thanks again and I’m looking forward to serving more with you!
