The holiday season is beginning! Oh, what joyous times!

I want to make sure you know what LCCC is providing household and small group leaders this year in regards to Thanksgiving and Advent.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Week! Or shall I say “Thanksliving”? 🙂 If you missed Pastor Jim’s very practical Thanksgiving sermon, try to check it out before Thursday at our media player here – http://lc3.com/media/video-sermons.

If you could use Thanksgiving ideas/resources for your group or family this year, this Thanksgiving post on lc3life.com from 2010 still holds up pretty well. 🙂

The Advent of Jesus Christ (Christmas)

We started rolling out Advent resources in church last weekend so people can start preparing with them before the Advent season begins.

I have used these in small groups in the past, and am going to again this year with our current small group (in our December 3 meeting). Dwelling on Advent with your small group is a rich experience, whether it’s for an entire meeting or just a few moments during your Christmas party.

Here are the Advent Resources we are providing for you to explore and use in your groups and homes this Advent season.

1. PDF – “Five Steps to Create Meaningful Traditions During the Christmas Season”
2. Audio – Terrific interview by Pastor David and Kelli of John and Carissa Lewis (authors of resource #3…)
3. Book – Finding the Treasure in Christmas, by John and Carissa Lewis. While John is working on getting this book published he meanwhile gets it printed locally. This book has guided my family’s Advent season for four years and counting. We are happy to be selling them at church starting next week. They are not only beautiful, but the single best Advent resource I have found… and I have looked at every Advent resource I can get my hands on.
4. Christmas Concert of Prayer, this Sunday in the Gym, 12:45-2:00pm, and the five prayer hours that follow, next Monday – Wednesday. Bring your group! Corporate prayer is probably your most powerful Christmas resource of all.
5. Upcoming Advent Sermon Series, “Let there be Light.” Details appear below on this picture of an invitation card, which are also available for you to take and handout around town. 
6. Last, but not least, my own family (all 7 of us!) is teaching a one-hour class this Sunday at 10:00am called “Getting the Most out of the Christmas Season.” I hope to pack out “Portable A” with people, props, stories, and Scriptures, and have a great time. You are all invited! 

Glory to God in the highest; His peace to you all,

Pastor Reg

Who says you can’t buy happiness!!?? 🙂 

Fall 2016 Testimonies

Our small groups’ mission has remained, “To make disciples who make disciples in relational environments.” God blessed this fall in uncountable ways!

With the culmination of the Happiness Series and other activities of the fall semester it was good to hear from different groups about how God used their time together to grow them in Christ, develop their relationships, and serve the world.

Enjoy these testimonies and pictures!

The top experience this fall to me is witnessing the camaraderie forming between the members. No one truly knew each other (minus the leaders) as we started this journey together. Yet, everyone has become family in such a short time frame. We often meet as a group outside of small group; sometimes it’s only a few of us and other times it’s more of us, but I love seeing how we are constantly living life together. (Underwoods)

Underwoods – Christmas Party!

Underwood Group – Volunteering at the Tacoma Santa Run

We sang the song like never before, “Trust and Obey………for there’s no other way to be HAPPY in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”  The last Happiness group meeting was one of the best sharing times ever, when all participated and the discussion took off. (Tchobanoffs)

Little visitors singing with the Tchobanoff small group

One change is to be more consistently and efficiently praying our list of concerns and praises. We used to get off on tangents when requests were new or reviewed, but that is going better now with fuller participation. (Anonymous)

Of course, a highlight would be having the Reg and the Overstreet girls (G, L, and S) visit us during our meeting and help us celebrate Josine V’s birthday (first picture). As the Happiness series ended, all brought pictures of their family to share. It was great to see the faces of those who are held dear to our group members (second picture).We enjoyed Christmas caroling at our member Jim M’s home. (Higbees)

We shared a Christmas Potluck dinner with their group.  Their special guest, Marlene Etter, shared about her last year in Niger and her ministry next year in Chad. We also sponsored a girls’ and guys’ night out.  The guys met at Tower Lanes  to show their expertise on the Putt Putt Course.  The Girls met for game night at the Reynolds.

One of our members became a US citizen last month and we had a happy party and cake to celebrate with her.We also take 15 minutes each week for people to share about themselves so we get to know them better. It has helped us get closer to each other. Well, that and the food and fellowship at the end of the evening.

We took on two missions this fall. One to provide meals to a couple that were both too ill to cook. We filled their freezer. Second was to support Eddie Johnson through Young Life.

We ended the year with a potluck at our house. I asked Marlene Etter to talk for 15 minutes about her mission as a start to our supporting her next year. It was a lot of fun and well received.

We will meet again on January 11, 2017 to begin a study on the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.

We are very close spiritually and have grown to be friends. It is rare that anyone misses a meeting. (Snyders)

Snyder’s Christmas Potluck

Snyder’s Men’s Night Out

Snyder’s Men’s Night Out

Snyder’s Girls Night Out

Snyder’s Girls Night Out

Our small group has been amazing!  We are enjoying hosting and co-leading with friends. Our top experiences thus far have been meeting new families, hearing each other’s testimonies, and celebrating several birthdays during our fellowship time.  We are so thankful to be “doing life” together with this incredible group! (Camerons/Hanleys)

Cameron/Hanley’s Worship Time

The big moment for us, we will be putting homeless survival bags together this Monday, at my mom’s, Tharon Kirby!  Excited we get to finish the project we started last Spring! And, now the project has expanded to include veterans. It is now called “project-253“, click for the details! (Bakkens)

We completed our first outreach project together when we packed Welcome Bags for the annual LC3 Harvest Carnival. It was so much fun and I look forward to completing more outreach projects as a team as the semester progresses. (Underwoods)

We collectively wrote anniversary and birthday cards to all the missionaries and their families who celebrated these events during September and October. Each member signed them. (Grishams)

College/Young Adults – Love em all. We have had several outings, including the great snowy Mount Rainier excursion. (Massey)

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Meeting Laban’s wife and family although we haven’t gotten close for them yet. I think our whole group is looking forward to embracing them in our group. Our group is going to support Andy and Nikki Gray. We bought them a Seahawks 12th Man flag and Elsie and I gave it to them when we saw them in Quebec. We will also be doing their quarterly newsletter for them. Our group seems excited to have a small part in what they are doing. Our group hosted the Mburus, missionaries from Kenya to much of Africa, and part of the Global Missions Team, for dinner. (Walmers)

Walmer group, hosting Mburus and Missions Team

Exciting Homeless Ministry Project Report from Leader, Ali Cameron: 

For the past few years, my ministry partners and I host a Thanksgiving feast to our homeless friends. In past years, there have only been a couple of us to organize, buy, cook, and prepare all the items necessary to put on a huge feast. This year, my small group blessed the team and me by providing all of the side dishes, drinks and desserts! The feast went so smoothly. Our small group had been praying into this event and it couldn’t have been done so easily without their generosity and support! 

Our friends on the street were so grateful to have home-cooked dishes and there were many compliments! Many also said that this would be the only Thanksgiving they would be having this year. A humbling statement. We also had so much food; enough for the 70-80 folks who showed up! Last year we ran out, but this year we had plenty and were able to send home to-go plates! A huge blessing for them! (Thank you again to my fellow small group members for your support and help!)

Our small group coach Eric V.B.S. came and shared a message from Luke 19, the story of Zaccheus. The Holy Spirit really gave him the words (because he spoke directly to where everyone was and this was his first time being part of mine and my friends’ ministry– definitely only a thing God could do!) and for the first time ever at the park with our friends, they were completely sober, silent and listening! It was amazing. (Thank you, Eric, for being a vessel of the Holy Spirit!)

One of my Muslim friends was there and heard the message and now she wants to study the Bible! She was so happy to be around Christians. She was welcomed by all and made part of conversations that aren’t usual for a young, Muslim woman to have. After Eric’s message, she said “I want to be like him.” She wants to know God’s truth and share it with others! Please continue to pray and do spiritual battle for her. She will have much opposition (seen and unseen) if she starts seeking the True and Living God. Her last words to me today were “I am SO happy!” The only way to explain this is she experienced the love of Christ today.

More Great Moments:

The best part is having a completely full house every Wednesday night. The fellowship has been wonderful! (Strongs)

The Strong group has plenty of fun

Ray says, “One of the perks of being a Small Group Coach is visiting the groups!”

Coach Ray: “Small Groups Coach in Cougar’s Clothing”

Men surrounding the dessert

The Young group catered the Veterans Day Men’s Breakfast, with Stu Weber

Rovinski group takes in Zoo Lights

The husbands of our small group secretly planned a mom’s night out ♡ We had a lovely dinner at Pattaya and then got artsy at “The Painted Plate” in Olympia with reservations made by the men. We had a blast! [Picture is missing our dear friend Ellen who joined us for dinner] (Garwackis)

Two of our small group coaches went on a missions trip to Malawi in October. Coach Eric Von Barnau Sythoff (VBS) and his wife Julie operate a wonderful 501c3 organization there, the Passion Center for Children. Coach Brad Criswell joined Eric on a trip that was life-changing for him. Brad is now leading the LC4Malawi – Cram the Container Project, which launches on New Year’s Eve!

Dropping off Eric and Brad at Sea-Tac

Our coaches families celebrated the end of this fantastic Fall 2016 Semester with a Christmas party, caroling, and praising God for this ministry we get to share with all of you at Lake City Community Church!

Coaches Families concluding the year with Christmas Caroling

Going Forward:Early Winter/Spring 2017 Dates

As groups break for the holidays for a well-deserved rest, here are the important dates that will kickoff the next semester. 

• Saturday/Sunday, December 31/January 1 – Small Group Signups begin (catalogs in worship services, small group listings at foyer table and church website)
• December 31 – April 1 – Dates for #LC4Malawi – Cram the Container for Malawi
• Sunday, January 8 – SG Leader Vision/Training Session, 10:00-11:15AM, LCCC Gym (NOTE: There is a makeup session at the Summit – see below.)
• January 15 – 21 – Official SG Kickoff Week!
• Saturday, January 21 – Church Family Summit, 9:00AM-1:00PM (Four hours of workshops for the entire church family. The small group leader training makeup session will be one 50 minute workshop.)
• Saturday, February 25 – LCCC Membership Class

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Everyone!

Pastor Reg

This post is shared from LCCC’s Annual Report for the 2015/16 fiscal year. Enjoy the memories!

Leaders and Coaches

First, small groups wouldn’t exist without the people leading them! Here is a list of our leaders and coaches who shepherded their God-entrusted flocks so well this year:

Small Group Leaders (Including Re|Engage Leaders):

Jared & Krystal Beadle, John & Janis Black, Tom & Jeanne Copp, Jeremy & Jodi Durr, Dan & Ellen George, David & Karen Grear, Dan & Retta Grisham, Pete & Kari Grossenbach, Caleb & Rebekah Heath, Charley & Chris Higbee, Gene Higgins, Peter & Abby Johnson, Robert & Jamie Johnson, Tyler & Dana Jones, Jeff & Erin Kriehn, Ron & Susan Krogh, Steve & Sharon Levine, Randy & Beckie Madson, Chuck & Debbie Mathews, Sean & Lindsay Meagher, Helaine Miller, Dorothy Miner, Nic & Jessica Myhrberg, Dave & Heather Nelson, Terry & Judy Olson, Jeff & Susan Palomino, Mark & Teresa Pratt, David & Kelli Pritchard,  Josh & Jennifer Purses, Jen Rovinski, Jeremy & Heather Schneider, John & Shari Schock, Jason & Becky Smallbeck, Rick & Judy Smedley, Matt & Haley Strong, Dan & Doris Tchobanoff, Noah & Amy Tchobanoff, Jason & Sarah Torres, Lin Wadle, Gary & Elsie Walmer, Jeff & Kim Young

Small Group Coaches:

Reg Overstreet, Tony Oury, Tyler Knack, Ray Pancho, Jeff Palomino

Training: Fall Ministry Summit and January Family Summit

Before groups kick off, each semester begins with much prayer, many conversations, and training. Our Family Pastor David Pritchard and I worked together again this year on our two annual all-church training/equipping events. First was the Summer/Fall Ministry Summit, a half day of multiple workshops on aspects of ministry skill, geared for leaders in every realm of church life and mission (not just small groups). Our friends from RLM, Post Falls, ID, came once again to do their specialty – discipleship training, with some counseling skills mixed in. Just over 100 attended this powerful and productive day of training which also includes several workshops to equip everyone for a great year of ministry. Second was the equally successful January Family Summit, which David writes about in his section. These will be repeated and expanded each year. Keep attending these Summits, as they expand in training emphasis!

Fall Series – You’ll Get Through This

Our ministry year kicked off with our all-church sermon and small group series, once again. This time God led Pastor Jim to focus on trusting God in suffering, and Max Lucado’s series on the life of Joseph guided our journey. It was a good season in our church’s life and growth. For deeper digging we invited Western Seminary’s Dr. Todd Miles to lead a four hour workshop on “God and Human Suffering,” at the end of the sermon series.

New Mission and Vision Statements

I and several small group leaders and coaches took a van trip last summer to receive some personal ministry coaching from RLM, in Post Falls, ID. Each of us committed to read their pastor’s excellent book, DiscipleShift, before the trip, in order to discuss it on the six-hour van trip. God blessed this adventure, and on the return home we crafted our new mission and vision statements for Lake City Small Groups.

Our mission is to make disciples who make disciples in relational environments.

Our vision is to be spiritually mature disciples who love God, one another, and the world.

We applied these statements in our trainings, communication, and coaching conversations, and enjoyed a striking amount of clarity and unity among our small groups as a result.

ReEngage

Pastor David and I continued successfully harmonizing small groups and the ReEngage marriage ministry. We want it to be clear and well-known that if you need to work on your marriage for a season, the sixteen to twenty weeks you spend in ReEngage serve wonderfully as your small group for that season. Thank you to the ReEngage leaders who worked so faithfully on discipling and shepherding the groups in your care.

Winter/Spring Semester

After the fall’s all-church focus leaders and groups have autonomy to define how they will make disciples who make disciples in relational environments, by the schedules, events, emphases and studies to which the Spirit leads them. This Winter/Spring Semester, numerous testimonies of service projects, answered prayer, and spiritual growth were shared from our 26 groups. Curriculums and topics of study covered by the groups included: Not a Fan, Jesus Was an Airborne Ranger, Feasts of the Old Testament, Alpha Course, Kingdom Story, Ray Vanderlaan series, Matt Chandler’s Apostle’s Creed, sermon review.

Special Meetings

We struck a good balance this year of providing ample training and leader fellowship time, and not overburdening ourselves with meetings. Our “special meetings” were all successful, and included:

• Three small group leader prayer meetings
• Leadership Skills Training
• Idea-Sharing Potluck
• End-of-Year Celebration!

Photo Contest

A recap of this year would be incomplete without mentioning our first ever Small Group Photo Contest. Thank you, Coach Ray Pancho, for your vigor and leadership on that project. It accomplished your desired purposes: group fun, excitement, and unity. They were pretty fantastic, and you can check them out on the previous post on this blog.

Coaches

I can’t speak highly enough about the four men who served with me as small group coaches this year. Tony Oury, Tyler Knack, Ray Pancho, Jeff Palomino and I met monthly to pray, assess, plan for ministry and edify one another. These men contribute enormously to our vision, trainings, decisions, and relational leadership. We focused on intensive Bible reading and prayer, accountability, visiting our groups, having our leaders over for dinner, and encouraging leaders to maintain the level of commitment and enthusiasm worthy of that position. Through this team of coaches every group leader was able to walk with someone through the ups and downs of their ministry year.

Summer Celebration

On Wednesday, June 15 we ended the year with our annual end-of-year celebration of the past year. There was much to celebrate, plus a word from Pastor Jim about the all-church series this coming fall and the building construction to take place throughout the upcoming year.

Be sure to thank your group’s leaders! And, be sure to sign up for a group this fall! (More information on this fall’s plan will come soon.)

Thanking God for His blessings on our groups in 2015/2016, walking together to make disciples who make disciples in relational environments.

Reg Overstreet

Pastor of Small Groups and Adult Ministries