Bryce, Kelsey, Chandler, and Baby #2 Hotchkiss

Transcription

1 January 2019 Bryce, Kelsey, Chandler, and Baby #2 Hotchkiss Happy New Year, Batesville family! The new year is certainly bringing some exciting changes for us. We are so thrilled about what God is doing in Batesville, and we are eager to join you all soon. Kelsey and I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire congregation for the warm welcome you all provided us. We have felt so cared for through this process, and we are so grateful for the BCC leadership, staff, and members who have been so kind to our family. Your offers to help with our move, your prayers, and your caring hellos to us and our son have made such a difference to us. We could not possibly express our genuine gratitude for your excitement of God leading us to continue the amazing ministry taking place at BCC! We are honored and excited to work alongside of you. As we anticipate our arrival in Indiana in the beginning of February, we greatly appreciate your prayers for the sale of our home in Kansas, a smooth transition out of our current ministry, Kelsey s final quarter with the students in her classroom, and the health of our baby (due in April) as we move and look for a new doctor. We are continuing to pray for Batesville - both as a church and as a community, and we cannot wait to see you all on February 10th! During the next month before our move, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if I can be in prayer for you. It is great to get to know many of you before we even arrive. My personal address is: bhotchkiss12@gmail.com. Wishing you a wonderful new year ahead and feeling so thankful that we will get to spend much of 2019 studying His Word and doing ministry together! Blessings, Bryce Hotchkiss Batesville Christian Church exists to glorify God all our days by making disciples who make disciples.

2 It has been quite the journey for our family. As I think back over my life, I m not sure of a season that I couldn t use that phrase. Life is made up of many journeys that are strung together. We are always on one. This latest journey of having this role as the Lead Minister has been another one of those journeys. I could not be more excited to welcome the Hotchkiss family into our congregation and into our community. Bryce and Kelsey have already become wonderful friends to Rachel and I as we have communicated back and forth in the anticipation of their ministry launch here. I am looking forward to Bryce s leadership and serving with him in the days ahead. But I also want to reflect on this journey and extend my deepest thanks for your sharing in it with me. We ve celebrated some very exciting things. We ve mourned some hard losses. We ve walked some tough roads. It has been a joy and a privilege to get to lead in ministry in areas I had never done before. Thank you for your loving encouragements and your gentle critiques. This season has been one that I will hold on to and be thankful for all the things the Lord has taught me and stretched in me. I will also be thankful for your kindness and encouragement as we have walked it together. In this last month of leading here before transitioning back to leading the Worship Ministry, I will be walking through the book of Colossians on Sunday mornings. This letter from the Apostle Paul is a challenging one that I believe fits our timing very appropriately. Both with the arrival of a new Lead Pastor and with a new calendar year upon us. I hope you will join us as we journey though the letter that reminds us all that Jesus is enough. We live in a day and age that constantly tells us there is one more thing we need. What I believe is we need to be reminded that the One who came and lived and gave His life for all of us is enough. Clay in His Hands, Mark Bond It s almost time to bless our BCC College Students with a Valentine s box. If you have a college student who has attended BCC, but is away due to college, please the church office at bcc@etczone.com so we can include them. Starting January 13th, there will be a sign-up sheet at the Gathering Area for items to be donated to these gifts along with details as to when items are to be returned. We are so pleased to welcome Harper Buckley into the BCC family. Harper was baptized by Mindy Freese on Sunday December 9, 2018.

3 You can register for each of the events below on BCC s website at the following link. Your spot on any of these retreats will not be guaranteed until payment is received. High School: The Well Winter Retreat (Grades 9-12) Dates: January Cost: $65* Early Registration Deadline: January 7, 2019 During this retreat just for High School students, the focus will be on identity, looking at how our lives our transformed by our relationship with Jesus. There will be worship, lessons, games, snow (hopefully), friends, and a few surprises that we've never had before. This is a great opportunity for students to renew friendships with camp friends and deepen their relationship and focus on God. Students will meet at 5:30pm on Friday, January 18th and return at 2pm on Sunday, January 20th. The retreat will be held at Mahoning Valley Christian Service Camp in Rushville, IN. * $65 if registered by 1/7/19. After that date cost is $75. Middle School: CIY Believe (Grades 7-8) Dates: February Cost: $90* Early Registration Deadline: January 15, 2019 Believe is a high-energy weekend event for Middle School students. It is a weekend packed with powerful worship and teaching from God s Word. The event takes place at BB&T Arena The theme for this year at Believe will focus on what it means to find their identity in God. The idea of identity is a universal struggle. Every generation wrestles with it. Jr. high students sit at a pivotal moment in their lives where they are constantly asking the question Who am I? A student can t truly know who they are until they know who God is. Students and chaperones will meet at BCC parking lot at 3:15pm on Friday, February 15th and return at 5:3opm on Saturday, February 16th. Cost includes: Believe registration, room/board at Comfort Inn Airport Turfway Road. * Cost if received by 1/15/19; $100 if received by 2/01/19; $110 if received after 2/01/19. Grades 4-6: SuperStart! Dates: March Cost: $80* Early Registration Deadline: February 15, 2019 Throughout the event, preteens will encounter Christ through worship, interactive teaching and small groups-all which are designed with their unique needs and maturity in mind. This year's SuperStart tour is about conquering Gargantor - the biggest obstacles that keep us from sharing the stories of God's work in our lives. By helping preteens conquer those obstacles, SuperStart will help them become a force unhindered in sharing the amazing things God does. Students will spend the weekend at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, KY and sleep at Embassy Suites Hotel. Students and chaperones will meet at BCC parking lot at 3:15pm on Friday, March 15th and return at 5:30pm on Saturday, March 16th. Cost includes: SuperStart! registration, room and board at Embassy Suites in Covington. *cost if received by 2/15/19; $85 if received by 03/01/19; $90 if received after 03/01/19

4 The No Regrets Men s Conference is a oneday Christian conference for M\men that can open or renew your heart for the Lord, for your family, and for the Church. Featuring 10 world -class speakers that hit on key topics such as parenting, marriage, spiritual growth, and work. The day is sure to leave you filled with passion for serving and loving the Lord. This event started as an annual event over 25 years ago, and occurs live at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, WI. On Saturday, February 2nd, Batesville Christian Church will host an Internet Simulcast of the No Regrets Men s Conference from 9:30am-5pm. Tickets are $10, which includes lunch. This event is open to the public and we hope all men invite a few friends, co-workers, or neighbors to join them. The conference will offer men a dynamic growth experience that equips them to be strong, effective Christian leaders at home, on the job, and in the community. This is a great opportunity for our congregation to serve others during the conference. If you would like to serve, please contact Mark Jacobs at mjacobs30@gmail.com. You can learn more about the event at Starting Sunday, February 3rd, from 9:45-10:45am we are hosting classes as part of Dave Ramsey s Financial Peace University. If you feel stressed or overwhelmed by money, are living paycheck to paycheck, or are worried about your financial future, then this program is for you! Over the course of 9 lessons you will learn how to master budgeting, pay off debt, build wealth, and give generously. Contact Mark Jacobs at or mjacobs30@gmail.com for more information. You may also register for the course online at Scroll down to Search for Groups meeting near you. Type in Batesville, then click on Join under Batesville Christian Church. It s not to early to start thinking about swinging the clubs on the beautiful courses around Sevierville, TN on May 5-8, Registration information will be coming out soon.

5 When it comes to the concept of how God speaks to us, what does your current understanding lead you to believe? Do you feel like the concept of God speaking leads to a mystical or mysterious understanding, one where God seems more shifty or aloof? Do you feel like the concept of God speaking is based primarily upon an academic exercise that happens when you open your Bible, an act that is primarily initiated by your ability to understand? Do you even feel like God wants to speak to you? Regardless of where we are at in our faith, God s Word clearly portrays to us that He desires deeply to have a relationship with us, that He is always at work in our lives, communicating to us who He is and His perfect will for our lives. It is my prayer that you pursue God s voice this year and learn from His voice. This is not just some mysterious or mystical kind of experience reserved for an elite group of Christians, or an academic experience reserved for those with the right kind of education. His voice is heard and recognized by those that come to Him hungry and thirsty and are willing to grow in faith within a community of Christ followers. Psalm 19:1-2 says: 1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Not only did we survive 2018, but it was great! We memorized the 10 Commandments, the Great Commission, Psalm 23, Proverbs 3:5-6, and several verses from Romans. Walking through the Old Testament, we saw how God provided for His people and had a plan for them to prepare the way for His Son. As we start January, we will finish our Bible in a Year. We will briefly touch on Jesus life before diving into the rest of the New Testament. We will spend time memorizing the Books of the New Testament, the Fruit of the Spirit, and eight other passages this year! I love that the kids reach these goals we set for them. I love seeing them put God s Word into their minds and hearts! If you would like to help us in 2019 by greeting, teaching, leading an activity, preparing a craft, or cleaning toys, please contact the church office at or bcc@etczone.com.

6 This month we highlight Lakeview Bible College and Seminary in India. BCC has been partnered with this ministry since Please look for posters with additional information about recent events and prayer requests for Lakeview. Special thanks goes to Wood-Mizer for their recent $4,000 contribution to the capital fund targeting to create a new housing building for Lakeview in Do you ever wonder who benefits from all your Adult Sunday School contributions? Well, wonder no more. The photos of the children in Haiti who are receiving food, a Christian education (K-12), vitamins, and medical care will be posted around the building and classrooms later in January. Your generosity permitted BCC to increase our support from sponsoring 4 children a few years ago to sponsoring 6 in If you haven t considered contributing, the Missions Team asks you to think/pray about participating. 100% of the money goes to the kids welfare, their books and uniforms, and to pay the teachers. We are in the early stages of planning to take a group of youth and young adults to Mission Indy the week of June 23-29, For more information on Mission Indy, go to the following link.

7 Celebrate Recovery meets at the church on Thursday night. The meal starts at 5:15pm and Large Group at 6pm. Principle 8: Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words. This is how to show God is working in our life: Allow God s light to shine on our pain by showing others how you ve worked through it by reading God s promises from Scripture in the 12 Steps in Celebrate Recovery. Renew your mind each day by reading God s word. True joy comes only from God. Matthew 5: 10 Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires. Celebrate Recovery will be attending a Community Providers Fair on Saturday, January 12th. Live testimony at Celebrate Recovery on Thursday, January 17th. Invite someone to attend Celebrate Recovery. New year, new lead pastor, new directory! Help our new lead pastor and our members get to know you and your family by updating your contact information and your photo in our church directory. You may submit your own current photo to bcc@etczone.com. Additionally, we will have opportunities to have your photo taken in the church lobby on 3 Sundays January 13, 20, and 27. All photos and Directory Update Cards must be submitted by Monday, January 28, 2019.

8 1294 Columbus Avenue Batesville, IN (812) ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Are you on our list?? Would you like to receive the weekly or would you like to receive a digital copy of this newsletter? the church office and let us know at bcc@etczone.com January 3 January 10 Important Dates to Remember: Celebrate Recovery Celebrate Recovery January 13 Leadership Conversations January 15 CIY Believe Early Deadline ends January 17 Celebrate Recovery January High School Winter Retreat January 20 Congregational Meeting January 24 Celebrate Recovery January 31 Celebrate Recovery DECEMBER ATTENDANCE ATTENDANCE 2nd 9th 16th 23rd Total Attendance Worship Children s Ministry DECEMBER GIVING OFFERING Month YTD Budget General $53,508 $493,011 93% Missions(10%) $5,945 $54,777 93%