CHURCH HEALTH ASSESSMENT UPDATE Thank you all for participating in the Congregational Survey provided by Church Health Strategies. Now we wait until the weekend of June 1-3 when the results of the survey will be delivered to us by Dr. Tim Brown, Executive Minister Growing Healthy Churches. Two additional sources of information will be used that weekend. First, telephone interviews with staff & preselected lay leaders will be conducted by an assigned outside consultant. Second, there will be a Focus Group held by Dr. Brown on Friday night June 1st from 7:00-8:00PM. Anyone in the congregation can sign up to be part of this Focus Group. On Saturday Dr. Brown will meet with staff, Diaconate and lay leaders from 9:00 AM to 1:00PM. On Sunday June 3rd, we will meet as a whole church congregation for ONE worship service at the hour. Dr. Brown will preach. Then immediately after the worship service we will gather in Fellowship Hall for a potluck brunch hosted by our Fellowship Team. During this time Dr. Brown will report the results of everything collected in the past months and lay out some specific prescriptions for us to consider. There is still time to complete the Congregational Survey, either online or on hardcopy. Closing date is May 1st. It is best if you use a hard copy of the survey and fill it out taking your time and then transferring your answers online. Or complete your hardcopy and turn it to the church office. Thank you all for participating in this all important examination of our church s health. Be praying that God will use this tool to help us be all God wants us to be as a church family. A CALL TO PRAYER As Pastor I call our church family to give special attention in prayer to this Church Health Assessment process. I will be praying in the Prayer Room each Wednesday evening from 6:30 to, and on Sunday mornings from 8:45 to 9:00AM. I invite you to join me at those times here on campus or to spend that time praying at home. Pray for our church in the following ways: Pray for a renewed vision of God. Pray for a renewed vision of the Church. Pray for a renewed vision of Mission in our community. Pray for the Church Health Assessment team to discern our true areas of need. Pray for our church leaders that God will empower us to make the changes needed. Pastor Rich Inside this edition: Churches Thrive When They Have... 2 Wonder-Land School 3 In Loving Memory & Women s Ministry Special Dates - Numbers Report & Thank You! May Campus Calendar Stewardship & Financial Peace University Rummage Sale Fundraiser! HART Tri Tip Dinner Offer ARCC News 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1
Church Health Assessment Churches thrive when they have: A Christ-centered IDENTITY Clarity of a Gospel focused MISSION or Kingdom Purpose A Unifying and Compelling VISION Ephesians 4:11-16 Ten Characteristics of Thriving Congregations 1. Healthy Churches create an opportunity for a personal and corporate encounter with the living God. (Isaiah 6:5-8) (Worship) 2. Healthy Churches cultivate an awareness of God, His work, and their dependence upon Him. This results in expressions of gratefulness, praise, and request for His intervention. (Matthew 14:28-33; James 5:16-18) (Prayer) 3. Healthy Churches help believers develop into fully devoted followers of Christ, becoming like Him in their purity, passions, and pursuits. (Ephesians 4:12-16; 1 Peter 2:21) (Discipleship) 4. Healthy Churches develop leaders at all levels of church ministry who in turn reproduce more leaders. (Ephesians 4:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:2) (Leadership Development) 5. Healthy Churches develop an environment of mutual love and care where members of the church body know and serve one another. (59 one another statements in the New Testament) (Healthy Relationships) 6. Healthy Churches engage people in the mission of the church according to their gifts and passions. (Romans 12:3-18) (Congregational Mobilization) 7. Healthy Churches build relationships outside the church family, serving their community, and sharing the Gospel. (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12) (Outreach/Evangelism) 8. Healthy Churches bring new people into church life, developing friendships, and actively contributing to the life of the church. (Romans 13:8-11) (Assimilation) 9. Healthy Churches equip and empower people for effective ministry, moving their church toward accomplishing the mission and vision. (Ephesians 4:11-16) (Visionary Leadership) 10. Healthy Churches align all aspects of ministry toward accomplishing their mission through a clear vision. (Matthew 16:21-28) (Organizational Stewardship) 2
Wonder-Land Christian Preschool (WLS) Greetings from Wonder-land School! by Jessica Massey, Director Reminder! Wonder-Land will be Celebrating 50+ Years on Saturday April 28th from 2-5PM. If you cannot stay the whole entire time that is ok, just come when you can for however long you can. Cannot wait to see you there! 3
In Loving Memory Due to heart complications, Joan Cothrin passed away Saturday, March 31, 2018. She was 86 years old. Her family is comforted knowing that she is now at peace with her loved ones that preceded her in death including her previous husband, George Elderkin. Joan was a loving wife to Wayne "Bud" Cothrin, mother to 5 children and their spouses: Danny and Leslie Peck, Stanley and Jan Peck, Randy and Diana Elderkin, Patricia Elderkin, and Kathi Scanlan. She deeply loved her 12 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by the many lives she has touched. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice. Joan s service will be here Saturday April 28 at 10:00AM Women s Ministry 4
Special Dates Birthday Blessings To: May Birthstone: Emerald 01: Robyn Trudeau, Cory Bradford 03: Bob McLean 05: Rich Ayala, Andre & Brady Plain 07: Hank Sanders 10: Cyndie Holland 13: Lisa Reimer, James Ralston 17: Svitlana Kovalev 22: Jessica Massey (WLS) 23: Phyllis Bottino 24: Kourtney Brown 26: Barbara Kozlow 29: Randy Holland 06: Jane Jennings 11: Jerry Jennings 12: George Thompson 15: Kathleen Angel 23: Glenn Schussman 26: Susan Mihm 27: Jacob Smirl June Birthstone: Pearl Happy Anniversary To: May Flower: Lily of the Valley 13: Bill & Elaine Housh 29: Ed & Lorraine Davis June Flower: Rose 03: Jenna & Dave Palaroan 06: Angie & Derek Gedarro 13: Darlene & Bob McLean 15: Jane & Alex Vassar 19: Jane & Larry Bryan 22: Nadia & Alex Valuiski 27: Barbara & Brian Englund 27: Svitlana & Dmitriy Kovalev Sunday Attendance 04/01 (Easter) Numbers Report 04/08 04/15 04/22 04/29 Worship 199 92 96 91 Nursery: Infant to 3 year olds Children: 4 yr. olds to 5th grade Adult Sunday School 14 10 9 2 8 6 11 5 13 15 16 16 Thank you to everyone in our church for all of the care and concern you showed to both of us during these past few months. Your extra help was very much appreciated! Fondly, Les Cudworth & Lois Silvernail 5
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2:00PM Adult Bible Study 2 6:30PM Men s Life Group 3 9:45AM Women s Bible Study 4 5 11:30AM Women s Lunch 6 8:45AM Holy Communion EPIC Bible Study 5:00PM Young Couples 7 8 2:00PM Adult Bible Study 9 6:30PM Men s Life Group 10 9:45AM Women s Bible Study 11 12 Meat & Greet 13 8:45AM EPIC Bible Study 14 15 2:00PM Adult Bible Study 16 6:30PM Men s Life Group 17 9:45AM Women s Bible Study 18 19 Mother s Day & Child Dedications 20 8:45AM EPIC Bible Study 12:15 Potluck 21 22 2:00PM Adult Bible Study Diaconate 23 6:30PM Men s Life Group 24 9:45AM Women s Bible Study 25 26 6:00PM Harbor Youth 27 8:45AM Budgets Out For Review EPIC Bible Study 28 Memorial Day Offices Closed 29 2:00PM Adult Bible Study 30 6:30PM Men s Life Group 31 9:45AM Women s Bible Study Child Dedications on Mother s Day: Pastor has several parents lined up for this important ceremony already. 6
Stewardship by Pat Frey Diaconate members if you have not done so already, please submit your budget line item requests to Pat Frey at pxpatty@winfirst.com no later than May 10. The budget will be finalized and firm for our congregational to review on May 27 & vote on June 10th. The stewardship team must have time to balance all numbers prior to the vote. Thank you What if you were following a plan for your money that you KNEW worked? With Dave Ramsey s class Financial Peace University, you CAN take control of your money, get out of debt, and create a plan for your future. If you re interested in learning more about the class, message me! Because we re offering it at American River Community Church just for you starting June 11th. Contact Alex Vassar at 916-904-2739 or alexvassar@yahoo.com. Or go to our class page to register and pay: www. https://fpu.com/1064731 7
Rummage Sale Rummage sale, please plan to volunteer in some way either during the set-up week (June 4-7) or during the days of the sale (June 8 & 9). A great time to meet other volunteers in the church and meet people from our community. Thank you! by Svitlana Kovalev 8
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Phone: 916-483-3465 E-mail: info@arcconline.org www.arcconline.org Facebook.com/ARCConline Youtube.com/ARCConline 10