1 John 2:15-17, 28 • January 8, 2012

 

 Standard Podcast [28:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (35)

Saturday, January 21 from 8:00 to 10:00 in Room 206

Click to RSVP

NNR  POSTER  COMPETITION

A competition open to all SPC members and regular attenders will also be held in conjunction with the 2012 NNR .  Anyone interested in participating may submit a design for a poster that advertises the 2012 Not Necessarily Reformed Variety Show.

• Standards for submission:   The design should be proportional to a 20” x 30” poster.  East poster will include copy/information to be determined by Michael Bryant. Entries must be submitted as JPG files of sufficient size to be enlarged for printing.

• Deadline for submission: Submissions must be received by Michael Bryant by 11PM on Friday, January 27.

• Questions: For more information about the poster contest, including the ad-copy to be included on the poster and how the posters will be judged, contact Michael Bryant.

NNR  ART  SHOW

A display of SPC visual arts will be held in conjunction with the 2012 “Not Necessarily Reformed Variety Show” (NNR). Submissions may include photographs, paintings, drawings, prints, pottery, sculpture, woodwork, crafts and other works of art produced by SPC artists.

• Who may participate: Anyone from the SPC Congregation

• Dates for the show: February 26 through Sunday, March 11, 2012.

• Standards for submission: The artwork should be mindful of the church and family context of the exhibit.  There is a limit of 3 pieces per artist.

• Deadline for submission:  All works must be at the church office by Friday, February 16 and will be installed on Saturday, February 25.

• Selling the art: Each entry will include a business-card sized description containing the title of the entry, the name of the artist, the medium, whether or not the piece is for sale and the sale price with contact information, if for sale.

• Questions: Contact Alan Lee.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Romans 8:28-32 • New Year’s Day • January 1, 2012

“These verses are more than an anchor for the soul. They are a trumpet call to action. They are a rally cry. They are a call to spend yourself, to do something radical and crazy with your life for the sake of Christ. To dream a dream that’s bigger than the suburbs because you have a promise from an omnipotent God that is doing as much. He will bring things into your life that will conform you to the likeness of His own Son.

Respond by being open to risk-taking for the sake of the Gospel…Take risks in spreading the Gospel. Go to the hard places and do the hard things in the cause of love because you know that whatever happens, it will work together for your good…God will see to that.”

 

 Standard Podcast [34:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (22)

Luke 2:8-21 • Series: Advent & Christmas 2011 • December 24, 2011

 

 Standard Podcast [12:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (20)

Isaiah 9:1-7 • Series: Advent and Christmas 2011 • December 25, 2011

“Have you ever received the great gift of Christmas? My friend, if you haven’t, this can be the best Christmas you’ve ever had. Repent, Jesus said, for the kingdom of God is at hand. Talk with God this Christmas. Tell him you’re sorry, if you are, that you have happily lived your life apart from Him. Ask Him to come in and give you this second chance – life in His Son. Simply receive God’s gift to you. Unto us – unto you – a Son is given. God bless us everyone.”

 

 Standard Podcast [22:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (21)

An opportunity to learn to present, explain, and defend the Gospel.

As an advocate for apologetics and a Christian worldview, Alex M^cFarland has spoken at more than 1400 locations in the US and abroad.  He has been a full-time member of the Focus on the Family staff with James Dobson and was president of North Carolina’s Southern Evangelical Seminary for five years.  He has authored ten books currently serves as the Director for the Center for Apologetics and Christian Worldview at North Greenville University in South Carolina.

In the 1990’s, Alex pioneered conferences and events widely credited with raising awareness for apologetics throughout North America. For more information about Alex and his various ministries, visit www.alexmcfarland.com.

Alex will be at SPC on January 6 through 8, leading a two-session Apologetics Seminar, speaking at The Awakening (Evangelistic Worship for Youth), and preaching in worship.

THE QUESTIONS EVERY CHRISTIAN MUST KNOW HOW TO ANSWER

Apologetics 101 (And Why Apologetics Matters to Every Christian)

• Friday, January 6 at 7:00 to 9:00 PM
• Registration begins at 6:30 PM
• No child-care available

Practical Ways to Deepen Your Witness Through Apologetics

• Saturday, January 7 at 8:00 AM • Coffee, tea, pastries, & fruit
• Saturday, January 7 at 9:00 AM to Noon
• Infant and Toddler Nurseries available (Please contact the church office to register your child for the nursery.)

The Awakening

• Saturday, January 7 from 7:00 to 10:00 PM
• Evangelistic Worship for High School and College Students
• Bring a Friend

Worship

• Sunday, January 8 at 8:30 and 11:00 AM: “Six Things the Church Needs to be Re-Reminded of at this Time”
• Sunday, January 8 from 9:45 to 10:45 AM • Q & A with Alex in Room 206

9:45 to 10:45 • January 15 – April 29, 2012

SHALOM RICHMOND • Room 208
An experiential study of race, poverty, and the Kingdom of God in our city.

THE COVENANT STORY • SPC Café
An overview of the Bible.

TALKING ABOUT JESUS • Room 104
Conversations about Gospel-conversations.

THE BOOK OF AMOS • Room 111
A study of the texts behind the sermons.

Mark 8:27-32 • Series: Advent & Christmas • December 18, 2011

 

 Standard Podcast [28:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (41)

LET’S PARTY
This Sunday, December 18, from 9:30 to 10:45 AM in Room 208, all SPC adults are invited to a Christmas Mixer (not quite a party, but close!). It will be a casual hour between worship services for SPC regulars and newcomers to enjoy light refreshments, catch up with each other, make new acquaintances, and hear about plans for other Sunday morning mixers throughout 2012.

An experiential study of race, poverty, and the Kingdom of God in our city • From January 15 to April 29 in Room 206

Shalom Richmond is a 15-week class that will examine Christ’s teachings about the Kingdom of God through an experiential study of current issues facing the city of Richmond.  Participants will study issues raised by the history, socio-economics, and ethnic make-up of our region. We  will learn from experts working in these areas and have opportunities to participate in out-of-classroom experiences. We will also be challenged as individuals, as families, and as a church, to serve our neighbors in the name, love and power of Christ.  Tim Keller’s “Generous Justice” will be a companion study throughout the course.

• Overview & Homework Assignments
• Lesson One • Pre-field Training • January 15, 2012
• Lesson Two • Historical Overview • January 22, 2012
• Lesson Three • An Overview of Poverty, Race, and Jurisdiction in Metropolitan Richmond • January 29, 2012
  

Colossians 1:15-20 • Series: Advent & Christmas • December 11, 2011

 

 Standard Podcast [26:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (25)

IN PREPARATION FOR THE SPC CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ON DECEMBER 11

How are church officers nominated and elected?

• Nomination – Church officers, elders and deacons, are nominated each June by SPC members. Two nominations are required for each nominee before he is invited to participate in the officer training process. After the training is completed, nominees who choose to stand for election are examined by the Session in theology, biblical knowledge, and suitability for leadership and pastoral care. Nominees who are approved by the Session are placed on the ballot for election.
• Election – Church officers are elected each year by the vote of SPC’s members in the December Congregational Meeting. Nominees are required to receive a majority vote of the ballots cast. Nominees who receive fewer than 50% of yes votes out of the total number of ballots are not elected. Officers must stand for election or reelection every three years. Once elected, they may serve no more than two consecutive three-year terms before taking a year off.
• Trustees - This year, we have the rare privilege of electing an SPC Trustee. Trustees are nominated by the Session and, like other officers, are required to receive a majority vote of the ballots cast. Trustees have no term limits.

Were the monies spent on consultation for the Master Plan approved in the 2010 year budget, and if not, where did they come from?

• Budgets – Each December, SPC members discuss, vote on, and recommend a proposed budget for the coming year to the Session. The Session then considers the proposed budget and, with the exception of the call to the senior pastor which remains at the discretion of the members, may decide to approve or amend the proposed budget.  Annual budgets are important guides for spending, but some adjustments are usually made by the Session at the beginning of each budget year and as opportunities and challenges reveal themselves throughout the year.
• Master Planning - With the receipt of an unusually large gift in the early part of 2011, the Session decided to spend about $25,000 on the development of a Master Plan for the facilities of the church. It directed the SPACE team to find a suitable architect and develop a process with him. The results of that six-month process will be presented at the Congregational Meeting on 12/11/11.

Will this next congregational meeting be the last time that the congregation has to consider and comment on the Master Plan?

• No. The Session, having listened to the Master Plan presentation and the responses from the congregation, will spend about three months praying over what we have heard. We encourage the congregation to join us in prayer for guidance. Soon after that, the Session plans to meet with the congregation to discuss the Master Plan and begin to chart a definite course forward.
• Thank you. We are very grateful to the SPACE Team and to Bruce Wardell’s firm for all the hard and creative work which has gone into re-envisioning the way ahead for SPC. Their work will provide the basis for the way we proceed, but it is not the end of it.

Did the Session promise to continue the support of all missionaries at their established levels in 2007 when the Session approved a goal of giving 60% of our missions giving towards local missions and 40% towards global missions?

• No. Something like that was said, but the Session did not make that promise.
• A little history. Back in 2007, the Session decided to strengthen SPC’s missional focus to Greater Richmond. It requested the Missions Committee to, over time, increase SPC’s financial support to local missions. It established a benchmark of 60% of our missions budget devoted to local missions and 40% to global missions. While there was support in the church for the shifting priority, some expressed a loving concern that this change would do damage to the missionaries we were supporting at the time. The Pastor, Tom Harkins, and Keith Boswell (the Session liaisons with the Missions Committee), in consultation with the Missions Committee, answered that concern with an assurance that we would not cut funding for existing missionaries at the time in order to achieve the 60/40 split. The plan, instead, was to find extra sources of funding each year through attrition or other means of slowly building towards the goal. And that’s what we did. While we made some progress toward that goal, we never have achieved it.  The current ratio of local to global missions spending at SPC is approximately 50-50.
• Back to the present. The proposed mission’s budget for 2012 reflects the results of an evaluation process that our Missions Committee put into place last year to help them focus our missionary support where it seems to be doing the most good. While we are committed to faithfully supporting our missionaries, no missionary or missions agency has ever been promised that SPC would continue supporting them for a lifetime. As circumstances change on the mission field, effectiveness, accountability, and responsible stewardship require us to make adjustments in support. These changes are sometimes challenging for us and for our missionaries, but they are wise and necessary.
• Thank you. The Session appreciates the prayerful hard work of the Missions Committee and is excited at the new approach it has adopted. We believe that this more objective and focused approach to our church vision for Missions will serve us and the missionaries we support well in the years to come.

Steve Constable
Senior Pastor
December 1, 2011

Matthew 2:1-12 • Series: Advent & Christmas • December 4, 2011

“It is futile saying to people, ‘Go to the Cross.’  We’ve got to able to say, ‘Come to the Cross.’ There are only two voices that can issues that invitation. One is the voice of the sinless Redeemer with which we cannot speak. The other is the voice of the forgiven sinner who knows himself forgive.” William Temple

 

 Standard Podcast [38:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (30)

JUNE 23 through JULY 7

For the past 12 summers, SPC has sent a Mission Team to Uganda, East Africa for two weeks to work under the direction of Pastor Isaac Wagaba and his orphanage. If you think you might like to be a part of the 2012 Team, or if you’d just like to learn how to support or participate in  this SPC Mission Project, contact John Keltonic at 272-6777.

Romans 15:14-23 • Series: The Gospel of God’s Grace • November 27, 2011

 

 Standard Podcast [30:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (30)

Luke 17:11-19 • Thanksgiving Eve • November 23, 2011

 

 Standard Podcast [16:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (20)

Romans 13:1-14 • Series: The Gospel of God’s Grace • November 13, 2011

 

 Standard Podcast [30:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (10)

Romans 14:1 – 15:4 • Series: The Gospel of God’s Grace • November 20, 2011

 

 Standard Podcast [31:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (23)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 FROM 7:00 TO 10:00 PM

Worship for Richmond area High School & College Students.

Speaker: Evangelist Alex McFarland

Thanksgiving Volunteer Info. Form

International students are eager to learn more about our culture, to experience the warmth of a home, and to make American friends.  Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful opportunity to reach out to these students with hospitality and friendship.

If you would be interested in sharing this special American holiday with a VCU international student, please contact Pam Haney by November 14. or call 828-8309.   Click here for a Thanksgiving Volunteer Form.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 AT 7:30

Everyone is welcome. Bill Anderson will tell the story of his life and faith in Jesus.

Romans 12:1-21 • Series: The Gospel of God’s Grace • November 6, 2011

 

 Standard Podcast [29:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (32)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18 at 5:30 PM

An opportunity to celebrate Jesus’ birth with drama and music. To perform in the concert, contact Michael Bryant at 539-6453 by November 20.

NOVEMBER 11 & DECEMBER 6 AT 5:30 PM

Everyone is encouraged to participate in our two end-of-year Congregational Meetings. Nurseries and childcare, through 5th grade, will be provided during both meeting. Please make every effort to attend and participate in both of these very important meetings.

Our first Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 13 at 5:30 PM. In that meeting:

• Our Finance Team will present and discuss the proposed budget for 2012
• Pastor Constable will present and introduce the slate of officer nominees
• Our Missions Committee will present and discuss details of their 2012 Strategic Plan

Our second Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, December 4 at 5:30 PM. In that meeting:

• We will continue our discussion of  the proposed budget for 2012.  SPC members may propose amendments and will vote to recommend the budget to the Session for final adoption
• We will vote on changes to the Pastor’s Call
  
• Members will elect officers for 2012
• Members will elect an additional Church Trustee
  
• Our Space Team and architect will present our Master Plan for the facilities and grounds

Please pray for our church and her leaders during this season of significant planning and commitment-making, as we move together into a new year.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Christmas is an exciting time of year as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This time of giving can also be a discouraging reminder to parents in the inner city of their inability to provide for their children. Too often the assistance available deprives the parents of the dignity and blessing of sacrificing for their own children. By making available new gifts at greatly reduced prices, the STEP Christmas Store offers parents an affordable opportunity to take part in giving gifts of their choosing and from their hearts.

Last year, SPC helped STEP serve 61 families and just under 200 children from the Gilpin Court community. This year, The STEP Christmas Store & Breakfast is going to be held on Saturday, December 3, from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM. We will carpool from the church parking lot, leaving by 9:15 AM, so we can arrive and set up.

Please join us in blessing the lives of these families by donating supplies for the breakfast and/or a new, unwrapped toy with the price tag left on. We will be collecting the gifts through November 27 in the “STEP STORE” bin by the nursery.

The following is a list of gift suggestions:

• Dolls (dark-skinned)
• Doll Accessories
• Skateboards
• Electronics
• Sports Equipment
• Arts & Craft Kits
• Building Blocks
• Video Games
• Toy Cars & Trucks
• Trains
• Educational Toys
• Bicycles

If you have questions, please email Melissa Schneider. Or visit www.steprichmond.org for more details.

WHAT IS STEP?

STEP’s main purpose is to defeat physical and spiritual poverty in Richmond by focusing systematically on one specific community at a time.  STEP is designed to be a catalyst between those that have been called to serve and those that have very real needs in urban Richmond.