Blog 9-28-12

Men’s Workshop and Word Works

The moment you have been waiting for is here!  Our men’s and women’s workshops are back in session this next Wednesday at 7:00 pm!  Men, you have an opportunity this weekend to pre-register at the workshop table and pay a special discounted fee of $15 for the session.  These Wednesday night workshops are an awesome time of fun, food and growing in God, so don’t miss out!  As leaders, please help us by inviting those who come onto campus, as well as the people in your sphere of influence that you’re called to reach.

Men’s Meeting

It’s this next Saturday, Clovis campus, 9:00 am! We said this last week, but it bears repeating: God has got something for you at this meeting but the real question is, will you be man enough to get it? Don’t be a weenie and allow tiredness, a football game, or anything stand in your way. This is your season of INCREASE baby!

Plus, all this is happening there:

- BIG Giveaways

- 49er vs. Rams Tickets

- Raider vs. Saints Tickets

 - $100 Tattoo work

 - K-9 Training sit-in for four guys

 - Breakfast Burrito Vendor ($2 a burrito)

 - More surprises to come!

 A new year of G42 School of Ministry has begun, and with that new ministry students on our campus.  These students are going to be working right alongside you, so we thought we’d introduce them and what area they are training in.

 1^st Year Students

Kaylee O’Brien, Pastoral Care

Christian Salazar, 2sm

2^nd Year Students

Cierra Hutcheson, 2sm

Sarah Collins, Pastoral Care

Madi Contrestano, Music

We are welcoming many new volunteers to our Fresno team, so staff introductions are also in order!

Campus Pastors- Rick and Vickie Jimenez

Campus Directors- Brett and Katelyn Kindberg

Service Directors- Paul and Alisha Torres

Worship Director- Autumn Young

Events and Outreaches Director- Stephanie Stine

2sm Directors- Anthony and Shay Favila

KIC Directors- Willie and Delina Gonzalez

 It is our honor and privilege to serve the people of this campus with you, and we value each and every one of you.  Thank you for your faithfulness. 

 The Volunteer of the Week is………Josh Ott!

Josh wears many hats, willing to do whatever is needed, from drumming, stagehand, working cameras and even letting us use his acting abilities for holiday productions!  We value his eagerness and enthusiasm to serve.  Be sure to congratulate him this weekend.

God has said that now is our time of increase, and that in order to get what’s on God’s mind, we have to have it on our mind.  Declaring this confession is a great way to keep increase on your mind throughout the week. 

 Celebration Confession

Father, in the name of Jesus, your Word says that if we decree a thing it shall be established.

So, we boldly decree and declare that Celebration Church is a healed, prosperous, healthy WORD church.

Our church is growing, and is full of people of love that are led by the Spirit of God, Healed by the Word of God, and delivered by the Power of God.

Celebration Church is a miracle, wonderworking church that is healthy in mind, body and soul.

We are spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically healed, and we declare it by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

The love of God is in us to effectively reach out to our families, our neighbors and our city.

We enjoy doing the work of the ministry.  We serve the Lord with gladness at Celebration Church.

There are workers with us in abundance.  We say that every member at Celebration joyfully functions in their place and in their grace.

The favor of God surrounds Celebration Church as a shield.

We say there is no lack at Celebration- in the homes, families, businesses, and ministries.  We are blessed coming in and going out.  Whatever we put our hands to, in agreement with God’s Word, prospers!

No matter what comes against us, we win because God is FOR US.  No weapon formed against us shall prosper.  Greater is HE that is in us than he that is in the world.

Father, you said let the redeemed of the Lord say so!  So, we say that WE ARE THE REDEEMED!  WE SAY WE ARE THE HEALED!  WE SAY WE ARE THE BLESSED!

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Don’t ever let the enemy allow you to believe that what you do each week when you serve doesn’t make a difference.  You make an impact in the lives of people coming onto campus, and blessing comes on you!  Also, this weekend is going to be full of fun and excitement.  There's going to be face painting for the kids, Brown Bear's Hot Dogs and more.

Now let’s go make this the best weekend yet!

Volunteer of the week 9-23-12

Our volunteer of the week is Mari Lopez!! Mari serves in production and is faithful in whatever she is asked to do. She is usually here before the sun is up and is a invaluable member of the team.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Season of INCREASE!!!

 

We are reaching this Valley! Soul by soul they are coming in and you watch how this movement explodes and turns into a raging river! Fresno volunteers, you aren't just greeting at the front doors, or working the parking lot, or helping in a classroom, you are expanding God's Kingdom!

 

Is there a greater cause on this Earth?!

 

Thank you for all that you do. I know we sound like the boy who cried wolf every week, thanking you constantly, but we are sincere in our thankfulness. Keep up the good work!

 

 

Host Team Training!

We have the chance to train as a team! Ushers, Greeters, Parking Lot, Bookstore, Coffee Bar, and Visitor Lounge will all be there! If you are on one of those teams then you have this great opportunity! There will be munchies,  time to hang out, and a quick gathering for vision about serving to start the morning. Then we will break out into individual areas to train on our specific responsibilities.

 

 

Wild Fire to Spread on our Campus:

 

Men

Men's Workshop

As men, we aspire to be a leader that others can respect, that others look up to. We want to live a life worth talking about long after we're gone. Celebration is about raising up those men! On October 3rd we will begin our 6 week quest to equip and prepare you to be a husband, a father, a brother, and a man of God that's full of power, ready to do powerful things in this Earth! There will be tons of food, tons of laughs, and tons of opportunity to meet other guys and generate great discussions. As leaders, please help us get the word out! Grab a stack of invite cards and let's get guys there! They need it!

 

 

Men's Meeting

Guys, if you stay home and miss this Men's meeting, I swear we will de-man you in a hot second!--- if you catch my drift---

In all seriousness, men, God has got something for you at this meeting but the real question is, will you be man enough to get it? Don’t be a weenie and allow tiredness, a football game, or anything stand in your way. This is your season of INCREASE baby!

Did I mention all the fun stuff that’s going to be going on?

- BIG Giveaways

- 49er vs. Rams Tickets

- Raider vs. Saints Tickets

- $100 Tattoo work

- K-9 Training sit-in for four guys

- Breakfast Burrito Vendor ($2 a burrito)

- More surprises to come!

                                    th

, 9am, Clovis Campus>

 

Women

Word Works

Ladies, there is almost too much fun going on at these Word Work sessions! Come learn how to become a mighty woman of God while enjoying some food and laughs with other women that are excited to make their lives better and better. There are six sessions to catch and you won’t want to miss a single one! Get signed up this weekend at our Workshop Table, and let the fun begin!

 

 

Open Mic Night

Ladies! Word Works will be hosting “Open Mic Night"! There will be stand-up comedy, music and performances you will not want to miss, along with appetizers, mocktails and drawings all night long. This event will take place at Sign-up this weekend at the Events & Outreach table!

 

< Friday, September 28th, Classic Catering, Old Town Clovis, 7-10pm, $20>

 

 

A Sunday Drive & Lesson Learned (by Corina Burgess)

Most Sundays I wake up to a before-sunrise alarm clock and set out on an early morning drive to the Fresno Campus. The roads are empty. The dew lingers on the grass and the sun pokes through the valley sky. Everything is generally pretty quiet and peaceful.

After my general inspection of Fresno Campus & my connection with the campus staff & volunteers I jump in my car & speed to the next stop, Clovis Campus. And it seems I’ve kind of developed a routine that keeps me from noticing what is happening all around our city.

Today I took notice and found that:

• At about 7:30am the fig loop park is buzzing with activity, especially on a beautiful fall morning like today.
• Somewhere near 9am boats are in Costco gas station filling up for a day on a beautiful lake somewhere.
• About the same time, the local Starbucks is full of casual coffee-drinkers sipping their drink of choice and reveling in a good read & college students are intently doing homework.
• Afternoon as I drive by Fashion Fair Mall, the parking lot is full & lines form at the local restaurants.
I was amused by all the activity that happens each and every week while I’m serving the place I'd rather be more than anywhere else.

However, I have to admit I was easily tempted by each of their activities. All equally enjoyable things that I would be eager to do if given a lazy Sunday morning.

My lesson learned today is that sometimes I forget what the rest of the world is doing. I forget what is competing for their attention. I forget what a commitment and sacrifice it is for them to attend church rather than one of these activities that so easily "woos" them.

Church Leaders & Staff, don’t forget! Don’t forget what we’re competing with. Do everything you can to create a place as compelling as any one of these other environments. Because if we can create the place, they’ll experience something that none of these other things can ever do… provide them an encounter with Jesus, their Creator and Savior. Allow God to work through us, NOT in spite of us. Be excited & grateful that God is using us to impact lives!

The truth is, it's really not about us. Serving God's House is about Him and the thousands of lost, hurting, and broken lives in this valley. So let's give it ALL we got.. Let's be committed, effective, excited, passionate, friendly, contagious, and create the most irresistible environment that can compete with the best this world has to offer. LET'S WIN THIS CITY!!!

 

 

Blog 9/14/12

in·crease  verb \in-ˈkrēs\

1: to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)

2: better than

3: more than

4: go beyond

5: to succeed and continue to succeed

Synonyms: enlarge - grow - enhance – multiply

God has declared that this is our season of increase, but we still have to position ourselves to receive increase in our lives, corporately and individually.  Increase is a promise, but also a mandate. 

Here are some opportunities to position us for increase:

-Host team training is Saturday, September 22^nd, beginning at 9:30 am on the Fresno campus.  So, if you are an usher, greeter, or volunteer in the bookstore, guest services, coffee bar, parking or visitor lounge, this training is for you.  These training sessions are a time to grow personally and even better as a team.  The better we become, the more effective we can be to serve people.

-There is a men’s breakfast on Saturday, October 6^th, at 9:00 am on the Clovis campus with Damon Thompson.  Damon believes it is vitally important to strengthen the men of this house.  Strong men means strong households and a strong church.  Don’t miss this!

Ladies, don’t forget Friday, September 28^th is Word Works “Open Mic Night”! There will be stand-up comedy, music and performances you will not want to miss, along with appetizers, mocktails and drawings all night long. It’s at Classic Catering in Old Town Clovis from 7-10pm. The price is $20. Sign-up this weekend at the Events & Outreach table!

Congratulations to our Volunteers of the Week, George and Sabrina Smith!
George and Sabrina are tremendous assets to our campus.  Always full of joy and enthusiasm, they are faithful members of the visitor lounge team, and definitive servant-leaders, ready and willing to help anywhere needed. Be sure to congratulate them this weekend!

As you go through your week, keep the word of increase on your mind.  Remember Pastor Randy’s key points from this last weekend:

1)      To have God’s ways, you must have God’s thoughts.

2)      The way you think determines the life you live.

One area that we should all believing for increase in is growth in our teams.  When we get into the new Fresno building (which you’re believing for too, right?!) we’re going to need much bigger teams to serve the thousands coming through those doors.  Let’s be in faith (and put action behind that faith) to have growth in our teams NOW!

We love you guys so much.  We couldn’t (and wouldn’t want to) do this without you.  See you this weekend!

Blog 9/7/12

Increase More, More Increase!

What an amazing weekend we just came out of!  Don’t let the word of more and increase pass you by.  It is the season we have stepped into, and it’s what we’re believing to see in your life.

Wednesday night workshops are the place to be mid-week, and right here at 7 pm on the Fresno campus!  For married couples, we have Sex, Love and Communication and there’s Sexual Revolution for the singles. Also that night, childcare is available, the 2spot is open for jr. high through high school, and there’s dinner available for purchase.  These workshops are a great opportunity to develop personally and build relationships, so, as a leader, make it a priority to be there and encourage others to come, as well.

We have a few upcoming events to keep in mind:

The Philippines Benefit Dinner is Friday, September 14^th.  If you are securing a donation, or part of a team that’s making a basket for the auction, they are due by this Sunday, September 9^th.  Tickets are still available to attend the dinner, and can be purchased at the Events & Outreach table.  It will be a night of fun and entertainment, so be sure to get your ticket this weekend!

Calling all ladies!  Friday, September 28^th is Word Works “Open Mic Night”!  There will be stand-up comedy, music and performances you will not want to miss, along with appetizers, mocktails and drawings all night long.  It’s at Classic Catering in Old Town Clovis from 7-10pm.  The price is $20.  Sign-up this weekend at the Events & Outreach table!

Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Week, Eric Miller! 

 

 Eric is a faithful member of our security team, and we appreciate his dedication to watching over our campus, and everyone on it, each week.  He’s a great leader, husband and father.  Be sure to show him your gratitude this weekend.

 

Be in expectation for what’s going to happen in this weekend’s services as we walk into this new season as a church!  Continue to invite friends/family/coworkers to the services and give them the opportunity to have their life impacted just like yours is.  Thank you for your continued faithfulness to serve this house.  We love you and look forward to seeing you this weekend!