Why Not Me…Giving Freely!

He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.

From: 2 Corinthians 9:9

God gives freely…

…and His people are to do the same.

 God's people signing up for the chance to give.

How does this happen?

It happens as His love, as demonstrated in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, penetrates deeper into the hearts of believers. Followers of Jesus are called to be generous, just as God has been generous in love and forgiveness toward us!

God's people grabbing totes to fill. 

When can this happen?

Right now, if you’re willing to pick up a Thanksgiving Basket (a tote) at your Christ Community Chapel campus. On Saturday and Sunday, November 7^th & 8, CCC members and friends responded freely with cheerful generosity, taking baskets to fill with Thanksgiving dinner fixings to donate to neighbors in need. 

The 'feeding frenzy' is gaining momentum! 

Please keep in mind that Thanksgiving Baskets are available for pick up on the weekends of November 14/15 and 21/22.  Won’t you join God’s people in generously sharing the overflow of God’s love with others?

A simple opportunity to serve: Each basket includes a list of suggested items to donate, and information on basket collection times. 

For more information, please contact Barbara Ammirati at: barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com

or, you can contact Scott or Judi Dalton at 330.650.0109

Why Not Me – Donating Thanksgiving Baskets!

…“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

Our Great Commandment: To Love God.

If we love God as we should, our lives will be pleasing to Him.  We will not only recognize that His love for us, as shown in the substitutionary sacrifice of His Son Jesus, provides forgiveness for our sins…we will also be transformed by His love for us.

The Overflow from God’s Grace: We Love Our Neighbors.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to proclaim God’s love for our neighbors in word and deed. One way to make God’s love visible to others is to provide for our neighbors in need.

How Can I Make God’s Love Visible?

This November, you can volunteer to fill one or more of Christ Community Chapel’s 1,500 Thanksgiving Baskets (totes) with enough food to feed 10 to 12 people with a tasty Thanksgiving dinner.

It starts with prayer, and 1,500 empty totes…

It continues with God’s people volunteering to fill empty totes…

Then, volunteers make sure the totes are properly packed.

Finally, totes are readied for pick up by CCC local ministry partners, who distribute the totes to neighbors in need in the Akron area.

How Do I Participate?

There are several options:

Pray – Bathe this year’s Thanksgiving Baskets initiative in prayers for a strong response by God’s people. Our first year, CCC donated 40 Thanksgiving Baskets.  This year, we hope to donate 1,500. And, pray for those who will receive the baskets.

Give – Pick up one or more totes to fill with fixings for a great Thanksgiving dinner. Totes will be available for pickup starting November 7^th and 8^th at Christ Community Chapel campuses. Baskets will also be available for pickup the weekends of November 14/15, and 21/22.

Go – Volunteer to help with collection, packing and distribution of totes on Monday, November 23^rd, from 2:00 to 6:00 PM.

For more information, please contact Barbara Ammirati at: barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com

Why Not Me – Asking, Seeking and Knocking

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

Photo source: http://lovethelordinc.com/products/antique-doorknob 

Jesus encourages us to seek God’s will.

Followers of Jesus at Christ Community Chapel (CCC) are encouraged to know Him, grow in Him and serve in His name. How are we to serve? Sometimes finding the path requires that we ask, seek and knock.

How does this work?

Luke and Naomi are the leaders of a Community Group at CCC. They felt the calling to encourage their group to serve through one of CCC’s Local Outreach ministry partners.  The question was, which one, and in what way?

Group Life Director Mike Holwerda suggested Luke and Naomi talk with Barbara Ammirati of CCC’s Local Outreach team. Luke explained to Barbara that the group was seeking a one-time serving opportunity that would not be too difficult to do with kids. 

The Community Group is in the life stage of giving birth to babies.  Eventually, Luke and Naomi found that a project to benefit Pregnancy Solutions and Services (PSS) struck a chord with their group. PSS ministers to new mothers to support their decisions to keep and nurture their babies.

God spoke to the heartbeat of Luke and Naomi’s group through their circumstances.

God's love made visible: Baskets for PSS moms

The result?

The Community Group decided to put together help-baskets for the new moms served by PSS.  This is something simple that the group could do in a member’s home. Luke and Naomi sent an email to the group listing the items  the moms needed, and were unsure how the group would respond. When they asked their people, they were amazed at how many signed up to get items on the list.  The need of the PSS clients had resonated with the young families in the group.

Why Not Me?

What about you as an individual, or your Community Group? What CCC ministry partner’s mission resonates for you?  God could be using your circumstances as a call to serve in the name of Jesus.  

For information about CCC’s Local Outreach ministry partners, please:

Contact Barbara Ammirati at: barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com , or:

Learn about CCC ministry partners at: http://ccchapel.com/Hudson/Connect/Local-Outreach/Ministry-Partners/

Why Not Me – Serving at Urban Vision!

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:14

Jesus wants us to bring the children to Him.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who have child-like faith.

These children recently became followers of Jesus (Photo courtesy of Urban Vision's Facebook page)

How does this happen today?

Faith comes to children, or anyone, by hearing the Word of God.  And Christ Community Chapel local ministry partner Urban Vision works to make sure the children in North Akron hear the Word. Urban Vision seeks to build a vibrant, unified community, transformed through the love and hope of Jesus Christ. 

What can I do?

You can help by serving at Urban Vision. Here are several serving opportunities, as expressed by UV’s Nathan Kreis:

There are many opportunities to bring the love of God to children by serving at UV (Photo courtesy of Urban Vision's Facebook page)

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Subject: Super Fun One-Time Opportunity You Don't Wanna Miss!

Whether you're a current volunteer, a group leader, or someone who loves UV's kiddos, but can't volunteer weekly, this is not an opportunity you want to miss!

We are looking for volunteers and supplies for our October 23rd Harvest Party - a BIG party with lots of food, candy, and games! 

If you want to volunteer...

·       We are looking for 75 volunteers on October 23rd

·       Volunteers must be in high school or older

·       Volunteers will help lead carnival-type games

·       We need help from 5:15-9:00 PM

·       To signup, email nathan@urbanvisionministry.org

If you want to provide supplies...

·       We need a MASSIVE amount of individually wrapped candy

·       We also need 500 hot dogs & hot dog buns, chips, and fruit punch

·       If you want to provide supplies, email nathan@urbanvisionministry.org

Thank you so much! 

P.S. Below are a couple ongoing needs:

·       Kids’ Club – 5 more volunteers needed - starts this Friday
Love on lots of K-5th grade kids! // Fridays 2:00-5:00 PM // weekly commitment required // must be in high school or older

·       Provide Snacks
We continue to feed 95 kids M-Th and an expected 200 kids on Fridays. The need for snacks is HUGE.

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For more information on Urban Vision, or these serving opportunities, please contact:

Barbara Ammirati, Assistant Director of Local Outreach, Christ Community Chapel, at barbara.ammirati@ccchapel.com , or

Nathan Kreis, Volunteer Coordinator, (330) 762-1163

www.urbanvisionministry.org

Like Urban Vision on Facebook