If you are the parent of a baby or toddler you know how important it is to have play dates — for you and for your little one! Because there are so many families connecting to our church we want to provide a space for those play dates.

Beginning February 7 at 10:00 am, the church will host a monthly Play Date on the first Tuesday of the month. This is a chance for parents to connect while their little ones play. We hope to see your family on Tuesday, February 7 at 10:00 am!

Registration is not required. Contact Melody Merida if you need more information.

Attention Singles: Who likes to bowl? Now who likes to Duckpin Bowl? Come join us in Fountain Square for 90 minutes of fun-filled bowling on Saturday, February 11 at 8:00 pm. The cost is $7.00 per person for both bowlers and non-bowlers. We will have dinner beforehand at Smokehouse on Shelby at 6:00 pm, and you can come for one or both activities.

Space is limited! Reserve your spot by emailing group leader Donna Martin or by filling out the form in Sunday’s Weekly News.

Let’s shake off our winter doldrums together at Snapperz Family Fun Center! Snapperz in Carmel features 33,000 square feet of fun for the whole family. It’s the perfect place for kids to play while the adults get some good grown up socializing.

They have soft structure play units, laser tag, climbing walls, bumper cars, bowling, bungee trampoline, games, food, and a toddler area for the little ones. Families of all ages are invited to join in the fun Saturday, February 11, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The cost is $10 for children ages 4-17, $3 for children ages 2 and 3, and free for adults and children under 2. Admission gets you four hours of fun on the main attractions (the inflatables and the soft structure play units). Other attractions and food are extra.

Please complete the form in Sunday’s Weekly News or email Melody Merida if your family will be attending the winter escape.

This past weekend (January 6-7) Pastor Jeff presented four workshops at the Gay Christian Network Conference in Orlando, Florida. Meanwhile, David Squire, our Communications Director, staffed a booth at the conference offering books and materials published by LifeJourney Press, our publishing ministry.

The Gay Christian Network (GCN) operates one of the most popular web-based support organizations for LGBT Christians. GCN’s conferences typically draw about 500 participants, and provide a wonderful opportunity to promote our resources.

Jeff presented two workshops based on the book he co-authored, The Children Are Free. The third workshop was about our church’s discipleship materials — Discipleship 101 and 102. The fourth workshop presented our Pastoral Training Program to those who feel called to ministry.

More details will be added as they become available. Questions? Please contact the church office.

November 20: Our traditional Giving Tree will be ready. We’re purchasing gifts for Indiana Youth Group, a safe haven for LGBT teens and young adults, and Dayspring Center, our ministry partner that assists homeless families. Complete instructions and due dates are on the gift tags, which are available in the social hall at church. Contact David Squire if you have questions.

November 20: The Children’s Ministry will explore the origins of Thanksgiving through stories, games, crafts, and, of course, food! Preschoolers through fifth graders are invited to the festivities during both morning services.

November 24: Our traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner will happen from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. It’ll be a great time with good food and church friends. The church will provide turkey and ham. Please bring a side dish or dessert to help complete the meal, if you can. If you plan to attend, please contact Melody Merida so we can plan appropriately.

December 3: Couples’ Christmas Party. Dinner at Chile Verde at 7:00 pm followed by dessert and a white elephant gift swap at the church. Contact Doug Snow to RSVP or for more info.

December 8 and 9: Sing Joy! Christmas Concert at 7:00 pm. Join us for a casual, cozy, contemporary Christmas concert, with a classic reading of the Christmas story. Concert participants include the Children’s Choir, the Gospel Choir, the Sanctuary Choir, the Instrumental Ensemble and guest Charlie Morgan of the local band Hyryder.

December 18: Birthday Party for Jesus! The Children’s Ministry will hold a birthday party in Jesus’ honor, complete with games, prizes, birthday cake, and a visit by Jesus himself.

December 24: Christmas Eve Open House at Jeff Miner and David Zier’s home from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. Drop in any time from 1:00 to 7:00 for Christmas dinner and a relaxed time with church friends. This is not a pitch-in, and all are welcome. Contact the church office for directions.

December 25: Christmas Remembrances. Join us on Christmas Sunday at our regular worship times for a one-hour service of carols, scriptures, and Holy Communion. We’ll have you out in an hour for the rest of your busy day!

For the first time ever, a member of our church, Zach Adamson, is running for an at-large seat on the Indianapolis City-County Council. We are very proud of Zach, but we cannot and do not endorse any candidates.

Read more about the views of all the at-large Council candidates and other contested positions:

• indylp.org/candidates/2011-candidates/
• indyrepublicans.com/2011-candidates/
• marioncountydemocrats.org/people/candidates

Would you like to lose weight and live healthier? Would you like some support for this journey? On November 13, after each worship service, there will be an interest meeting about such a support group.
(more…)

Donna Martin has taken the reins of the Singles Social Group:

“I am excited and grateful for this opportunity to lead the Singles Group. I first attended LifeJourney Church in June and I knew immediately it’s where I belong. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you and I’m confident we can put together a lot of fun activities for all to enjoy.”

Our next event is a Trivia Night at the church on Saturday, November 12 at 7:00 pm. Bring a snack and your favorite non-alcoholic beverage. There will be something for everyone and prizes will be awarded. You can RSVP to the church office.

You can stay connected with the Singles Social Group on their own Facebook page: facebook.com/LifeJourneySingles. Go like us!

Beginning November 6 during the 11:00 am service the 9th through 12th graders will have their own place to talk, hang out, and share together. This group starts in the sanctuary for music and worship, and will be dismissed to their own room at the start of the sermon. They will then return for communion.

The leaders of this new group are Tiffany Soaper and Sha-Hanna Lewis. Tiffany graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in Psychology and Human Services Counseling. She has an extensive background in working with youth of all ages.

Sha-Hanna has been a mentor and service advocate for many years. At Indiana University and the University of Chicago Charter School she especially enjoyed helping youth overcome challenges in and out of the classroom. Her most recent projects were through AmeriCorps at the Indianapolis Metropolitan High School.

The AIDS Walk supports services and programs that help more than 10,000 Hoosiers with HIV/AIDS. We’ll solicit pledges from family, friends, co-workers, and others to provide assistance with shelter, utilities, food, medicine, and other daily living needs.

Won’t you sign up today to be part of the LifeJourney Team? Your participation can make a difference to many people right here in Indiana. The walk is Saturday October 8 at University Park.

Sign up to be part of the LifeJourney Church Team at church on Sunday, or sign up directly online. Click “walker registration” then choose “LifeJourney Church” as your team. You can download the pledge form with instructions.

If you can’t walk, you can still participate by gathering pledges or sponsoring someone else. If you’d like to make a general team donation, please see Gina Walker or email the church office.

Pious people found him annoying. Sinners found him delightful. Many of us have never met that Jesus — the real Jesus.

Starting September 25, we’re going to try to strip away all the extraneous stuff imposed on Jesus by centuries of institutional Christianity, so we can get back to Jesus as he was. Here’s what we’ll cover:

September 25 • Rock My World

The parable of the Good Samaritan — the most famous parable — is more than a nice story. It challenges modern Christian orthodoxy to its core. Luke 10:25-37.

October 2 • Who Gets Into Heaven — According to Jesus

His answer will surprise you, and challenge you to rethink what you’ve always heard. Matthew 21:28-46.

October 9 • When A Woman Talks Back

The institutional church has shown little respect for the spiritual insights and leadership of women. How about Jesus? What was his attitude toward women? Matthew 15:21-28.

October 16 • When Jesus Encountered A Gay Couple

You may have heard a portion of this story in Sunday school, but not the rest of the story. In Sunday school they glossed over a scandalous fact that changes everything. Matthew 8:5-13.

October 23 • Rules, Rules, Rules

For most of us, that’s what religion has always been. The same was true in Jesus’ day, but not for Jesus. He taught a radical new approach that the institutional church has never quite been able to embrace. Mark 2:21-28.

October 30 • What Must I Do To Be Saved?

If it’s not about rules, and it’s not about doctrinal purity, what is the key to “salvation”? Jesus’ answer is very simple and compelling. Matthew 19:16-22.

November 6 • When A Bad Man Prays

Most of us feel pretty inadequate. Spiritually speaking, we know we fall short. For us, Jesus has a message of hope and encouragement. Luke 18:9-14.

November 13 • Love Life!

Authentic religious life is not about renouncing fun and giving up good times. Jesus set the example. He had so much fun, his critics accused him of being “a glutton and a drunkard.” And we are called to be like him. So let’s get the party started! John 2:1-11.

We invite you to join us each Sunday on this exciting journey of discovery. We meet at 9:30 am and 11:00 am. More info:

• About our Worship Services
• Map and Directions

If you miss any of these sermons, you can watch them at LifeJourneyChurch.cc/listen.

Here are some resources that will empower you with information about Jesus. This is a supplement to the Reclaiming Jesus for Ordinary People sermon series.

About Jesus, Christianity, and the Church

A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith
Brian McLaren

What’s So Amazing About Grace
Philip Yancey

The Jesus I Never Knew
Philip Yancey

Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile
Rob Bell

About Jesus and gay people

The Children Are Free: Re-examining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships
Jeff Miner and John Tyler Connoley

About Jesus and women

Women In Ancient Christianity: The New Discoveries
Karen L. King

About Jesus and race

Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions in a Consumer Church
Paul Louis Metzger

About Jesus and simple living

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity
Ronald J. Sider

LifeJourney Church receives a small commission on purchases made through the Amazon links above. The Children Are Free is published by LifeJourney Press, a ministry of LifeJourney Church.

On Saturday, September 17, Indiana Equality will hold a statewide “Stop The Amendment” Summit hosted at LifeJourney Church from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The purpose is to discuss strategy for defeating efforts to amend Indiana’s Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. All interested persons are welcome. To register, email lponterio@indianaequality.org.

We now have 32 billboards sponsored, enough to allow us to stagger the start dates of our billboards to stretch the campaign from four weeks to eight. Here is some key info:

• Theme: Who Stole Jesus? Each billboard will proclaim that question and invite people to our web site for fuller discussion.
• Timing: September 19 – November 14. Half the billboards will go up the week of September 19. Each week thereafter we’ll add four more, until all are up. Each billboard will run for four weeks. The last billboards will come down around November 14.
• Yard signs. Yard signs, magnetic bumper stickers, and t-shirts will be available starting Sunday September 25, just a few days after the first billboards go up.
• Sermon Series. September 25 will also mark the beginning of an eight-week sermon series highlighting the gap between the Jesus of the Gospels and how he’s often presented by institutional Christianity.

If you want to sponsor a billboard, but haven’t yet, fill out this form. Meanwhile, let’s all be praying that this outreach campaign will give hope to many who have felt excluded from Christ — while causing many others to re-think how they present Jesus to the world.

On August 28 we announced a new billboard outreach campaign: Who Stole Jesus? Our goal is to highlight the gap between the Jesus of the Bible and how Jesus is often presented by institutional Christianity. See this document for details.

We believe our campaign will cause many who’ve been turned off by institutional Christianity to take another look at the real Jesus — loving, kind, flexible, merciful, joyful. We also want to challenge churches across central Indiana (and beyond) to step back and examine how they are presenting Jesus.

Already nine billboards have been sponsored by individuals or groups of friends within our church — and we anticipate receiving more sponsorships this Sunday. We hope to reach at least 20. Next Sunday, September 4, is the deadline to sponsor a billboard.

Yard signs will also be a key component of the campaign. If you plan to place yard signs, we need to know now, so we can order the right number. We also need to know how many bumper stickers and t-shirts to order.

If you want to sponsor a billboard, or plan to participate with yard signs, t-shirts, or bumper stickers, please fill out this document and bring it to church on Sunday or return it to the office. Our campaign will begin the week of September 19!

Brown County is THE place to be in the fall and that is exactly where families with children will be headed for our first fall retreat! The Brown County Inn will host LifeJourney Church parents and children October 14 –15, Friday 4:00 pm to Saturday 4:00 pm.

This retreat is more than just a great getaway from the stress of everyday life; it is also a chance for parents to connect with other parents and gather the tools necessary to be the spiritual leaders their children need them to be. Both children and parents will enjoy the Inn’s amenities, including the covered pool, a game room, miniature golf, horseshoes, and more!

The cost for each room (2 queen beds) is $125 + tax, and meals will be served in the Inn’s restaurant. For more information or to reserve your spot please complete the form in Sunday’s Weekly News, or contact Melody Merida. All reservations must be made by September 4.

On September 11, LifeJourney Church will participate in an Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Peace and Unity coordinated by St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Twelve different faith traditions and congregations will each provide prayers in a style fitting their tradition to remember the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

If you would like to be part of the LifeJourney group from 8:00 to 9:00 am, please contact Melody Merida. You’re welcome to attend any portion of the Vigil.

Participants

• 7:00 – 8:00 am Orthodox Christian Community of Central IN
• 8:00 – 9:00 am LifeJourney Church
• 9:00 – 10:00 am Baha’i Faith
• 10:00 – 11:00 am Congregation Beth-El Zedeck
• 11:00 am – noon St. Luke’s Labyrinth Ministry
• Noon – 1:00 pm Muslim Community
• 1:00 – 2:00 pm Quaker Community
• 2:00 – 3:00 pm Progressive Spiritualist Church
• 3:00 – 3:30 pm The Hindu Temple of Central Indiana
• 3:30 – 4:00 pm The Sai Center of Indianapolis
• 4:00 – 5:00 pm Indiana Buddhist Center
• 5:00 – 6:00 pm Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana

On Sunday, August 21, our Church turns 20 years old. We’ll celebrate this milestone at worship.

Also as a part of that celebration we will hold our Annual Church Picnic on Saturday, August 20 from noon to 5:00 pm right here at the church. The church will provide hamburgers and hot dogs, and we can all bring a dish and a soft drink to share. There will be a bounce house for the kids and games for all ages. Bring your lawn chair to sit outside and enjoy the fellowship of our church family!

Black Pride Sunday is August 14, and will feature our special guest Rev. Samuel Offer from Baltimore, a dynamic preacher and gifted singer. We’ll also enjoy our own LifeJourney Gospel Choir, and a soul food potluck! Once again this year, our church is the official Black Pride worship event!

Rev. Offer and the Choir will be featured at both the 9:30 and 11:00 am services, and the potluck will follow the 11:00 am service, around 12:30 pm.

For the soul food potluck, we’re asking all who come to bring a side dish or dessert to share.

Eastern Africa is in the midst of a famine that is wreaking havoc on the people of Somalia, Kenya, and the Horn of Africa.

Life Journey Church tries to respond with the love of Christ when emergency situations such as this occur. Because of your generous giving, we have been able to provide $2,000 in desperately-needed assistance. $1,000 is going to CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE’s efforts include emergency aid to individuals, especially children, who are suffering from malnutrition and other medical problems. Families are given food and other essentials including tents, kitchen sets, firewood, fuel-efficient stoves and access to general food distributions in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya.

Another $1,000 is going to Oxfam, which is providing water and sanitation for displaced people and giving life-saving equipment to Somalia’s only children’s hospital. In Kenya and Ethiopia, Oxfam is giving people money through cash-for-work projects to build water tanks and reservoirs and is trucking in water supplies and treating water for drinking, cooking, and washing.

And here at home…

We’re also responding to hunger and poverty here at home. Next Sunday (August 7) we will collect donations for the food pantry at the Damien Center, which assists people affected by HIV/AIDS. They especially need:

• meats, including canned chicken or Spam (but not tuna)
• canned entrees (beef stew, chunky soup, chicken/dumplings)
• canned fruit (peaches, pears, fruit cocktail, applesauce)
• toiletries (razors and shaving cream, bath soap, shampoo)
• toilet paper, and
• laundry detergent.

You can bring these items to the collection point in the social hall on Sunday, August 7.