You may have noticed the shiny new television on the wall in the social hall. That’s the first step in our plan for Café Worship!

The Board of Trustees, led by Pastor Vivan Wyatt, and in consultation with the rest of our staff, have developed a plan to remodel a portion of the social hall to provide space for a different kind of worship experience. Think “sanctuary crossed with coffee shop” and you’re on the right track. Features of the new space will include:

• The large screen TV that’s already in place. This was funded with a technology grant we received in 2011. (More about funding Café Worship below.) Many kudos to the Media Team for their diligence in broadcasting the entire service.
• A stained glass feature wall that will divide the social hall from the lobby, so that there’s still plenty of space for conversation outside the casual worship area.
• A coffee and beverage service area.
• New lighting to replace some of the “cold” fluorescent fixtures.
• Decor upgrades to promote the feeling of casual warmth, worshipfulness, and connection.

So when will this be done? Completion date depends on funding (of course). Café Worship is the second of our three budget goals for this year. Once giving averages $9,897 per week (we’re currently at $9,562) we can greenlight all of the improvements. Since these upgrades are a one-time expense, we may be able to implement some of them, a little at a time, as funds become available from other sources (i.e., dedicated giving, building-related income, or bequests).

So enjoy the new big screen, as we move toward our budget goal and completion of the Café Worship space. Questions? Please contact Pastor Vivian.

We have launched our national search for a new Worship Arts Minister, posting our position with MCC, ChurchJobs.com, and similar sources.

If you know a great candidate who might be interested, please share this position description. Applications are due May 6.

Membership Class will be offered April 15 and 22, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Both sessions are required for membership. Lunch will be served at each session beginning at 12:30 pm.

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Our Worship Arts Minister, Mark Brown, has accepted a position as Director of Music for Resurrection MCC, Houston, Texas. Although we are very sad to lose Mark, we understand that this is a wonderful opportunity, and celebrate with him.
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Join us during Holy Week for three distinct services.

Maundy Thursday, April 5, 7:00 pm
Our theme is Prayer and Communion. The sanctuary will be transformed into the Garden of Gethsemane and the upper room. The Children’s Choir and our soloists, duets and Instrumentalists will be featured. The music will be a mixture of traditional and contemporary.

Good Friday, April 6, 7:00 pm
Our theme is Golgotha. This service will include traditional, gospel, and contemporary music, and some Hebrew songs as well. This service will feature the Sanctuary Choir and Instrumentalists.

Easter Sunday, April 8, 9:30 am and 11:00 am
We’ll have a traditional celebration of Easter. This service will feature Pastor Jeff’s sermon, the Sanctuary Choir, soloist Tex Green, the Praise Singers, and the Instrumentalists.

Our services will immerse us in the events of those days. We’ll take an honest look at the characters who played a part in Christ’s last days before his death. We then can ask ourselves, “Who would I be in that scheme of events?”

Would I be a soldier fulfilling my duty, a scribe railing against radicals, a disciple following a dead man, a person looking for love? Whoever we might be, we can know Christ came for us all. We always have the choice to love more and change the things we can — and leave what we can’t change in God’s hands.

From South Africa to Kenya to Ghana
Brent and Julie Walsh have recently returned from an African mission trip and have prepared a detailed photographic tour with coverage of the entire journey.

Destination Guatemala
We have been blessed with the connections we’ve made: from building homes with the Navajo Nation to reaching out to communities in Sudan who seek our partnership. As we continue our commitment to these projects, we are also looking ahead — to Guatemala. We anticipate that we will be helping kids in an orphanage and school called Precious Moments, helping kids in an HIV orphanage called Madre Maria Vittelo, and building homes for a population where nearly 75% are below the poverty line and live in homes made from corn stalks, with dirt floors.

If you become a regular giver of this congregation, and help us reach our “budget step three” goal, we can begin our ministry to Guatemala.

2012 Navajo Nation Mission Service Trip
We’ll be traveling to the Navajo Nation in New Mexico September 15–22, to share the love of Christ by building new homes for Navajo families who are in great need. The home building project includes activities such as framing, drywall, insulation, painting, and flooring.

The total cost of participation for this trip is $875 per person, which includes airfare, ground transportation, food, and lodging. Thanks to the generosity of the congregation and the growth of our Missions program, the church will be able to fund part of the trip cost ($400) for each participant.

If you are interested in going on this trip, please plan to attend a short interest meeting on Sunday, March 25 at 12:45 pm. Applications will be available at the meeting or by email request to Sally Rankin.

We will be working with the Southwest Indian Foundation (SWIF) in Gallup, New Mexico. We will stay at the Sacred Heart Retreat Center, just a few miles from SWIF.

Where have we been? Where are we now and what does God have in store for our future? We’ll ponder these questions on Black History Sunday, February 26, at both services.

This year’s speaker is our very own Vivian Wyatt, and the services will be full of worship, song, and praise, featuring a combined choral number by the Gospel Choir, the Sanctuary Choir, and some of our members who sing in various groups in the city.

A potluck will follow the 11:00 am worship service, and the church will supply the main dish. If you plan to stay for lunch, please bring a side dish or dessert to share. If you’d like to help with setup or in the kitchen, please contact the church office and we’ll put you in touch with LaTrice Moralez, who is heading up the potluck.

In March we’ll launch four new Oasis Groups. These are exciting new opportunities to build strong friendships. The host homes will be announced in the next couple weeks.

If you’d like to stay in the loop as things develop, please contact the church office and let us know which Oasis you’re interested in.

• Eastside Oasis, Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, led by Pastor Vivian (starts March 7)
• Northside Oasis, Thursdays at 7:00 pm, led by Pastor Jeff (starts March 22)
• Westside Oasis, Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, led by Pastor David (starts March 13)
• Young Adult Oasis, Wednesdays at 7:00 pm at church, led by Katrina Davis and Steve Hadt (starts March 14)

Note: We have eight other Oasis Groups already up and running that you’re welcome to check out.

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.
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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.