New Year Starts with a New Sunday Series

Beginning this Sunday I'll be teaching a series that I hope uses the newness of the year to refresh us on what we are supposed to be doing as a church in 2011. The series is about "vision", and in it I'll be sharing God's vision for NHC.

The great chapters of biblical history began with a leader or prophet proclaiming God's vision for His people and the world.

• God told Abraham he would be the father of a great nation.
• Moses was told that he would lead God's people out of slavery and back to their home.
• David longed for Jerusalem to house the Tabernacle and later the Temple.
• John the Baptist cried out to "prepare the way of the Lord" before Jesus began His ministry.
• Jesus said, "I will build my church".
• Paul's passion was to take the Gospel to Spain.
  

Recently, through our Connection Groups I asked for your questions about why we do things like we do to reach people to discover life in Christ. Many of the questions showed me that our vision has leaked! By that I mean that we have had the same priorities and have been headed the same direction since 1996 (when we wrote down our Vision Statement), but many of us have forgotten why. And it's my duty, as lead and primary teaching pastor to keep the vision before us clearly and often.

God told the prophet Habakkuk to "Write down the vision and make it plain" to the nation. If we don't understand "why" then we can't know "how". Vision explains the "why".

So do everything you can to be at NHC the next six Sundays.

Rick

If you missed Sunday...

...and you want to make one last offering for the year, the office at church will be open Tuesday through Thursday this week. If you want to mail it in, as long as it's postmarked by Dec. 31 it the IRS will accept it as a 2010 gift.

This year was one of major financial recovery as God blessed us, allowing the church to climb out of a deep "red" hole caused by the recession. Thanks to Him and all of His who were both obedient and generous in their giving.

There are also some who, because of decreased income were not able to give as much. Remember that not only does God promise to meet our needs, but instructs us to give "as we are able". No gift given cheerfully is too small!

And please remember to pick up your 2011 box of offering envelopes this Sunday! They're located on the window ledge in the lobby. You can return unused envelopes and we'll "recycle" them by putting them in the chair back pockets. Just mark through your number in the top right corner with a marker. Drop them off at the Welcome Center.

Thanks! God bless and have a marvelous New Year.

Sunday Feedback December 26

It was a Plan B day!

Thanks to everyone who pitched in to bring it all together.

Philippians 3:8-14.

If you missed it, we missed you!

Next Sunday begins an important new series to start off the new year. Check out Habakkuk 3:1.

No youth pizza tonight! Stay home and be safe.

Nathan has been admitted to the hospital with gall stones. Surgery coming.

YES! Church today at 11:00

Since we're predicted to have rain throughout the morning with temps well above freezing we are having church as planned, with one gathering only at 11:00.

Adam and Melissa Hoffman will be sharing with us about their mission and some powerful lessons God has taught them as they've followed the Shepherd through valleys this year.

Christmas Week @ NHC

Sunday, December 19
Worship Gatherings at 9 and 11. The Advent Conspiracy series wraps up.
Contagious Youth Bowl and Bell. 5PM at Nags Head Bowling. Then to Taco Bell. Contact Andy for more info. 441-7548

Christmas Eve Communion - an excellent opportunity to invite friends, family and neighbors.
5:00PM (childcare provided)
6:30PM (no childcare)

Sunday, December 26
Worship at 11AM only!
Global Team members Adam and Melissa Hoffman with the U.S. Center for World Mission will be on hand to update us on their ministry and lives. This year the Hoffmans have endured much in their personal lives that you'll want to hear, and it's their first visit with us in a couple years.


The church office will be closed week days through Monday, Dec. 27.
Closed Friday, Dec. 31 for New Years holiday.

Sunday Feedback December 18

What was it about Christ that compelled the Magi to travel and seek Him, then as pagans worship Him? Ever take that for granted?

A week of serving the homeless wrapped up with breakfast.

Be sure to invite others to attend our Christmas Eve gatherings at 5 and 6:30.

Tammy and the Building of an Orphanage in Nepal

NHC partner Tammy Stump has been in Nepal for months building an orphanage. Here are pictures of their progress.

Crime on the rise - be aware

The repressed economy has caused an increase of crime here in Dare Co.
Here's a report of a foiled burglary in Southern Shores this week.

Be safe. Lock up your homes and cars. Break ins are on the rise and with Christmas coming and so much "under the tree" they'll continue.

Be wise as a serpent. And look out for your neighbors, too.

Your "Room @ the Inn" story

This week we're hosting local homeless folks at NHC, providing them a warm, safe place to sleep and 3 meals a day. We're helping "the least of these" in a sense.

If you're involved, whether providing a meal or spending a night, you'll likely have a story to tell about how God used this experience to grow and shape you into being more like Christ.

So, please, take a few moments and share that story with the rest of us by clicking "Comment".

God is at work!

Sunday Feedback December 12

When Kingdoms Clash. How do you face Herod's kingdom in your own life experiences?

Who noticed our house lights were on today? They were repaired Thursday. We're experimenting with different patterns.

Don't forget to pick up your Christmas hams!!

Baptism! Ty Lawrenson and Jay and Marleet Blackwell. (First time I've seen a kiss as part of a baptism!)

We welcomed 6 new partners today: Jack and Susan (who didn't stand up) Eaton; Debbie Thorne; Jay and Marleet Blackwell; Bruce Herrington. Get to know them!

Room at the Inn started Sunday night with 5 men and one woman getting a great supper, a hot shower and a warm place to sleep. Thanks for everyone who is giving this week.

Shout for Joy Feedback

We would love to hear your feedback about the Christmas Concerts. Not so much whether or not you enjoyed the music, but more about the impact it may have had in helping you to reach your community to discover life in Christ.

Did you invite a friend, neighbor, coworker who doesn't attend church? Did they show up? Did they talk with you about it? Let us know, so that we know this event is fulfilling its purpose, and so that we can continue to do it in the future.

Goats, chickens, bricks and Christmas (Update!)

NHCers are already sharing how they are giving goats, chickens, sheep, cows, etc. to 3rd World families with the money they're saving this Christmas by not splurging on gifts.

Want to know how to do that? Here are some suggestions for your Advent Conspiracy giving.

Go to World Vision. They can take your financial gift and with it purchase the gift - a goat, pig, sheep, emergency food - you choose and see that a needy family gets it.

Another idea is Compassion International. There you can take your financial savings and invest it in the care and education of a child. You'll get to communicate with that child via mail and share photos, etc. A number of our congregation, including our youth group have "adopted" Compassion Intl. children. ChristianBook.com has a great offer right now. Sponsor a Compassion Child and they'll give you a $25 gift card. Here's the link.

A third option is to help Tammy Stump, one of our own NHC partners, finish the orphanage she is building in Nepal. She's there right now overseeing the construction. Her mission, Amazi International has the info for projects with which your gift can make a difference.

Larry and Sheila Benson's mission includes a clinic and a Christian school on a tiny island off the coast of Honduras. There are always needs in both school and clinic, and you can send a gift for either or both. The Bensons are NHC partners and 3 of their mission's board members are as well. Go to Missions Encounters International for ideas.

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Jesus Loved Them...Shouldn't We?

I hope every NHC partner will take a few minutes and read this post on my blog.

Rick

The Love Continues

Sunday night the ladies from the Twisted Sisters Connection Group took on a huge task and fed the youth group dinner. For several weeks now the students have been doing a study on God's love and loving others. We launched the series with the movie, To Save a Life, on a Saturday night and have used clips from the movie since as illustrations for each lesson. Duringthis time we have seen several new faces as guests have been attending with their friends.


The ladies prepared and served us a delicious meal. They actually waited on us like waitresses at a restaurant. These ladies shared Christ's love to our students and youth ministry team by being servants. The menu was baked ziti, salad, garlic bread and brownie fudge sundae.


There was a twist to the meal. Students tend to stick with the same group of friends at youth group and don't really take the time to get to know others in their group, much like adults do in "big" church. Every 5 minutes or so the students had to pick up their plates and move to another place at our giant table and could not sit with someone they had already sat with. It was lots of fun and helped students and leaders get to know each other better.


Contagious Youth want to thank the ladies of the Twisted Sisters group for loving on us. Our students see the same adults week after week ministering to them so it was great for them to see others in the church love on them as well.

Sunday Feedback December 5

Video testimonies about God's work in lives during 40 Days of Love. A shared life story is a powerful thing.

Our choir and band gave us a glimpse of this week's concerts, Wednesday and Friday nights. Wow!

Communion, the picture God gave us of the greatest love ever shown.

New partners lunch and interviews! Six new partner are joining the family.

The youth Agape Feast. Tell us about it!

FYI, our auditorium lighting should be fixed this week!!

Tell us all about your Sunday!

And don't forget your homework assignment. Matthew 2:1-18:
How many wise men?
What were their names?

Advent Conspiracy

If you missed Brenda's story about Advent Conspiracy on Sunday, here it is!

Clothing needed for 9 year old girl

We've been made aware of a need for clothes for a 9 year old girl. Her dad has been uable to find work. She wears size 9-10. if you have something you can give or perhaps know of a family that might be able to donate used clothes, please let Ramon Sanchez know.

Thanks.