Annual Church Conference Items

Next Friday night, Dec. 2, is our Annual Church Conference. This is the time when as a body we come together to set our annual budget and to address any other significant changes that we need to consider.

The Budget Proposal for 2012 is being posted on our web site for your review. (Click on the "About" tab, then "2012 Budget Proposal". Then click on the link to the PDF file.) You'll notice we have cut the budget, reflecting the giving for this year, but also trusting that we will grow and with that growth see giving increased.

The elders will also ask the church to consider a change in our bylaws regarding church conferences, which we have called CREST over the past few years. CREST meetings are a time of hearing reports from our various ministries, our quarterly financial report and an opportunity for questions and for vision casting.

Attendance the past few years at CREST has shown us that the majority of our church - sometimes as high as 80%, for whatever reason, don't find attendance at CREST to be an important part of their church relationship. While we believe church conferences like CREST play a valuable role in praising God and open communications, we also believe that having it on a regular quarterly basis appears to be unnecessary. We will continue to communicate as we are now through announcements at church gatherings and via emails, our blog, church Facebook groups and NHC web sites. In fact, those methods of communication will likely expand.

So, our proposal is to hold church conferences, similar to the last one, when the elders held a conversation and Q and A with the church about church dynamics, on an as needed basis. Our bylaws require us to publish any changes a week in advance of the meeting.

You'll note that anything requiring a church affirmation will still be handled by a vote in a church conference. This change is also reflective of the coming transition in 2012 that Rick spoke about at the last CREST meeting to seek to simplify everything at Nags Head Church.

Below is the proposed change. Current wording in our Bylaws is in black text. The new wording is in blue.

Article IV

Section 3- Church Conference

A. Meeting times and place- Regular Church Conferences shall be held at the church in the months of January, April, July and October. Church Conferences may be called by the Elders periodically throughout the year as they feel necessary for the good of the church and to share vision and communications vital to the church’s health. Regular financial reports from the treasurer will be made available to the church within thirty days of the close of each quarter.

An annual Church Conference shall be held in November in the last quarter of the year at a date no later than the second Sunday of December and announced two weeks in advance to approve the annual church budget and affirm annually elected stewards. The church fiscal year shall begin January 1 and end December 31. All conferences, barring unforeseen reasons (ie. the building being unusable), will be held at the church’s facility.

One of those weeks created one of those weeks

September is always a busy month as lots of things get cranked back up after the summer. But when a hurricane comes in to play the last week of August, it not only wreaks havoc in physical ways, it creates a logjam in the calendar.

Last week as we jumped into recovery mode, it became necessary to put everything that was previously scheduled on the back burner or reschedule. This week we're seeing way more lumped into one week than we certainly would prefer.

We try, at NHC, to keep from becoming a "something at church every night" church. In fact, we work hard at not allowing that to happen. But Irene's surge followed by a holiday weekend has pushed a bunch of things together.

The Connection Group Leader training that was to be held on Sunday, Aug. 28 has been moved to Wednesday night, Sept. 7.

Our youth begin their new schedule this week, with middle school on Wednesday night and high school on Thursday night. But last week's storm moved FFMS open house to this Wednesday night. What do you do? Andy says there will be middle school youth tonight at the church for those who can make it.

Friday night is our planned Kick off for our Connection Groups. It's also a change from the past, moving "First Wednesday" to Friday nights. There is child care through 1st graders.

Saturday morning is the Ladies Ministry Brunch at Kelly's.

Saturday night, that last installment of the Financial Peace University (previously scheduled for the night of Irene's arrival) is at 5:00.

Sunday morning is normal!

Sunday after the 11:00 gathering we have a lunch and new partner interviews.

Sunday at 4:00 is our Fall Church picnic.

Did you get all that?

Trust me. This too shall pass!

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.

Buy a ham and support missions!

Again this year, Brad and Rebecca Meyers will be taking orders for both Thanksgiving and Christmas Boars Head brand hams.

With every ham purchased $10 will be given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions. The cost per ham is $35. Last year $750 was raised just through the hams. Let's shoot for $1000 this year!

Think your gift to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® won't make a difference? Every penny given to Lottie Moon is used to help support more than 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries (including one of our own NHC families) serving overseas. Last year, those missionaries reported 506,019 baptisms and 24,650 new churches. The lost are believing because you give!

Orders will be taken on Sundays in the church lobby Nov. 21 for Thanksgiving, and December 5 and 12 for Christmas. You can also order by emailing brad@obxdeli.com or calling 449-2627. Hams will be ready for pick up at NHC at our Thanksgiving Eve gathering and on Sunday, December 19.

A Look at December

It is the most wonderful time of the year to share the gift God gave us in His Son Jesus. So, there's lots of ministry and mission going on this month at NHC.

Already NHC has been to Britthaven Nursing Home for an afternoon of caroling and giving Christmas cards to the residents there.

Winter coats are being collected through next week to give away to those in need in our community. Bring your gently used and clean coats and jackets to NHC by December 17. We'll be giving them out on the evening of the 18th.

All this month we'll be recievin a special offering which will go to support foreign missions through the Southern Baptist Convention. We're part of a cooperative effort to give a total of $175 million to missions this month.

Brad and Rebecca are giving back $10 from each Boars Head ham ordered to the Lottie Moon offering for Foreign Missions. We had one at Thanksgiving and they are fantastic!

This Friday night is an opportunity for outreach and celebration with "Unspeakable Joy". If you were at church Sunday, you got a taste of the great night we're in for as our band and worship choir lead us in an evening of Christmas music. Bring a friend! And don't forget that we're going to collect an offering for the Ocean View Bapist Church Rebuilding Fund, helping a sister church in need.

Wednesday night December 16 is our 7th annual Ladies Ornament Exchange. It's always a fun night and a great opportunity to invite a non-churched friend to join you. It begins at 6:30.

Are you bothered that maybe the way Christmas has drifted away from Christ can't be turned, visit The Advent Conspiracy. You can be part of changing the world through Christmas.

Looking for ways to teach your children and grandchildren about Christmas? Visit our Jr. Waveriders site. Click on Parents and December 2009 for some great ideas you can use.

Christmas Eve we'll be celebrating communion and worship at 6PM. For 17 years we've invited the community to worship with us on Christmas Eve. It's always one of the most meaningful worship gatherings of the whole year. Nursery is provided.

Tuesday night, Dec. 29 NHC will be providing a meal for the hungry and homeless in our community. We'll need food prepared and servants to serve. If you're interested as a family or a connection group or individual in helping out, please call the office at 441-7548 or email info@nagsheadchurch.org.

Spring Clean time

Over the next ten days we're hoping to get our facility spruced up after winter and ready for Spring.

If you have an hour or two or even more that you can give to dusting, cleaning, windows,weeding, etc. please give Randy Holcombe a call at 441-2334 or email him at randynagshead@aol.com. He'll plug you into a task that fits your schedule and ability.

And here's a hint: find a partner to work with you. Not only will accomplish more, but the fellowship of teamwork will build you up in Christ.

Team Growth

Our church is growing and that is a sign that a church is alive.  I don’t know about you but that excites this youth and children’s pastor.  Much of our growth has been with young families.  Our nursery and children’s ministry teams are doing an incredible job in ministry week after week.  Last Sunday we, as a church, ministered to over 100 children from the infant nursery through the fifth grade.  This ministry doesn’t just happen week after week.  

We have three great team leaders, Bari Marland, Jodi Leary and Tina Hodgson, these ladies lead three awesome teams.

With the growth of our church our nursery and children’s ministry has grown as well.  The result of this growth means we have plenty of ministry opportunities.  Both of these teams could use several more of our NHC partners to come on board and impact children and their families’ lives. 

During April we are encouraging our teams to help other partners discover their ministry.  We are asking out children’s and nursery teams to help their teams grow.  This process will include the following: 

1. Invite – take time and invite others to join their team.  We have many partners who don’t serve in ministry on Sunday morning at NHC and they may very well be the piece of the puzzle shaped to fit the ministry opportunity.
2. Include – by inviting others to join the team they are including partners in an incredible opportunity to impact the lives of children.  Over 80% of those who trust Jesus Christ as Savior do so before the age of 18 and the majority of those do so before the age of 13.  If you want to be involved in a ministry that has life changing impact than the nursery and children’s ministry may just be part of your shape.
3. Invest – For our team members to take part in the process of helping others discover their SHAPE * they are investing in the lives of other believers and helping to disciple them.  You can’t be a fully devoted, spiritually healthy, balanced believer if you are not actively involved in ministry in the church.  There is an incredible sense of worth in what you do when you discover you are helping others follow Christ.

If you are interested in ministering each Sunday during one of the worship gatherings to children and their families please contact Bari, Tina or Andy.   If the thought of impacting the lives of children and their families please take the next step and join our team.  We have ministry opportunities in Kids Zone on the nursery, children’s and kiosk teams.  It is an exciting time at Nags Head Church!  

What team do you serve on each Sunday morning?  We would love to hear from you about your Sunday ministry team.

Nagsheadlines

Every month our church web site features our online newsletter.
Included are articles, calendars, and news updates. Here's the link to March's edition. Get it while it's hot!

Nagsheadlines

Do you visit our church web site and read the monthly newsletter? It contains events, calendars, articles and pics. Here's the link to the newsletter page. Just scroll down to February 09.

Roxanne Staples puts the newsletter together and does a fabulous job!

January!

Like everyone, I'm a bit concerned (I won't say "worried", 'cause worry is a sin!) about what 2009 is going to bring. The great thing is that God's not concerned at all. He knows what's coming down the road for me, my family, my church, my country. And He's got a plan.

My job - your job as a Christ follower - is to discover that plan and follow it. That may mean we all have to make some adjustments in our way of life. You probably already have. I'm always looking, for example, for simple ways to save money.

But it's the mystery ahead that often causes us to fear. We are naturally afraid of the unknown.

With that in mind, I'm starting January's first two Sundays off with a little mini-series I'm calling, "If Only I Had a Crystal Ball". The obvious implication is that I don't have one. So do I panic over what I can't see or know? I hope not.

The first Sunday I'll take us to some promises in the Bible about events God has planned that are getting closer every day, and why those events bring hope to us, even in the darkest of times.

The second Sunday we'll switch over to asking, "So what should we as a church be doing this new year full of unknowns?" As you did last Sunday from Larry Benson, you'll hear a word that might be somewhat new to you: "missional". And I'll talk about the difference between planning for the future and being prepared for it.

Then on January 18 Doug Whitley will be with us to help me launch into a new series on the life of Moses. I've wanted to teach through Moses' life for a long time. You can find out about Doug by visiting this site. But I promise you won't want to miss that Sunday.

Another thing coming in January will be the appearance of a new blog site (taking the place of this one) just for us at NHC to use interactively. I hope it's use will grow and be an encouragement to the church family as we share what God is doing and how He's growing us.

January is also a month when we support our local Crisis Pregnancy Center. You'll see baby bottles at church. Take one home and during January fill it up with change (or bills). Then at the end of the month we'll give it all to the Center to help them save the lives of otherwise unwanted babies and educate young girls and women on how to be good moms. They also share Christ very effectively with them.

So, don't be scarce in January! Lots of great opportunities to learn, grow and serve are ahead.