Weekly Newsletter

Hi Brothers and Sisters,

We had a rousing midweek last night and I wanted to share some details for anyone who was not there.

We are getting the “Year of Doing Hard Things” going by preaching through the book of Luke and having more practical lessons on doing hard things on Wednesday nights. There will also be a challenge in every Sunday sermon to do something hard.

This week’s challenge was to muster up just 20 seconds of boldness and see what happens. We had some encouraging sharing at midweek from people who did hard things like confess sin, have radical times with God, share their faith with strangers and pray through tough situations. We are turning the tree on our stage into a tree that celebrates the hard things we do this year. What will your 20 seconds of boldness look like?

Last night many also signed a pledge regarding the first year long hard thing from our programs. This Sunday you will also have an opportunity to sign up. Simply come ready to make a simple pledge to “read the (entire) bible this year.”

We also talked about the next 10 days that will serve as a kick off for our church:

This Sunday- church as (un)usual

Next Wednesday- no midweek but everyone should meet up with someone that they have never shared a meal with. Have someone over, go to someone’s house, meet at a restaurant- just don’t do it with a familiar face- everyone’s email is listed above. Why not set something up right away? And don’t spend the evening by yourself

Next Saturday (January 14th)- the whole church is fasting from morning until dinner together at:

Saturday Kickoff (has nothing to do with football) – from 4-8 at the building. We will have a lesson introducing the year of hard things and then we will eat together and have some great fellowship and activities. NEED EVERYONE TO COME- that’s why we aren’t having formal midweek and many groups are not having house church that weekend. Please bring $5 per adult for a good dinner for you and your family!

Then we will have service as usual on Sunday Morning on the 15th!

The only other thing is the campus kickoff devotional this Sunday the 8th at 7pm at the building.

The year is already off to a great start and these events along with our digging into Gods word, praying and fasting will make it even better.

As always, let me know if you have any questions!

Love in Christ,

Joel

Presentation 1 1.pdf

[image: Lacc Bubble.JPG] Please forward this email to anyone who may need it (copy me so I can add them to the list)

Hi Brothers and Sisters,

Welcome back to all who got away for the weekend. I hope your time was as refreshing as ours! We had an intimate but powerful service on Sunday as we remembered the sacrifices made for our country and even more importantly, for our sin. Thanks to Alex for always putting up the recordings so efficiently. You can listen to the sermon here: There’s a lion in the church! http://www.lansingchurch.org/audio/2011/SERMON_0529.mp3

Let’s keep Glenna and Eric Plasky in our prayers so they can get healthy quickly!

We have got a big month ahead of us in June- are you ready?

There will be a lot of emails and communication going out so we can all be informed.

JUNE 2011 – Each One Gives

1) How Third World Are You?

Today is the last day of May so it is important that all of the families and individuals in the church *talk tonight about what sacrifices we will be making for the month of June* to be more like our 3rd world brothers and sisters and be able to give more for our special contribution!

We will spend some time at midweek tomorrow sharing ideas and praying for the month ahead.

I’ve heard about some pretty radical sacrifices so don’t be afraid to go big, especially if you are motivated by getting stamps on your passport!

The individual challenge is for each of us to give 10x our weekly contribution. But even if you can’t give that much just give something- remember- Each One Gives!

2) All Things New in Kalamazoo

This Sunday our worship is hitting the road for a three city service in *Kalamazoo this Sunday*. Our dream is to plant a church there in 2013. This is also a great chance for us to fellowship with our brothers and sisters from Fort Wayne and Grand Rapids. Let’s get there early and stay late. Let’s be giving (the theme of the month) and try to meet new people from the other churches. Plan on getting lunch with someone you meet if possible!

Details: 10:30am Fetzer Center, 2350 Business Court, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 http://goo.gl/maps/XQMn Kid’s Church Provided for ages 1-5 (if you are teaching those ages in Lansing on Sundays plan on teaching in Kzoo- please arrive at 10am)

3) Room and Board

Thanks to all of the people who volunteered to have some of the *11 interns stay in your homes from June 12 – July 3rd.* This is going to be an amazing time for our church – I don’t think we even know the impact this will have.

All I can tell you at this point is that if you volunteered you will have someone staying with you at some point. There are still spots open too. I am going out to Chicago next Monday (June 6th) to meet the interns. So next Wednesday (June 8th) I will be able to give you the full rundown. Thanks for your patience and willingness to give!

4) Sell Outs

*June 17th and 18th* will be our* church-wide rummage sale for special contribution.* This will take a good deal of planning and participation. Look for emails from Chris Carlson and please respond with whatever she needs. (Special thanks to the Rummage Sale crew: Chris C., Bev, Heather and Viv!)

We will devote most of our midweek on the 15th to setting up for the sale. Please start thinking about what you want to sell. Mark your prices. Bring tables. Anything that does not sell will go to Goodwill unless otherwise marked.

Here is the sign up sheet that Chris sent out: Church Rummage Sale Sign Up

5) July = Vacation Bible School

Here are the details from Stacy:

*When:* M-F, July 18-22, 9 a.m. – noon *Where:* Lansing Area Church of Christ – Holt *Ages:* Preschool – 5th grade *Theme:* High Seas Expedition – Exploring the Mighty Love of God *Layout:* Kids will be put into groups of 3-5 people of mixed ages and will have a group leader. The groups then rotate through different stations throughout the morning. *Goal: All of the kids from LACC to attend and bring at least 1 friend! * *Volunteers:* Anyone with time availble!! (Please ask friends of yours if you think they’d be interested in helping too! All helping will need to make sure to go through our application/interview process) (We may have childcare for infant/toddlers of volunteers if needed)

How exciting! Who can you invite to bring along with your child?

More announcements to come at midweeks and Sunday June 12th.

6) Waterfallin’

Our men’s waterfall trip to the UP will be July Sunday July 24th after church through Thursday July 28th. We need to get a list of people who are going so we can make travel arrangements (short bus?). Plan on the trip costing around $250 which includes gas, lodging, food and transportation for 5 days. This is an evangelism opportunity like none other so if you have any adventurous friends make sure they get the invite!

7) July 2012 World Discipleship Summit in San Antonio

Let’s start planning now so we can be there!

World Discipleship Summit

There it is- the greatest newsletter ever!

I hope you are ready for an incredible month of giving in June!!!

Your Brother,

Joel

Hi Everyone,

Happy Tuesday! 2 Urgent requests:

1) Let’s be praying for Eric Plasky, he has been coming to church with Nikki and her three boys. He broke his leg and will be in surgery today at 3:30.

2) Heather Haley wants to know if anyone can come to the building behind coffee barrel and rite aid at the corner of Cedar and Aurelius in Holt to night from 6p-8p to help box up left overs from the garage sale so we can use them at our garage sale at the end of June for Special Contribution.

Email, call or text her to let her know if you can come. (We will be stopping by)

Thanks!

Joel

On Mon, May 23, 2011 at 12:49 PM, Joel Nagel wrote:

> [image: Lacc Bubble.JPG] > > Hi Brothers and Sisters, > > What an encouraging service we had yesterday! Special thanks go out to the > teachers who had even more children than normal and did an excellent job! > Thanks! > > Every week we are seeing new faces and new people are studying the bible. > Summer can be a hectic time for our schedules so I want to encourage all of > you to make sure you discipleship times and the people you are studying with > have regular set times. Let’s keep it rolling all summer long! > > > > > Upcoming Events > * > * > > June 5th – Kalamazoo Service! > > 10:30am at Western Michigan University > > > > *June- Each One Gives, Special Contribution Campaign* > > > > July: > > Vacation Bible School > > *When*: M-F, July 18-22, 9 a.m. – noon > *Where*: Lansing Area Church of Christ – Holt > *Ages*: Preschool – 5th grade > *Theme*: High Seas Expedition – Exploring the Mighty Love of God > > > Campus Housing: > > We will need housing for 4-6 college students from the Midwest from June 12 > th – July 3rd- Can you do it? > > > > > > Pray for our church to be able to hire workers for the MSU ministry this > fall. > > > > > > Pray for everyone in the church to be able to go to San Antonio next year > for the World Discipleship Summit.** > > * > * > * > * > * > * > * > * > > Easy To Use Family Devotional > > > “God is Awesome dance fest 2011″ > > Read 2 Samuel 6 and talk about ways that we worship God > > Put on some Christians music and boogie! > > > > > > Love you all, have a great week! > > Joel > > > > >

[image: Lacc Bubble.JPG]

Hi Brothers and Sisters,

What an encouraging service we had yesterday! Special thanks go out to the teachers who had even more children than normal and did an excellent job! Thanks!

Every week we are seeing new faces and new people are studying the bible. Summer can be a hectic time for our schedules so I want to encourage all of you to make sure you discipleship times and the people you are studying with have regular set times. Let’s keep it rolling all summer long!

Upcoming Events * *

June 5th – Kalamazoo Service!

10:30am at Western Michigan University

*June- Each One Gives, Special Contribution Campaign*

July:

Vacation Bible School

*When*: M-F, July 18-22, 9 a.m. – noon *Where*: Lansing Area Church of Christ – Holt *Ages*: Preschool – 5th grade *Theme*: High Seas Expedition – Exploring the Mighty Love of God

Campus Housing:

We will need housing for 4-6 college students from the Midwest from June 12 th – July 3rd- Can you do it?

Pray for our church to be able to hire workers for the MSU ministry this fall.

Pray for everyone in the church to be able to go to San Antonio next year for the World Discipleship Summit.**

* * * * * * * *

Easy To Use Family Devotional

“God is Awesome dance fest 2011″

Read 2 Samuel 6 and talk about ways that we worship God

Put on some Christians music and boogie!

Love you all, have a great week!

Joel

This message is for the brothers,

We will engage in a time of fellowship and battle with 20 or so brothers from GR this Saturday evening. This is a great event to bring your buddies to.

We will be playing at the field behind IM East at MSU

Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/9nD6

The festivities start at 4pm

Bring gear for basketball, soccer, ultimate frisbee

We will have some brief lessons too

If it rains we will gather in the adjacent parking garage and do awesome stuff

BOOYAH!

WHAT I NEED:

Reply to me TODAY and tell me if you are coming or not and if you are bringing somebody

Thanks!

Joel

[image: Lacc Bubble.JPG]

Hi Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings from Chicago! Beth and I are in Oak Brook for a church leaders retreat. Please pray for us to be inspired and refreshed over the next couple of days. Because I am writing this between meetings the newsletter will be much shorter this week.

I want to remind everyone the women’s overnight is this weekend. There are almost 20 women signed up – booyah!

Also, this will be Moise’s last Sunday with us. Let’s come ready to encourage our beloved brother this Sunday.

Have a great week everyone!

Your Brother,

Joel

PS- if anyone has a good family devo planned for tonight, reply to all and share it!

Hi Everyone but Moise,

Next Sunday (May 8th) is Mother’s Day and it is also Moise’s last Sunday with us before he returns home. He will be delivering the communion message. As we talked about at midweek I want to encourage everyone to bring a card with a special note of encouragement. I think we are all aware that he is returning to a volatile situation and we praise God that his family has been kept safe during the civil war.

Some people have inquired about getting him monetary gifts. It would be best to ask him directly about any such gift. It is not safe to carry money back with him or in his bags and the banks are all closed because of the war. Wiring money may become an option in the future if you are so inclined. Letting him know that we care for him and how much he has meant to us through cards and letters of encouragement are sufficient. We will also have a cake and punch reception for him that Sunday.

Your Brother,

Joel

[image: Lacc Bubble.JPG]

Hi Brothers and Sisters,

I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend. I’m recovering from a ham hangover (thanks mom and dad!) but feeling good. Yesterday, we talked about the pale blue dot that we live on and the shocking smallness of our world. This puts something else in perspective too. We have a mission to spread the gospel in the Lansing area and that can feel overwhelming. But when we think about how small our world is and then how our area is just a fraction of that, it makes things a little more plausible. Ultimately, when we consider how big our God is, it makes all things possible. The apostle Paul was right! What I’m saying is- let’s be about our mission and make this little blue speck wonderful for God one soul at a time.

One of the best parts of yesterday’s service was that because it was Easter we had a handful of people who maybe wouldn’t have come otherwise. Let’s go after building those relationships so we won’t have to wait until Christmas to see them again!

We have our next quiz and bible study this Wednesday- happy studying!

Upcoming Events * * * May 6-7 Women’s Weekend! At the Thorns palatial estate. Do you know who you are bringing with you?

May 14 – Men’s Sport Day in Brighton vs. Ann Arbor and GR, 11am to 3pm

June – “Each One Gives” Special Contribution Adventure!

June 5th – Church Field Trip to Kalamazoo with Fort Wayne and GR churches!

Fourth of July Weekend 2012- Conference in San Antonia TX!!! Let’s start planning for this World Wide Event now!

* * * * * * * * *

Easy To Use Family Devotional

An extension from yesterday’s sermon

*Sing* * * *Read* Acts 1:8

*Activity* Show a map of the world (google maps on a computer will work fine) and show Jerusalem, Samaria and the whole earth. Then show where you live and talk about the surrounding areas and the world around you. Talk about our mission to help the world know Jesus.

What can we do in our house, neighborhood, school, etc… to make the whole world a better place? (sharing, being kind, inviting friends over for dinner, inviting friends to church, being a good friend, being a good sibling, etc…)

Play a game with the maps and look at pictures, animals, wikipedia articles from different places (takes a little computer savvy but you can do it!)

*Pray* For your area and for the world. Pray for people you know that live in other places.

Have a fantastic week, see you on Wednesday!

Your Brother,

Joel

Read it

Matthew 5

Dig Deep

As we follow Jesus through Matthew’s gospel we are keeping his Jewish perspective in mind.  He has crossed the sea (baptism) and spent his time being tempted in the desert.  Now, like Moses on Mount Sinai, he will give the law.  The “Sermon on the Mount” is a re-giving of the law.  Jesus himself states this in 5:17 when he says he has not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.

He begins with the beatitudes which is Latin for blessings.  The list, and the whole sermon for that matter, seem so relevant for the people and the place.  When Jesus calls out those who are blessed I imagine him looking at a poor person and someone mourning and addressing the people with specific encouragement.  It’s like Jesus is saying the law has become to venerated or intellectual or removed from everyday.  Let’s bring it back to our daily lives.  Every subject of the sermon is an everyday object or event.  I had the privilege of hearing this sermon read on the mount in Galilee and it amazed me that as I looked and saw the sun or a flower the subject of Jesus’ teaching, even 2000 years later, seemed to follow my distractions and keep my attention!

The beatitudes also teach us that with God things are never as they seem.  The opposite is often true.  We cannot judge with the world’s standards.  Happiness is defined differently by God.

In the parables of the salt and light Jesus makes it clear that his ministry will be outwardly focused.  It will take perseverance.  It will take boldness.  But in the end men will see God in us and search for Him themselves.

Jesus introduces his sermon as a fulfillment of the law.  He warns that no one take away the least part of the law but the rest of his sermon will follow a pattern that basically reads, “Moses said/you have heard that it was said…but I say”.  So, while Jesus is not taking away any of the law, he is modifying it or perfecting it.  Many people see the New Testament as Old Testament lite but Jesus’ modifications to the law are actually more intense.  They just aren’t laid out in the kind of covenant language that makes the Old Testament law sound like a list of rules.  This is why he can make such a bold proclamation about the righteousness of the pharisees.  They were experts in the law but they couldn’t see the forest for the trees.  Jesus’ big picture view of the law brought it back to real daily practice.

Murder was clearly forbidden in the law but the anger that culminates in murder was allowed to go unchecked.  Jesus regarded the root as being just as dangerous and sinful.  He also provided specific instruction for dealing with anger.  We cannot worship God if we know that people are angry with us.  How often do we neglect this rule.  John similarly tells us that we can’t love God if we hate our brother.

Like murder, adultery is the manifestation of a ‘lesser’ sin.  But in Jesus’ law lust is just as bad and we must take radical steps against it.  Jesus also tightens the rules on divorce.  This is an altogether ignored command in American churches as the divorce rate in the church rivals that of the world.

Jesus also decries the elaborate oaths and pledges of his day.  Instead we should just be men and women who keep our word.  Imagine a world that truly put these teachings into practice!  Jesus adds a no retaliation clause to the law as well.  We should give to all who ask.  We should pray for our enemies.

This is radical stuff.  It is the basic teaching of our Lord and yet it is so challenging.  Praise God for the upward call of Jesus’ law!

Pray

Pray through the beatitudes by reading a verse and then praying about it until you get to the end.

Write

Is there an area of the law that you have ignored.  Write down what you are ignoring and what you will do differently.

Do something about it

Let your light shine!  Share about Jesus with someone today!