Everyone is encouraged to participate in our upcoming GROW & GO campaign!  The purpose of this important program is to provide a focused, church-wide effort that leads to greater connectivity, spiritual maturity, and community impact.

In September we will begin a 9-week series on Peter Scazzero’s “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.”  This is the GROW component of our church-wide campaign.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to help us work on our emotional health, doors open for us to grow spiritually, both as individuals and as a community.  Most of us have many behaviors, emotions, thought patterns, and memories that keep us bound up, but if we work on these together and through the power of Jesus Christ, we will experience incredible growth.

Early in 2017 we will begin the GO element of our program, which will be another 9-week series based on Hugh Halter’s “Tangible Kingdom Primer.”  If we are going to be faithful to the great commission and reach the lost, we must share Christ’s love in tangible ways with the community.  The primer will guide all of us into learning activities which will be life-changing for us and the people we meet.

Sign up at the Narthex table for resources for “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” before September 12.  The study guide is a must have for Life Group participants.  For additional reading, order the book, and for a daily devotional that will be referred to in the teachings, order the Day by Day. 

LIFE GROUPS  New Life Groups are beginning this fall.  If you are interested in joining a group, sign up at the Narthex table and the Life Group Team will contact you, or talk to Cory Grimm or Ken Hup.

FALL KICKOFF AND PICNIC  Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 11 for an All Church Picnic and Kickoff of a new season of education and activities.  After worship, Sunday School will begin followed by a potluck dinner at 11:45 AM and games and activities for both kids and adults.  Bring a main dish and side dish to share and your own tableware!  Lemonade, coffee and water will be provided.

YARD YAHTZEE  Looking for something fun to do at your next backyard BBQ?  The Senior RCYF will be making and selling Yard Yahtzee as a fundraiser to support the group’s service projects and trips.  Each set includes: 6 Large Cedar Dice, Basket, Box with Yahtzee & Farkle Score Sheets, and Instructions for each game.  Sets are $35 each.  If you would like to order a set or two, please write your name and phone number on the order sheet located on the Narthex Table.  You will be contacted when your order is ready. Thank you for supporting the Sr RCYF.

Rock County churches support the Emergency FoodShelf by donating non-perishable food on a monthly basis.  ARC continues to be responsible for the month of August to contribute food or cash.

You can pick up a grocery bag with a list of needed food items stapled to it on the Narthex table behind the Worship Center, or from the small table near the south entrance.  Cash gifts may be left at the church office or placed in the offering plate.  Please make checks out to the Rock County Emergency FoodShelf.

Please leave your groceries near the south entrance from where they will be delivered to the United Methodist Church where the FoodShelf operates each Thursday from 1:00-3:00 PM.  You are also welcome to leave your groceries at the south entrance of the Methodist Church.

On behalf of the ARC Consistory, Adult Discipleship Team, Ridder Team, and the Life Group Team, we would like to invite all ARC adult members, regular attenders, and anyone else from the community to participate in our upcoming GROW and GO campaign!  The purpose of this important program is to provide a focused, church-wide effort that leads to greater connectivity, spiritual maturity, and community impact.  Several years ago ARC participated in 40 Days of Purpose, and the memories and life-transformation from that time continue to live on.  Our hope is to achieve a similar level of participation this fall and winter with GROW and GO.  With God all things are possible!

What does GROW and GO mean?  In September we will begin a 9-week preaching series on Peter Scazzero’s “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.”  This is the GROW component of our church-wide campaign.  The ARC staff members have been studying these materials and have found them to be life-changing.  The basic idea is that when we allow the Holy Spirit to help us work on our emotional health, doors open for us to grow spiritually, both as individuals and as a community.  Most of us have many behaviors, emotions, thought patterns, and memories that keep us bound up, but if we work on these together and through the power of Jesus Christ, we will experience incredible growth.  This series will last until around Thanksgiving.

Soon after the New Year, we will begin the GO element of our program, which will be another 9-week preaching series based on Hugh Halter’s “Tangible Kingdom Primer.”  Whether you have read Tangible Kingdom or not, Mike’s preaching over the past few years will have made you very familiar with many of the concepts.  The basic idea is that if we are going to be faithful to the great commission and reach the lost, we must share Christ’s love in tangible ways with the community.  Through these efforts we build intentional relationships with unchurched people, inviting them to belong with us even before they believe.  The primer will guide all of us into learning activities which will be life-changing for us and the people we meet as we GO.

Like 40 days of purpose, the absolute key to this program will be participation in Life Groups.  You will have the opportunity to read each book with the fall (GROW) and winter (GO) preaching series, and follow along on Sunday mornings with messages that parallel the reading, but it will be in the laboratory of Life Groups where the real GROWing and GOing will take place.  During the fall series we will build trust and a sense of community in Life Groups (GROW) that leads to greater courage, shared passion, and accountability as we work together to impact our community this Winter (GO) and beyond.

What do you need to do in order to participate fully in GROW and GO?

1. Pray for God to give you a passion for ARC and the direction He is leading us
2. Consider joining a Life Group and/or taking the Leader Training Course (Aug. 10) if you feel called to lead a group (talk to Ken Hup or Cory Grimm for more information)
3. Obtain a copy of the books we will be using for GROW and GO (available in September)
4. Fully engage with church and Life Group regularly this fall and winter, and expect God to do great things!

August is ARC Foodshelf Month!

Bring non perishable food items and paper products to the south entrance or cash donations can be brought to the church office; checks made payable to Rock County Emergency Food Shelf.

Items may also be brought to the Methodist Church 9 AM—2 PM Monday through Friday.

RENAISSANCE GROUP (55+)  August outing will be Tuesday, August 9, 1:30 PM in the Commons at ARC.  Join us for an afternoon of fun hosted by the ARC staff.  Sign up at the Narthex table.

Check out the projects that ARC members have been working on.  Thanks to Cheryl Fey for the Family Tree painted on the wall in the Prayer Room and to the Chapa/Ossefoort/Woodley/Wynia/Zeutenhorst Life Group for the Scripture Cross displayed in the basement stairwell.

We have committed to send 15 people to the Cornerstone Prison Church service at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls on Friday, August 12, 5:45 PM.  This is a wonderful opportunity to be a blessing and encouragement to the inmates.  Sign up at the Narthex table; security clearance and waiver forms must be filled out and turned in to the church office before July 27.