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SCC People
- Lance Mayes
Lance Mayes hadn't been a part of a church in a long time when he and his wife, Jamie, were invited by John and Lynn Brinkerhuff to check out SCC almost a year ago. And when they did, they liked what they found.
For one thing, Lance quickly discovered he liked the people he met, beginning with Jeremy Kratky, who greeted the family when they first came. "It's an open, welcoming environment," he said. "I felt comfortable coming in."
He said he also appreciates the fact that first Pastor Barb, and now Pastor Tom, do a good job of explaining Scripture and preaching messages that apply to everyday life, because in the church he attended years ago he didn't have that. "I like that I walk out the door after church and I understand the Scripture," he said.
Lance grew up in Midland and joined the Navy, where he worked on sonar equipment. When he got out, he went to work for a heating and air conditioning company in Lansing. A year after he got out of the service, Lance met his wife Jamie, who works as a manager for an office technology firm based in Lansing.
The couple has two children: Jordan, who's twelve, and Chloe, who's soon to be nine years old. Both "really have a good time" in Kid's Creek, Lance said. In the family's free time, they all like to play games and swim in their pool.
After the family started attending SCC, it didn't take long for Lance to get involved as a volunteer. Pastor Tom asked him if he was interested in volunteering, and he became part of the media team, operating the sound board during worship.
"If I can't be in the band, I can at least make them sound good," he laughed.
During the time the family has been at SCC, Lance said he knows he's grown spiritually especially because of the ways the messages are presented and are relevant to him. The Unpleasantville series is one favorite, because it's about relationships and families and, as he's always found to be the case, "the messages have an application to daily life."
Lance enjoys being in a setting where people can feel welcome to just be who they are. "You can come in and you can worship without any pressure," he said. |
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Announcements
Communion Tables
You may have noticed that we've been using people's kitchen tables for communion recently. Jesus would have used the average table that was available in the home he and his disciples were eating. Would you be interested in sharing your kitchen table for SCC's communion? If so, make a note on your communication card or contact the office at email or 394-6100. If you have a table to share but need help getting it to worship on any given Sunday, that's fine too. We can help you get it here. We'll be in touch with you about when we'll use your table at SCC.
Office Hours
Monday:8:30am-11:30am
Tuesday:8:30am-3:30pm
Wednesday:8:30am-2pm
Thursday:8:30am-3:30pm
Friday: 8:30am-11:30am
Free Books
Each week you will find books on the Information Table in the Connection Café area. Some of the books will have our former Pastor's name (Barb) in them and maybe some marks she had made. Look them over and take whatever you would like.
Get the Message on the Web
Now you can listen to, download or read each week's message on the web. Go to SCC and click on message. Then just choose your preferred way of enjoying the message. You can get the message as a podcast now, also through iTunes (search: Sycamore Creek Church).
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Mission Dreams
Peace, Friends!
What an amazing month of February. In terms of missions we exceeded my expectations in many ways. We raised $5229.70 for Haiti. Wow! United Methodists together raised $11 million. Wow! (Check out www.umcor.org to see how that money is being spent.) We also collected 50 health kits for Haiti. This was all on top of our normal February commitment to Compassion Closet in which we collected many personal items (including a lot of toothpaste thanks to a quirky sermon illustration that required me to buy one of every kind of toothpaste). Alongside the adults, Kid's Creek collected 111 items for the Holt Food Bank. Whew! Thank you, God!
On top of all this we joined the Church of Greater Lansing's Food Drop. (The Church of Greater Lansing is made up of several churches in the greater Lansing area.) On this day having raised over $109,000, thirty-two churches gathered together for a worship and prayer rally at MSU auditorium and then dispersed into the greater Lansing area to deliver 2800 food boxes to families in need. It was an amazing mission opportunity that spoke loudly to our community about the unity of Christian churches in Lansing. We put aside our divisions (denomination, race, etc.) and served our community. The next day, this event made the front page of the Lansing State Journal. When the body of Christ unites the world notices.
While our collection of items and money this month exceeded my expectations, our involvement in the Food Drop left me asking some questions. Besides contributing $1050 from our Christmas Eve offering (so good so far...), only six people showed up to deliver boxes. Is this a problem? I think we can do better than this, don't you? Perhaps SCC was experiencing some mission-fatigue from a busy month of collecting money and items, and yet this was the only time in February that we were asking our church to commit time to serving the community. Perhaps we did not communicate well about what this mission opportunity really was. How can we do better in the future? Offer a suggestion on the blog.
It is my hope and dream that we would be not just a church that collects money and items but a church that spends our time building friendships with the community by serving the financially poor and the poor in spirit. I think we can do this. I think we're called to do it! Overall this was a pretty amazing month. What does God have in store for us in the coming months? I suspect God-sized dreams. Will you join in?
Peace,
Tom
P.S. I'm looking forward to beginning my plan to meet with everyone in our church one-on-one or in families. I'm beginning with the beginning of the directory. So if you're last name begins with "A" (and I haven't already met with you at some other time), expect to hear from Susan, our office manager, about a time when we can meet. For more info on this, read about it here.
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 American Idols
What do you worship? That's a question we may not ask ourselves, but the way we live our lives provides an answer. What most fully captures your attention and imagination? Money...power...sex? Through this series of messages we'll be exploring six different idols that capture the attention and imagination of our American
culture.
They are our American Idols.
February 21 - Fame March 14 - Money
February 28 - Violence March 21 - Sex
March 7 - Power March 28 - Comfort
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Daylight Savings Time Begins
It's that time of the year when we get to lose an hour of sleep. On March 14th at 2am we are to turn our clocks ahead one hour. However, if you don't want to get up at that time we suggest you do it when you go to bed on Saturday. |
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Worship Dialogue Group
You're invited to join SCC's next Worship Dialogue Group meeting on Saturday, March 20 (10am). There is a link to RSVP for the meeting.
Worship(Jeremy Kratky - jeremykratky@sycamorecreekchurch.org)
Saturday, March 20, 10am - 11:30am @ Arthurs' Home
RSVP: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RBDSYHG
The objective of this group is to suggest ways to optimize our corporate worship experience. A component of this would be to establish clear expectations and practices around the role of the worship leader. These would include not only what is expected of the worship leader but also what attitudes and behaviors we should foster amongst the congregation.
Recap
Tom facilitated a teaching about the history of worship in the most recent worship dialogue group meeting that was held on Feb. 13th. "How Do We Worship," a summary of research done by Dr. Ed Phillips from Duke guided the discussion. Tom shared six models in which the church has worshipped; dating as far back as the 1700's. This entertaining and informative teaching helped us gain a historical perspective of worship in the church. The teaching also helped us learn a common "language" as we continue to craft what worship looks like at SCC. |
 Women's Retreat
Join us for Awakening 2010, the third annual Sycamore Creek Church Women's Retreat, coming to Miracle Camp on April 30 - May2. We'll go deeper into God's Word, and dive into what it really means to be baptized in His spirit.
With time for rest, play, worship, reflection and sharing, this retreat is designed for the women of SCC to grow closer to God and to one another.
A deposit of $50 is due with registration; the remainder must be paid by April 11. Your check and registration must be turned in to Susan Bigger with checks made payable to Sycamore Creek Church. The fee is $140 per person with 3 people per room, $175 per person with 2 people per room or $275 for a private room. | |
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Missions
Great Food For All
The order deadline for the month of March is this Thursday March 4th. Please contact Darlene or Deo Wells at 882-1761 if you're interested in placing an order or click www.greatfoodforall.com for the menu and ordering on-line. |
Leadership News
 During the past year many exciting things have happened in StuREV including a second mission trip to West Virginia, the creation and implementation of FYBY (For Youth By Youth) by our very own youth, and collection and donation of 500 non perishable food items to the Holt Food Bank. In addition, we have experienced the amazing gift of God working on the hearts of SCC members to join the StuREV team to serve the youth of our church.
When Brian and Crystal first started serving in StuREV, there were only two other church members that were regularly serving alongside of them. In the past year that number has grown to 6 adult leaders, making 8 consistent volunteers in SCC's youth ministry. Now that is something to celebrate!!! Mike Arvizu being one of those volunteers will be taking Crystal's place around the leadership table to represent StuREV.
Crystal will continue to be as involved in StuREV on Sunday mornings and other activities as she has been these past three years. She will also continue attending FYBY regularly and supporting our youth to lead and serve. You and your youth will see very little change if any at all in the way that StuREV happens on a week to week basis. We want to keep you informed of what is happening in the ministry that your youth are a part of. Please feel free to contact Crystal at (517) 256- 3281 or metzc207@yahoo.com should you have any questions regarding this change.
Acquire the Fire
Who: StuREV youth and their friends
What: Acquire the Fire
When: April 30 - May 1, 2010
Where: Breslin Center
East Lansing
Cost: $42
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Going the 2nd Mile!!
Super U and Johnny Rogers team up as the most dynamic duo of duos to bring another round of super sensational spiritual power. Fly along as our team runs through the heart of the metropolis, soaring from the rooftops and screaming different ways we can punch up our power with prayer reach out to others, serve with verve and fight temptation. We'll even learn how to make it through the toughest of times. Join us for this 5 week series!
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