Month: May 2020

Dear Discipleship Group Leaders of Christ Church,

   Attached is the sermon discussion guide for this weeks message Heroes In Hard Times- A Hair’s Breadth from Judges 16:4-22. 

The message is online at www.christchurchsl.org/sermons in case you missed it.  It is provided for your groups use if you are meeting this week or for your personal reflection.  Please take note of the discipleship announcements below as the Spring semester of the sermon based discussions comes to a close (thanks Jorge for reminding me to remind everyone!).

Discipleship Announcements:

1. Today’s is the last sermon based discussion guide of the Spring semester, the next ones are planned to resume in the Fall.   Normally the summer (after memorial day weekend) brings with it a different season for those who use the sermon discussion guides.  Because of travel and many groups simply just gather monthly for fellowship over a meal in someone’s home or a restaurant to stay connected.  Well, friends this is no ordinary spring/summer with limitations of social distancing.  In last week’s email, I described an upcoming discipleship offering of Christ Church called “The New Testament in 90 Days” which may be a good option for those seeking to be in a Bible focused learning experience this summer with the option of being in weekly online virtual small group meetings.  It is only about 3 chapters a day of reading for 6 days a week.  Day 1 starts June 15^th and registration opens later this week! See details in #2 below.
2. NT90- The webpage, reading plan, online registration and NT90 Facebook Group will be available later this week to Christ Church and others outside the church who wish to join us!  I encourage you all to register by June 10 and encourage others to do the same if your schedule permits this summer.  Whether you plan to just do the readings on your own or do the readings AND be in the optional online virtual small group, all are asked to register online.  FYI- if you click on the option to be in a virtual small group, you will also have the opportunity to include the names of others who you know are registering and wish to be in the same group with.  We will be aiming for groups of 7-9 people, but a larger group can be accommodated with some smaller group conversations for more sharing in the same meetings through the zoom “break out group” feature.  As this new offering is coming together, I am excited about the prospects of growing in Christ together through our common Bible reading plan and meeting online from wherever we may find ourselves this summer!  Learning resources such as Christ Church Pastors’ videos and Question and Answer commentaries as well as online interactions in the NT90 Facebook group will help provide support and encouragement to help keep us all on track and finish the whole New Testament together by the week after Labor Day.  If you are not on Facebook, and don’t want to be, don’t worry.  All the information and most of the resources will also soon be available on the webpage – www.christchurchsl.org/NT90.
3. Helping to spread the word- If you are planning to join in the fun, in addition to registering online when it comes available, please let your friends know what you are doing and invite them to join you!  Emails, texts, phone calls or word of mouth is a great way to extend this blessing to others in the church or outside the church in a time when many are feeling isolated and discouraged.  If you are on Facebook, please like the Christ Church Sugar Land page if you have not already and look for an upcoming post entitled “Top 10 Reasons to Register for The New Testament in 90 days by June 10.”  Please click “share” and include your personal remarks about your participation and an invitation to your friends to join in too at the top.  I am copying and pasting the rough draft so that you know what to look for and to help answer questions you may have about the program.  I hope you choose to do it, it is going to be fun!

Your Co-Worker in Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Upcoming Facebook Post to Share with Friends when the webpage and registrations are open-

Top 10 Reasons to Register for The New Testament in 90 Days at Christ Church by June 10:

1- To better know Jesus Christ from the eye witnesses of scripture by reading about 3 chapters/day for 6 days/week starting June 15 (1 John 1:1-2)

2- To learn in community with others doing NT90 in an optional weekly online virtual small group of 7-9 people

3- For NT90 readers’ support and interactions on the Christ Church NT90 Facebook Group

4- For learning resources such as the Christ Church pastors’ videos and Question & Answer commentaries

5- You don’t have to be a member of Christ Church or even live nearby to participate

6- You can request to be in the same online virtual small group with other friends who are registering

7- For safe and meaningful faith conversations with others during the virus epidemic

8- If you fall behind, you can catch up on Sundays when no readings are assigned

9- You can use whichever Bible you like, digital, in-print or audio, and there is no program cost!

10- To become more like Christ in our thinking and attitudes (Romans 15:5)

Register at Christchurchsl.org/NT90

Questions??? Email NT90@christchurchsl.org

Dear Discipleship Group Leaders of Christ Church,

   Having Bible and geography scholar Dr. Jack Beck with us in worship teaching on the story of Gideon in Judges 6-7 was a blessing!  In case you missed it, please view it at www.christchurchsl.org/sermons.  The discussion guide for group use or personal reflection this week is attached. 

Because of the longer scripture readings this week, they are listed separately on pages 3-4.  Please send it to your group members prior to any upcoming meetings so that they can read it in advance.   FYI- additional places to look for resources by Dr. Beck (published name is John A. Beck) are listed in the discussion guide.

Leader Tips & Discipleship News:

1. A shared experience in reading through the whole New Testament this summer is coming to Christ Church called The New Testament in 90 Days, or NT90 for short.  The reading plan will average 3 chapters a day for 6 days of the week.  Sunday is a catch up day for those that need it.  We will be journeying through Acts- Revelation in order and supplementing with gospel readings as well each day.  Monday June 15^th, the journey begins with Acts chapter 1 and Luke chapter 1.  Please share the news with your group members as you are able.  There will be advance registrations for those who wish to be a part of weekly virtual small group meetings via zoom with others doing the readings and wish to discuss them or desire this additional source of encouragement and accountability in completing the reading plan.  Participants can choose whichever translation or format they like (in print, digital or audio).  This is not a “church-wide study” in that existing discipleship groups are not being asked to do this instead of other studies they have planned and it will not intentionally be in synch with the sermon scriptures from Sunday mornings.  This is an additional discipleship opportunity that individuals from the church may choose to do in addition to the groups they are already apart of, or in the case of those not involved in a group, a structured approach to reading the new testament with accountability and the opportunity to be in a virtual small group built in.  Sometimes trying a new translation and being in a discussion (online) with new people helps us to see insights into God’s word that we have not noticed before.  I’m finding that zoom meetings have the benefit of connecting from home with no travel involved and are less intimidating to commit to.  My hope is that those who are in no discipleship groups currently, will give this a try!  More information on this is soon to come, but you are welcome to start getting the word out about this now.
2. The offer still stands- if you group has not yet done a virtual meeting during these Covid 19 times, I can set up your first zoom meeting for you!  Just let me know by replying to this email and we’ll work it out.
3. The church leadership is working on plan to begin live in person worship onsite sometime in June.  There is an online survey we are receiving from members about re-opening onsite worship at www.christchurchsl.org. 
4. The best place for church-wide info is the mid-week church emails- you can subscribe here if you haven’t already- https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/mDb2s0o.  Note: Virtual hymn sing via livestream is Thursday night at 7pm.
5. Pastor Temple’s daily devotions of encouragement during this time of limited people gatherings are continuing throughout the month of June.  See the church facebook page orwww.chappelltemple.com.
6. An encouraging weekly video devotional by a pastor will also be available at a link in the mid-week church email or on the church Facebook page. 

Keep the prayers going and the people connections with your group members going friends.  As Dr. Beck reminded us on Sunday morning- We are going to get through this…. with the Lord!

Peace and Grace,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Dear Discipleship Group Leaders of Christ Church,

    Attached is the discussion guide for this week’s message, Fiercely Feminine, on one of the great woman leaders in the Bible, Deborah, from Judges 4:1-15. 

You are welcome to use this guide for virtual group meetings you may be having this week or informally for discussions with friends or personal spiritual reflection.  The message is available at www.christchurchsl.org/sermons and the entire service from Sunday at www.christchurchsl.org/livestream in case you missed it.

Leader Tips:

1. Want to do virtual meeting with your discipleship group but don’t know how?  Let me know and I will host your first meeting, it is easier than you think!  Don’t worry about the 40 minute time limitation per call, I can set it up to go longer. 
2. Pastor Temple’s daily devotions of encouragement during this time of limited people gatherings are continuing throughout the month of June.  See the church facebook page orwww.chappelltemple.com.
3. An encouraging weekly video devotional by a pastor will also be available at a link in the mid-week church email or on the church Facebook page. 

      Thank you for your ongoing Christian witness and encouragement that you offer the groups you serve in these unusual times we are in.  As Re-open Texas unfolds and churches are discerning how best to re-open as well, I trust the Lord is with us as He was with Deborah and Joshua and Caleb.  Let us continue to prayerfully call on His name and be strong and courageous as they were for our day and time now.  Please let me know if you would like to talk through or pray through issues that are pressing for your life or for your group members.  

Your Co-worker in Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church

Dear Discipleship Leaders of Christ Church,

   Attached is the discussion guide for this week’s message from the Heroes in Hard Times sermon series, Choosing Who You Will Serve from Joshua 24:1-15. 

You are welcome to use this guide for virtual group meetings you may be having this week or informally for discussions with friends or personal spiritual reflection.  The message is available atwww.christchurchsl.org/sermons and the entire service from Sunday atwww.christchurchsl.org/livestream in case you missed it.

Leader Tips:

1. Want to do virtual meeting with your discipleship group but don’t know how?  Let me know and I will host your first meeting, it is easier than you think!  Don’t worry about the 40 minute time limitation per call, I can set it up to go longer.
2. Our first pastor facilitated “overtime” zoom fellowship time after worship went well Sunday!  It’s a public zoom meeting with the meeting ID shown on the screen of the livestream.  Just plug in the meeting number (new each week) on the zoom screen to see faces of church friends this Sunday, 11:45am-12:15pm.
3. New 5 minute pastor video devotionals will be posted online with an email link sent on Thursdays starting this week by yours truly.
4. Children’s Sunday school is now virtual on Sunday mornings at 9:15am, seesarahs@christchurchsl.org for details.  Youth also are doing several online devotionals, hang outs and shared video games during the week, see erics@christchurchsl.org for details.
5. Pastor Temple’s daily devotions of encouragement during this time of limited people gatherings are continuing throughout the month of June.  See the church facebook page or www.chappelltemple.com.
6. Links to upcoming church events like the Online Night of Worship this Thursday night at 7pm (May 7), and the virtual Vacation Bible School June 15-19  and resources like the subscribing to the church mid-week email are available on the church website homepage-https://www.christchurchsl.org/
7. For details about how church activities will be changing with the Re-open Texas process, stay tuned for the mid-week church wide emails.

  As with Joshua, we live in times to be “strong and courageous” in the Lord.  We face a much less visible enemy in the Covid 19 virus than Joshua faced, yet we serve the very same God who is good and faithful to deliver.  We are His covenant people “standing on the promises” from day to day and week to week.  God is with you in our ministries together. 

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart” 2 Corinthians 4:1.

May God bless you richly in your times with Him and with each other this week.

Your Co-worker in Christ,

Dan Conway

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Christ Church