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IN THIS ISSUE
14 COVER STORY: HE MADE TIME Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr previews Bay Area’s 2019 Christmas sermon series, “He Made Time.”
8 JASON’S EDITORIAL: LEARNING, LOVING AND LONGING Odenton Campus Pastor Jason Barthelemy illustrates the current status of the Odenton Campus in three words: learning, loving and longing.
20 LEADERSHIP PROFILE: JOCELYN SACKS Read about how Serving Director Jocelyn Sacks came to be a part of the Bay Area staff team seven years ago and her current vision for creating a culture of serving.
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6 JONATHAN’S EDITORIAL: OREOS AND IPHONES Worship Leader Jonathan Madrid writes about the importance of being present, available and distraction-free in order to impact someone’s life for the Kingdom.
18 MISSIONS UPDATE: CHRISTMAS IN A REFUGEE CAMP Read about how a refugee camp in Lebanon puts the meaning of Christmas into perspective and offers a challenge to bring joy and hope to the world this holiday season.
We appreciate your comments and questions. Please email us at feedback@bayareacc.org and a staff member or elder will respond within 48 hours.
Gatherings: Saturday, 5:20 p.m. & Sunday, 7:50, 9:20, 11:20 a.m.
MAGAZINE CREDITS EDITOR Meredith Thompson ASSISTANT EDITOR Victoria Cline ART DIRECTOR Josh Shirlen ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Arianne Teeple LEAD DESIGNER Jake Williams DESIGNER Josh (Burgi) Burgin CONTRIBUTORS Jonathan Madrid Michele Rollins
On the cover: Andrew and Coleman Beyea Photo by Josh Shirlen
ELDERS Barry Willhite Bill Plenge Bill Smith Chris Heacock Don Wiley Greg St. Cyr J. Upton John Taylor Keith Riniker Ken Gilmore Merrill Hoekstra Peter Godfrey Rich Heath Roger Ishii Tim Grossman Tom Hogan Warwick Fairfax
884 Chesterfield Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401
410.544.2222
BAY AREA LEADERSHIP Allen Smith, Missional Communities Pastor – allen.smith@bayareacc.org Brent Squires, Student Ministry Pastor – brent.squires@bayareacc.org Brian Hopper, Annapolis Campus Pastor – brian.hopper@bayareacc.org Greg St. Cyr, Lead Pastor – greg.stcyr@bayareacc.org Jason Barthelemy, Odenton Campus Pastor – jason.barthelemy@bayareacc.org Jeff Supp, Executive Pastor of Operations – jeff.supp@bayareacc.org Jerry Shirlen, Financial Administrator – jerry.shirlen@bayareacc.org Jocelyn Sacks, Serving Director – jocelyn.sacks@bayareacc.org Jonathan Madrid, Worship Leader – jonathan.madrid@bayareacc.org Josh Shirlen, Creative Director – josh.shirlen@bayareacc.org Kristin Collins, Annapolis Children’s Ministry Director – kristin.collins@bayareacc.org Leanne Lane, Care Network Director – leanne.lane@bayareacc.org Meredith Thompson, Communications Director – meredith.thompson@bayareacc.org Michele Rollins, Short Term Missions Director – michele.rollins@bayareacc.org Pat Linnell, Teaching Pastor – pat.linnell@bayareacc.org
For a comprehensive list of all Bay Area staff, elders and deacons, please visit bayareacc.org/leadership
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LETTER FROM THE LEAD
A CHRISTMAS WELCOME! 4 GO&MAKE D E C E M B E R
o those who are visiting us this Christmas season, we are thrilled to celebrate Christ’s birth with you! Thank you for sharing the Advent season with us. For many, Christmas is filled with joyful memories of family gatherings, gifts and Christmas traditions. But the holidays can also be a time of loneliness. The death of a loved one, the recent pain of divorce or an estranged relationship, military deployment, the loss of a job, an unwanted move and a host of other things can make it difficult to resound with “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” Actually, Christmas can easily slip into a season of discontentment. Discontentment is rooted in comparison. We think back to precious holiday memories and then compare them to our present situation. If our current reality doesn’t measure up to what we had or want, we become discontent. I remember my first Christmas without my grandfather. Our Christmas Eve gathering at his house just wasn’t the same. I felt lonely and sad (which is normal), and at the same time angry and discontent. Instead of experiencing peace, I was in a valley of striving. Yet God wants us to be content even in difficult times. Contentment is a heart at rest that accepts and flourishes in any circumstance. Paul, chained to a Roman soldier and writing from prison, reveals to us a secret we all want. It’s an open secret because it is available to all. It’s the secret of contentment. …I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry,
both of having abundance and suffering need. Philippians 4:11,12 Contentment is learned in the valleys. Perhaps you’re in one now. The good news is that there is a Shepherd who can meet your every need. If Jesus is your Good Shepherd, you can claim this promise: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want … Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:1,4 The valley is not your final destination. You are walking through the valley. God has your destination in sight. You need not fear because the Shepherd is with you. Therefore, you can be perfectly content. The secret of contentment at Christmas and all year round is never found in our circumstances. It’s found in a Person – the One whose birth we celebrate. Paul reveals the secret in 10 simple words that will carry you through all the highs and lows of life: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 The secret of contentment is that Christ is enough. When you truly know Christ, you avail yourself to His supernatural strength that gives you a heart at rest. When Christ is enough, He enables you to accept and flourish in any situation. As our guest this Christmas season, we wish you the greatest gift of all: A personal relationship with the One who left the glories of heaven and took on flesh in order to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ, who is absolutely enough, gives you His contentment in any and every circumstance. Thank you for visiting us. Merry Christmas.
From here to the nations,
Greg St. Cyr Lead Pastor
Greg St. Cyr is the lead pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a monthly contributor to GO&MAKE.
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OREOS iPHONES AND
By Jonathan Madrid
iPhone is like a bag of Oreos: I can’t just eat one. The sooner I start to consume each morning — email, Instagram, texts, Twitter — the more my screen cravings spike. I hate how I’ll lunge for phantom alerts that tease the edges of my peripheral vision. Is the bass player I need for the weekend finally getting back to me? Did the mix I sent out for the band get approved? Is one of the artists on my team having an existential crisis? Nope, it’s just Instagram notifying me someone posted a picture of a piece of gear I desperately want. And now I have to look at it for five minutes, which inevitably makes me hate myself for not having it.
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These habits make me unavailable to meaningful moments. I hate how, once I am “off the clock,” I still can’t fully tear myself away from the incessant buzzing. I have been at dinners with my family and friends — people who I don’t get to see enough — and the pattern continues: refresh, check, refresh, click, click, ping. I dream about not being this way. If I were a better person, I’d get an old flip phone. I’d communicate the old-fashioned way, through handwritten notes. I would be fully present in every conversation. Work would stay at work, and FOMO (fear of missing out) wouldn’t plague me. Maybe you’re right there with me. You might be part of the 34 percent of Americans who don’t know how to take a day off, always thinking about projects and big promotions. Or your mind constantly wanders to “what if” moments. You drive yourself crazy thinking about past mistakes, obsessively trying to predict your future. Whatever it is, it’s keeping you from living your best life. Because when we can’t be fully present, we can’t fully enjoy the moments that have been created specifically for us.
the “burning bush” moment in Corey’s story. Maybe our interaction will go down in Corey’s history as that pivotal moment. My buddy Pat Linnell regularly quotes Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” He loves reminding us that we’ve each been uniquely created for works that are specifically made for us. Sometimes they’re obvious, like being a faithful follower of Jesus and being an amazing husband and dad. And sometimes we need a shock to the heart’s antennas. The point here is that you have the opportunity to be someone’s “burning bush moment.” You can change the trajectory of someone’s life if you’re willing and available. You can bring about a defining moment in a person’s story. That’s huge! I think most of us are willing; it’s the available part that we have trouble with. And that’s real. We live in a noisy world that fights against reflection and attentiveness.
You can change the trajectory of someone’s life if you’re willing and available.
This very thing hit me right in the face when, ironically, I went to get the new iPhone. I was met at the door by Corey, a complacent sales attendant who looked uninterested in helping me out. Typically, I would shrug it off and redeem the time by catching up on emails and work calls. He’s working, I’m working. It’s a win for everyone. The problem was that Corey needed to work on my phone, so I had no choice but to actually talk to him.
It took a good few minutes, but I eventually broke through. Corey started to open up about his life and what he did. We turned a corner when he looked at me and said, “Man, I’m sorry I seemed short with you when you came in.” Turns out he’d been up late the night before talking his soon-to-be-adopted daughter off an emotional ledge. By the time he was done it was time to come in for work. Corey is 25 and about to move his life to a small town outside of St. Louis to take care of his 12- and 14-year-old nephew and niece. He’s stressed and feels like he’s in over his head and no one sees him. The last thing he cares about is what color iPhone another consumer wants. The more we chatted, the more Corey’s demeanor changed. By the end of the conversation, he thanked me for making his day better. He even let me pray for him right there in the store. I don’t know that I changed Corey’s life. And if I did, I might not ever find out. He’s moving to Missouri. But what if? Maybe our time together ends up being
But it’s not impossible.
If you’re up to changing lives, here’s one small step you can take. Somewhere in your day, take five minutes and ask Jesus, “What do you want me to see/ hear?” and see what He does. It might not be anything, but it could be something life-altering. All you have to do is be available for five minutes. Jesus might lead you to do something about yourself. He might move you to speak to someone you know about a specific issue. Whatever it is, just be available — distraction-free. The instant you decide to step into your current story is the moment you start living your best life. No, it’s not pain-free or comfortable, but it’s living! And that’s what Jesus said He came to give us: an abundant, exciting, mission-oriented life filled with “good works prepared for us.” So put the Oreos down. Look around and see whose life you can help change.
Jonathan Madrid is the Worship Leader at Bay Area Community Church and a regular contributer to GO&MAKE.
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Learning, Loving and Longing By Jason Barthelemy
Jason Barthelemy is the Campus Pastor at Bay Area Community Church Odenton.
ailing to plan is planning to fail” is a well-known leadership saying. The buildup to the Odenton launch was marked by our launch team and staff working, refining, praying and preparing for as much as we could. A few months in, as a campus we can say these plans have served us well. However, one truth this saying doesn’t include is the need to adjust and trust God more than our plans. Proverbs 19:21 tells us that “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” We will continue to plan and adjust our plans as God leads. If I were to summarize the current status of the Odenton Campus, I would say that we are learning, loving and longing. Allow me to expound on these:
Learning Each week we are learning how to be a thriving campus of Bay Area Community Church. We have learned how to deal with all kinds of unforeseen obstacles. One Sunday we had a trailer carrying our tech gear blow out a tire at 4:45 a.m. in the rain. In the moment, we weren’t sure how everything was going to work out for that morning’s worship gathering, yet God to provided solutions for that obstacle to be conquered “without a hitch” (sorry, couldn’t resist). Another morning, the sound board in the auditorium threw us a curveball and created the need to shut it off in the middle of a worship gathering. The worship team pivoted and led us in an intimate acoustic worship set, and I was able to jump up and deliver a sermon on humility! A glitch in the sound system did not thwart our worship that morning! When these things happen, we aren’t discouraged. Our team isn’t defeated. We are actually encouraged. The resilience of our team is incredible! Every time we face an obstacle, we see God’s faithfulness and we gain strength and momentum for the next obstacle ahead. We never put in our original plans “create obstacles so that the team grows in closeness and resilience,” yet these times have been a huge catalyst of momentum for our team.
Here are some highlights of what we have learned and are learning: · It is worth mentioning again, our campus team has learned the need to trust God with our plans. · We’ve learned how to connect with new families in the Odenton area. Our greeters and hospitality teams are doing an excellent job of reaching out and providing a warm and friendly welcome. · We’ve learned how to connect and minister to the staff and faculty at the high school where we gather. · We’ve learned how to streamline our load-in and load-out processes in such a way that we were able to push our start time back 30 minutes from what we originally planned, and we break down and reload the three trailers an hour and a half faster than the first few weeks. You have to experience it to believe it. There really is a lot of fun and camaraderie within the Odenton setup team!
Loving The heartbeat of this campus is love. We desire to show the love of Christ to the communities in and around Odenton. We are leaning in to learn how we can truly minister to the needs of the community. We long for people to attend worship gatherings and Missional Communities that are marked by the love of Jesus.
Longing We have seen God move in the hearts of a few people who have attended the Odenton Campus. We are longing to see more! Only He can transform us from the inside out, and that is our prayer: to see more and more people enter into a relationship with Jesus. We long for people to take steps along the Discipleship Pathway in order to grow closer and closer to Jesus. Do you know someone who would benefit from attending Bay Area in the western part of Anne Arundel County? Don’t hesitate to invite and bring them to experience firsthand what God is doing at the Odenton Campus. We’d love to get to know you!
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Taking Your Next Step to Grow By Brian Hopper & Horacio Tablada
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n January of 1997, my wife and two young daughters moved to Annapolis after taking a promotion with the company I (Brian) was working for. A friend had told us about Bay Area Community Church, so we decided to come to check it out — and we have been here ever since. As a young husband, dad and believer, there were many areas of my life that needed maturing. Though I had been following Jesus for several years, I felt somewhat stagnant spiritually. Though I benefited greatly from the weekly preaching on Sundays, I knew I needed more. At the time, Bay Area was offering study groups, or classes, one night a week, so folks who worked or had other commitments during the day could participate in these groups to learn and grow. I’ll never forget the first class my wife and I signed up for — it was on prayer. We met in a woman’s home for about six weeks where she taught our group about how to intercede for others in prayer. It was life-changing and helped me learn a new level and form of prayer that has stayed with me to this day. That investment of time to learn and grow has paid off for over 20 years. Since the beginning of our church, the Great Commission has always been central to what we have done. At every turn, we have tried to be faithful and obedient to Jesus’ imperative in Matthew 28 to make disciples. This is why our mission statement reflects this priority: making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations. We believe every person is on a journey with Jesus, and though we never arrive (hence the word “maturing” in our mission statement) He is always working in us to change us and grow us to be more like Himself. Over the years, the ways in which we have tried to help people grow has taken on many shapes and forms. And though discipling someone into a deeper relationship with Jesus is a multifaceted process, one thing we know is that gaining knowledge and applying it to our lives is a key element to our personal discipleship and growth. At the beginning of 2019, we introduced something called the Discipleship Pathway. The DP is a way to examine how we grow spiritually. From the Scriptures, we have identified four primary spiritual life stages that every one of us passes through: exploring, beginning, growing and multiplying. We all start on the pathway at some point by exploring the truths about Jesus and Christianity. And, having responded to the Gospel and coming to faith, we begin in our faith, grow and hopefully mature to multiplying our faith. Progressing through these stages takes time, but being intentional about identifying where we are and what steps the Lord is inviting us to take next is key. This is why we developed the Discipleship Pathway. So, just like our objective with classes back in the mid ‘90s, we have recently begun offering similar
opportunities to learn and grow in what we call Growth Groups. These groups meet Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. here at our Annapolis Campus. We offer topics and studies that are aimed to help every person grow regardless of where they are on their spiritual pathway with Jesus. To date, we have held 25 classes, and nearly 300 people have participated in the six-week sessions. Part of what makes these groups so impactful is having teachers who are not only passionate about their topics but also knowledgeable and helpful. Instructor Joe Harvey said teaching “Has truly been a blessing not only to me but also to those who have wanted to ask questions about the Bible, Jesus, God and Faith.” Bill Plenge, another instructor, said that he “Benefited with deeper spiritual insights and fellowship on those special evenings.” And from those who have participated in our Growth Groups, we have been equally blessed by the response of how these groups have helped them grow. One participant, Shannon McDowell, said, “As a woodworker I love having good tools. The influence of the Growth Groups has created an exciting and growing library of books that will be lifelong companions.” He added that the classes he has taken have been “joyful work, producing marked spiritual growth.” Another participant, Evelyn Brainerd, shared: ”Hermeneutics was daunting at first, but became fun once I understood how it could help me break down Scripture and become personal for me. All of my reading of the Bible has now become so different.” Our next term of Growth Groups begin on Wednesday, February 5, and we have several great classes coming up. We’re excited to see how the Lord uses these Growth Groups to help each one of us take our next step of faith. Similar to how parents chart the growth of their children to show how much they are growing from year to year, we as followers of Jesus want to likewise be growing and maturing each year. As the apostle Peter wrote, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity” (2 Peter 3:18). Make 2020 a year of spiritual growth by joining or continuing with Growth Groups as you live life as a “passionate, maturing follower of Jesus.” You can learn more and sign up for Growth Groups online at bayareacc.org/growthgroups.
Brian Hopper is the Annapolis Campus Pastor at Bay Area Community Church and a regular contributer to GO&MAKE.
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Join us Sunday, December 15, from 6-7:30 p.m. for a fun-filled Christmas event for the entire family. If you have kids ages birth through fifth-grade, you won’t want to miss this special evening of Christmas activities, games, worship and a story time with Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr.
Register your family for this free event today at bayareacc.org/register
SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE EVENTS
MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT CLASS WHAT DID YOU EXPECt? January 12 - February 6 9:20 a.m. in Dock A Join us as we learn from Dr. Paul David Tripp about building a marriage of unity, understanding and love. Register at bayareacc.org/register 12 GO&MAKE D E C E M B E R
GOSPEL FLUENCY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, JANUARY 24-25, 2020
Challenging everyone to become a missionary, movement leader and author Jeff Vanderstelt will train us how to become more fluent in the gospel language.
Register at bayareacc.org/gospelfluency
SAVE THE DATE FOR THESE EVENTS
so will i
A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2020, 9 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Do you want to experience joy in living out your purpose? Then join us for the upcoming quiet retreat for women, where we will explore what it means to foster a lifestyle of worship.
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Andrew and Coleman Beyea perform in Bay Area’s short film “He Made Time,” an allegorical depiction of Creator God and the incarnation. Portions of the film will be seen throughout the advent season at weekend gatherings with the full version shown at our Christmas Eve experiences.
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By Greg St. Cyr
ime is short,” says the apostle Paul. Indeed, our lives are very brief. The average lifespan is 78 years. Each day consists of 86,400 seconds for us to invest. The day’s seconds cannot be stored up or deposited for the future. Every breath is another opportunity to redeem our time. Time is our most precious commodity. It seems that everything competes for our time. How often have we said the words, “I don’t have time?” Yet, when someone gives us time, we feel loved and valued. This Christmas season our focus is on Jesus, the One who made time for us! God created time. There was no such thing as time until God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Time began when He spoke the world into existence. From that moment, a continual progress of events occurred in succession from past, through the present, and into the future. We are born, grow, mature and decline over time. Not so with God. He is immortal. He is timeless with no beginning or ending. God is eternal. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:2 The world has a beginning and an ending. God always was and always will be. God sees the beginning and end of time simultaneously. He lives in an everlasting now. Therefore, He has no past or future. He has already lived all of our tomorrows and all of our yesterdays. Yet God acts in time. History is the unfolding of His plan in time from Genesis to Revelation. And the greatest act of God breaking into time is the birth of Jesus. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman… Galatians 4:4 At just the right time, Jesus, the Word who was in the beginning with God, enters. Jesus
is eternal, which is to say He is timeless. Jesus creates the world and time. And that brings us to Christmas. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14 Unfathomable. Incomprehensible. He made time and then entered into time. Why? Because He loves us and wants to be with us. The holidays can be a season of loneliness. When we lack connection with others, we have anxious feelings of loneliness. Christmas can heighten the loneliness brought on by the physical absence of a loved one, a recent move separating us from friends, the pain of a relational breakup, or the death of a loved one. Loneliness is often caused by rejection. Into this world of loneliness, the angel Gabriel appears in a dream to a young man betrothed to a virgin: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:20 Joseph didn’t understand that the God who made time was entering time in the womb of his betrothed. He didn’t grasp that the baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit and therefore was fully God and fully man. He couldn’t comprehend that eternal God would become confined to time and space. He couldn’t fathom that this child was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy some 700 years earlier who would be called Immanuel, God with us. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:22-23 Throughout the history of Israel, God has been with His people. He led them by a pillar of fire, dwelt with them in the tabernacle and
temple, and spoke to them through the Law and prophets. And yet, the maker of time was somewhat distant and removed. But now, with the coming of Immanuel, God takes on flesh and gets up close and personal. Jesus is our Immanuel. As a result, we never have to be alone. Rejection will come. Friends will leave. Loved ones will pass. But Immanuel always makes time for us. He made time for us so we would never be alone. In order to be our Immanuel, Jesus must be our Savior. It is sin that alienates us from our maker. We stand guilty before God for our wrongdoing. It’s impossible to go back in time and undo the sin we’ve done. So how can we be free from our guilt? Freedom is found in one powerful, desperately needed word: forgiveness. Forgiveness is the key to freedom from guilt. Biblical forgiveness involves someone else bearing the cost of our sins. That’s why we need a Savior to enter time. When the angel appeared to Joseph, he was very clear: “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 God was specific about the name of this child: Jesus. Jesus is from the Old Testament name Joshua, who delivered God’s people into the promised land. Jesus means Jehovah saves. Don’t overlook what Jesus saves us from: our sins. The maker of time enters time in order to save us from our sins. He comes to provide a way for us to be forgiven and free from guilt. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 Christ died to forgive us of our sins. To “forgive” means to “give-for.” We cannot earn or merit our forgiveness. Forgiveness is a gift extending from the one giving it. Forgiveness is the gift of the eternal One who entered time in order to pay for our guilt. In Jesus we have a savior. We have forgiveness. We have the removal of guilt. We have the freedom we long for. David, in Psalm 32:5, captures it precisely, “You forgave the guilt of my sin.” No matter the guilt of the past, God took on flesh in order to save us from our sins. He made time for us so we can be forgiven. When we experience His presence and forgiveness, our heart is filled with something else we long for: peace. According to the Barna Research Group, 1/3 of all Americans are
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stressed out. Half of our population says they are searching for purpose and meaning in life. Over half bemoan being too busy. Two-thirds say they are seeking to be in control. What we really long for is peace. The everlasting One who created time entered time to bring us peace. In Micah 5:2-5, the Lord declares that the ancient of days will come forth from Bethlehem, and “he shall be their peace.” This is why the angelic hosts on that starlit night resounded in praise with “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” There are three broad categories where we tend to lack peace: relationships, finances and health. When the marriage is discordant, when friends disappoint, when co-workers are belligerent, when children make wrong decisions, peace can easily evaporate. When finances dry up or work pressures increase, peace escapes. When age limits us, health fails us, unexpected death shakes us, peace vanishes. The world’s peace is based on circumstances. That’s why we strive to control our circumstances. But how much control do we really have? Is peace possible even in the midst of heart-wrenching circumstances? Yes! True peace is only found in a relationship with Jesus. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. John 14:27; 16:33 Apart from a relationship with Jesus, there is no real peace. He is the only source. The child born to us is the Prince of Peace. He made time for us so we could have His peace. The eternal God made time and made us in time for such a time as this. Time is a continual progress of events occurring in a succession from past, through the present, to the future. The breathtaking mystery of Christmas is that the One who made time entered time for us. He is Immanuel who loves us and came to be with us. He is our Savior who forgives us of our guilt. He is our peace in the midst of any storm. He made time. He made time for us. The question now is: Will you make time for Him? Time is short. There may not be a tomorrow. Time is running out for all of us. Now is the acceptable time to make time for our Immanuel, Savior and Peace.
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CHRISTMAS IN A REFUGEE CAMP By Michele Rollins
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hen you picture Christmas, what comes to mind? Here’s what I think of: a fir tree in the middle of my parents’ living room, flannel pajamas, hot chocolate and our family dog probably curled up amidst wrapped gifts beneath the tree. I picture my dad with his old, weathered Bible open to the Christmas story in Luke 2 and the sheet music for “A Charlie Brown Christmas” sitting on the piano nearby. I knew that Christmas wasn’t built on the gifts or even the opportunity to spend time with family or friends, but it was hard for me to picture what Christmas might be like if those pieces were stripped away. Then, this October, I traveled to Lebanon with a Bay Area short term missions team to serve families living as refugees in the
beneath a fir tree in the middle of her living room – but she would have hope that “does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). That same afternoon, I met Siham. Like Souad, Siham is a refugee – but unlike Souad, Siham has placed her faith in Jesus. This Christmas, she’ll celebrate the birth of Jesus the Messiah (who Muslims call Isa al Masih) as the One who has given her joy, peace and contentment in the midst of uncertainty and has given her a family in the midst of upheaval. One day, no matter what her circumstances look like here on earth, she’ll experience unimaginable joy with all those who have trusted in Jesus as we gather around the throne of God – joined by people from every nation, tribe and tongue (Rev. 7:9). In the meantime, she’s
“ WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THAT HOPE TO A WORLD IN DESPERATE NEED OF IT” city of Tyre. In the process, God taught me a lot about the truest blessing of Christmas, and it has nothing to do with gifts, food or even family. No matter your circumstance or mine, the story of Christmas is a story of hope. On my first full day in Lebanon, I met Souad. Her mother had joined us for a women’s event, and Souad, who is maybe 8 or 9 years old, was carried into the back room of the tiny refugee school where we served. Souad cannot walk due to a physical disability, but she can smile, laugh and chatter away in Arabic. We didn’t have to speak the same language to connect over Legos and PlayDoh. That day, while Souad and I played in the back room, her mom got a chance to hear the gospel. Then, she carried Souad and her baby sister back up a set of stairs to the apartment building that serves as a refugee camp, filled with Syrian families who fled the war in their homeland. Our prayer is that one day, through the power of the Holy Spirit and the ongoing work and prayers of Jesus-followers, the gospel seed planted in Souad’s mother would bear fruit and spread hope throughout her whole family. Souad’s physical situation may not change – she may not walk, she may not ever have a gift
faithfully, joyfully, lovingly serving the women and children in the camps by teaching Arabic, math and the truths of Scripture – like the truth that God took on flesh 2,000 years ago, lived the life we could not live and died the death we deserved to die so that one day, Syrians and Americans and anyone else who trusted in the name of Jesus could have that gift of hope. In Lebanon, they celebrate the 12 days of Christmas like the familiar song – since some Christians celebrate on December 25 and others on January 6. Even Muslims often celebrate with Christmas trees, Santa Claus and reindeer. But only those who have met Jesus celebrate the light of the world and the hope that light brings in the midst of darkness. That’s what Christmas is about, after all – not gifts, family, food or songs. All of those things are good gifts from the good Father who loves us and who offers us unfailing hope. In response, we have the opportunity to offer that hope to a world in desperate need of it – whether across the street or halfway around the world. For more information about Bay Area short term missions teams, visit bayareacc.org/stm.
D E C E M B E R GO&MAKE 19
20 GO&MAKE JDUE LY CEMBER
LEADERSHIP
PROFILE:
JOCELYN SACKS By Victoria Cline
or Jocelyn Sacks, Bay Area’s Director of Serving and the School of Biblical Leadership, it was soon after she moved to Maryland that God became first in her life, ultimately leading her to Bay Area Community Church. Jocelyn grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where at 14 she learned about Jesus as a personal savior and understood the weight of her sin for the first time while attending a Christian middle school. But upon returning to public high school and going on to attend Ohio University for a degree in creative advertising, Jocelyn recognizes looking back that she was seeking answers in the wrong places at this time in her life. After graduating, through an incredible series of closed and opened doors, God led her to move to Maryland to begin her career in marketing. Jocelyn reflected that moving to Maryland was the fresh start she needed. She didn’t know anyone in the area, but she knew she wanted to find a church and start meeting people, so after a quick google search, she chose to visit Bay Area in 2009. In the midst of moving to a new place and beginning her career, Jocelyn said, “God was using this time to grow and convict me to recommit my life to the Lord, and I began feeling unfulfilled in my work while dreaming of doing something significant.” In 2011, Jocelyn got plugged into a Missional Community for women in their early 20s, and this community
solidified her commitment to the Bay Area family. Her Missional Community leader helped her identify and use her spiritual gifts, and soon Jocelyn began leading a Life Group and was invited to join the worship team at Bay Area. “God was uprooting and preparing me to make a transition into ministry,” Jocelyn said, reflecting on the months that followed. Through her job at the time, Jocelyn knew Josh Shirlen who leads the creative team at Bay Area. Josh asked Jocelyn to be in a video for a sermon series, and while they were working together, Arianne, who also serves on the creative team, asked her if she had ever considered working for a church. At the time, Jocelyn laughed a bit at the question, but God had other plans prepared. The position of Connecting Director opened on the Bay Area staff, and through a series of closed doors in her own career, Jocelyn began to consider it but was still unsure about working in full-time ministry. Around this time, Brain Hopper preached a sermon about leaving a career, surrendering to the Lord and going into ministry, and that sermon was the confirmation Jocelyn was looking for. Soon after, in September of 2012, Jocelyn joined the Bay Area staff as Connecting Director. One of her most transformative moments as a part of the Bay Area church family happened in 2015, not in her capacity as a staff member, but on a short term mission trip. While serving on mission
in Ghana, Jocelyn was given the unique opportunity to share her testimony at a high school. It had not been planned for her to share that day, she was given no time to prep, and there was not even a sound system in the building. Yet Jocelyn describes the opportunity God gave her that day as a “divine and powerful moment of pushing back the darkness and doing what I was made to do.” That moment in Ghana changed everything about Jocelyn’s career, and she began to realize how important understanding the gifts God had given her in order to serve really was, not only in her life but also in the lives of others. Seven years and several impactful roles after joining Bay Area’s staff, Jocelyn began her new role of Serving Director this past August. In this role, Jocelyn is working to align all ministries under one common philosophy of serving while also cultivating a culture and lifestyle of serving for all those attending Bay Area. She expressed her desire that “serving would become as natural as grabbing a cup of coffee in the Bay Cafe.” “I really believe that God has a plan for every person and has wired us a certain way so that we are each uniquely shaped to offer something to the church and to the world, and I love helping people figure out what that is and seeing them be so fulfilled from serving others,” Jocelyn said. “My hope is that every person would see themselves as God sees them and would know that they are unique and have a purpose that Jesus has given them.”
D E C E M B E R GO&MAKE 21
W H AT ’ S T H E M O S T
YOU’LL GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON?
By Meredith Thompson
ith inflation ever-present, it often feels like our money doesn’t go very far anymore. Somehow, a basic sweater or pair of jeans is now $50. You can hardly get out of a grocery store for under $100, and it seems like all you have to show for it is a cucumber and a gallon of milk. Medical costs are exorbitant, mortgages leave us house poor, cars depreciate in the first 24 hours of ownership. Our paychecks don’t go nearly as far as we’d like them to. Yet, when we give, it’s just the opposite: our money goes farther than we could imagine, both physically and in the incredible Kingdom impact that it has. If you’ve ever given a financial gift to Bay Area Community Church, then it’s safe to say that your money has done more world traveling than you ever will. Let’s say you gave $100 last month. Parts of it went to a school in South Sudan, a girls’ home in India, a seminary in Moscow, a children’s center in Belize, a church plant in Poland, a youth ministry in Ghana, people affected by HIV/AIDS in Uganda, and other countries. Other parts of your $100 went to support over 20 church plants in the MidAtlantic, to save unborn children through the Pregnancy Clinic, and
to do good in our community through numerous local organizations. Your gift fueled everything happening at Bay Area Community Church as well – weekend gatherings, women’s and men’s ministry, hundreds of kids hearing about Jesus each week, hundreds of teens being impacted by the gospel and taking that hope into the hallways of 35 local middle and high schools. The number of lives impacted by your $100 is truly incalculable. As a church, we want to have the greatest possible impact for God’s Kingdom. We are on a mission to make as many disciples as possible from here in Annapolis to all the nations. And currently, we’re about 18 months into a two-year generosity initiative called Unrivaled that is focused specifically on expanding and maximizing our Kingdom impact. Unrivaled is all about responding to the unrivaled, matchless, preeminent nature of Jesus by giving back to Him a portion of what He’s given us, in order that He would be made known through Bay Area in greater ways than ever before. By the end of this two-year initiative, we are believing God to have supplied a faith-stretching $16.5 million through our church family to multiply Bay Area’s ongoing ministry, generously support our children’s and student ministries, and increase our reach locally through campuses and globally through our partners. In mid-November, we surpassed $10 million given toward our goal, and for that we say praise God! But every year, Bay Area relies on strong end-of-year giving to meet our budget – and this year, to fund the Kingdom-expanding work God has given us to do through Unrivaled. This December, we’re asking God to supply the largest monthly giving goal Bay Area has ever had: $1.4 million! Why? Because we want to finish well the
work He began through us at the launch of Unrivaled. Specifically, we want to fully fund our Odenton Campus so they can continue to impact the unreached in Western Anne Arundel County. We want to increase our support of our partners in South Sudan so that a roof and finishing touches can be added to an orphanage that will soon house children left parentless by civil war. And, we want to aggressively pay down the balance on our new student center and children’s wing, where roughly 600 children and students learn about Jesus every week. God is doing incredible things in each of these areas! This month, we’ll hear more about that in our gatherings. As we consider our year-end giving, and just how far our gifts to the Lord’s work truly go, let me encourage each of us to do three things: Seek the Lord as to what He would have us give, and whether any changes need to be made in the way we steward our finances. Give our best gift to the Lord by December 31. Pray fervently for the work God is doing in South Sudan, in Odenton and in our children’s and student ministries. Genesis 12:2-3 tells us that as descendants of Abraham, we are blessed to be a blessing. When we obey the Bible’s instruction to give, thereby allowing the Lord to use what He’s entrusted to us to resource His grand agenda of redemption, it is truly a joy and privilege. We are blessed when we surrender our finances and release them so that others can be blessed. As we give this month, may we each be blessed and experience joy, knowing that our gifts are going so much farther than we can really grasp, and are being used by God to change lives from here to the nations.
D E C E M B E R GO&MAKE 23
BAPTISM
HAPPENINGS OUR MISSION Making passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations
YOUR FIRST STEP New to Bay Area or want to get involved? Join us at First Step, a fun, one-hour gathering where you’ll learn about who we are, what we believe, and what your next steps might be in order to grow in your spiritual journey. Snacks are provided. Take your first step at Bay Area by signing up today to attend the gathering on the first Sunday of each month.
YOUR NEXT STEP If you are a part of Bay Area and are wanting to take your next step in your spiritual journey, Next Step is for you! Next Step is a onehour gathering designed to help you grow as a disciple through community and/or serving. Join us on the second Sunday of each month to connect in community and to check out our serving opportunities. Hope to see you there!
BECOME A MEMBER Are you interested in joining our church family? Here at Bay Area, we call our members Ministry Partners because we are committed to partnering together to make passionate, maturing followers of Jesus from here to the nations. For those who would like to learn more about becoming a Ministry Partner, the next Ministry Partner Orientation is March 22 from 12:30-4 p.m. To find upcoming dates or register for First Step, Next Step or Ministry Partner Orientation, go to bayareacc. org/nextsteps.
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BAPTIZED? For more information, contact: K-5th: thuli.leigh@bayareacc.org 6-12th: brent.squires@bayareacc.org Adults: shari.brandt@bayareacc.org
CARE NETWORK There are times when every one of us experiences challenging circumstances, losses, relational pain and difficult transitions in our lives. God never intended that we go through these experiences alone. The Care Network provides a variety of resources, trained volunteers and referrals to professional counselors that can help you to move forward. We desire to provide hope and healing through a variety of resources both inside and outside the walls of Bay Area. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP Sunday, 1/12, 1-2:30 p.m., Room 237
Being a caregiver can mean many things, from caring for the very young to providing adult services and taking care of aging adults. To be most effective in providing care, caregivers need support, encouragement, practical advice and helpful resources that will equip them to better take care of themselves and their loved ones. Our monthly Caregivers’ Support Group is here to provide a safe place to engage with other caregivers, obtain new resources, share challenges, joys and to be encouraged! This session will focus on stress management and exercise. No registration is necessary, just come! Info: msbellamy77@gmail.com
GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP WINTER SESSION Thursdays, 1/6-5/7, 6:45-9 p.m., Room 178
If you’ve lost a spouse, child, family member or friend, this can be a very confusing time. You may feel isolated and have many questions about things you’ve never faced before. GriefShare is designed to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. GriefShare is a community of people who understand what you are going through and who will walk alongside you through one
of life’s most difficult experiences. Come and join in this group to find care and encouragement from others as you go through this difficult time. Cost is $15. Register: bayareacc.org/register
MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT CLASS Sundays, 1/12-2/16, 9:20 a.m., Dock A
Everyone’s marriage morphs into something they didn’t intend it to be. At some point you need something sturdier than romance, something deeper than shared interests and mutual attraction. You need changed expectations, you need radical commitments, and most importantly, you need grace! Come join us as we hear from Dr. Paul David Tripp about building a marriage of unity, understanding and love. Register: bayareacc.org/register
ENGAGED?
We want to partner with you as you establish a strong, Jesus-centered life together. Through premarital mentoring you’ll be paired with trained marriage mentors who will equip you with the tools and resources you’ll need to succeed in marriage. Info: premarital.ministry@ bayareacc.org
CARE NETWORK SERVING OPPORTUNITIES CARE COACHES
Are you a man with the gifts of compassion and mercy who desires to help others in a coaching role? Care Coaches are maturing followers of Jesus who are compelled by God’s work in them to walk alongside hurting people as they discover the joy of a deepening relationship with the Lord. Training is provided.
DIVORCECARE
Have you experienced separation or divorce and have a heart to help walk with others through this life change?
MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT TEAM This team is looking for couples to assist with a variety of events throughout the year.
GRIEFSHARE
Have you participated in a GriefShare Support Group and benefited from this ministry and now have a heart to serve others? Training is provided. Info: leanne.lane@bayareacc.org
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY WAVE RIDERS Are you a parent of nursery- or preschool-age children looking to be in community? We invite your family to be a part of our Wave Riders play group that meets twice a month from 10 a.m. to noon. 12/3: Christmas Pajama & Hot Chocolate Party at Bay Area 12/17: Christmas train display at the Marley Station Mall
FAMILY CHRISTMAS NIGHT Sunday, 12/15, 6-7:30 p.m., Auditorium
Join us for a free, fun-filled Christmas event for the entire family. If you have kids ages birth through fifth-grade, you won’t want to miss this special evening of Christmas activities, games, worship and a story time with Lead Pastor Greg St. Cyr. Register: bayareacc.org/register
EMPLOYMENT DIRECTOR, WOMEN’S MINISTRY Part-time, 25 hours/week - The Director will implement strategic vision for all areas of Women’s Ministry by overseeing volunteers/ leaders with strong communication, problem-solving, along with fruitful discipleship and leadership of women.
SHORT TERM MISSIONS COORDINATOR Part-time, 20 hours/week - The Short Term Missions Coordinator will help achieve Bay Area’s mission through excellent administration of the Short Term Missions program. This person will be administratively gifted with a strong attention to detail, clear communication skills and a love for clear and consistent processes leading to effective ministry.
FACILITIES ASSISTANT
Part-time, Monday through Thursday 4-10 p.m., 24 hours/week. The Facilities Assistant is responsible for unlocking, locking and securing the building and helping oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of the church building and grounds. These duties involve assisting with building repairs, janitorial, grounds maintenance, setting up and breaking down rooms, assembling furniture and other duties assigned
by the facility manager and/or management.
WEEKEND FACILITIES ASSISTANTS Part-time, Saturday, from 3 p.m. to close, 5 hours/week - The Weekend Facilities Assistants are responsible for opening, unlocking, closing and securing the building and helping to oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of the church building and grounds. These duties involve assisting with building repairs, janitorial, grounds maintenance, assembling furniture and other duties assigned by the facility manager and/ or management.
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Part-time, 24 hours/week - The Digital Communications Coordinator will serve on the Communications Team with the Communications Director. Their primary responsibilities will include managing and updating Bay Area’s website and social media accounts, as well as assisting with digital marketing and other communications projects for all campuses.
KIDCARE TEAM MEMBERS
Our KidCare team has a need for adults who have a heart for kids. We provide KidCare for all ministries and various events year-round. Want to join our team of paid workers? Email KidCare Coordinator Ellyn at ellyn. watson@bayareacc.org. For more info and to apply: bayareacc.org/jobs
FINANCIALS On June 1, 2018, Bay Area began a two-year generosity initiative called Unrivaled that will fund our ongoing ministry at all campuses, construction of our new student center and children’s addition, and expansion of Christ’s reach from here to the nations. Our two-year giving goal is $16,500,000.
FINANCIALS Giving Progress Toward Goal: (June 1, 2018 - November 19, 2019) $10,186,338
MAKE A COMMITMENT
Our primary goal in Unrivaled is 100 percent engagement - that every person at Bay Area would ask what it means to put God first in their finances. To make a commitment,
pick up a commitment card at an information counter or go to baccunrivaled.org/commitment.
GIVING METHODS
You can give toward your Unrivaled commitment through the offering during the gatherings or online at bayareacc.org/give You can also give by text: “BACC 50” (for Annapolis Campus) or “Odenton 50” (for Odenton Campus) to 30131.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIVING! Info: baccunrivaled.org Questions: finance@bayareacc.org
GLOBAL MISSIONS PERSPECTIVES COURSE Thursdays, 1/9-5/7, 6:30-9:15 p.m.
Use what’s in you to bless the world around you. Perspectives is a 15week discipleship course delving into the Biblical, historical, cultural and strategic perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Register by 12/1 to receive an Early Bird discount. Register: bayareacc.org/register
GO
Take the next step in your walk with Jesus and share God’s love in one of 10 locations worldwide. Learn about our locations and partners: bayareacc. org/missions.
Belize (7/25-8/1): Use your skills as
a dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, nurse or construction worker to bless the people of Belize. This team will host a dental clinic and Vacation Bible School as well as construct a school building. Dental/ medical professionals must apply by January 15. Submit an interest form or apply: bayareacc.org/stm
SEND
Whether you can travel on mission this year or not, there’s still a way for you to be a part of what God is doing among the nations through Bay Area by financially supporting others. Give: bayareacc.org/stmgive
PRAY
Join with others to be encouraged and pray for our missionaries and global partners. This team meets second and fourth Sundays at 9:20 a.m. in the Prayer Room. Info: ccback84@gmail.com D E C E M B E R GO&MAKE 25
MEN’S FELLOWSHIP MEN’S MORNING BIBLE STUDY Tuesdays, 6-7:30 a.m., Room 236 Info: sales@ecosoils.net
MEN’S EVENING BIBLE STUDIES Sundays, 6-8 p.m., Room 235 This study is geared toward helping men draw closer to Jesus, discussing and discovering God’s answers for the challenges men face at home, work and in society. Info: bob.gregory@bayareacc.org
Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., Room 235 Study 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 using the book “The Measure of a Man: 20 Attributes of a Godly Man” by Gene Getz. Come ready to be challenged to grow as a follower of Jesus. Info: sam.logan@gmail.com
HOLIDAY SERVICE PROJECT Saturday, 12/7, 8-10 a.m. We’ll be working with the Walk the Walk Foundation to load and wrap presents for kids in need this Christmas. Afterwards we’ll continue the fun as we hang at a local eatery and do a gift exchange. Register: bayareacc.org/register
STUDENT MINISTRY AMPLIFY - ANNAPOLIS CAMPUS Wednesdays, 6-8:30 p.m.
Middle and high school students are invited to join us each Wednesday for hang out time and community groups, specific by grade and gender, and led by our adult leaders. The Warehouse Cafe has optional dinner available for purchase. Info: lauren.gibeault@bayareacc.org
FIRST FRIDAY Friday, 12/6, 7-9 p.m.
Middle school students can join us for our monthly First Friday event! The Warehouse and Café will be open for each event. There is no registration needed and this event is free. Info: tim.agnolutto@bayareacc.org
884 COFFEEHOUSE Sunday, 12/8, 7-9 p.m.
High school students can join us monthly for live music, coffee and games. This event is held in The Warehouse and will feature a musical guest. This month will be our Christmas Coffeehouse. Students are encouraged to invite a new friend to this event. Info: tim.agnolutto@bayareacc.org 26 GO&MAKE D E C E M B E R
PRAYER MINISTRY Our Prayer Ministry comprises individuals dedicated to praying for all aspects of Bay Area: gatherings, pastors, missions and more. Individuals are also available to pray after each gathering (front-right of Chapel stage). Info: bayareacc.org/prayer
MISSIONAL COMMUNITY Being connected with others helps us grow in our love for God, for each other, and for our neighbor. You can find out more about Missional Communities online at bayareacc.org/ missionalcommunities.
COLLEGE MINISTRY YOUNG ADULT MISSIONAL COMMUNITY (AGES 18-25) Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m.
Missional Communities are a great opportunity for people to connect in community where they are loving God, serving others and growing spiritually together. Info: lauren.gibeault@bayareacc.org
WOMEN’S MINISTRY Register for studies and events at bayareacc.org/annapolis/women.
THE WELL
Like the woman at the well in John 4, women meet Jesus in His Word in community with others at Bay Area.
JONAH: NAVIGATING A LIFE INTERRUPTED BY PRISCILLA SHIRER Wednesdays, 1/15–4/8, 9:30-11:30 a.m. What do we do when God interrupts our lives? Many times, like Jonah, we run! In this Bible study, we will redefine interruption and learn that interruption can be God’s invitation to do something beyond our wildest dreams and grow closer to Him. When Jonah was willing to allow God to interrupt his life, the result was a revival of an entire city. What will God do in your life? Video sessions, small group discussions and weekly homework. Book cost: $15 Info: laurie.gregory@bayareacc.org
KIDCARE
Kidcare is available, on a space available basis, for babiespreschoolers during Well a.m. Cost $65/1 child, $85/2+children. Registration is required. Info: Ellyn.watson@bayareacc.org
JOSHUA: WINNING THE WORRY BATTLE BY BARB ROOSE Tuesdays, 1/14–4/14, 6:45-8:30 p.m. Have you ever tried to fight worry with faith and felt you were losing the battle? Have comments like “God’s got this!” or “Just pray about it” only left you feeling more burdened? Rather than just applying clichés to our worry battles, we will learn through the life of Joshua how to fight our worries by faith in God’s promises. Video teaching, small group discussions and weekly homework will equip us for walking in peace and victory. Info: cmbernie@thekraftfam.com
WOMEN’S QUIET RETREAT/ SO WILL I: A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP Saturday, 1/11, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
What comes to mind when you think of worship? Hymns of praise? Prayer? Devotional Reading? Indeed these are all forms of worship, but what if worship is a lifestyle? What would that look like? The fact is, we are created to worship God, and because that is our purpose, we will worship. When we worship God as He requires, “in spirit and truth” we fulfill our purpose and we experience true joy. Do you want to experience this joy in living out your purpose? Then join us for the upcoming Quiet Retreat, where we will explore what it might mean to foster a lifestyle of worship. Cost: $20 Info: jocelyn_mathews@yahoo.com
WOMEN OF LEGACY (55+)
Join this group of senior women who support one another through encouragement and prayer on the second and fourth Mondays of the month 10:30 a.m. - noon.
QUILTS FOR KIDS Saturday, 12/14, 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The Annapolis Chapter of QFK meets for the purpose of making quilts for children in hospitals. Bring your sewing machine and your lunch. Quilting fabrics will be provided. We will meet in the Docks in the west parking lots. Info: annapolisqfk@gmail.com Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter at bayareacc.org/ annapolis/women.
ODENTON CAMPUS HAPPENINGS
YOUR FIRST STEP
New to Bay Area or want to get involved? Join us at First Step, a fun, one-hour gathering where you’ll learn about who we are, what we believe, and what your next steps might be in order to grow in your spiritual journey. Snacks are provided. Take your first step at Bay Area by signing up today to attend the gathering on the first Sunday of each month.
WOMEN’S DINNER AND BIBLE STUDY Thursdays through 12/19, 6:15-8:30 p.m.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Bring a wrapped Christmas tree ornament if you want to participate in the white elephant gift exchange. Dinner purchased individually. Register: bayareacc.org/register.
If you are a part of Bay Area and are wanting to take your next step in your spiritual journey, Next Step is for you! Next Step is a one-hour gathering designed to help you grow as a disciple through community and/or serving. Join us on the second Sunday of each month to connect in community and to check out our serving opportunities.
GET CONNECTED IN ODENTON Want to serve in Odenton or get plugged into community? Email Campus Coordinator Amy at amy. french@bayareacc.org.
For more info contact Sharon Tablada at HoracioSharon@gmail.com
WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS DINNER & FELLOWSHIP Thursday, 12/19, 6:15-8:30 p.m., All American Steakhouse in Odenton
WOMEN’S DINNER & BIBLE STUDY: “WOMEN WHO BELIEVED GOD” Thursdays, 1/2–2/27, 6:15-8:30 p.m., Books and dinner purchased separately. For more info contact HoracioSharon@gmail.com
ODENTON STUDENT MINISTRY AMPLIFY
Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Amy French’s House
Students in grades 6 through 12 are welcome to join us for snacks, Bible study and time to hang out.
BASM CHRISTMAS PARTY 12/6, 6-8 p.m.
Middle and high school students are invited to get into the Christmas spirit with us! Everyone is encouraged to wear Christmas sweaters, Santa hats and whatever Christmas gear they can find! There will also be a white elephant gift exchange where every student is asked to bring a wrapped gift that is no more than $10 (the crazier the better). Christmas snacks and hot chocolate will be provided! Info: bayareacc.org/odenton/ students
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: facebook.com/ bayareaodenton Instagram: @bayareaodenton
Use what’s in you to bless the world around you. Perspectives is a 15week discipleship course delving into the Biblical, historical, cultural and strategic perspectives on the World Christian Movement.
THURSDAYS, JANUARY 9 - MAY 7, 6:30-9:15 P.M. bayareacc.org/register D E C E M B E R GO&MAKE 27
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