New Year, New Emphasis

         

2013 brought with it lots of newness: new worship services, new campus and even new babies.  God has been birthing within us all kind of new visions, new dreams, and new strategies for claiming our community and the city of Cincinnati for Jesus Christ!  But with all that newness there are moments when we need to take a step back and say what is working, what is not working.  As the Leadership Council and the pastoral staff has reflected on 2013, we’ve recognized that we need to be more intentional with our outreach emphasis in Price Hill and not spread ourselves too thin.  So that’s what we are doing.  How you might ask:  first, we will be communicating what’s happening at Price Hill on a more regular basis, giving everyone simple opportunities to be involved, and our pastoral staff will rotate preaching schedules beginning with once a month.  We recognize we need to make what’s happening at Price Hill more visible to the Delhi Campus.  It is our first priority!

Second, we will be transforming what we do on Saturday Nights.  Instead of offering a weekly fourth worship option, we are going to be concentrating our efforts to one intensive service per month.  On the first Saturday Night of the month beginning with Saturday, February 1, 2014, we will be launching Saturday Night Alive.  We are transforming our weekly Saturday Night worship service into an intense monthly worship experience!  There will be more music, a light message, followed by communion.  Children’s ministry will be provided. These Saturday Night Alives are not going to be ordinary worship services, so you are not going to want to miss them.  Our last weekly Saturday Night worship service will be January 11th.  

You will also see more emphasis placed on care, follow up with people who are new and with people who have been at Shiloh for a while.  2014 is going to be an incredible year, with this new year we have a new focus so that we can make 2014 our best year ever! 

On Mission with you, 

Pastor Rachel 

The Power of Invitation

It’s amazing to me that in an age where we can tweet anything, post stuff on Facebook, and “Google it” that the number one way to get people to church remains invitation.  People come to church because someone invited them to church!  It’s simple, it’s easy, but sometimes it is down right terrifying.  There are times when the thought of inviting someone to church just scares us!  We look at our invitation cards and begin saying things to ourselves like, “What if my neighbor says no, what if the person I work with is offended when I ask, what if a friendship is made awkward by inviting someone to church?”  Honestly, all that could happen!  It could, but it’s not likely to happen.  People are waiting to be invited!  The people in our lives want to know that they matter-they matter to us and they matter to God.    

The Christmas season is an incredible time of the year to invite people to church.  Perhaps more than any other time of the year people are nostalgic, open, seeking and so it’s a great time to step out in faith and invite people to church!  We’ve been passing out invitation cards and want to encourage you to use these to invite your friends, neighbors, coworkers, family members, and people you meet to one of our four Christmas Eve Services, Tuesday December 24th.   On the Delhi Campus we have services in the sanctuary at 7pm (family focus), 9pm, and 11pm, and on the Price Hill Campus we will be having a service at 7pm.  All of our services will be candle light services!  This week I want to challenge you to think about the people you know who don’t have a home church and take the bold step of inviting them to come to church.  It could change a life: yours and theirs.  

On mission with you, 

Pastor Rachel 

Hope after Sandy Hook

It’s hard to believe, but this Saturday we will remember the one year anniversary of the school shooting that rocked a nation.  Last December, lone gunman Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and opened fire on children, teachers, and administrators.  When all was said and done, 20 small children, 6 adults, and Lanza’s mother were dead.  Walking through the Advent and Christmas season, it was hard not to think of the slaughter of the Innocent that Herod order in Matthew 3.  Herod, angry with the wise men for not returning to the palace after their visit with Jesus, decides to kill all children under the age of two years old.  It’s callous, it’s random, and it’s senseless.  Sandy Hook is and was all those things.  Thinking about the town, the school, those parents, those families got me to thinking about just how difficult it is to have hope during this time of the year.  Even though Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, many people find the holidays to be anything but hopeful.  Maybe it’s because they have lost someone they love, maybe it’s because a relationship has been severed, divorce papers have been signed, pink slips have been issued, or a diagnosis has been announced.  What ever the reason, many people find themselves surrounded by utter darkness and depression.  If this is you, you are not alone!  There is hope!  Do not hide in your darkness, do not place a barrier between yourself and people, but allow yourself to experience God’s glorious light.  If this is you, there is an online grief resource I want to encourage you to check out called “grief share.”  You can find out more about grief share groups, events, and even receive daily encouraging emails.  GriefShare’s website is www.griefshare.org  This is the most complicated time of the year, a time when we are reminded of those things we have lost, but also a time we remember the gift of Jesus that we have gained.  It’s during this Christmas and Advent season that God brings to my attention the names and situations of many who have lost loved ones over the last several years, and I spend extra time praying for those persons to experience God’s love, grace, and peace.  Know that your pastor is praying for you and asking God to gift you with God’s peace.  I’m also praying for Sandy Hook, the school, the community, and the families.  I’m praying for signs of hope.  

On Mission with you, 

Pastor Rachel 

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

From the Tree and Wreath Sale to the Live Nativity, it is really beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at Shiloh!  In the midst of all of our hustle and bustle, we can forget to participate in the incredible events that are happening at Shiloh!  These experiences help prepare us to be ready for the Birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Are you ready?  I’m not asking if your shopping is done or you have decided when you are getting together with your friends and family for Christmas.  I am asking if you are ready for Jesus to show up in your life, and not just your life, but for Jesus to show up and change the world.  Here are some of the things happening at Shiloh to help get us ready:

Weekend of December 14/15

Dude You Hear What I Hear? This year’s Children’s Christmas Play is Saturday, December 14, at 5:30pm, and Sunday, December 15, at 11am.  For months our kids have been readying themselves to share with us the good news of Jesus‘ birth.  On Saturday, there will be a Birthday Party for Jesus following the play. 

Live Nativity Do you like animals?  Do your kids or grandkids?  Then come out to the live nativity on Saturday, December 14, from 6pm to 9pm.  Not only will you experience a live version of Jesus‘ family, but you will also have the opportunity to watch the Christmas Play or even participate in Stations of the Crib!    

Stations of the Crib Created as a parallel experience to The Stations of the Cross, Stations of the Crib is an extremely powerful and prayerful way to experience the birth story of Jesus.  The Stations are open on Saturday, December 14, from 1pm to 9 pm.   

Christmas Eve Services 

Delhi  This year’s Christmas Eve Services will all be held in the Sanctuary!  There is a family service with kid participation at 7pm (we still light candles!) Two Traditional Candle Light services at 9 pm and 11pm.  Child care is provided at 7pm and 9pm.     

Price Hill  We will be having a Candle Light Service at 7pm in Price Hill!  

Christmas Eve Service is a great opportunity to invite your friends, your neighbors and your coworkers to church!  Postcard invitations can be picked up at either location beginning this weekend!  

Church, are you ready?  Are you ready for the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?  If not, let’s get ready together! 

On Mission with you, 

Pastor Rachel