September 2017

 ​The Big Game is a college football rivalry that has been played every year since 1892 between the University of California at Berkley and Stanford University.  It is the oldest, continuous football contest in the country and the world.  This November will mark its 125 years and to date Stanford holds the record of wins at 62 – 42 – 11.  It is much like our own, IU vs. Purdue rivalry, which actually began in 1891, but has only been played 119 times.  There was no game played in 1903 or during WWI or WWII.  Since 1925, this game has been called the Old Oaken Bucket.  Incidentally, Purdue leads IU in wins at 72 -41 -6.  This is a big game if you are a Purdue or Indiana fan, right Arlan?
 
Every sports contest, whether individual or team sports, amateur or professional has its big game:  The Big Dance of the NCAA; The Super Bowl of the NFL; The World Series of American baseball and even here at home we have the WEBO – Lebanon rivalry.  These big games are filled with both excitement and anxiety.  Victory or any time will practice and focus. 
 
This month, my sermon series, entitled, The Big Game, will point us in the direction of victory in our Big Game, reaching our community for Christ.  We are a team of God-gifted and talented individuals who are united through the blood of Jesus with a very important challenge of sharing God’s love and evangelizing.  We are a team and we are each important to that team.  We each carry a specific gift set that God wants to use to reach the world beginning at home, our church, and our community.  When his team works together united in His Spirit there is nothing that is impossible.  
 
We are a team ACCC!  We each have a position to play on that team!  We all have a purpose in God’s plan for our team! Let’s work together as a team! God’s Team!
 
During the month of September, we are hosting our 3rd MISSION ADVANCE.  This is the time we have set aside to show God’s love to our community at home and abroad.    We hope that we are challenged to BE MOVED: To Go! To Do! To Give!  We pray that God will move us as individuals and as a congregation to carry out is work in our community. 
 
Mission Advance is not a contest or competition, but it is a challenge.  It is a challenge by God to show His love to those who need it.  We are to bear witness to his love and saving grace.  We are to serve God by loving each other, our neighbors, strangers and even our enemies.  Loving is more than a feeling, it is an action. Our theme verse is I John 3:18, which reads, “Dear children, do not love in word or in tongue, but in action and in truth”.   We have several ways for you to participate in Mission Advance and I will call your attention to the Mission Advance section of this newsletter for more details.  
 
Join the team! It’s The Big Game!