Englewood Community News - Colorado Community Church

2010-04-29T10:29:00.000-06:00

2010-04-09T15:30:00.000-06:00

2010-03-26T10:52:00.000-06:00

2010-03-19T12:54:00.002-06:00

2010-03-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Members and Ministry Partners at Englewood:

Here is the inside scoop on what is happening at our Englewood Base Camp.

Thank You To All Canyon Cafe Volunteers:
If you are one of our marvelous Sunday volunteers at the Canyon Café, please receive my deepest gratitude for the service you provide to our members and visitors. You are wonderful!

Colorado Healthy Marriage Project:
30 couples registered for Workshop this week
I am truly looking forward to the blessing this workshop will be to all the couples attending this weekend. One of our own members, Laurem Reistsema will be facilitating the Seminar. We are hoping to offer another workshop sometime in October in English but also in Spanish.

Maundy Thursday: 7pm. @ Englewood
This year’s service will be at Englewood.

Easter Services: 9:00, 10:30 and 11:30 Bilingual
Notice the service times for this year’s Easter Services.

Staff & Deacons Making Progress on Strategic Plan:
Our Strategic Plan for Englewood is a work in progress. We have concluded our SWOT Analysis and we are beginning to translate the information and feedback into ministry priorities.

Revitalizing Spiritual Growth of Youth:
In order to encourage a deeper spiritual growth in our youth and middle schoolers, our youth staff and volunteer leaders are gathering the students into small groups for discussion, prayer, sharing and the formation of deeper relationships. Small groups are proven spiritual glue that overtime will help our students grow in deeper walk with Christ.

Easter Basket Donations:
Please stop by the table of the Easter Basket Outreach in order to find out what kind of food donations are needed and how you can get involved in helping out. I want to extend a special thanks to all of you who have brought donations.
good experience with meeting some of the young children. Read my story at the end.

Community Sunday:
Every Second Sunday of the month we will be celebrating Community Sunday. On March 14th we will have a book and CD exchange. If you have a book, music CD or DVDs that you would like to give away, you can leave it on one of the tables on your way in. Following the service, we will be inviting people to go around the tables and take home a “new” book or CD. If you are going to exchange movie DVDs please make sure that they are PG 13 or under. Thanks!

Family Sunday – May 2nd:
When does the whole family get the worship God together at once? On May 2nd, we are having our adults, youth and children, along with our Bilingual service, join for one service of celebration and communion. Please mark your calendars so we can experience God together.

Middle School Parent Forum:
Attention all middle school parents! On April 18th from 11:30 – 12:30, there will be a gathering of all parents to connect with each other and support each other in your journey of parenting your children and encouraging them in their personal and spiritual growth. The meeting will take place in the Youth room – downstairs.

Meet & Greet For 5th & 6th Graders:
On April 25th at 11:30am to 12:30pm, we are hosting a “Meet and Greet” for all 5th-6th graders of Englewood and Bi-Lingual Services. Elsie will be doing “The Branding” in the month of May, and we’ll match them up with their youth “mentors” on Sunday, May 30th after church.

Testimonies of Transformation:
Congratulations to teenager Emily Paredes from our Bilingual Ministry who was baptized this past Sunday.

Pastor Hugo

2010-02-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Members and Ministry Partners at Englewood:

Here is the inside scoop on what is happening at our Englewood Base Camp.

Easter Basket Donations:
Please stop by the table of the Easter Basket Outreach in order to find out what kind of food donations are needed and how you can get involved in helping out. I want to extend a special thanks to all of you who have brought donations.

Connect Wednesdays - New Classes Coming Soon:
In order to better serve you, our Staff Team is working on adding a few more classes to our Wednesday CONNECT programs. We will be having a Pre-Engagement class coming on March 24th, a Grief Share group and possibly a class on “How to Interpret the Bible: Learning the art and science of principles that govern Biblical Interpretation.”

This past Wednesday we had a total of 79 adult and children who ate dinner in the Summit Hall. This is more than a 100% from our early January attendance. Please join us sometime. I really enjoy meeting people and had a good experience with meeting some of the young children. Read my story at the end.

Community Sunday:
Every second Sunday of the month we will be celebrating Community Sunday. On March 14th we will have a book and CD exchange. If you have a book, music CD or DVD that you would like to give away, you can leave it on one of the tables on your way in. Following the service, we will be inviting people to go around the tables and take home a “new” book, CD or DVD. If you are going to exchange movie DVDs, please make sure that they are PG-13 or under. Thanks!

Family Sunday – May 2nd:
When does the whole family get to worship God together at once? On May 2nd, we are having our adults, youth and children, along with our Bilingual service, join for one service of celebration and communion. Please mark your calendars so we can experience God together.

Spanish Class Attendance Report:
The Conversational Spanish class we are offering at Englewood every other Tuesday started with great success this week. There were 28 people in attendance.

Middle School Parent Forum:
Attention all middle school parents! On April 18th from 11:30 – 12:30, there will be a gathering all parents to connect with each other and support each other in your journey of parenting your children and encouraging them in their personal and spiritual growth. The meeting will take place in the Youth room – downstairs.

Meet & Greet For 5th & 6th Graders:
On April 25th at 11:30 - 12:30, we are hosting a “Meet and Greet” for all 5th-6th graders of Englewood and Bilingual services. Elsie will be doing “The Branding” in the month of May, and we’ll match them up with their youth “mentors” on Sunday, May 30th after church.

Incredible Things by Incredible Women:
This Sunday during our Worship Service, we will be hearing from a few incredible women from our Base Camp doing some remarkable things in Africa. You don’t want to miss it.

Thank You to All Children’s Ministry Volunteers:
I want to extend my deep appreciation to all our volunteers who serve our children on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. May God bless your lives richly for welcoming the little ones.

Welcoming Our New Members:
This Sunday we are welcoming those who are becoming members and joining our mission at Englewood.

Englewood SWOT Analysis:
This past week our Staff and Deacons have spent time doing an evaluation of our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and the possible Threats our church is facing. I would love to get your input on what you would consider to be our church’s strengths and weaknesses. Please give me your feedback via email hvenegas@coloradocommunity.org or through the Community Chronicle.

Your Giving During Snow Days:
Thank you so much for your faithfulness in giving financially to the Lord and to the work of the Kingdom here at Base Camp Englewood. I especially want to thank those of you who give during our Snow Days on Sunday.

Funny 6 Year Old At Englewood:
This week I had dinner at the church on Wednesday evening. There was a mother with her six-year-old daughter and four-year-old son eating at my table. The six-year-old asked me if I were a president. I answered, “No. I am not Obama.” She kept looking at me and then said, “You look like Tiger Woods.” I replied, “He is in the dog house.” She gave me a confused look and asked, “What does that mean?” I laughingly replied, “It is like when you do something bad at home and your mom puts you in a time out.” She asked, “Is he playing golf?” I responded, “No, he’s taking some time off.” Then her little brother started peppering me with many questions about why was Tiger Woods in the doghouse. I felt uncomfortable. I motioned to Susan Stone, who was sitting next to me, that I needed to change the conversation in fear that these kids would go home and start asking their father questions on why Pastor said that Tiger Woods was in the doghouse. As I made my move to change the subject, the spunky six-year-old girl blurted out of her mouth, “I watched his speech!”

Testimonies of Transformation:
Last Sunday it was a great joy for me to baptize one of the teenagers of our church. This Sunday we have another one of our teenage girls getting baptized during our Bilingual service. If you know of someone who wants to get baptized, please have them call us at the office.

Pastor Hugo

2010-02-19T10:19:00.001-07:00

Dear Members and Ministry Partners at Englewood:

Here is the inside scoop on what is happening at our Base Camp.

Easter Basket Donations:
Please stop by the table of the Easter Basket Outreach in order to find out what kind of food donations are needed and how you can get involved in helping out.

Connect Wednesdays: A Time For Community and Learning:
This past Wednesday we had 80 people who showed up to eat and we ran out of food. Thanks to all of you who attended and if you have not had the opportunity to join us for our midweek meal, please get it on your calendar for next week.

Community Sunday:
Every Second Sunday of the month we will be celebrating Community Sunday. On March 14th we will have a book and CD exchange. If you have a book or music CD that you would like to give away, you can leave it on one of the tables on your way in. Following the service, we will be inviting people to go around the tables and take home a “new” book or CD.

Family Sunday – May 2nd:
When does the whole family get the worship God together at once? On May 2nd, we are having our adults, youth and children, along with our Bilingual service, join for one service of celebration and communion. Please mark your calendars so we can experience God together.

New Members Class:
Our New Members Class is this Sunday at 4pm at the Upper Room – Aurora Campus. If the Lord is leading you to become a member or you want to find out more about CCC, please join us there!
Deacon’s Offering:
This Sunday following the service, our ushers will be standing at the entrances of the Sanctuary to give you an opportunity to present your Deacon’s Fund Offering. These gifts are used to help our own members who are in need of financial assistance.

Englewood SWOT Analysis:
This past week our Staff and Deacons have spent time doing an evaluation of our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and the possible Threats our church is facing. I would love to get your input on what you would consider to be our church’s strengths and weaknesses. Please give me your feedback via email (hvenegas@coloradocommunity.org ) or through the Community Chronicle.
Your Giving:
Thank you so much for your faithfulness in giving financially to the Lord and to the work of the Kingdom here at Base Camp Englewood. Your support is deeply appreciated.
Thank you for your continued prayers for and support of Base Camp Englewood.

Pastor Hugo

2010-02-12T10:14:00.001-07:00

Dear Members and Ministry Partners at Englewood:

Here is the inside scoop on what is happening at our Base Camp.

Women’s Ministry Easter Basket Outreach Begins This Sunday:
The women’s ministry team is gearing up for preparations for our church wide Easter Basket Outreach. This Sunday, you will receive instructions on how to donate goods and volunteer for the distribution of the baskets to families in our neighboring communities.

Connect Wednesdays: A Time For Community and Learning:
It is been pure joy for me to meet several families and individuals at our Connect Dinners. Let me encourage you to join us sometime for a meal and time of sharing.

Costa Rica Relief Work Update:
I had a very productive trip to Costa Rica last week. We are in the process of purchasing property for the Women’s Association in the village to relocate their development project away from the river. The health clinic is almost done and preparations for our Summer Mission trip were initiated. I would love to have some of you join our CCC Team going next July 2-10.

Dalyce Young Going Corporate:
Our Executive Assistant Dalyce Young is going back to corporate America and will be leaving our Englewood Staff team. After much prayer and consideration, she has accepted a job working with KeyBank in downtown Denver. Her last day at the office will be Thursday, February 18th.

She will remain a part of our mission – as an active member and volunteer with CCC Bilingual as well as Costa Rica Missions.

Please keep me in your prayers as I quickly seek a replacement. I am looking for someone who can fit well with the Englewood Staff Team I am building to best serve our base camp and community.

Spanish Bible Study Coming Soon:
On February 17th, we will be having on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:pm a Spanish Bible Study in the Chapel at Englewood. Please let your Spanish-speaking friends know about this ministry opportunity as well as inviting them to our Bilingual service on Sundays at 11:30am in the Summit Hall West.

Deacons Meeting:
Our next meeting scheduled is for Wed. Feb. 17th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. At this meeting, each Deacon will be bringing a list of ministry dreams that they discern is what God could be placing on our hearts as part of our campus DNA. We will then pray through the suggestions to try to discern what God wants for us to become and do as a congregation.

Facilities Update - Window Shopping So Far:
There are several churches that have shown interest in purchasing or leasing the facilities. We constantly have people coming through to window shop and see the building, but there is NO SERIOUS OFFER on the table. I will keep you posted when new developments arise.

Thank you for your continued prayers for and support of Base Camp Englewood.

Pastor Hugo

PS. I heard it might snow on Sunday, but it would sure be good to see some of you die hards who won’t let snow keep you away from Church. 

2010-02-01T11:06:00.002-07:00

Dear Members and Ministry Partners at Englewood:

Here is the inside scoop on what is happening at our Base Camp.

Women’s Ministry Easter Basket Outreach:
The women’s ministry team is gearing up for preparations for our church-wide Easter Basket Outreach. On February 14th, we will receive the details on all the food donations needed in order to put these baskets together. They will then be distributed to families in our surrounding communities the Saturday prior to Easter.

Connect Wednesdays: A Time For Community and Learning:
Even in the atmosphere of a tough economy we want to do everything possible to serve our families at CCC-Englewood. There is a great all-you-can-eat dinner starting at 5:00pm. We have reduced the prices of our Connect Dinners to $3 per adult and $2 per kid in order to help our families get a respite from cooking at home. Breaking bread together is a wonderful way to get to know other members of the church. I had the marvelous opportunity to get to meet some of the kids at church, along with their parents, during this meal. We want to encourage you to come be a part of our Connect Wednesdays.
At 6:30pm we have AWANA and Youth Ministry programs for kids, and Adult Bible study. Pastor Gary Brown is leading a study of the book of James. This past Wednesday, I also had the opportunity to meet a wonderful couple that has been attending Englewood since Cherry Hills sold us the building. I am available twice a month to meet with anyone in the congregation to hear your thoughts, ideas, hopes, and aspirations for the ministry here at Englewood. Please contact Dalyce Young (dyoung@coloradocommunity.org ) to sign up to be a part of one of these groups.

Prayer Summit:
Our prayer summit is this weekend at CCC. We will be praying for our city and beyond as well as taking sometime to pray for those needing healing during our service on January 31st. Our staff and deacons will be available to pray for anyone who is desirous of seeking God’s healing power to touch their lives.

Haiti Relief Work Update:
Please keep praying for Scott and Laura Powell as they continue to provide hands-on leadership in the efforts to help the people of Haiti. Scott is still in Haiti working with a team of engineers to determine which buildings are safe and which ones pose a danger to the people. He is also coordinating efforts to provide people with clean water and food. Scott just sent this update from Haiti. I will see if we can also post in on the website for others to read….
Hello everyone,

Just a quick text-only update from Haiti, since we have a (very slow)
internet connection now. It's hard to fathom the magnitude of this
event. Driving around the disaster zone every day, one can get
overwhelmed by all the need everywhere. Whereas in the past, EMI has
only sent one small team to such disasters, we are now mobilizing our
third and planning for a fourth(!)response team to Haiti.

I am writing from Petit Goave, a medium-sized town on the southern
peninsula. We've been feeling aftershocks about four times a day
here. People are sleeping underneath sheets strung over mattresses
lying right in the streets because they are afraid to spend the night
under any amount of concrete that could potentially crush them.
Unfortunately, they are still in danger from traffic in the streets
and their damaged houses on the verge of collapse (which they hesitate
to leave because of widespread fear of looting). Camps for internally
displaced people (IDPs) have shrunk in Port au Prince as people move
back to live with their families in the rural areas. IDP camps here
in the hinterlands have been steadily growing. UN and military
presence is required at every food and shelter distribution because
mob mentalities take over when the remaining supplies dwindle and
people fear they'll get left out.

Today, I talked with a doctor at a clinic outside one of the IDP camps
we're working at in Leogan, one of the worst-hit areas. He says their
flow of trauma cases has finally started to slow, but they're seeing
increasing cases of diarrhea, scabies, and tuberculosis. Many fear a
"second wave of death" from such diseases that stem from cramped
living conditions with poor water, sanitation, and hygiene. At this
particular camp, we're working with Samaritan's Purse and Tearfund to
install a water purification system, build latrines, and promote
hygiene education. Our structural assessment team has focused on
"reopening" clinics and hospitals throughout the disaster zone to
increase the availability of treatment space for medical teams working
hard to stem the tide of sickness and death.

In addition to activities like these, our teams have master-planned
camps for displaced peoples, bound up wounds, trained non-engineers
how to assess the safety of their own structures, prayed with
Haitians, plumbed bladders and chlorinators, and shared our
testimonies. Our two EMI teams and eight volunteers have been salt
and light serving the Haitian people throughout the disaster zone in
partnership with Samaritan's Purse, Food for the Hungry, Haiti for
Christ, Tearfund, Compassion International, Haiti Arise, Lifeline
Christian Ministries, Mission to Haiti, Acted, World Concern, Project
Concern, the US Marines, Blue Ridge Ministries, and many others.

We are generally healthy, but pray for our teams' health. Waterborne
diseases may be giving way to airborne diseases, and we need strong
immune systems to keep going.

We are generally unified, but pray for unity. Stressful conditions
lend themselves to frustration and dissent.

We are generally seeking God, but pray that we seek... and even thirst
after Him even more. Our strength and wisdom are in God alone.

I am blessed every time Laura tells me how much you all are praying
for us and how much you've taken care of her in my absence. We may
not get around to individually thanking each of you immediately, but
please know that you have our unending thanks. God is good.

For His Glory,
-Scott, from Petit Goave, Haiti
Joaquin Vargas is heading back to Haiti this weekend to work with local ministry partners in the rebuilding efforts. Both of our 5 + 5 missionary are extremely grateful for your prayers and financial support of their efforts to help alleviate the suffering and devastation in this country.

Costa Rica Relief Work Update:

About a year ago, I was in Costa Rica with a team of Engineers from EMI and contractors from CCC in order to help in the relief and rebuilding efforts of the Village of Yorkin that was devastated by a flood. I am headed down this week to meet with leaders of the village in order to discuss the completion of the health clinic as well as coordinate the relocation efforts of the village buildings away from the riverbank. Please pray that myself and our team of volunteers from Costa Rica will be safe and productive in our efforts.

Extreme Makeover – Summer Service Opportunities:
Our staff is exploring and praying into the possibility of seeing how our Englewood campus can focus this summer on serving people in our community by helping them with home repairs or assisting organizations with repair needs. We are dreaming about doing three projects, at the end of June, July, and August, where we would encourage our church members to get out on a Friday and Saturday to help serve in the community. On that Sunday we would have a Transformation Service that would allow participants to share their testimonies and celebrate God’s goodness. I will be sharing more about this with the congregation and praying for God’s lead for this summer. If you are interested in helping out with this please let me know.

Spanish Bible Study Coming Soon:
On February 17th, we will be having a Spanish Bible Study on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the Chapel at Englewood. Please let your Spanish-speaking friends know about this ministry opportunity, and invite them to our Bilingual service on Sundays at 11:30am in the Summit Hall West.
Spanish Conversational Class:
We will have a Spanish Conversational Class offered to help anyone who desires to learn Spanish to enhance his or her impact or customer service goals in the market place. The details will be printed in the bulletin.

Deacons Meeting:
Our next meeting scheduled is for Wed. Feb. 17th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. At this meeting, each Deacon will be bringing a list of ministry dreams that they discern is what God could be placing on our hearts as part of our campus DNA. We will then pray through the suggestions to try to discern what God wants for us to become and do as a congregation.
Facilities Update:

At this time there is not a serious offer on the table for leasing or purchasing the facilities. Although there have been several ministries interested in both, we do not have an offer at this time. I will keep you posted when new developments arise.
Thank you for your continued prayers for and support of Base Camp Englewood.

Pastor Hugo

Wiki Wiki Update January 14, 2010

2010-01-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Members and Ministry Partners at Englewood:

I hope you are enjoying your journey into this New Year. As a church, we will be looking into four keys to the meaningful life based on Psalm 90 for the first quarter of the year. This month we are looking at how “service” helps us to experience purpose in our lives as believers. We will also look at how love, joy, and compassion contribute to adding meaning to our journeys on earth.

Since I missed the Wiki Wiki last week, there are a lot of updates to pass on to you....

Middle School Parent Meeting:

This Sunday, our staff will be meeting with Middle School parents in order to hear from you what are your dreams and desires for how we can provide ministries that can help your children grow in their relationships with God. The meeting will be held at 11:45 downstairs in the 456 classroom. Lunch will be provided so please RSVP with Dalyce Young, my executive assistant dyoung@coloradocommunity.org.

Families Seeking Other Churches:

Three families have contacted me informing me that they are leaving CCC-Englewood and will be seeking another church. I want you to know how much I appreciated their honesty and courtesy in informing me about their decision. Though I am sad to see them go, I want you to know that I am very supportive of them and want to send them off with my prayers, love and appreciation for all their years of service at our campus.

If you are at a place that you feel within yourselves that this is a decision that you are struggling with, please let me know how I can be of assistance to you and your family. I firmly believe that what is important is to seek the confirmation of the Lord in key decisions like this. Furthermore, I believe as your pastor that it is crucial to welcome the new people God is bringing into our church with open arms as well as saying goodbyes to those who are leaving with love and blessing. There are seasons in our lives where God moves us to other local churches so that His work can continue in our lives. I also believe that at times, even when we have good reasons to leave a congregation, God has deeper reasons – that though unseen – leads us to remain. May God lead us all to the churches He has called us to call our faith communities.

Staffing Update:

Dr. Isidro Aybar is our new Worship Arts Coordinator. This is a part time – 12-hour position that includes mostly the preparation and conducting of our Worship Services on Sundays. As the Lord blesses, we will add more to Isidro’s job description in order to have a well-rounded Worship Arts Department at our Campus. If you are interested in volunteering for the Worship Arts Department, feel free to contact Isidro or you can also notify me. In addition, we will have Julie McClusky serving as our vocal coordinator.

Facilities:

Our staff and Board of Directors are continuously working on options to deal with the issue of our facilities. The main reason for exploring sale options or leasing options is to deal with the sad reality that for the past couple of years we have been unable as a congregation to afford the mortgage and operating costs of the building on our own. Thus, we need to prayerfully look into the best options that will allow us to eliminate our debt and give us something that is affordable. It is my intention in conjunction with our Executive Pastor, Doug Carlsen, to have a town hall meeting within the next six weeks or so in order to give you specific updates and give you an opportunity to dialogue with us around this matter. So far, we have not had any formal offers to purchase the property, but there are a couple of interested prospects for both leasing and purchasing. I will keep you posted.

Structure:

I have had a couple of meetings with a few of our members who remain concerned about the governing structure of CCC. I have also received emails from some of you expressing your concerns about this issue to me. I have passed on your concerns to the Board, our Excecutive Pastor and our Mission Leadership Team. I have been prayerfully seeking the Lord on this issue since I still have many questions myself that I need to understand regarding the issue. I will let you know when I will give my pastoral and theological position on the matter when the time is appropriate and when I get my own questions answered. But I want to assure you that this matter is on my mind and will be addressed by Easter. I like taking the time to process and think through issues before I give a response.

Connect Wednesdays:

I want to encourage you to be a part of our Connect Wednesdays. There is a great all-you-can-eat dinner starting at 5:00pm. Breaking bread together is a wonderful way to get to know other members of the church. At 6:30pm we have AWANA and Youth Ministry programs for kids, and Adult Bible study. Pastor Gary Brown is leading a study of the book of James. In addition, I am going to be hosting small group discussions, 2x a month starting January 27, to hear your thoughts, ideas, hopes, and aspirations for the ministry here at Englewood. Please contact Dalyce Young (dyoung@coloradocommunity.org ) to sign up to be a part of one of these groups.

Service Station:

Carol Cole, one of our deacons, is heading up a pilot program called “The Service Station” to connect people who want to serve with areas of need in ministries within our church and around the city. Stay tuned for more info.

Haiti & Costa Rica:

Please be in prayer for the people in Haiti who were affected by the earthquake. Specifically, I ask for your prayers on behalf of Joaquin Vargas, one of our 5+5 missionaries, and his ministry partners there. Joaquin will be making his way to Haiti today to check in on the pastors and churches there. On Sunday we will have a second offering taken to help in the relief efforts in Haiti that will be managed by our own missionary.

This news reminds me of the disaster that happened in the Costa Rican village of Yorkin after a great flood in November of 2008. The people of CCC responded in a great way and have played a huge role in re-building that community. In the coming weeks I will be making a trip to Costa Rica to meet with the leaders of the village and to discuss how to continue to serve them and help meet their needs.

Finances:

We want you to know that though we are still behind on our budget, we have made significant reductions and with generous gifts during the moth of December we were able to come within $85,000 of our original budget. Though we are still not out of the woods, I want to thank you for the progress we have made lately. Please see the bulletin update for the exact numbers on our budget.

My First Deacons Meeting:
I had a wonderful meeting with our Englewood Deacons last night (Wed. Jan. 13th ). Though they expressed continuous frustration over issues of communication, trust and structure, they were very energized about beginning the process of trying to identify the ministries that God will want Englewood to champion for Him.

We have a Dream Discernment meeting scheduled for Wed. Feb. 17th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. At this meeting, each Deacon will be bringing a list of ministry dreams that they discern is what God could be placing on our hearts as part of our campus DNA. We will then pray through the suggestions to try to discern what God wants for us to become and do as a congregation. The key issue of prayer is for God’s will to be revealed to the whole congregation so there is ownership. If you as a congregational member, have ideas on what you feel God my want to do at our campus, please sign up to attend one our connect diners with me so you can personally share what is on your heart for this congregation. The information on how to sign up is in the bulletin.

Thank you for your continued prayers for and support of this mission, and especially the ministry here at Englewood. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Pastor Hugo

2009-12-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

Joy To The World
Psalm 98 & Luke 2:8-15

How is the song “Joy To The World” meaningful to Christmas?

“Joy to the World” is one of America’s most loved and recognized Christmas carols. It may be shocking for many people to discover that this song was not originally a carol, nor does it have any lyrics that allude to the Biblical narrative of Christmas other than “The Lord is come.” Yet this is a treasured hymn of the Christmas season that serves as a pillow of comfort in a world that pillages our joy.

This sermon will take us to the Old Testament passage that inspired the song and see how it ties into the good news of Joy we find in Jesus during Christmas. It will challenge us to see how our poor attitudes and inability to see joy in the mundane lead us to miss the wonder of divine joy here on earth. It will motivate us to experience joy by journeying through Psalm 98 and Luke 2:8-15.

2009-12-11T10:22:00.001-07:00

Hello Englewood Family:

This may sound controversial, but the Christmas story is not just about Jesus – it is also about His earthly mother, Mary. This Sunday, December 13th, we will be looking at the “Songs of Mary” in order to get a Biblical perspective on her role in the human drama of the incarnation of Christ.

The Advent candle of this week will remind us that Jesus is our JOY!

Come half an hour before service or stay half an hour after to experience community with others around the sounds of carols in the Narthex.

Please pray for the process I will be initiating in putting together a Worship Arts Team for Englewood. If you are interested in volunteering in this area of ministry please let me know. I am hoping that we can hire a part time Worship Coordinator before the end of the year.

Please stop by our 5+5 Giving Tree in the foyer to learn more about our CCC 5+5 Missionaries. Take an ornament to find out more about their ministry and how you can contact them directly for more information or to contribute to their mission.

Remember that our Christmas Eve Services will be on Thursday, December 24th. The English service at 4:00pm and Bilingual service at 6:00pm. Come early and join us for Carols and Apple Cider in the Canyon Café.

Bilingual Corner:

The “Taste of Bilingual” Potluck will be at 12:45pm at Summit Hall. Please bring a favorite dish to share with others and join us for a time of fun and fellowship. Holiday Pictures will be taken at that time too, in case you missed your family shot.

Vivan los Broncos de Denver!

2009-12-03T11:29:00.001-07:00

Hello Dear Englewood Family:

Englewood Staff Updates

We are slowly growing our Englewood Team with gifted individuals in both volunteer and paid positions, in order that we may best shepherd the congregation. I am delighted to announce that Pastor Gary Brown will be serving as our Pastor of Sunday Morning Volunteers and Wednesday Night Home Teams. We welcome back Dalyce Young to the CCC staff as my Executive Assistant. We also are excited to have Terrilynn Towns, a Seminary Intern, serve with Elsie Bautista in our Children’s Ministry for both Englewood and Bilingual. In addition, we are thankful to have Susan McWhite serving as the Production Coordinator for both the Englewood and Bilingual services. And finally, Jeanne Myers has been serving since October as a Youth Intern, helping to teach Junior High students and also with administrative duties.

Cookie Exchange Sunday:

Please remember that this coming Sunday, Dec. 6th, we continue to celebrate the Advent Season with our Cookie Exchange. Bring some cookies to share with others. We will also be celebrating Communion and remembering what Jesus did for us on the Cross.

We will continue with our teaching series, “Songs of Christmas” by learning about the historical and theological significance of “O Holy Night.”

If you have a friend you would like to bring along to church, please feel free to invite them.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

Sincerely,

Hugo Venegas

O Holy Night

2009-12-02T10:44:00.001-07:00

O Holy Night

Luke 2:1-18

What makes the holy night of Christ’s birth such a divine night?

The author of the Christmas Hymn “O Holy Night,” read the story of the birth of Christ in Luke chapter 2 and imagined being there. This evoked such an emotional response in the author’s heart that he penned the carol – highlighting four major theological distinctions.

This sermon will look at the historical background of the hymn and explore four theological distinctives about the birth of Christ.

O Holy Night

Noche Sagrada

Luke 2:1-18

Lucas 2:1-18

What makes the holy night of Christ’s birth such a divine night?

¿Qué hace que la noche sagrada del nacimiento de Cristo sea una noche tan divina?

El escritor del himno navideño “Noche Sagrada” leyó la historia del nacimiento de Cristo en Lucas capítulo 2 y imaginó como si estuviera allí . Eso provocó una reacción tan emocional en el corazón del escritor que él escribió el himno – destacando cuatro distinciones teológicas grandes.

This sermon will look at the historical background of the hymn and explore four theological distinctives about the birth of Christ.

Este sermón mirará a los antecedentes históricos del himno y explorará cuatro distintivos teológicos acerca del nacimiento de Cristo.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

2009-11-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Matthew 1:18-24

What does “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” teach us about Christmas?

It communicates the prophetical Old Testament views of the Messiah as fulfilled in the New Testament by the birth of Christ.

This sermon will explore four views of the Messiah that gives compelling theological reasons to motivate Christians to celebrate Advent and Christmas.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Oh Ven, Oh Ven Emanuel

Matthew 1:18-24

Mateo 1:18-24

What does “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” teach us about Christmas?

Qué es lo que nos enseña el himno “Oh Ven, Oh Ven Emanuel” sobre la Navidad?

It communicates the prophetical Old Testament views of the Messiah as fulfilled in the New Testament by the birth of Christ.

Nos enseña sobre las perspectivas del Antiguo Testamento acerca de las profecías del Mesías cumplidas en el Nuevo Testamento por medio del nacimiento de Cristo.

This sermon will explore four views of the Messiah that gives compelling theological reasons to motivate Christians to celebrate Advent and Christmas.

Este sermón explora cuatro perspectivas de quien es el Mesías y presenta razones teológicas contundentes que motiva a los Cristianos a celebrar el advenimiento y nacimiento de Cristo.

Englewood Community News 11.18.09

2009-11-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hello Englewood Family:

I am delighted to begin this journey of being the people of God and doing the works of Jesus together as Base Camp Englewood. Since this is my first official day on the job as your Sr. Pastor, I would like to take some time to give you some critical announcements on what I plan to do in the next few months and how I intend to improve our communication with you as a congregation. Thus, I ask you to bear with me on the extensive nature of the Englewood Community News I need to share with you today. Hugo Venegas

Community Chronicle: Let us know you are here and how we can pray for you this week. If you are a brand new visitor, check the first time visitor box and write down any questions regarding your ministry needs.

Consolidating Staff: I am in the process of assessing strengths and spiritual gifts of our current staff, in order to give them fresh ministry assignments that will address key areas of felt need within our Englewood campus. I want to develop a team that can best serve the congregation and intentionally position us to accomplish our mission of connecting people to Christ, community and calling.

Improving our Englewood Communication: I want to spend a great deal of time and effort in making sure that we create systems of clear communication with you as a congregation. These are the communication means I will be implementing.

Emails: reach me at hvenegas@coloradocommunity.org

Wiki Wiki Updates: Quick periodic updates from me on key things happening in the life of the church. (i.e. What is going on with our facilities, financial reports, special events, etc.)

Hugo’s Blog: I will post information regarding crucial matters in the life and ministry of Base Camp Englewood.

Feedback Cards: Periodically, I will be handing out “feedback cards” to the congregation to get a feel for opinions and preferences regarding key decisions that we need to make. It is my preference to seek out as much information as possible before making a decision. (i.e. If we had to move the service time in the future, what option would best work for you. 9:00am 9:30am 11:00am Other _________

After Services: I will be available for you for brief chats, or to have prayer together.

If you mail me letters, in order to share the things that you are excited about or your concerns, please do me a personal favor and sign your name. If you give me your contact information, I can respond to you.

Quick Hellos: Hit me up on Facebook.

Urgent prayer requests during the week. If you run into an emergency or crisis situation that requires immediate prayer, please email us your requests on to eprayer@coloradocommunity.org

Connect Dinners: Beginning in January, I will have two Wednesdays a month where we will have sign ups so that 12 to 15 of you can join me for a light dinner where we can get to know each other better, and also give you the opportunity to share your concerns, frustrations, dreams and aspirations for our Englewood Base Camp.

4. Parents of Middle Schoolers: Holly and I have middle school daughters, and we live the challenges you face. I would love to have a meeting with you in the near future in order to hear your desires for the kind of middle school ministry that can help your children grow spiritually and develop healthy friendships with their peers. Please state in the Community Chronicle that you are a middle school parent and provide us your contact information: phone, email and address.

CCC Structure & Facilities: Paragraph Update pending on approval of Board. The members of the Board of Directors have been spending a significant amount of time evaluating CCC as a Mission and seeking ways to adjust our structural functions in order to improve organizational and communication effectiveness. I will be attending the Board meetings, and will personally commit to representing your critical concerns pertinent to Board level matters. I will also be informing you of important discussions and decisions taking place. Furthermore, the Board is currently exploring several alternatives for maximizing the use of our Englewood facilities by including other tenants to share the building and its operating costs. We will keep you informed as things progress in the weeks and months ahead.

Celebrating Christmas at Englewood: In the bulletin, you will find details for the activities your staff has been planning for meaningfully celebrating Christmas together and building a strong sense of community at Englewood.

· Multi-campus Thanksgiving Eve Service: Next Wednesday, November 25^th at Englewood, 7:00pm – Childcare 0-5

· November 29^th, Family Picture Sunday in the Lobby.

· December 6^th, Cookie Exchange Sunday in Summit Hall.

· December 13^th, Christmas Carol Sunday, Family Picture day, Taste of Bilingual Potluck.

· December 20^th, Hot chocolate, Apple Cider Sunday, Canyon Café.

· December 24^th, Christmas Eve Service at 4pm, Bilingual Service at 6pm in the Summit Hall. Seating will be arranged in a similar manner like the Aurora, Upper Room.

Child Dedication Class: Tomorrow the 23^rd from 6pm to 7pm in Summit Hall West.