October 11, 2018
Pastor Tom's Note: Partners in the Gospel
Partnership in Suffering

1. The gift of suffering
When we suffer, the last thing on our mind is to consider the suffering (whatever form it takes) as a gift. Why would I want to view that which brings so much pain and discomfort in my life as a gift? It's sort of like receiving an unwanted gift at Christmas or on your birthday that you instantly re-gift or return. No thank you.

Yet God's Word says...
The Great Banquet
From time to time people have wondered what The Great Banquet retreat is all about. In summary, it's a 72-hour get away structured around a series of daily talks and discussions centered on the grace and love of God (from the parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14; see also Isaiah 25). The first Great Banquet in New England was held on September 20-23 at First Church Congregational Boxford. Several of us from TCC attended. The women’s Great Banquet will be held this weekend at capacity (close to 30 guests) with about 12 women connected with TCC attending. We are excited to see this movement of renewal and revival launching in New England and to see many churches partnering together for this Gospel centered ministry. If you want more information about the Spring 2019 Great Banquet, contact Pastor Tom.

For more info about our local Great Banquet movement, read here.
Upcoming Events
Men’s Basketball Tonight!

All are welcome to join pick up us on Thursday nights from 7:45-9:00 pm. For more information, contact Sam Jackson at jsamjackson8@gmail.com .
Announcements
Flower Donations for Sunday Services

Flowers for the Sunday services are made possible by the generous donations of members or groups who wish to give flowers in memory or in honor of a person or event. The flowers will be used at the 9:30A service in Phillips Hall and then will be moved into the niches in the sanctuary for the 11A service.  If you wish to donate flowers for a Sunday, please sign up at the Connection Hub or call the Church Office. $80.00 is the usual donation to cover cost of the flowers.  If interested, see the sign-up sheet at the Connection Hub or call the church office at 508-358-7717.
Lifting up Liberian Youth (LULY) Update,
Teddy Sayonkon’s 2018 Liberia Mission Trip.

Thank you to all who donated school supplies, clothing and the monies necessary to ship them to Monrovia. The barrels of supplies were sent at the beginning of July and Teddy flew to Liberia in mid-August to help distribute them. Unfortunately, the shipment arrived later than anticipated (on August 31) and was not released by the government until after Teddy flew home on September 2. However, he spent 16 days visiting schools, meeting with student scholarship recipients and sharing devotions and the Gospel with them. Teddy arranged for the distribution of the supplies by volunteer helpers in Liberia, his wife and a close friend, Abraham Howard. The materials in the barrels were successfully distributed to many needy children in orphanages, schools, hospitals, and churches. Praise the Lord!

2018- 2019 Scholarship Fund Raising Efforts Now Underway for LULY. Can You Help?

Currently, there are 10 scholarship students funded by LULY for their first quarter tuition of the 2018-2019 academic year. There is an urgent need to raise an additional $1200 to cover the second payment for the balance of the first semester. More fundraising will be necessary for the second half year of scholarships.

Less than $500 per child will cover the cost of their tuition to attend a Christian school as well as buy them school uniforms. Donating to support these children is a wonderful way to tangibly share the love of Christ! 

Donations of any amount can be made to “ Lifting up Liberian Youth (LULY ).” The LULY Board (Paul Church, Kevin Johnson, Debbie Wilson and Teddy Sayonkon) are working to make the foundation an official nonprofit organization and gain tax exempt status. (Unfortunately, contributions are not currently tax deductible.)

Donations can be given to any Board member, or you can mail it to PO Box 215 North Billerica, MA 01862. Anyone with the time and skills to help obtain this tax exempt status is encouraged to contact a Board member; we could use the help! Click here to learn more about LULY.  Read more here
Operation Christmas Child
This Holiday season our whole church will participate in "Operation Christmas Child," a program run by Samaritan's Purse. Through the power of simple shoebox gifts, children experience God's love and the Good News of the Gospel. To participate see the OCC display in the Lobby. Once assembled, please drop off your shoebox gifts to the children's ministry check-in desk by Sunday, November 18th. This is a wonderful project to do as a family this Christmas Season! 
Children's Ministry
Gail Hughson, Director
Cheryl Alexander, Assistant
Girls Gathering Begins October 17, 5:30-6:45 pm

All fourth and fifth grade girls are invited to join us at Girls Gathering. This year we’ll use the book, A Girl After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George. We’ll discover what God says about growing in love for family and friends, growing in wisdom in order to make good choices, growing in grace when facing situations that are hard, and growing in joy when drawing closer to Jesus. We’ll pray for and encourage one another to become girls after God’s own heart. 
 
Register Here or complete a registration form at CM desk.

 
New This Year, Guys Gathering!
Begins October 17, 5:30-6:45 pm.

Attention all 4 and 5th grade boys! Come and join the fun with Kyle Smethurst, Pastor of Students and Outreach, each Wednesday from 5:30 – 6:45 PM.  Register on line now.   
For more information, contact Kyle at kylesmethurst@gmail.com .


What We’ll Learn in LTA This Week

Pre-K:
There are a lot of circumstances in life that we just don’t have a handle on. We don’t have what it takes to make things better. We don’t have the answers, energy, wisdom, patience, solution, or way out of a situation. But we know the One who does. And when you know the One who does, there’s no need to worry. God’s got it.
 
Week 2 : Hagar, Genesis 21:14-20
Story Focus: God hears me and gives me what I need.

K-5:
Everything we have comes from God. He is faithful to provide what we need. And even more than what we own, God can also provide what we need to face whatever happens in our life. God has proven time and again, that we can trust Him no matter what. We can complain or become jealous of what others have, or we can choose to respond with contentment, knowing that God has a plan for our lives. 
 
Week 2: Don’t Be Controlled by Money, Hebrews 13:5
Bottom Line:  Stuff can’t make you happy.
Student Ministries
We are going back to Guatemala!
February 16 - 23, 2019

During this week long trip for all 9th-12th graders, along with sharing the Gospel and studying God's Word, we will be:

-Helping build low-cost houses in impoverished neighborhoods
-Constructing and delivering fuel-efficient, vented cooking stoves (reducing respiratory disease and fuel consumption)
-Mixing and pouring a concrete basketball court
-Sponsoring and hosting a soup kitchen
-Competing against local schools in soccer and basketball
-Leading sports clinics

Applications are due by October 14th! Email kylesmethurst@gmail.com for more details.

Music and Worship Ministry
Choir Rehearsal Thursday Evenings, 7:00 pm in RM 201!

All adults are welcome! We rehearse Thursday evenings from 7-8:30 pm and sing on the 3rd Sunday of each month, plus seasonal services.
Adam Kurihara, Director of Worship & Community Life, music@tccwayland.org

Adult Ministries and Bible Studies
Begins This Sunday!
Seminar: How to Study the Bible with Jeridan Dyck
11A in Room 214
Ever want to not just study the Bible, but study HOW to study the Bible? Join this four-week seminar on Sunday mornings at 11 am taught by Gordon-Conwell student and YWAM Alumn Jeridan Dyck.

Come and glean tools to help you study the Bible as we walk through the book of Jonah using an inductive approach. Besides practical skills and use of study resources, we will discover God's sovereign power and extravagant love for the nations through God's interaction with his unwilling prophet. What does this mean for our lives? There will be teaching from the front as well as hands-on work with the text and time for discussion. Come at the 11:00 hour to explore a small portion of this amazing book God has given us!
New Grief Group to Begin

A new Grief Group will be starting at TCC on Tuesday, November 27, 6:30 - 8:00 pm . The group will meet biweekly over the course of six months. The book Understanding Your Grief  by Alan Wolfelt will be used as a format for discussion. If you are in need of support, encouragement and understanding around the death of someone you love, please consider joining this group. The purpose of the group is to provide a safe place to process grief through the lens of faith. Registration is necessary. For more information or to register, please contact Jane Stankiewicz 508-314-0827, jlstanky@comcast.net or Kathleen Barrett 508-308-4985, bkbarrett@verizon.net .
Wednesday Morning Bible Stud y - with Rev. Allan Baldwin. All are welcome to join us at 9:30 am for a study of Habakkuk. The focus each week will be on a particular portion of Scripture, and how it relates to the Bible in general. There will be a time for questions at the end of the class and there is no homework.
Saturday Morning Saints - Men's Breakfast and Bible Study
Light breakfast and Bible Study from 7:30 am-9:00 am. All men are welcome to join us! For more information, contact: Ed Brown at 508-655-9116; beverlybrown2@mac.com or Jim Santamaria at 508-358-7821; hermits@comcast.net.
Wednesday Nights, October 10 - November 14, 7-8 pm.

For many, the book of Revelation can seem like a daunting and confusing book to study. Its prophetic voice and outrageous imagery seems to have little to do with our daily lives. But the book of Revelation prepares us to the reality that before glory comes sacrifice: in the life of Jesus and in the lives of His disciples, in every generation. Behind the sacrifice, however, lies absolute victory - Jesus alone is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Join Rev. Dr. Tom Petter as he draws from years of study to unpack this book into its basic structure, revealing the interpretive keys to understand Revelation as a whole. 
Knit-Together (K-Tog) 

All ages knitting group, Mondays at 10 am & 7 pm in the parlor.

Questions? Call Susan Foster at 508-358-5852.
Women's Bible Study

Women’s Bible Study (WBS) will be studying 1st and 2nd Corinthians this year. We’re going to see how if we don’t understand the cross and what came after it - our lives won’t reflect it. Come study with us how to live a life of love in a broken world through His truth! Thursdays 9:15-11:00 am at TCC, Wayland. September 13 - April 2018. Registration and questions? Contact Amy at TCCWBS@gmail.com or the TCC office at 508-358-7717.
Mom to Mom

Register Now!
    Friday mornings, 9:20 am - 11:15 am

"Mom to Mom makes me a better mom as it 'gives me support' along the way..."

Mom to Mom meets weekly to address issues and needs of women and family, guided by Biblical principles. We offer encouragement, compassion, and support to moms with children of all ages living at home. For over sixteen years, hundreds of Moms from the community at-large have come together and learned that they "are not alone" in the delight and struggles of raising a family. Any mom, independent of religious affiliation, is invited to join us.

Mom to Mom also offers a wonderful Christian Children's Ministry Program for infants through kindergartners. There are crafts, music, games and Bible stories for toddlers on up. A loving and responsible children's team offers your kids the best!

Please note that moms and children must be pre-registered. Placement in the children's program is offered on a first come, first served basis.

The program registration fee is $55/year and scholarships are available.

The children’s program fee is $75/year and scholarships are available.

For additional information, feel free to contact Elizabeth Markey at momtomomtcc@gmail.com .
This Friday:
REACH - Beyond Domestic Violence
with Jessica Teperow
Here at TCC, we are passionate about cultivating authentic community. Throughout the week, LIFE groups meet and rely on Bible study, discussion, practical yet compassionate care to encourage, befriend and help each other grow in relationship with Christ. We have groups in Wayland, Weston, Sudbury, Natick and Hudson who would love to have you join them!
SPREAD THE WORD... 
 
IF YOU ARE IN NEED, OR IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS IN NEED, SUCH AS SINGLE PARENTS, THOSE ON A FIXED INCOME, UNEMPLOYED OR OTHERS WHO COULD USE A HELPING HAND, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO VISIT THE CHURCH OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE FROM OUR LOAVES & FISHES FOOD PANTRY. OUR FOOD PANTRY IS OPEN ON SUNDAYS AND REGULAR CHURCH HOURS.

The TCC Food Pantry, “Loaves & Fishes” offers assistance to those of TCC and the surrounding community who need help with providing for themselves and their family
Donations to the TCC “Loaves & Fishes” Food Pantry are gratefully accepted. There is a collection bin on a table near the lobby stairwell. We only accept donations of non-perishable food and personal items. 

We respectfully ask you not to donate any open or expired items – we just have to throw them away!

TOP ITEMS NEEDED:
Canned Fruit
Hot Chocolate Packets
Decaf Tea
Dish Detergent
Dishwasher Detergent


If you have any questions regarding donations, contact Diane or David Newcomb at diane.newcomb@comcast.net or david.newcomb@comcast.net

 “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  Luke 12:48
Volunteer Opportunities
TCC runs on volunteers! Please visit tccwayland.org/get-involved for more information.  

Greeting Team - adam@tccwayland.org
Usher Team - office@tccwayland.org
Coffee Hour Hospitality - jspinale@hotmail.com
Offering Counters - contributions@tccwayland.org
Music Team - adam@tccwayland.org
Tech Team - adam@tccwayland.org
Scripture Readers - adam@tccwayland.org

Greeting Ministry

Greeters stand in the lobby and at the doors to help people into the building safely. Arrive at 9 am and help us foster a welcoming community.

Usher Ministry

Additional Ushers Still Needed…

Ushers are absolutely critical in helping newcomers form their first impression of TCC. You help set the tone for the worship experience to come. You are representatives of God’s kingdom.You’re not just opening doors, providing information, handing out bulletins or collecting the offering, you are making people feel welcome!

Sunday Hospitality / Coffee Hour

If you enjoy having a cup of coffee while chatting with others during the 10:30 am Fellowship time, please sign-up (alone or with your Small Group) to host a coffee hour!  You don’t even have to provide snacks – just make, set up and then clean up the coffee and tea (Easy instructions provided – click here to see what is involved!) Participation gives you and your group an opportunity to serve the Lord and is greatly appreciated by your fellow members.

Counters

Are you accurate and reliable? Volunteers count the weekly offering (mostly checks for deposit) each Sunday, and we are in need of new helpers. Offering counters work in pairs. 
Local Outreach
We partner with local Christian organizations to help us achieve the greatest impact in serving our community. We also believe that serving the poor is an essential part of the Christian faith. If you are not yet involved in one of these ministries, sign up yourself and/or your LIFE group today!

For more information, please contact Jen Calverley or Nancy Griffin at 508-358-7717 or email frontdesk@tccwayland.org.
The Bridge House

The Bridge House, located in Framingham, is a faith-based recovery home for men with substance abuse problems. Their program provides individualized treatment including counseling to support the spiritual, physical, social and intellectual health of each person in recovery. TCC would like to provide a meal for 50 to Bridge House every month.
Pearl Street Cafe

Pearl Street Cafe provides dinner for 50-100 people every weeknight. TCC will provide 12 volunteers to serve dinner there every 1st and 5th Monday of the month from 4:30-7 pm. It's a great way to serve others in our community and no cooking experience is required. We simply wait on tables and serve food prepared by the Pearl St. Cafe staff . There is no age restriction on the volunteers. We hope you will join us and serve!
Community Events
L'Abri Fall Lecture Series 2018

L'Abri is a residential retreat and study center in Southborough, MA. Friday night lectures on Christian faith, theology, and culture are free and open to the public.

Lectures begin at 8pm
49 Lynbrook Road, Southborough, MA
Waypoint Adventure's
Climb-A-Thon
Looking for a fun afternoon of camaraderie, competition, exercise, and the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Waypoint Adventure? COME BE A PART!

Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 1-4pm

Central Rock Gym, 74 Acton St, Watertown MA 02472

WHAT IS IT? An opportunity to gather a group of friends to go indoor rock climbing AND raise awareness and revenue for Waypoint Adventure.

The mission of Waypoint Adventure is to challenge youth and adults with disabilities to discover their purpose, talents and strengths through the transforming power of adventure.