Around the COG - January 21, 2021

Good morning, COG family!

Over his sermons the last two weeks, Pastor Joel laid out where he and the vision team believe God is directing COG in 2021 and beyond. If you missed them, you can go to our media page to watch and hear where God is leading COG in our endeavors to live and spread the Gospel of Jesus.

The COG vision team, through prayer and discussion, has created our new mission statement that emphasizes our purpose:

"Connecting our church and community

to become change agents for Jesus."

We also developed a multi-year strategy that will take COG into new areas of deepening our own relationships with God and connecting with our community. Knowing that we have to be in step with God in all things and that being in step with God is accomplished by listening to and obeying Him in who He wants us to be and where He wants us to go, we are beginning with an emphasis on prayer. This must become foundational for us as a body of believers and for us as individuals to become the change agents we believe God wants us to be. We are going to be a church committed to prayer, and our 2021 objective reflects that:

"In 2021, we want to see at least 75% of COG members praying daily, praying for three people who are far from God, and engaging them once a month."

Will you commit to praying daily? You will have an opportunity starting this Sunday, January 24th, to sign your name on our praying wall. Be ready to commit to connecting with God daily.

We want everything we do to be tied into our mission of connecting with our community and becoming a change agent for Jesus. Get ready for a great 2021!

Be salt and light,

Pastor Chris

Tithes and Offerings

Thank you, COG family, for your generosity and faithfulness during these difficult times! Here are our giving numbers for the last two weeks:

Week of January 12th, 2021

Giving: $6.950.00

Weekly Budget: $10,296.31

Year to Date Giving: $15,768.14

Year to Date Budget: $20,592.62

Week of January 19th, 2021

Giving: $21,327.52

Weekly Budget: $10,296.31

Year to Date Giving: $37,095.66

Year to Date Budget: $30,888.93

Below are the ways that you can contribute your tithes and offerings to the church.

Write a check to the church. You can either mail it in to the church or stop by the church and put it in the slot of our mailbox located by the doors of the North Building (4343 S. Flanders St. Centennial, CO 80015).
Bill Pay through your banking institution.
COG website - online giving.

2020 Giving Statements

Giving statements for 2020 have been printed and are ready to be mailed. You should have your giving statements by the end of January. If you have not received your statement by the end of the month, please email Rhonda and she will look into it.

Thank you again for your faithfulness during such a trying 2020.

Upcoming Events

Fit2Serve and Outdoor Ministry

Fit2Serve: Weigh-in Wednesdays

If you would like help with accountability for your weight loss goals, consider me as your accountability partner in this endeavor. This will be an opportunity to have someone check in and help encourage you through your weigh loss goals. You can be anonymous if you prefer. Text Carol Bryan at 303-522-2293 for further details.

Fit2Serve: Pedometer Heart Health Competition

The step challenge is on! During the month of February, there will be a 3-person team competition. Walk your way to better health and compete in a friendly way. You can sign up as a team or individually. Sign up by Jan 31st by emailing Carol or texting her at 303-522-2292. She also has information on deals for pedometers.

Outdoor Ministry: Whitewater Rafting

The best deals for whitewater rafting are found in February, with groups of 10 getting even better pricing. A group from COG will be going rafting on Saturday, June 5th. This trip for both beginner and intermediate skill levels. You can email Carol Bryan or text/call her at 303-522-2293 for more information.

Israel 2021

Israel 2021! Did you hear that we are organizing a trip to Israel in June of 2021? This trip promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you want more information on pricing, dates, or any other specifics, email Pastor Chris.

Women's Group Study

Join in on a 6-week study that reveals what Scripture says about forgiveness, a step by step process to free yourself from hurt, uncover emotional triggers, and more. The group will read and discuss Forgiving What you Can't Forget by Lysa Terkeurst. This group starts Thursday, February 18th, at 6:30 pm. Email Anita if you have questions and sign up here for the class.

Men's Galatians Study

This men's Bible study will meet virtually on Friday mornings from 6-7 am starting on February 12th. We will be studying the book of Galatians using the Navigators' Life Change study guide. This is a 12-week series that will go deep into what it means to follow Christ. Contact Karl Been at 720-284-4750 for more information and to get on the list for the virtual link.

RightNow Media

Just a friendly reminder that our congregation has access to an extensive video library called RightNow Media. It’s like the "Netflix" of video Bible studies and has a HUGE library of faith-based videos that you can access whenever and wherever you want—on your phone, tablet, computer, or at home on your TV.

If you have not looked at RightNow Media before, you are missing out on some incredible scholars who bring the Word well. This resource has videos for everyone—kids, youth, parents, married couples, college students, single adults, working professionals—all aimed at helping you grow.

Use the link below to sign up for your free account, and you’re all set to explore more than 20,000 videos. We pray that this resource will be a blessing for you and your family!

Weblink

Love Baskets Silent Auction

Nicaragua Mission Team

Love baskets are a fun way to be part of the Nicaragua mission team. This annual fundraiser helps us minister with the gospel and with medical care to thousands of people on every trip. Each year we see God’s love move in a powerful way and hundreds who come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

“Baskets” don’t have to be baskets… you can use bowls, boxes, buckets, etc.

Just a few ideas: Luxury bath basket, tool bucket “basket”, dinner and a movie for two basket, chocolate lovers' basket, pet lovers' basket/bowl, mommy’s baby bag, music lovers' basket, gourmet gift basket, salsa lovers' basket, a camping/picnic basket, pasta lovers' basket, BBQ basket, crafts-that-you-make basket. Be creative!

Your love basket will be a part of a silent auction that will conclude on Sunday, February 14th shortly after the end of service with all proceeds going to the Nicaragua mission trip.

There's no need to sign up. Just bring baskets as soon as you can! Baskets need to be on display for bidding by February 7th. Tables will be set up in the back and/or side walls.

If you cannot make it to COG on a Sunday, feel free to come in during the week to check out the baskets and put a bid in. If you want to financially support the mission team without buying a basket, you can write a check and put "Nicaragua Team Support" on the memo line.

If you have questions about the baskets or the mission trip to Nicaragua, email Eric Paulsen.

Thank you from the Nicaragua Mission Team

www.hope4nic.com

Women's Ministry Virtual Conference

The Women's Ministry at COG is holding a virtual conference on January 23, 2021, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The focus of this conference is self-care with a variety of speakers and activities.

If you would like more information, email Joyce Baker. Please register by emailing Anita or going to the Community of Grace (@COG Aurora) Facebook page so you can receive the conference materials. Here is the Zoom link for the conference.

Students of Grace

Winter Chill

Just because winter camps around the nation are closed doesn't mean that we can't make our own!

I am excited to have our guest speaker, Jeff Oetter, teach us from God's Word as we look at what it means to love God with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jeff will bring years of youth ministry experience combined with doctoral education to the table as he challenges us to love God with our ALL.

Ethan Springer will be joining us again to lead us in powerful worship and of course there will be plenty of fun including an afternoon excursion to a local escape room!

This will be a great opportunity for our youth and their friends to hear relevant teaching from God's Word and a clear & concise Gospel message and have a lot of fun at the same time! Don't miss it!!!

Students will be joining the group for in-person activities and returning to their own homes to sleep. Our afternoon activity will take us off the church campus and responsible adult drivers will be selected to drive students to and from the event location.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

For His Glory,

Pastor J

Baptism Sunday

What is being baptized all about? Being baptized is an outward expression of an inward commitment to Jesus. If you have given your life to Jesus at some point in your life and have not been baptized since that decision, it is a great way to express your commitment to Jesus. We will be holding a baptism on Sunday, January 31, during service. If you would like to be baptized or have questions email Pastor Joel.

Men's Bible Study

Men, do you need a place to be encouraged and challenged? Join Pastor Joel for a time of looking into God's Word and applying it to your life. We will meet from 6:00 to 7:00 on Tuesday mornings. Email Pastor Joel if you have questions. Join via Zoom here.

Child Evangelism Fellowship

Good News Club will be meeting on January 21st from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm. This group is for elementary-aged children.

Masks are required during the Good News Club get-togethers at COG. You can register online or download the registration form. If you have questions or want to be a helper/leader, you can email Kathleen Chandler or call her at 720-621-3602.