Inside SouthBrook

This weekend Charlie described the story recorded in Matthew 12:12-17 when Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple.

If you’d prefer to listen to the message, you may download the audio file, listen to the podcast or pick up a CD in the bookstore ($4).

Title: Scary Jesus: Flipping Tables

For those of you in a community group, here are some discussion questions for you to consider.

Ordinarily we audiotape the First Wednesday teaching time, but, well, we sorta forgot. Oops….

The evening was a continuation of the teaching Charlie started in September about the life of Elijah. Here’s Charlie’s manuscript for those of you who weren’t able to make it in October.

Our next First Wednesday is November 5, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Once again, SouthBrookers proved they have REALLY generous hearts. This past weekend we had a clothing drive as part of our Threads message series. We’re estimating we received at least 3,000 bags of clothes.

The staff and about 15 volunteers spent all day on Tuesday sorting clothes and getting them ready to deliver. And they were back at work on Wednesday. Because we had so many clothes, we had to find additional organizations to take some of the donations. So, the fall/winter clothes went to Good Neighbor House in Dayton. Most of the summer clothes will go to American Caribbean Experience in Jamaica. The professional clothes (men and women) when to Clothes That Work in Dayton. They provide interview-appropriate clothes for people trying to get into the workforce. The balance of the clothes went to St. Vincent de Paul in Dayton. They provide support to the homeless and indigent in Dayton.  Thanks to everyone for your donations.

This weekend, Charlie finished up our Threads message series. He talked about practical steps for growing a strong faith, no matter life’s circumstances. If you’d like to hear the message, you can download the audio file, listen to the podcast or pickup a CD in the bookstore ($4).

Title: Threads - Finely Woven, Part 2

Here are a few discussion questions for those of you in community groups.

Fellow SouthBrook Leaders, please mark your calendars in advance for some important upcoming events!

We are offering 3 revamped* Leader Huddles:
 

• Monday, October 20, 2008
  
• Monday, January 26, 2009
  
• Monday, April 27, 2009
  

*The Huddles are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. 
From 7 to 8, we will ALL spend time together in the small theater. At 8, we will break into our ministry groups and meet with our smaller teams to develop ministry-specific leadership skills.
 

‘Facilitate’ Training Sessions will all be offered in the Learning Center according to the following schedule:
 

• Sunday, November 16 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
  
• Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  
• Sunday, May 17, 2009 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

WHAT? You, as the facilitator, will be able to do

• Get people talking - about their family, priorities, work, interests, faith…LIFE.
  
• Keep people talking - and ENGAGED.
  
• Help people learn and GROW.
  
• Help people relate - AUTHENTICALLY.
  

HOW? You, as the facilitator, will do it

1. ASK questions.  Example questions:  what was your favorite childhood activity?  What do you like to do with your free time?  Anyone willing to share a time when there was awkward discussion?
   
2. Actively LISTEN to people and their STORIES.  Examples: Is anyone willing to share his or her favorite childhood activity? What about free time activities?
   
3. Establish an environment that encourages people to speak their feelings, thoughts and beliefs OUT LOUD.  Examples: What do you feel about your pace of life right now?  Why do you think it’s different from when “you were kids”?
   
4. APPRECIATE & PROCESS healthy conflict***. Examples: Why is healthy conflict difficult to manage?  Anyone have a story to tell about conflict management?
   

***Note: You can find Conflict Management articles at insidesouthbrook.org in the ‘Leadership Resources’ under the Group Life Facilitator Workshop tab.***
 FOLLOW UP: Pick 2 environments or relationships and apply A. through D. (above) in the next month. 
Email mike.roop@southbrook.org and share your experience.
SUGGESTED RESOURCES (INCLUDING REFERENCES):
General:General:

We’ve been in a series called Threads. We’re talking about how God weaves all the events of our lives into his grand plan, to help all of us become more like Jesus.

Title: Threads - Finely Woven, Part 1

Here are a few discussion questions for those of you in community groups.

Join us for the first Men’s Breakfast Saturday, October 18th from 7 - 8:30 am at Champps in Centerville.   This is a new monthly event for men to share an early breakfast and hear from a different guest speaker each month … and still have all Saturday to get everything else done!

Champps is putting on a great breakfast buffet for us for $10 a person, but needs to know how many a week ahead of time, so please RSVP with Jeff Crews at jvcrews@woh.rr.com by October 11th.  (Jeff will collect at the door).  All men are welcome!

Champps is located at 7880 Washington Village Dr (just north of Rt 725, between Yankee & Lyons), Centerville, OH  45459.   See you there!

As part of our Threads message series, we’re doing a clothing drive to benefit two organizations:

• Good Neighbor House — Founded in 1994, Good Neighbor House serves Daytonians needing emergency assistance with food, clothing, household items and furniture. Good Neighbor House also offers medical, dental and vision care to the working poor.
• American Caribbean Experience (ACE): ACE is investing in long-term partnerships with indigenous churches and school serving the needs of the poor living in St. Mary Parish in northern Jamaica. ACE sells clothing donations through their thrift shop to support ongoing ministry efforts.

Bring in your gently used items the weekend of Sept. 27/28 and bring them with you into the theater. We’re going to do something cool during the service.

Here’s what the two organizations have specifically requested.

Good Neighbor House:

• Fall/Winter clothing - men’s, women’s, children’s (all sizes)
• Underclothing, socks - men’s, women’s children’s (all sizes)
• Shoes - men’s, women’s, children’s (all sizes0
• Preteen clothing - 6x - size 12
• Personal care items (travel and regular sizes) - shampoo/conditioner, razors, toothpaste/toothbrushes, soap/body wash, deodorant

ACE:

• Underclothing - men’s, women’s, children’s (all sizes)
• Children’s clothes, shoes, socks, sleepers, blankets, caps, bibs
• Women’s dresses (all sizes), slips - No pants or shorts
• Khaki pants or jeans - men’s, boy’s. No Tshirts, please.

This past weekend, Charlie talked about how God redeems the difficult times in life for his purposes, as well as why we can take courage when difficult times happen. If you’d prefer to listen to the message, you can download the audio file or listen to the podcast. You can also pick up a CD in the bookstore.

Title: Threads - Torn Apart

We’ve also put together some questions to help kickoff your community group discussions.