The Loop / January 23, 2024
Catch Up with the CURRENT series:
This Week’s Announcements:
BECOME // HELPING WITH BACKPACK BUDDIES
On Sunday, we shared that the Backpack Buddies program at Heritage Baptist is running low on supplies. We want to be able to help them out! If you have the means, please consider purchasing any of the following items this week and then bringing them to church on Sunday: Kenny will drop them off in the cupboard at Heritage on Sunday afternoon. Here’s the list:
individual bowls/boxes of cereal
breakfast bars
packages of cheese or peanut butter crackers
instant oatmeal
“easy” mac & cheese
packages/cans of tuna or chicken
vienna sausage
pudding/Jello
ramen soup
snacks like microwave popcorn, chips, cookies, etc.
The Backpack Buddies program puts all of these foods together and distributes them to kids in Annapolis area schools who are food insecure. This program is an important way to ensure that no child in our community has to go to bed hungry: these donations make an enormous difference!
BELONG // MEN’S RETREAT MARCH 1-3
This March 1-3, Revolution will be holding our first Men’s Retreat since the pandemic! We’ll be heading to West River Camp near Edgewater, and it’s an awesome facility. We’re super excited, and if you’re a guy at Revolution, we really hope you will make attending the retreat a priority. These events are the best ways to make new friends, get involved, and connect with the church community in a stronger and deeper way than is possible on Sunday mornings. The cost of this year’s retreat is $135 for the weekend, which includes lodging on Friday and Saturday nights, along with 3 meals on Saturday and 1 meal on Sunday. If cost is an obstacle for you, please let us know by emailing Kenny at kenny@revolutionannapolis.com–our highest priority is that everyone who would like to attend the retreat can be there! If you would like to go ahead and register, you can find the link HERE!
BELIEVE // CURIOUS ABOUT BAPTISM?
We believe that the first step of a real, committed relationship with God is making the decision to be baptized. When we are baptized, we are acknowledging the reality of our sins and the pain they have led us to, and then trusting in Jesus to renew our life and offer us living hope. This is an opportunity that is open to everyone who wants to pursue Christian faith, and when someone in our community decides to be baptized, it is cause for celebration! If you have questions about baptism, or if you would like to talk to about a desire to be baptized, you can reach out to Kenny any time at kenny@revolutionannapolis.com or by calling/texting 803.727.8500. Sending a message isn’t a commitment on your part to be baptized! But it is a commitment on our part to meet with you to answer your questions.
BELIEVE // INTRODUCING OUR NEW CHILDREN’S MINISTRY LEADERS… AND SEEKING VOLUNTEERS!
This past December, our longtime children’s pastor Shawn Livingston stepped down after nearly 7 years of service in the Sunday children’s ministry at Revolution. Now, we want to welcome his replacement(s): our very own Ivy Connelly and Jane Wenger have stepped in to fill Shawn’s shoes! Ivy and Jane have served for many years alongside Shawn as leaders in the Preschool and Elementary areas, and they are now officially handling the responsibilities in RevKids as a team of two. If you see them this coming Sunday, be sure to thank them for serving the children in our church community… and, for the leaders in any church children’s ministry, there is no better way to be an encouragement than to offer to help as a kids volunteer! As RevKids grows, we need more folks to serve on Sundays so that volunteers aren’t overextended and can have regular opportunities to attend worship themselves. If you can help once a month, they would love to hear from you! You can talk to them on Sunday, or you can email us at info@revolutionannapolis.com to learn more about how to get started. There is no better indicator of a healthy, growing church than a healthy, growing children’s ministry! Let’s work together to make sure this important part of our church can flourish.
SOME SPECIFIC AREAS OF NEED: CHECK-IN TABLE & ELEMENTARY ASSISTANTS
BECOME // ANNOUNCING A NEW SMALL GROUP: S.A.L.T.
Introducing “S.A.L.T.”: Seeking and Learning Together. This is the name of a new home group led by John/Deb Becker and Paul/Carol Heagen. It will begin on February 1 with meetings starting at 7:00. Just as the name suggests, the group’s focus will be seeking and exploring God’s Word to shape our lives around its truths, learn more about each other, and build deeper relationships. Discussions will be rooted in a variety of sources, including the messages on Sundays, favorite podcasts, articles, Scripture, and even key questions or topics the group comes up with together. SALT intends to have most meetings in person, and the first meeting will be at Paul and Carol's house on Feb. 1 (1616 Ruxton Rd / Londontowne). Please note that this group is not able to provide childcare; if that is not an obstacle–and you’re looking to expand your relationships at Revolution and explore how to put your faith into action–please contact Paul or Carol at 859 802-4291 or John and Deb at 703 424 6870.
BELONG // INTERESTED IN A KNITTING GROUP?
Do you find knitting fun, rewarding, and relaxing? Kat Mahone does! She is interested in starting a knitting/crocheting group for anyone who might be interested here at Revolution. It would include meeting up on a regular basis to knit together, talk together, and practice new skills. If you might be interested, take a moment today to reach out to Kat at katmahone@gmail.com and let her know!
BELIEVE // MILLERS’ SMALL GROUP
Are you looking for a small group where followers of Jesus can ENGAGE with each other, with the church, with the local community…and even the world at large? Fred and Cathy Miller, along with Carol Brooks, are kicking off a new small group called ENGAGE on January 24th at 7:30 pm. Study and Discussion Time is virtual, and the group meets 7:30-8:30 on Wednesdays. This is a perfect opportunity for people of all ages (even parents who can put their kids in bed!) to join! The proposed study and discussion topics for winter/spring months are:
January 24-31: Brene Brown’s “The Power of Vulnerability” and “Listening to Shame”. We will discuss these lectures as a group to help us to set the tone for a safe space where we ENGAGE vulnerably and let go of shame.
February 7-March 13th: “Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation” by Latasha Morrison. We will actually listen to the 15 minute teaching lesson as a group and then discuss it together. No prep work required.
March 20th - May 8th: Season 4 of “The Chosen”. The Chosen is a free, inspirational, 8 episode TV series on the life of Jesus and his disciples.
May 15-June 12th: “The After Party” a curriculum about how we as Christians can engage in the political process. ·
Fellowship Time is in person for the entire group about once a month, usually after church on Sunday. This is typically a potluck and games for those who wish to participate. Service Projects are also sprinkled throughout the year, and we will choose as a group from projects supported by Revolution, or projects proposed by group members. For more information or to sign up, contact Carol at 301-518-0759 or Cathy at 717-602-6917 / cathygrowinghealthy@gmail.com.
BECOME // WHAT YOUR GENEROSITY CAN DO… AND HAS DONE!
At Revolution, when we talk about financial giving, we choose to focus on what God is doing in us and through us when we give rather than what we might feel obligated to do. In our individual lives, what we see is this: God has made us as image-bearers of himself, so we can (and should!) reflect God and God’s character back out into the world. Two things we know about God are that he is both wildly generous and wildly patient: he provides many of us with much more than we need, and he waits on us to follow his example in sharing what we’ve been given with others. When we eventually choose to “reflect” God back out in this way, by giving what what we’ve been given away, we’re being “obedient,” yes… but it’s so much more important that we’re being witnesses to a God who loves and who can be trusted. All that to say that giving generously is good for us: it brings us another step towards being who God intends for us to be.
But here’s the thing: because we tend to focus on what God is doing in us when we talk about giving, we don’t always pay enough attention to what God is doing through us: where do our gifts go? What difference do they make? This morning, I want to share something wonderful with all of you: because of your generosity to our church, the Leadership Team and I were able to make a Christmas gift of $5,000 to our friends at the Heritage Food Pantry. This gift will cover 1/3 of the pantry’s operating expenses for this coming year, and it came at a moment when they were in truly dire straits financially. They didn’t request it or expect it: it was a gift, from our church, to friends who are using their own resources so, so generously to not only feed our neighbors, but to provide access to food in a way that honors people’s dignity and treats them with respect.
The Food Pantry’s director, Bruce Livingston, pulled me aside at the Christmas Eve service to insist that I tell all of you thank you from him and from the team there at the Pantry. This gift lifted a heavy burden off of Bruce’s shoulders, and he wants you to know that he is grateful for all the ways Revolution has committed to supporting this program. We’re all united in the dream that loving our neighbors well isn’t something for which any church or community should seek individual “credit”: it’s something that, when we really do it together, paints a much more beautiful picture of a God who gives because… well, it’s simply who he is.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING REVOLUTION A WITNESS TO OUR GENEROUS GOD!
BELIEVE // COFFEE, ANYONE?
Do you have questions? Doubts? Would you just like to talk through things with someone? Kenny is also always up for that, too! Just send him an email (kenny@revolutionannapolis.com) or text (803.727.8500).
BECOME // SUPPORTING REVOLUTION CHURCH
At Revolution, we believe that our church needs to be a witness to God’s bottomless love and an example of what it means to wrestle and grow with our faith together. Following Jesus isn’t easy! But even in our doubts, if we take the things we are struggling to believe and put them into practice together, we learn to ask better questions and live in ways that are more beneficial for others.
If you want to join us in this mission, you can be a part in a few different ways:
First, you can commit to presence: it is our sincere hope as a church that you find real purpose and meaning in being a part of our services and groups at Revolution. They exist for you! But have you ever thought about what you have to offer those gatherings in return? Your unique perspective, hopes, experiences, and struggles are part of the bigger story of our church. You have an important part to play here, and that part begins by making faithful presence a priority!
Second, you can commit to generosity: we want to imitate God’s generosity by looking for ways we can share what we have been given with others to bring hope, justice, and safety to our neighbors. One way you can practice that generosity is by supporting our ministry here at Revolution financially: we are a non-profit organization committed to maintaining a Christian ministry in Annapolis, forgiving the debts of our neighbors, and financially supporting both church plants and existing churches in our area. Your gifts help keep this commitment going! But we also want to make sure you know that giving is important no matter where you do it: find a non-profit, charity, or aid organization whose cause you support and make a plan to be faithful and generous towards them! God can do more with our resources than we can… and giving is one of the practical ways we put our trust in what He can do.
Third, you can commit to service: here at Revolution, we are in need of all sorts of volunteers to keep our ministry going. If you are available to help out on any of our Sunday morning teams, or with any of our groups or other outreach ministries during the week, we need you! This is a great way to contribute to the church… and to make new friends.
The city of Annapolis needs help, too! If you are able, make time in your week to participate in a routine act of service for our community. There are multiple food pantries we support, all of whom need help, as well as opportunities to work with kids in need of tutoring, care for unhoused residents in our city who need assistance, and serve as an advocate for a variety of justice-seeking non-profits working to make Annapolis a more equitable place to live. For help a place to serve, just talk with Kenny (kenny@revolutionannapolis.com) or our Community Engagement Lay Leader, Liz Wheeler (liziwheeler@gmail.com).
BELONG // STAY IN THE LOOP ALL WEEK LONG!
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