RP - Weekly, October 25th

Church Family,

What a gift to be able to gather in spaces where friendships can deepen and each of us can feel seen and known regardless of where we are on our spiritual journey, as we hear reminders of God's faithfulness and love together!

A big shout out to our 'Women's Testimony Night' and our 'Mens Fall Summit' as examples of more intimate spaces into which we can invite friends and neighbors to further understand the journey of faith Christ calls us into.

Calling all men, sign up is open for our mens - '6 Week' Discipleship Groups -  Kicking off in November - see more details here.

As we gear up for 'Trunk or Treat' tomorrow at 4pm at Sullivan High School - get any last minute invitations out! We'll see you there - it's going to be a blast! We had a sweet time this past Monday praying over the space.

Be sure to scroll down to check out what's 'UPCOMING' ! We're going to have another 'Name Tag Sunday' on Nov 3rd, followed by a 'Newcomers Lunch' - if you'd like to hear more about our church and get to know some of our key leaders - join us! Register below.

As mentioned in our last Members Meeting we’re excited to have started a new partnership with Sullivan High School with the help of CarePortal - we’ve already delivered two care packages to bless families/students that teachers at Sullivan have identified as those in need of support. Currently, we've committed to fulfilling two requests per month. The majority of students that we’ll be serving have no permanent place of residence.

We as a church now have a ‘CarePortal Fund’, that anyone can donate towards, with all of the funds going towards these families which we have the opportunity to care for with the help and guidance of Sullivan.

These are exactly the gaps in which we as Christ’s followers should be found! This is a really cool opportunity to be present in our city!

We’d love to see this fund well resourced.. if you’d like to contribute please follow the link below where you can create an account and give.

https://system.careportal.org/church/103049?q[status][0]=Open

If you’ve any questions please reach out to myself, or Patrick Chism.

On behalf of the Park-Uptown family, I just wanted to send another "Thank You" and a quick update on what's happening in Uptown, as you all have come behind us in financial, prayer, and people support for the gospel being extended in our great city in another under-churched and under-resourced community. We're so thankful! We are really seeing the light of the gospel burst through in many ways, and hope that you share in our joy for what you're helping see accomplished for the kingdom. You have been an answer to our prayers to see the Park Family of Churches continue the great work together in making Christ known to all people.

Here are some highlights:

• We are officially moving into week 5 of the launch and have seemingly settled into around 75 total adults and children who have made Park-Uptown their church family. This is a GREAT number to get going with. It was also our desire to start with, at least, this number, as we can grow together more quickly in our relationships, while also growing deeply for the purpose of sustaining us in this missional work.

• We pretty much have our 24/7 space at ICA furnished for daily ministry. We have multiple rooms, which include a conference and living room space, an open area for larger meetings and kids space, an artist room, and kids gaming room. This does not include our Sunday morning gathering space and also free store holding clothing and goods for refugees and the homeless. Not to mention, we are so grateful that our Spanish speaking family- Iglesia Cristiana La Vid also uses the space for their weekly gatherings and ministry. To note: There are presently 18 refugee families housed at ICA, with many now members of the Park family.

• The free store has been serving an average of 160 persons each month, and will increase in number at the beginning of the new year as we seek to serve more of the homeless and also families in need from McCutcheon Middle School.

• We have a budding relationship with McCutcheon, whose principal is a follower of Jesus and has given us open access to serve in multiple ways which include, encouragement to staff with notes/goodies, serving poor families in need of clothes/goods, and the strong potential of beginning an afterschool program with our partner ministry C24/7 led by James and Natalie Crockett.

• We have very full Men's and Women's Missional Groups meeting weekly for the purpose of growing and going for Christ, as they meet together for a more traditional time of getting in the Word and prayer, but also once a month are committed to sharing the gospel or serving in the community through many different opportunities.

• Coffee on the Corner is every Friday morning from 8-9AM at Sheridan/Lawrence to give out a free cup of coffee and get to know our neighbors by name, have the opportunity for prayer, and share about Park-Uptown. Right now, over 70 people per week have stopped for a cup of Joe.

• As a big time answer to prayer, we received FREE parking from the Aragon at their lot across the street holding some 120 spaces. We're so grateful for this as parking was a nuisance getting this church plant up and going. Also, the only ask that the owner and GM of the Aragon required was that we "pray for them".

When you join a serving team, you're not just volunteering; you're becoming an integral part of our church family. It's where friendships begin, where commitment is strengthened, and where you will truly start to feel like you belong.

We believe that giving is an act of worship. It recognizes God as the owner and source of all we have. It is our cheerful response to God in praise of His radical generosity towards us.

Collaboration allows us to leverage our strengths, compensate for our weaknesses, and reach areas and demographics of our city that might otherwise remain untouched.

** Our All Family service changed to October 6th , 2024 **

RP Kids September Plan and Curriculum:  (For the family resource to follow along at home, click here)

Monthly Memory Verse: The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made. (Psalm 145:9)

SESSION 1 (9/1): Creation (Genesis 1)
SESSION 2 (9/8):  God's First People (Genesis 3-4)
SESSION 3 (9/15): Noah (Genesis 6:1-9:17)
** Elementary kids stay in service **
SESSION 4 (9/22): Abraham (Genesis 17)
SESSION 5 (9/29): Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:24-34; 27-28)

Join us every Sunday 9:00am in the Nursery to lift up our worship service and the happenings of Park Rogers Park up to the Lord.