Hello, my friends!

This coming Sunday is Family Sunday. It's been a while since we have had a Family Sunday together, so this is a reminder that our kids will be in service with us and KidConnect and KidConnect Jr classes will not be meeting. But wait, there's more!

I was recently asked if I loved teaching Bible class- and my answer is that I love learning in Bible class. Our kids, without exception, teach me about our Great Big God every week (shameless plug: if you would like to learn more about experiencing God through teaching at ECL, let's talk!). The faith our kids have and navigate this world with is amazing. This Sunday, you get the opportunity to engage with what God is doing through our kids!

Inspired by scripture, our very own Kitty and Seraphine brainstormed ways to help kids in need within our community. After thoughtful conversation with mentors and prayer, Kitty and Seraphine have put together a beautiful plan. You will get to hear more about it from them on Sunday but I want to give you a heads up to bring cash :) There will be a giving opportunity that I am confident your kids will want to be part of. Placing actual money into a tangible collection container is a powerful lesson for our kids to participate in. Sunday won't be the only opportunity you have to join in- but it will be the first!

I could not be more proud of our kids or excited for you to hear from them.

Love,
Karis

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We have some exciting news! After much prayer, thought, and many conversations, the elders would like to nominate three new candidates for eldership at Ecclesia Clear Lake: Abel Cass, Valerie Hamilton, and Josh McQuinn.

We encourage you to pray over this decision and read their profiles included below. Also, please read over the “Eldership at ECL” document that outlines the roles and responsibilities of an elder at our church.

On February 19th, we will have a congregational meeting after church where we will provide a budget update and hold the election. We will vote on these nominees following the steps outlined in our bylaws. All people who consider ECL home are encouraged to stay and participate. If you have any questions, please contact one of the elders.

Additionally, Jenny Deitz has reached the difficult conclusion that she is no longer able to continue on as an Elder, and will be stepping down at the end of January. We have greatly appreciated all Jenny has contributed as an Elder during her time and look forward to continuing to worship and minister alongside her as she steps away from eldership.

Sincerely,
The Elders at Ecclesia Clear Lake

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On New Years Day, This Sunday Jan 1, those who are in town are invited to gather at the church for a potluck brunch at 10AM. We will worship by breaking bread and sharing in communion.

*All of our children will be joining with us. There will not be Early Childhood Class, KidConnect Jr., KidConnect, or Youth Connect*

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Hello everyone,

The elders recognize that the last few months have been a strange time, transitioning away from having Coby as our pastor. As we end 2022, things may be feeling a little uncertain. We wanted to briefly share a few things to bring a little more clarity and information as we head into 2023.

1) We are currently in the process of seeking new elder nominees. Four people have been invited to step into that role, and we hope to have a vote for new elders (at minimum we hope for two, but potentially all four) in early January.

2) This vote would happen at a congregational meeting, which will also cover the current status of the budget. We don’t have a fixed date for this meeting yet, but that information will be sent out in the newsletter as soon as we do.

3) To us, having more elders in place in order to establish a strong elder board is necessary before beginning any kind of pastoral search process. We do anticipate establishing a committee and initiating a search during the first couple of months in 2023. Depending on the process, this search may take another couple of months to resolve/complete.

4) Our initial follow-up with Trisha regarding the listening exercise went in a different direction than we originally anticipated, and the staff and elders used that time to get her counsel, as this was shortly after Coby stepped down. We do plan to do an additional follow up with her to discuss the exercise results more specifically, and will share that information when we get it.

5) While this has been a time of some upheaval, one of the best things that has come out of it is that the elders and staff have been working more closely together than we have previously, and this process is producing a more cohesive, unified team.

Please feel free to approach any of the staff or elders to ask questions at any time.

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Join us, December 24th at 5:00 pm, as we listen to the story of Immanuel, God with us. We tell this story every year. We tell this story because it illustrates so clearly God’s desire to be in relationship with us. We tell this story because we, too, are invited to come to the manger and witness the miracle of birth. We tell this story because it brings us hope and good news—hope especially for those deemed powerless, unworthy, or unwelcome. We tell this story because it is a story we need to hear again and again; if we didn’t tell it, what would become of our faith? And so, on this night, we will tell this story to pass along the good news and to continue to thread together the generations with hope. We hope you will join us.

Jesus Christ is coming. We wait and prepare in hope, peace, joy, and love.

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What a privilege it will be to sit under the leadership of Pastor Jeremias Parada this Sunday. He pastors our partner church, Iglesia Cielos Abiertos. Pastor Jeremias shares often how much he prays for and cares for our community, we are so very thankful to share in ministry with the Parada family. We hope that you will join us this Sunday!

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Sunday, November 27th we will break bread together again with a Sunday Brunch! We hope you join us and bring a favorite dish to share as we commune together.

We will celebrate the first Sunday of a new church calendar and the beginning of Advent - a season dedicated to the hopeful anticipation for the arrival or "advent" of Jesus. We will light the first candle of Hope.

And lastly, plan to stick around toward the end of our brunch time so we can "deck the halls" of our lovely church building. Lights, trees, ornaments to welcome the advent and Christmas season!

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