Morph/RELIC Preview (10/22 & 10/23)

Hey Parents! 

Here is the Morph/RELIC preview for this week:

The parent preview is also posted on our facebook pages! 

Find our facebook here:

Morph :  https://www.facebook.com/AC3.morph/

RELIC: https://www.facebook.com/ac3relic/

CREEK ESPRESSO IS OPEN THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK

The espresso stand is open an hour before youth group this week and next week for the Halloween party! Students can come early, buy a cocoa, chai tea, or italian soda and just hang out. We really want students to know this is a safe place that they can come and just be. 

Small Groups are set - You're students small group should be pretty set as to who is in it and who is leading it. The purpose of small groups is for students to have a smaller, closer knit community that they can check in with weekly. We also want students to have a specific leader that is their "small group leader" that they can talk to if they ever need a safe adult. Small group leaders should be touching base with you in the next few weeks to introduce themselves.

Game time - As usual, we’ll play some games! Games are a great way for students to build relationships and just have fun!

The "Talky" part - This week - Ghost stories with Wayne-o

This week, our resident Old guy, Wayne will be sharing some stories with us about his experiences with the spirit realm. We'll talk about those beings we cannot explain, who they are, what they are, what's their purpose and what's our part in it all.  

INVESTIGATIONS continues this week! 
Happening on Tuesday nights during youth group, this class is built on questions about faith, God, creation, or the bible. Meeting from 7-8:30 in the conference room for the month of October. 

Announcements for this week!

• Sunday Morning Class - Come check out the class for Jr. High and High School students during our 10:30 service on Sunday. Students are dismissed from the service and meet in the conference room. Bring your bible! 

• Halloween/Harvest Party -We’ll have our Halloween/Harvest Party on October 30th! This party will be for both Jr high and High School students. Students can wear their costumes and we'll have lots of fun games and food. Invite a friend!
• We need help with food this year! We are wondering if some of you might be willing to donate some snacks for the party! We’d like to provide some “heartier” and “healthier” options as well as a few treats. Please email B at Morph.AC3@gmail.com if you are able to help. Here is a link to a few halloween themed suggestions : :https://delishably.com/holidays/Party-Food-Ideas-For-Halloween
• Before you go... for Juniors and Seniors -  It's hard to be a Christian out in the real world! This is a small group designed to provide a community where students can talk about the challenges they'll face after high school. 
•  They start meeting the first Saturday in November during the "extended" portion of the service. Contact Sarah Ade to connect with this group. (425)418-2141 or sarahpearlade@gmail.com
• Kreek Kids Christmas Program is looking for actors, singers, musicians and volunteers for our Christmas Program. (If you don't know, Kreek Kids is the name of our children's ministry here at AC3.) 
  Practices will be held at 6:00 PM Oct. 27th until ‘Show Time’ Sunday, Dec. 8th.
  Some parent helpers will be needed each week at practice. Please let us know if you are available a week or two. 
• Want to know more? Contact Trina @ 425-737-4061 with your questions.

Lastly, 

Have you signed up for an interview yet? 
We really value your input and hope that each and every one of you will participate. The information collected will be confidential and not shared directly with the AC3 leadership—this is an opportunity for you to be totally transparent and authentic in your comments.

The interviews will be 
November 22 & 23

You can sign up for your own Interview today! Just click Events inside of your Church Center App. Or if you don't want to download the app, reply back this email and I'll have Sarah, our office administrator call you to set up a time that works for you. 

A paper sign-up is also available at the Info Center.

Questions? allencreek@ac3.org 360-659-SEEK

https://ac3.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/305360

That’s it for this week! Remember Halloween Party is next week, invite a friend!

-B

Constructive Connections-Part 2

Constructive Connections is a fiction series.  It’s the beginning tale of how each person is formed perfectly by God to enhance the narrative of life.  Constructive Connection reflects how each one of us is crafted by God to fulfill a purpose. By contributing unique talents to serve one another, a tower God called you to construct begins to form for His joy.   

Constructive Connections:  Over Coffee

She sat there next to a black trash can.  Someone had already borrowed the opposite chair from her table.  Alone, hands folded, stringy grey hair strands flopped in front of one eye.  A preppy business man passed without smile or recognition she was even there.

“Mom, what’s that smmmmmmelllll?”  Rotten kid looked right at her.

I caught her eye.  Have to admit, I looked away.  Faked interest in what Doug was drinking.   “How much d’you spend on that cocktail?”

“It’s coffee, not alcohol,” Doug said defending his elaborate wordy drink.  “I know they might be expensive, but I like the flavor. Here-try it,” He pushed the plastic cup with 75% liquid, 25% whipped cream towards me.  

“Tastes like sugar with a splash of coffee,” I told him, even though it was pretty good.  We were meeting so he could help me fill out an application for a summer job at Hubert’s “Hoarding” House Storage, where Doug worked.  (Doug corrected me, “Willy, it’s Hubert’s Holding House, not Hoarding!”)

“Next question: ‘List skills you performed on your last job,’” Doug asked, getting down to business.

I sat up a straighter.  “I’m in charge of choppin’ firewood to sell campers, pickin’ up trash, jumpin’ dead batteries, check-outs, directin’ people to the john; stuff like that.”  While liking my job, my pay just secured our trailer space. Dad couldn’t swing an ax and his people skills weren’t so good; chores fell to me. He handled the cash and got paid to sit in his camp chair.  

Doug hadn’t been to our trailer before.  We knew each other for a long time but had become recent friends at spring youth camp.  I was still on a path with a heap of forgiveness stuff to get over and through.

Dad and I lived at the campground for 2 years; the first year in a tent.  Dad would do odd jobs around town, but nothing ever stuck. Winter tent camping in Washington is nothing but hard.  Rain, wind, frost, more rain…we found several uses for duct-tape, let me tell ya. The abandoned trailer Dad found was a blessing and soon after, he became the park manager.

That’s where I met Dell. She was a regular…Space #32.  Living in a motorcycle trailer with her loud brown cat, Liver, she kept to herself.  Each morning she’d build a campfire; her blue speckled coffee pot hung from a metal tripod. I’d walk by at 5:15 on weekday mornings on my 2 mile walk to school.  Gym was open at 6am to athletes. It was warm-smelled like sweaty teenager-but again-it was warm.

One morning I passed by Dell’s trailer, treading through an inch of snow.  She nodded and signaled me to come over. She poured a paper cup full of black coffee.  

“For warmth on your journey,” is all she said.  She smiled and got back to prodding her fire with a rusty tent pole.

“Honestly man,” Doug brought me back to our conversation, “I don’t see you at Hubert’s.  Quite frankly, it’s boring! Just sitting around, waiting to let people in the gates,” Doug said with sincerity, setting down the pen.  “What do you think you want to do after graduation?”

I thought about his question.  Dial tone. All I knew was…get a job.  “Maybe I could work at a gym?” I said thinking the high school gym most likely would be closed to graduates.

“There’s that gym over on 4th;  I think I saw a hiring sign the other day,” he said.  “Can you work a register? Serve customers?”

“Na, they don’t teach that stuff at the trailer park,” I answered, folding my arms.  

Then Doug’s eyes got huge.  “Church! They teach that stuff at church!”

I laughed.  Our church was cool, and there was a lot going on, but even I knew you didn’t get paid unless you were standing on stage giving a message…and I did not have a message.  “Yeah, right. I’m looking for a J.O.B.”

“Yeah, they DO!”  he said getting out his phone.  “I was just talking to Kay at the church espresso bar.  They need people to man the stand.”

“Pff,” I snorted.  Coffee; again with the fancy drinks!

“You could learn how to cashier, serve community, and you could learn how to make my favorite “Mocha Why Bother”:  Caffeine-free, sugar-free chocolate, and non-fat steamed milk with a dash of cinnamon!” He scrolled down his contacts, “I’m sending her number, you’ll remember her from youth group.  She’s been serving there for the past month and really likes it. She said they need people to learn the register and asked if I knew anybody who’d like to learn some job skills.” He looked real proud of himself and then added while shaking the ice in his cup, “And they have an espresso bar at the gym on 4th!”

Smiling back at his smug expression, I considered his advice; grateful for his friendship.

I looked over at Dell.  There she sat, three tables away, without a cup in front of her.  People passed by, judging dirty clothing, avoiding eye contact. Doug gave me a 3X5 few months prior with these words on it:

“Because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13

I don’t know what was in Dell”s coffee that cold morning, but I had never tasted anything as rich.  I don’t think it was grounds that made the impression. It was that she shared, she served me.

Returning to the counter after Doug left, I bought another cup of coffee.  A tall, straight-up black cup of jo and set it in front of Dell. Bending low to give her a hug, she whispered, “Thank you Willard, for warming my journey.”  

Written by Jennifer Love

Meet Kathy!

Meet Kathy.

She is not just the smiling face behind the counter at Creek Espresso, she manages the whole operation, trains and leads the baristas, buys ingredients, manages the till AND she represents a milestone in AC3’s long running Community Center plan…

How you ask?

Lemme ‘splain.

When the Community Center vision first emerged almost 8 years ago, central to the concept was that it be a self-supporting ministry. In other words the cost of the activities undertaken by the Community Center should be paid for with money earned by the Community Center. We imagined rental income from various community groups which used our buildings, we talked about a furniture manufacturing company that would double as a job training program, and other ideas were floated and tried.

We call this concept: B.A.M. (Business As Mission) and the purpose is to create a revenue stream while serving the community and that revenue stream is invested in other Community Center Programs. As of today – under the B.A.M. banner we have:

The Marysville Farmer’s Market (beginning it’s second season on June 4^th!).  The first year of the market was great. But being a brand new endeavor – we’re still investing money from last year’s market into making this year even better.

Creek Espresso. Every weekend, (and some weekdays!) Kathy and her other volunteers man the steam wand and the bean grinder turning out lattes and Italian sodas for AC3’rs and visitors. Quietly, at the rate of a couple of bucks / drink, Creek Espresso has put almost $1,300.00 into the Community Center bank!

Here’s the milestone: There is enough “profit” from Creek Espresso that we can, for the first time, use that money to help fund a Community Center project!

A portion of those Creek Espresso “profits” will be used to support the Market Mentor’s Program this summer! Last year, Market Mentors was funded almost entirely by funds from Seeds of Grace (AC3’s benevolence ministry). But this year we see the first step toward a Community Center Program being funded by a Community Center Program!

BAM!!

Thanks Kathy for you and your team!

Thanks B.A.M. Board for overseeing this loooong process!

Thanks Farmer's Market Team...GO GET 'EM this summer!

Thanks coffee drinkers at AC3! Keep it up J

Does this stuff get you excited? (then you’re what we call a ministry nerd) but ALSO you can get involved!          

Creek Espresso is always looking for more help!

Contact Kathy: kathha@hotmail.com

Marysville Farmer’s Market WANTS YOU! Lots of cool stuff to do!

Contact Tina: Tina_Sunflower2000@yahoo.com

Market Mentors could your expertise in sales, management, customer service and more!

Contact Twila: twila@ac3.org

B.A.M. Board / Community Center – interested in finding out more about ANY of this?

Contact Dan: danxp.ac3@gmail.com

AC3 VB51 Year End Celebration

Here is this weeks Video Blog. Enjoy! :)

Creek Espresso: This is Where I Belong

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,

faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms."

1 Peter 4:10

Hello AC3! My Name is Stephanie Moddison. For those of you who don't know me, I'm the manager of Creek Espresso, the coffee bar in our lobby. 

My husband, Nate and I. 

I started coming to AC3 back in January 2013. We were just “checking out churches,” and AC3 happened to be the first one on the list. After a month of coming to weekend services, we were hooked. It felt right. It felt like this was the church for us. A church where we felt welcomed, regardless of our story.

Only a few months later, we started getting the urge to serve. But where? I was a very pregnant full time Café Manager and District Trainer at Barnes & Noble (with a horrendous commute). How would I possibly have time to serve? I’m too busy. I’m too tired. Maybe after I have the baby. I was full of excuses.

Fast forward to October 2013.

My husband started serving at AC3 by drumming once a month with the worship team. It made him so happy to be using his talents to serve the Lord and our church community.

I started asking myself, where do I belong?

After the New Year, we were so upset to find out that the C-Bar had closed. We reached out to find out what happened and if the lobby coffee bar would still be open. After finding out that the lobby coffee bar needed help, God was tapping me on the shoulder. This is where you’re gifted. This is where you can serve.

Is this where I belong?

I went to my first BAM (Business as Mission) meeting in February, and felt my calling. The lobby coffee bar needed help, and needed the gifts I have received to serve others. But I was hesitant. Even though I had recently become a stay at home mom, I still questioned the time commitment. I have an 8 month old. How would I possibly have time to serve AND sleep?

So I prayed.

I helped out with training and inventory for a few months while Jared handled the financial side of things. I wasn't “all in,” but I felt that I was serving just enough for what our family could handle at the time.

I kept praying. 

Please Lord; show me the path you want me to follow, I feel connected to this church. Connected to this coffee bar. I want to help. I want to belong to something meaningful. I want to serve YOU!

So He led me.

Things got easier. Systems were put in place. We made lots of changes to make the coffee bar more profitable for our Community Center. I was ready to be “all in!”

I took over full operations of the newly named Creek Espresso in September after feeling God answering my prayers. God is so good. The story of this transition is truly wonderful.

This is where I belong, Creek Espresso is my way of administering God’s grace.

Every week I look forward to what we can do to make Creek Espresso more successful. Every week I look forward to working with our amazing volunteers, who bring so much joy to this endeavor. And every week I thank God for His guidance and motivation to get me to where I am now.

So I will ask… where do you belong? Are you feeling the call to serve? Listen to that call, because the gifts you have received CAN make a difference. The gifts you have received have been given to you for a reason.

How can you administer God’s grace?

Creek Espresso is located in the lobby at Allen Creek Community Church.

Hours of operation:
Saturday 5:30pm-8pm (closed during service) & Sunday 8:30am-12pm.
We are always accepting new volunteers. If you're interested, stop by when we are open or email smoddison@gmail.com.

Make sure you "LIKE" Creek Espresso on Facebook for news and specials!