‘FIGHT MY BATTLES’ I WEEK 1
Pandemics. Politics. Racial Inequality. The economy. It seems as though we wake up every day in the middle of a battlefield. We see the division, feel the anger, and hear the rallying cries, we often don't know what side to stand with or what conflict to enter into. But have we ever asked ourselves if we are choosing the right battles? Are we using the right tactics in the midst of the fray? And does God define winning the same way we do? Join us as we explore battles that were overcome throughout the Old Testament and what those victories reveal to us about the battles of today.
WEEKLY GIVING STATISTICS
(Fiscal Year Began June 1, 2020)
Last Week Weekly Need YTD
$ 4,036 $2,533 $7,830
JOIN US FOR
‘WELCOME HOME SUNDAY’ AT THE CENTER CHURCH
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 AT 10AM!
GOOD TO KNOW:
We will be observing the Kent County Health Department’s recommendations and have agreed to align with BCCS in their re-gathering plan which includes extra cleaning of surfaces before/after services, encouraging masks, and spacing out seating.
As always: If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, please worship with us online.
Our Center Kids Ministry is open!
We will be taking extra precautions like sanitizing toys, spacing out our classrooms and a safe check-in process.
WE ARE CONTINUING OUR ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE ON SUNDAYS, 10:00AM.
CHECK OUT centergr.com/live OR centergr.online.church.
SMALL GROUPS:
WE’LL BE LAUNCHING FALL SMALL GROUPS SOON. STAY TUNED!
*DUE TO SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES (COVID-19):
PLEASE CHECK OUR ONLINE RESOURCES; SOME OF OUR SMALL GROUPS MAY BE MEETING DIGITALLY.
Visit centergr.com/nextsteps for more info.
CENTER STUDENTS MINISTRY:
YES! We’re starting to meet again. Grab a friend and join us next Sunday (20th) from 6:30pm-8:30pm.
Questions about our Center Students Ministry?
Please contact lindsey@centergr.com
CENTER KIDS MINISTRY:
NEWS!!!
Our Center Kids Team is blessed to have Dani Tanner stepping in as our Kids Director!
Dani comes with tons of passion and a background in childhood education which will serve our kids and families incredibly well as we are navigating through this challenging season together.
Do you have any questions for Dani? Please contact dani@centergr.com
OPPORTUNITIES
HAND2HAND MINISTRY: UPDATE!
Looking for an awesome opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus?
Look no further! The Center Church family is in charge of providing food items and volunteers to pack as well as deliver/drop off the filled bags for November and December this year.
Your entire family can participate :)
We will have a shopping cart dedicated to Hand2Hand sitting in the foyer that is ready to be filled with the needed goods; we’ll have a printed list of items needed for you to take home at the Welcome Table.
List of suggested food items for donation:
cans of soup (e.g. chicken noodle, tomato, beef vegetable, etc.)
macaroni and cheese
plastic jars of peanut butter
plastic jars of jelly
Chicken Helper
cans of fruit and/or veggies (no peas)
individual sleeves or bags of crackers (e.g. Goldfish, Ritz, saltines, etc)
oatmeal packets
granola bars
fruit snacks
Any questions? Please contact office@centergr.com for more info and we will get you connected.
HOPE UNEXPECTED:
The Center Church takes part in the Hope Unexpected Ministry.
Please contact office@centergr.com if you are interested in serving. We’ll get you connected!
JOHN GORVEATTE I LEAD PASTOR
‘FIGHT MY BATTLES’, Week 2
KEY PASSAGE: Judges 7:1-21 NIV
Gideon Defeats the Midianites
7 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. 13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” 14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” 15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” 16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. 17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’” 19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.