Men’s “No Regrets” conference to be hosted by CTR

Tickets will go on sale October 30 for the No Regrets Conference, but instead of driving all the way down to Milwaukee- area’s Elmbrook Church for the event you can see it right here at Christ The Rock in February 2010.

Check out the Web site by clicking on the photo, and be sure to watch Pastor Bill’s video:

Why tell you now about a conference that doesn’t happen until February? Because men from all over the state of Wisconsin attend, and tickets typically go fast. As one of four sites (three simulcast sites and host site Elmbrook), Christ The Rock’s sanctuary is expected to be filled to capacity.

New Places to Hang Out and Visit!

Posted by Kathy Carriveau

Have you noticed some changes in the lobby? A little bit of paint, a little wood, some empty spaces? All these small changes will soon make a big difference as we bring in the finishing touches with new seating areas and wall displays in the lobby.

Thanks to several volunteers who varnished, painted and went up on the lift, the paint colors and wood accents are creating a warmer atmosphere (perfect timing for this season!). We will soon add five café-height tables and stools in a new seating area by the baptistry. Our tech crew will mount some larger monitors there as well so that you can keep up with the services or announcements while you stay and linger with your friends.

By the west entrance, our old counter is gone and you will soon see the “Faith at Home” center where families can find helpful resources.

No Bones about it: Thanksgiving is underway at CTR

Thanksgiving 2008 at Monarch Gardens

These next few weeks will be filled with the mouth-watering aroma of roasting turkeys, baked stuffing and bubbling pies as volunteer crews at CTR start preps for next month’s Thanksgiving Meal at Monarch Gardens in Appleton.

You can be a part of it by clicking here!

Here are 15 “Fun Facts” about this annual Reaching Farther tradition:

1. Number of meals served: 3,000
2. Number of those meals delivered to those who are homebound: about half.
3. Number of ministry leaders organizing the volunteers and the event: A team of eight, led by Dave Lemke.
4. Number of servings of turkey, stuffing and potatoes: 6,000. (“We double up those servings because people here in Wisconsin love this food,” Dave Lemke says.)
5. Dave’s favorite job: “I am the chief can opener for the seniors in the 55-Plus group who portion out the cranberries for the home deliveries.”

Brandi Jackson kicks off CTR Sisterhood

Posted by Pat Nelson, CTR Sisterhood

Brandi Jackson, wife of Green Bay Packer Brandon Jackson, inspired CTR Sisterhood to face their giants.

This year CTR Sisterhood is dreaming about what’s possible. Believing “ordinary” women can affect change in themselves, affect change in those around them… and change the world. Approximately 300 women attended the fall kick-off night on September 29, and we heard a great message from Brandi Jackson, wife of Green Bay Packer running back Brandon Jackson. Brandi shared her story of encouragement, “Facing Your Giants.”

Brandi cautioned us not to become paralyzed by the possibilities and not to fantasize about the “what ifs” or we’ll stagnate. Instead, we need to take full advantage of our opportunities and act upon them.

Summer Baptism Photo Gallery

It was just a few weeks ago when 100 or so people came to be baptized out in CTR’s pond, and the summer heat made for a perfect day to “take the plunge” and make a momumental decision. Now that the temps are cooler, we have some photos of this beautiful day to remember and keep us warm!

Click on each photo below for a larger view:

Parents: a Focus just for you!

Ever wish your children came with instruction manuals?  In a few weeks you can have the next best thing:

Christ The Rock is hosting a nationwide simulcast from Focus on the Family called Focus On Parenting. Thousands of parents from all over America will be a part of this premiere event to equip them to navigate some of the toughest parenting issues.

CTR is teaming up with Appleton Alliance Church, and this conference will be held at Christ The Rock in the Sanctuary on Saturday, November 14. For tickets and info on the incredible speaker lineup, click here.

And the Survey Says:

Appleton during Octoberfest

There are lots of folks in the Fox Valley who don’t know much about Jesus and haven’t really understood what having a Savior can mean in their lives.

What if we could do some things to make Him known to more people in our communities? What if more people had access to hear the messages we hear on weekends?

That could mean adding an extra service to our weekend lineup, or perhaps take our services to a different location in the Valley with either an in-person message or a video simulcast.  We might even start a mid-week large-group Bible study so that more people can dig into the meat of the Word.

What do you think? Now is your chance to weigh in with your thoughts and hopes for what Reaching Farther locally could look like.

If you haven’t taken the Reaching Farther Survey yet, you’ve got about two more weeks before it closes.

Update on Fall Festival

As you’ve been hearing about our emphasis of Reaching Farther this year, no doubt you can imagine how full our plates are as we head into fall. In our season of activity, there are some exciting things coming up: The Christmas Child shoebox campaign, the annual Thanksgiving meal and of course our Christmas Play.

Our leadership teams at CTR have been praying about how best to reach people with the message of Christ, and have made the decision not to offer the Fall Festival at this time. It has been a remarkable and wonderful event for kids and families over the years, but we are sensing that we must focus our resources on some new ways to make Christ known in our community.

An Auction to remember!

This summer an amazing thing happened.  On a balmy Saturday, several hundred people streamed through the front doors and went shopping!

Our Reaching Farther Auction on August 15th was a chance for CTR to try something new and daring, and by final bid we raised more than $33,000 to help reach those in need. The funds purchased moving and repair equipment for our OAKS ministry, clean drinking water filtration systems for Haiti, and an irrigation systems so Saharawi refugees can grow their own produce in the desert sand of Algeria.

Thanks to the scores of volunteers and to those who donated items for the auction!

You can click to enlarge these photos:

What did you do this summer?

Posted by Amy Spreeman

We haven’t been sending out a lot of news these past couple of months, mostly because we’ve been spending some reduced summer hours focusing on the Auction and Baptism–two events that went extremely well!

Now that the school year is creeping back upon us, the Communications crew is busily preparing a brand new newsletter with all the latest and greatest information you’ll find useful as we head into fall.

What, you’re not on our e-news mailing list?  We’re sending it out next week, so be sure to add your e-mail to our monthly subscription list.  Click Here.