From Brian’s Desk: CSI Is Not an Option

I want to take a moment to explain to you our purposes for the CSI ministry. CSI stands for Christian Service Ignited. Both Dodgeville and Richland Center have CSI teams. Both teams have the same goal: To get the entire church involved in serving the community.

When we talk about serving, we mean it in two ways:
First: We serve one another. We serve by helping in the nursery, handing out programs, running the lights and media on Sunday morning, running a small group, and so on.
Second: We serve those outside the church. CSI is the primary instrument we have for this at this time. Just like serving each other is not optional for the committed follower of Jesus who wants to grow, so serving those outside the church is not optional if we are to become the people God wants us to be. Both are critical!

We don’t want to give the impression that CSI is just another team in the church. This IS the church. If you call HVCC your home, then we expect you to show Christ’s love to your community, and one of the ways in which we do this is by participating regularly in the CSI events. It’s not optional. Our passion about serving comes from the mouth of Jesus:

Matthew 20:28: “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Philippians 2:5-7: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

We want to serve our community so much that even nonbelievers will say: “Even though I don’t attend church or even believe in God, I’m still thankful that HVCC is in our community. Look at all the good they do.” If you want to come to HVCC, but don’t want to help us serve the community, then perhaps this church is not for you. There are plenty of places you can attend where they will never ask you to serve anywhere. This is not one of them.

Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

We’ll continue to do all we can to help you find creative ways to serve our community. 

Maybe you have been sitting on the sidelines. There are legitimate reasons for this:

• You are still new to the church.
• You are a person just checking HVCC out.
• You were deeply hurt recently and need time to heal.

For those of you in these categories, please take your time. Just know that your spiritual life will never take off again until you live like Jesus and serve like Jesus. For the rest, please begin to consider what the next step is for you in serving like Jesus. He’s the model. Let’s live like Him.

If you want to take a step, send an e-mail to Travis Clark at tclark@hiddenv.com. He is the Connections Director here at HVCC and would LOVE to help you find a place to get started. If you don’t enjoy it, you can always try something else.

Your friend,
Brian

School Supply Drive August 3 - 24

The start of school in the fall can create financial hardship for some families. Hidden Valley would like to help. This month we are accepting donations of supplies so that we can provide the school offices with surplus items to give to children who need them.

In the church lobby there is a display stand containing envelopes. To join us in this offering, take an envelope from this display and purchase the items listed in the envelope. There is a box at the HVCC information desk where you can bring the items that you buy. Please also return the envelope so that we can make a list of all supplies received.

One of our goals is to be able to offer children a backpack filled with everything they need for the start of school. We’re hoping for up to 15 backpacks. If you know of someone who needs a backpack, please contact the church office at 930-4822 with the name and the school so we can provide them with the right supplies. All supplies need to be to church by Aug. 24.

Church Picnic Is This Sunday

Hidden Valley’s annual church picnic will be August 10 following the 11:00 a.m. service. Please join us for lunch and a fun-filled afternoon at the Dick and Dixie Bender farm near Ridgeway. Hidden Valley will provide the hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, and table service. Please bring your favorite dish to pass. We hope to see you there.

Take an Important Step Toward Securing Your Financial Future!

Beginning the week of September 8, Hidden Valley will be offering four groups that will be studying a curriculum called Financial Peace University (FPU). FPU is a 13-week, life-changing program that empowers and teaches you how to make the right money decisions to achieve your financial goals and experience a total money makeover. FPU is for everyone from the financially secure to the financially distressed. In the last year, many Hidden Valley families have been involved in FPU groups. Most have experienced a life change in the way they relate to finances, their spouses, and ultimately to God.

How do you get started? Let us know you are interested by completing the information portion on the front side of the Sunday program insert and drop it in the offering box. We will be offering one group per evening, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Please indicate on the other side of this form which night will work best for you. You can also sign up by calling the church office at 930-4822(HVCC) or emailing tclark@hiddenv.com. For more information about this group, visit the FPU website at www.daveramsey.com.

How We’re Doing – July 2008

Following are some numbers that we track on a regular basis to help us to gauge our church’s health and progress.

First-time visitors: 17
Second-time visitors: 2
Third-time visitors: 2

Asked Jesus to forgive me: 5
Recommitted my life to Jesus: 2

Monthly Giving
Tithe $19,497 (budgeted $30,276)
2nd Mile (building) $2,565 (budgeted $4,000)
Benevolence $726 (not budgeted)
Other income, fees, and reimbursements $1664 (budgeted $500)
Total $24,453 (budgeted $34,776)