Nexus News- February 14th, 2009

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Dear Friends of Nexus Church,

Vince and I are indeed happy that so many of you dropped by last Sunday afternoon for our Open House.  Having our Nexus family and our neighbors together makes 6983 Willowood Drive really feel like "home" to us.

With the great help of Eric Middlebrook, Krista Bramlage, Barb Hobe, and Jay Mills - not to mention Vince's sister Martha and our good Chicago friends Eliot and Robert - we were able to take it easy and enjoy our time together.  Thank you.

Soon - February 22 at 3:00 p.m., to be exact - you are invited to get out something colored red.  For more details, check out this article:  Installation of Pastor Mike

Blessings,
Mike
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

"He Touched Me" - Sunday, Feb 15, 10:00 a.m.   Our theme Sunday will focus on Jesus' radical actions in bringing healing and hope to a religious world obsessed with purity and control. Our point of departure will be Mark's simple story about Jesus' touching an outcast (Mark 1:40-45).  Keep in mind past sermons (including this one) are available at our main website:  www.nexusucc.org.  Just click on the "Listen In" link.

We will be inspired by the music of Chip Bramlage and the Band.   Krista Bramlage will lead the New Explorer program. Eric Middlebrook and Pam Benjamin will set-up our worship space and welcome newcomers.

Installation of Pastor Mike- Sunday afternoon, Feb 22 at 3:00 p.m. at the East Butler YMCA. It's a "special" service for the Installation of Mike as our Pastor.  We're having it at 3 p.m. (in addition to the usual service in the morning) so that folks from other churches can attend.   Primarily, it will be time to make more public our call to be a voice of progressive Christianity in southwest Ohio.  We'll have guest speakers, one from Chicago and one from Delaware, OH.  Chip and the Band will provide music.  Childcare will be available.

Sharing Soup - Starting Wednesday, Feb 25 -- NexusChurch will once again provide soup every Wednesday late afternoon/evening during Lent for anyone and everyone at the Y.  It's a great way for us to meet our neighbors and to do something that is really appreciated.  Leslie Baum is coordinating the event and soon will be asking for volunteer soup makers and soup servers.

Ash Wednesday Service- 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb 25 - Yes, NexusChurch will have an Ash Wednesday service this year.  Our Ash Wednesday service will be a simple, intimate time for reflection and meditation.  We will also share communion and (if you want) the imposition of ashes. We'll meet in one of the community rooms at the Y.

Children's Clothing Sale - Saturday, March 28 - East Butler Y is holding a consignment sale of children's clothing (newborn to size 16) and maternity clothing.  It's a great way to clear out your closets of those clothes your kids will never again wear - and make it available to other families.  Sellers keep 80% of the selling price for their items,

GOOD STUFF
 

Hospitality for homeless families - From late Friday afternoon through Saturday morning, folks from four different Nexus households provided hospitality, food, and activities for homeless families in the Lebanon area.  Our next host night for the Interfaith Hospitality Network is May 22.

Updated Ad -- Thanks to Beth McClary, our weekly notice in the Pulse-Journal newspaper has been updated.  It now mentions child care and Early Explorers, and features the tag line "Our faith is 2,000 years old; our thinking is not." 

Where are the 20-Somethings? - On March 2 Jeff Davis and Pastor Mike will participate in a special Webinar on "Where are the 20-somethings?" It's sponsored by the national UCC and promises to focus on the special challenges of reaching this group.  If anyone else is interested in participating, please let Mike know.

GIVING

Electronic giving You can use your debit/credit card or a bank transfer to make on-line charitable contributions to NexusChurch. Contributions can be made via the Web Site or by sending funds directly to the Nexus Church PayPal account: paypal@nexusucc.org.