We’re Not Changing---Just Getting Better!

Don’t worry---we’re not changing. I’ve gotten a few comments about my blog that talks about the new traditional service we are starting in July. Some people have been concerned that we are changing our overall service format. But, fear not; we are not changing. The new traditional service is just one of the new service options we are adding for you. This new service will be the only service that will have a more "traditional" feel. Our other services will still give you the same Celebration Experience you have come to love over the past few years--we will just have more of them--a total of 9 weekend service options by the end of July at the Deerwood campus alone. As we grow, we realize that everyone has different needs. We want to make Celebration a church where everyone can feel comfortable and connect with God in an atmosphere that works best for them. Even though we are calling this new 8:30 a.m. service a “traditional service”, you can bet it will still have the Celebration feel. So if you have friends or family who haven’t been quite comfortable in our services, invite them again. This may be just what they are looking for!

I'm Back!

I'm looking forward to being back this weekend. Kerri and I took the kids to visit family and vacation a little bit in Louisiana last week. Last weekend I spoke at Healing Place Church. It is a great church pastored by one of my best friends---Dino Rizzo. Their youth group and ours were together at Submerge (youth camp) this week and I heard our youth had an incredible God encountering time. It is awesome to have friends like Dino and Healing Place Church where our churches can do things together and build relationships together. Having real relationships in your life with the right people is so important. While I am good friends with several pastors of large thriving churches, I am really tight with about 8 guys (other senior pastors) who pastor incredible churches. Of those 8, Dino and John Seibeling are probably 2 of my best friends. I thank God for that. Well, we are gonna have great church this weekend! I will see you there. There is no place like Celebration -- every time I am away I miss our church so much -- I am so thankful to God for my wife, my children, my family and Celebration Church!

I've Got Rhythm

I am getting into the flow of blogging now and I feel like I have found a rhythm. It is basically writing from my blackberry whatever is on my heart at the moment; so I think my blog will be a mixture of personal stuff, leadership principles, inside info about the church that I want people to know and basic kind of what's going on stuff. The key for me is blogging works when something is on my heart that I want to communicate to the church. If I have to think about what to write, then it just doesn't work. Fortunately for me (as with most preachers), it seems I usually have something to say. So I am really fired up about this next season at Celebration -- the new growth track, small group strategy, the new service times later next month, and especially our staff unity and staff dynamic. Our staff is so awesome. I have never been more at peace about what God is doing and where we are headed as a church. I think we will all be blown away by what God does through Celebration Church over the next 10 months. Not just in the numerical growth and church expansion -- but in the impact God is beginning to allow us to have in this nation and even around the world. I just want to stay in love with Jesus and keep following Him. I am so grateful to God for His goodness to Celebration Church!

Traditional Service?

Celebration with a traditional service? Absolutely! There is a lot of buzz about the new tradtional style service that is kicking off on July 22 - so here is an idea of what our new "traditional service" will look like. We realize the word traditional means a lot of different things to different people but basically the idea is a softer, more "reverential" feel to the Celebration style. I just really want to be able to minister in Celebration style to a demographic that would prefer a softer, simpler sound with redone hymns and mainstream worship classics. There will be kneeling and communion and no moving lights. While I think people of all ages will enjoy this service, I am especially hoping that we can better minister to our 50's and 60's+ in our church and provide a worship environment where they will feel more comfortable bringing their friends.

A Church of Groups

This is good stuff, new stuff-- so get ready -- our fall groups are going to be the best ever. God has so impressed upon my heart how crucial group life is in this next season here at Celebration. We are called to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) and faciliate true Christian community (Acts 2:42-46) and you just cannot do that without intentional, strategic, group life. The reason why I am so excited about our small groups this fall is because this will be the first time Celebration Church will truly have a group driven ministry philosophy. What that means is groups are not just veiwed as an option for people to connect, but a crucial part of our strategy and mandate to make disciples. We are restructuring several key ministry areas to help drive and facilitate group life here at Celebration Church. We are currently training over 100 additional group facilitators and are excited about cirriculum based material groups as well as groups that are going to be lesson based around the weekend message. Groups for married couples, singles, men, women, co-ed, college, student and children will all be available. You can chose a group based on interest, age, or location.