Awaken Serves Community by providing Thanksgiving Turkeys

This morning a few from Awaken Community Church delivered 15 turkeys to a local High School in Lacey. Thanks for being the loving Church Body that you are! All of you are a blessing to the community!

Christmas Caroling and Serving at the Bonadventure of Lacey

Hey Awaken!

On the 5th of December we have the opportunity to do some Christmas Caroling and ministering to the residents of the Bonaventure of Lacey Senior Living Community. I need to know ASAP if any of you are interested so I can let them know that a group of us will do it! Right now I don't have many details other than a date. More to come in the near future.

Please email me ASAP if you have any interest - I believe this would be an awesome opportunity to be a Light within this community. Even if you don't sing, just being there will show that others care! Will you join me?

Thanks!

~~Brian

UPDATE with providing turkeys to local Lacey Families

Hey Awaken -

Alrighty - here is the final word with the Thanksgiving Turkeys for local families of the River Ridge High School in Lacey.

- They need a total of 15 frozen turkeys.
- Each turkey should be large enough to feed a family of 5.
- I need to deliver them on Monday, November 23rd at 10am
- I could use some help taking them to the school. If any one of you are available to help, please let me know so we can set a time to load and deliver them.
- If all possible, please bring your turkey no later than THIS Sunday. We're wanting to write a card for each family wishing them a Happy Thanksgiving. So it would be awesome to have all of you come and write something encouraging on the card.

Thanks Awaken!

~~Pastor Brian

Helping local families this Thanksgiving!

Hey Awaken!

Last year we helped 6 families of River Ridge High School to have a Thanksgiving Dinner by providing turkeys. This year we've been asked to help 13 families!

This is an awesome opportunity to show the love of Christ by the simple act of giving a turkey (large enough to feed a family of 5) to those who wouldn't be able to celebrate the holiday without our help. Please prayerfully decide to be a part of this great opportunity to serve!

Please contact Pastor Brian if you're able to purchase a turkey for a family this year.

Thanks for being a loving church!

~~Pastor Brian

brian@awakenolympia.com

Random Awaken Gathering Pictures

Hey Awaken -

If you have any pictures of any Awaken events or activities - please email them to Pastor Brian so we can all enjoy them! email: brian@awakenolympia.com

Mark Your Calendar!

Hey Awaken - lot's of things going on...here's the summary:

1. LIFE JOURNAL & DESSERT: Every Sunday between now and the end of 2009 we'll be meeting at Pastor Brian's home at 5pm for devotional reading & discussion with fellowship afterwards until 11pm. All are welcome to come! Contact Pastor Brian for more information. brian@awakenolympia.com

- Bring your favorite dessert for all to enjoy!

- Bring canned soda's & bottled water (helps to keep the outside coolers full!)

- Bring your bible

- Bring a friend

2. WEEKLY SMALL GROUPS: Currently we have three small groups that are meeting weekly that all of you are welcome to be a part.

- Wednesday: Ladies small group is meeting 7pm at the Forza in Lacey. They are currently going through the study titled, "Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free" by Nancy DeMoss. This study is currently being led by Teri Dukes teridukes@hotmail.com

- Thursday: Brian & Angela is leading the "Fireproof" study at their home. Please contact Brian or Angela for more information and directions to their home. brianrice@awakenolympia.com or angela@awakenolympia.com

- Friday: Ray & Judy is leading the "3:16 Numbers of Hope" study at their home. Please contact Judy for more information and directions to their home. judywrmt@yahoo.com

3. WOMEN'S LIFE JOURNAL: Meets the first Monday of each month at the Panera Bread in Lacey.

- Bring a bible

- Bring a Life Journal - visit http://www.lifejournal.cc/ to order a Life Journal.

- Bring a friend

4. WOMEN'S CRAFT FELLOWSHIP: Meets at various locations. Dates for the rest of the year are Oct 17th, November 9th, and December 14th. Please contact Eunice for more information. eunice@awakenolympia.com

- Bring a snack

- Bring a friend

- Bring an idea

5. FELLOWSHIP BRUNCH: The first Thursday of each month at 9am is a Fellowship Brunch hosted by Ray & Judy. Please contact Judy at judywrmt@yahoo.com for more information and directions to their home.

6. AWAKEN SERVES: This upcoming Sunday the 11th, we'll be meeting at Pastor Brian's home at 11am to pass out free packets of 9volt batteries for the community to use for their smoke detectors/oxygen sensors. After we serve the community we'll return to Pastor Brian's to do the Life Journal together.

- Bring 9volt batteries (we'll need them BEFORE the 11th so Pastor Brian can put stickers on the packets.

- Bring a friend

- Bring comfortable shoes...on your feet. We'll be doing a lot of walking!

- Bring a smile

7. FREE COMMUNITY BBQ: Pastor Brian decided that he wasn't finished with his BBQ for the year...so, he's invited everyone to hangout at his home Sunday the 11th 5pm - 11pm. We'll have food, fun, games, bouncy castle, and end the night around his firepit just hanging out.

- Some items we'll need:

- Hamburgers

- Hotdogs

- Buns for both the hamburgers and hotdogs

- Chips & dips

- Canned soda & Bottled water

- Cookies

- Side dishes

- Yourself

- Your friends

- Your neighbors

- Your children

- Smiles

- Laughter

If you have any questions please email info@awakenolympia.com or call Pastor Brian at 360.628.0226.

Life Journal & Dessert

Life Journal & Dessert - September 27th

- All are invited to the Beshears' home for a time of Bible devotional time and tasty dessert! The fun part is YOU'RE bringing your best recipe for the group to enjoy! Of course, if you can't bake...you can always to go Safeway. .

- We'll begin at 6pm and end...? Most likely by midnight hanging out around the fire pit in Pastor Brian's backyard.

- Please bring your Bible and Life Journal if you have one. If not we'll help you out.

- Please invite a friend

Always a great time to fellowship!

Awaken Serves/Community BBQ

Awaken Serves/Community BBQ - October 11th

- On October 11th we'll be walking door to door passing out free packets of 9 volt batteries for smoke detectors/oxygen sensors.

- We'll need multiple packets of 9 volt batteries. I'll get the exact number of homes in the very near future, but I would say we'll need at least 100 packets. Please help this to become a successful outreach by purchasing packets of 9 volt batteries and bring them to Pastor Brian's home. We'll need to have these at his home before the 11th so we can put stickers on each packet that will read, "Compliments of Awaken Community Church, www.awakenolympia.com".

- Awaken Serves:

- We'll meet at the Beshears' home at 11am.

- Wear comfortable shoes, we'll be walking around the neighborhood

- Please invite a friend!

- Community BBQ:

- We'll begin as soon as the Awaken Serves event is done.

- We'll need soda, hamburger meat, hot dogs, buns, chips, cookies, side dishes, sliced veggies, cheese

- Please invite a friend!

- Pray for good weather...we had close to 50 people in Pastor Brian's home at the last BBQ when it rained.

*Please send an email to info@awkenolympia.com if you're planning to participate with this outreach event.

See you then!

New Small Groups & Studies Beginning in October

Two new Small Groups and studies beginning in October.

- The first study is titled, 3:16 Numbers of Hope, by Max Lucado. Click here to visit the official website.

- This study will begin in October and continue through the end of December.

- Sometime during the course of the study the group will do at least one service to the Lacey community.

- Participants will need to bring their bible and purchase the book. Amazon is a good place to find the book for a good price. It won't be necessary to have this book on the first night of the study.

- The the day & times will be every Friday, 7 - 9:30pm

- Please invite a friend!

- The second study is titled, Fireproof, based on the movie. Click here to visit the official website.

- This study will begin in October and continue through the end of December.

- Sometime during the course of the study the group will do at least one service to the Lacey community.

- Participants will need to bring their bible and purchase the workbook. Again, Amazon is a good place to find the workbook for a good price. It won't be necessary to have this workbook on the first night of the study.

- The day & times will be every Thursday, 6 - 8pm

- Please invite a friend!

~If you are interested in either of these studies please email info@awakenolympia.com for more details.

New Women's Small Group

Howdy Ladies!

New small group for the ladies will begin THIS Saturday at 5pm. For more details please contact Jacklyn - 253.375.2133 or 360.491.9549. You can also email - jacklynjenness92@live.com Please come on out and join us - we'd love to see you!

~~Awaken

Free Community Drink Give-away is tomorrow morning!

Howdy Awaken -

This is a reminder that tomorrow morning at 10am we'll gather at the Regional Athletic Complex on Steilacoom Road to give away free drinks (bottled water & soda). The purpose of this outreach is to make awareness of our existence through the simplicity of giving away a free refreshing drink. It's the hope that this first initial contact will lead to long lasting relationships.

If possible, please come on out and bring some soda or bottled water...a smile would be good!

Any questions please feel free to contact Pastor Brian 360.628.0226 or email brian@awakenolympia.com


Address:

8345 Steilacoom Rd SE
Lacey, WA 98503

See you then!

~~Pastor Brian

Random Pics - Christy Mooney B-Day Party!

Here are some random pictures from Christy Mooney's Birthday party...

A reminder about life

"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." Jeremiah 10:23 (NIV)

My life really isn't mine. From the beginning of time God created man in the image of Himself. God created man in His likeness and to rule over all the living creatures God had created. God had given man the blessing of life and to enjoy everything the Earth could bring. The greatest that man was to enjoy was a loving eternal relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

Because of the Fall that happened their is now no longer a perfect union between God and man. This perfect union will only come to those who have trusted in God's Son, Jesus, for redemption and Salvation from God's wrath.
Only after this first step can a man again understand the original meaning and purpose for living. Only after this first step will man find joy from life because of the promise of an future eternity that will be given.

Jeremiah 'knew' this. How many of us claim to 'know' and actually live a life that actually shows the world by our life that we know God? How many of God's followers actually love God? Love others? What is the test to know that a person knows?

- Do I have any other gods that I put or replace the God of the Bible as first in my life?

- Have I made an idol out of anything that I currently own or the lifestyle I'm living?

- Have I misused the name of God through my speech or actions?

- Have I kept the Sabbath, a day of rest, to reflect and pray about and to the God of the Bible?

- Have I given honor to both my father and mother the way God has commanded me too?

- Have I committed murder towards others through actions or words?

- Have I committed adultery through actions or words?

- Have I taken anything that wasn't rightfully mine?

- Have I shared a story about another person that wasn't truthful?

- Have I burned with passion desiring what others have?

Unfortunately, by God's standards I have failed. I'm humbled that God, even with my short comings and failures, has gracefully given me the opportunity to once again be in relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
My life isn't my own. I was bought by the Blood of Jesus that was shed on the Cross of Calvary.

Lord, thank You for your perfect Love. Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for a new life, a second chance, that I don't deserve. Help me to live this life as You direct me. Help me not live this life by my own understanding, but only through my faith in Jesus Christ.

~~Pastor Brian

Thanks for reading. If this has been helpful in any way I would love to hear from you. You can email me at brian@awakenolympia.com

Woven As One - Random Photo's...

Enjoy some random pics from our last Woven As One (Women's Craft Gathering)...

If you're interested in being a part of our next one please contact Eunice eunice@awakenolympia.com.

Random Pictures - Men's Shooting

Hey Men - here are a few random pictures of our last shooting. To say the least...it was a blast! If you're interested in coming out to our next one email Brian Rice brianrice@awakenolympia.com for details.

By the way - it doesn't matter if you have a firearm or not! There is normally enough 'toys' around for everyone to play with!

August Menu at Awaken

Hey Awaken - are you hungry? Here's the menu for the month. Please let either Judy or Jen know if you're able to bring any of the items below.


August 9th - Sandwiches
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Bread
Lunch Meat
Mayo
Chips
Desert
Soda

August 16th: Curry
Rice
Bread
Salad
Soda

August 23rd: Breakfast Burritos
Tortillas
Eggs
Bacon
Sausage
Cheese
Sour Cream
Salsa
Juice

August 30th: Spaghetti
Bread
Butter
Salad
Soda

BBQ was a great success! Plenty of food & fun!

During the Summer is the time of year that many families just want to get out and "have some fun!" So, even though it's a Sunday and we should be "in church" we decided instead to "be" the church.

With over 50 total coming to Pastor Brian's home we enjoyed plenty of down time and catching up. Some of us hung out in the living room and played on the few XBOX's we had set-up. I believe Brian Rice was doing his best to show how it's really done. Chris Mooney of course just played along letting Brian Rice win from time to time.

Outside we had Pastor Brian behind the grill cooking up all kinds of meat! We had so many burgers going the grease gave a cool fire presentation just for show!

The children had plenty of room to just run, run, run, run, and run! We had a few inflatable pools filled with plastic balls that were very popular with the young children. Mainly because they made it a point to throw all 500 of them throughout the yard so the adults could spend 30min picking them up!

About 8:30pm pretty much everyone had their fill of food so we started putting things away and cleaning up. After everything was put away the rest of us (about 15 people) gathered around the fire pit in the backyard.

After 'safely' lighting the fire we enjoyed preparing ourselves for some S'mores! Yum! Yum!

Of course, Dan had to show us the proper way to feed an army with his awesome 'super stick' that could roast 12 marshmallow at once!

Please enjoy the random pictures below....


Thanks again to all of you who were a part of this BBQ. We wouldn't have been able to pull this off without all of your support!

You're all a wonderful church family!

Awaken Community Church