ECC-Evangelical Covenant Church
All I Want for Christmas Is... Some Good News
Welcome to ECC! We are now in the season of Advent—the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Advent is a time of waiting, of remembering the coming of Christ the first time, and prayerfully considering Christ's return one day. Our Advent series is called "All I Want for Christmas..." We will explore basic human needs and hopes and dreams and how the true meaning of the Christmas season speaks to it all. We're glad you've joined us!
Locations & Times
Evangelical Covenant Church
3600 S 9th St, Lafayette, IN 47909, USA
Sunday 10:25 AM
Downloadable Bulletin
https://ecclife.net/bulletinCommunication Card
Let us know you worshiped at today's service! You can also sign up for newsletters or prayer.
https://ecclife.net/commcardHow to Connect at ECC
Click below to explore many opportunities get connected.
https://www.ecclife.net/connectAdult Christian Formation
Sunday mornings at 9:00am in person in the Great Room. The Adult Sunday School Class is starting a new series entitled "Old Testament Survey".
Children’s Christmas Program
Children’s Christmas Program: All children (through 5th grade) are invited to sing with us in our ECC Kids Christmas Program on Sunday, December 17! Rehearsals will take place after worship this Sunday. Plan to meet us in the Sanctuary after worship, and we will have families on their way by 12:15pm. Those who are participating should plan to arrive by 9am on Sunday, December 17. You can find more information here.
https://ecclife.net/songsChildren's Ministry
Our nursery, preschool, and kindergarten children meet in the main building, down the hall from our worship space. You can check in for these classes at the west entrance table. Our 1st-5th grade students begin in worship with their families. Midway through our worship service, they are invited to a class in the Life Center building.
Children's Christmas Break
Christmas Break: Our preschool through 5th grade Kids Out Loud classes will take a break from December 17 through December 31. Kids should plan to join us for the Christmas Program during worship on December 17. The nursery will remain open all Sundays, and KOL classes will resume on January 7.
Christmas Services
You are invited to worship with us on Christmas Eve here at ECC! First, we will come together for our regular Sunday morning worship for the Fourth Sunday of Advent on December 24, at 10:30am (in-person and online). Then, we will hold two traditional Christmas Eve services that evening, one at 6:00pm (in-person and online), and a second at 9:00pm (in-person only). Both services will close with our traditional candle lighting as we sing "Silent Night".
Christmas Outreach
Thank you so much for your prayers and contributions to make our Christmas Outreach party on December 2nd, a success! Great fun was had by all, and God’s love was evident. We appreciate all the donations that have helped us reach $8,186 (as of Monday) to surpass our goal of $8,000!! All money is used in our year-round outreach efforts. We are blessed and because of your help, we will be a blessing to our community! THANK YOU!!
Men's Ministry
• Wednesday Morning Men's Fellowship: Join us each week at 6:30am. The Wednesday Morning Men’s group is studying a commentary by NT Wright on Romans 1-8. This group is currently meeting via Zoom. For an invite, please email Ken Ritchey. We'd love to see you there! Contact: kritchey@tds.net
• Wednesday Evening Group: Pastor Kurt’s weekly study, meets at 6:30pm on Wednesdays in Room 10. We are currently studying the book of Revelation. We hope you can join us.
• Men’s Monthly Meal: Men of ECC, join us for our monthly meal on December 18 at 6:30pm at Teays River (3000 S 9th St) for good food and conversation.
• Wednesday Evening Group: Pastor Kurt’s weekly study, meets at 6:30pm on Wednesdays in Room 10. We are currently studying the book of Revelation. We hope you can join us.
• Men’s Monthly Meal: Men of ECC, join us for our monthly meal on December 18 at 6:30pm at Teays River (3000 S 9th St) for good food and conversation.
Youth Group
Gatherings: Students in grades 6-12 are invited to join us on Wednesday evenings throughout the semester for a time of snacks, getting to know other students, Bible study, and small group. We meet from 6:30-8:00pm each Wednesday in the Life Center building. Doors open at 6pm each week for those who would like to arrive early. Contact Pastor Kristin or Pastor Chuck with questions.
kmueller@ecclife.net
cpotts@ecclife.net
kmueller@ecclife.net
cpotts@ecclife.net
Winter Camp
Students in grades 6-12 are invited to join us for Winter Camp 2024 at Covenant Harbor! Our camp weekend this year is January 12-14, 2024. Our total cost for the weekend will be $195/student. We do have scholarships funds available if needed, so contact Pastor Kristin or Pastor Chuck for more information. For more information about winter camp or to sign up today, click the link!
https://ecclife.net/youth#winterUNITE 2024
UNITE 2024 (formerly known as CHIC), will return in July 2024! All students currently in 8th-12th grade will be invited to attend this incredible event with our youth group. To get more information, including cost and trip details, contact Pastor Chuck.
cpotts@ecclife.net
https://ecclife.net/unite-2024Youth Group Christmas Party
Our last Youth Group night of 2023 will be on Wednesday, December 20 where we will have our annual Christmas Party! We will meet a half hour earlier, from 6:00-8:00pm, for a festive night of Christmas treats, games, and presents! All Middle and High School students are invited, even if it’s your first time. We hope to see you there!
1935 Young Adult Christmas Dinner Party
All young adults, roughly ages 19 to 35, are invited to the 1935 Young Adult Christmas Dinner Party on Sunday, December 10th at 5:30pm in the Great Room. If you’d like to attend, we highly encourage you to sign-up online, as each person will be asked to bring some things. A Christmas ham will be provided for dinner, as well as, pizza for the kids in childcare… but the rest of the sides will be signed up for in advance. Additionally, there is a fun gift exchange game that Pastor Chuck is planning, and he’ll be e-mailing instructions for it to everyone who signs ups. So, we invite all young adults to sign-up right away and enjoy this time of community and fun celebrating Christmas together!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E054BAAA923A2FC1-45185852-youngPickle Ball
Pickle ball is now available at ECC!! Currently we have playing times set for Monday and Friday at 9:00am, one Saturday a month at 8:30am, and Monday evenings at 6:30pm. If you’ve never played, now’s the time to get involved! We’ll teach you how to play. We have 3 courts and plenty of spare paddles and game balls. Just be sure to wear tennis shoes. We’re open to all levels of play and especially looking forward to making new friends. We’ll limit play to members and attenders of ECC and their invited guest. If you would like to get an email with schedule updates, let us know here.
https://ecclife.net/subscribeMOPS/MOMSNext
Whether expecting your first or sending your last off to college, MOPS/MOMSNext has a place for you! MOPS/MOMSNext exists to nurture a community that allows each mom to grow as an individual and in relationships with her family, other moms, and Jesus. Our next meeting is December 12 from 9:30-11:30am. MOPS/MOMSNext is open to any mom in the community, so we encourage you to invite neighbors and friends who might be looking for a place to connect!
http://eccmops.comServing Opportunities
If you are looking for a way to get more involved in the ministry and mission of ECC, we have a few opportunities we want to highlight. Remember, it will take all of us serving together for us to become a community of people who know God, follow Jesus, and pursue God's purposes in the world, and we'd love to have you join us!
https://ecclife.net/serveSoul Training
Explore our Soul Training page where you will find an introduction to spiritual practices and a wide variety of places to begin or add to your own transformational journey.
https://ecclife.net/soul-trainingGive Online
You can give your offerings here. You can also give to special areas by commenting in the memo line.
https://ecclife.net/giveStewardship
https://ecclife.net/stewardshipCare Team
As Care Team members, our hope is to care for and support those who are hurting during challenging times. We will listen, be present with you, and pray for you. Please respond below to have one of our referrals coordinators contact you.
https://ecclife.net/careAll I Want for Christmas is...Some Good News
Second Sunday of Advent
Pastor Stacey Littlefield
Second Sunday of Advent
Pastor Stacey Littlefield
A Question to Ponder.
Think of a time when you anxiously awaited what you hoped would be good news. What was the waiting like? How did the situation turn out? What difference does waiting for good news have on your day to day life?
Think of a time when you anxiously awaited what you hoped would be good news. What was the waiting like? How did the situation turn out? What difference does waiting for good news have on your day to day life?
A Question to Ponder.
What "mountains" or "valleys" or "rough places" do you think sometimes stand in the way of people coming to God or stand in the way of allowing God to come to them? What obstacles have you seen God overcome in your own life? What obstacles have you, personally, had to overcome in life or in your life with God?
What "mountains" or "valleys" or "rough places" do you think sometimes stand in the way of people coming to God or stand in the way of allowing God to come to them? What obstacles have you seen God overcome in your own life? What obstacles have you, personally, had to overcome in life or in your life with God?
A Question to Ponder.
Read Isaiah 40.6-8. We only briefly talked about this part of the chapter in the message. Why do you think these verses are here? What is God saying to his people? What from what you read speaks to you, personally? Why?
Read Isaiah 40.6-8. We only briefly talked about this part of the chapter in the message. Why do you think these verses are here? What is God saying to his people? What from what you read speaks to you, personally? Why?
A Question to Ponder.
What or who in your life is a reminder to you that God is with you, and how does this person or thing communicate God's presence to you?
What or who in your life is a reminder to you that God is with you, and how does this person or thing communicate God's presence to you?
Quotables.
Consider the quote from Marlena Graves, below. What stands out to you? In what ways does it resonate with your experience? In what ways does it challenge your experience?
“God uses the desert of the soul—our suffering and difficulties, our pain, our dark nights (call them what you will)—to form us, to make us beautiful souls. He redeems what we might deem our living hells, if we allow him…. The desert is a blessing disguised as a curse—a study in contrasts.”
(from A Beautiful Disaster, pp.6-7)
Consider the quote from Marlena Graves, below. What stands out to you? In what ways does it resonate with your experience? In what ways does it challenge your experience?
“God uses the desert of the soul—our suffering and difficulties, our pain, our dark nights (call them what you will)—to form us, to make us beautiful souls. He redeems what we might deem our living hells, if we allow him…. The desert is a blessing disguised as a curse—a study in contrasts.”
(from A Beautiful Disaster, pp.6-7)
Just for Fun: The Rollercoaster
Follow the link below for a first-person view of riding a bike down part of the "Rollercoaster" bike path Kim and I rode on in St. George, Utah. The link takes you to the middle of the video where that part of the ride begins, but the whole video is beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdF1L6fG5gU&t=225sBible Project: Peace
Follow the link below to watch the Bible Project's theme video on the theme of Peace in the pages of Scripture. Peace is the theme of the second week of the season of Advent.
https://youtu.be/oLYORLZOaZESecond Sunday of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.