Speed With Direction

It’s crazy to think that we’ve been in this building over 2 years now.  And it seems even more crazy when you consider that we’ve outgrown the space.  For Velocity, we went from 90 kids over 4 services to an average of 250 over 2 services.  Do we serve an awesome God or what!

In my last blog post that was back in *ahem* December, I was looking forward to the challenges coming down the road of 2009.  Well they are here and they are BIG!  Good news is that our God is bigger.

So it’s time to look at “making room” for more people.  Because the one thing that NewPointe proves is that people are looking to connect with an awesome and loving God.  And while visitors come and take baby steps in their relationship, it’s time for the regular NewPointer’s to take a leap of faith and make room for them.

More to follow as times and start dates for additional services are announced.  Stay tuned!

This has been a good year for me.  As I close it out sitting with friends at New Grounds Cafe in Walnut Creek, I realized what a momentous year it’s been.

-First and foremost, I got married to the man of my dreams.  If you’re a young women, or even just a single woman and you feel like you’ve waited forever… keep waiting.  It is SO worth it to get the man that God has for you.  Dave, you are more than amazing. I love you.

-I’ve become so much more comfortable on stage.  The thanks for that goes to Kevin West.  He is not just my boss but my cheerleader and encourager.  He believes that I can do anything.  Thanks!

-I’ve been a part of something bigger than anything I’ve ever imagined.  Working at NewPointe is  INCREDIBLE!  I’ve so privileged to be a part of it.

-I also work with Vern Yoder, someone who embodies so much of what I’d like to be.  He’s humble, gracious, encouraging and an colorful storyteller.  Of course since he’s humble, he’ll never admit to any of it.

As I look back (for just a moment) on 2008 it fires me up for what’s ahead in 2009. 

See you there!

Well, to be honest, I can’t believe that Christmas is almost here.  Not because I’m unprepared.  I’ve had my gifts wrapped for several days.  It just seems like this year has flown by.  It’s been a year of incredible change and excitement.  So many things have happened  and it’s almost felt like Christmas all year long!  Let me just hit a few of the highlights, or my top ten.  And yes, they are in order.

10. I’ve made some amazing friends this year.  Some are at work, some are on the web, and some are through Dave.  All are wonderful additions to my life and I’m thankful for everyone of them.

9. I got to attend Kids Camp with some amazing young ladies.  And it’s such a great week that I can’t wait till next year!

8. Dave and I’ve gotten connected with a Small Group, and they are a wonderful bunch of people that I might have never gotten to know from Sunday mornings.  We have good times and great food.

7. My brother and my sister-in-law both got married this year.  That’s my brother and Dave’s sister, and no,  not to each other…

6.  Road trips a plenty.  I love to travel and now that I have a travel partner it makes it even better!

5.  Being in Ohio means being closer to most of my family.  It’s so much fun to call my mom, or dad or sister and get together with them THAT day rather than next month. 

4. I got to be an Aunt again.  It’s harder this time, since Ethan is now living in Louisiana.  But that just means more road trips!

3. I’ve been a part of an amazing team that includes the staff and volunteers of NewPointe.  Every weekend I watch everyone do their best to connect people with a  God that wants a relationship with them.  Is there a better job in the world?  The answer is a loud NO!

2. I got engaged!  Which of course leads me to my top “gift” of the year…

1. I got married.  And to the most incredible guy in the world.  I could go on and on about him, but you wouldn’t want to read that… would you?

All these things are gifts that didn’t come from a store or come wrapped in a box.  And I love all of them.  2009 will have to be pretty big to top 2008.  But to be honest, I’m good with a calm, slow paced year.  

What are the chances of that happening?  And would I really want it?  Merry Christmas.

Tonight’s Christmas Eve services are going to be AMAZING!  Dave’s doing the lighting and Danny and the band have been really working on some great stuff.  The combination is going to be something that you don’t want to miss!  This is coming from someone who’s seen the practice and was BLOWN AWAY!

Velocity is closed tonight so kids can go in and experience the service as a family.  Some of my favorite memories were sitting in church and hearing the Christmas story.  And 24 years ago I accepted Christ after a service.  My hope and prayer is that families take the time to remember the real reason for the season.  See ya tonight!

Vern and I set a challenge before the kids in Velocity at the end of last month.  For 3 weeks, we’d collect all their change and then at the end, we’d give the money to  Friends of the Homeless of Tuscarawas County.  The collection tin was a 6 gallon bucket hung in Velocity’s hallway Salvation Army style.  As an added bonus, Vern said that if they filled it to the top, he’d shave his head a dye his beard blue.  A definite inspiration!

I always knew that our kids, and their families were generous… but what they accomplished together has blown my mind.  In just three Sundays they brought in…

                $561.10

Amazing!  It just reminds me that when we work together to help each other, there are no boundaries!  I am just so proud of our Velocity kids.  They are already changing the world.  Great job guys!

Now did they fill up the bucket?  You’ll have to find out on January 4th.  Stay tuned.

A lot of people love the Superbowl commercials.  They’re "just okay" to me.  I really enjoy Christmas commercials.  They make me laugh and thanks to Hallmark, even cry.  From the eternal Macy’s one-day sale to the Garmin adds, there’s a lot of creativity put into this time of year.  I’ve not actually seen the one I’ve posted on TV, but I think it’s funny. 

It’s a great time of year for the Church to be creative as well.  Churches everywhere get an influx of folks that only attend church on Christmas and Easter.  Our goal is to give them a taste of how relevant church (and God) can be and then maybe they’ll want to come back.  That’s my hope and prayer this holiday season.  Enjoy.

And check out last year’s opener Little Drummer Boy.  It rocked…

Since Dave and I got married almost 4 months ago, we’ve traveled around 4,000 miles.  That’s right.  We’ve been to 11 states together ( I hit Kentucky  on my own) and are just finishing up our last trip of the year.  We’re in Philadelphia, the old one, to attend Dave’s sister’s wedding.  It’s been another fun trip filled with cold weather and very narrow streets.  The wedding was wonderful.  It was at Tenth Presbyterian Church.  It’s a beautiful church with old woodwork and architecture.

It was fun to dress up and have NO responsibilities.  The food and atmosphere was amazing as well.  I’ve also got to eat my first Cannoli  and tomorrow I hope to have a cheesesteak in Philly.  I’ll keep you updated how that goes.  Until then, I leave you with a rare sighting…  Myself in a dress and Dave in a suit.  Savor and enjoy.

when you’re holding 10 baby Jesus’s.  

It’s happened several times over the past month…

"I’ve checked everyday, why aren’t you blogging?"

"Are you too busy to tell us what you’re up to?"

"If you don’t blog soon, I’m taking it off the website."

Yes, I haven’t been blogging lately.  And it’s not because I’ve fallen out of love with it.  It’s because on my list of things to do each day, blogging is in last place with having my nails done.  And if you know me, you’ll know that the last time (and only time) I had my nails done was for my sister’s wedding.  But I’ll blog more regularly in the future.

But if you’re not already using it, try out Google Reader.  It’s a great tool for plugging in blog links that you read and it’ll tell you when there’s a new one.  That save the time and apparent frustration of coming to this site and finding the same post from a month ago.  But I promise, I’ll do better in the future.

My days have been filled with talking to potential volunteers, old volunteers and working on KidStuf.  Velocity hit a record high last week with almost 300 kids over 2 services.  We were FULL!  And it felt FULL!  It also feels good to know that there are a lot of kids that are comfortable with coming to church.  And KidStuf has been packed as well.  Look for a time in the near future where we’ll be rolling out a second one.  And if you’re a parent, consider coming to the 2nd service and 2nd KidStuf to make room for  new families.  It’s a easy way to impact your community.

So please continue to keep me accountable for updating my blog.  But for those 5 readers that wait on the edge of their seats for more posts, what would you like to hear about?  That’s my stuggle.  Not so much when to post but what to post.  There are times where I just can’t believe that people want to read what I write.  And if you’re looking to see what I do throughout the day, follow me on Twitter, @jessicamast.  It’s a great way to keep in content.

So until I post again, and I promise I will, have a great one! …and try out Google Reader.  You’ll be glad you did.

Danny Bunnelle,, fellow blogger and staffer here at NewPointe puts up his song list for the upcoming weekends.  It’s usually an eclectic list that ranges from country to Christian rock.  So I thought that’d I’d preview what’s coming up on the song list for KidStuf.  We’ve got two categories.  Music we sing, and sketch tags.

Singing Set

Let’s Get This Party Started

Spin

My God

This week’s KidStuf singers will have a new addition.  Katie Colucy is making her debut Sunday morning.  And she’s good!

Sketch List

Whistle While You Work - Louis Armstrong

We’re Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister

Dust In The Wind - Kansas

Gonna Make You Sweat - CC and the Music Factory

New Attitude - Patti LaBelle

It’s fun when writing the sketches to jump onto iTunes and search for songs to go with the morning.  We get some interesting choices and they range from Weird Al  to The Backyardagains to Madonna. You just never know what you’re going to hear in KidStuf.