NO. 4
A Letter From The Pastor BY RICK WILLIAMS
Dear Church family,
I am really excited about our current sermon series, "Jesus Revolution." This series focuses on the timeless teachings of Jesus Christ and how He can transform our lives today. Recently, I delivered a message from Matthew 4:18-22 titled “Let’s Go Fishing." In this passage, we are presented with a captivating story and a compelling call from Jesus to his first disciples. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:18-22 NIV These four ordinary fishermen were called by Jesus to do extraordinary things. His call was personal, purposeful, and primary for not only them, but for all of us as well. Let us, like the first disciples, respond to the call to go fishing. People in our world are in desperate need of the Lord. They are searching for purpose, longing for companionship, burdened by guilt, and consumed by fear. It is our mission to share and demonstrate the love of Christ with those around us. Let's go fishing for souls!
Grace and peace, Pastor Rick
A Note From Pastor Eric Hello Violet Family! One of our core values as a church is the importance of healthy relationships. We believe that strong, healthy relationships are the foundation of a thriving church community and essential for connecting people to God as well as our growth and well-being as individuals. At Violet we have five core values.
Grace - Express unconditional love to everyone.
Relationships - Connect people to God and others.
Authenticity - Be real to who God made me to be.
Serving - Help others in the name of Jesus.
Prayer - Cultivate a culture of prayer.
At the heart of Violet’s Mission is the Great Commandment, where we see Jesus responds to one of the Pharisees who is trying to test Him, asking Jesus what the greatest commandment in the law is. Jesus' response was unchallengeable, “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:36-40 NIV (Continued on the next page)
<<<<In the VioletCafé
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In this passage we are called to not only Love God, but to also love one another as we love ourselves. This love extends beyond words and encompasses our actions and interactions with one another. By developing deep and meaningful relationships within our congregation, we create a supportive environment where all members feel valued, understood, and connected. Building and sustaining relationships requires time, effort, and genuine care. It involves actively listening to one another, offering support in times of need, celebrating each other's successes, and standing in the gap during challenging moments. By practicing empathy, compassion, and patience, we can cultivate a sense of belonging and create a space where we can be vulnerable, authentic, and accepted for who God created us to be. In a world that often feels divided and disconnected, our congregation should serve as a light, demonstrating the power of love, unity, and solidarity we can only find in Christ. We need to continue prioritizing relationships, reaching out to those who may feel isolated, seeking to understand those with different perspectives, and extending grace and forgiveness to one another. As we deepen our connections with one another, we need to also remember the importance of extending our love and compassion beyond our four walls, embracing all members of our local and global community. In doing so, we embody the values of kindness, generosity, and inclusivity that are at the core of Matthew 22:36-40. I pray that our commitment to healthy relationships serves as a source of strength and inspiration as we "do life" together.
In Christ Alone, Pastor Eric
MEN’S MISSION TRIP
In May, the men from Violet will embark on their trip to the Chanku Waste Ranch once again. Let's come together in prayer for the 32 men joining this mission trip. Pray for their safety and for the Lord's guidance as they construct a house for a pastor and complete the construction of the large storage barn on the ranch. Let's also pray that each man involved remains attuned to the Spirit's guidance in their lives.
EXCITING NEWS!
Get ready for our first-ever VioletGroup Cohort this summer. Join us for a 6-week program designed for those interested in leading a group. Keep an eye out for further details coming soon.
Hanging Out With Hannah
On Sunday, April 14th Overflow Youth Ministry families had the opportunity to spend time with Hannah Gaskins. With her dad being a former NFL football player, and her mom being a former NFL cheerleader, Hannah grew up in an athletic family. After running track in college, Hannah has set her sights on representing the USA at the upcoming Olympic Winter games in Italy as a member of the Skeleton team. After taking time to play games in the gym with our students, Hannah shared the details of her story up to this point in her life, and her dream for an Olympic medal. She shared her faith journey and how she views her current and future platforms as an opportunity to share the hope of Jesus with the world. As a licensed Christian Counselor, Hannah is very burdened to help people apply the hope of the Gospel to anxiety, depression, and a host of other issues that plague our culture. She related extremely well to our student and parents as she shared her journey. It was a very inspiring time for us to hear and affirm this godly young lady on her journey. Hannah has a heart of gold for Jesus and others. Please join us in cheering her on to Olympic gold as well!
Student Night of Worship On a beautiful Sunday evening in April Violet hosted a Student Night of Worship. This was simply an opportunity for youth groups to come together and worship God. The crowd of over 250 was led in worship by the Noah Ayers Band from Cedarville. This is the band who leads worship at Super Summer (our student leadership conference). They did an extraordinary job getting students to engage in worship during both upbeat and slower worship songs. At one point in the event, the Gospel was presented by a local youth pastor. Several of our church leaders made the observation that this generation of students is hungry for worship and genuinely desires to see God bring revival. It was truly inspiring to see students passionately engaged in worshiping Jesus. It was an honor to host groups from the Columbus area, Newark, Circleville, and even as far as Cincinnati. Several church leaders commented that our facilities and A/V set up were truly a blessing. This event provided students with a glimpse of the level of worship that has become a primary feature at Super Summer. Let’s pray that God continues to raise up worshipers and leaders from this generation of students! -Pastor Keith
VioletKids
In VioletKids, we have fully immersed ourselves into spring with April’s fun themes that have created much excitement in our Sunday morning environments! During the month of April, our preschoolers were encouraged to let their lights shine for Jesus, as Matthew 5:16 instructs us to do. Our elementary kids learned that patience means waiting until later for what you want right now. When we learn to wait well, it is always better for us and others, too! Our VioletKids April event was geared towards bringing moms and sons together for some friendly competition with Mother-Son Dodgeball. It’s always fun when you get to be a kid with your kid!
Psalm 78 paints such a beautiful picture of what it looks like to pass on a legacy of faith. Not only is this Psalm an invitation, but it is also a mission and a biblical command. Verse 4 says, “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.” As we prepare for the busy summer months with all the excitement for our Summer Kickoff event, Mega Sports Camp, and many other summer events at Violet, I want to ask that you prayerfully consider Psalm 78 and how you might join us in this mission to share Jesus with the next generation. There are so many ways to serve in our children’s ministry, and I would love nothing more than to talk with you about how you can utilize your gifts to make an impact with our kids. Feel free to reach out to me either by email or by phone at (614)833-0171.
-Chelsea Poole, Children’s Director
Events & Volunteers I am grateful for everyone currently involved in the various ministries and events at Violet. If you're interested in serving but unsure where to start, I recommend attending our Next Steps Gathering & Lunch. In this class, we can help you identify your unique gifts using the Spiritual Gifts Map and recognize the special abilities bestowed by the Holy Spirit upon believers in Jesus Christ. Once you uncover your S.H.A.P.E (a tool to reveal how God has uniquely shaped you) during Next Steps, we can assist you in getting connected and involved in serving. Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT mentions the gifts given by Christ to the church, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Their role is to equip God's people for His work and to strengthen the body of Christ. April was filled with exciting events, including our movie night featuring Jesus Revolution and the Mental Health Seminar, which can be viewed on our website. The month concluded with Evening for Eight fellowship dinners, fostering new friendships and groups. Looking ahead to May, Violet has more outreach events and serving opportunities lined up. Remember, there's always something happening here, not just on Sunday mornings!
If you want to learn more or get involved, feel free to contact me at jamiem@violetchurch.com.
Jamie McCleese Event & Volunteer Director
Women’s Ministry at Violet
The 2024 Violet Ladies Retreat was held last month at The Berlin Resort in Amish country. We had an incredible time just getting away, leaning closer to the Lord and growing closer to one another…lots of laughter, great teaching, great food, and lots of relaxing! We’re already working on next year’s retreat and many other opportunities for us to get together throughout this year! That being said, we are super excited about an opportunity for all of us to pursue together this year! We shared at the retreat that this year Women’s Ministry at Violet is reading/working through the book “The Resolution for Women” by Priscilla Shirer. There are 13 Resolutions we’re committing to pursue together - to live a life of purpose and intentionality as we chart the pathway of our lives in the direction of God’s promises! Everyone who attended the retreat received a copy of the book and I still have many copies available if you’d like one! They are also available at Amazon, Christianbook.com, and Lifeway. Please grab a book and join us! We are starting with Resolution #1 (all together now!!!): “I will embrace my current season of life and will maximize my time in it. I will resist the urge to hurry through or circumvent any portion of my journey but will live with a spirit of gratitude and contentment. (Continued on the next page)
Women’s Ministry at Violet
(Continued from the previous page) We spent a lot of time at the retreat talking about grace, grit, perseverance, contentment, and biblical practices that we can walk out during this season of life, no matter what it looks like for you!!
Here’s our plan for pursuing the resolutions together:
March-June: Resolutions 1-5 July-September: Resolutions 6-9 October-December: Resolutions 10-13
Each month emails will go out and posts will be made to the Women’s Encouragement Page on Facebook for us to share our thoughts as we process through the questions and concepts at the end of each section. Save the following dates!! We will gather together in the VioletCafé, immediately following 2nd service, for lunch and a fun time sharing our experiences as we pursue these resolutions:
June 9th September 22nd December 15th
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Below is a sampling of the questions posed in working through Resolution 1:
1. What part of life are you trying to hurry through? 2. What are you hurrying to get to? 3. What are some of the good parts of your experience that you're missing in your attempt to rush through the difficult parts? 4. What can you do differently today to gather up the good things around you and...(I'm gonna be honest this is hard to type)...enjoy this journey in your life? Sound good??!! We hope you will grab a copy of the book today and let’s pursue God’s best for us and our loved ones as we go after these 13 resolutions together!
Love, Karen
If you are not receiving emails from the Women’s Ministry at Violet and would like to be added to the emails, please email info@violetchurch.com and we will get you added to the list.
Men’s Ministry at Violet
Mark your calendars for the Men’s Retreat scheduled for the weekend of August 9-11. The weekend's agenda features enjoyable activities, fellowship opportunities, and friendly competitions. We are excited to announce that Reagan Wagoner will be our guest speaker for the event. Pastor Reagan Wagoner and his wife, Heather, have lived in Springboro, OH since 2015. They moved to Springboro from Nashville, TN after living there for 12 years, but Heather grew up nearby in Germantown, OH. They have been married for 20 years and have four children (Reese – 16; Ty – 14; Tess – 13; Presley- 8). Pastor Reagan has been serving in ministry for 25 years and has received two pastoral degrees in Biblical Studies/Psychology from Dallas Baptist University and an MDiv in Pastoral Studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry in Leadership from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reagan currently serves as Lead Pastor at Grace Point Fellowship in Franklin/Springboro, OH, and also trains church planters. He has been personally involved in the planting of 85+ churches through mission partnership, training, or direct planting in the Cincinnati/Dayton area, the US, and around the globe.
Keep an eye out for more details!!
Marketing & Communications When was the last time you updated your information on the Church Center app? Your details are important for us to ensure you receive all notifications regarding prayer requests, events, and other important information. If you haven't downloaded the Church Center app yet, don't worry, it's a simple process. Just click on the Church Center icon at the bottom of this page, select your phone type, and follow the instructions provided.
We’d love to hear from you. Has your VioletGroup recently come together to serve the Lord? Tell us about it. What’s happening in the ministry where you serve? We’d love to hear about it. You can email rachels@violetchurch.com with your stories and photos.
If you require any assistance, feel free to reach out to me, and I'll gladly guide you through the setup.
Rachel Stone Marketing & Communications Director rachels@violetchurch.com
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