Make sure you check out our new page “LInks We Love“. You’ll find a listing of some of the organizations that The Women of C3 are proud to support.

Let us know if there are others that you would like to see listed.

Thanks for reading.

Love Wins!

This Friday (May 9th at 10 a.m.), C3 has the privilege to work with Feed the Children to feed 400 needy families in our area.

If you are interested in helping out, please email Barry at barry@c3orlando.com.

This is going to be an awesome opportunity for C3 to come together and be…well, C3!

Byron and I will be there and we look forward to seeing you there too.

Thanks for your help.

Remember: Love Wins!

Just thinking about how much work goes into each Sunday makes me want to send out a big thank-you, as a mom and a volunteer, to the entire Children’s Ministry Team! Verna is such a gifted Children’s Director, we are so fortunate to have her. What an answer to prayer that she felt called to accept this position at C3!

I had some questions initially about how all the details of ‘the move’ were going to fall into place for our ‘littlest members’ and their families. I have to say, with only a few weeks under our belt, I found myself walking out the door of the ‘Playhouse Theatre’ last Sunday, commenting, “Wow, I can’t believe it, but this Sunday was even smoother and better than last week; I can’t believe it! I have left church every week since our move to the theatres thinking things we’re better than the week before.”

Verna and her team have been in and out of the theatres evaluating and fine-tuning every little detail. Is it crazy to say that the childrens environment is cleaner and safer and more effective now than in our old facilities? Really…it is…! The baby nursury is so spectacular it almost makes me want to have another baby just so we can benefit from all the efforts put into the baby room! (not literally, please don’t start calling my husband )

The kids that come to Playhouse each week have adapted better than I ever could have imagined. Our lead puppet “Maria” headed over to the theatre before Christmas and video-taped a message there for all the kids. She explained to them about our move, where we’d be meeting, and saying that she would be waiting at the theatre for them. WOW~who thinks to do that ahead of time? Thanks Verna…! The kids came in pumped up to see Maria in our new environment, and ready for whatever was in store for them. If you have a child involved in the playhouse ministry, ask them to perform one of our songs for you. You will be amazed how they sing and dance their little hearts out praising God!

It takes a special someone to devote their time and energy to ministering to the children at C3. It actually takes quite a few ’special someones’ and to you all, (you know who you are-from the set-up/break down crew, to the teachers and youth assistants, to the check-in stations, to the behind the scenes folks, the performers in playhouse, and powerhouse, and everyone else in between), thanks for giving of yourself to help teach my children, and keep them safe, while I am being challenged in the worship service each week. You are a blessing to my family, and many, many other families each week. Please know that children’s lives are being impacted in the most important way possible thanks to your efforts and hard work!

Heather

Don’t forget to put March 30th on your calendar. You won’t want to miss the fun!!

Be there, or be…missed terribly!

It’s gonna be a blast.

Love wins.

The “Girls Night Out” was awesome. Thanks so much to all of the ladies who came out. It was a blast to just hang out and have fun!

Pictures from Wednesday night and last Sunday are on the way they should be up by tonight. So be sure to check them out. Also, be sure to check out the Calendar and Album pages to stay up to date about events and see cool pics from stuff we’ve been up to.

Have a blessed Friday!

Love Wins.

Graceful Barbarians:

Next Wednesday night (January 23rd), the Women of C3 will be coming together to hang out and have fun. You are welcome to join us -

For more specifics please send your email info to womenofc3@c3orlando.com - you will receive updates and info about coming events for the women of C3.

Hope to see you there…

…love wins.

Be sure to check the Calendar Page often. It will update and remind you of exciting things to come for the women of C3 to participate in.

An email address is coming shortly by which you can receive more specific details about women’s events.

Until then, keep checking the Calendar Page, and you can send any questions through comments.

It’s gonna be a crazy fun year…

Don’t forget to Invest and Invite for our Theater Launch this Sunday (January 20th) - services are at 9:00am and at 10:30am. I look forward to seeing you all there!

(For more pics and info, click here)

Peace to you all…LOVE WINS!

I’ve learned a lot about trying to be brave over the past couple of years.

It seems like it’s communicated early on to girls that they/we were not meant to be brave - like we’re just not cut out for certain attributes like bravery and courage.

But, I’m learning that God absolutely did create us for these things - it just might not be as easily recognizable in women. I know this for a variety of reasons:

• We are created in the image of God.
• God says to all believers in His Word, “Be strong and courageous!”
• We are made for love - the strongest/greatest attribute that there is - in fact, in Ephesians 5 when scripture speaks to husbands and commands them to “love your wives”, this same passage doesn’t say the same to women - it’s a “given”: women are made to love.
• In the fight for love we are compelled to protect, to endure, to nurture - these are not passive activities. It’s natural for us to have to become brave and be courageous in order to undertake these tasks.
• Because we are less likely to be looked at as brave, and conditioned to think we can’t - it takes more strength and courage to stand up and be brave.
• Being brave and courageous when you are standing for something virtuous is where we find our voice - our freedom. It is where we find the freedom that comes from being who God created us to be.
• If it’s all about love (I Cor. 13), then we make the best warriors of all!

So, don’t believe the lie that you were not made to be strong, courageous and brave. It is in embracing these that we find our voice - our true calling. Put on your armor (Eph. 6), it is our birthright to fight - as long as we are fighting for love…

…and (you know)…

LOVE WINS!

This week has been a blur…

I keep thinking, “Can I keep this pace up indefinitely?” - I definitely feel a lot older than I did last year. We’ve spent a ton of time discussing how our first weekend at the theater went and what needs to be done before we do it all over again this Sunday. We’ve also been working on “C3 Day at Moss Park” - which is tentatively scheduled for the last Sunday in March.

It’s been crazy busy, but I’ve enjoyed so much reading other women’s blogs that have motivated and inspired me to keep on working…

Here are a few highlights:

Amanda wrote: “…Pastor Byron’s sermon was about investing in others. I was challenged to see others as Jesus sees them…something I’m not always good at. The verse that stood out to me was Acts 2:42…

‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’

The part that really stuck with me was the part that says, “they devoted themselves”. It is MY responsibility to take action in my faith…no one else’s. There is not a friend, a family member, or even a pastor (gasp!) that can MAKE me be devoted. I want to make 2008 the year that I take more action than ever before in the area of investing in others, particularly others who don’t know Christ.

I feel so privileged to be a part of a church that loves God and loves others more than anything else. I am thankful to God for allowing me to be a part of this amazing group of people we call C3 church.”

Cassie wrote: “I am so proud to be a part of a church [C3 Church] that embodies “The New Humanity.” A church that is committed to meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of others - because to ignore either is to be anti-human and thus anti-God. A church that recognizes we are all image bearers and embraces the similarities in all of us instead of letting the differences divide us. A church that values the Pastor as much as the Prostitute and the Marine as much as the Iraqi. A church that doesn’t discriminate on who is welcome to worship with us and guards against those who try to ruin and discourage “The New Humanity” attitude among us.

Graceful Barbarians. The New Humanity.“

Alison wrote: “Some of you reading this may not know what C3 is…let me tell you! It’s a church filled with authentic people who’s passion is to connect the community with Christ (that’s what C3 stands for in case you didn’t catch that!)

This church has been criticized, the staff has been criticized…they have been through so much, yet they have remained strong and always stood up for what they believe! They have already reached so many for Christ and continue to do so! Their passion is contagious!! I want to be a part of this movement, John wants to be a part of it, and we want our children to be a part of it! We are ready to serve, we are ready to love, we are ready to put the past behind us and move forward! I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for us at C3! Of course there will be more criticism to come…but NOBODY can steal this joy away!”For right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.”

~1 Corinthians 13:13 (MSG)

Andrea wrote: “Powerhouse was so flippin’ cool! Kids just screaming like maniacs in sheer joy and excitement to be in church… singing and dancing as they praised the Lord. I sat through the whole 10:30 hour of P.H. after I sang and I was so blessed by their eager spirits to answer questions on their lesson. I sat back as I listened to them learn about respecting and obeying authority. The bible story was the one of Jesus speaking with the Pharisees about giving to Caesar what belongs to him and giving God His offerings as well. They ate it up. They were soaking in God’s word in a fun, relevant and uplifting manner. The teachers, actors, dancers and volunteers in there are being used in an unbelievable way… an eternal way.

I have so many thoughts running through my head. I can’t even begin to scratch the surface. This journey is just getting started. This ain’t no cute little leisurely hike either… God is taking C3 full throttle! Buckle up people… from the looks of today you all seem ready for this thrill ride!”

Leigh Ann wrote: “I was nervous about my first Sunday at C3 in the theaters……but the minute I hit the parking lot, I knew we were home. I was reassured again when I walked in the door. Even though I do not like my C3 kids color shirt, it was so cool to see almost everyone with some sort of a C3 volunteer shirt on. No one would be able to mistake a member!

I was greeted with smiles, hugs , and handshakes. Well maybe not to many hugs….every since my hug blog. It is alright, HUG me.

Power House was amazing. The sound was great. I am amazed by Kayleigh every Sunday. She is a natural. I wish I had her talent. I would be a blubbering fool up there. My talent is being sarcastic!!

Worship was next. I was blown away! I think that is the only way I can describe it.

The best part was seeing old friends back. Knowing they were home again too! I don’t think the theater is going to hold us for too long, but I know God is already working on our next move!!”

Monica wrote: “

All I can see when I look around C3 are true barbarians. People who are willing to go to whatever lengths to reconnect humanity to Christ. It might be as simple as a smile or handshake, or it could be waking up at the crack of dawn (or earlier) and setting up all that we need for church…no matter what it is C3 is full of people willing to do it. It’s amazing and something that can only be done with God and the people who love Him. I am so grateful to serve alongside true barbarians for Christ. I hope we all continue to love and encourage one another along with everyone who walks through those theater doors. I know I have already blogged about Sunday but I can’t stop thinking about how awesome it was. I remember looking around Powerhouse and seeing so many new volunteers. People who just stepped up to make a difference and to impact children’s lives. It was overwhelming to say the least…I am so incredibly grateful.

Love truly does win!”

It does.

Thanks for the encouragement, insight and inspiration to keep working. And thanks to all of you who read, pray, work, and fight…for love. Thanks for being peaceful warriors in the battle…

…because, love does win in the end.

…no adequate words to describe what it’s like to be a part of C3 - especially yesterday and today!

Everyone came together and made C3 a real reality.

I wrote this about what this morning was like. Monica had this to say in her blog. And on the C3 Wives blog, Amanda wrote about it in “O Happy Day”. Andrea promises to write later on tonight - here, and I’m sure Leigh Ann will have something to add soon, too!

Here are some pics of some of the awesome Graceful Barbarians that made today so wonderful…and so C3!

These are just a few of the beautiful graceful barbarians that make C3 so…well, so C3! More pics to come later!

Thank you to all of you who got up so early, worked so hard, prayed so fervently, and fought for love so…

…barbarically!

And once again - LOVE WINS!