September 15, 2009

This Sunday

Pastor's Breakfast
Sundays | 9:00 a.m. | L202 | Guest Lounge (formerly Metro bookstore)
     Are you new to Metro and want to get connected? Then we invite you to join Pastor Mark for a complimentary breakfast on the second floor of the Life Development Center.

Multi-Generational Worship Services Sunday | September 20 | 10:15 a.m.       Come hear our special guest, Bruce Hill, minister of worship, from the Higher Ground Baptist Church in Kingsport, Tennessee. He will be leading us in worship this Sunday. Also, this Saturday he will conduct a Music Conference here at Metro. (See below.)        Also this Sunday Pastor Mark begins an exciting new sermon series entitled "Return." This Sunday he will focus on "Prisoners of Hope." On Sunday, September 27, he will address "Living with the Pigs." On October 3 Pastor Mark will challenge us with "Don't Miss the Party." Sunday, October 11, will be an opportunity to bring the unchurched to "Metro Friend and Neighbor Day."

MISSIONS Update
      Please continue to be faithful with your MISSIONS PLEDGE that supports Metro Missionaries. Currently we are not at budget for our September support of our Missionaries. Also, if you have not been supporting Missions, please consider joining our efforts as our Missionaries share Jesus in the following areas: Asia, Africa, Central & South America, Europe, Mideast, and West Indies.

New! … New! … New!
     Be sure to check out Metro's new interactive website with interesting blogs from Pastor Mark and the Metro Team, pictures, and much more. Just go to www.metrocog.org

This Week

Mid-Week Fellowship Supper
Wednesday | September 16 | 5:00 p.m.–6:15 p.m. | Fellowship Commons
    Menu: Pork Loin, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls, Dessert, Tea and Coffee. Cost is still only $5 for adults, $3 for children and $15 for a family of 4 or more.

Prayer and Worship
Wednesdays | 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Sanctuary
    Join us for a time of intercessory prayer and worship.

Kids’ Choir Parents’ Meeting
Wednesday | September 16 | 6:00 p.m. | Big Adventure Room
An important meeting for parents of children in K-5 through Grade 5 who want to be in Kids Choir this fall will be held Wednesday evening. We hope all children in these grades will participate.

Metro Student Ministry
Wednesday | September 16 | 6:30 p.m. | LDC Gym
TEAM SPIRIT NIGHT—Wear your favorite high school or college jersey.  Tailgate party with dinner snacks.  The theme for this week Is “Discovering Your Place on the Team.”

Discipleship Journey
Wednesdays | 6:30 p.m.
     Pick up a list of adult Bible classes at the Welcome Center.

Music Conference
Saturday | September 19 | 10 a.m.–Noon | Choir Rehearsal Room (behind the sanctuary)
     Bruce Hill, music minister from Higher Ground Baptist Church in Kingsport, TN, will conduct a Music Conference for the Metro Sanctuary Choir and anyone else interested in attending.

The Church Office Needs Your Help!
      A new feature on the Metro website allows you to update your information for our database. To do this, click on Update Information. Complete all of the information, even if you’ve given it to us in the past, and we will make sure that our database is up to date and correct. Once you have completed the information it will be sent directly to our database administrator and she will send you an acknowledgment that your information has been delivered. Since your privacy is important to you, Metro promises not to share your information with any company or organization.

Looking Ahead

Pro-Life Kick Off Rally
40 Days for Life Campaign
Tuesday | September 22 | 7:00 p.m. | Fullness Christian Fellowship
2575 Columbiana Road (former Metro Church location)
      The 40 Days for Life peaceful vigil of prayer and fasting will begin with a kick-off rally next Tuesday evening at Fullness Christian Fellowship Church. It is important that you be there!
     The vigil will be September 23 through November 1 on the sidewalk in front of a local abortion center. There will be 212 cities in the United States participating to pray for the lives of the unborn and their families in our country. This is a PEACEFUL vigil and we are asked to fast and pray for life. Please visit www.40daysforlife.com for more information.

Metro Dinner Evening
Friday | September 25 | 6:30 p.m. | Fellowship Commons
      Enjoy a delicious dinner with great entertainment among Christian friends. We invite everyone to come out for a time of fellowship and hear our own Warren Watkins. Warren is a performing musician on an unusual and unique percussion instrument – the vibraharp. The vibraharp is an instrument that became prominent in the 1930’s when Lionel Hampton first began playing a vibe as a member of Louis Armstrong’s Les Hite band, and is heard primarily in jazz music. You will not want to miss this exciting event. Please sign up Sunday in the Commons. The cost is $10 per person. 

Gatekeepers / Friendship Group Luncheon
Saturday | September 26 | 11 a.m. | Olive Garden (Galleria)
     All widowers and widows are invited to get together for some delicious food and wonderful Christian fellowship. Please confirm your attendance to Bobbie Lantrip at
879-8407.  Please come and bring a friend!

Metro Students Adventure Day
Saturday | September 26 | Two FUNtastic Events!
     1. Leave Metro at 9:30 a.m. to go to Bessemer to play Paint Ball.
     2. Meet at Metro at 6:00 p.m. for a Scavenger Hunt.
If you are interested in these events, you will need to sign-up in advance by contacting Pastor Mark Swank at mswank@metrocog.org.

NUCLEUS
Sunday Night | September 27 | 5:02 p.m.
    Mark your calendars!

REACH (for Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964)
Sunday Night | September 27 | 6:00 p.m. | Bongiorno's Restaurant
     Bongiorno's in Crestline Village (Mountain Brook)  is the location of REACH's first get-together. This intimate Italian restaurant has a Sicilian influence and a flair for seafood. The cost will be $10 per person. Please let Sandy Blackwell know no later than Sunday, September 20, if you are coming by contacting her at slhblackwell@bellsouth.net or cell 616-4753.
     Directions to Bongiorno's:  From Highwy 280 going into Birmingham from I-459 exit right after Wendy's / Hampton Inn at Hollywood Blvd/Montevallo Road. Go right onto Hollywood Blvd / Montevallo Road.  Continue east on Montevallo Road through Mountain Brook Village.  After passing Mountain Brook Baptist Church on your right, turn left at the next light onto Church Street.   Down the hill on Church Street into Crestline Village.  Bongiorno's will be on the left between Mtn. Brook City Hall and the Shell Station. Their address is 68A Church Street ... phone 879-5947.

Metro Student Ministry Pajama Night
Wednesday | September 30 | 6:30 p.m. | LDC Gym
     Students, wear your P.J.'s!

Marriage Enrichment Event
Thursdays | October 1st, 8th, 15th, 30th | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
     Want that spark back in your marriage?  How about peace?  Do you feel as close to your spouse as you would like? Do you want to feel valued by your spouse and experience marriage the way God intended? There is a way to bring new life back into your marriage.
      In October we will lead a four-week study ‘Love and Respect’ and we encourange you to be there.  Every session will offer wisdom from the Word of God and practical life experience that you don’t want to miss. We are convinced that this cannot only help improve your marriage but maybe even save it.  We extend a personal invitation to you to join us as we discover God’s original plan for marriage. Contact Joe or Sharon Mayeux. Joe:  joe@nlmin.org   Sharon:  sharonmayeux@yahoo.com

Hitting the Mark 2009 Saturday | October 10 | 9:30 a.m. (weather permitting)       Focusing on GOD, GOOD FELLOWSHIP, and GUNS … Sign up in the Commons or contact Bryan Kautz at 807.8423 or bkautz@charter.net.

Metro's Got Talent Sunday | October 11 | 12:15 p.m. | Fellowship Commons       This will be a Friend and Neighbor Invite Day for showcasing Metro’s talent  following the Sunday Morning Worship Service.       There will be a church-wide luncheon with a talent show following.  The Talent Show is open to all ages—Kids, Youth and Adults!  We need dancers, singers, instrumental-ists, monologues...and any other talent that you might want to showcase.      We will showcase Metro’s baking talents with a pie and cake baking contest.  We  also need artists, quilters, and carpenters to showcase their work.      For more information, please contact Jane Ann Stone at jbsjas@hotmail.com or Children’s Pastor Derrick Skelton at dskelton@metrocog.org.       WE NEED YOU to showcase your talent!

212º Metro Singles Scavenger Hunt
October 17 | 6–9 pm | Starts and Ends at Metro Church
     For details contact Pastor Mark Swank at mswank@metrocog.org.

Middle School Fall Retreat
October 23–25 | Alpine Lodge in Mentone, AL
     This year the Middle School Fall Retreat is moving to a beautiful, new location called Alpine Lodge atop Lookout Mountain. No more roughing it with taking cold showers and sleeping in cold rooms! Click here to view pictures and read more info about this great location. To sign up see Alan or Mary Rogers or e-mail them at shockwave316@msn.com.

Women's Bible Study Opportunities for 2009

WORKING WOMEN
Tuesdays | 6:30 p.m . | L213
     Study the Bible with Sherry Thomas and discover that it works! shthomasattorney@aol.com
 
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY
Thursdays |  9:30 a.m. | L113
     Sharon Mayeux is facilitating a 9-week study called Covenant by Kay Arthur. Everything God does is based on the new covenant.  Believing what God says about the new covenant will absolutely transform your life.  We are exploring the benefits and responsibilities of the new covenant as well as the character of the new covenant Initiator.  Learn about the remarkable ways the old covenant points to the promises of the new covenant and discover the covenants made for our well-being — the covenants God made for you.  Promises made are kept.  Relationships last a lifetime.  Trust and commitment are honored by action.

"Breaking Free"
Sundays | 6–7:30 pm | L209
     Kay Dick facilitates the groundbreaking Beth Moore series entitled “Breaking Free.” For more information contact Kay Dick at kdick@shelbyed.k12.al.us .

WOMEN OF GRACE
Thursdays | 9:30 a.m.
     Lois Adcock and Kay Wildman are the facilitators. They are having a Perry Stone tape this week, then a Beth Moore study on the Tabernacle. Ladies, please come and join us! Questions? E-mail Kay Wildman at wild7228@aol.com.

Care Ministry
     If you would like to serve in the Care Ministry on Sunday mornings, please contact Linda Higginbotham at linhiggi@charter.net or Carolyn Gregory at gregcam42@aol.com.

METRO MEDIA MINISTRY
     The Metro media ministry is looking for volunteers to help with video, lighting, and overall production. If interested, please contact Pastor Joe at jdobbins@metrocog.org

Enrichment Opportunities

Band Lessons (Wind Instruments)
Instructor Sandy Blackwell led the award-winning Shades Mountain Christian School Band for 19 years. If interested in lessons on any wind instrument, contact her at 425-4612, cell 616-4753 or slhblackwell@bellsouth.net.

Praise and Art Classes
Starting October 16 | Tuesday nights & Friday Mornings | L113
     Praise and art classes will be conducted by Metro's own Mary Beth Tanner who also teaches at the Sylacauga Musuem of Art and several retirement communities. These  
1 1/2  hour classes will be held on the 3rd and 4th Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. and on Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. at Metro Church. The class will prepare a meal and we will have a dinner and auction of your BEST painting. The cost of the dinner will be $5.00 with all of the proceeds going to missions. All supplies will be furnished except your 16" x 20" canvas. Cost is $35.00 per class. Classes are limited to 10 students so reserve your spot by contacting Mary Beth at mbtanner7@yahoo.com or 999-3896.

Metro Counseling Center
     The Metro Counseling Center has the following ongoing support groups— Caregiver Support Group, Dianne McPherson Cancer Support Group, Friendship/Gatekeeper (widow/widows) Group, Metro Single Moms, Parkinson’s Support Group. If you are interested in becoming involved in any of these groups, please contact Jo Ann Davidson at the Metro Counseling Center  at 443-3911,

PARKINSON'S Prayer & Support Group
     A new support group is coming to Metro for people with Parkinson's disease, regardless of church affiliation. The purpose of the group would be to offer education, prayer, and support to the patients, spouses, family members, and caregivers. If you are interested in attending such a group, please contact Buddy Taylor at 678-8667 or e-mail him at bprtaylor@juno.com.

A Farewell to CJ and Amanda Blount CJ •  2005 — Started leading Youth Worship twice a month at Metro. •  January 11, 2006 — Hired as Youth Worship Leader •  2007 — Developed band in Youth Ministry  and then went on to develop three different bands. •  2008 — Director of Rhythm Section     Highlight — Developed youth bands. In addition, he prepared the song slides for the screens.  Amanda •  Sang with CJ.

DO YOU WANT TO ANNOUNCE IN E-NEWS OR SUNDAY BULLETIN?
     If so, please e-mail by Tuesday noon to Pastor Joe Dobbins at jdobbins@metrocog.org. All announcements are subject to editing due to space constraints.