Operation CARES 4 KIDS: Service Project

Every Christmas hundreds of families in our community struggle to have the financial means to provide gifts for their children.


At Imago Dei we want to make a difference in our community and in the lives of children. This December we are partnering with Sahuaro Elementary to help add a little hope to the Holiday season.

You can play a vital role in our community this Christmas by participating in OPERATION CARES 4 KIDS!


Our goal is to provide the kids at Sahuaro Elementary School with shoeboxes full of gifts for kids ages 5-9 years old. Here is what to do…

#1 GET SHOE BOX Use an empty shoebox (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. Please wrap the box (lid separately).

#2 LABEL BOY OR GIRL Gifts will be for kids ages 5-9. Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and mark the box with a “B” for boy or “G” for girl.

#3 FILL WITH GIFTS: Fill the box with a variety of gifts that kids would enjoy. Here are some ideas…

•TOYS small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

•SCHOOL SUPPLIES pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

•HYGIENE ITEMS toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth.

•OTHER Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

•A PERSONAL NOTE In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

Do Not Include: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers or aerosol cans.

#4 TURN IN GIFTS: Please have gifts to our contact person (Leslie) by Sunday December 14th so they can be turned into the school by the 15th.

For Questions: Contact School: Sahuaro Elementary School Social Worker, Laurel Fiore, (MSW, LCSW) At laurel.fiore@wesdschools.org . To reach the church project coordinator contact Leslie Rice at leslieraerice@gmail.com .

For the gospel and the glory of God in our city,
Pastor Ryan Rice
Imago Dei Community Church

Missional Community: Leaders Lunch on 11/28

Part of our training involves attending other churches in our community. Being part of the Acts29 Network here in Phoenix has been real a blessing. With about 10 church plants in the city our team has been able to visit most of these church plants and gain a greater insight into what church planting looks like. This also has been a great opportunity to network as well.

We don't want to be strangers to the larger body of Christ in our city therefore we often visit churches outside of our networks. We are learners. We want to learn from the leaders that have gone before us.

This Sunday we are going to be meeting at a local church to discuss the challenges and thrills of being part of a church plant from Pastor Sandy Mason. I want to invite all emerging leaders that aspire to be part of a new church plant. Imago Dei is a growing group of leaders on mission to establish a gospel centered, missionally focused church in the North Valley. If you would like to come, please bring/pack your own lunch. Lunch will start at 12:30.

My fam and a few others will be there for the service at 10:45 and then hang around for a lunch with Pastor Sandy. There will not be child care available but there will be other children present and the moms can take turns with the kids on the playground.


This Sunday Details:

This Sunday we are going to visit Desert View Bible Church. A church plant of Scottsdale Bible Church.

Time 10:45- Service Starts, Leaders Lunch - 12:30 (following worship service)
Location: North Phoenix
Website: www.desertviewbible.org

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the Story: Gospel

Please take a few minutes to read and look through this compelling and colorful online book about the gospel. We use this tool along with others for our leaders at imago dei. Most people don't understand the gospel nor it's centrality in the scripture. This tool helps us understand what the gospel is all about and how to share it with others.


Web page
www.spreadtruth.com

The Gospel, Moralism, and Irreligion

The Gospel- Tim Keller

The Gospel- Mark Driscoll

The Gospel by John Piper: 6 minutes

Christ The Only Way-R.C. Sproul

Missional Community: 11/14/10

Hey guys, we are going to be gathering this Sunday. We have a few new families that just arrived from MT to help start the church!(You are gonna love em) As usual we will have a time of sharing and connecting with each and some good outdoor fun. Read the Blog about missional community for more info on this Sunday's discussion.

In addition I would like to invite any and all to join us for a good hike, after our sharing time. There are great trails that are conducive for all ages and skill level. In fact, Leslie and I hiked the full trail the other day with our 5-yr. old twins! It took about 2 hours, so be sure to bring your hiking shoes, sun screen and some water. We will have some light snacks. This park also has a great play ground for kids as well. Hope to see you there.

Direction from the 101 & I-17 you will want to take

I-17 NORTH
Left on Happy Valley
Right on 51st Ave
Right on Deems Hill Parkway
Deem Hills Park will be on your right.

Time and Day:
3-5pm
Sunday, November 14th

P.S.
If you got my text message with a different location, that's not the correct address. For questions please email me or call me.

See you there,

Ryan

Missional Community: vision.mission.values

I want to remind you why we call this group of people a “Missional community.” First, we must remember that God has called many of the people in this community to a specific mission. That is to establish a Gospel Centered, Missional church in our community that will reproduce other churches. I want to take a few minutes and rehears our vision /mission/values,identities.

Our Vision “Love One. Love All” reflects our commitment to live out Jesus’ Commands. Therefore we are a community with a mission to collectively live out the vision that Jesus gave his disciples to obey the Greatest Commandments in all the scripture. (Mt 22:38, Lk 10:25-27). Love One. Love All.- Our Vision. This is first and foremost importance for Imago Dei. It’s a matter of the heart, that every believer must grow in a vital relationship with Jesus and a deep love for all the people in our city. We can’t live out the Great Commission with out first living out the Great Commandments.

Our Mission “Equip & Establish” reflects our commitment to live out Jesus’ Commission, to make disciples of every nation. We must therefore work now as a community to equip a team of like minded leaders that will work to establish a church that will in turn plant other churches in our city and other cities around the world. (Mt 28:19, Eph 4:12).

Our Values/Identities We will consistently work to explore the vision/mission and values/ identities of the imago dei. This Sunday I want to discuss how we are currently growing in our identities/values (Worship/Worshiper, Fellowship/Family, Mission/Missionary) and have a time to discuss some next steps as well.


This Sundays Discussion:
How are we growing in worship or as worshippers of Jesus?
How are we growing in mission or as a missionaries?
How are we growing in fellowship or as a family?

Lastly I want to open it up for discussion as to how we might grow in each of these areas.

Look forward to seeing you there,