Friday, November 29, 2013

Shoutout to NCC Worship Team

All pictures are on the NCC website. I did not take any of these pictures.

I don't think the term "worship" is meant to be solely musical, but that is how most people understand the term. I have had the privilege to work alongside these amazing people from the worship ministry. They are hilarious and passionate about Jesus and music. They have 80+ volunteers working with them to create intimate experiences with Jesus at our six (soon to be seven) campus locations.

Kurtis -- Worship Director

Joel -- Worship Leader

Chris -- Worship Leader

Diana -- Music & Arts Coordinator (this girl attempts to keep them all organized -- major props!)

Ben -- Worship Protege

Carolina -- Worship Protege

Now that Thanksgiving is done, most people will recognize it is time for some good Christmas music! 714 Music (basically the people pictured above) recently put out a Christmas cd -- full of great music! Near or far, you should get it! It is now available on iTunes. In DC, it's available at NCC locations on the weekends or any day of the week at Ebenezers. It's just $10! Physical copies include an advent calendar and DVD of music videos!

Check out O Come All Ye Faithful below:

Monday, November 25, 2013

Friends in DC

A large part of the reason I love DC is the community I have found here.

Two people that stand out to me are Laura and Valerie. I met both of these girls through our small group that meets on Tuesday nights called Freshmen of the City. It's a group dedicated to helping people find their way in the city but also how to intersect faith and work, seeing work as mission.

This is a picture of us in front of the White House...

Laura is my opposite in almost every way, which makes for a great friendship. She's outgoing and extroverted, always planning dinner parties and get togethers for our group and her roommates/friends. About a month into our friendship we had a great deep conversation about life, and we both realized this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. We are both 29 and understand each other a lot better than our younger 20-something friends. Laura works hard on behalf of children in the DC area by working as a social worker for the Child and Family Service Agency. Laura actually invited me to spend Thanksgiving with her family, so don't worry -- I won't be alone during the holidays!

This was one of her FB pics; I did not take this picture. 

Valerie is so much like me it scares me sometimes! She loves having dates with her couch and Netflix, has a fear of large crowds, and likes saving money through clipping coupons. She also has a blog! She worked on a cruise ship for a few years, exploring different places and living a life of adventure. Now she's testing out her skills at National Geographic Society doing technical production! She told me about the National Christmas tree lighting ceremony lottery (you have to win tickets to actually get in). I won them; she did not. Thus, she will be one of my four friends who get tickets (the others going to Laura, her boyfriend Chris, and my roommate Allie).

I need both kinds of people in my life and these two are just a sample of the treasured relationships I have been forming since arriving in DC!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Shoutout to NCC Media Team

All pictures are on the NCC website. I did not take any of these pictures.

A few years ago, I went to Granger Community Church for the first time. I loved it. There's just something about the culture they created in their church that CELEBRATES life. They are unashamed in their love of their church, families, and volunteers. Mark Beeson has a great blog and often featured ROCK STARS who often work behind the scenes and don't get recognition. If I hadn't lived 45 minutes away from GCC, I would have been there a lot more than once every few weeks for their Saturday service. They have a great staff they celebrate.

Likewise, NCC is great at celebrating and allowing people to serve within their gifting.
The following men have been amazing to work with and put in a lot of hours to make services happen each weekend, as well as the amazing media that is shown.


Matt -- Technology Director

Jason -- Production Coordinator

Adam -- Media Producer

Andy -- Visual Storyteller (yes, apparently this is an actual job title!)

Mike -- Technology Manager/Sound Engineer

Want to see some of the stuff this team does? Check out their vimeo channel!

Way to go, media team! You rock!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

TED Talk: Start with Why

Today I gave my first ever TED talk style presentation.

It is a learning process, and I will have to give two more before the end of my protege year. 

Just thought you'd like to learn something new.
Not sure how well you will hear it; I have my talk in a PDF I can email you if you want it.

Trying to keep you all updated on what I am doing.
This entire experience is helping me grow as a leader, understand myself better, and find my place in the Church. 

Enjoy the video...Hope I didn't butcher the beginning too much. ha.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

God is up to something great!

Last week the NCC staff journeyed to Baltimore's Inner Harbor to have one or two days of meetings.
Mark always says "change of pace + change of place = change of perspective." It was a great place to dream, hang out with staff, and get updates on what God is doing in DC. I am excited to be a part of this church. The best is yet to come!

Baltimore's Inner Harbor (no, those are not UFO lights... it's a reflection of the hotel room lights in the window)


We had the top floor as our meeting space, so I came bright and early to try to catch the sunrise. Here's one of the pictures I took that morning.


Sunday night we had the Thrill of Hope listening party. It's the new Christmas music 714Music just released on Tuesday. My fellow protege, Ben, organized the entire event. It was a packed house and so fun to see Ebenezers full of some of my favorite people!

For the month of November, NCC is talking all about MISSIONS.

You can check out our website (or listen to podcasts on iTunes) to follow along.

It makes me so happy to be a part of a Church that is going to send out 27 short term mission teams next year and supports 80 global missionaries.

Tuesday night we had an event called A1:8 Innovate, which was a reminder that we can view work as mission as well.

Last Sunday I had the chance to teach elementary kids their month memory verse (and one of my life verses!).

Acts 1:8 (thus our missions department name of A1:8): But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

Jerusalem = your neighborhood/city
Judea = your region
Samaria = cross-cultural in your area
The ends of the earth = international

God is up to something great in D.C. and every day I am so thankful for His provision but also His preparation. Who would have thought that all my random life experiences would prepare me for what I am doing right now?!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Coffeehouse + Romance

Ebenezers Coffeehouse has been a special place for a lot of people. It's a great place to just grab coffee and talk about life.

In the past week, there have been two proposals at Ebenezers! I overheard a guy this week say he went to Ebenezers a lot more since he and his girlfriend started dating because he had great reason to be there.

Check out this link for some great pics from one that happened on Friday night!

So awesome that my workplace is an environment where people want to celebrate special moments!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Celebration

Last night was probably my favorite while in DC.
We had an all church event at the Lincoln Theatre.
All church as in six locations coming together for a night of worship through songs, baptism, and communion.
Holy moments.

I work with a great team of people who pulled together to make this thing work.
Our production team is amazing.
Our worship leaders are rock solid.
I have never heard this song, but I heard it twice yesterday and love it!

Oceans (Where Feet May Fall) by Hillsong

I was backstage helping people figure out where to change for baptisms.
Over 30 people were baptized last night.
I was able to talk to them right after their baptisms! 

God is doing amazing things here in DC.
I am thankful to be part of a church that CELEBRATES!
It is often said at NCC, "What gets celebrated, gets repeated."

Let's do this again!

Setup

little reminder of home

It's a beautiful day

view from backstage