kenmurphy.org

Merry Christmas!

 

Three of my favorite muppets ringing in the season... a throwback from my childhood!

Merry Christmas! Join us at Stonecreek Church on December 24 for one of four identical Candlelight Services at 1, 2:30, 4 or 5:30 p.m. For free tickets and information, visit www.stonecreekchurch.org.

 

SCHEDULE INFORMATION:

There will be no worship gatherings on Sunday, December 25. Stonecreek Church facilities will be closed December 25 through January 2.

For year-end giving through The Gift Christmas Offering or the New Life Offering, give online here.

New Year's Day Communion will be Sunday, January 1 at 11 a.m. only (environments for babies through K available).

Nursery & Splash (Preschool, 9:30 & 11 a.m.), Kidzu (Elementary, 9:30 & 11 a.m.), Surge (Middle School, 9:30 a.m.), & Hydr8 (High School, 11 a.m.) will kick-off 2012 on Sunday, January 8. Stonecreek's adult worship gatherings resume at 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. as Steven Gibbs begins a brand new teaching series. stonecreekchurch.org

Those Who Have Gone Before

We stand where we stand, because of those who have gone before us.

February 6, 2000, 31 adults banded together to start Stonecreek Church. They united, prayed, believed and gave generously of their time and resources to prepare the way of the Lord, to prepare the way for where we stand today.

And, before these courageous 31 adults even knew one another’s names, there was a visionary leader of a generous congregation who saw that Alpharetta would soon be home to the Nations--thousands of people transplanted from all across the United States and the World. Responding to God’s leading, this mission-minded people gave of their time and resources to secure land and to recruit entrepreneurial leadership to begin what we know today as Stonecreek Church.

On this anniversary day, we do not look back simply to glory in the past. We look back to remember that our ministry is a stewardship, and, with thanksgiving, we express our gratitude to God for His faithful provision that has gone before us and continues to sustain us today.

In looking back, we discover that for the next generation, we will be those who have gone before. It will be our steps of faith, our prayers and our generosity that prepare the way for those we have never met and probably never will meet.

What will we do with the ministry we have been entrusted? How will we carry the restoring work of Jesus to people? Will we “be” the Church, extending the life of Jesus wherever brokenness exists?

While the names and faces of our past will fade, and while those who comprise Stonecreek Church in 2022 may never know the details of how Stonecreek arrived at that particular point in time, one thing should remain true: It should never be about us. It should forever be about Jesus.

Happy Anniversary, Stonecreek Church! May you reflect the glory of Jesus and lift high His name as you extend His restoring life for generations to come.

Psalm 34:1-3 (NASB) :: (1) I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (2) My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. (3) O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.

 

Restoring the Hearts of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children in Our City

Recently, the FBI named Atlanta as one of the leading 14 cities in the nation with the highest incidence of children used in prostitution. According to May 2010 reports, 373 girls were commercially sexually exploited in Georgia, down 119 victims from February's report of 492. On average, these victims of the sex trade epidemic are 12 to 14 years old.

These numbers represent our children in our communities. Who will rescue these children? Who will fight for their offenders to be brought to justice? Who will extend the grace and love to see these children restored in Jesus' name?

No major motion picture has brought the taboo subject of human trafficking (slavery) into communities across America like 20th Century Fox's "Taken," starring Academy award nominee Liam Neeson and Maggie Grace. This adrenaline-pumping action thriller sets up our talking points for "At The Movies" this Sunday, July 11, 10:30 a.m. at Stonecreek Church.  Join us as I welcome special guest Mary Frances Bowley, founder of Wellspring Living, a ministry created to restore the lives of children who have been devastated by forced prostitution.

Sunday's Worship Gathering is rated "T" [teens]: Due to the sensitive nature of Sunday's topic, programming for ages 13 and younger is available through our family ministry environments.

Be informed. Helpful links on this subject:

Wellspring Living | a ministry to restore the lives of children devastated by sexual abuse

Georgia Governor's Office for Children and Families | for reports, statistics and government topics

Street Grace Ministries | helping end the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Georgia and beyond

A Future Not a Past | statewide campaign to end the prostitution of girls in Georgia

Safety Gap Fund | public/private collaboration: fund established for girls who need recovery care but have no funding

The Greatness of God & My Grief

This past Sunday at Stonecreek Church, I had the opportunity to conclude the series, "Hijacked: Emotions That Destroy," with the message, "Hijacked by Grief." As a part of that message, I shared a personal journal entry I made 12 days after my Dad's death.

January 28, 2010 | Grief is a roller coaster. I'm numb, full of emotion, yet emotionless. Is that possible? Hard to engage in conversations and make decisions at work. Really, I just want to be alone--or at least I think I do. Many appointments (with people) and meetings today. It is work to make myself go and engage. Normally I would look forward to these appointments, but today--(I am) numb. I had no idea the impact Dad's death would have on me emotionally. My sorrow is about loss, not regrets. Great memories of Dad... so thankful he did not suffer any longer. In a weird way, you feel left alone... unintentionally abandoned. My cup is empty. Depleted.

Through my experience with grief, I have found that I must choose to not allow my grief to be greater than the Greatness of God. In my pain, I choose to lean hard into Jesus' offer of himself to meet me in my pain and comfort me in my sorrow. And, like the Psalmist, my voice cries out in worship:

My eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. Psalm 88:9 (NIV)

Three Helpful Resources on Anger

I had the opportunity to speak on anger at Stonecreek Church as part two in the three-part series, "Hijacked: Emotions That Destroy." As a follow-up to that message, here are three helpful resources to help you better understand our most complex emotion, anger.

The Voice of the Heart: A Call to Full Living by Chip Dodd is a helpful resource to better understand emotions and how they are the voice of the heart.

Overcoming Emotions That Destroy: Practical Help for Those Angry Feelings That Ruin Relationships by Chip Ingram and Dr. Becca Johnson take a no-nonsense approach to cover solid biblical principles as well as psychological aspects of anger and how our emotions can be used by God to bring about transformation.

LifeGate Center, a strategic partner of Stonecreek, offers counseling to help you take meaningful steps towards a great life in Christ Jesus.

Hijacked by Anger

"Anger indulged, instead of simply waived off, always has in it an element of self-righteousness and vanity. Find a person who has embraced anger, and you find a person with a wounded ego."
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy

Join us at Stonecreek Church this Sunday as we continue the series, "Hijacked: Emotions That Destroy," by taking a look at anger's terroristic tendencies to destroy us and those we love.

Christmas Communion | December 28, 11 a.m. Only

Join us Sunday, December 28, 11 a.m. (only), for Stonecreek Church's Year-end Communion Service. There will be no 9:30 a.m. service. Childcare is available for Kindergarten and younger. Invite a friend.

Christmas Eve Services | Free Tickets Now Available for 7 p.m. Online

PLEASE NOTE: As of 8 p.m., 12/21, our 2:30, 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. services are full. Free tickets remain for the 7 p.m. service ONLY.

Tickets are FREE, but required. We are restricting the number of seats for each service in order to provide an enjoyable experience for all. Childcare is available for ages 4 and younger with a reservation.

Will Call | You can reserve your free tickets for the 7 p.m. service online, here. Your tickets will be available for pick up any time after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 12/24, at the Guest Services Desk in Stonecreek's main entrance lobby.

Christmas Eve at Stonecreek | Free Tickets Available Now

Visit www.stonecreekchurch.org for up-to-the-minute information on tickets and services with seating available. [The 4:00 p.m. service is now full.] Invite a friend.

Sounds of Joy at Stonecreek

Join us this Sunday, December 21, at Stonecreek Church at 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. as we continue our December teaching series, "Presence." Our very own Stonecreek Band will be leading us in carols and modern sounds of Christmas. Arrive early! You don't want to miss a single moment! Invite a friend.