Seek Opportunity. Give Joyfully. Meet Needs. Change Lives. Be a Blessing.
Our mission is simple: To love our neighbors and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. God tells us many times in His Word that we need to love our neighbors. In fact, Mark 12:30-31 tells us that this is the second greatest commandment after the command to love God.
Why is this so important? Because loving God and loving people go hand-in-hand. You can’t help but love others if you love God and have a relationship with Him: "And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21). Therefore, our challenge for you—for us as a church—is to seek out opportunities to give joyfully and love your neighbor. By doing this we can meet the needs of others, change lives, and be a blessing.
Need help finding ways to bless others? No problem, we’ve compiled a list for you of all the ministries and organizations we’re partnering with this season. Check them out below.
Community Food Drive | November 1-15
Our Community Food Drive will benefit the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Collection bins will be located in the lobby near our Cafe. Our goal is to deliver the food to the pantry so shelves can be stocked for the holiday season.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• CLICK HERE for a list of needed items.
• If you'd like to make a monetary donation directly to the food pantry, click here.
• You can be a blessing—a lot or a little…every bit helps!
• All donations MUST BE DROPPED OFF BY NOVEMBER 15.
Operation Christmas Child | November 1-22
By filling ordinary shoeboxes full of toys and other fun items, you can be part of giving boys and girls what may be their first gift ever! Local churches in more than 100 nations hand out these Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts at festive outreach events where the gospel is presented in a child-friendly way. Each box bursting with items such as a soccer ball, doll, or stuffed animal becomes a tangible expression of God’s love to the child, their family, and their community. Every shoebox gift is an excellent resource for evangelism and discipleship which leads to the multiplication of new believers and churches around the world.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• Pick up a shoebox from the booth in the lobby beginning November 1.
• PACKED SHOEBOXES MUST BE RETURNED BY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22.
• CLICK HERE for more info on packing shoeboxes.
Evangel Children’s Home Christmas Cards | November 8-29
Once again we have the privilege of sending blessings (in the means of a card and $10 cash) overseas to the kids at the Evangel Children's Home! Be sure to stop by the booth in the lobby during the month of November and sign-up to participate. You will be able to write a note and enclose $10 cash into an envelope that we will send to Hong Kong in time for Christmas.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• Stop by the booth on Sundays beginning November 8 and select a name, or two, from the list.
• If you’d rather sign-up online, CLICK HERE. Just make sure to bring your card and $10 to the booth by November 29.
• ALL CARDS ARE DUE TO THE BOOTH BY NOVEMBER 29.
• CLICK HERE for important details on how to prepare your card to send to Hong Kong.
Prison Fellowship Angel Tree | November 15 - December 6
EFCCL is spearheading an event to reach out to 100 children whose parent or parents are incarcerated. Prison Fellowship has supplied us with the names of these children and we need you to help us bless these kids this Christmas.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• Give a gift! Select a name from our Angel Tree in the lobby and purchase a $10-$15 gift. Please wrap your gift.
• ALL GIFTS MUST BE RETURNED BY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6.
• Volunteer! Want to help on December 12 with the event to distribute gifts? CLICK HERE to sign up to volunteer.
Have questions? Email Dave Bryan or Gabe Moore
“Emmanuel: God with Us” Christmas Program | December 13 at 6:00 pm
Emmanuel: God with Us, is a special Christmas celebration featuring our choir, orchestra, and narrators. Through beloved Christmas carols, inspiring music, and the story of Christ’s birth, we’ll explore the beautiful truth that Christmas is more than a story about a baby in a manger—it’s the story of God coming near to redeem His people. From the Garden of Eden to the manger in Bethlehem, and ultimately to the promise of a day when God will dwell with His people forever, we’ll celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Come experience the wonder of Christmas and the good news that God is with us!
This program is FREE and open to the public—so invite someone to come with you!
Christmas Services:
Sunday, December 20 | 9:00 and 10:45 am
We will have two services that morning, at 9:00 and 10:45 am. Our regular childcare and classes for kids, students, and adults will be available.
Christmas Eve Night, December 24 | 5:00 pm
This is one of our highest attended services! This is a perfect opportunity to invite friends and family to this service full of Christmas music to help celebrate the birth of our Savior. No childcare will be available.
Sunday, December 27 | 9:00 am
We will have just ONE service that morning, at 9:00 am. No classes for kids, students, or adults that morning.