Shawnee Alliance SnapShot september 24 - Edition 48

Join Community

Life Transformation happens through discipleship, serving, and making connections with others. Below are some opportunities to join community throughout the week and month!

Getting Involved & Serving Together

As we continue to pattern our lives after Jesus, we are called to live in community and lift each other up in encouragement and prayer. Let's get to know others as we share the ups and downs of life and volunteer together!

• Join a Life Group
• Join our Partners in Prayer team
• Volunteer together - see our Volunteer Opportunities below, including Fifth Quarter, Trunk-N-Treat, Operation Christmas Child, and Upward!
• Join a Wednesday Night Group
• And more!

If you have a question about how to get connected, please feel free to reach out to our staff by filling out a Connect Card. If you'd like to serve Jesus and others but you're unsure of where to start or what your fit might be, we invite you to fill out the form below to discover your spiritual gifts. From there, we will work with you to determine your next step to thrive in the Shawnee Alliance community!

New Groups

Prayer for America

Join us as we pray for America each week before Wednesday Night Groups! We will meet from 6-6:30pm from Sept. 4-Nov. 20 in the East Campus Prayer Room.

Moms in Prayer

Moms and Grandmoms meeting weekly to pray for our children and grandchildren (any age children) and our schools. We will meet Fridays, Aug 30-Jun 6, from 8:30-9:30am, in East Campus Room A.

StoryTellers

StoryTellers practice started up again on Sept. 8th for youth in grades 4-12, and we'll meet until May 25. We lead worship and story time in the Kids Ministry, as well as use liturgical dance for worship in the larger congregation for special occasions. We practice on Sundays 12:30-2:30pm (except the first Sunday of the month) in the East Campus Hopeshakers Youth Room.

"True Spirituality" Sunday Bible Study

​Join us Sunday mornings from 10:45am-noon from Sept. 22-Dec. 8 in East Campus Rooms B-C. Are you a Christian living like Christ? Do you desire for your life to reflect Christ in a clear and powerful way to those around you? Focusing on lifestyle factors that are relational, grace-based, faith-focused, and practical, Chip Ingram explores the biblical model laid out in Romans 12. Facilitated by Brad Reeder.

High School Girls Small Group

Ladies in grades 8-12 are invited to join us as we learn how to study and grow by looking at the truth of Scripture and how it is lived out in everyday life. We meet Sundays, Sept. 22-Nov. 17 from 5-6pm in East Campus Room A and will be doing a week-by-week study led by various group members.

Stamp Trimming for Missions

We enjoy conversation together as we trim and categorize stamps as a fundraiser for our missions efforts. We meet Oct. 12-May 10 on the 2nd Sat. of each month from 8am-12pm in East Campus Room B. All monies collected from the stamp ministry go to publish Spanish translated Sunday school materials used all over the world.

Traditional Choir Practice

You are welcome to join us for our fall/winter choir! We will have Saturday morning rehearsals from 10-11 a.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 26-Dec. 21 in the East Campus Sanctuary, and will conclude with singing in our Service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 22.

Wednesday Night Groups

Whether you’re new to Shawnee Alliance or have been here a long time, getting involved in a group is a great way to join community and deepen your faith! Join us on Wednesdays from 6:30-8pm for Adults, Kids & Youth Groups from August 28-November 20.

Current High School-Adult Groups:

• Iron Sharpens Iron (Men) (Scout Room L) - July 31-Nov. 20
• Untangle Your Emotions (Women) (Room J/LifeWise Middle School) - Aug. 28-Oct. 9
• People of the Word: Exodus (Sanctuary) - Aug. 28-Nov. 20
• Unveiling Revelation: A Deep-Dive Bible Study (Room F Avenue56/New Conference Room) - Aug. 28-Nov. 20
• Divorce Care (Conference Room H) - Aug. 28-Nov. 20
• Grief Share (Hopeshakers Youth Room D) - Aug. 28-Dec. 4 (also available on Thursdays, 10am-noon, Aug. 29-Dec. 5)
• Bible Institute: Introduction to World Religions (Room B/C) - Sept. 4-Nov. 13

Life Groups

Life Groups are groups of about 6-14 adults that meet together on a regular basis to enjoy fellowship and lift each other up in prayer. Many groups are family-focused and their children are welcome to come as well. These used to be referred to as In-Home Groups, but as we have brought more intentionality to the groups, we have decided to change the name as well. The "Life Groups" name comes from the intentional design of fostering Christian friendship while living life together. The name is also an acronym which stands for:

• Love – build relationships and show love in the body of Christ
• Instruct – study the Bible to grow in their knowledge of God
• Fellowship – value the experience of being with other Christians and enjoying time in the body of Christ
• Evangelism – as with everything at Shawnee Alliance Church, life groups are a part of the way we fulfill the Great Commission

You can visit shawneealliance.com/groups at any time to view groups that are open for new members, and new Life Groups form regularly. If you want to get involved but don't know where to start, or have any questions, please join the group "I am interested in joining a Life Group" on the Life Groups page, and you will be contacted about how to become part of a group!

YouVersion Bible App

Join our church family on YouVersion! Download the app below and search for Shawnee Alliance, set as your home church, and connect with others through our weekly devotionals.

As we walk through each week, watch for updates on social media and in the YouVersion app for new plans! Join in our newest plan below:

For more details, please see below or visit shawneealliance.com/groups. If you are interested in leading or hosting a small group, please contact Pastor Brian at brian@shawneealliance.com.

Ongoing Weekly Groups

• Sunday Partners in Prayer Team - Sunday before & during 9:30 or 11:00am services
• Life in the Spirit - Sundays from 9:30-10:45am
• "True Spirituality" Bible Study - Sundays from 10:45am-noon, Sept. 22-Dec. 8 (Facilitated by Brad Reeder)
• Pickleball - Sundays from 3-6pm for skilled players who are in high school or older
• Aerobic Walking Exercise Class - Monday-Friday from 8-9am
• Retired Men's Prayer Group - Mondays from 9-10:30am
• SonRise Seekers Women's Bible Study - Tuesdays from 6:30-8am
• Gingersnaps - Tuesdays from 9-11am (senior adults)
• Tuesday Open Gym Volleyball - Tuesdays from 6-10pm
• Moms in Prayer - Fridays until June 7 from 8:30-9:30am

Ongoing Monthly Groups

• "Notions" Women's Sewing Group - meets 2nd & 4th Mondays from 9am-2pm
• Keenagers - 2nd Tuesdays at 11:30am (age 55+)
• Springview Manor Nursing Home Ministry - 1st Thursdays at 2pm
• Stamp Ministry - 2nd Saturdays October-May from 8am-12pm

Don't see a group you'd like to attend? Contact Pastor Brian at brian@shawneealliance.com if you're interested in leading your own!

Missions

Coming Soon: Guinea 2025!

Anyone interested in being a part of the mission trip to Envision Guinea is invited to stop out in the lobby of the Activity Center after both services on Sunday, September 29.

Trip dates are April 24-May 4, 2025. The team will serve by teaching English classes, assisting with eye exam & glasses distribution events, helping local churches and volunteering at the Child Rescue Center.

For more information, contact Jessica McCullough at missions@shawneealliance.com.

Reyes Family preparing to serve in Paraguay

Pastor Mark, along with his wife, Lauren and daughters, have completed the first step of moving to Costa Rica. There they will be completing their culture and language studies before continuing on to their long-term ministry field in Paraguay.

You can partner with them financially by selecting the a worker you love tab and searching Reyes at the Christian and Missionary Alliance giving page.

ESOL

I cannot describe how heart warming it is to have my church freely open up it's doors and classrooms to partner with this wonderful and desperately needed community program!

The first ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) class at Shawnee Alliance will be finishing its course this week with 11 students completing and showing great improvement in recent reading tests. Orientation for 30 new students starts next week and then a new class will begin. In recent classroom conversations where they were asked to share their favorite times and memories of this class, one student shared that he felt welcome and encouraged to participate in class activities and discussions, and another young lady shared that she really appreciated the support that her teachers, the building (church) and the program provided her so that she felt safe to learn and be herself.

Joanna Gregg - Serving in Guinea, West Africa

Joanna will be joining us for services on November 17th!

If you have any questions or would like to know more about mission trip opportunities, please contact Jessica at missions@shawneealliance.com.

I want to volunteer - where do I start?

First, consider where God might be leading you. What spiritual gifts and talents do you have?

Have you completed a Spiritual Gifts Assessment before? It asks questions to determine your highest Spiritual Gifts, which can provide direction on how God can use you to serve Him and others! Just click the link below, and it will take about 15 minutes complete.

We also recommend taking our next Faith Track class -- a 4-week series on Wednesday evenings in January. Together, we will discuss the essentials of our faith, learn about our church’s core values, discover our spiritual gifts, and discuss opportunities to further learn, grow, and serve. You can let us know of your interest now by signing up at the link below.

Next, decide which ministry or ministries you might be interested in, and how often you'd like to volunteer.

• I'd like to serve regularly - Some opportunities include Sunday morning ministries such as Hospitality Team, Worship Team, and Kids & Youth Ministries, and praying for people before or at the end of services.
• I can only help periodically - Events might be right for you, such as Fifth Quarter, Trunk-N-Treat, Upward Basketball, or Christmas Decorating. Our Hands-On Ministry provides help to those who need it in our church, and you can help whenever it's convenient for you!
• If you're not sure, try walking through the prompts on the General Volunteer Form.

Then, let the ministry leader know you're interested!

• Fill out the applicable volunteer form at shawneealliance.com/volunteer, or
• Contact the ministry leader or fill out a Connect Card and we'll get back with you!

And don't worry, trying out a new volunteer opportunity does not mean you have to stay there. If you find that it doesn't seem to be the right fit for you, let your ministry leader know or fill out a connect card and we'll help you find a ministry that's a better fit!

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Fifth Quarter

Fifth Quarter is an opportunity for students in grades 5-8 to join us after Shawnee home football games for FREE fun, games, and pizza! Due to the massive turnout of students, volunteers are always needed! If you're interested in helping with check-ins, food and drinks, cleanup or to monitor indoor and outdoor activities, please register below for as many dates as you'd like (Oct. 4, 18 & 25). Volunteers, please be available from 8-11:30pm.

Trunk-N-Treat

Trunk-N-Treat is Wednesday, October 23 from 6:30-8pm at the Activity Center and all are welcome!

Register below by Oct. 20 to volunteer for:

• Decorating a Trunk and handing out candy
• Parking
• Clean-up
• Bounce house supervision

To donate candy:

• In person, please bring to the church between Oct 6-20.
• Because we purchase in bulk, we can purchase more candy at a lower cost. Please consider making a monetary donation by selecting the Trunk N Treat option at shawneealliance.com/donate between Sept. 30-Oct. 20.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Operation Christmas Child

To Volunteer:

Get an empty shoebox from the church lobbies Oct. 27-Nov. 17 and fill it with a quality "Wow" item, school supplies, small toys, and a note/prayer for the child. (Avoid bar soap, liquids, war-like items, and food as these items will block boxes from entry into countries.) Personal water filters and wooden cars will be added to boxes as supplies last!

To Donate:

• Donate toward Water Filters or Shoebox Shipping at shawneealliance.com/donate by selecting Operation Christmas Child from the drop-down menu
• Click Here to Build a Shoebox Online!

Upward Basketball & Cheerleading

Help us to provide an excellent ministry for basketball players and cheerleaders in grades K-4! Opportunities include being a coach, referee, helping with setup/teardown, scoreboard, running concessions, and cleaning up after game days. If you're interested, please register as a volunteer at shawneealliance.com/upward. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Josh at josh@shawneealliance.com. Thank you!

Watch for information about Christmas Decorating - coming soon!

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

• Hospitality Team - make coffee, greet people, usher or drive the shuttle
• Worship & Tech Teams - Lead the congregation into worship through singing, playing instruments, or running sound, projection, lighting or cameras
• Kids & Youth Ministries - Help with birth-12th grade ministries and events
• LifeWise Shawnee - We provide Bible-based education for students in grades 1-6 during the school day.
• Sunday Partners in Prayer Team - before or at the end of church services
• Hands-On Ministry - focuses on being the hands and feet of Jesus, serving others in their time of need
• Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen - serve lunch to the community
• Funeral Dinners - provide & serve food at funeral dinners
• Visitation Team - we visit those in the hospital, nursing home, housebound, and those who just need a little extra prayer and encouraging word.
• Community Volunteering Opportunities
• Go on a Mission Trip

Remember, you can reach out to our staff at any time by filling out a connect card at the bottom of our website!

Upcoming Events

Upward Basketball & Cheerleading registration opens - October 1

Prayer for America - Wednesdays, Oct. 2-Nov. 20

5th Quarter - October 4 following Shawnee Home Football Game

Ohio March for Life - October 4

Connected Women Bonfire - October 5

Keenagers Luncheon - October 8 at 11:30am

Stamp Trimming - October 12 at 9am, East Campus Room C

Murder Mystery Dinner Theater - October 12 (selling tickets in lobbies Sept. 29; RSVP by Oct 4)

Our Daily Bread Volunteer Thursday - October 17 at 11am

5th Quarter - October 18 following Shawnee Home Football Game

Our Daily Bread Volunteer Tuesday - October 22 at 11am

Trunk N Treat - October 23 at 6:30-8pm (register to volunteer)

5th Quarter - October 25 following Shawnee Home Football Game

Congregational Meeting - October 27 at 6:30pm at East Campus Sanctuary

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection - October 27-November 17

Stamp Trimming - November 9 at 9am in East Campus Room C

Child Dedication - November 10 (register by October 27)

Keenager Luncheon - November 12 at 11:30am

Our Daily Bread Volunteer Thursday - November 21 at 11am

Our Daily Bread Volunteer Tuesday - November 26 at 11am

Happy Thanksgiving! - November 28

Community Events

"Evening of Hope" by Cornerstone of Hope - October 29