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Bible Study Fellowship
Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) is a non-denominational Ladies Bible Study for all women ages 18+. They meet each Wednesday at Canyon Creek Baptist Church from 9:10am-11:10am. This year they will be studying the life of Moses. The Bible Study runs from September through May, with a several holiday breaks. If you are interested in joining or would like to get more information on this group, every month (ususally on the first Wed. of the month) they have an Introduction class at 9:10 am that meets in the Sanctuary. To join BSF you must first attend the introduction class and then you would be placed in a small group if available (if groups were full then you would be placed on a waiting list and be contacted as soon as an opening became available).
Spiritual Preparation Weekend
It is an exciting day when any church makes the decision to take a step of faith in constructing new facilities for better and future ministries. Canyon Creek has indeed made this step of faith. Any church must take effort to raise money, or capital if you will, to aid in this construction. There are many companies that work to gain the trust of a church in their capital fund raising. Canyon Creek chose to align itself with the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ United We Build program in large part because of the spiritual emphasis and biblical principles of finance that it utilizes throughout the campaign.
One of the strongest facets of the UWB program is its Spiritual Preparation Weekend. Canyon Creek will host the Spiritual Preparation Weekend on Saturday-Sunday, September 7-8. Through five sessions, Ivan Potter, our consultant from UWB, will lead the families in our church in discovering and embracing biblical principles of finance. The schedule for the weekend is as follows:
Saturday, September 7, 5:00pm — Evening Meal
Saturday, September 7, 6:00pm — Session 1
Sunday, September 8, Sunday School — Session 2
Sunday, September 8, Morning Worship — Session 3
Sunday, September 8, 5:00pm — Session 4
Sunday, September 8, 6:00pm — Session 5
You may register for the event now in a variety of ways. 1) You can sign up in your Sunday School class. 2) You can sign up at the Information Center in the church foyer. 3) You can contact the church office. 3) You can email the church office. When registering, be sure to sign up for the evening meal on Saturday and for childcare if needed.
Please circle the dates of September 7 and 8 on your calender and make it a priority to attend the Spiritual Preparation Weekend for the United We Build campaign at Canyon Creek.
AWANA Enlistment and More
This summer has been a whirlwind of fun, discipling, and fellowship. As we look forward to a new school year, it is my prayer that these kiddos remember all that we have been doing this summer and all that they have learned at WorshipZone and FUNdamentals. We have finished our FUNdamentals bible study over the first eleven chapters in Genesis. We are also closing up our WorshipZone sessions concluding with the study on Fellowship. Both of these programs have been very meaningful to our kids, and it is my prayer that we can look forward to more great events and programs during the school year.
We have a back to school and AWANA enlistment event on August 20th from 6pm - 8pm. This will be a great time to get questions answered about the AWANA ministry, to celebrate the conclusion of the summer and the start of a new school year, and to preview some events going on during the school year. Everyone is invited to celebrate with us!
Let us all continue to pray and seek God’s guidance in the growth and program opportunities for this children’s ministry in preparation for the upcoming children’s and preschool building. Thank you church for allowing me to be apart of this wonderful ministry.
30th Anniversary Celebration
On August 24, Canyon Creek Baptist Church will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The church will have Sunday School at 9:15 and a unified worship service at 10:30 with lunch on the grounds to follow. Please come as the church celebrates all that the Lord has done for the past 30 years and as it looks forward to the next 30 years and beyond.
A lot of changes have occurred since 1978. In that year, the world’s population was estimated at 4.3 billion. Martina Navratilova and Bjorn Borg were the winners of Wimbledon. In 1978, Sony introduced the first portable stereo, the Sony Walkman. The Academy award for best picture went to Annie Hall. A stamp was $0.13, a gallon of milk was $1.71, and a gallon of gas was $0.63.
Who knows how things will be different in the future? I guess there is One who certainly does and it is for His glory that we exist. God Himself has placed Canyon Creek on these five acres for a wonderful purpose. The next 30 years shall surely be an adventure. Please come and celebrate with the rest of the body on August 24.
“God In Us” Musical with FBC Salado
August 17th our choir will combine with the First Baptist Church, Salado choir and present the musical: God In Us. We are looking forward to an exciting evening of music and praise as we bring our congregations and choirs together for worship. If you do not regularly attend our Sunday Evening worship services, you will not want to miss this one.
You may remember that last summer; we did this and met in Salado. This year, however, we will be gathering here at the Creek. We want to fill the house as we all come together to worship the Lord with exciting music and testimonies. It will be an evening to remember.
… this is your captain speaking…
These are words we are going to hear way too soon after our alarm goes off Friday morning. No doubt we will all be excited and adrenalin will pulsate through our bodies until we get to Morelia… or at least get to Houston. Church family, thank you for your prayers. We are praying for Pastor Danny and Pastor Abraham, they and their churches are making preparation so that we can have about 150 children at a local neighborhood site in the areas their churches have a vision of planting a new church. Can a church of about 30 people have the vision of planting a new church? Yes, and may God bless that vision with workers.
Sunday Morning, the last Sunday in June, those who gave, served, packed, brought or bought materials stood up with those who were going on the trip. It was encouraging to pray for the work of all those hands. So we pray that new churches are planted and that the team can see a number of nationals come to know Jesus Christ personally during the time we are in country July 4-11. Lord, bless this great city, Morelia! Amen!
Trey Bledsoe’s Anniversary
We are approaching a very significant anniversary at Canyon Creek. In May, Trey Bledsoe will have been serving this church for 10 years. Look at this from another perspective. A lot of years ago now, God whispered an invitation for Trey to be a minister. The world was in front of him, but in 1998, Trey would bring all of his love for the Lord, his passion for service, as well as a 92 hour Masters degree in Divinity, and give himself for ministry here. Coming straight from Baylor and then graduation from Southwestern Seminary, Canyon Creek has exclusively received his ministerial attention. In today’s hyperactive world, there is a lot to say for that kind of longevity. We are blessed.
You know that it has not always been easy. Along the way God has whispered to him words of affirmation. Many of you know that Trey helped see Canyon Creek through some tough transitions. Personally, he cut out a bunch of time from other work he could have done to help me get oriented to Temple and to life at Canyon Creek. At the time I did not realize how unutterably invaluable that was. Trey, a reminder to myself that I owe you!
This year, we get to say audibly:
* for your skill as a minister,
* for your friendship– and the M&Ms you keep in your office,
* for the service you give to us,
* for your guiding pastoral direction,
* for the strength of your character,
* for your quiet devotion when no one is looking,
* for your humor,
* for the demands of a student ministry’s crazy schedule and what it demands from your family,
* for the impact on our children, youth, and burgeoning adults, we might not not readily perceive,
… we thank you. And we are proud of you!
April 27th we will have a Luncheon at 12:00 p.m. We are doing this in April so that college students can also come and participate.
Mission Trip Details
Having come back from a trip in which we explored our ministry possibilities in Morelia, Michoacán. With the belief that every person deserves access to a New Testament church, we will be partnering with a local church to plant new congregations in one of the many colonias (read neighborhoods). When Jerry Raines, Danny Crosby, and I met with pastors we met some who were familiar with the Church Starts International materials even if they were not conversant about the CSI strategy for church planting. On Wednesday morning several pastors gathered to view an introduction and heard the strategy presented. That is when we received our commitments from the pastors we will be working with in partnership. Our team will be sent to two locations to conduct children’s events for two days and then two more locations to do the same. While working with the children, we will have opportunity to begin Bible Studies with their parent(s). This is the heart of what we will be doing. Sandy Wanner will be working with Sue Ballard detailing the arts, crafts, and stories to be done with the children. April 11th and 12th, Jerry will come down to train us in the CSI church planting strategy and how to use the Bible study books. Because we have been gifted with so many Spanish speakers, I want to encourage them especially to use their skills by going to Morelia with us. Since we have made a three year commitment to these churches in Morelia, these eternal friendships will be strongest with those who do not have to bridge a language gap.
The cost for the trip will be $1200 with the church being asked in the next business meeting paying $200. That will make an even $1000 for each person. We are trying to find better than the $700 round-trip ticket rate that is factored in now. To help with the cost, we will be working a fundraiser at some time between now and July. We will encourage each person to seek support by writing partnership letters with friends and relatives both in and outside of the congregation. All of this will be discussed in meetings beginning with the April 11th training in the Fellowship Hall.
This may be enough information now, knowing that you will have much more information coming month by month. If you have not signed up on our original ‘interest’ list… interested in more information about going to Morelia… call the church office. Meanwhile, go to www.creekfamily.org and look in the photo album at the pictures of the church and town. Pray for a burgeoning desire to people outside of Christ to meet Jesus.
His best,
Trey Turner
Pictures from the Block Party
We had a great time at the Block Party, and here are some pictures to prove it!
(click on the image to go to the full gallery)
Hot Summer Nights!
Hot Summer Night events have will include movie and game nights, water games, skating, swimming, crazy softball, Round Rock Express baseball, and Summer Fun. The main purpose behind these Sunday night events is to build relationships with friends, co-workers, family, and neighbors that do not have a church home.
This Sunday, August 12thth, is THE GREAT DESSERT BAKE-OFF. We will come together for the evening worship service at 6pm. Afterward, we will eat a wondrous bounty of homemade desserts. There will be prizes for the best cookies, pie, cake, and other. So, warm up your oven and brush up on your cooking skills and make plans to be a part of Hot Summer Nights! See you there!
Awana Ice Cream Party
Well, the kids at the Creek out performed the adults in their Scripture memorization efforts. And so, they were treated to ice cream served by the adults on Wednesday night. Click the picture below to see photos of the event.
Conference on the Islamic faith
We have talked over the last months of Abraham Sarker and his ministry, Gospel for Muslims. Dr. Sarker has a passion for reaching Muslim background people and foster a relationship between them and Jesus Christ. On the front page of the website we have the schedule for the conference and a link to two sample pages of the handbook every participant will receive. Being a weekend conference church leaders from various churchs will be able to attend and it will not interfere with their Sunday worship schedule.
Nextlink Christmas Pictures
Pictures from the Nextlink Christmas Party are now online!
Class Christmas Party Schedule
Below is a helpful reference for all the scheduled Class Christmas fellowships this season.
November 20: Adopted Students/Families, 6:30pm
December 2: Preschoolers, 10am
December 2: Deacons and Wives, 6:30pm
December 3: Church-wide Reception following Choir Christmas Musical
December 4: College
December 8: Adult 4, 6:30pm
December 9: Choir
December 11: Pacemakers, 11:30am
December 13: Youth, 6:30pm
December 16: Adult 3, 5:00pm
December 16: Adult 2, 6:30pm
Dr. Abraham Sarker
December 10th, Dr. Abraham Sarker will be speaking to our church as an emphasis for International missions. He started [Gospel for Muslims](http://www.gospelformuslims.com/), a ministry to and about ministry within the Islamic culture. Their vision is to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the more than 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide is based upon the biblical mandate for missions found in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20
Dr. Sarker has these words to say about his history:
I was born into a devout Muslim home in Bangladesh, the third largest Islamic nation in the world. Son of a prominent Islamic leader and an Islamic schoolteacher, as a young Muslim boy I was instilled with a great devotion to Allah and a love for the beauty and poetic grace of my culture.
However, a sudden astounding, uncanny dream from God commenced my journey toward Christianity. A few years later I left my home country and came to the United States to share my Islamic faith with American people. Here I found the answer to my fears and insecurities, and the assurance of my salvation—through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
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