The Advent season is upon us and we look forward to returning once again to the historical themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. This year we will approach these themes through a deeply pastoral lens that will link our hearts and souls to the incarnation of God in man in a unique way. Join together each week leading up to Christmas in both Troy and Saratoga for these themes:

HOPE | dec. 2nd

JOY | dec. 9th

PEACE | dec. 16th

LOVE | dec. 23rd

On Christmas Eve we will join our two locations together for combined services on Dec. 24th at 5:30PM and 7:00PM in Troy at Revolution Hall  [425 River Street].

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are 4 ways we are currently seeing a way to help – if you are interested in any of these – details on each are outlined below.
1.  Give Finances
2.  Give Blood
3.  Give Time
4.  Give Prayers

1.  Give Finances:  If you are able – please make a donation to Terra’s Benevolence Fund HERE on the City. 100% of the donations made between now and 11/15/12 will be directed to the benevolence and relief efforts at Jacob’s Well in New Brunswick, NJ.  Terra Nova will cover all the adminstrative fees and tax reporting.

Jacob’s Well is led by Reid Monaghan – who also serves as the New Jersey Director for the Acts 29 Network.  The men at Terra will remember Reid as he spent 3-days teaching and encouraging us on the men’s retreat this year.

As the New Jersey Director for the Acts 29 Network, Reid is coordinating relief efforts to some of the harder hit A29 churches & communities.  You can go HERE  and read a full update from Reid.

2.  Give Blood:  The American Red Cross has cancelled 100 blood drives as a result of this storm.  You view the CNN report on this HERE.  Our friends at Temple Baptist Church are hosting a blood drive on November 10th from 6:30am to 1:30pm.  You can also go HERE to search for other blood drives that may be in your area in the next few weeks.

3.  Give Time:  Several of you have expressed interest in traveling to NJ to help in the recovery work and rebuilding.  We are in contact with Reid at Jacob’s Well and other church network friends in an effort to determine when and where volunteer help will be needed.  As we know from other storms, the need for help will extend far into the future.  If you are interested in being part of a team of volunteers to go and put in some potentially hard labor – please email me, Pastor Paul Gordon.  We will start a separate City Message stream as we collect more volunteers and get more information from our friends in NJ.

4.  Give Prayers:  Lastly, please pray.  Pray that the challenges facing our brothers and sisters would ultimately cause many to turn to God for help and that the Church will readily respond with the mercy of Christ and the message of Christ.

Thanks and if you have any further questions, please let me know.

Pastor Paul

More than anything else, we ask that you keep this in prayer on a daily basis.

Ancient Upgrade-The Modern Church with Ancient Belief

Ecclesia semper reformanda est.  . . . The Church always needs reforming. It was a basic tenet of the reformation movement in Europe half a millennia ago.  They knew the result of the loss of clarity regarding the gospel, mission and holiness.  Every church has to navigate these waters.  We must dig deep, intractable roots to anchor us when all else seems lost.  We must stay out of sin and engage our world.  We must represent a kingdom that is not yet here, to a time and a place that is.

The reformation of the church is a constant call.  It was the journey of first century Christ-followers and has continued throughout history. During our fall series we will look at the call to ancient belief in the modern church.

The Schedule::

September 9^th:         Intro: The Modern Church with Ancient Belief

September 16^th:       The Nature of God

September 23^rd:       Creation: The Work of God

September 30^th:       Covenant: The Promises of God

October 7^th:               Incarnation: God With Us

October 14^th:             Cross: God For Us

October 21^st:             Resurrection: God Over Us

October 28^th:             Sanctification & Discipleship

November 4^th:           Word & Spirit

November 11^th:        The Church Part 1

November 18^th:        The Church Part 2

November 25^th:        Worship

We’ll begin on September 17th at Brown’s Brewing Company at 6:30PM with an intro lecture on the life and times and works of Karl Barth. No reading is due for this first night and all are welcome, even if you don’t plan on sticking with the study. We’ll continue meeting on the third monday of each month. Reading assignments will average 85 pages per month.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE.

We will be reading two books in the study. First, we’ll read “Barth for Armchair Theologians” and then we’ll follow this up with a short book by Barth called “The Humanity Of God”. If you want us to order your books for you, it’s important that you register at the link above, and bring $27 cash on the first night. A reading schedule will be given out that night as well.

The intro lecture is limited to 60 people. Please register early to reserve your spot.

This Sunday we return to our Proverbs summer series looking at what Proverbs has to teach us regarding Friendships.

MEN’S RETREAT // Save the Date

The 2012 men’s retreat is October 11-13. Early registration opens August 13th and will likely sell out in days. Find full details in the Men at Terra Nova group on The City.

SERVE // Graphic Arts at Terra

If you have basic skills in Photoshop and Illustrator and are interested in serving and learning on a graphics team creating upcoming Terra Nova projects, email kevin@irontoiron.com .

This Sunday we are excited to welcome Terra supported church planter Derek Levendusky (planting in the Rochester, NY area).

MEN’S RETREAT // Save the Date

The 2012 men’s retreat is October 11-13. Early registration opens August 13th and will likely sell out in days. Find full details in the Men at Terra Nova group on The City.

SERVE // Graphic Arts at Terra

If you have basic skills in Photoshop and Illustrator and are interested in serving and learning on a graphics team creating upcoming Terra Nova projects, email kevin@irontoiron.com .

Since 2008, the RRW4L has raised near $150,000 to end the trafficking and exploitation of children globally through the work of Love146.  Terra has been instrumental in the success of this local, grass roots, mercy and justice initiative.  Terra people help organize the event and our church is a Corporate sponsor.  Terra has historically led the way, fielding the largest team (upwards of 70-80 participants and volunteers!) and raising the most money for Love146 (over $10,000 annually!).  We’ve also had a lot of fun and have a lot of great stories (like the time Eric Westervelt got lost and rode his bike up a giant mountain).

RRW4L is also a great annual expression of worship, acknowledging and celebrating God’s heart for the oppressed and a way to missionally reflect Christ to friends and family who might not know Him.

September 22nd is this year’s date.  Early discounted registration  is open and there are a number of ways to join the event.  You can walk or run the 5K. You can ride your bike 15 or 30 miles.  There is a special kids ride.  This year, there is also a special 100 mile ride with Love146 founder Rob Morris and Love146 staff to celebrate both anniversaries!  Participants pay a registration fee and donate or raise at least $146 through an on line fundraising platform. Everyone get’s a goodie bag, t-shirt and lunch from Dinosaur BBQ.  If you are not up for the work out, there are numerous opportunities to volunteer.

If you have been part of Team Terra Nova in the past please join in again!  If you are new to Terra or have not had a chance to participate in the past, jump in with us!

Go here for more information and to register.  There is a short tutorial video to assist you in the registration on the home page.  When you register be sure to join Team Terra Nova!

Any questions can be directed to Paul Gordon or Matthew Miller.

This Sunday we continue our summer series in the book of Proverbs as we look at Wisdom and Words.

MEN’S RETREAT // Save the Date

The 2012 men’s retreat is October 11-13. Early registration opens August 13th and will likely sell out in days. Find full details in the Men at Terra Nova group on The City.

SERVE // Graphic Arts at Terra

If you have basic skills in Photoshop and Illustrator and are interested in serving and learning on a graphics team creating upcoming Terra Nova projects, email kevin@irontoiron.com .