🌟 JANUARY THEME: RESILIENCE 🌟
Sunday, January 19th 10:30 a.m.
Monthly In Person Worship Service
Other Lands, 731 Rutherford Road, Greenville
This Sunday marks a special moment for New Day Christian Community Church as we gather for our first in-person worship service at Other Lands. Together, we’ll dive into the powerful story of Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-32), reflecting on how moments of struggle can deepen our faith and grow our resilience.
With inspiring music, including Miley Cyrus' "The Climb," and Lauren Daigle's "You Say," this is a Sunday you won’t want to miss. Whether you’ve wrestled with doubt, faith, or life’s challenges, come as you are and discover the blessings waiting on the other side of the struggle. See you at Other Lands! 🕊️
New Community Opportunity: Coffee & Conversation at Other Lands!
Join us this Sunday before worship for a new way to connect. Starting at 10:00 a.m., meet us in the main coffee bar at Other Lands for a time of Coffee & Conversation—a chance to catch up, share stories, and build community over a cup of your favorite brew.
At 10:25 a.m., we’ll move to the event room for worship. Look for the signs to guide you, and come ready to connect, reflect, and grow together. See you Sunday! ☕🕊️
Dear Beloved Community,
As we step into a new week, I want to share a personal mantra that has been guiding me lately:
“Grace in the process, strength in the moment, joy in the journey.”
This simple phrase has become a touchstone for me as I navigate the many layers of life right now. It’s a reminder to approach each day with compassion, courage, and hope. Let me unpack what it means—and how it connects to resilience—especially in the midst of the many things on my plate.
Grace in the Process
I am learning to extend grace to myself in all the things I am working on. This new year, I've embarked on a series of new adventures. From improving my Spanish to starting a year-long certificate program in process theology to improving my health through more exercise and better choices, I've felt almost complete overwhelm with everything happening in my life right now. But resilience starts with accepting that perfection is not required—what matters is staying committed to the process. Grace allows me to celebrate small wins and stay grounded when things don’t go as planned.
Strength in the Moment
Each moment brings its own challenges, whether it’s preparing sermons, selling our church building, managing my finances, or fostering meaningful connections with my husbands, family, and friends. Resilience means finding the strength to face these challenges one step at a time, without becoming paralyzed by the weight of everything. This mantra reminds me to take a deep breath, focus on what’s in front of me, and trust that I have the strength to meet the demands of today.
Joy in the Journey
Sometimes, in the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget to pause and appreciate the beauty of the journey itself. Whether it’s my morning ritual, reading an article in Christian Century, or simply sharing laughter over dinner, finding joy is vital to resilience. It renews my spirit and reminds me why I’m doing what I do—both in ministry and in life.
This mantra holds me steady as I work toward new beginnings, nurture relationships, and care for my community. I share it with you in the hope that it might resonate with wherever you are in your own journey. What could it mean for you to embrace grace, strength, and joy this week?
Reflection Questions:
• What area of your life needs a little more grace right now?
• Where can you summon strength for the moment you’re in?
• How might you notice or create joy in the journey today?
Let’s walk this path together, one step at a time, with resilience as our guide.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
CALLING ALL LGBTQ+ WRITERS
AND STORY TELLERS
TIRED OF BEING TALKED ABOUT
AND NEVER LISTENED TO?
Too many of us in the LGBTQ community are talked about more than we are ever listened to. New Day is seeking to change that by providing opportunities for our LGBTQ community to share our stories through a storytelling showcase.
New Day is partnering with So Say We All (sosaywealllonline.com) to help folks in the Upstate SC LGBTQ community share their stories through their VAMP Storytelling Showcase. VAMP is a highly-produced multimedia reading series, where several writers perform works with visual accompaniment revolving around a changing theme.
How the VAMP process works:
• Writers will participate in a half-day workshop either in person or virtual where they will learn how to craft a story.
• Following the workshop, writers will have two weeks to prepare and submit their first draft.
• Writers will then participate in group read and critiques to give and receive feedback, work with assigned writing coaches 1-1, and receiving performance coaching to ensure they’re comfortable with public speaking.
• Finally, writers will select visual images to accompany their stories, send in their final drafts, and then perform together in front of an adoring audience!
• Videos of performances are uploaded to our Youtube Channel, and selected pieces will appear on The VAMP Podcast.
• We encourage writers to seek opportunities to publish their work, and to treat the VAMP Storytelling Showcase as a powerful growth experience, but not the end of the line for the stories they workshop with us. Authors retain the rights to their work.
How the VAMP process works:
• Writers will participate in a half-day workshop either in person or virtual where they will learn how to craft a story.
• Following the workshop, writers will have two weeks to prepare and submit their first draft.
• Writers will then participate in group read and critiques to give and receive feedback, work with assigned writing coaches 1-1, and receiving performance coaching to ensure they’re comfortable with public speaking.
• Finally, writers will select visual images to accompany their stories, send in their final drafts, and then perform together in front of an adoring audience!
• Videos of performances are uploaded to our Youtube Channel, and selected pieces will appear on The VAMP Podcast.
• We encourage writers to seek opportunities to publish their work, and to treat the VAMP Storytelling Showcase as a powerful growth experience, but not the end of the line for the stories they workshop with us. Authors retain the rights to their work.
So Say We All is a 501c3 literary and performing arts non-profit organization whose mission is to create opportunities for individuals to tell their stories, and tell them better. SSWA offers education outreach programs specifically targeting communities who have been talked about disproportionately more than heard from in mainstream media.
If you have further questions or would like to participate, please contact Pastor Brian at pastor@newdaycc.ccom of call 864-216-7714.
Here is a sample from when Pastor Brian shared his story in 2014 as part of the VAMP process. (Brian Joyner is his pen name.)
If you'd like to add anything for next weeks' community prayer, please contact Pastor Brian at pastor@newdayccc.com.
- Prayers for Vanessa and her family.
- Prayers for Krista's dad as he continues to undergo therapy following a stroke.
- PRAISES that Michael's friend Mark is out of the hospital and in rehab. Prayers as he goes through radiation treatments.
- Prayers for Gary Harris who had a bone marrow biopsy.
- Prayers for Beth for comfort due to her abdominal pain. Prayers for an earlier doctor's appointment.
- Prayers for Joe as he deals with an ongoing heart condition.
- Prayers for Andrea and Sarah as they struggle with working through past trauma.
- Prayers for Andrea and her family as they mourn the passing of her father.
- Prayers for Miss Judy who had to be admitted to the hospital this week. She is not at rehab.
- Prayers for those who are struggling with physical, mental, and economic challenges.
- Prayers for those who are marking the anniversary of the death of a loved one.
- Prayers for those who have suffered trauma and those who suffer from depression and other mental health issues.
- Prayers for those suffering the effects of war.
- Prayers for our nation as we face local, national, and global challenges.
- Prayers for New Day as we consider our future.
- Prayers for those of us who are suffering with stress and anxiety from the upcoming inauguration.
- Prayers for Vanessa, Ness, Scott, Pastor Brian, and others who have unspoken requests this week.
New Day continues its mission to become a "church beyond the walls" with a broad range of activities to build community and several ways to grow in your faith and spirituality over the rest of this month.
*Note the location for each event.
Please support the work of the church
by donating your time, talent, and tithe.
As we embrace new opportunities in 2025, your support is more vital than ever. Your generosity fuels our mission to serve the LGBTQ community, provide a welcoming space for worship, and grow into all God calls us to be. Every gift, no matter the size, helps us continue creating a space of love, connection, and hope. Thank you for being part of this journey—your contributions truly make a difference.
Click the link below to give through our Flocknote portal or donate through Zelle to treasurer@newdayccc.com.
New Day Christian Community Church
MEETING LOCATION FOR JANUARY
OTHER LANDS
731 Rutherford Road, Greenville, SC 29609
New Day Christian Community Church exists to provide a diverse, open, and affirming Christian community to all who desire a discipleship walk with Jesus Christ by offering challenging worship experiences, mission-based service opportunities, and Biblical learning so that we are empowered to reach out to others, introduce them to the love and strength of the beloved community, and invite them to join the faith journey of discipleship.
