🌟 FEBRUARY THEME: SPIRITUAL GIFTS 🌟
Sunday, February 2, 2025, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Bible Study on Discerning Your Spiritual Gifts
Join us for an engaging and transformative Bible study on Spiritual Gifts, where we will explore how each of us has been uniquely equipped to serve, uplift, and strengthen our community. Through Scripture, reflection, and conversation, we’ll discern the gifts God has placed within us—whether teaching, encouragement, leadership, compassion, or something unexpected—and consider how we can use them to bring healing and justice in these challenging times. This is more than a study; it’s an opportunity to step into your calling, connect with others, and build a community rooted in love and action. Come ready to explore, reflect, and discover how your gifts can make a difference!
Dear Beloved Community,
We Will Rise Up
This past week, I have had several meetings with local and state-wide leaders in the LGBTQ+ nonprofit sector, strategizing ways to push back against the growing wave of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment dominating the national discourse. Across the country, we are seeing relentless attacks on our rights, our dignity, and even our ability to simply exist in peace. The goal of leaders like President Trump is clear: shock, awe, and despair. They want us to feel isolated, powerless, and defeated. But we will not give them that victory.
Now more than ever, we must commit to building and strengthening our community—not just within our own circles but in deep solidarity with others facing injustice. Resistance does not happen in isolation. It happens when we gather, when we speak up, when we care for one another, and when we refuse to let fear dictate our future. This is a time for organizing, for supporting those most vulnerable, and for embodying the resilience that has always been at the heart of the LGBTQ+ movement.
During our worship service on January 19th, Krista and Liz Watson offered us a powerful reminder of that resilience through their performance of Andra Day’s anthem “Rise Up.” This song is more than music—it is a declaration of strength in the face of adversity, a promise that even when we are weary, we will keep going. As you listen, may it renew your spirit and remind you that we are never alone in this fight. We will rise, again and again.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL RENDITION OF "RISE UP"
BY KRISTA & LIZ WATSON
Video from January 19, 2025
In-Person Worship Service
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.
- Prayers for Laura's family as they mourn the loss of her Uncle Barry who died in a car accident last week.
- Prayers for Michael's friend Mark as he goes through radiation treatments.
- Prayers for Gary Harris who has an ongoing health issue.
- Prayers for Beth for comfort due to her abdominal pain. PRAISES that she was able to get an earlier doctor's appointment.
- Prayers for Joe as he deals with an ongoing sleep condition.
- Prayers for Andrea and Sarah as they struggle with mental health. Prayers for Andrea as she handles the emotional roller coaster of the death of her father. Prayers for Sarah as she faces the anniversary of the death of her mother.
- Prayers for Liz's stepdad who is on hospice care at home. May God's love and presence hold him in peace and comfort.
- Prayers for those who are struggling with physical, mental, and economic challenges.
- Prayers for those who have suffered trauma and those who suffer from anxiety, 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 from the already blistering attack on our community by the current administration.
- Prayers for Brooke, 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.
Upcoming Events Summary
- Bible Study - Other Lands: Sunday, February 2, 2025. 10:30 a.m. Join us at a NEW LOCATION for our monthly Bible study. Other Lands is at 731 Rutherford Road, Greenville, SC 29609.
- Monthly Social Event – Karaoke– Other Lands: Sunday, February 9, 2025, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Come join us for an afternoon of fun!
- In-Person Worship - Other Lands: Sunday, February 16, 2025. 10:30 a.m. Join us for our monthly worship service. Other Lands is at 731 Rutherford Road, Greenville, SC 29609.
- Pastor Brian on Vacation – February 17-27, 2025.
- Community Service - Star Party: Friday, February 28, 2025, at Generations Group Home. 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- 5th Sunday Event - Annual Paris Mountain Camping Trip: Friday, March 28-Sunday, March 30, 2025. Paris Mountain.
*STAR PARTY* Generations Group Home - Friday, February 28, 2025
Friday, February 28, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. Each week, the boys at Generations Group Home are eligible for a weekly "Star Party" if they don't get any demerits for that week. As part of our mission to serve our community, we will be hosting a few of these parties in 2025. Join us for a fun evening where we will serve food and play games. Those who volunteered at the December party had a blast! Generations Group Home is located at 810 Dunklin Bridge Rd, Fountain Inn, SC 29644.
Volunteer to help with party
Paris Mountain Camping (March 28-30, 2025)
Join us for our annual camping trip at Paris Mountain State Park, from Friday, March 28 to Sunday, March 30. You do not need to pay per individual, only for use of one site. If you are planning on joining us for hiking during the day or for lunchtime meal, please let Pastor Brian know.
Reserve your campsite at Paris Mountain
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped out at Project Host this past Sunday, January 26th. Enjoy these fun photos!
Please support the work of the church
by donating your time, talent, and tithe.
As of 1/30/25
Tithe Income: $930
Other Income: $2,375
Expenses: $5,183
Net Loss: -$1,878
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.
WHY WE ARE CONSIDERING SELLING OUR BUILDING?
Our church has been actively reaching out to the community, participating in about ten Pride-related events each year to share our vision of a church beyond the walls. While many people are excited about this concept, we’ve found that our location in Greer has been a barrier, with interested individuals unwilling to make the drive to join us. Although we are fortunate to own our building outright, our tithes and offerings have not been sufficient to sustain the work of the church, and we cannot continue to operate at a deficit. Growth is essential for our survival. At our most recent congregational meeting, the community came together to discuss this challenge and agreed to explore relocating to a space closer to Greenville, where we believe we can better serve and grow our ministry.
New Day Christian Community Church
MEETING LOCATION FOR JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH
Bible study and Worship
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.
