🌟 FEBRUARY THEME: SPIRITUAL GIFTS 🌟
Sunday, February 9, 2025, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

🎤✨ Karaoke: A Celebration of Community! ✨🎤

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of music, laughter, and connection as we celebrate the many ways we share our gifts with one another! Whether you love to sing or prefer to cheer from the sidelines, your presence matters. Karaoke isn’t just about hitting the right notes—it’s about stepping into joy, encouraging each other, and embracing the gift of community. So come as you are, bring your energy, and let’s lift each other up—on and off the mic! 🎶❤️

Dear Beloved Community,

Karaoke as a church community event might not seem like an obvious connection to spiritual gifts at first, but when we consider the deeper meaning of gifts—how they build up the community, foster connection, and allow people to express themselves—we can see how it fits.

1. Encouraging Expression and Confidence

Many people hesitate to use their spiritual gifts because they fear judgment or don’t feel “good enough.” Singing in front of others, even in a playful setting like karaoke, can be a way of stepping out in confidence, embracing vulnerability, and finding joy in using one’s voice—literally and figuratively. Just as some are gifted with teaching, prophecy, or acts of service, others have gifts of encouragement and joy. Karaoke can create a space where people step into their voice, supported by a loving community.

2. Recognizing Hidden Gifts

Spiritual gifts aren’t always the obvious ones we see in church leadership. Some people have a gift of bringing others together, of making people laugh, of creating a safe and joyful environment. Karaoke is a space where we might witness gifts we don’t usually think of as spiritual—someone who encourages the shy to take a turn, someone who brings energy and enthusiasm to the group, someone who cheers the loudest for others. In this way, we see the body of Christ in action, with different members offering different gifts that create a whole experience.

3. Building Up the Body in Joyful Community

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 that spiritual gifts are meant to build up the church. What better way to experience the joy of the body of Christ than in shared laughter, music, and celebration? Karaoke fosters connection, helping us move past self-consciousness and into genuine community. It reminds us that not every spiritual practice needs to be serious—sometimes, joy and celebration are their own kind of sacred gift.

4. A Metaphor for Living into Our Gifts

Karaoke invites us to step up to the mic, take a deep breath, and go for it—whether we feel “good enough” or not. In the same way, stepping into our spiritual gifts often requires courage. Maybe we don’t feel ready, maybe we doubt ourselves, but the gift isn’t meant to be kept inside. Karaoke reminds us that it’s not about perfection—it’s about offering what we have, allowing ourselves to be fully present, and trusting that our community will lift us up.

So maybe an afternoon of karaoke is more than just fun—it’s a practice in using our voices, in trusting our community, and in recognizing the unexpected ways spiritual gifts show up among us. 🎤✨

Blessings,

Pastor Brian

Video from February 2, 2025
Bible Study on Spiritual Gifts

CALLING ALL LGBTQ+ WRITERS

AND STORY TELLERS

TIRED OF BEING TALKED ABOUT

AND NEVER LISTENED TO?

INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP: MARCH 1, 2025 (in person and via Zoom)

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 two-hour 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.)

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

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

Volunteer

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)

Sign Up

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

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 Gary Harris who has an ongoing health issue.
Prayers for Beth for comfort due to her abdominal pain. Prayers as she has a colonoscopy and endoscopy this Monday.
Prayers for Joe as he deals with an ongoing sleep condition.
Prayers for Ed who has been experiencing dizziness and nausea.
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.

Please support the work of the church

by donating your time, talent, and tithe.

As of 2/7/25

Tithe Income: $1,430

Other Income: $2,375

Expenses: $5,323

Net Loss: -$1,518

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.

Give to General Fund

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. We will also be able to shed the expenses of an aging building.

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.

🌟 FEBRUARY THEME: SPIRITUAL GIFTS 🌟Sunday, February 9, 2025, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.