Etch Communities
There is much to be excited about with the new format that will be taking place in Etch this fall! Etch Electives are going to truly take us to a place where many can grow in their relationship with Christ alongside different generations, and also create avenues for us to share what God is doing and teaching us in our lives. If you’d like to know more about electives, then check out our last blog post from the Etch Team OR you can read more about them on our website. Also, if you haven’t registered for an elective yet, you can register here. You must register by September 6th.
Another great aspect of this fall’s new Etch format is what we’re calling Etch Community Nights. These nights are breaks between our four-week electives where we will all gather together for an evening of fellowship. Our goal is to share what Christ has been doing in our lives, what we’ve been learning from him, and also have a little fun while we’re doing it. We also see these nights as a great opportunity to invite friends and those who may not have much or any church experience to get a taste of our church community.
What you’ll experience on these nights are a home-cooked meal, worshiping together through music, and group interaction (a game, a competition, a group project, etc.). What has made Etch such a unique experience in this past year has been it’s ability to bring many lives, histories, and traditions together under one name: Jesus Christ. And Etch Communities are spaced before and after four-week electives to remind us of that truth.
The Etch Community Nights for the fall are September 6th, October 8th, and November 15th. So make sure to put them in your calendar! The meal begins at 5:45pm, and the night will go no later than 8pm. Join us for our first Etch Community Night this coming Wednesday (Sept. 6). You won’t want to miss it!
August 25, 2017
Etch Community Kick-Off: Wednesday, Sep 6-Meal begins at 5:45pm
Etch is back and we’re looking forward to being together again! Before we jump into our Etch Electives, we’re going to spend an evening together playing some fun games, getting to know each other, and learning a little bit more about Etch Electives. This will be your last chance to register for electives as well. You can register now at Etch Electives.
OneLife Membership Class: Wednesday’s, Sep 13 – Oct 4
We are offering OneLife as part of our Etch Electives. Dinner begins serving at 5:45 with classes to follow.
Covenant membership is vital to the spiritual health of the body as we carry out our mission together. If you are not a member of ECOB, we would like to invite you to prayerfully consider taking this course to become a covenant member. Part 2 (Discover Your Place) will be offered on Wednesdays, Oct. 18-Nov. 8. Both courses are required to be taken in order to become a member at ECOB. Register now.
Saturday, September 9
Food-Fellowship-Fun!
- 4:00 pm Gathering/Games
- 5:30 pm Dinner
- 6:30 pm Concert featuring Harken
FOOD: Pulled Pork BBQ sandwiches, Hot Dogs, Mac & Cheese, Baked Beans and Drinks will be provided.
- Congregation bring item to share by last name: A-M salad; N-Z dessert
GAMES: Corn Hole Tournament 3 Ball, Relay Races, Sack Races, Tug of War
WATER GAMES (Weather Permitting): Slip-N-Slide and Water Balloon Toss. Bring swim wear and towels.
- Bring your lawn chairs, canopies and blankets.
Etch Fall Format
Come One, Come All to Wednesday Night Etch!
Everyone is invited to come together to participate in Etch Wednesdays, beginning September 6th, 2017. Etch is dedicated to the process of Ingraining God’s Truth upon the hearts of His people. Growing together spiritually is the lifelong pursuit of the body of Christ. We are excited as we anticipate what God has in store for us in a new format for Etch Wednesdays this fall. Etch will have two components, one called Etch Community, the other Etch Electives. Etch Community is coming together once a month for the purpose of sharing a meal together, to celebrate, to worship and to enjoy each other as we deepen our relationships. Etch Electives are four weeks of learning activities on various topics offered for different age groups and levels of spiritual development, designed to reach the youngest to the eldest. This enables us to experience the richness gained from one another as we allow God to work through the ECOB community.
Etch Community and Etch Electives share a common element, a shared meal. For centuries, the meal, or Table, has been the primary vehicle through which a society’s values have been transferred and relationships have been developed. We feel strongly that coming together to share a meal is a custom that we need to reestablish. We encourage everyone to be a part of what takes place on Wednesday nights. The meal will be served from 5:45 pm until 6:15 pm. Those who have dietary restrictions are encouraged to bring their own meal-we just want you there!
Please note that Etch Electives require registration in advance by Sept. 6, with the exception of Not Your Typical Bible Stories elective. Details on Etch Electives and scheduling are at http://eatoncob.org/connect/etch.
The goal of Wednesday Night Etch is to include every person in an intentional process that deepens relationships and develops learning how to know and apply God’s truth to how we live our lives. In short, learning to be and make disciples.
August 18, 2017
Conversation with the Elders: Sun, Aug 20 at 6pm in the Gathering Area
Your Board of Elders invites you to join them for an update of developments at ECOB and for any questions you might have. Topics will include:
- Financial review
- Elder board appointment
- Vision process
- Phase 2 Building
- Etch Update
One Another Group Leaders Huddle – Sun, Aug 27 following 2nd Service in Rm 101
Please let Rich & Karen or Rudy & Ginger know if you can attend.
August 11, 2017
2nd Saturday – August 13
- Join us as we do home repair projects for Senior Adults in our community
- Meet in the ECOB parking lot at 8:30 am
- Tools provided
Luke 3:11…if you have food, share it with those who are hungry.
School is starting, but there is still need. Please help by filling your Luke 3:11 bags and bringing them Sunday.
August 4, 2017
Mark Your Calendar for Saturday, September 9!
Rockhouse Youth Events:
Family Night – Sunday, August 6
- 5:30-8:30pm
- At the Denlingers, 4018 Yost Rd., Eaton
- For students 6th-12th grade and their families
Canoe Trip – Sunday August 27th
- For: 6th-12th Grades and Young Adults
- Cost: $20
- Deadline to Register: August 20
- Register now
Don’t Forget! One Combined Service on Sunday, August 13 at 10am
July 28, 2017
Celebrating 2nd Saturday…
Senior Adult Banquet: Saturday, August 19
- Catered meal at 5:30pm, Gathering Area.
- Entertainment by Cyndi Steinberger from Lewisburg, performing a piano concert and a sing-a-long.
- If you are 70 or over, contact the office, 456-5507, with your reservations by Noon on Friday, Aug 4.
- If you did not receive an invitation, please let the office know.
Brethren Disaster Ministries Ice Cream Social Fund Raiser
- Saturday, August 5
- 4-7pm at Happy Corner Church of the Brethren, 7037 Union Road, Clayton
Enjoy a full menu of food and some great ice cream while supporting this vital ministry.
Mark your calendar…
- August 13 – One Combined Service at 10am
- August 20 – Conversation with Elders at 6pm
July 21, 2017
Family Camp 2017: August 11-13
Sunday, July 23 is the last day to register. Sunday, July 30 is the payment deadline.
Family Camp is…
- 2 Nights in a Cabin: Join us for a 2-night, 3-day retreat at Camp Campbell Gard in Hamilton, OH
- Adventures for All Ages: Activities include swimming, canoeing, archery, zip lining, inflatable pillow and more!
- Fun with a Purpose: Bond together as a family unit and connect with other families from E.C.O.B.
- Register now
- For more info contact Betsy Crumbaker, ecrumba@gmail.com or 937-902-4195.
- Cost: Adults (Ages 18+) – $50; Children (Ages 7-17) – $28; Children (Ages 0-6) – Free
Impact Eaton 2017
Pastor Dan and Pastor Jonathan were invited to attend the City Council Meeting on Monday, July 17 where they were presented with the following certificate:
Child Protection Policy Training:
- Sunday, July 23 at 9 am or Wednesday, July 26 at 7 pm in the Conference Room
- Adults or Youth who work with children and/or youth at ECOB must attend a CPP session every 2 years
- Questions: Lois Simmons, 456-6068, lois.simmons8890@ gmail.com or Diana Oburn, 456-9512, mothermedic@hotmail.com.
Birthright Needs Volunteers:
Many volunteers are needed to meet with women, provide for the babies in our community and keep our Birthright house in great shape.
- One on one volunteers to assist our mothers and their babies – training provided
- Mow grass
- Trim shrubs
- Wash windows
Contact Sonja Brown, 937-416-1663 or sonjab1942@gmail.com.
Kansas City Update: Flexibility, Hands, Feet, and Voice
I was hoping to write a blog post yesterday evening, but our group got caught up in a rousing game of dodgeball. There’s not much better than seeing an elder of our church and his wife pegging students left and right, making them drop like flies! It’s was quite entertaining, and the students loved it! I just simply couldn’t pull myself away.
So thus, I’m writing this to you now. Our trip is winding down, and I wish I had more opportunities to have written you all through the week. It seems our trip has been non-stop since the moment we left the church early Saturday morning.
Flexibility
When we arrived on Saturday evening and had our first gathering to share our goals for the week, what we’d be doing, and how to be preparing for it, the first subject addressed was: “Be Flexible”. I’ve been on many youth trips in my life, and I have to admit this one takes the “most flexible award.”
We’ve been practicing dependency on the Holy Spirit much this week. We leaned on Him in giving us direction in how to speak to those who need prayer. We leaned on the Him to guide us in our daily schedule (which changed often!). There were even moments where it came down to the Holy Spirit telling us when to turn left or right. It’s been a major stretch for many of us, but a stretch that has produced much fruit!
We have seen many of our students who began this trip in a state of timidity, turn in to followers of Christ who are bold and courageous. in their efforts to have conversations with anyone willing to have one.
Hands, Feet, and Voice of God
One of our trip leaders (Mattias Gutendorf — and if you’re wondering; yes, he’s from Germany), talked on Sunday night about our theme for the week: Everyone Deserves a Conversations. He shared he would add a tagline to that phrase, though: Everyone Deserves a Conversations, & Everyone Desires a Conversation.
We have been met with so many people open to hearing about Jesus. So many we’ve interacted with have asked for prayer or at least willing accepted prayer when we asked if they wanted it. We’ve had 12 year-old praying for 72 year-olds. We’ve had different races holding hands and lifting up the name of Christ. We’ve had student leaders rise up to teach younger ones how to be the hands, feet, and voice of Christ to a world that so desperately needs Him.
I couldn’t be more proud of our students and how God has used them to minister to so many different kinds of people: poor, wealthy, black, white, hispanic, young, old, homeless or those with a home. For these kids, it didn’t matter… they just saw the need and gave to it, and I can’t wait until they begin sharing stories with you in a few weeks.
How you can pray for us:
- Today is our last day. Pray for us to have an incredible night of music, and sharing as we talk through the week and investigate what God has done in our lives.
- Pray for Grace Point Baptist Church who hosted us this week. They’ve been so wonderful by providing us with food, shelter, and direction in places to go in the week.
- Praise God for Becky Still, who was our amazing trip leader from Adventures in Missions. And praise God for Mattias Gutendorf who was our trip leader from Grace Point.
- Pray for us tomorrow as we leave Kansas City to head home at 8am (9am Eaton Time). It has been a long week, and our leaders/drivers are tired.
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