District 9 Champions

It sure feels good to be champions.  After 5 years of all-star runs that ended in defeat, it is sure sweet to win a District 9 title and to be heading to a state tournament!  I am so happy for Zac and his teammates…they worked so hard and earned every bit of it.  We won the championship game last night 5-2.  It was a nail biter.  Our opponent loaded the based in the bottom of the last inning and had their top hitter at the plate…my heart was beating incredibly fast…could hardly watch…but finally a called 3rd strike and it was over.  Below are some pictures.  We go next week to Pound, VA to compete in a state tournament of 11 Senior Division teams.

Our team with our District Banner

Zac and me after the game

Zac was setting me up for my first gatorade bath

Zac draping himself in the banner

Monday Morning Post

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend!  This one was a little different for us personally…

Friday night…Zac’s all-star team that I manage had it’s first game of the championship round (best 2 out of 3 series).  We were ahead 5-1 going into last inning and ended up losing 7-6…a heart-breaking loss which put us in a position to have to win 2 in a row (Sunday & Monday)

Saturday…No big picnic plans or fireworks on Saturday…just a day to catch-up on some yard work, house work, grocery shopping, etc. and then have little family BBQ and card game.

Sunday morning…As I expected, the crowds were way down at church because of the holiday weekend and vacation travels…but still we did have a great service.  Scott LaRochelle shared in the message with me…I did an interview format with Scott who just retired after 26 years as an officer in the Coast Guard.  He shared some of the lessons he learned from his career of serving our country.  It was a great fit for 4th of July weekend.  Then we had a delicious watermelon fellowship outside after the service.  Sadly, we had to say goodbye yesterday to Russ, Deanna and Garrett Wells…moving on to Texas where Russ is entering seminary.  Keep them in your prayers!

Sunday afternoon…It was do or die for our baseball team.  We came out hitting great and we won 8-6 over Woodbridge.  The series is now tied at 1 and the final championship game is tonight at 7 pm at Mt. Vernon High School.  This is my 6th straight year of coaching on Zac’s all-star teams and we’ve never won a district championship.  We’ve come in 2nd once before and 3rd twice…we really want to get this one tonight and go to the state tournament next week.

Sunday evening…We chilled out last night with pizza, ice cream and the movie, Independance Day.  Zac and Tori enjoyed it for the first time.  I’ve seen it many times…but still a fun 4th of July weekend movie.

Now it’s time to start preparing for Sunday’s message…we begin a new series this week…PRAYER 4 DUMMIES.  Be there Sunday!

LCC E-News 7.1.09

This Sunday at LCC Don’t Miss this Sunday… 4th of July Weekend theme…Thanking God for our Freedom to worship Him Live Interview with Scott LaRochelle, one of our men retiring after 30 years in the Coast Guard…don’t miss this Watermelon Fellowship out front after the service! Grab a new church magnet for your fridge…now available at the info table. INVITE, INVITE, INVITE – bring your family and friends. Terrific Tuesday…July 7th from 10 am – Noon For Grades K-5 Theme: “Are You Listening?” At the home of Sherri Markle Movie snacks, clips from Horton Hears a Who, games and more Register here. Prayer 4 Dummies…new series begins July 12th. Read more here. Hope to See you Sunday! Steve

Taking One for the Team

This is what can happen when you park too close to a Seniors All-Stars Baseball Game…

Carole's windshield - A victim of a foul ball from our own team

Winning the game sure made it easier to take!

Weekend Recap, etc…

Great weekend!  Here’s my summary…

At Church…

• Great worship service this Sunday!
• Band sounded great…good to have David in town and on the drums again.
• Communion went well…it’s always good to remember what Jesus did for us and really take the time to collectively worship him in that way.
• Good crowd in spite of the summer vacation exodus!  Hope it keeps up through the summer!
• Great to see the Hickenbottam family back with us.  They moved away last summer, but are moving back from SC mid-August and will again be part of the LCC family.  Glad to see them this weekend!
• We gave out LCC beachballs on Sunday.  It’s a full size beachball with our church logo and website on it.  Some extras remain and will be available Sunday.  Take it to the beach.  Share it at your community pool.  Use it as a tool to invite someone to church this summer.
• The head custodian allowed us to store our equipment in a classroom this week since school is out.  This along with a few other miscelleneaous set-up items will save our crew some sweat and time this summer.  Hopefully we’ll be able to do this for several weeks and not have to bother with the trailer.
• The auditorium renovation looks about done.  It is only electrical/lighting holding us up from moving in.  Now that school is out, they don’t  seem as motivate to rush to completion.  Who knows???  We may be moving in at the beginning of September!

On the Ball Field…

• My team, the DTQ (Dumfries/Triangle/Quantico) Senior All-Stars, had a great opening weekend of the District 9 Tournament at Mt. Vernon High School.  We beat Woodlawn LL on Saturday 2-1.  Then on Sunday, we beat Dale City LL 9-3.  Some exciting games!
• We play Woodbridge LL on Wednesday night, but we already know that we qualify for the Championship Round this coming weekend.  We play Friday at 7 pm, then Sunday at 2 pm and then Monday at 7 pm (IF necessary).  (Admission at all games is free.)
• If we win 2 out of 3, we travel to the Virginia state tournament in Pound, VA on July 16 to compete against the other 15 districts in our state.

A good busy

Sometimes we complain about being busy…but there is a good busy when you are doing the things you love…

• Today – attending the retirement ceremony in DC of Scott Larochelle…one of our church members and a good friend.  He served his country for 26 years in the Coast Guard!
• Tonight – final all-star practice before games begin.  I’m managing the DTQ Senior All-Stars (15-16 year olds).
• Friday – All-star opening ceremonies
• Saturday – Morning yard sale, Afternoon first game vs. Woodlawn at 2 pm
• Sunday morn – Communion service at church – begins at 10:30 am
• Sunday afternoon – Game 2 of tournament vs. Dale City at 1 pm
• Wednesday night – Game 3 of tournament vs. Woodbridge at 7 pm

If our team advance from first round, we enter a 2 out of 3 championship round next weekend.  All games are at Mount Vernon High School.

I love the summer time…we always have some great fellowships planned at LCC this summer…check it out on our website – www.lifecc.us.

Outdoor Service Pics

It was a great day….great service outside – partly cloudy – about 76 degrees!  More than 200 gathered on the front lawn at Woodbridge Middle School…here are a few pics.

Father’s Day Outdoor Service!

Father’s Day at LCC Don’t Miss this Sunday… Outdoor Service in front of the school building at 10:30 am – B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Chairs!) Father’s Day Message – “Becoming a Touchdown Dad” Full Live Band to lead us in Worship A Family event – no nursery, but there will be a fenced-in play area in the back for the little ones FREE cookout after the service – We are grilling burgers, hot dogs and brauts (for the dads) Also – we are giving every man a free copy of the hardback autobiography entitled “Touchdown Alexander” by Shaun Alexander INVITE, INVITE, INVITE – let’s pack out the school’s front yard! Youth Fundraiser Report (from Donald Buttram)… What a great night! Thank you, LCC for showing up in force and supporting your youth ministry like you did at Pizza Hut last Sunday evening. You purchased 913.58 worth of food and drink which means we will be getting a check for $182.72. It was a great fellowship and an easy way to help us raise funds for camp. It also turned out to be a perfect way to apply Steve’s message today. Most everyone there had to wait for a good amount of time before they even were able to place their orders. Most had to wait even longer on their food. Some got their orders piece by piece, and others had to follow up multiple times! But our people maintained great attitudes, controlled that anger … AND Because of that, there are two ladies who were actually touched by how we did not get mad and h ow we stepped up and helped them do their jobs. There is a GREAT chance we will see them at church soon. Pray for Heather and Rachel. Pray that God would encourage them to not wait, but to come this next Sunday. See you Sunday! Steve

Midweek Post

Sorry for the late post…week has gotten away!

Last weekend

• Great service on Sunday.  It was a healthy crowd, great music and atmosphere.
• I preached on Genesis 3 and the first sin.  People said I used the word NAKED too many times…but read Genesis 3…it’s a big part of the story!   Yea…and I guess I enjoy saying the word and watching people look a little uncomfortable
• Sad to say goodbye Sunday to Dan & Nicki Phillips (and Tyler).  They are dear friends and have served LCC in many ways…especially as our small group directors.  They will be missed!

This week

• Preparing for Sunday’s message on dealing with difficult co-workers.  Going to be preaching from Eph 4:26-5:2.
• Looking forward to Saturday night dinner at Calvary Road Baptist Church.  They are celebrating their 30th anniversary and have invited former staff and families to a celebration dinner.  We served on staff there from 96-02.  Looking forward to seeing old friends.
• This coming Sunday is our last day of core classes at 9:30.  We break for the summer…but this year we are coming back in September with a new kids church program for kids.  Check out the website for details.

Looking a few weeks ahead

• Our Father’s Day Outdoor Service on June 21st is going to be a blast.  INVITE, INVITE, INVITE!  Check the web for more details.
• We’ll celebrate Communion on June 28th
• We have a summer of special fellowships and outreach events planned.  Click here. Even though summer attendance may dip a little because of vacations, it is a great time to invite new families and friends to church.  Lots of new people will be moving into the area…seek them out and invite them to LCC!

Weekend Post

It was another busy, but awesome weekend.  Here’s a quick recap…

Friday Night:

• Zac and I went over to B’more to catch the Orioles game.  It had been over a year since I had been to Camden Yards.  It was a great game.  We were there for the debut of Matt Wieters…the top prospect in all of baseball.  He went 0 for 4 but the O’s had a sweet victory.  It was a lot of fun to be with 42,000 fans and see the excitement for the O’s coming back!  It’s been awhile!  And it was nice to have a Boog’s BBQ sandwich…nothing compares!

Saturday:

• The morning started with Lexi’s softball game.  Her team won 18-7.  She had 2 walks and an RBI and got the game ball!
• Then we had our Life Group at the Tingstrom’s home with an early afternoon cookout.  We had a great study on the Rich Fool from Luke 12.
• Then we hurried off to Zac’s Seniors game…and another victory 7-2.  Our team (which I manage) is now 11-1 and have outscored our opponents this season 131-36…that doesn’t seem right, does it?
• Then a little sermon review with some NBA and MLB on tv in the background.

Sunday:

• Great service this morning!  Great to have so many back who travelled last weekend.  Nice to have the cafeteria full again!
• It was also great to have Rob VanEngen and his wife and daughter visiting today.  Rob was a youth pastor friend who served at another church in Lynchburg when I was there in the early 90’s.  We did some great youth group retreats together with our churches.  Rob is now a professor at Liberty University.  Great to have him surprise us today.
• Josh & the worship band did a great job of leading us this morning.  Great worship set!
• Wayne Bale welcomed everyone today.  Wayne and his wife JoAnn are the new life group directors for LCC.  They are taking over for Dan & Nicki who are moving to Texas in a few weeks.  I love Wayne’s enthusiasm for our church and for reaching out and bringing in new people.   He and JoAnn have personally brought almost their entire neighborhood to LCC!
• Some new volunteers are stepping up to fill some ministry vacancies.  While more are needed, it is exciting to see many step up and serve.
• Looking forward to our outdoor service on Father’s Day.  Don’t miss it on June 21st.  Cookout, Full Live Band, Free Gift for dads, and don’t forget to B.Y.O.C.