May 2009


MAY 2009
There are volunteer positions for the whole family and we still need a lot more workers to sign up! Look for the POD in the church parking lot and pack it tightly. It will be unlocked during church service times and during regular office hours through the week. Please presort and bag clothing, then label each bag (women's, men's, girls, boys).	Get involved by: Praying that we will show God's love in in a powerful way Donating clean and gently used clothes, shoes, small appliances, household items and toys. Toiletry items are also needed. Volunteering to help with greeting, registration, sorting & organizing, setting up & tearing down, and more! Sign ups are on the Glocal Missions board in the foyer. Saving a life when you donate blood to the KY Blood Center during our blood drive. Cleaning up around the streets in our community.
PONDER ANEW Buzz Cut Dana Jennings was facing radical surgery to remove his cancerous prostate. An editor with the New York Times, Jennings was accustomed to an active life, rich with meaningful work and boisterous times with his family. Now he was facing surgery, harsh treatments for the aggressive cancer and a less than certain future, dancing “this wicked waltz with cancer.” How does one get ready for such a transforming season of life? Dana Jennings got a buzz cut. (He writes about it here.) At first, he told people it was to avoid the embarrassment of greasy hospital hair. But in actuality, In a time of utter vulnerability—having already weathered three months of post-diagnosis ups-and-downs—I needed the primal ferocity that a buzz cut proclaims. I needed to look like a soccer thug or an extra from “Prison Break” to help get me through surgery, the physical indignities of post-op life, and my subsequent radiation and hormone therapy. I still do. My prostate cancer and its treatment have transformed me—in body and spirit—and the buzz cut has helped me cope with these changes. I agree with the late Anatole Broyard, who wrote in his memoir “Intoxicated by My Illness”, ‘It seems to me that every seriously ill person needs to develop a style for his illness.’ In a recent interview, Jennings said that the challenge of his illness called him to pare down to what is essential. The buzz cut was part of a new sense of self-identity – “a new me”. He was captured by a thought from another researcher who said, “the challenge with cancer is to find a new sense of self because the narrative of yourself has been disrupted.” Interestingly, near the end of his essay, Jennings compares his experience to that of Jacob, who wrestled with the angel of the Lord, emerging with both a new identity and a limp that marked his every step. When he goes in for the one-zero buzz cut, Dana Jennings says that the barber is “preparing me for the next three weeks, the way James Bond gets prepped for a mission….it energizes me, puts an extra bounce in my step.” So, when he looks in the mirror, he sees a man ready to engage the challenge before him. That got me thinking about the times in which we live and the challenges before us as Christ-followers. Many have described the moral illness of our culture as a cancer. The mission to which we have been assigned by our King – to join Him in rescuing rebel sinners by the power of Jesus’ gospel (Matt.28:18-20, Rom. 1:16) – is huge, with eternal implications. The rapid changes in the world around us and those required of faithful disciples can keep us off balance. Even this week, news has come that the churches of our Southern Baptist Convention continue to decline and that a radically different approach to ministry will be required if we hope to continuing reaching the people of our world in our day. So, in the face of that challenge, what’s our buzz cut? When we pare it down, what’s really essential for our lives, our church and our ministry? That could be a long and interesting discussion, but I suspect we could end up with something quite different from what we have now. Something more bare and simple. Here’s a start. The Gospel. The Word. Prayer. Life-on-life disciple-making. Loving community with disciples. Gathered worship. Mission not programmed at a facility, but simply in the ordinary flow of life – out of our homes, reaching through our friendships, schools, marketplaces, workplaces and to the nations. A buzz cut gives a whole new look for a whole new day. Maybe “a new us” will energize us, put an extra bounce in our step, as we move forward to be faithful to Jesus in our challenging times. Going for the buzz, Pastor David (Join the conversation at www.ponder/anew.wordpress.com)
VIC BITS (interesting slices of life from the Victory family) Harold Peach will begin a new position with Morehead State University beginning in June. He's commuting so the Peaches will still be with us! Katherine Etherton, daughter of Beth Brown, has been accepted to SCAPA. She plays the clarinet. Dozens of Victory members have been helping with the Playground Project (digging holes, spreading mulch, setting posts, Bobcat use, etc.) THANKS! Watch for Playground Kick-off announcement! Joe Ragland & Greg Howell will participate in the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati May 3. Facebook is providing an interesting intergenerational online conversation among several members.
JUST FOR WOMEN Scrapbooking/Craft Night Join us Thursday, May 21, 6:30-9:30 pm, in rooms 7 & 9. Please bring your own supplies. Contact Paula Head (523-4101) for info.	THURSDAY PRAYER Beginning April 30, you are invited to join Tim Stokes in the worship center every Thursday at 6:00 am to pray for Victory.
PRESCHOOL FOOTPRINTS New Baby Mike and Carol Tencza joyfully announce the birth of their daughter, Addison Sharon. She was born March 31 and joins siblings Eli, Isaac, Dylan and Macey. Baby Shower You're invited to a baby shower for Heather King, Sunday, May 3, in the Bradley House. She is registered at Babies R U. Contact LeAnn Lewellen (553-0801) or Betsy London (245-0418). Moms Together Playgroup MTP is open to all preschool moms and there is no cost to attend. Bring a friend Wednesday, May 6 and/or May 20, 9:30-11:30 am. Contact Stacy Jones (245-8571) or Betsy London (272-0418) for info. Preschool Parents' Night Out Change of plans! There will be Preschool Parents' Night Out through the summer. Watch for details!
FLiP Kids (K-5th grade) Movie Night On Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 - 8:15, FliP Kids and their families are invited to join us in the worship center to watch The Cotton Patch Gospels. K-5th Grade Service Project On Wednesday, May 13, FLiP Kids will help with MayDay Give-a-Way preparation (sorting, folding, assisting adults with tasks associated with this huge event.) Ministry T-shirts! T-shirts for FliP leaders and kids are available! See Joyce to get yours.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES (grades 6-12) Student Survivor On Sunday, May 3, we'll leave shortly after morning worship, grab some lunch on the way and spend the afternoon on the Ropes Course together at Georgetown College. The cost is $10 each, plus fast food money. Graduate Recognition Celebrate with our graduating seniors and their families, Sunday, May 31 during our morning worship.
SUMMER EVENTS A summer like no other is coming for our Victory family! We're going to have a lot of fun together, make deeper connections, love on our community and keep pressing forward with our mission. Look for a brochure outlining the entire summer in couple of weeks. It all starts with our Church Picnic at Jacobson Park on Sunday, evening, June 7.	YOUNG AT HEART (ages 50+) Covered Dish Dinner Join us Thursday, May 14, at 6:00 pm, for dinner and program. Guests are always welcome! The evening will be hosted by our deacons and their wives. The program is a mystery - but will be fun!
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MAY 2009

There are volunteer positions for the whole family and we still need a lot more workers to sign up! Look for the POD in the church parking lot and pack it tightly. It will be unlocked during church service times and during regular office hours through the week. Please presort and bag clothing, then label each bag (women's, men's, girls, boys).

Get involved by:

Praying that we will show God's love in in a powerful way
Donating clean and gently used clothes, shoes, small appliances, household items and toys.
Toiletry items are also needed.
Volunteering to help with greeting, registration, sorting & organizing, setting up & tearing down, and more! Sign ups are on the Glocal Missions board in the foyer.
Saving a life when you donate blood to the KY Blood Center during our blood drive.
Cleaning up around the streets in our community.

PONDER ANEW

Buzz Cut
Dana Jennings was facing radical surgery to remove his cancerous prostate. An editor with the New York Times, Jennings was accustomed to an active life, rich with meaningful work and boisterous times with his family. Now he was facing surgery, harsh treatments for the aggressive cancer and a less than certain future, dancing “this wicked waltz with cancer.”

How does one get ready for such a transforming season of life? Dana Jennings got a buzz cut. (He writes about it here.) At first, he told people it was to avoid the embarrassment of greasy hospital hair. But in actuality,

In a time of utter vulnerability—having already weathered three months of post-diagnosis ups-and-downs—I needed the primal ferocity that a buzz cut proclaims. I needed to look like a soccer thug or an extra from “Prison Break” to help get me through surgery, the physical indignities of post-op life, and my subsequent radiation and hormone therapy. I still do. My prostate cancer and its treatment have transformed me—in body and spirit—and the buzz cut has helped me cope with these changes. I agree with the late Anatole Broyard, who wrote in his memoir “Intoxicated by My Illness”, ‘It seems to me that every seriously ill person needs to develop a style for his illness.’

In a recent interview, Jennings said that the challenge of his illness called him to pare down to what is essential. The buzz cut was part of a new sense of self-identity – “a new me”. He was captured by a thought from another researcher who said, “the challenge with cancer is to find a new sense of self because the narrative of yourself has been disrupted.” Interestingly, near the end of his essay, Jennings compares his experience to that of Jacob, who wrestled with the angel of the Lord, emerging with both a new identity and a limp that marked his every step.

When he goes in for the one-zero buzz cut, Dana Jennings says that the barber is “preparing me for the next three weeks, the way James Bond gets prepped for a mission….it energizes me, puts an extra bounce in my step.” So, when he looks in the mirror, he sees a man ready to engage the challenge before him.

That got me thinking about the times in which we live and the challenges before us as Christ-followers. Many have described the moral illness of our culture as a cancer. The mission to which we have been assigned by our King – to join Him in rescuing rebel sinners by the power of Jesus’ gospel (Matt.28:18-20, Rom. 1:16) – is huge, with eternal implications. The rapid changes in the world around us and those required of faithful disciples can keep us off balance. Even this week, news has come that the churches of our Southern Baptist Convention continue to decline and that a radically different approach to ministry will be required if we hope to continuing reaching the people of our world in our day.

So, in the face of that challenge, what’s our buzz cut? When we pare it down, what’s really essential for our lives, our church and our ministry? That could be a long and interesting discussion, but I suspect we could end up with something quite different from what we have now. Something more bare and simple.

Here’s a start. The Gospel. The Word. Prayer. Life-on-life disciple-making. Loving community with disciples. Gathered worship. Mission not programmed at a facility, but simply in the ordinary flow of life – out of our homes, reaching through our friendships, schools, marketplaces, workplaces and to the nations.

A buzz cut gives a whole new look for a whole new day. Maybe “a new us” will energize us, put an extra bounce in our step, as we move forward to be faithful to Jesus in our challenging times.

Going for the buzz, Pastor David (Join the conversation at www.ponder/anew.wordpress.com)

VIC BITS (interesting slices of life from the Victory family)

Harold Peach will begin a new position with Morehead State University beginning in June. He's commuting so the Peaches will still be with us!
Katherine Etherton, daughter of Beth Brown, has been accepted to SCAPA. She plays the clarinet.
Dozens of Victory members have been helping with the Playground Project (digging holes, spreading mulch, setting posts, Bobcat use, etc.) THANKS! Watch for Playground Kick-off announcement!
Joe Ragland & Greg Howell will participate in the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati May 3.
Facebook is providing an interesting intergenerational online conversation among several members.

JUST FOR WOMEN

Scrapbooking/Craft Night
Join us Thursday, May 21, 6:30-9:30 pm, in rooms 7 & 9. Please bring your own supplies. Contact Paula Head (523-4101) for info.

THURSDAY PRAYER

Beginning April 30, you are invited to join Tim Stokes in the worship center every Thursday at 6:00 am to pray for Victory.

PRESCHOOL FOOTPRINTS

New Baby
Mike and Carol Tencza joyfully announce the birth of their daughter, Addison Sharon. She was born March 31 and joins siblings Eli, Isaac, Dylan and Macey.

Baby Shower
You're invited to a baby shower for Heather King, Sunday, May 3, in the Bradley House. She is registered at Babies R U. Contact LeAnn Lewellen (553-0801) or Betsy London (245-0418).

Moms Together Playgroup
MTP is open to all preschool moms and there is no cost to attend. Bring a friend Wednesday, May 6 and/or May 20, 9:30-11:30 am. Contact Stacy Jones (245-8571) or Betsy London (272-0418) for info.

Preschool Parents' Night Out
Change of plans! There will be Preschool Parents' Night Out through the summer. Watch for details!

FLiP Kids (K-5th grade)

Movie Night
On Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 - 8:15, FliP Kids and their families are invited to join us in the worship center to watch The Cotton Patch Gospels.

K-5th Grade Service Project
On Wednesday, May 13, FLiP Kids will help with MayDay Give-a-Way preparation (sorting, folding, assisting adults with tasks associated with this huge event.)

Ministry T-shirts!
T-shirts for FliP leaders and kids are available! See Joyce to get yours.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES (grades 6-12)

Student Survivor
On Sunday, May 3, we'll leave shortly after morning worship, grab some lunch on the way and spend the afternoon on the Ropes Course together at Georgetown College. The cost is $10 each, plus fast food money.

Graduate Recognition
Celebrate with our graduating seniors and their families, Sunday, May 31 during our morning worship.

SUMMER EVENTS

A summer like no other is coming for our Victory family! We're going to have a lot of fun together, make deeper connections, love on our community and keep pressing forward with our mission. Look for a brochure outlining the entire summer in couple of weeks. It all starts with our Church Picnic at Jacobson Park on Sunday, evening, June 7.

YOUNG AT HEART (ages 50+)

Covered Dish Dinner
Join us Thursday, May 14, at 6:00 pm, for dinner and program. Guests are always welcome! The evening will be hosted by our deacons and their wives. The program is a mystery - but will be fun!