Busy Weekend at Walnut Creek South

Walnut Creek South welcomed many new visitors and families during Party in the Parking Lot on Saturday, an event to begin the fall season and bless the Southside community. 

On Saturday, Walnut Creek South hosted Party in the Parking Lot as an opportunity to invite the Southside community to an afternoon of free fun. The event also fell on the same weekend as "National Back to Church Sunday," which presented an opportunity to invite people to come to church that same evening.

Highlights of the afternoon included free face painting, cotton candy, and Hickory Park barbecue for lunch. Drivers could see the crowd and castle bounce house from down Army Post Road, bringing in many visitors and families. Walnut Creek South members welcomed new friends, played games with kids, and worked hard to create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.

"We passed out over 1,500 door hangers in the surrounding neighborhoods to promote the event," said Pastor Jon Schreiner of Walnut Creek South. "Many people said they wanted to come back to church with us some time."

Party in the Parking Lot helped Walnut Creek South members begin new relationships as they try to make themselves known in the community and lead people to Christ.

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By Tyler Johnson 

Walnut Creek South 

Party in the Parking Lot Welcomes Windsor Heights Community

Following the Sunday services at Walnut Creek Windsor Heights, Party in the Parking Lot kicked off outside.

Walnut Creek Church Windsor Heights hosted Party in the Parking Lot on Sunday to celebrate the beginning of fall and the new series, "Revealed: The Image of the Invisible God," through the book of Colossians. Sunday morning marked the first message in the new 17-week series.

Over 200 people enjoyed the sunny afternoon of free food, games, inflatables, and kids activities. Windsor Heights members were able to meet and welcome many new couples and families. Earlier in the week, Community Groups passed out hundreds of fliers in the surrounding neighborhoods to invite people to the event and church.

"Party in the Parking Lot is a positive way to open up to the community. The event gave people a chance to have a good time, see the body of our church at work, and hopefully meet people and have good conversations," said Lauren Jacobs of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights. "I think it went well, and I know God will use it!"

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By Jackie Wallentin

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights

Movies in the Village Offers a Fun Evening for All Ages

Following dinner and games, families settle in to enjoy the double-feature.

Friday evening’s cool 50-degree weather didn't keep people away from Movies in the Village, an outdoor movie night at Walnut Creek Downtown double-featuring The Lego Movie and Remember the Titans.

The evening also offered a free dinner, popcorn, cotton candy, and activities for kids – including a bounce house. At dusk, as The Lego Movie appeared on the big screen attached to the church building, families cozied up next to heaters and under blankets to enjoy the show. Following The Lego Movie, late-nighters had the opportunity to stay for Remember the Titans.

“It’s a great way to get the community involved,” said Mackenzie Burke of Walnut Creek Downtown. “I enjoy seeing friends and meeting new people. It’s a fun way to spend a Friday night.”

Allie Crummy, also of Walnut Creek Downtown, added, “It’s nice way for all the services from Saturday night and Sunday morning to do something together.”

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By Tim Laehn 

Walnut Creek Downtown

"Revealed: Image of the Invisible God" Message Series Begins this Weekend

A new message series – “Revealed: The Image of the Invisible God” – begins at Walnut Creek’s Downtown, South, and Windsor Heights congregations this weekend. The 17-week series through the book of Colossians will continue through the beginning of January.

One of the series’ primary passages is Colossians 1:15-20, which describes the authority of Jesus and how He is the image of the invisible God. Over the course of the next 17 weeks, we will take an in-depth look at who Jesus is and how He can and will transform our lives. Free study guides for the series will be available at these locations within the next few weeks. You can also follow the message series through our mobile app or online.

Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
For everything was created by Him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through  Him and for Him.

He is before all things,
and by Him all things hold together.
He is also the head of the body, the church;
He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that He might come to have
first place in everything.

For God was pleased to have
all His fullness dwell in Him,
and through Him to reconcile
everything to Himself
by making peace
through the blood of His cross—
whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Over $76,000 Raised for Adoption Through Mustaches That Matter

The Ekwall family of Walnut Creek Johnston spent five weeks in Columbia this summer. Mustaches That Matter helped the Ekwalls adopt Jose (13) and Maria (11) from Columbia and bring them home to Iowa. 

Mustaches That Matter launched July 25, and within the first week, we met our goal of raising $25,000. In one month Mustaches That Matter raised $76,300, which will help families in the adoption process bring children home.

Throughout the campaign, 206 men participated by growing their own mustaches. The men passed out business cards and engaged in conversations throughout the month to ask family, friends, and coworkers to financially sponsor their mustaches. Although the mustache contest ended August 25..

Mustaches That Matter leverages the power of mustaches to help families in the adoption process cross their financial finish line, whether adopting internationally, domestically, or through the foster care system. All the funds raised go into our adoption assistance fund to help multiple families, like the Ekwalls, each year.

Mustaches That Matter also received media attention and was featured on both WHO TV Channel 13 News and Great Day on KCWI 23, raising further awareness about adoption.

The 2014 Mustache That Matters Award recipients will be displayed at the Walnut Creek Downtown and Windsor Heights locations. Jordan Harlow won the Most Valuable Mustache award for raising $4,050. The Most Macho Mustache Award was given to Kyle Kurtenbach who earned 2,402 votes. Lucas Vander Weerdt won the Most Magnificent Mustache Award with 164 votes, and the Most Meager Mustache Award was earned by Alex Crittenden with 1,707 votes.

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By Jackie Wallentin

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights

Competition Heats Up on the Court

The Jordan Park Volleyball season brought hundreds of people to Jordan Park Camp each week.

The highly anticipated final Jordan Park Volleyball tournament brought players and spectators to the camp for fierce competition and the annual hog roast on Friday evening.

A total of 92 teams participated in this year’s season, which ran from June 2 to August 8.

"It's extremely encouraging to see teams made up of Community Groups, coworkers, old friends, and new acquaintances build one another up and get to know each other better through the league both on and off the courts," said Amelia Gibson of the Jordan Park Volleyball staff.

Along with Gibson, other Jordan Park Volleyball staff members include Kaden Bronzynski, Adam Nordaker, and Josh Smith.

Congratulations to the champion teams in each league:

• Division A sixes: Orville Ready Blockers (Marc Vander Velden, David Venass, Jason Eisenga, Kate Kostek, Jamie Ziegler, Ashley Roney)
• Division B sixes: Digs for Days (Jake Thompson, Liz Miller, Emily Albrecht, Josh Novey, Cheyenne Proudfoot, Caitlin Proudfoot, Niren Shrestha) 
• Division C sixes: Southies (Jon Schreiner, Jenny Schreiner, Molly Deutmeyer, Alicia Grandstaff, Hollie Butler, Nate Firkins, Jason Ostergaard) 
• Competitive fours: Checks and Balances (Josh Smith, Greg Altmaier, Beth Discher, Mollie Coffman)

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By Jackie Wallentin

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights

Central City Soccer League Celebrates 10th Season

Central City Soccer players and coaches celebrated another successful season at the awards ceremony. The Evelyn Davis League hosted their ceremony on July 27 and the Lovejoy League on August 3. 

College students volunteered as coaches this summer as part of Epicenter summer leadership training.

450 kids. 42 teams. 10 weeks of soccer. Over 90 coaches put in hundreds of hours of volunteer time this summer to organize, schedule, and run the Central City Soccer League.

Both the Evelyn Davis League and the Lovejoy League hosted Central City Soccer awards ceremonies to celebrate the hard work and progress of both the players and coaches. The Evelyn Davis League hosted on July 27 at Walnut Creek Windsor Heights, and the Lovejoy League celebrated on August 3 at Walnut Creek South.

Each player was recognized on stage and received a certificate for their participation in the league. Coaches also prepared a meal for the players and their families as well as fun games to entertain everyone throughout the evening.

"What I know is that a lot of seeds have been planted, and I’m not quite sure how God will use them or grow them, but my prayer is that people will really dwell on the Gospel and think about God," said Tiffany McCarthy of the Central City Soccer staff.

This summer marked the 10th season of Central City Soccer, a league that both promotes character and personal success in every child while sharing about the love of Christ. For the first time, Central City added a second summer league at Lovejoy Elementary on the Southside of Des Moines to allow even more kids to play soccer.

"One thing that really encourages me is to see the same families come back year after year. It makes me think that we are doing something right. God is really using this league to get the Gospel out to families," said McCarthy.

Walnut Creek will host its second fall Central City Soccer League from September 2 through October 18. Registration for the league costs $35 and is open for children ages 5 through 12. Visit www.centralcitysoccer.org/towerpark for more information.

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By Jackie Wallentin

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights