Category Archives: Archive

Christmas Shoe Boxes – Nov 23rd

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ERCC is participating in “Operation Christmas Child” which is sponsored by the international relief fund Samaritan’s Purse.   Delivery to the local drop off point is Nov 24th, so we need your shoe boxes, wrapped and filled with toys by Sunday, November 23rd.  If you have any questions, contact Wendy Gideon (email her HERE).  Merry Christmas!

How to Pack a Shoebox

  1. Shoebox

    Use an empty cardboard or plastic shoebox (average size). You can wrap the box, lid separately, but wrapping is not required.

  2. Boy or Girl

    Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Download and print the appropriate boy/girl label. Mark the correct age category and tape the label to the top of your box.

  3. Fill With Gifts

    Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child (see Gift Suggestions).

  4. Include $7 Donation Per Box

    Help cover shipping and other costs related to delivering your shoeboxes to children overseas by donating $7 for each gift you prepare. You can give online to discover the destination of your box. Or, you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on the memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the items inside your shoebox. If you are preparing multiple gifts, please make one combined donation. Note: “Follow Your Box” is only available through online giving.

  5. Pray

    Ask God to use your gifts to show His love to the child who will receive your shoebox.

  6. Drop Off

    Place a rubber band around each closed shoebox and bring it to ERCC.

 

Gift Suggestions

  • Toys: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as dolls, toy cars, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up and make noise (with extra batteries), etc.
  • School Supplies: pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
  • Non-Liquid Hygiene Items: toothbrushes, bar soap, combs, washcloths, etc.
  • Accessories: t-shirts, socks, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries), etc.
  • A Personal Note: You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. If you include your name and address, the child may be able to write back.
  • Do Not Include: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.

Religious Origins of the Middle East Conflict – Dec 7th

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Plan to attend a special event at ERCC on December 7th. We are having Bill Clark Sr. bring his presentation “The Religious Origins of the Middle East Conflict” to the ERCC Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m.

Bill has been hired by the Federal Government to explain the foundational issues at work in all the conflicts in the Middle East to soldiers who were departing for the Middle East. There is not another presentation like this one and you will really be glad you attended because it will help your understanding about why the Middle East is in such turmoil and how it affects us.

Invite everyone you know to attend this hour and a half session.

Christmas Caroling – Dec 17th

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Join us on December 17th at 6:45 pm for some Christmas Caroling!  We’ll car pool to the homes of some folks who aren’t able to get out much and bring some Christmas spirit to them befor returning to the church for some refreshments.

Home Comforts Is Underway

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As of September 1st Home Comforts was up and running from ERCC. Under Pat Thompson’s  guidance Home Comforts delivers house hold items to mentally ill adults that have just been placed in independent living. Home Comforts fills the need they have for bath, kitchen and bedroom items, otherwise they can spend up to a month in an apartment without cleaning supplies, sheets, pillows, dishes, silverware, towels, soap, etc. The client’s Case Worker fills out a form, sends it to Pat Thompson and she or helpers fill the order and put out a call for someone to deliver the order.

Home Comforts is a way to help those who cannot help themselves.

Will you consider helping with this wonderful ministry? In addition to the donation of items, we need delivery drivers (which is really very easy) and other helpers.  Use the form below or call Pat Thompson at 517-3464 to volunteer.

[Form id=”12″]

Is The Bible Reliable?

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A 10 week series on the subject of Bible reliability began on Sunday, September 7th, but it’s not too late to start coming on Sunday evenings.  Each individual episode of the series is worth seeing.

“Is the Bible Reliable? Building the Historical Case (TrueU)
Who is God, and how can we know Him? The Bible claims to be the direct revelation of our Creator. So if the biblical record is true, it is a primary means by which the God of the universe has revealed Himself to mankind. However, if it can be proved false, then the God of whom it speaks is simply one more pretender in the assembly of gods that man has created. 
In Is the Bible Reliable? Dr. Stephen Meyer challenges you to examine the historical and archaeological evidence to determine for yourself the veracity and accuracy of biblical Scripture. Is the Bible true? You decide. “

Light refreshments are served approximateluy 10 minutes before 6:00 pm, so come early and enjoy conversation with your ERCC family!

H.O.T.E.A. Banquet

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The Heart of Texas Evangelism Association (HOTEA) is having a banquet on Thursday, August 21st at 7:00 pm at the Golden Corral at 5071 NW Loop 410 Frontage Road (between Evers Road and Summit Parkway)

We Need Your Help To Guide Others in the Word of God!

The purpose of the banquet is to:

  • Report on new church plans by HOTEA and new training seminars by the Church Leadership Institute
  • Share our vision fo deepening the commitment of our churches to Christ and his Commission
  • Encourage participation in our new “Partnership for Evangelism Outreach”
  • Receive nominees for the new “HOTEA Council of Advisors”
  • Launch a new Prayer Focus for evangelizing south central Texas

Register with Chuck McNeely at 210-663-7956 or by emailing him at charlesmcneeley@bellsouth.net

Expanded Outreach Ministry

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Good News!  The Home Comforts board voted unanimously to move the Home Comforts distribution location to ERCC.  This is an excellent and worthwhile way of serving others. The people served by Home Comforts are mental ill adults who are referred to Home Comforts by a Case Worker who has filled out a request form on the behalf of the mentally ill person.

That request is sent to Home Comforts; the requested items are then gathered into an order and a volunteer picks up the items and the paperwork and delivers it all to the mentally ill person.

There is also the matter of receiving the items that are distributed.  They will be received here at ERCC, organized and stored.

Pat Thompson is going to be the head of this ministry and Bill Workman is her right hand man.  She will be the organizer of people and things and will receive the requests.  Pat will need many volunteers to handle this ministry. We already have five people who are ready willing and able to help but we need more.  Home Comforts is a great way to serve others and receive the blessings and satisfaction that come with selfless service. (We will need at least one back-up person who can do everything Pat will be doing.)

Here is the timeline for the Home Comforts distribution center moving to ERCC:

  1. Empty the room/rooms that we need here at ERCC to store and organized items July 1-July 15
  2. Install shelving – by July 28
  3. Begin storing ERCC’s In-Kind donations — August 7
  4. Transfer all items at current distribution center to ERCC — August 8-16
  5. Organize distribution center — August 17-30
  6. Begin distribution from ERCC –September 1

During this two month period volunteers will be recruited and trained.

Home Comforts meets a need that no one else in this area meets.  It provides the everyday items to mentally ill adults that are well enough to be moved into their own homes. The items Home Comforts provides are things for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom primarily — dishes, flatware, glasses, pots & pans, sheets, pillows, cleaning items, towels, soap of all kinds, etc. The clients of Home Comforts are usually moved into apartments that have furniture and nothing else — so Home Comforts steps in, only after a request by a Case Worker for the mentally ill person.

Join us in this great ministry to the truly needy and often desperate.

“VBS Trips”

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Dear Parents,

It is with great pleasure that I would like to announce our VBS plans for this summer. What we are doing this year is called “VBS Trips”. This will be a new program that will engage both kids and parents as we travel together to different activities this summer. These VBS trips will be held on Sunday afternoons and include lunch, a lesson/skit and a trip. Tentatively, the trips will be the SA Children’s Museum, the Zoo, and Morgan’s Wonderland. Since these trips demand constant supervision we require that each kid have at least one parent or guardian attend. Below are the FAQ to give you better understanding of what is going to happen

  • Who can come to the VBS Trips?

o VBS Trips is intended for pre K – 5th grade children with assistance from parents.

  • Are all children required to have a parent or guardian attend?

o Yes, parent/guardian involvement is required to attend VBS Trips. The reason is, we will be taking trips to very crowded places and would like as many adults to supervise as possible. Also it will be a lot of fun!

  • How much will it cost?

o The amazing news is VBS Trips will be FREE for all children that attend. We will also pay for one parent/guardian to attend as well. If both parents want to attend we ask for a small donation to offset the price of the second adult ticket price, one exception below.

  •  Can I invite the friends of my child?

o Absolutely, we highly encourage you to invite neighbors and family members. We believe this will be a great outreach program. If their parent cannot attend you are welcomed to be their guardian for the trip. If you bring a group of 4 or more we will pay for a second parent or guardian to come with you.

  • What are the dates?

o The planned dates are July 6th, July 20th, and Aug 10th.

  • What does the schedule look like?

o After Sunday service we will have a lunch followed by a lesson/skit that will explain the day’s theme. Then we will go on the trip and return before 6 pm Sunday night service.

  • Can I take my own car if I wish to stay longer?

o Yes, we will be taking the Church Van, if you wish to take your own car to leave earlier, or stay later, then you are more than welcomed to.

  • Where are we going?

o Unless something changes we are planned for the San Antonio children’s museum, the Zoo and Morgan’s Wonderland

  • This sounds great where do I sign up?

o We will have a sign-up sheet in the foyer. Although it’s not required, each child that signs up in advance will receive a special gift for the trip.

In Christ,
Cody Walton
Children’s Minister