Hola Mosaic peoples….

Hopefully you are staying warm, I had to root in my garage for the space heaters. I am glad I do not live in the snow zone. I can barely handle 40’s these days, and i grew up in Michigan if you can believe that.

Serve Miami

Which is the justice arm of Mosaic is going to serve at habitat for humanity tentatively dated February 7 7:30-3:30 with food provided by Lost and Found cafe (http://www.thelostandfoundsaloon-miami.com) for more information

Contact Julie: irvin uvita2007@gmail.com .

Grow

Mosaic is starting a series of short studies we are calling grow. we are looking for interest. The day and time will be the end of february or the beginning of march. They will be six week studies. The first one is Finding your purpose. The topics will be

• priorities
• how to receive from God
• forgiveness
• light and darkness
• value of humility
• service

Mark Wright who many of you know will be leading the conversation. He is an excellent bible teacher and very wise. If you are interested please sign up at the mosaic info table or email mosaicmiami@gmail.com

ipray

We have a prayer team available on sudays at mosaic just look for anyone wearing the ipray badge they will pray with you and for you. Also you can fill out the info card and drop it in any offering box and it will be sent out to mosaics prayer team. Encourage you to link up with prayer.

Phil 4:6
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language.)

Haiti water project

We have raised 1,300 dollars so far our goal is 1,600 you are a generous and passionate community. We without a doubt will make the target. This will enable us to repair 1 well and build another….that’s awesome. I applaud you, heaven applauds you….

Acts 10:4
The angel said, “Your prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God’s attention.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language)

Hey if you haven’t gotten in on the movement there is still time.

Sunday

We will be rolling out two more weeks on wisdom…and hey guess what… we got a 10 disk burner for the cds….yea… that means we can produce 10 disks in 3.5 minutes instead of 3 yea….our goal is to bundle the series and make the whole thing available.

February

We will be doing a 3 part series dating, marriage, and sex….just in time for valentines day….great time to invite someone.

Martin Luther King Jr. said “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.“  Join with thousands of Americans across the country as they commemorate Martin Luther King’s vision and dream by serving their communities.

This Saturday, January 17th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, we will be participating in a service project at Olinda Elementary School in Liberty City.  Liberty City is a predominantly African American community of Miami with a history of oppression and poverty.  As we show love to the people in that community, we move toward the healing of deep seated wounds and the reconciliation of a very divided city.  Show that love by fixing up the school these children have to be in every single day.  We will help paint murals and landscape the school.

As an additional perk, all participants will receive a delicious free meal from the Lost and Found Saloon.

If you are interested in joining, please email Julie at uvita2007@gmail.com by WEDNESDAY.

Do you know a bright college student that needs an internship?
(They could be a recent college graduate with student loans or someone who started college but needs funds to finish.)

Do they live at home in Miami and have transportation?
Are they interested in working with a Miami faith-based organization?
Would they like to build some great resume skills?

FCFC has a position open for a paid year of ministry service which could help someone who fits the description above earn a substantial college scholarship ($4,500) as well as stipend to cover modest living expenses. The position is for a Volunteer Coordinator which would connect Christian individuals to volunteer opportunities in a wide range of ministry organizations throughout South Florida.

Application deadline: December 22, 2008
Start date: end of January 2009
For more information: Rick Sawyer, (786) 388-3000 or info@fcfcfl.org

[ Click to download Job Description ]

Curt is leading a mission trip to Haiti.

Haiti Mission Trip
When: March 22-29

The Haiti Water Project is looking for a few creative types who want to use their creativity to help bring clean water to people in Haiti.

Here’s the deal: Come to Haiti March 22-29, 2009. We want 10 or so creative, motivated, hard-working souls to enter into this reality with us. Come and understand. Come and tell the story. Come and be an advocate.

We’re interested in people who are unswerving in their passion for any or all of these areas: photography, videography/film production, writing, visual arts, music, awareness-raising, grant writing, etc. If you have a gift, we can find a way for you to serve.

The goal is to use the time together in Haiti to come up with creative new ways to tell the story of the place and people of Haiti. We want to present Haiti as a place full of beautiful people and possibility, a place of hope, a place where people strive not only to survive but to live with dignity. We want the week together to produce something concrete to help tell some of Haiti’s story and to raise awareness for the need for clean water. We want to bring you together here to get people where you live moving to help meet the needs of our neighbors.

A few of these spots are already filled. Please email us at hwp@caribnaz.org if you are also interested and available. Please include what you hope to contribute to this fury of goodwill and generosity.

Cost and other logistics are available after initial contact.

Christmas Caroling

Shari is looking for some people to go out and christmas carol on friday to do a little fa la la la la in the neighborhood. if you are interested contact via email sharicharles@hotmail.com

Come out and carol with us…simple songs to bless others….all you need is a willing heart….shari says she will sing the loudest….:) rsvp sharicharles@hotmail.com

Prayer

Prayer on sunday night for those interested Jeremiah Model is organizing it. Contact him at (305) 778-9172.

Advent: JOY

This sunday we are still tracking Advent “appearing” it is a time to pause and refelct on Jesus coming and what it means. The rhythm this week is JOY. Here is a challenge who can you intentionally show joy towards? for the real radicals how about finding an enemy….someone who grates you a little and show some joy to that person….

I don’t know about you but if you haven’t been to the advent services they have been super cool…very special…good job on that ladies… and all who participate.

Here are a few advent ideas to engage you and your circle. It’s all about spending less, giving more, being intentional with friends family and aquaintences…here are a few relational/celebrational ideas to communicate the joy of Jesus with your heart and others.

• decorate
• bake cookies… give some away as a gift….(see joy above)
• organize invite friends to a holiday movie night
• have a game night…yahtzee is cool…
• slow down take some quiet time… listen to worship/holiday music
• make wassel…german apple cider…heres a recipe
• read the christmas story matt 1-4 or luke 1/2
• take a christmas photo
• join shari caroling on friday night
• hand out some mosaic christmas cards….
• volunteer with tml

It is so easy to engage others with the love of Christ and the gospel…. anyone can do it…christmas is the perfect time to do it.

Come out and enjoy live entertainment, food, games, arts & craft, legacy exhibits and a visit from Santa as Miami celebrates the revitalization of Historic Overtown this Holiday Season.

Enjoy Live Performances By:
Angie Stone, Gerald Austin from the Manhattans, The Miami Junkanoo Band, and many more.

Saturday, December 6, 2008
From 11 am till 7 pm
NW 3rd avenue (between 10th and 12th streets)

Kuyayky and friends are hosting their annual benefit concert this Saturday.  There will be dancers, colorful costumes, traditional food, and lots of music.  There’s no cost to attend, but all donations go towards Christmas food baskets and musical instruments to impoverished families in the Andes. The event is outdoors, so come prepared for whatever the weather is!  Hope to see you!

Saturday December 6, 2006
@ 6 p.m.
560 NE 129th street, Miami, FL

www.kuyayky.com

Just in case you’ve missed our schpeels on ADVENT here is some useful information:

• Advent is a part of the churches liturgical calendar and dates back centuries ago.
• It is a time of preparation for Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
• It is supposed to resemble the hope and expectancy that the OT Jews felt during the time they waited for the messiah.
• And it is supposed to parallel the way the church is in hope and expectancy for the second coming.

During this holy season we, as Mosaic, will join with the rest of the body of Christ throughout the world in reading the same scriptures, singing similar songs, and promoting the peace and justice of God’s Kingdom.

So here are some ways you can participate:

• Lead Mosaic in a prayer or verse
  • Reading Advent versus during worship time: Please email me and let me know if you can commit to reading 2 verses on a Sunday. We need at least TWO persons to commit to this each week of Advent.
  • Light a candle in the Advent wreath and lead Mosaic in a prayer. We need at least ONE PERSON to commit to this each week of Advent.

• Servanthood
  • Serving Locally- Check out the post on Mosaic Miami to find out info on serving Touching Miami with Love.
  • Serving Globally- More information will be posted on the site and talked about on Sunday about serving the Haiti Water Project.

Please email me with the Sunday that you’re available and what you’re interested in doing. Thanks for being an active participant in worshiping as a community.

Peace + Justice,

Leslie

“It’s about listening and responding. God speaks the divine word of love and mercy; we respond in gratitude and praise.” — Waiting in Joyful Hope (Daily reflection books)

Are you looking for a way to serve your community this Holiday season? Touching Miami with love is inviting Mosaic to participate in a few events:

TML’s Youth party: December 18th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
TML’s Children’s party: December 19th from 3:00pm to 5:30pm

You can help TML by donating the following for each Christmas party:

FOOD

Vegetables or fruit (Suggestion: carrot sticks, grapes)
Main dish (Suggestion: spaghetti)
Dessert (Suggestion: cookies, cupcakes, pie, cake, whatever)

Ingredients for the Sugar Cookies Project: TML facilitates a project where their kids decorate sugar cookies during their Christmas party on the 19th. They need the following: Sugar cookies, Icing, Sprinkles.

GIFTS

30 small dollar-store gifts to give to the children (no more than $5/ea.)
19 girl gifts (Suggestions: accessories like plastic necklaces, bracelets, and hairbows)
11 boy gifts (Suggestions: sets of matchbox cars for the boys)

Year-round, you are invited to come volunteer in our after school programs that are held Monday thru Friday from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.

TML’s primary focus is in the southwest quadrant of Overtown and Downtown Miami. Downtown Miami and Overtown is a small inner-city community of 12,000 people in the midst of metropolitan Miami-Dade (2.3 million). This area is the poorest community in the State of Florida. The community is plagued with many consequences of poverty including high crime, drug trafficking and use, high teenage pregnancy rate, single parent families, substandard housing, failed education and lack of quality activities.

Please consider serving the youth and children of Overtown this Holiday. If you’re interested in connecting please contact Christy Craddock at (305) 416-0435, ext 202 or christy@touchingmiamiwithlove.org

www.touchingmiamiwithlove.org

The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.

And when it’s all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?
In December, we will be taking time to truelly reflect on the meaning of Christmas.

[Worship Fully]
It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. This is the holistic approach God had in mind for Christmas. It’s a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It’s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated with each breath. It’s the party of the year. Entering the story of advent means entering this season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.

[Spend Less]
We like gifts. Our kids really like gifts. But consider this: America spends an average of $450 billion a year every Christmas. How often have you spent money on Christmas presents for no other reason than obligation? How many times have you received a gift out of that same obligation? Thanks, but no thanks, right? We’re asking people to consider buying ONE LESS GIFT this Christmas. Just one. Sounds insignificant, yet many who have taken this small sacrifice have experienced something nothing less than a miracle: They have been more available to celebrate Christ during the advent season.

[Give More]
God’s gift to us was a relationship built on love. So it’s no wonder why we’re drawn to the idea that Christmas should be a time to love our friends and family in the most memorable ways possible. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us, and no matter how hard we look, it can’t be found at the mall. Time to make a gift that turns into the next family heirloom. Time to write mom a letter. Time to take the kids sledding. Time to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Time to make love visible through relational giving.

[Love All]
When Jesus loved, He loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick. He played to the margins. By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join Him in giving resources to those who need help the most.

For more ideas, visit: www.adventconspiracy.org