November/December 2024
Extended Cut
WELCOME TO THE HAPPENINGS!
You may notice that The Happenings looks a little different. Beginning with this issue, we’re introducing a new approach that we think (and hope) you’ll enjoy as we share the why alongside what we do at Geist Christian Church.
With each issue, we’ll highlight recent ministries and look ahead to upcoming events, aiming to show why it’s important to connect with God, each other, and the mission and ministry here at Geist Christian Church. We hope you will see your faith journey as part of this community’s larger story. The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth” (Isaiah 43:19a).
Embracing that spirit, we hope to create new ways to grow in faith, strengthen connections, and serve those around us. We’re excited about the ways the spirit of newness and curiosity is moving within this community, and we hope you will join as we weave together our collective stories to build up the kingdom of God.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
DONUTS WITH SANTA
• Saturday, December 7, 9-10:30 am
• Promise Road Campus
Kids of all ages are invited to bring their parents, grandparents, and others for crafts, games, donuts, and the opportunity to see Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas. All are welcome.
GCC KIDS—SUNDAYS
GCC Kids Mud Creek Campus
Sunday School at 9 am and 10:30 am for ages 6 weeks to 3 years old.
GCC Kids Promise Road Campus
Sunday School at 10 am and 11:15 am for ages 4-4th grade in Room 110. Childcare for 6 weeks through 4 years old.
RETREATS
This fall, our men’s, women’s, and youth retreats provided sacred spaces for rest, reflection, and recalibration. These retreats invited participants to step back from daily demands, creating opportunities to connect more deeply with each other, our community, and God. Through shared experiences, creative activities, and unhurried time together, attendees found renewal and recharged for the work God calls us to do.
Men’s Retreat: September 7-8
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).
The GCC men’s retreat invited men of all ages and walks of life to come together to explore the connections between scripture and their everyday lives. It was an opportunity for fellowship and genuine reflection.
Women’s Ministry Retreat: September 28, 2024
In the fall of 2022, our Elder Board chair challenged our focus groups to brainstorm on ways to engage and grow our current ministries. The “Welcoming & Connecting” focus group began to explore how to provide experiences that can foster spiritual growth while also compelling new and existing members to plug into our community.
It was a vision of our ladies in this group to have a women’s retreat. We visualized a joint event where Mud Creek and Promise Road ladies, their guests, and women of the community could worship and be connected to each other in an event that would build on community in an annual event. We saw a large gathering and space yet still wanted the intimacy of a smaller scale in forming a retreat that placed all our women at a table of ten.
Our goal of our first annual Women’s Ministry retreat in 2023 was to provide a loving environment where women could be celebrated and experience a free day together to worship, sing, bond, and learn more about their faith journey. We chose the theme “Free to be Me,” which focused on the overarching theme of removing the masks we wear, looking within ourselves, and seeing what God sees (Galatians 2:20-21).
Our speaker reminded us we were never meant to wear a mask; we were born being enough. We looked inward, and each woman was given a hand mirror on their table to look at for 10 seconds of silence.God sees us a His precious daughter. In continuing self-reflection of our theme, we had two other activities where we allowed individual self-reflection including one where we wrote on a rock what was heavy on our hearts and brought them forward and placed them at the foot of the cross.
The first step is always the hardest. It took “a leap of faith and actions”; an outpouring of support from our pastors, staff, the men of The Bridge, the Elder Board, and General Board; and volunteer support from the women of GCC. God has made this event possible, and to honor Him, we will see you in Fall of 2025!
Youth Retreat: November 15-17
Retreats are more than just vacations and are vital to our lives. Retreats provide time for rest, reflection, and recalibrating. Our GCC Youth go on a retreat of their own every fall with our friends at Allisonville Christian Church. This retreat allows our youth a time to rest, fun with new and old friends, and time to explore spiritual practices. This time is so important for our kids as they become busier and busier. Learning how to take time to rest, stay connected, make meaningful friendships, and continue to build their faith is vital for them now and in the future. Our prayer is that these retreats and the things that we do there will help prepare our youth for the balance needed throughout their lives and prevent burnout as they practice the rhythms of caring for themselves well.
TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL 2024
The Trick-or-Treat Trail is our annual October event that welcomes church, Weekday Ministries, and the community to the Promise Road Campus. This year’s event was attended by close to 1,000 people, with lots of great costumes. There were definitely more treats to be had by all than tricks, including a visit from Santa Claus at the end of the trail. Thank you to all who provided the treats, dressed up, decorated, and worked at the trail.
Check out these amazing pictures from our 2024 event!
VETERANS DAY DINNER
Every person has a unique story. At this year’s Veterans Day Dinner, guest speaker Chaplain Owen Chandler spoke about the transformative power of presence. In both the church and the military, he encounters many who feel adrift, struggling through life’s storms, and seeking a community to ground them. Drawing on the story of Jesus calming the storm, he challenged those gathered to actively care for one another—to stand together in the boat and remind each other that no one has to face life’s challenges alone. Pam Huebschman was one among many in attendance touched by Chandler’s message: “Chaplain Chandler emphasized the importance of honoring not only veterans of war but all who serve in uniform—they need our support too.”
THE TRUE REASON FOR THE SEASON: ADVENT @ GCC
Are you ready? You may be asked that question a number of times in this season.
Christmas is right around the corner. Or so it feels like it. It seems like we are supposed to be getting ready for Christmas earlier and earlier each year. The pressure to decorate, buy presents, and schedule holiday parties starts earlier each year. So much so, that many are so tired of Christmas by the time it rolls around, they miss the true gift of the season. The good news is that the church has an antidote to this, a way to purposefully prepare for the arrival of a savior.
The season of Advent begins on December 1 and is a season of preparation for the birth of Christ on Christmas. It is the beginning of the church year. During this season we are going to explore words and stories from scripture that prepare us to receive the birth of Christ—words that usher in new ways of living and loving. No matter where you find yourself on life’s journey, the hope is that this season will be like entering a sacred new chapter of life that will empower you for the journey ahead. May these words for the beginning renew us and remind us of the powerful gift of faith that the season brings to all.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: SAM COPELAND
Q: What is the last thing you read or your latest TV show binge?
A: Abbott Elementary on Hulu
Q: What is your favorite holiday?
A: Thanksgiving! I love gathering all the people I love around one big table with lots of good food. Bonus, knowing that Christmas is still to come!
Q: What is one thing that instantly makes your day better?
A: Coffee! That or a FaceTime with my niece, Lilah!
Q: What is one of your favorite memories at Geist Christian Church?
A: There are so many good memories to choose from! A real highlight has been going on mission trips with our youth every summer. This past summer, our high school youth went to Guatemala, and the entire trip was amazing! One of my favorite memories was the last night we were there and we all did karaoke together with our mission partners, Porch de Salomon. About halfway through we realized the local gelato place was about to close and we (I) really wanted one more gelato before we left the next morning. So we paused karaoke to all run through the rain down the street with 10 minutes left to close to order our gelato! We made it in time then walked back, still in the rain, and spent the rest of the night eating gelato, singing, and laughing together!
Fast Facts:
TV shows or movies? Movies
Ice cream or cake? Cake
Early bird or night owl? Night Owl
Indoor or outdoor? Patio
Burger or hot dog? Burger
NRSV or CEB? CEB
Beach or mountains? A beach in the mountains
Road trip or airplane? Airplane
Name: Samantha Copeland (You can call me Sam.)
Position: Associate Minister for Youth & Young Adults
Campus: Both!
Personal Life: My dog, Mocha, and I live in the beautiful neighborhood of Broad Ripple. My parents, two sisters, brother-in-law, and niece are all back in my home state of Texas!
Q: What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
A.: Step one: Sleep in! Then it is a must to venture to a local coffee shop because I can’t get through the day without coffee. From there, I like to take a walk with my pup, Mocha, on a nice day. I love an afternoon at the art museum, stopping by some vintage shops and thrift stores, then wrapping up the day with dinner and drinks on a patio with friends either downtown or in Broad Ripple.
FAITH FOUNDATIONS CAMPAIGN UPDATE
As we near the final months of 2024, Geist Christian Church is a dynamic, multi-campus congregation serving the Northeast Indianapolis and Fishers communities. We have a heart for God and a heart for people.
This is visible through our worship, service, study, fellowship, and the fun we have together. We continue to open our doors wide to those seeking to discover faith at Geist Christian Church.
Thank you to everyone who has made a pledge to our Faith Foundations 2025 general budget campaign. Your gifts empower us all to do great things together. If you have not yet made a pledge and would like to, go to geistchristian.org or pick up a pledge card at either campus.
