MARCH 2024

NOTE FROM MARK
What an amazing month it has been as we have seen God at work in so many ways. We have continued to see Neighborhood Groups meeting and developing friendships, praying together, studying God’s word and being launched on mission. We had a great time with our international workers from the Middle East and finished the month with Good Friday, Spring Carnival and Easter Sunday. In all of this, there was a sense of God at work in and through the people and ministries of Neighborhood Church. We are so grateful for the investment of so many people who are investing in Neighborhood Church. Please continue to pray for the church as we seek God and his purposes for both now and the future.

MINISTRIES

NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS
Leader: Karin Sauder, [email protected]
A safe place for children to meet Jesus, know Jesus & learn to share Jesus.

We had an incredibly busy and fun month in Neighborhood Kids! First, we had our Global Encounters weekend, with the Feast of Nations, Kids Missions Program, and International Parade. Then came our Palm Sunday Palms parade. On March 30, we hosted our annual Spring Carnival and saw nearly 1,100 people come through! About 50 volunteers were on hand that day, and every one of them contributed to the success of our community outreach. We are very grateful for them. And to cap it off, we had our Easter parade at the 10:30am Easter service. Some special events were the dedication of Elijah Lee Allen (congrats to mom and dad, Tim and Linnea!), and watching a video of Zoe Drumm as she shared with the church how she shows and shares Jesus at school by inviting kids to church and other church related events. We learned a special Easter curriculum this month as well. We are looking forward to warmer weather and fun things to come!


NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH
Leader: Tim Allen, [email protected]
A place for teens to meet Jesus, know Jesus & be encouraged to share Jesus.

Neighborhood Youth have continued their RightNow Media study of James led by Francis Chan. It has been both an encouraging and challenging study as the group meet and know Jesus. The teens and leaders also helped with the preparations for the Spring Carnival one week by blowing up balloons for the egg hunt and passing out Easter door hangers in the neighborhood! 


WORSHIP & PRODUCTION TEAM
Leader: Mel Neely, [email protected]
We are a diverse community of followers of Jesus Christ, empowered by His Spirit with one heart and one mind to invite and lead in declaring His worth.

The Neighborhood Church Worship & Production team continues to lift high the name of Jesus through our in person and online services. This month Mel Neely and Adaora led worship during our Sunday services along with our dedicated team of instrumentalists and vocalists. We introduced the new to Neighborhood Church song, “Praise” based on Psalm 150:
https://youtu.be/f2oxGYpuLkw?si=tNih5gZyt_EDOFHm

On Thursday evenings the team engaged with devotionals encouraging each other to look full on the wonderful face of Jesus . These times were led by Mel and Eric. On Maundy Thursday the team shared a time of foot washing and observed communion. We shared praises and prayer requests, praying for each other and over Neighborhood Church.

Thank you to all the Worship & Production team members for serving at our Good Friday Service, the Spring Carnival and on Resurrection Sunday!

Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD ! Praise the LORD !
Psalm 150: 4-6

We are thankful to have a truly multigenerational team with middle school, high school and adult volunteers working together to make our Sunday services in person and online possible. Thank you to Bryan Patton for overseeing sound, to Jeff Geraci for overseeing Presentation and to Solomon Jack for leading the Live Stream team.

The Production Team met on Sunday, March 24 to have lunch together, give updates and engage in training.

BECAUSE of God’s faithfulness, our Worship & Production Team is living on mission as a multi-ethnic, multigenerational team being transformed by Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit and inviting the Neighborhood Church family to be launched on mission with them!


NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS
Leader: Pam Homan, Matt Sale & Mark Trinkl, [email protected]
A place for making friends, inviting God's transformation through Scripture and prayer, and being launched on mission together.  

Neighborhood Groups continue to be the primary way that we "live life together" at Neighborhood Church. Our winter semester of small groups have mostly wrapped up. Each winter group is planning to serve together once at the Farmers Market during this current season. A post group survey showed that 92% of responding participants took at least one step forward toward transformation while 96% of survey respondents made a new friend or deepened a friendship through their Neighborhood Group. These results confirm that Neighborhood Groups are the primary avenue for us to live on mission together and minister to one another through prayer and support.  One respondent stated: "I feel very supported and knowing that people are praying for me gives me hope". In the coming weeks, we will be announcing a new way to live on mission together through a new layer of discipleship, called Neighborhood Triads, which will help those who participate go deeper in relationship with God and two other people.


GREEN HOUSE CHURCH PLANT RESIDENT
Devin Calhoun, [email protected]
Neighborhood Church Vision: Launch Multiple Gatherings in Multiple Locations (Acts 2:42-47)

In March, I had the opportunity to attend two different conferences focused on Church Planting. The first was down in Orlando where I spent time with other Mid-Atlantic C&MA church planters. It was a great time of talking, sharing and praying with other church planters in the area. The second was down in Washington D.C. that I attended with Mark Brumlee, the District Church Planting Director. Both events were incredibly informative and equipped with lots of information for the future. 

We as a church also started preparing for the 7th year of the Derwood Farmer’s Market that will begin April 6th. Asking for your prayers that this year will continue the success that has come before it and that the Farmer’s Market can continue to show the love of Christ right in our very own neighborhood.


MISSIONS TEAM
Leader: Mark Trinkl, [email protected]
To see the people of Neighborhood Church launched on mission to share and show Jesus from our neighbors to the nations. (Acts 1:8)

At the beginning of March we welcomed one of our families who works in a middle eastern context to the church. We heard how God is at work in many ways and excited to support their ministry. We continue to encourage the church to be launched on mission from our neighbors to the nations.  Find out more information at https://www.neighborhoodc.org/missions.html


WELCOME TEAM
Leader:  Contact Rose Ojwiga, [email protected]
We will be a community that is authentic, transparent & creates space for real relationships (Acts 2:42)

Amazing work of God to see His grace and mercy working. He has brought and kept visitors and members of Neighborhood Church pass through the welcome center every Sunday. Glory to God

LEADERSHIP

STAFF
Mark Trinkl, Tim Allen, Linnea Allen, Melanie Neely, Karin Sauder,  Devin Calhoun, & Dana Zetterberg
Leader: Mark Trinkl, [email protected]
The staff manages Neighborhood Church’s ministry teams. 

The staff did an amazing job of going above and beyond in so many ways in the month of March. If you have a moment, thank them for their hard work over the last month. We also continue to work on a third part of a discipleship pathway. The first part is our Sunday services, second is Neighborhood Groups and third will be Neighborhood Triads. Triads are a place for a deeper relationship with God and two other people as we are apprenticed in the way of Jesus. Look for more information about Triads over the next few months.


ELDERS
Mark Trinkl, Steve Beardsley, Mark Neely, Solomon Jack, Eric Peacock, Jeff Geraci, Tedd Mueller, Eric Zetterberg
Leader: Mark Trinkl, [email protected]
The Elders shepherd and give spiritual oversight to Neighborhood Church.

The elders continue to meet on a monthly basis for prayer and spiritual care of people within the congregation. We are so grateful to be able to shepherd this congregation. We also would like to welcome Ted and Eric onto the Elder Board.  If there is anything you ever need prayer for, please let us know. We are here to support you. 


BOARD OF GOVERNANCE
Mark Trinkl (Chair),Steve Beardsley (Vice Chair), Matt Sale (Treasurer), Sarah Luse (Secretary), Angela Drumm, Eric Peacock, and Ted Mueller.
The Board of Governance (BOG) sets boundaries for the Pastor.

The Board met on  March 11th for their quarterly meeting. The focus of the meeting was connecting with people as we reviewed the history and demographics of the area. We are praying for God to lead us as we consider where he would have us plant another location of Neighborhood Church. The Board also approved funds for the replacement of flooring in the foyer, cafe, prayer room and youth room. The next board meeting is scheduled for September 9th where the performance review of the Pastor Mark begins.

UPCOMING DATES

April 6-October 5: Derwood Farmers Market
April 19-21: District Youth Retreat
April 21: Baptism Sunday
April 30: Evening of Worship & Prayer with Neighborhood Youth
May 10: Parents Night Out