Come As You Are...

As a new year begins, many people make New Year's resolutions to form new routines, break old habits, or to manage time and resources differently all in an effort to "be better." In our culture it seems that we are continually in the pull and under the weight of trying to "be better." We never measure up to the status quo, so we either wear ourselves out trying or we just give up. It can feel the same way but perhaps even greater when it comes to our spiritual life. We think - We'll never be perfect so how and why would God ever accept or love us? This four-part series, will look at the truth that God never expects us to be perfect, but in fact He tell us to come as we are. He is a God who is rest for the weary, a refuge for the shamed, near to the broken-hearted, and a home for the wonderer.

Christmas Party Recap

Sunday, December 21 The Exchange celebrated the season with a Christmas Party! The day included a photo booth, treats, games, a special Christmas message, and special activities for all ages. The party was so big we had not just one Gathering, but we also added a second to make room for more friends and family. 

Click here to watch the Christmas message.

Below are some pictures from the Christmas Party.

Christmas in the Park

It's a FREE night of Christmas FUN for the whole FAMILY! Friday, December 19 The Exchange is hosting Christmas in the Park at 6:00 at Pearl City Park on Highway 80. (In the case of rain, everything will continue in the Pearl Lower Elementary cafeteria up the hill from Pearl City Park.) The night will include the showing of the hit-movie Frozen on a giant movie screen, hot chocolate, popcorn, pictures with Santa, and giveaways...and it's all free! Grab a lawn chair or blanket and join us for a night out together with the family.

If you are interested in serving as a part of Christmas in the Park, please click here. 

Compassion Kits

This December The Exchange is partnering with one of our global mission partners the For All Mankind Movement. FAMM is committed to taking the hope of Jesus to thousands of men and women trapped in labor camps in the Middle East. These workers represent numerous nations where Jesus is not known, but through FAMM the message of Jesus is not only spreading throughout these camps but it is being carried back to people in unreached parts of the world. The primary tool FAMM uses is a Compassion Kit filled with self-hygiene items and other items to help meet the needs of those in the labor camps. The kits are presented at a story group where members of FAMM have the chance to teach the truth of God's Word to men and women from all over the world. 

Each kit cost $25 to pack, and The Exchange has set a goal of 75 kits this December, which would help plant at least one house church in the labor camps. You can give by credit or debit card online or give cash each Sunday at the Gathering.

DONATE ONLINE

Advent

This December The Exchange is celebrating Advent! Advent is an expectation or anticipation of the coming of someone or something. During a time where it is so easy to get caught up in the busyness and chaos of the season, Advent helps us stay focused on the eternal meaning of the season and not the temporary demands. Advent begins December 1 and goes through December 25. As Christ followers, Advent helps us remember the arrival of Jesus as a baby and Messiah and also helps us stay expectant for the return of Jesus as the eternal King. 

To help us celebrate the Advent season, we have Advent devotional guides available to use for personal use or as a family. The personal guide can be used by any student or adult to help reflect on scripture and journal thoughts. The family guide can be used by parents to help walk their children through scripture and questions about the Advent season. In addition to the family guide, there is an ornament guide that creates a hands on experience for kids to create something that goes along with each day's reading. 

Click on the link to download a digital copy of a guide.

Personal Advent Devotional Guide

Family Advent Devotional Guide

Ornament Guide (to be used with Family Guide)

Worth the Wait

No one likes to wait, whether it's at a stoplight, for a package in the mail, or for an answer to a health report, but all of us have been or are in the waiting room of life at some point. While we rarely look forward to waiting, God continually uses the waiting periods of life to produce in us the image He desires. The original Christmas was an answer to a period of great waiting not just for those directly involved but for all of creation. In the moment of greatest waiting in history when it seemed like all hope had been lost, God broke the silence and waiting with an eternity-changing interruption proving it was Worth the Wait. Join us for this three-week series beginning Sunday, December 7 at 10:30 as we celebrate the holiday season.

thanksGIVING

Sunday, November 23 The Exchange will participate in a special opportunity of gratitude. Through this opportunity we call thanksGIVING, The Exchange will bless multiple less fortunate families throughout our area with a free Thanksgiving meal. We are asking people to donate canned goods and other nonperishable food items by Sunday, November 16. Then on Sunday the 23rd The Exchange will have an opportunity to personally serve each of these families. Make plan to join us for a special gathering at 10:30am.

Below is list of of suggested donation items:

• Canned Green Beans
• Canned Corn
• Canned Sweet Potatoes
• Canned Cranberry Sauce
• Canned Gravy
• Boxed Dressing
• Boxed Macaroni & Cheese
• Boxed Mashed Potatoes and/or Rice

Treats & Eats Recap

Friday, October 31 The Exchange took part in an opportunity called Treats & Eats. On this night as a church we gathered at 6 different host homes throughout our area to love and serve our neighbors and families who were out trick-or-treating. We hosted games for kids, served apple cider and cookies, and of course gave out tons of candy. It was an incredible night of connecting with our community!

Below are some pictures from the night.

My Story Baptism Celebration

Sunday, October 12 The Exchange ended the My Story series by celebrating stories of life change through baptism. Nine people publicly declared through baptism that through Jesus they had exchanged their old life for new life in Christ. It was an exciting day not only for these individuals but for The Exchange as a family as God continues to demonstrate His power to change lives!

Below are some pictures from the celebration.

Baptism

Sunday, October 12 The Exchange will celebrate baptism. We believe baptism is a step of obedience every Christ follower should take to publicly declare their faith in Jesus. If you've trusted in Christ but never been baptized or if you have questions about what it looks like to have a relationship with Jesus, we would love to connect with you with truth from God's Word and create an opportunity for you to be a part of our baptism celebration. If you would like more info about baptism or are interested in being a part of the celebration on October 12, send us an email and one of our pastors will help answer any questions you have.

My Story

Everyone loves a good story! Whether it's a romantic tale, a scary narrative, or a comical account, we can all get lost in a story. Perhaps the reason we love stories is because we're all living a story. The life we live can either tell a temporary tale about us or it can speak of a much grander story we get to be a part of. In this new series we will ask and answer the questions Where does your story begin? What's your story missing? When did your story change? & How will your story end? We all want to live a better story, and this series will show us truth from God's Word about how to take our temporary tale and give it a "happily ever after" ending. Join us each Sunday for the Gathering at 10:30am. 

Ovation

Join The Exchange Sunday, September 14 at 10:30am for a day of worship and prayer called Ovation. One of the core values of The Exchange is to be a celebrating people who continually show gratitude for what God has done and is doing. This day will be a chance for us to celebrate together in song and prayer all that we have seen God do during our Church Is... series and also to ask God to move in the season ahead. Don't miss a special day at the Gathering as we join together in an ovation of praise to God! All LittleLIFE and KidLIFE activities will meet as normal. 

2 Year Anniversary Celebration

Sunday, August 10 The Exchange celebrated two years of ministry! The day included the launch of a new series called Church Is..., the kickoff of Gospel Project for our KidLIFE ministry, the announcement of our covenant membership process, and a time of fellowship with cake and cookies.

Watch this video to see a little bit of what God did through our second year together.

Below are some pictures from the celebration.

GLOW

Wednesday, August 13 StudentLIFE is holding the back-to-school party of the year! Join us from 7-9pm for a night of glow-in-the-dark fun. The night will include a free Chick-fila supper, a glow zone, a 52-foot obstacle course, and an extreme game of glow dodgeball. All students attending are encouraged to wear all white or their craziest neon. The night is open to all 6-12 grade students and is completely free! All activities will be held at The Exchange building located at 417 N. Bierdeman Rd. behind Trustmark Bank off Highway 80. Invite a friend and join us for GLOW!  

School Year Kickoff Recap

As the 2014 school year kicked off, The Exchange took the opportunity to serve the employees of the Pearl School District. Phase one was a team of people who gathered and packed 550 coffee mugs with a handwritten note of encouragement and information about The Exchange. Phase two was another team of people who took part in the school year kickoff orientation to personally deliver all of the mugs. It was an awesome opportunity to share our gratitude for the teachers, coaches, and others who will have so much impact on our students for the coming school year. Below are some pictures from the opportunity: