Better Than Gold
January 2024
Happy New Year!
We hope the holidays were a time of rest & renewal, as well as fellowship & celebration. However, it goes without saying the holidays are a difficult time for many. Even after, we all have to endure months of gloom before dark clouds depart & things begin to grow again. It is our prayer that you will find light & joy in this season, in spite of uncertainty, regardless of your present circumstances.
While there is nothing mystical about the earth completing another revolution around the sun, we still get excited for what the new year might bring. It’s a good time to reset one’s lifestyle & retrain the mind to develop better habits & routines. But the crux of our hope for the new year don’t simply rest on will-powered resolutions—we are trusting in God to renew our hearts & bring the increase we so desire, according to His perfect will. He delights in giving good gifts to His children if we would but ask. We can think of no greater provision than His wisdom, to discern next steps in both our personal lives & in our ministry.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, & it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven & tossed by the wind.”
- James 1:5-6
“How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”
- Proverbs 16:16
Change doesn’t often happen over night, but the more we seek what is right for our souls, the more we will reflect the holy image of our Creator & reap the benefits in each aspect of our lives. May 2024 be your year for greater wisdom & a deeper understanding of the things of God. Good things will be sure to follow!
Afterschool Update
The Greatest Gift
If you caught the last NoCo newsletter of 2023, you’ll recall that we were preparing for our annual Christmas party. We are delighted to report that it was yet another heart-warming event for every student & leader in attendance. Over the course of the evening, students gathered around the fire with their hot cocoa, built gingerbread houses, played silly games, ate lots of appetizers, & opened a ton of presents. We are so grateful for the help we received from the ladies of The Shepherd’s Door who wrapped gifts, made food, & served our kids this year. We also have to thank our incredible sponsors who purchased such generous gifts!
Here are a couple of photos from the party. Look for even more on social media!
One of the special things we have to celebrate after this year is not just how many kids we served, but how many of them are returning students. These are kids we’ve poured into, taken to summer camp, & have witnessed tremendous growth in over the last couple of years. We praise God for the opportunities He’s given us to disciple them since they’ve been a part of our program. Measuring the success of a ministry by the numbers is an easy trap to fall into; it is not the quantity of people you serve, but the depth of relationship you build with the ones you care for that leaves a lasting impact. We hope that is an encouragement to you as you strive to live like Christ & be a light to those around you!
And Now, Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Program…
Afterschool has been on a winter break since we hosted our Christmas party on December 14th. We always use our time off in January to rest, schedule meetings, plan for the next season of ministry, & make updates to our art studios at The COVE Art Center (more on that last part below). When we return, we will be continuing our Bible study in the book of Psalms, initiating new art projects, & starting conversations about summer camp(s)! We resume programming on Monday, February 5th.
Mixing It Up
There has been a lot of discussion going on behind the scenes for months now with a certain artist, regarding a particular art studio at The COVE… & now that our shared vision is becoming a reality, we are proud to announce that the Mixed Media Studio will be undergoing a transformation over the winter!
Amanda Wicker is a gifted artist & a dear friend. She has added tremendous value to The Novelty Collective over many years, not only as a vendor at our Music & Arts Festival & regular attendee of Open Studios, but as a godly example of love & acceptance to all who enter through our doors. Her creative mediums include paper craft, painting, & illustration, & much more, which makes her the perfect candidate to add a three-dimensional mural to our Mixed Media Studio! We are excited to facilitate this project & watch Amanda infuse our space with her own creative expression, but we could still use extra support to make it happen.
We would like to thank all those who have already contributed to our recent project campaign to purchase tools & materials for our intrepid muralist. Staying true to our mission (to value art, to empower the artist), we would also like to compensate Amanda for her time & talent. Following the first link will take you to our Amazon wishlist of tools & materials still needed to complete the mural. The second link will take you to our ongoing campaign to raise funds for The Novelty Collective. If you choose to donate, please specify that your gift is for Amanda Wicker in the space provided.
That’s a Wrap
That’s all we have for you in this update. As always, thank you for reading. We cannot begin to express how much it means that you pay attention to what is happening in our ministry. Please continue to pray that God would supply our every need. If you would ask God to provide specifically for us in this season, we need volunteer help, financial resources, & favor with the institutions we answer to. May God bless you richly as well, & meet your every need according to His great pleasure, as you make every effort to seek His face.
In His Service,
The NoCo Team
Article written by Jordan A. King
