Discover The Bridge - Sunday at 6 PM

If you would like to learn more about The Bridge Church, as well as have the opportunity to meet our staff and leadership team, I invite you to join me for three consecutive Sunday nights starting this Sunday at 6 PM at the church. In this hour-long class you will learn about our history, our mission, vision and values. At the end of these three sessions you will be given the opportunity to join the church, if you so desire.

There is a sign-up sheet at the Welcome Desk in the lobby, or simply respond to this newsletter if you plan to attend. If you need child care, please provide the number of children and their respective ages. I hope to see you there!

Trunk or Treat – October 31

On Halloween from 6-8 PM we will be inviting children from the community and their parents to come to The Bridge to receive candy and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. Last year hundreds showed up for this fun event. For many, this was their first exposure to our church. Here are ways you can participate:

▪	Between now and October 31st, bring bags of individually wrapped pieces of candy to the church and place them in the container in the lobby.

▪	To hand out candy, arrive at the church by 5:45 PM on Halloween and park your car in the designated area. You may wear a Halloween costume and/or decorate your car if you like. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes and best decorated car.

▪	Sign-up to help direct traffic or serve at the café during this event.

▪	Bake and bring cookies to the church on Halloween.

▪	And if you know how to make balloon animals (or are a fast learner) you may assist Chris and Janet Garner who last year developed blisters from twisting and tying so many balloons!

Teams in Ghana and Zimbabwe

Please remember to pray for our teams in Africa – that God will protect and keep them in health and safety and use them mightily for the kingdom of God. 
See you Sunday!

Bo

Help for Houston and Florida

Thanks to everyone who has brought items or donated financially to help with the relief efforts taking place in the Houston area and throughout the state of Florida. In a little over a week we have collected half of semi-load of cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, diapers, bottled water, food supplies and more that will be shipped to those suffering the consequences of these two major hurricanes. The Bridge will continue to serve as a drop-off center for Matthew 25: Ministries, which is playing a significant role in bringing aid to those affected by these storms. We also want to thank the Cincinnati Reuse Center for their help in getting the items we’ve collected to the Matthew 25: Ministries headquarters in Blue Ash.

Items can be dropped off at the church and placed in the container beneath the big “Houston” sign between the hours of 9 AM – 7 PM. For details about items needed or to contribute financially, go to the church website atwww.thebridgenky.com or to www.M25M.org.

Care Net 5K Run/Walk for Life

On Saturday, September 23rd Care Net Pregnancy Services of Northern Kentucky will be conducting their annual Run/Walk for Life. Once again, I have a surrogate runner (and a fast one!) representing me in this event. Also once again, I am asking you, friends and members of The Bridge to sponsor “me” in this run. If you missed the pledge forms that were passed down the rows this past Sunday you can still sponsor me by clicking on the link below and entering the amount you would like to give toward this great ministry. Since 2006 Care Net has seen 554 clients give their unborn child the gift of life. By taking part in this Walk for Life, you and I can help insure that Care Net will be there for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. Thank you for doing what you can!

https://runsignup.com/pastorbo

Connect Group Fair Starts this Sunday!

We have 35 new connect groups starting up in a few weeks! This is a great way to grow in your faith and to also meet some awesome people who are on a similar faith journey. Visit the church website to see what groups are being offered this semester. You can register online or in the lobby after services this Sunday.

With much love!

Bo

Help for Houston

In light of the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey, The Bridge is partnering with Matthew 25: Ministries to help bring needed supplies to the Houston area. The Bridge is going to serve as a drop-off center for the items listed below. If you would like to help, please bring these specified items to the church between the hours of 9 AM and 7 PM Sunday – Saturday. These can be brought into the lobby, or left in the designated area beneath the overhang to the left of the front door.

• Non-Perishable Food: PULL TOP canned vegetables, fruits etc.; ready to eat dry goods such as nuts, peanut butter, dried fruits, granola and trail mixes, jerky, ready to eat snacks; bottled water; ready- to-eat meals or MREs, etc. 

• Personal Care Products: Antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, lotion, etc. 

• Cleaning supplies: Laundry detergents, general cleaner, sponges, bleach (powdered form is preferred), mops, scrub brushes, buckets, rubber gloves, etc. 

• Paper products: Toilet paper, paper towels, etc. 

• Baby and infant supplies: Diapers, wipes, diaper rash ointment, baby wash, baby shampoo, baby lotion, etc. 

• First-Aid items: Bandages, gauze, pads, first aid tape, antiseptic creams, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, latex gloves, instant cold packs, etc.

Monetary Donations*: You can give online to Matthew 25: Ministries by going to www.m25m.org or by mail by sending checks to Matthew 25: Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242.

*Donors to Matthew 25: Ministries who would like to designate their financial gifts for Hurricane Relief may do so by writing “Hurricane Relief” in the memo line of their check or by typing it in the “in honor of” field of the online giving form. 100% of donated funds designated for Hurricane Relief will be used for the purpose intended.

If you would prefer to donate to Matthew 25: Ministries through The Bridge Church, just be sure to designate on your check or when giving online that you are giving toward “Help for Houston.” You may give through the church website by going to www.thebridgenky.com.

Let’s all do what we can to bring aid to this hard-hit area. Matthew 25: Ministries is a great local ministry that has been meeting needs around the world since 1991. If you would like to volunteer your time by serving at Matthew 25: Ministries you may sign-up via their website at www.m25m.org.

In addition to meeting physical needs of people living in the Houston area, let’s also remember to invite God to comfort and uphold those who have suffered such loss, while also drawing them to Him.

With much love in Christ,

Bo

Celebrating our One Year Anniversary in Alexandria!

Can you believe we have been in our new building for one year? I continue to be so grateful to God and to so many of you, His people, for making it possible for us to have made this big move. And what a great year it has been. As I shared this past Sunday, over the past year we have added 88 new members and baptized 74! In the same time we have gone from an average of 606 in Sunday morning attendance to an average of 909! (I still can’t believe we managed to get 600 people in our little warehouse each week!). 

Equally exciting is the ministry that is taking place each week in our new facility. From Kid’s Camps to Connect Groups to Student Ministry and more, ministry is taking place almost seven days a week at the church. 

I’m also happy to report that even with a $14,000 a month mortgage payment and the added expenses of maintaining a 45,000 square foot building, that we are meeting our financial obligations. While it is true that there is not a lot left over at the end of each month, we are at least keeping up! While keeping up is definitely better than not keeping up – there are things we would like to do if we just had as much as a 10% increase in our weekly offerings. If you have not yet made regular giving to the church a part of your life, allow me to encourage you to begin doing so. Not only will the church be helped, but God will bless you for prioritizing His kingdom with your finances.

From Death to Life and from Bondage to the Throne 

This Sunday we will continue our study of Paul’s marvelous Epistle to the Ephesians. This week we will be talking about how God has not only forgiven us of our sins – but has actually brought us from death to life and raised us to be seated with Christ in heavenly places. We will also explore the influence demonic forces have on human behavior in a fallen world – and what God has called us to do about it. Don’t miss this Sunday at The Bridge!

With much love,

Bo

This week at The Bridge

Parent's Night Out

Don’t forget to take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy a night out – while at the same time help our Student Ministry Summer Mission Trip. The Bridge Student Ministry will be providing baby sitting at the church June 23rd - Friday from 5-10 PM at a cost of $20 per child or $30 per family. There is no pre-registration required.

New Series starts Sunday 

Beginning this Sunday we will be embarking on a new series on the book of Ephesians. This book, more than any other New Testament epistle, reveals the riches of the salvation we have in Jesus. Here the Apostle Paul reveals the wonderful mysteries of “in Christ” realities. If you don’t know what is meant by the term “in Christ,” you won’t want to miss this important study. If you do know about “in Christ” truth, you will enjoy being reminded of who you are in Christ, what is yours in Christ, and what it means to live out your faith in Him. 

See you Sunday at The Bridge!

Bo

A New Ministry at The Bridge

I have been greatly blessed by the response to my sharing this past Sunday about the man who informed me that he would no longer be able to attend The Bridge because he does not drive and the possibility of forming a ministry to meet these kinds of needs in our church family. The next step will be to meet and brainstorm about what this ministry could look like and how we can best meet needs within our church. If you are interested in being a part of these early planning sessions, please join me this Sunday at 7 PM at the church. Child care will be provided. Please email me at bo.weaver@thebridgenky.com and let me know if you plan to attend this first meeting for what we are tentatively calling Needs and Seeds. Also please include the number of children and their ages for which you will need child care. Thanks! Bo

Photos and Videos from Mother's Day

We had a great day at The Bridge on Mother’s Day! If you had your picture taken, you can see it on the website under Media – Mother’s Day Pictures. To see more video of kids answering the question: “What does your Mommy do?” Go to Media – Mother’s Day Videos. thebridgenky.com Thank you Harold Hay and Lara McDowell for all your hard work! Bo