1580 N Claremont Blvd, Claremont, CA 91711  ·   (909) 625-4455  ·         Give

Granite Creek Community Church
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How is God Calling YOU To Be Creative With Others?

THE BIG SHOW! by Pastor Michael Jones

Back in the 90’s, as kids we had to find our own way to entertain ourselves. It could be playing hide and seek, building a clubhouse, or just digging a hole. I kid you not, I spent a good part of the summer just digging a hole with the idea that my friends and I would have tunnels to each of our homes. That ended when my dad filled it up. He gave me some excuse about it being dangerous and that the tunnel “could” collapse and that I “could” get buried alive. Being creative with friends was just a part of growing up.

The peak of our creativity did not come until high school. My friend Jon got a video camera, and that opened a whole new world of possibilities for us. From that moment on, Jon, Matt, and I spent the next few years filming. We did everything from 1970’s buddy cop movies, kung-fu movies, and a hilarious drug PSA, which to be honest probably had the opposite effect. Our creativeness came easy to us, but where we really shined was backyard wrestling.

Like most boys in our generation we were obsessed with wrestling. Even more so once we learned it was all a show. So the three of us would create these elaborate characters, costumes, and storylines. Now the look of it was not just the only thing we cared about, we also learned about moves and technique, well as much as we could. We learned how to fall, how to jump off a ladder, and how to land on tables. I even had to learn what the safest way to get hit by a car was, so that I could get hit by a car. There were many late night trips to Walmart to get props that looked like it would hurt but really didn’t. There were friends that thought the videos were stupid, and others that loved them and would ask to be a part of them.

Now video camera aside, the three of us created something else together. We created a Bible study that took place every Sunday evening in Jon’s house. I really can't remember how or why it started. There was no adult leader that trained us and asked us to do it, we just did it. Of course because of our wrestling background we had to give the Bible study a name. We called it the Big Show, we even had a theme song to go with it. All the Bible study consisted of was reading a chapter and then discussing it with our friends. The group grew and we started to have peers show every week. Looking back, I think the appeal to the Big Show was that it was just a bunch of kids that loved God. There was no leader or authority figure, just a bunch of kids trying to figure life out and preparing ourselves for adulthood. Of course nothing lasts forever and the Big Show ended mainly because it was run by kids. Out of all that I created with Matt and Jon that was what I am most proud of. I really do look back on that time of my life as one of my favorites.

I think we have a tendency to associate the word creative as a singular person. That a creative person is just that, one person. In truth when God breathed life into us we took on that creative spirit. That creativity will look different in all of us, but we all possess the innate ability to follow in the Father’s footsteps and create. God has given all of us the ability to create, and not just by ourselves. In Genesis and John the Bible shows us that God the Father was not alone in the creation of the world.

In Genesis when God created the world it talks about how the Spirit was hovering over the void of the earth. Almost as if it was the Spirit that had the vision of what all that earth and its life could do and accomplish. In John 1 it talks about the Word (Jesus) was with God in the beginning. I can imagine what the Father and Jesus were talking about and as they began to put creation into place. Now what roles the Spirit and Jesus had in creation are unclear. What we do know is that when God created mankind, He said “Let us make man in OUR image.” We are all the result of the Trinity’s creation. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I have so much fun being creative by myself, but I love to be creative with others. The whole Bible is about our relationship with God, and how to be in community with God. It is also about our relationship with others, and community with others. That goes the same with our creative spirit. We were not created to just be creative alone. I will be the first to say I am blessed to work with some amazing and creative people here at Granite Creek. The projects, stories, and events that as a team we pull off always surprise me. They are great at tapping into the spirit that God gave us and they help me to be a better creative person myself.

Think about how God is calling you to be creative with others. It could be at work, home, school, or in your community. Creativity will always look different and so will creating with others. I do believe that when we are creative with others, there is a different feeling that we experience that we would not have otherwise. I will always be grateful for that experience I had as a teen with my friends. So if you're a part of a creative project that doesn’t involve a team, be open to sharing it with a select few, and see what God can creatively do in that relationship.

Family Pastor Michael Jones also oversees our Church Counseling. If you are in need of Family, Marriage, or Personal Counseling, visit www.granitecreek.org/church-counseling, or contact Michael by email at [email protected]


Pastor Michael Jones
Family Pastor
909 625-4455 

    Pastor Michael Jones

    Family Pastor
    909 625-4455 |

    Family Pastor Michael Jones

    Pastor Michael served as the Youth Pastor at Granite Creek for over twenty years, and is stepping into the new full-time role of Family Pastor! He has great vision for what God can do in and through our Granite Creek families and can't wait to see what God does next.

    Michael's interests includes movies, football, and comics. He has worked with Special Needs Children and families, and has coached sports. Pastor Michael holds a B.A. in Psychology and Human Development from Vanguard University.

    [email protected]

    Families

    Granite Creek Families seeks to help create strong marriages, confident parents, empowered kids, and healthy leaders.


    Friday, 7/1 at 9:30 AM
    Women's Friday Morning Growth Group
    Sunday, 7/3 at 10:00 AM
    SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE
    Tuesday, 7/5 at 5:30 AM
    Summer SONrise Scriptures with Sisters
    Tuesday, 7/5 at 6:30 AM
    Tuesday Morning Prayer
    Wednesday, 7/6 at 6:30 PM
    "The Chosen" Watch Party
    Thursday, 7/7 at 6:00 PM
    HUMBLE MOMS Bible Study
    Friday, 7/8 at 9:30 AM
    Women's Friday Morning Growth Group
    Saturday, 7/9 at 8:30 AM
    Men's Group at FOODBANK

    Women's Friday Morning Growth Group

    Friday, July 1, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

    The Jesus Who Surprises by Dee Brestin
     
    In The Jesus Who Surprises, Dee Brestin offers an in-depth Bible study to discover Jesus in the most unexpected places in the Old Testament. Brestin combines rich teaching, memorable storytelling, and thought-provoking application questions to show how traces of Christ appear in the books of Moses, the poetic texts, the prophets' writings, and your life today!
     REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! Order books from Amazon or Lifeway.com


    Add to My Calendar
    -0700 America/Los_Angeles 1 -764

    SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE

    Sunday, July 3, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

    Includes Kids Ministry (K-5th Grade upstairs) and Preschool/Nursery Classes (downstairs). No registration needed for Sunday Service! Go to www.granitecreek.org or Facebook for online live feed.

    Add to My Calendar
    -0700 America/Los_Angeles 1 -764

    Summer SONrise Scriptures with Sisters

    Tuesday, July 5, 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM

    The ladies will meet at the VanDenVrijhoef residence then caravan to the Claremont Colleges for sunrise, and to share/memorize a scripture each week. Meeting for about an hour. REGISTER ONLINE for address information.

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    -0700 America/Los_Angeles 1 -764

    Tuesday Morning Prayer

    Tuesday, July 5, 6:30 AM - 7:00 AM

    Click here to view on Google Calendar.

    Add to My Calendar
    -0700 America/Los_Angeles 1 -764

    "The Chosen" Watch Party

    Wednesday, July 6, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

    Join others at Granite Creek to watch the popular series about the life of Jesus. Watch Party is led by Pastor Mike and Kim Noyes. Sorry no kids programs are available. Kids can also watch if accompanied by a parent.

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    -0700 America/Los_Angeles 1 -764

    HUMBLE MOMS Bible Study

    Thursday, July 7, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    HUMBLE MOMS: How the Work of Christ Sustains the Work of Motherhood by Kristen Wetherel Moms are invited to a summer 7 week study, with childcare, at Granite Creek. Led by Jennifer Jones and Liz Arteaga. For more info email [email protected] Book available through Amazon. REGISTER ONLINE!

    Add to My Calendar
    -0700 America/Los_Angeles 1 -764

    Women's Friday Morning Growth Group

    Friday, July 8, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

    The Jesus Who Surprises by Dee Brestin
     
    In The Jesus Who Surprises, Dee Brestin offers an in-depth Bible study to discover Jesus in the most unexpected places in the Old Testament. Brestin combines rich teaching, memorable storytelling, and thought-provoking application questions to show how traces of Christ appear in the books of Moses, the poetic texts, the prophets' writings, and your life today!
     REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! Order books from Amazon or Lifeway.com


    Add to My Calendar
    -0700 America/Los_Angeles 1 -764

    Men's Group at FOODBANK

    Saturday, July 9, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM

    The Saturday Morning Men's Bible Study Group will serve together at the FOOD BANK on the second Saturday of each month. The men will meet at the Food Bank at 8:30 am and finish at the Food Bank at approximately 10:30 - 11:00 am. Food Bank is located at 1200 N Campus Ave, in Upland.

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    -0700 America/Los_Angeles 1 -764

    Granite Creek Community Church | 1580 N Claremont Blvd Claremont, CA 91711 | (909) 625-4455

    SUNDAYS - 10:00 AM


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    Service Times

    Sundays

    • 10:00 AM - Indoor Safe Seating, Kids Church, and also ONLINE

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    Granite Creek Community Church
    1580 N Claremont Blvd
    Claremont, CA 91711

    Contact Us
    (909) 625-4455

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    Welcome Children Youth College Family / Adult

    Granite Creek Community Church (GCCC) is a Spirit-filled church in the college town of Claremont, CA where it's all about relationship, not religion. Come celebrate with us Sunday mornings at 9:00 am & 11:00 am and at Sunday Night 6:30 - 7:30 pm.

    In addition to three Sunday Services, we offer classes, small groups, training, youth opportunities, college groups, and various seasonal events throughout the year.

    Get to Know Us

    At Granite Creek, kids are a priority. One of our values is to see kids grow up to become everything God created them to be as they develop a personal faith and relationship with Christ in a safe and loving environment. We partner with parents to provide experiences that will meet their child's mental, emotional and spiritual needs, so that their children will become fully devoted followers of Christ.

    More About Children's Programs

    GCY is a ministry designed for 7th through 12th graders, to help students engage in a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ, to experience God in a true and relevant way, while in a relational, safe, and relaxed environment. To show every student that God loves them and has an amazing plan for their lives. We know youth have real struggles, and it is our desire that each student know our team is genuinely there to listen, pray and care for them.

    Granite Creek Youth

    FIDELIS is the college and young adult group at Granite Creek Community Church! We're excited to encourage leadership for the next generation! Statistics show that we are losing a generation in the church (18-30 year olds) and at FIDELIS we aim to strengthen and support this generation as they define their faith walk and work through issues unique to them.

    We are people-driven church, not program driven. Ministries exist to meet the spiritual, emotional, physical, and psychological needs of people. But, they also provide opportunities for members to grow in maturity in Christ through giving to others. GCCC ministries provide opportunities for you to serve others and actively pursue fulfilling God's purposes for your life.

    Thank you for joining us in what God is doing at Granite Creek Community Church!

    Additional Giving Options