|
March 12, 2010 - Edition Number 77 |
| From the Pastor
|
Dear Friends,
After our worship service last Sunday morning, I gave an update to the congregation on the state of our church. Some were not here last Sunday and others have asked for a copy of my remarks. What follows is what I read to you. I hope they spur you to be here on Sunday night.
When I arrived 2-1/2 years ago, this was a struggling group of folks who couldn't agree on much of anything. Somehow, strangely, I received a 97% vote on my call to come here, but the honeymoon didn't last long. We probably have half the number of people worshipping here today that we did 2-1/2 years ago. Many of us have lost friends - some very close friends - in this season. Many tears have been shed, relationships have been torn asunder, and disappointment has been all too familiar. I know some of you still hurt deeply over relationships that have changed. Patty and I share that pain. I have too often felt like the skunk at the garden party because I have seen your tears and sadness, wondering what I could have done differently to have prevented it. So, I hurt for you. I run into those folks at school events and in the grocery store just like you do. Though I wish we had done a few things differently, I'm not sure that the outcome would have been any different.
Within that context, though, the Lord has knit together those who stayed and brought a large number of newcomers. There is a peace in this congregation that has been sadly absent for some time. One of my key measurements for the health of this church is how many of you linger after the worship service. A couple of years ago, this room was empty 15 minutes after the benediction. Nowadays, I find myself tearing away to go home for lunch and a nap after 45 minutes. Then, I can't wait to return for our Sunday night gatherings; they have been wonderful times of fellowship and the corporate prayer times have been rich beyond description. In terms of the group of people, our church has never been healthier.
The Lord has been good to bring us a faithful Associate Pastor. Most of you have no idea how tired and weary I was this fall as Bryan and his family arrived. I'm still not back to 100%, but your calling a co-laborer in this ministry has been enormously encouraging. Humanly speaking I'm not sure I would still be in this role had the Lord not brought one who could serve as an Aaron and a Hur at the same time. The work in men's ministry that James Dickson has been spearheading has further reinforced a sense that the Lord is doing a new work here. That He should bring us such a capable intern is an often-overlooked and unacknowledged blessing.
We've still not hit our stride in every area. We have been blessed with great musicians and we have hit our stride some weeks in that area. In others, we have struggled. We will get there. We're still working on it, but I'm convinced we have the right people here. Be patient and remember that we are worshipping Christ and seeing him is our goal; some weeks, we may leave with a mountain-top feeling, but I hope we leave every week with a deeper love for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. My goal, and Bryan's, and Bob's, and Paula's, and Will's, and Tina's, and the rest of the musicians and choir members is that you think less and less about the music, but that it helps you to think more and more about how great a King we serve who has saved us and is remaking us into His image.
With all of that, though, there is one area that is still a problem. Simply put, our expenses are exceeding our income. I do not know what anyone gives to this church except my own family's giving. I did recently see a study of our giving that broke it out by ranges and we are not a church with a few large givers who carry the rest of us on their broad shoulders. Coupled with the challenges of the job market and our economy, our giving has struggled. We are hitting normal ranges for evangelical, protestant churches in North America on a per-capita basis. Still, this is not an ordinary congregation and we need to all take a hard look at our giving. We have about 105 family giving units to this church. We are receiving about $55,000 per month for the past few months and our expenses are about $70,000 per month, including missions and other ministries. As we begin working on next year's budget (the one that starts in July), we are projecting income of about $700,000 based on who is here and our present giving patterns. If we continued all of our expenses at their current level, though, they would run closer to $850,000, which is a gap of $150,000. So, some hard choices are ahead.
Our expenses are far more fixed than any of us would like. For utilities and ownership expenses, this church spends about $7,000 every week - that's $1,000 every day - on the cost of servicing the debt on our 46 acres and operating 66,000 heated square feet with things like lights, heat, phones, janitor, cutting the grass, etc. While we have more than halved staff costs over the past 24 months, we have been unable to change most of our fixed facility costs. In a nutshell, they are a very heavy load for a congregation our size to bear. We owe just less than $2M to Sun Trust Bank for the mortgage on this property and buildings.
The Session and Diaconate have been discussing how we can reduce these costs. Nothing - repeat: nothing --- has been decided. We're in the process of throwing lots of ideas onto the table to see which creative one just might be the right one. We cannot continue to bear these costs and you need to know that we will not - let me state as clearly as I can - we will not chase numerical growth as some sort of worldly antidote. Let us sink the ship before we are unfaithful to the ministry of the Word of God. We want to be a healthy church and use the tools the Lord has given us, like a building, in being about the mission we believe he has given us in this community in this year, decade, and century.
Next Sunday night, we will lay out for you the broad outlines of our current budget, our giving, and the choices that are ahead for the Session and Diaconate. We want you to understand the facts and we want to hear your ideas for how we might be most faithful and responsible with what the Lord has set before us.
Bryan and I are excited to be here. In human, worldly terms, we have risked our family's livelihood on you and what the Lord is doing here in and through you. Your elders and deacons are excited about what the Lord has done, is doing, and might be pleased to do in the years to come. Our best days are ahead of us and we will get through this patch. Know that the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the One whose faithfulness endures for all generations, is the One who is building this church. We will work through this season and my prayer is that we see His hand at every step of the way; that we don't miss His hand; that He keeps us from the pride of thinking that we were smart enough or talented enough or, God forbid, lucky enough to see our way through this.
This is not a cause for despair. Every week, the Lord prompts His people here to give about $14,000 on average to the advance of His Kingdom here. Every week, Lord willing, we worship Him in Spirit and Truth. Every week, I hope that we open the Word of God and ask two fundamental questions: Who is God and what does it mean to be godly? Every week, we walk together as pilgrims in a foreign land, growing in love for Christ and for the people He loves and has joined us with in church membership. God is at work here and doing a new thing in a fresh start of this 30 year old church.
Friends, be encouraged. Be praying. And be here Sunday night for our congregational meeting.
Your friend,
 . |
| Sunday Night Supper/Congregational Meeting |
Sunday Supper for March 14 is one you don't want to miss! We will have spaghetti supper provided and after our fellowship at the table, the Session will be sharing with the congregation an update of where Christ Community presently is, where we would like to go and how we'd like the congregation to assist the achievement of that vision by using their time, talents and resources. Supper will start at 5:15pm and costs are $2.00 per person and up to $7.00 for family of four. Childcare will be provided for children up till fifth grade. Please feel free to let a Deacon know if you can volunteer to help out with setting up or cleaning up.
Please be sure to join us for an important time in the life of our church body. | |
|
|
|
|
| Save the Date! |
|
Save the Date for these upcoming events:
- Cub Scouts Pine Wood Derby - Saturday, March 13th
- Resurrection Egg Hunt - Palm Sunday,March 28th
- Maundy Thursday Worship Service - 7 PM
- Easter Sunday Lord's Day Worship - 10:30 AM
- American Red Cross Blood Drive -Wed. April 14th
- Congregational Meeting either on May 2nd
or May 16th - for purpose of approving next fiscal year's budget.
- Vacation Bible School - Mornings of June 21-25th
More information to follow soon on these events. | |
|
|
Opportunities for Ministry
|
Couples Small Group Openings The Harris' are leading a couple's small group on the 2nd and 4th Sunday at 7:30 P.M. We are currently studying the book "What Is A Healthy Church Member". If you are interested, please contact us at 656-0032. We meet in the C wing right after the Family Night Suppers and would love to have you!
Evening Precept Bible
The study group will begin the "God searches for a heart fully His", part 2 of the Kings and Prophets series, April 6th. We meet on Tuesday nights 7:00-9:00pm. Ladies of all ages are welcome to join us. For more information contact Kathy Wilson @ 430-9030 (cell).
Inquirers' Class
Interested in finding out more about CCC? The Inquirer's Class is our way of orienting prospective members to the history, doctrine, and ongoing ministries of Christ Community. The first session will be Friday March 19th from 6:00-8:30pm with dinner provided. Class will continue on Saturday (March 20th) at 9:00am. If you have any questions or would like to reserve your seat, please contact Amy Munson (amunson@cccarp.org or 288-2365 ext.#23). Hope to see you there.
Sunday Night Suppers
Join us 5:30pm Sundays for fellowship, dinner, and prayers.
We will be coming together on:
March 28 (Easter picnic pot luck)
April 25 (American Cookout pot luck)
May 9 Mother's Day (Church Sponsored)
Watoto Children's Choir
The Watoto Children's Choir will be performing at Christ Community Church on Sunday evening, April 11. Please mark your calendars, plan your familly's attendance and invite friends to hear wonderful music. In the coming days, requests will go out for families of CCC to consider hosting children in your home. Also, this event will be funded by a love offering taken that evening. Please begin considering how your family might assist in the cost of this ministry opportunity. Consider also this challenge: take what you might ordinarily spend on family or personal entertainment, and set it aside for this great ministry! Fran and Richard Barnes will be coordinating this event and will need much help. If you can consider providing housing or other needs, please contact them at 643-0841.
"Re-New" Children's Spring/Summer Consignment Sale
March 13th, 8am-12:00pm, closed from 12:00pm-1:00pm, open back up at 1:00pm until 4:00pm for the half price sale (most items). The consignor receives 70% of the profit from their sold items and 30% goes to Children's Ministry.
Student Ministry
Middle School
Summer Camp - We're heading to Tennessee for the EDGE conference. You won't want to miss this amazing, one-of-a-kind middle school retreat! Talk to Ashley for more details!
High School
- Oasis Wednesday - 7-9 pm...Come "rest" with us in the middle of your week as we worship, laugh, hang out, and spend some time in God's word with your small groups!
- Summer Missions - Deadline is March 31st to sign up for this amazing missions opportunity to West Virginia. Talk to Ashley for more details!
- Save the Date - Spring "Mystery" Retreat - April 16-18
|
| Prayer Requests |
-
Our Elders: Bill Marsh, Bryan Crotts, Daryl Andrews, Sam Cain, Willis Drew, Kent French, Bill Harris, Mickey McLean and Bill Ratchford
-
That our church will be characterized by a passion for evangelism and missions
-
Personal Missions: for the discipline to pray often for those who may not know Christ as Savior & Lord
-
Local Missions: for the work of our people as they serve in various capacities throughout Guilford County
-
Persecuted Christians: for the ability to count it all joy when facing troubles of any kind
-
Governing Authorities: pray for the next generation of leaders in our country to be people of principle
-
Our friends, relatives, and A.R.P. Chaplains serving around the world in the U.S. Military
Global Outreach Prayer Emphasis
Pray for the ARP Mobile Theological Training Team of John Carson, David Galletta, and Jack Whytock assisted by Gary Letchworth and Jay Hering. Perhaps no ministry in world evangelism is as important as teaching the pastors Scriptural theology.
|
| Adult Bible Fellowship |
- Study of the Gospel of John,
Elder Sam Cain: Worship and True Belief - John 12:1-36
- The Christian Home,
Pastor Crotts: Setting Standards for the Home
- Study of the Westminster Confession of Faith,
Pastor Marsh: Chapter 24 |
| To Prepare for the Lord's Day Worship |
Sunday's Sermon: "When is a Cymbal a Symbol?" Rev. Bill Marsh
Read to prepare for the Call to Worship: 1 Chronicles 16:8-10
Confession of Faith:
Colossians 1:13-22
We believe that God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
We believe thatHe is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For byHim all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.
And we who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present us holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, Amen.
|
| Food For Thought |
|
God has work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness; but we must also serve our generation, as David did before he fell asleep. God has a work to do; and not to help Him is to oppose Him.
John Owen
| |
|
|
|
|
|
