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April 23, 2010 - Edition Number 83 |
| From the Pastor
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Dear Friends,
We have a treat in store for our Sunday Supper this week. We will begin eating a covered dish meal at 5:30. The theme is American, which is pretty open-ended, following on past nights of Italian and Mexican. Please note that we will serve in the D-wing's first floor hallway (adult classroom building), so come there when you arrive. After eating, we will dismiss the younger children at 6:15 and gather to hear Warren Smith, the Associate Publisher of WORLD Magazine and author of the book A Lover's Quarrel with the Evangelical Church. (Warren is a colleague of our clerk of Session, Mickey McLean, who serves as the editor of WORLD's website.) I read this book last summer on vacation in about two days. I have known Warren for several years and know him to be insightful, godly, and witty. The book is no different. As a Christian journalist, Warren has watched the modern evangelical church in which he came to faith, studying it and finding both much to love and much lacking. But he is also no pessimist and sees a way forward. We will wrap up by 7:15.
As we announced last Sunday morning, we will hold a congregational information session on Sunday evening, May 2. A light dinner will be served at 5:30. Beginning at 6:15, we will pick up the discussion we began as a congregation at our March 7 meeting. At the May 2 meeting, the officers of the church will release our proposed 2010-11 budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. We will explain the assumptions behind it, as well as our ministry plans for this next year. We will also update you on the progress of our discussions and efforts regarding excess property. We will have a good bit of information for you and also look forward to both your questions and comments.
Following the May 2 meeting, we will also be available on Sunday afternoon, May 9, to meet with any who would like more clarification or discussion. Of course, any of the officers are always available to meet with you as schedules permit. Finally, it is our hope to be able to hold a short congregational meeting immediately following morning worship on Sunday, May 16, for the purpose of voting on several motions related to the budget and the excess property. We will have those motions in final form for release at the May 2 information meeting.
You will notice in this week's bulletin an announcement that our deacons have concluded that the church's 2000 Ford Expedition has seen its best days. Thus, they are receiving sealed bids in the library through 5 p.m. next Friday, April 30. This vehicle has hauled countless youth and adults on countless trips and has served us well. Maintenance costs have begun to rise, as they do in any 10-year-old vehicle driven by multiple drivers. It still has a lot of life left in it for the right driver. If you have any questions, contact Tommy Cook, Chairman of our Diaconate.
Let me formally thank all of the households who hosted groups of adults and children from the Watoto Children's Choir a couple of weeks ago. It was a delightful evening to meet the children, hear their performance, and learn of the good work God is doing in the aftermath of war and AIDS in Uganda. You delightfully swarmed their merchandise table, which helps support their tour in the United States. Earlier this week, we sent off a check for $2,200, which was the offering collected that evening. All of this money is sent back to Uganda for direct support of the orphanage and school.
Over the past year, the Lord has been good to gather at Christ Community a group of young, single adults. Patty and I will be hosting a lunch after worship at our house for this group on Sunday, May 16. If you fit the description (college age and up), we would love to have you join us. Contact Mackay Smith for more information or to let us know that you are planning to come.
Ladies of all ages: Don't forget the Mothers' Day Tea on Saturday, May 1, from 3 until 4:30 p.m. It will be held in the D wing and RSVPs are appreciated.
We continue in Mark this week, considering 4:1-20 and what is commonly called "The Parable of the Sower." What does it teach us about how God is at work today? What can we learn about our own spiritual struggles? How does this parable help to shape how we pursue Christ? Why did Jesus even use parables? I hope we answer all of these questions and more this Sunday morning. See you then.
Your friend,  |
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| Sunday Night Supper |  Join us this Sunday night at 5:30pm for an American Pot Luck Theme dinner. We will be setting up and eating in the D Wing. We have an exciting new way to do dinners so join us and find out what's up. Please bring a main meat item for your family plus extras to share. |
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| Save The Date | |
Save the Date for these upcoming events:
- Sunday Night Supper April 25th 5:30pm American pot luck
- Ladies Tea May 1st, 3-4:30pm
- Congregational Meeting May 2nd, 6pm and May 16th after worship.
- Sunday Lunch for all young adults, including college students, on May 16th at the Marshes' Home (ask Ashley, Bryan or Mackay for more info)
- Vacation Bible School - Mornings of June 21-25th
More information to follow soon on these events. |
| Opportunities for Ministry |
- Sunday Supper Join us at 5:30pm for an American Pot luck Dinner. Please bring a main food item for your family plus extras to share. We are blessed to have a guest speaker, Warren Smith, from World Magazine.
- Expedition Sale: After 10 years of service helping transport countless kids and adults to countless activities, the church's 2000 Ford Expedition Sport Utility 4D will be available for sale. The deacons will receive bids through 5pm Friday April 30. If you would like more information, please visit the church library where more info and bid forms are avaible.
- The Ladies of Christ Community are invited to a Tea, on May 1st, at 3-4:30 in the afternoon. The theme is GENERATION TO GENERATION ~ all ages are welcome, and "little ladies" are welcome to bring a doll to accompany them! R.S.V.P. to amunson@cccarp.org
- Inquirers' Class:
Interested in finding out more about CCC? The Inquirers' Class is our way of orienting prospective members to the history, doctrine, and ongoing ministries of Christ Community. The first session will be a dinner held on Friday, May 14th, from 6:00-8:30pm at the Marshes' House. Class will continue on Saturday (May 15th) at 9:00am in room C 105. If you have any questions or would like to reserve your seat, please contact Amy Munson (amunson@cccarp.org or 288-2365 ext.#23). We hope to see you there.
- Vacation Bible School will be the week June 21st - 25th, from 9am -noon. The theme this year is the "HIGH SEAS, Exploring the Mighty Love of God". If you are interested in severing on the VBS team/committee, or volunteering in anyway please contact Debbie Cain @ 288-2365, ext. 28. No one is too old to volunteer in VBS. Please also be in prayer for VBS-2010, as it is just around the corner.
- Save the Date: Women's Ministries will be hosting the 1st Presbyterial's Annual Women's Ministry Meeting on August 21st at 10am. Susan Hunt is the main speaker for the day! Also there will be an event just for CCC ladies on Friday night August 20th.
- CCC's Future Webelo Campers The boys will be doing a few activities to help offset their costs of going to Webelos summer camp in July. On May 15th and June 6th the boys will be providing car washes at Brassfield's Chick-fil-a. Chick-fil-a is also allowing us to host a Spirit Night on May 26th from 5-8. Lastly, we will also be having a yard sale on May 22nd. If you would like to donate any items for the sale please email Cindy Morris at cindy-morris@vfc.com or call 707-5134. Any donations would be appreciated. Please join us for these events-and invite some friends to join you.
A special thank you to all who came out and helped support the
blood drive by volunteering your time and blood donations. |
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Prayer Requests |
- Kevin Hanner's mother - prayers while in hospital with cancer
- Jean Herndon - healing from recent fall
- Helen Alburo's Aunt Estella - For her health and spirits as she recovers in a nursing home
- Pray for Frank van Dalen as he leads World Witness, the Global Outreach arm of the ARP. Ask the Lord to continue to give Frank wisdom as he coordinates the efforts of all the missionaries.
- Our ladies Bible study teachers and leaders
- That the Lord would move more people to joyfully and extensively use their gifts, abilities, and talents in the work of our local church, and area ministries
- Personal Missions: that we would be salt & light in our spheres of influence where God has sovereignty placed us to bear witness to His goodness in Christ Jesus
- Mission Churches: for opportunities to develop new churches in growing areas without good churches
- Local Missions: the ongoing work of Joseph Alghrary in Detroit as they take the Gospel to Arabic speaking people through the ministry of satellite television
- Persecuted Christians: that they might find comfort dwelling in the shadow of the Almighty
- Governing Authorities: Our President, Vice President, the Cabinet, Supreme Court, and Congress
- Our friends, relatives, and ARP Chaplains serving around the world in the US Military
- Pray for Tat and Patty Stewart as they minister to Iranians all around the world. Praise the Lord for many who have come to recognize the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
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| Adult Bible Fellowship |
- Study of the Gospel of John, Elder Sam Cain: The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, John 17
The Christian Home, Pastor Crotts: Stewarship for LIfe: Serving Others and Work
Study of the Westminster Confession of Faith, Pastor Marsh: Chapter 28
-All classes begin at 9:15 AM and meet in the lower level of the D-Wing |
| Last Sunday's Attendance and Tithes and Offerings | |
April 18
Worship Service Attendance: 304
Tithes and Offerings: $14,271
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| To Prepare for the Lord's Day Worship |
Sunday's Sermon: "Master Gardener" Rev. Bill Marsh
Mark 4:1-20 Confession of Faith: Ephesians 2:12-22
We remember that we were at one time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus we who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to us who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then we are no longer strangers and aliens, but we are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him we also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Worship Songs:
Psalm 24
Come , Thou Fount of Every Blessing
How Great is our God
Before the Throne of God Above
Flow, O Mighty, Holy River |
| Food For Thought | |
Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to Thee, can rid me of this dark unrest, and set my spirit free.
Horatius Bonar |
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