Connect E-Letter
July 23, 2010 - Edition Number 95 |
|
From the Pastor |  Dear Friends,
As good as it was to get away with the family for vacation,
it was also good to get back home earlier this week. We missed being with you
these past two Lord's Days. I know that Bryan did a fine job in the pulpit, though
I was only able to listen to one of his sermons. Last Saturday's lightning
storm and its resulting damage to the sound system prevented last Sunday
morning's sermon from being recorded. We should have all of those problems
remedied this Sunday.
In a couple of weeks, we will have a special day of
activities following morning worship. On Sunday, August 8 (that's two weeks
from now), we will hold a congregational meeting to update you on financial and
real estate matters, as well as to look ahead to the upcoming ministry year. To
help us do that, we will have a ministry fair that day. Various areas of
service, fellowship, and study in the life of the church will have displays
around the fellowship hall and outside for you to learn more about ways to
participate. As the school year approaches, be praying about the ways the Lord
would have you to serve and connect at Christ Community this year. We also will
serve lunch that day and have some outdoor water games for the children after
lunch. This should be a fun opportunity to visit across the table, consider the
year ahead, and discover what we can do for God in our church in the months to come. We will
have more details next week, but be planning for this special day.
I couldn't be more excited about the fall kickoff for our
women's ministry. On Friday evening, August 20, author and speaker Susan Hunt
will be here for an evening with our women and our preteen/teenage daughters.
As a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and author, Mrs. Hunt has a vision for
women and their role in the home and the church that is as robust as it is
Biblical. She has a unique ability, in her own soft-spoken way, to call women
and men to a more vigorous embrace of their God-given roles. Because I have
heard her speak several times over the years and have read much of her work, I
cannot commend too highly Mrs. Hunt and this event to our women. She
(literally) wrote the book on women's ministry in the local church. We should
have details for you by next week's Connect,
but women ages 8 to age 98 should plan to attend, so be sure to mark your
calendars now for Friday, August 20.
Incidentally, Mrs. Hunt will be speaking several times at Christ
Community the next day as we host the annual meeting of the women of our
presbytery. We encourage all Christ Community women to attend the Saturday,
August 21 meeting, as well. If you are interested in learning more, contact Amy
in the church office.
Let me continue to urge you to join us for our weekly prayer
meetings. Attendance continues to increase and these are rich times together. We
gather at noon on Tuesdays and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays in C-105. The power for any
real ministry in this church comes from the blessing of the Spirit, which I
believe is tied far more directly than we realize to the prayers of the church.
Of course, we can do this anytime, with or without others. I know that
gathering with others encourages my praying, though. If you have not yet come,
resolve to do so next week.
We will be back in Mark this week as we finish chapter 6. Jesus
continues to reveal Himself to His disciples, but their hard hearts prevent
them from seeing Him in all of His glory. Still, He gives Himself to them-and
us-and shows that His ways are infinitely better than ours. I look forward to
seeing you.
Your friend,
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Summer End Picnic / Ministry Fair
|
Following the worship service on August 8th, plan for a fun-filled lunch and afternoon. Following morning worship, there will be a short congregational update on finance and property matters, as well as our annual ministry fair. There will be lunch provided ($4 per person or $10 per family). After lunch we will be having many activities - ministry fair, water games for the kids and music playing throughout the afternoon (big thanks go to Tina and Will). Please bring lawn chairs, blankets and sunscreen.
If you and your family are interested in helping with games, water play, table set up, cooking, clean-up and more, please let Amy know. |
|
|
|
| Resource Board is ready |
The new resource board is ready to go. It is located in the hallway outside of the fellowship hall. Our intention is to support each other within our church community. We have many people with various skills and people who may be in need of their services. This will provide a means for us to let each other know about in-house skills and needs. Ideas: babysitting, items for sale or give away, rooms for rent or roommate needed, music or tutoring lessons, etc.
If you have any questions or would like to submit something for the board: visit the board (there are forms to fill out), or email, call, or visit Amy (288-2365/amunson@cccarp.org) and include the following: Name, email, phone, and a short description of what you would like to communicate.
|
|
Opportunities for Ministry |
Attention Moms and Kids
Play date at Country Park playground area at 10:30 until noon on Wednesday July 28th! Bring drinks and snacks or bag lunch!! (located on Nathanael Greene Drive; can enter from either Lawndale Ave. or Pisgah Church Rd.)
Middle School Youth
Grab your parents and join us in the Attic at 9:15 on Sundays for a great Family Sunday School.
High School Youth
NO Summer "Oasis" This week...instead pray for your friends on the mission trip!
Weekly Prayer Meetings
The meetings are held each week on Tuesdays at 12pm and Wednesdays at 7pm. Join us in prayer for His people and His church in C 105 (located on the left side of the fellowship hall).
Cub Scout Cookout
Do you have a young man in first grade through fifth grade or 7 to 10 years old? If so, Cub Scouting is for you and your family! Join us on September 7th at 6:30pm for the CCC Cub Scout Cookout. Come meet your new scouting friends, leaders, and families, all while eating a hot dog. For more information, contact Dirk Munson (dmunson@bellsouth.net or 358-2094).
Female Looking For Accommodations Elspeth Glasgow is a recent graduate of Grove City College, a member of the ARP church there, and will soon be moving to Greensboro to teach at Caldwell Academy. She arrives in August and wrote us to see if any of our members or visitors are looking for a boarder. This might be a good opportunity for families, older women, or young single women. (The Marshes met her a few weeks ago and promise that she is a delightful young woman.) If you are interested in learning more, you can contact her via glasgowec1@gmail.com.
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. Join us for a four-week, one-hour class during the 9:15 Sunday School hour. Our next four-week cycle will be August 1st, 8th,15th, and 22nd. The class meets in Pastor Bill's office. Drop in and find out more about CCC.
Women's Precept Bible Study
The Tuesday evening women's Precept group plans to continue the Kings and Prophets series with Passing the Mantle (5 lessons referencing: 2 Kings 2-14 and 2 Chronicles 21-25) to begin in September.
All Bible students are invited. Details should follow in August. For more information call Kathy Wilson @ 288-8331.
First Presbyterial Women's Ministries
On August 21st, 2010, CCC is hosting the 103rd meeting of the 1st Presbyterial Women's Ministries. All ladies are invited! Susan Hunt will be the guest speaker. She is the Women's Ministry Consultant for Christian Education and Publications, a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Columbia Theological Seminary. She has authored numerous books and travels extensively speaking to various women's groups. Her desire to help women have a heart for each other, for the church and for the Reformed faith is unparalleled. Registration begins at 9 o'clock and a light breakfast will be offered with the program beginning at 10. Lunch is offered at $5 a person. (Nursery is provided for infants and toddlers. Please indicate the age and number of children when you respond affirmatively.) R.S.V.P. by July 30th to Amy or call (336) 288-2365. Also, on Friday evening, August 20th, 2010, Mrs. Hunt will address Christ Community's teen girls and ladies (location TBA). Please R.S.V.P. by July 30th to Amy or call (336) 288-2365 for this event as well.
We need nursery helpers August 21st during the First Presbytery's Women's Conference. Please email Julie Streng at jstreng@triad.rr.com or call at 207-0069
|
|
Adult Bible Fellowship Classes |
Adult Bible Fellowship Class (in the D-Wing at 9:15am) Christianity Explored - Class Facilitators are Robert George and Ken Kunkel
Youth and Parents Bible Class (in the Attic, upstairs D-Wing at 9:15am)
First Principles of the Christian Faith, for Parents and Kids - Jim Van Eerden (July)
A Study of the Attributes of God - Mackay Smith (August)
We offer the following ministries for children during the worship hour:
- 0-2 Nursery (B Wing, first floor)
- 2-3 year old class (B Wing, first floor)
-
Children's Church for ages 4, 5, and 6 (B wing, second floor)
-
Children's Sermon for 2nd through 4th grades. (during sermon time)
|
|
Prayer Requests |
- Pray for the High School Mission Trip to Bluefield, WV, July 24-30th.
- Pray for Edith Bowden (Renee Harris' mother) while in hospital. Pray for comfort, healing and wisdom for the doctors.
- For all the families who are with child. Our prayers are with you as you are carrying and preparing for your little one to come. We pray for a safe and healthy delivery. Families within our church family that are carrying: Carters, Donovans, Browns, Lankfords and Wards.
- Pray for the men who are on our Church Session: Bill Marsh, Bryan Crotts, Mickey McLean, Darryl Andrews, Willis Drew, Kent French, and Bill Ratchford. Pray for wisdom in carrying out God's Will.
- Pray for our hard working and devoted Deacons: Helen Alburo, Jeff Butler, Tommy Cook, Jeremy Frens and Frank Glenn.
- That our church would develop a women's ministry that invests in women of all ages in a way that equips them as disciples of Christ, for their own spiritual maturation, for the good of the marriages and family.
- Personal Missions: Pray for boldness, hope that we might clearly proclaim who God is, the sinfulness of man, and the provision of one Mediator - the man Christ Jesus.
- Mission Churches: Pray for Presbytery's mission developers, core groups, and those whom the Lord might bring into the local ministries of our mission churches in their respective communities.
- Local Missions: Pray for the local ministries of the Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center and Greensboro Youth for Christ.
- Persecuted Christians: Pray for the peace of Christ to dwell in the lives of those who suffer for their King.
- Governing Authorities: Pray that Godly men and women will be elected to serve our nation, state and city.
- Our friends, relatives, and A.R.P. Chaplains serving around the world in the U.S. Military.
- Whenever you hear Iran in the news, remember to pray for the Iranian Ministry of the ARP led by Rev. Tat Stewart. A few aspects of the ministry are the satellite television, the Internet seminary, the website and booklets written by Tat.
|
|
To Prepare for the Lord's Day Worship | |
Sunday's Sermon "Get Him? You've Got It" Rev. Bill Marsh Mark 6:45-56
Confession of Faith Heidelberg Catechism #1
Leader
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
Congregation
That I am not my own,1
but belong body and soul,
in life and in death-2
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.3
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,4
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.5
He also watches over me in such a way6
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven:7
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.8
Because I belong to him,
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life9
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.10
11 Cor. 6:19-20, 2Rom. 14:7-9, 31 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14, 41 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2; 5John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11, 6John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5; 7Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18, 8Rom. 8:28, 9Rom. 8:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14, 10Rom. 8:1-17
Worship Songs O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
Crown Him with Many Crowns
You are Holy
He Knows My Name
Doxology
Holy Holy Holy
Nursery Workers for July 25, 2010
9:30 Hour: Nicole Tate, Steve Teague, and Pat Hogan
10:30 Hour: Rachel Brown, Greg Dickinson, and Betty Blakeman
|
|
Food For Thought |
God will not turn away from doing you good. He will keep on doing good. He doesn't do good to His children sometimes and bad to them other times. He keeps on doing good and He never will stop doing good for ten thousand ages of ages. When things are going bad, that does not mean God has stopped doing good. It means He is shifting things around to get them in place for more good, if you will go on loving Him.
- John Piper
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
