CCConnect May 27, 2011

Connect E-Letter

May 27, 2011 - Edition Number 136

From The Pastor

Dear Friends,

I hope you were encouraged last Sunday morning as we ordained Tom Harris as a Deacon. Just to be clear:

We do not have deacons so that there is free labor for setting up tables and chairs.
We do not have deacons so that someone can count the cash in the offering plate.

We do not have deacons because, well, someone has to unlock the church building on Sunday mornings.
We do not have deacons so that there will be names to go into the minutes of deacons' meetings.

In our understanding of this Biblical office, the principal duty of a deacon is leading the rest of the Body of Christ in mercy ministry, especially within the Body. Let's resolve to pray for our deacons and support them as they help us mirror Jesus' concern for those who bear the image of God.

The response to our modified structure in Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) has been gratifying. The balance of a teaching time followed by small group discussion, prayer, and fellowship seems to have met a need. After seven weeks considering stewardship of our time, talents, and treasures, we have moved through two of the three weeks unpacking Jonathan Edwards' essay on Christian Charity. Two weeks ago, Bryan Crotts walked us through the imperative of Christian charity in faithful discipleship. Last week, David Robinson led us in a conversation about charity and mercy within the Body of Christ. This week, I will take us through a discussion of some Biblical principles about mercy and charity to the world. How does that obligation differ from our commitment to other Christians? Is it different? Does it have a different purpose? Why should this matter to us? Come join us at 9:15 a.m. sharp in D131-133.

Beginning next Sunday, June 5, we will begin a 13-week series in ABF that has been particularly designed for the summer. With vacations and travel increasing, we strive to design a summer quarter in which each Sunday's content is a bit more standalone than normal and easily engaged, even if you have been away a few weeks prior. Our series this summer will cover 13 Christians from previous centuries and why they are important to us. We stand on the shoulders of our fathers and mothers in the faith; we ought to know who they were. The point of these character studies will not be more trivia; instead, we want you to know about them enough to grasp why they were important and the "takeaways" from their lives. I hope we are encouraged to see how God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways. The series will be taught by a quartet of teachers -- James Dickson, Ken Kunkel, Bryan Crotts, and me. There is more information below.

Also, on June 5, we will promote our children and youth to their classes for next year. If you have a child up through the fifth grade, be sure to read the announcement. There will also be folks on hand to help direct you to the right room. Moving children at the beginning of the summer has allowed us to restructure our nursery and teaching schedule to reduce the number of Sundays each year that our volunteers must miss morning worship. In other words, it has never been easier to help out with our children. See the announcement below!

As we continue moving through Mark 12 and Jesus' encounters during the Passion Week, we come to the question asked by the scribe in verses 28-34. Was he sincere? Or was he following the other leaders in trying to trap Jesus? I'm still deciding! Jesus tells the man that he is not far from the Kingdom of God. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? Yes! Come find out more. I look forward to seeing you then.

Your friend,
bill's sign

Quick Links

Student Ministry

Christ Community Church website

In This Issue

New Adult Bible Fellowship Series

Member Update & Prayer Needs

New ABF series coming June 5th

What do John Knox, John Calvin and John Newton all have in common? Besides the same first names, all three of these men have been greatly used by God as fathers in our faith. We'll be diving into the lives of these three men as well as ten others and discover what it takes to impact the world for Christ. Don't miss this new ABF series, A Great Cloud of Witnesses: 13 Other Christians We Need to Know.

Starting June 5th. Meets at 9:15 a.m. in room D-131/133

Student Ministries

Student Ministries start their new mid-week summer meetings this Wednesday, June 1 @ 6:30 p.m. at the Harden's home.

Harden's Address: 8409 Case Ridge Dr. Oak Ridge, NC
Contact Mackay at msmith@cccarp.org for more information.

Promotion Sunday is June 5th

To see what class your child is moving to, click here.

Nursery Angels Needed

A very special thank you to all of you who continue to serve so faithfully in loving and caring for our littlest ones. Our nursery is brimming delightfully with children entrusted by God to our congregation, and we would love for each willing adult in our body to have a chance to care for our little ones.

We also would like to reduce the commitment of nursery volunteers during worship hour to once every other month instead of every month so that our adults can worship together as much as possible. Toward that end, we need 5 new adults that are members of our congregation to come alongside our current volunteers. We need you! If you would be willing to tend to our little ones 6 Sundays a year (every other month) during the worship hour, please contact Adair Bolton at adairbolton@gmail.com or by phone at 336-510-8536. No experience necessary - just a willingness to serve.

BBQ in the Park

Spend Father's Day, June 19th, relaxing at Bur Mil Park. Toss some horseshoes, pass a volleyball, or throw a line in the fishing pond while we grill up some hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixin's. Bring your favorite lawn chairs. Games will begin at 5 PM and food will be served at 6 PM to be followed by a volleyball tournament for all who want to play. Our reserved site, Shelter # 7, is located at the back of the park near parking, a playground, biking and walking trail, fishing pond and fishing dock, the Wildlife Center, sand volleyball courts and horse shoe pits. It will be a great time for all ages.

Haiti Mission Trip

Click on this link to watch a video about Mission Of Hope Orphanage in Haiti.

Member Update and Prayer Needs

Nathan Brown
Last Sunday was Nathan Brown's birthday. To celebrate, Nathan went clay shooting after church. Unfortunately, he had an unhappy encounter with a sporting clay slinger and received a serious wound to his eye socket. Nathan continues to improve from his accident on Sunday. His eye is improving daily, enough so that he has the weekend off from daily ophthalmologist visits. Stitches will be removed today and he will have facial fractures examined for treatment. We need to pray for his recovery, as well as their finances with medical costs (Grayson's RSV hospital stay plus this week's expenses) and lack of employment. Nathan is self-employed in home remodeling work so being unable to work will have a serious impact on their income.

Willis Drew
Willis Drew had successful surgery on Monday, May 23rd to remove his prostate and cancer. Willis is recovering well. He visits his doctor next Tuesday for checkup. Pray for his recovery & for Kay as she cares for him and maintains his business.

Marilyn Jones
Marilyn had an emergency appendectomy yesterday morning at 11:00 AM. Her appendix ruptured and doctors will treat her accordingly. Marilyn did not feel well last night and they went to the ER around 3 AM. Pray for her speedy recovery.

Our Book Table

In an effort to get the best Christian resources into your hands and homes in a more systematic and consistent way, we will begin this week having a Book Table in the Fellowship Hall. Every book, booklet, and pamphlet has been reviewed by one of our pastors to make sure that we are offering you only the best of the best. There are helpful resources on family life, studying the Bible, some key Biblical doctrines, and growing in your Christian life. We don't have everything yet that we intend to have, but there is already a good supply. Stop and browse when you have a moment.

Christians Get Depressed Too by David Murray

Many Christians mistakenly believe that true Christians don't get depressed, and this misconception heaps additional pain and guilt onto Christians who are suffering from mental and emotional distress. Author David P. Murray comes to the defense of depressed Christians, asserting that Christians do get depressed! He explains why and how Christians should study depression, what depression is, and the approaches caregivers, pastors, and churches can take to help those who are suffering from it. With clarity and wise biblical insight, Dr. Murray offers help and hope to those suffering from depression, the family members and friends who care for them, and pastors ministering to these wounded members of their flock.

"I heartily commend this new and helpful book on depression and psychiatric illness. It is the condensed result of much reading and pastoral wisdom, digested into a few non-technical chapters. It is full of Christian love for those who suffer in this way and who need our utmost compassion and tactful sympathy. I wish I had known the things written in these pages when I was a much younger minister." - Maurice Roberts

It is available on the book table for just $8.

All of the resources are offered well below retail price, but we do not want price to be an issue. Our policy is for you to take what you will read and to pay what you can. A small sticker with the price of each item is on the back cover. Our purpose is to get good resources into the homes of our members and visitors. This is not a money-maker, but we hope to cover our costs.

Let's Pray Together This Week..

Sunday, May 29

Pray for our worship service today. Ask the Lord to bring great conviction to everyone, both to those in Christ and those who are not. Pray that those in union with Christ would come to a deeper assurance of that. Pray that those who are not united to Christ would come to a deep awareness of their condition. Ask the Lord to bring them to saving faith in Christ.

Monday, May 30

On Memorial Day, thank the Lord for those who have served our country to give us freedom of worship. Also, pray for those in harm's way today. Ask the Lord to comfort those families who have lost loved ones in our nation's current wars. Finally, ask the Lord to bless the ministry of the Word by faithful, godly military chaplains. Pray that the crucible of military service would be used by the Holy Spirit to focus hearts on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, May 31

Ask the Lord to make us increasingly a holy people who are zealous to walk in the Lord's ways. Pray that we would be tender to the Spirit's conviction of sin and that it would drive us afresh to the cross and toward holiness "without which no one will see the Lord." Pray for those in our Body who struggle with besetting sin. Be their Aaron and Hur this day.

Wednesday, June 1

Pray for our three of our member families in the midst of moves away from our area. The Dickinson family will soon be moving to California. The Torrens family will soon be moving to Pennsylvania, and the Dicksons will soon be moving to Alabama. Thank the Lord for these families and what they have meant to our church. Ask Him to lead them to healthy, Gospel-centered churches in their new communities. Pray especially for their devotional lives during this season without routine.

Thursday, June 2