Connect E-Letter
August 26, 2011 - Edition Number 149
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From The Pastor
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Dear Friends,
Nineteenth-century Scottish pastor Robert Murray M'Cheyne wrote of his Lord's Day practice of getting up early and staying up late since he liked that one day in seven to be as long as possible. I often think of this at the end of our worship service each Sunday morning and always agree with him after one of our Sunday Suppers. Last week was no different. A small army of helpers set up, prepared the meal, served, and cleaned up with good cheer. Though we had a number of families and individuals out for a last-chance getaway or other commitments, we managed to eat almost 200 pieces of fried chicken, not to mention sautéed green beans and real mashed potatoes. I hope you enjoyed the singing and the update on the generally positive state of our finances and property sale. If you were not present and have questions, feel free to contact any member of the Session. We would be glad to speak with you.
If being part of our Adult Bible Fellowship and Sunday school hour has not been your family's weekly habit, this would be a great time to make it just that. This Sunday is the last in our summer biographical series looking at Christians from church history whom God has used in significant ways. We will learn more about the life and legacy of D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, among the greatest English-speaking preachers of the 20th century. Then, the following Sunday morning we will begin a four-week version of our class for new members. At the beginning of the ministry year, I thought it would be a good time to review what we should expect from Christ Community Church and what the church should expect of her members. We have some families and individuals who are ready to go through that class, but reviewing this material would be a healthy discipline for us all.
Finally, let me commend corporate prayer to you. We have discussed a number of options for gathering the congregation to pray - a particular challenge with people as scattered as we are (and, truth be told, as over-scheduled as most of us are). We have a faithful few who meet at 8:30 on Sunday mornings in the Hospitality Room and there is also a noon Tuesday prayer meeting. If neither of those times works for you but you would be interested in gathering with others at another time and/or hosting a gathering, please speak to Bryan or me. One aspect of our vision for Christ Community is that we would be defined, in part, as a praying church. A few days ago I read the reflections of a former missionary to Romania in the early post-Communist years of the 1990s. He observed:
Prayer takes up a big portion of a Romanian worship service. The typical service on Sunday morning begins at 9:00 a.m. The entire first hour is spent in prayer. Bigger churches open up the floor for spontaneous prayers about various requests. Smaller churches go pew by pew, so that every church member gets an opportunity to pray out loud. This tradition of soaking everything in prayer makes a strong statement: Prayer matters. It is not a waste of time. I often struggle with prayer because I am not fully aware of my utter dependence on God. I'm a "let's get to it!" kind of activist. Prayer often seems passive. The Romanian testimony of prayer challenges me that it is never a waste of time to enter the throne room with our brothers and sisters and petition the King to act on our behalf. This is, in fact, the most effective type of activism for a child of God.
(If you are interested, you can read the rest of his reflections here.)
We come to the last of nearly 60 sermons on Mark's Gospel this Sunday; ironically, we will cover a passage that does not belong in Mark. Though very old, the best evidence indicates that it is not canonical and most Bible translations treat it that way. We are going to look at why this is and how this should actually increase our confidence in the Scriptures as the Word of God. I look forward to seeing you then.
Your friend,
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CCC Consignment Sale is Tomorrow, August 27th!
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Christ Community Church
Fall Children's Consignment Sale
Saturday, August 27
8 am to Noon
1 pm to 4 pm (select items half price)
The proceeds will support our Benevolence Ministry. What a wonderful way to serve our community and each other! Please come out and find some great deals while supporting a great cause.
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Student Ministries
| Backyard Blast: Wednesday, August 31, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Join us outside at CCC
for pizza, singing, ultimate frisbee, flag football, and bocce ball.
Parents and Volunteer Meeting: Stick around for a brief 10 minute meeting immediately after the service today to hear about the upcoming semester. (ABF Room) Those who would like to begin volunteering with student ministry may also attend the meeting or let Mackay know of your interest.
Bonclarken Retreat Dates: High School: Sept. 23-25. Middle School: Nov. 11-13.
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New Office Hours
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College Student Ministry
|  Do you have a student heading off to college? Would you like them to be covered in prayer, as well as occasional notes of encouragement and gift cards for Starbucks, Wendys, etc? If so, please contact Candy Smith or Bonnie Johnson with names and addresses. They'll organize getting letters and small gifts to your student and have them prayed for. If you are interested in helping write letters, praying for the students or purchasing gift cards, you can also contact Candy Smith or Bonnie Johnson and let them know the ways you'd love to help. |
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Missionary Care Packages
|  Help us encourage our missionary families with some familiar items from home! We are putting together our annual care packages for David & Rachael (East Africa) and Art & Andrea (Southeast Asia), and would love for you to be involved! Please stop by the table in the back of the Fellowship Hall before or after the worship service this Sunday from August 28 through September 11 to choose one or more care package items to purchase. If you prefer to make a donation, we will purchase the items for you! Contact Laura Kunkel (laurakunkel01@yahoo.com) or Bonnie Johnson (bonnie@trslaw.com) with any questions. Thank you for supporting our missionaries!!
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Men's Fireside Gatherings
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Upcoming Blood Drive
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Evening Precept Bible Study
|  When you're ready to intimately understand the whole counsel of God, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, you're ready for Precept upon Precept.
Evening Precept Bible Study will resume on Tuesday, September 6th at 7 p.m. Please consider joining the group as we continue studying the Kings and Prophets series with "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (2 Kings, 2 Chronicles and Zephaniah). It is an easy-to-follow, daily format. Workbooks will be ordered soon so please contact Kathy Wilson at (336) 430-9030 if you are interested.
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ABF Series Sunday Mornings
|  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 ABF series, A Great Cloud of Witnesses: 13 Other Christians We Need to Know.
This week's need-to-know Christian: David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Meets at 9:15 a.m. in room D-131/133 |
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Our Book Table
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Have you visited the Book Table lately? There are new selections added regularly. 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. Prices are marked on the back of the books. Simply place your payment in the wood lock box.
 Here are some great reviews for Operation World:
"Outside of the Bible, no book has had a greater practical impact on my personal prayer life than Operation World. God has used this book to open my eyes and the eyes of the church I pastor to the needs of the world and the greatness of the God who desires to make His glory known in the world. I eagerly welcome this new edition and wholeheartedly recommend it."
-- David Platt, Senior Pastor, The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, AL, and author of the New York Times best-seller Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
"For years I have used Operation World to pray for people in every tongue, tribe and nation. Operation World is a time honored and well tested global manual of prayer which will provide for you everything you need to bring the nations of the world before the throne of God. It will expand your heart, vision and passion for the peoples of the world and God's deep desire to reach those in the darkest corners with His help and hope."
-- Joni Eareckson Tada, Author/Speaker
"In the world of missions, I know of nothing more significant than Operation World, when it comes to learning about the need, opportunity and prayer points for world evangelism. ... Next to your Bible, Operation World will be the most important book you will own. Go nowhere without it. Pray daily, sharing the burden of our Lord."
-- Dr. K.P. Yohannan, International Director, Gospel for Asia
"This is probably one of the most important missionary tools in the entire history of missions."
-- George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilization and World Missions Advocate
This book is available at the book table for $14.
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.
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Let's Pray Together This Week
| Saturday, August 27
Pray for our gathered worship tomorrow, asking the Lord to grant us a great measure of His Spirit to bring repentance, faith, and delight in Him. Pray for the ministers who will lead us and the musicians who will serve us, asking that Christ's obedient life and atoning death would be their glory and their joy.
Sunday, August 28
Pray for our praying! Ask the Lord to make us a congregation who believes that nothing of any eternal consequence can be done by us except by God's blessing in response to our prayers. Ask Him to burden us to see His name hallowed, His Kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Monday, August 29
Pray for those seeking employment in our church. Ask the Lord to provide for their needs and to give them work that uses their talents. Pray that they might be good witnesses for Christ in future jobs. Pray that they might be guarded from discouragement during this season of their lives.
Tuesday, August 30
Pray for the Crotts family as they settle in their new home. Thank the Lord for His provision for their family's needs and for ministry. Ask the Lord to bless their relationships with new neighbors. Also, pray today for others in our midst who need to sell homes. Ask Him to bring buyers who can pay fair prices and close quickly.
Wednesday, August 31
Pray today for Christians in Libya who make up only 3% of the population. In the aftermath of Libya's revolution, pray for their witness for Christ, as well as their protection under a new constitution. Ask the Lord to bring a great Kingdom harvest in this long-repressed nation.
Thursday, September 1
Pray today that we would be deeply impressed with the depth of our sin and the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Ask the Lord to make us a holy people who testify to the Gospel's power to transform us. Pray for those who struggle with besetting sin and for the Lord to bring victory.
Friday, September 2
Pray for those in our Body who are struggling with depression. Ask the Lord to give them good, deep sleep each night. Pray that they would know a special measure of God's Spirit applying the promises of Scripture to their souls and minds. Ask the Lord to make us a congregation of people whom He can use to bind up the broken-hearted.
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The Lord's Day
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Sunday Sermon "Verses, Verses, Verses"
Rev. Bill Marsh Mark 16:9-20
Morning Worship Hymns and Songs
Holy, Holy, Holy
Prince of Peace
Ancient Words
We Rest on Thee
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Important Information
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Last week's Tithes and Offerings: $5,567
Morning Attendance: 168
This Week's Nursery Volunteers:
9:15 a.m.- Nicole Tate, Angela Bryan 10:15 a.m.- Patty Marsh, Rachel Brown
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Food For Thought
| "It is not a true Gospel that gives us the impression that the Christian life is easy, and that there are no problems to be faced. That is not the New Testament teaching. The New Testament is most alarming at first, indeed terrifying, as it shows us the problems by which we are confronted. But follow it - go on! It does not stop halfway, it goes on to this addition, this second half; and here it shows us the way in which, though that is the truth concerning the battle, we can be enabled to wage it, and not only to wage it, but to triumph in it. It shows us that we are meant to be 'more than conquerors.'"
-- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones |
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