Connect E-Letter
December 22, 2011 - Edition Number 166
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From The Associate Pastor
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Dear Friends,
We are nearing the time of year when we watch programs or read in print "the year in review". Reminders of milestones, important deaths, celebrity weddings, political movements and more jog our memories about events the previous year held. Our church has certainly had many milestone events in 2011!
I am grateful for facility swaps, debt payments and building renovations. I am even more grateful, even privileged to have a birds-eye view of spiritual debt-relief and serious heart renovation in the lives of many in our church body. Further, I have seen the Lord ask many of you to do hard things, and you are walking in obedience in those things. God is at work in our midst! His Word is bearing down in our lives and doing great transformational work. As I recount how God has worked in many of your lives this year, I see a year worth celebrating!
Many of you have had a painful year. Each of us faces death all day long. We find ourselves in the midst of messy relationships that need patience, understanding and love. We've sent a handful of families to other places to follow God's call, and we miss them! Loved ones have died. People have disappointed us. There's job loss in our congregation. We could recount a number of difficulties that have plagued us! This year has also given us a mission trip, adoptions, births, weddings, baptisms and professions of faith from young and old. New members have joined our fellowship. There have been many rich events in our midst.
Consider a great truth from the pen of the Apostle Paul: But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV) In these verses, we are reminded of God's perfect plan, perfect timing and perfect redemption.
From before the dawn of time, God set his affection upon his beloved. He knew about sin, the fall, wrath, curses, decay and death. The people of God, even the world itself, could not wait for the appearing of Jesus. As the birth of Christ approached, there was much groaning under the weight of life in a broken place. Sound familiar? What great joy there is in Christmas, as we remember that Jesus Christ, God's son, broke in space and time to work redemption in us.
Christ has come! Christ is at work in our midst. And Christ will come again. His timing is always perfect, his plan is flawless and what a mighty redemption he is doing!
I am looking forward to walking with you in 2012,
Bryan
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UPDATE: Tina and Noah Forlines
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Tina and Noah arrived N.C. Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday for their kidney transplant surgeries. After a very long day, both surgeries were successful! As expected, both are experiencing a good bit of pain and soreness. They could be released as early as Friday. Tina's parents live in Summerfield and Noah's parents are here from Illinois to help care for them once home. Please pray specifically over these next few weeks for protection from infections, relief from pain and for Tina's body to continue a good acceptance of this foreign kidney. We will continue to update you on their status. If you would like to provide a meal for the Forlines, you can contact Helen Alburo. Helen is coordinating our physical ministry to them. You can reach Helen at 430-8025 or by email . If you would like to send words of encouragement, their mailing address is: 8208 Curraghmore Ct., Stokesdale, NC 27357. Emails, cards, and phone calls would be a wonderful way to reach out to them. Due to the immuno-suppressant drugs and risk of infection, they will not be able to have visitors at this time. |
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Saturday, December 24th - Christmas Eve Service
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This Sunday, December 25th
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** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Sunday Sermon "Mission: Impossible... or Possible?"
Rev. Bill Marsh 1 Timothy 1:15
Morning Worship Hymns and Songs: - Joy to the World
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- What Child Is This?
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
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Student Ministries
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No Student Ministry events for the remainder of December.
Enjoy the holidays with family and friends.
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Inquirer's Class - Beginning January 8th
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Not a Member Yet?
Come to the five classes on Sunday mornings and get better acquainted with Christ Community Church. Find out about what we believe, what "reformed" means, what it's like to be a part of our church family and many more details.
No future membership commitment required to be a part of this class.
Sunday mornings in January, starting on January 8th at 9:15 a.m.
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Funds Raised for Sanctuary Foyer Renovation
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 We have raised $2,250.00 toward our goal of $38,000.00 for the Sanctuary Foyer Renovation. If you would like to support the sanctuary foyer renovation, you have four options (this gift would be over and beyond your normal tithes and offerings): - Place your check in the offering plate with "Sanctuary Fund" in the memo line.
- Mail your check to the church office (attention: Val Casanova church bookkeeper) with "Sanctuary Fund" in the memo line.
- If you would like to give stock, you may contact David Armitage, church treasurer, at 336-282-4511 or darmitage@triad.rr.com for transfer instructions.
- If you would like to make a pledge to be fulfilled by January 31, 2012 please contact Stacey Barbour at 336-288-4260 or thebarbours4@msn.com.
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A Visit from Saint Nicholas!
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New Precept Upon Precept Class
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 Discover Truth for yourself by studying God's Word inductively. Join our next Precept Upon Precept Bible study beginning on January 10, 2012.
We will study the book of Nehemiah,
"Rebuilding, Revival and Restoration of the People of God" (5 lessons). The workbook fees are $15.
Our group meets on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Ladies of all ages are welcome to join us! Contact Kathy Wilson if interested. (336) 430-9030 Completion of this course in a group setting is eligible for 1 Continuing Education Credit through the Association of Christian Schools International.
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Important Information
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Last week's Tithes and Offerings: $8,416
Morning Attendance: 172
This Week's Nursery Volunteers:
10:15 a.m. - Adair Bolton, Margret Farmer
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Let's Pray Together This Week
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Friday, December 23
Pray today for our students. As they are out for Christmas vacation, ask the Lord to use these few weeks of more relaxed schedules for their growth in godliness. Pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit they would resist the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Ask the Lord to give us a fruitful ministry of encouragement and discipleship with our students and young adults in the upcoming year.
Saturday, December 24 Pray for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service this afternoon at 5:30. Ask the Lord to bring those in our community and families who might only attend a worship service a few times per year. Pray that the Gospel would be clearly proclaimed in the Scriptures read, songs sung, and the homily. Pray that the wonder of the Incarnation would strike us afresh.
Sunday, December 25 Pray today for our missionaries today in faraway places that they might count all things as loss for the surpassing value of others' knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. Thank the Lord for Art, Andrea, Lydia, Elena, and Amy as they carry the Light of the World to a dark place. Pray today for David, Rachael, Ben, Hannah, and their unborn child as they celebrate the Incarnation of Christ by being in a hot, dusty place halfway around the world. Pray for Rob, Karen, and Lucy as they prepare for the next phase of their ministry of taking the Word of God to those who have never heard of the one whose birth we remember today. Pray, too, for their parents and extended families (Art, Gail, John, Carol, and Nancy) who will gather without dearly-loved children and grandchildren present.
Monday, December 26 Pray today for those in our Body who are mourning losses. Ask the Lord to console them and to be their comforter. Pray that they would know deep joy in Christ as never before amid their sadness.
Tuesday, December 27 Pray for Noah and Tina Forlines' continued recovery from kidney transplant surgery a week ago. Ask the Lord to guard them both from infection and for Tina's body to accept the new kidney. Even more, pray that the Lord would do His good work in their hearts through this experience and recovery. Thank the Lord for His kindness in setting His love and affection on them from before the foundation of the world. Pray that they would know His presence in fresh ways in these upcoming weeks. Ask Him to bring His precious and very great promises to their hearts and minds this week.
Wednesday, December 28 Pray that God would move in unusual ways in Greensboro in the upcoming year to bring conviction of sin and trust in Christ. Ask the Lord to use our church in a great revival. Pray that it would begin with our confession of sin and abandonment of our affections for the passing things of this world.
Thursday, December 29 Pray today for believers in Turkey who are increasingly harassed by Islamist extremists for their public acknowledgement of Christ. Pray for the 7,500 evangelical Christians among a population of 73,000,000. Pray that they would resist the temptation to be bitter toward those who persecute them, but would, instead, love their enemies. Ask the Lord to protect them, grow their numbers, and thank Him that they are counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake. Ask Him to give us Americans a similar mindset.
Friday, December 30 Pray for our praying this upcoming year, both individually and as a congregation. Ask the Lord to burden you to spend time daily in focused effort set apart to pray. Pray that the eyes of our hearts would be opened to see how God works in response to the prayers of His people. Pray that our congregation would be burdened not only to pray, but to pray together in the year ahead.
Saturday, December 31 Reflect upon all that our great God has done for you, your family, and for our church this past year. Consider how He has provided beyond what you could ask or imagine. Thank Him for the goodness you have seen in His providence. Ask the Lord to be for "our help in ages past, our hope for years to come."
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Food For Thought
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"Affliction is one of God's medicines! By it He often teaches lessons which would be learned in no other way. By it He often draws souls away from sin and the world, which would otherwise have perished everlastingly. Health is a great blessing but sanctified disease is a greater. Prosperity and worldly comfort are what all naturally desire, but losses and crosses are far better for us if they lead us to Christ. Let us beware of murmuring in the time of trouble. Let us settle it firmly in our minds, that there is a meaning, a "needs be", and a message from God in every sorrow that falls upon us. There are no lessons so useful as those learned in the school of affliction. There is no commentary that opens up the Bible so much as sickness and sorrow. The resurrection morning will prove, that many of the losses of God's people were in reality, eternal gains. Thousands at the last day will testify with David, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted" (Psalm. 119:71)!"
-- J.C. Ryle, The Gospel of John
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