Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA)

Month: June 2017

  • Announcements – June 30 2017

    Sermon Preview

    Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    There is a joke from seminary that goes like this: Back in the days of the Old Testament, how did the Israelites from the southern kingdom of Judah greet one another? Answer: ‘Shalom y’all!’

    Perhaps by now we all recognize that wonderful Old Testament word shalom as our word ‘peace.’ It is still in use among the Jews today, and is one of the richest words in all of the Hebrew vocabulary. As you would suspect, shalom appears frequently in the Old Testament and is rendered by the word “peace” in the English translations of the Bible.

    The Greek word used in the New Testament to express this same blessing is eirene.  We discover it in the passage we have been studying together over the last few weeks, 2 John 1:3.  There, “peace” is listed along with “grace” and “mercy” as one of the three primary blessings associated with the gift of salvation.  When its Old Testament roots are properly considered, the “peace” of which John has written takes on a much deeper and wider significance than one might imagine.  It means far more than the absence of distress or conflict—as is typically the case when we use it in casual conversation—but communicates the presence of something, namely wholeness and well-being, even in situations of conflict and pain. This is illustrated most notably in the familiar and comforting words of our Lord Jesus in John 14:27––“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”––and again in John 16:33––“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

    This coming Lord’s Day we will explore the wonder and rich treasures inherent in this word “peace.”  We will try to comprehend what John actually had in mind when he used it, and how he would have understood this gift in light of its Old Testament foundation in the redemptive mercies of our Father.  And, more importantly, our study will eventually take us to our Lord Himself who, as the prophet Isaiah said, is the very “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

    I love you all, and pray for you always!

    Shalom y’all,

    Mike

    Upcoming Events:

    July 16, 6:30 PM — Prayer Dessert for Meg Wohleber
    July 17-20 – Vacation Bible School
    July 23 – Back packs for CARE Center due

    Connecting with the Catechism:

    Q. 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

    A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.

    Gen. 8:21; Rom. 3:9ff, 23

    Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

    A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

    Ezek. 8:6, 13, 15; Matt. 11:20-24; John 19:11

    Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?

    A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.

    Matt. 25:41; Gal. 3:10; Eph. 5:6; Jas. 2:10

    Announcements:

    Sunday School IN RECESS:
    Sunday School is in recess for the summer. We will have a weekly time of fellowship beginning at 10 AM, with our regular worship beginning at 10:30 AM. Sunday school will resume in the Fall.

    Dessert Fellowship Honoring Meghan Wohleber:
    The women’s ministry would like to invite each of you to a dessert fellowship in honor of Meg Wohleber as we celebrate her upcoming wedding in August and wish her well as she leaves our church to join her husband at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Huntsville.

    Click HERE to RSVP to the dessert fellowship.

    Vacation Bible School:
    We are excited to open registration for Vacation Bible School 2017: Upward Bound! VBS is for students who have completed pre-K thru 5th grade. Adult volunteers may also enroll their littles in nursery (infant and toddler).

    Cost is $10 per child and may be dropped in the offering box anytime this month. Please denote “VBS” on the check.

    Please see our website HERE and go ahead and register your children or grandchildren today! If you are a volunteer, please also fill out the volunteer form so that we’ll have your sizes for t-shirts. This includes any teen or collegiate volunteers. T-shirt deadline is June 30th. Volunteers t-shirts are FREE. Any registration questions may be directed to Betsy Morgan at bsm7305@yahoo.com.

    I am still in need of a few volunteers to serve in nursery and with small groups of kids. Let me know if you’re interested (this can be teen or collegiates as well).

    I have put out our list of needs in order to make our week successful! Please consider helping us out with one of these items. We will have your items ready to return the Sunday after, July 23rd.

    Click HERE to see the donation list.

    Register today! Looking forward to serving with each of you!

    Back Packs for The CARE Center:
    Our church is providing 20 packs for the CARE Center Care Pack Ministry for the upcoming school year. These packs provide school supplies for needy children in our area. Supply lists and bags for students will be available in the church foyer July 9th and July 16th. Filled bags can be returned to the church on July 23rd. By “adopting” a child you commit to purchasing a backpack and supplies.
    If you choose to, you may also include encouraging notes and treats from your family to make this gift a little more personal. Get creative if you want to and have fun with it! Kids love surprises! The cost of the supplies per child ranges from $50-$100
    More information on the mission/ministries of the Care Center is at: www.theCAREcenter.us

    Ladies Email List:
    If you are not receiving emails from the Christ Presbyterian Women’s Email list and would like to be made aware of women’s ministry activities, please contact women@christpreshamptoncove.org to be added to the distribution.

    Ladies Summer Scripture Read Along:
    You are invited to participate with all ladies of Christ Presbyterian Church:

    Summer Scripture Read-Along in Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Lamentations

    HOW: Start in Isaiah on July 3. Read 3 chapters a day, Monday–Friday.
    Take the weekend off to reflect, journal, or catch-up as needed.
    Then, keep reading following the schedule below!

    Read along with us, on your own time, no need to sign-up, just participate if you’re able.

    We hope it will be a blessing to our ladies to be united in our devotion to God’s word through this read-along.

    Here’s the breakdown:
    July 3-7 read Isaiah 1-15
    July 10-14 read Isaiah 16-30
    July 17-21 read Isaiah 31-45
    July 24-28 read Isaiah 46-60
    July 31-Aug 1 read Isaiah 61- the end.

    Wednesday-August 2 Break

    Aug 3-4 Jeremiah 1-6
    Aug 7-11 Jeremiah 7-21
    Aug 14-18 Jeremiah 22-36
    Aug 21-25 Jeremiah 37-50
    August 28 Jeremiah 51-the end.

    Tuesday-August 28 Break
    Aug 30-31 read Lamentations 1-5

    **Look for a chapter guide noted at the bottom of the church’s weekly emailed newsletter.

    If you have questions, please email Denise Brown niniandjb@gmail.com

    Prayer Requests:

    Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Katie Dyer, Rebecca Berry, Jenan Nuwayhid, Bill and Mitzi Cowley, and Sondra Behmer.
    Expecting: Please pray for the Bryant family, expecting in December.
    Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); RUF at UAH and Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

  • Announcements – June 23 2017

    Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    This coming Lord’s Day we will be resuming our study of 2 John.  As you remember, we are taking a very close look at what we have called the ‘three key words in the dictionary of salvation.’  These three blessings, coming from our Father and experienced only in His Son, are listed in verse 3 as “grace, mercy, and peace.”

    This week we are taking a second look at the marvelous blessing of “mercy.”  So far we have noted that “mercy” is what our Father freely grants to miserable sinners, and it is closely associated with other key Biblical terms such as compassion, long suffering, covenant fidelity, and love. As we probe further the depths of this blessed term, we will look to the Old Testament for mercy’s foundation and promise, and then we will trace mercy’s development and ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant. As you meditate on the inspired words of 2 John 1:3, also consider Micah 7:18-20 and Matthew 9:35-38.  I think you’ll see the vital connection to our Lord and Savior who is the very embodiment of “mercy” itself.

    Let me also express my love and appreciation for Rev. Jim Daughtry who preached in my absence.  I know you were richly fed and blessed by Jim’s ministry, and I am so thankful for his gifts and his willingness to use them.  Thank you, brother, for so faithfully feeding the Lord’s people!

    I love you all, and can’t wait to see you on Sunday!

    In His grace,

    Mike

    Connecting With the Catechism

    Quest. 79. Which is the tenth commandment?

    Ans. 79. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

    Exod. 20:17.

    Quest. 80. What is required in the tenth commandment?

    Ans. 80. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all this is his.

    Heb. 13:5; I Tim. 6:6.

    Job 31:29; Rom. 12:15; I Tim. 1:5; I Cor. 13:4-7.

    Quest. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?

    Ans. 81. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.

    I Kings 21:4; Esther 5:13; I Cor. 10:10.

    Gal. 5:26; James 3:14, 16.

    Rom. 7:7-8; 13:9; Deut. 5:21.

  • Order of Worship – June 25 2017

    Bulletin 20170625

  • Order of Worship – June 18 2017

    Bulletin 20170618

  • Announcements – June 16 2017

    Sermon Preview

    Dear Church Family,

    This coming Sunday we will once again be blessed by Rev. Jim Daughtry who will be preaching for us while Mike is away on vacation. Jim will be preaching from Exodus 34:5-8 on ‘The Glory of the Lord Revealed.’  Please pray for Jim as he comes to proclaim the Word to us.

    Upcoming Events:

    June 19-23 – FCA Power Camp
    June 20, 10 AM – Senior Fellows visit to Aviation Challenge
    June 21, 6PM – Diaconate Meeting
    July 16, 6:30 PM — Prayer Dessert for Meg Wohleber
    July 17-20 – Vacation Bible School

    Connecting with the Catechism:

    Q. 76. Which is the ninth commandment?
    A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

    Ex. 20:16; Deut. 5:20

    Q. 77. What is required in the ninth commandment?
    A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour’s good name [a], especially in witness bearing.

    Zech. 8:16; Acts 25:10; III John 12; Prov. 14:5, 25

    Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
    A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or our neighbour’s, good name.

    Lev. 19:16; Ps. 15:3; Prov. 6:16-19; Luke 3:14

    Announcements:

    Sunday School IN RECESS:
    Sunday School is in recess for the summer. We will have a weekly time of fellowship beginning at 10 AM, with our regular worship beginning at 10:30 AM. Sunday school will resume in the Fall.Church Playground:
    Your diaconate has been discussing the possibility of building a playground on the church property for our children to enjoy. We would like feedback from the congregation about this idea. If you are in favor of the playground, are opposed, or just have questions in general, please contact the deacons at deacons@christpreshamptoncove.org. We will be gathering feedback from the congregation over the coming weeks. We want to make an informed decision, so we very much appreciate any comments you have to offer. Thanks!

    FCA Power Camp:
    June 19th through the 23rd are the dates for the Madison East FCA Power Camp, and it is ALMOST HERE! This camp is a part of what FCA does all year long, and I get the privilege of being “lunch lady” again! It is such a sweet blessing being able to serve the kids who attend the camp as well as those who themselves are leading and serving the kids. For information on FCA and camp go to: www.northalabamafca.org/

    There are many needs to feed 500+ people lunch every day at camp! We are asking first for prayers that hearts would be opened to hearing the Gospel and that lives would be impacted for Christ! As we know the Bread of Life is Christ, and we pray that above all souls would be fed! Also prayers for the staff as they prepare the many details in the last few weeks before camp. It is a huge job!

    We have a wish list of needs for the kitchen area of camp :

    Ice Cream Sandwiches
    Popsicles
    Gallon tubs of ice cream
    Cookies, brownies, or any dessert!
    Veggie Trays
    Fruit Trays
    Muffins
    Granola Bars
    Fruit Snacks
    Ice Cream Toppings

    If you are interested in providing any of those yummy treats let Erica McNeese know! Also, hands on help is needed! It is so much fun working alongside fellow brothers and sisters serving in the kitchen; one of my favorite parts of camp!! The time frame for volunteering for lunch each day is between 10am-2pm (there will be shifts, no one has to stay the full 4 hours unless they want to of course), and the Wednesday family night dinner. Volunteering in this area of camp involves setting up for lunch, pouring drinks, serving, clean up, and prep for the next day. If you are interested in volunteering in the kitchen or have any questions let me know! I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for this year’s FCA Power Camp!!!! It is always a time of growth for both the kids attending and those serving!

    Senior Fellows June Event:
    The Senior Fellows will visit Aviation Challenge at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center at 10 AM, Tues, June 20. Carpools will leave the church at 9:30 AM. Aviation Challenge is a military-style camp for youth between the ages of 9 to 18 years old where they learn about aircraft, survival, and being a pilot.We will meet in the parking lot at the main gate to Aviation Challenge It is located between the Marriott Hotel and the Botanical Garden. If you know the back road that is used for the Galaxy of Lights at Christmas you have driven through Aviation Challenge. We will have lunch at Bridge Street. Visitors are welcome. For more information and a map email: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org or call: 256-532-1856.

    Dessert Fellowship Honoring Meghan Wohleber:
    The women’s ministry would like to invite each of you to a dessert fellowship in honor of Meg Wohleber as we celebrate her upcoming wedding in August and wish her well as she leaves our church to join her husband at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Huntsville.

    Click HERE to RSVP to the dessert fellowship.

    Vacation Bible School:
    We are excited to open registration for Vacation Bible School 2017: Upward Bound! VBS is for students who have completed pre-K thru 5th grade. Adult volunteers may also enroll their littles in nursery (infant and toddler).

    Cost is $10 per child and may be dropped in the offering box anytime this month. Please denote “VBS” on the check.

    Please see our website HERE and go ahead and register your children or grandchildren today! If you are a volunteer, please also fill out the volunteer form so that we’ll have your sizes for t-shirts. This includes any teen or collegiate volunteers. T-shirt deadline is June 30th. Volunteers t-shirts are FREE. Any registration questions may be directed to Betsy Morgan at bsm7305@yahoo.com.

    I am still in need of a few volunteers to serve in nursery and with small groups of kids. Let me know if you’re interested (this can be teen or collegiates as well).

    I have put out our list of needs in order to make our week successful! Please consider helping us out with one of these items. We will have your items ready to return the Sunday after, July 23rd.

    Click HERE to see the donation list.

    Register today! Looking forward to serving with each of you!

    Prayer Requests:

    Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Katie Dyer, Rebecca Berry, Jenan Nuwayhid, Bill and Mitzi Cowley, and Sondra Behmer.
    Expecting: Please pray for the Bryant family, expecting in December.
    Bereavement: Please pray for the family of Thelma Smith, whose mother Katherine Goodale died this week.
    Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); RUF at UAH and Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

  • Order of Worship – June 11 2017

    Bulletin 20170611

  • Announcements – June 9 2017

    Sermon Preview

    My Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus,

    On this coming Lord’s Day, and then again on June 18, it will be our privilege to have Rev. Jim Daughtry in our pulpit.  We are so thrilled that Jim and Sharon and their children (Anna, Peterson, and Joseph) are part of our Church family! Jim will be preaching in my absence as we are on vacation from today through June 24.

    This Sunday Jim will be preaching a message entitled ‘The Glory of God Promised,’ from Exodus 33:18-23. Then on June 18, his message will be ‘The Glory of the Lord Revealed,’ from Exodus 34:5-8. These texts are foundational for our understanding of salvation, and how our Great God has redeemed us from sin’s curse by the sending of His Son in sovereign grace and mercy. And, as you might anticipate, these two Biblical texts are also helpful in shaping our understanding of those three beautiful words that we have been recently considering in 2 John 1:3–“grace, mercy, and peace.” I know you will be richly blessed, instructed, and encouraged by Jim’s preaching, and please hold him up in your fervent prayers as he comes to deliver the Word of the Lord to us.

    Carol and I want to express our gratitude to you for allowing us some time away.  We are so thankful for the opportunity to ‘unplug’ and to be refreshed physically and spiritually. And we thank you in advance for your prayers that we might have our hearts and minds strengthened by this brief season of rest.

    Our gracious Lord willing, I will be back in our pulpit on Sunday June 25, and we will continue our study of 2 John 1:3, focusing again upon the wonder of God’s “mercy” in our Lord Jesus Christ.

    I love you all so much, and words fail me as I seek to communicate my affection for you, and the joy I know in being your pastor and brother in the Lord.

    All the Father’s grace to all of you,

    Mike

    Upcoming Events:

    June 19-23 – FCA Power Camp
    June 21, 6PM – Diaconate Meeting
    July 17-20 – Vacation Bible School

     

    Connecting with the Catechism:

    Q. 73. Which is the eighth commandment?
    A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.Ex. 20:15; Deut. 5:19Q. 74. What is required in the eighth commandment?
    A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.Lev. 25:35; Eph. 4:28; Phil. 2:4

    Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
    A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbour’s, wealth or outward estate.

    Prov. 28:19ff; Eph. 4:28; II Thess. 3:10; I Tim. 5:8

    Announcements:

    Sunday School IN RECESS:
    Sunday School is in recess for the summer. We will have a weekly time of fellowship beginning at 10 AM, with our regular worship beginning at 10:30 AM. Sunday school will resume in the Fall.

    Church Playground:
    Your diaconate has been discussing the possibility of building a playground on the church property for our children to enjoy. We would like feedback from the congregation about this idea. If you are in favor of the playground, are opposed, or just have questions in general, please contact the deacons at deacons@christpreshamptoncove.org. We will be gathering feedback from the congregation over the coming weeks. We want to make an informed decision, so we very much appreciate any comments you have to offer. Thanks!

    Meals for McCool family:
    Congratulations to the McCool family, whose son Miller was born last week. If you would like to provide meals, sign up here, and see S’ine Trent if you have questions.

    FCA Power Camp:
    June 19th through the 23rd are the dates for the Madison East FCA Power Camp, and it is ALMOST HERE! This camp is a part of what FCA does all year long, and I get the privilege of being “lunch lady” again! It is such a sweet blessing being able to serve the kids who attend the camp as well as those who themselves are leading and serving the kids. For information on FCA and camp go to: www.northalabamafca.org/

    There are many needs to feed 500+ people lunch every day at camp! We are asking first for prayers that hearts would be opened to hearing the Gospel and that lives would be impacted for Christ! As we know the Bread of Life is Christ, and we pray that above all souls would be fed! Also prayers for the staff as they prepare the many details in the last few weeks before camp. It is a huge job!

    We have a wish list of needs for the kitchen area of camp :

    Ice Cream Sandwiches
    Popsicles
    Gallon tubs of ice cream
    Cookies, brownies, or any dessert!
    Veggie Trays
    Fruit Trays
    Muffins
    Granola Bars
    Fruit Snacks
    Ice Cream Toppings

    If you are interested in providing any of those yummy treats let Erica McNeese know! Also, hands on help is needed! It is so much fun working alongside fellow brothers and sisters serving in the kitchen; one of my favorite parts of camp!! The time frame for volunteering for lunch each day is between 10am-2pm (there will be shifts, no one has to stay the full 4 hours unless they want to of course), and the Wednesday family night dinner. Volunteering in this area of camp involves setting up for lunch, pouring drinks, serving, clean up, and prep for the next day. If you are interested in volunteering in the kitchen or have any questions let me know! I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for this year’s FCA Power Camp!!!! It is always a time of growth for both the kids attending and those serving!

    Vacation Bible School:
    We are excited to open registration for Vacation Bible School 2017: Upward Bound! VBS is for students who have completed pre-K thru 5th grade. Adult volunteers may also enroll their littles in nursery (infant and toddler).

    Cost is $10 per child and may be dropped in the offering box anytime this month. Please denote “VBS” on the check.

    Please see our website HERE and go ahead and register your children or grandchildren today! If you are a volunteer, please also fill out the volunteer form so that we’ll have your sizes for t-shirts. This includes any teen or collegiate volunteers. T-shirt deadline is June 30th. Volunteers t-shirts are FREE. Any registration questions may be directed to Betsy Morgan at bsm7305@yahoo.com.

    I am still in need of a few volunteers to serve in nursery and with small groups of kids. Let me know if you’re interested (this can be teen or collegiates as well).

    Register today! Looking forward to serving with each of you!

    Prayer Requests

    Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Katie Dyer, Rebecca Berry, Jenan Nuwayhid, Zig Jastrebski, Bill and Mitzi Cowley, and Sondra Behmer.
    Expecting: Please pray for the Bryant family, expecting in December.
    Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); RUF at UAH and Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

  • Order of Worship – June 4 2017

    Bulletin 20170604_v2

  • Announcements – June 2 2017

    Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

    Our study of the ‘three critical words in the dictionary of salvation’ continues this Lord’s Day as we consider the word “mercy.”  Our text is, of course, 2 John 1:3 where the beloved Disciple of Jesus declares that in God our Father and in His Son Jesus we have an overflowing abundance of “grace, mercy, and peace.”

    In order to understand this wonderful term “mercy” we have to do much more than consult the dictionary. We have to look carefully at how this word is used by the Biblical authors in the various contexts in which it appears. Like the word “grace” that we studied last week, “mercy” was another one of those terms that was essentially redefined by believers, and injected with deep significance in the light of God’s plan to redeem fallen sinners.  And like “grace,” the “mercy” that we know and experience in our blessed Savior will prove to be more amazing than we could ever imagine.

    Here’s a little hint that will help you prepare your heart and mind for our sermon. Take a look at Leviticus 16:1-19. There you will find reference to a piece of sacred furniture called the “mercy seat” that was located in the tabernacle, in the “Holy Place” (16: 2, 16).  See what you can find out about this special solid gold cover for the ark of the covenant, and how it might help us as we seek to understand what God’s “mercy” really is.

    Have a most blessed weekend, and I can’t wait to see you on Sunday morning!

    I love you all so much,

    Mike

    Connecting With the Catechism

    The Westminster Shorter Catechism

    Q. 70. Which is the seventh commandment?

    A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

    Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18

    Q. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment?

    A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour’s chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior.

    I Cor. 7:2-3, 5; I Thess. 4:3-5

    Q. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?

    A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.

    Matt. 5:28; Eph. 5:3-4