Sermon Preview

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Christians, from the very beginning, have always wrestled with at least two major questions. We find them addressed in Colossians 2:16-23, a most strategic section of Paul’s letter to the believers in the city of Colossae.

Question 1 is, how does one become a Christian in the first place?

Question 2 is, how does one go about living the kind of life that pleases God?

For simplicity’s sake, we might rephrase them this way:

What is the Gospel of Christ?

What is it to be a disciple of Christ?

These are the very issues that are under furious debate today, and this has been the case for two-thousand years! In fact, these were the very concerns that prompted the Apostle Paul to write this letter in the first place, and especially the verses that we will investigate this coming Lord’s Day.

As we work our way through this passage we will discover two competing answers to these questions. One is offered by the false-teachers of Colossae. The other is declared by the Apostle Paul.

As you prepare for worship, it would be very helpful for you to start back in Colossians 2:1 and read and meditate upon the whole chapter as a unit. The radically different and hopelessly irreconcilable answers to these two questions—those offered by the heretics, and those set forth by the Apostle Paul—will become most apparent.

Special Announcement for All Men

Our Men’s Every-Other Thursday Morning Bible Study will resume on Thursday, September 6^th from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM at the Church in the Fellowship Area. All men and young men of the Church are invited, and guests are most welcome too!  We will meet every-other Thursday morning through December 13^th. If you would like to join us, bring your Bible and meet us on September 6^th!  And if you have any questions about this study please contact me.

I love you all, and it is a delight to pray for you always!

Mike

Upcoming Events:

September 4, 9 AM – Senior Fellows Breakfast at Church House
September 4, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study at Church
September 4, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study at Church
September 5, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study at Church
September 6, 6 AM – Men’s Bible Study at Church
September 6, 11:30 AM – Women’s Ministry Potluck Lunch and Timbers Edge Clubhouse
September 12, 6:30 PM – Parenting Small Groups
September 16, 12 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch
September 16, 4:30 PM – Youth Group at Church
September 18, 9 AM – Senior Fellows visit Larry’s Gun and Pawn
September 19, 6 PM – Diaconate Meeting
September 21, 6 PM – Women’s Ministry Fall Conference Day One
September 22, 9 AM – Women’s Ministry Fall Conference Day Two
September 23, 5 PM – Nursery Families Fellowship at Church House

Order of Worship:

You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here

If you’d like to sing the songs with your family beforehand, the songs for this week are:

To Thee I Come
Hark the Voice of Love and Mercy (It is Finished)
Fairest Lord Jesus – Hymn 170, vs 1-3
The Precious Blood

Announcements:

Summer Schedule: Christ Presbyterian is on Summer Schedule. There will be no Sunday School, and regularly scheduled bible studies for men, women, and youth are on hiatus. Fellowship will be each Sunday at 10 AM, with worship beginning at 10:30 AM. Regular weekly activities will resume the first full week of September, with Sunday School resuming on September 9.

Children’s Ministry: Please finalize registration for all of our young people for Sunday School which begins September 9th. If you have an infant to 12th grader, please fill out the form for each of your children so that I can begin working on class breakouts, room assignments and materials.

Also for our member mothers, please sign up to work/greet in the baby nursery this fall. Y’all know the drill. Visitors, we want you to come and be in worship so no need to sign up just yet 🙂

Finally,  if you are a Sunday School teacher or volunteer with children/youth in any capacity and haven’t signed our new Child Protection Policy, please see Ashley Turnbull.

Helpful Links: 
Infant to 12th Grade Registration Form
Parenting Small Groups Registration Form
Fall Programs 2018 Dates & Contact Info

New Members Meal: We have an opportunity to serve our visitors that have showed an interest in membership  The next class is being offered September 9. We will be feeding them a meal after class and I am including a link below for help and food needs we have.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact S’ine Trent at 256-426-2980 or Pat Galecki at 256-244-0612. Thank you in advance for being willing to serve!

Alleluia Choir: Music activities for Second through Sixth graders begins on September 9, meeting Sundays from 4:00 – 4:45 pm in the Music Room of the Church House. Please register by sending names with this year’s grade levels to acbarts@hotmail.com by TODAY August 31 so that music materials will be ready on time.

Youth Group: We will meet again on Sunday, September 16th at the Church Fellowship Hall. The times will be from 4:30-6:30 pm and this will be for students ages 13-18 years of age. We ask that those who attend be at least 13 years of age due to the content of some of the discussions and the wide age range in the group.

Women’s Ministry: There are several upcoming Women’s Ministry events:
– The next Women’s Monthly Lunch is September 6 at 11:30 AM at the Timbers Edge clubhouse. Contact Pat Galecki (countrypat055@gmail.com) for more information.

– The Tuesday Morning Mom’s Bible Study will begin on September 4 from 9-11:30 AM at the church. Childcare will be provided. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg (amyschnorrenberg@icloud.com) for more information.

– The Tuesday Night Women’s Bible Study will begin on September 4 from 6-7:30 PM at the church. The topic is Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation, book and video series (books can be ordered through Lifeway.com website for $12.99). Contact Denise Scrip (denise.scrip@gmail.com) for more information.

– The Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study will begin on September 5 from 10-11:30 AM at the church. The topic is Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation, book and video series (books can be ordered through Lifeway.com website for $12.99). Contact Denise Scrip (denise.scrip@gmail.com) for more information.

– Only one week left to Sign up for the OPEN HEART+OPEN HOME. Women’s Conference. You won’t want to miss this opportunity for fun fellowship and inspiration focused on the art of hospitality You will learn all kinds of practical and very doable information that will enhance your ability to minister to your family and others.

Senior Fellows: On Tuesday, September 4 at 9:00 AM  the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast, fellowship and a devotional at the Church House. Guests are welcome. Finally, on Tuesday, September 18, the Senior Fellows will visit Larry’s Gun and Pawn at 2405 Memorial Parkway SW for defensive training. We will arrive about 9 AM. Meet at the church at 8:15 if you want to carpool. Visitors are welcome Lunch will follow at about 11:30. For more information contact David O’Neil or Joe Sims.

Parenting Small Groups: 14 Gospel Principles

What?

Be sure to mark your calendars for this Fall’s parenting small group! We will use Paul Tripp’s 14 Gospel Principles of Parenting and cover an array of topics related to Gospel-centered parenting. The study and group discussion will center around how to be an ambassador for Christ to your children as you seek to faithful in your calling as a parent. Book purchases are not required, but are encouraged. As we will not cover all the book chapters during the Fall gatherings, owning the book will provide you an opportunity afterwards to continue your reading and thoughtful consideration of your calling as a parent. Hard copies can be purchased online for roughly $20, $12 for those who prefer Kindle reading. Please feel the latitude to contact Matthew Elliott in the event book purchases are out of your current family budgeting.

Who?

The small group is for anyone interested in issues related to raising children. Though the topic is on parenting, all of the church covenant community is encouraged to consider participating: nesters, empty nesters, single adults, and hopeful nesters, each have a role to play in nurturing our covenant children.

When?

Small groups will begin on Wednesday, September 12^th! Concluding on Wednesday, October 24^th, the groups will be each Wednesday night – the exception being October 10^th, which is Fall break. The six meetings will begin around 6:30 and wrap up about 8pm.

Where?

The group(s) will be in CPC member’s homes. The locale, number of groups and group size will be determined upon the conclusion of sign-ups!

How?

To sign up, please follow the link: https://goo.gl/forms/4bxwqqm5RUpeogFD3 Registration will conclude the last day of August. Once groups are established, you will be contacted by email with further information.

Other Info?

Childcare will be as needed, provided at the locate of each small group. In the event there are too many children for a particular location, CPC can financially assist those who might need to have childcare in their home during the time of the small group. Please discuss with your small group leader to arrange childcare.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Matthew Elliott: matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org

Thank you!

Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch:
Starting Sept. 16th: Christ Pres. Second Sunday Fellowship Lunches
**because of the new member class on Sept. 9, meals begin on Sept. 16 (subsequent dates are the second Sunday of the month unless noted otherwise)
When:  Immediately after worship ends, please join us for lunch!
Where:  In and around the fellowship hall
Who:  Everyone is invited to attend!  A suggested donation of $5.00 per person/$20 max per family to help offset cost of food. Children under 5 and visitors eat free.
What: September menu: Loaded Baked Potato Bar/Drinks/Dessert
Please make plans to join us September 16th!
If interested in helping please contact: Denise & Jeff Brown niniandjb@gmail.com or 256-698-0475 call or text

Nursery Families Fellowship: There will be a fellowship event for families with children in the nursery on September 23 from 5 to 7 PM. For more information contact Norman Dean.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Andy Trent, Debbie Hill, Suzanne Nimon, Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, and Nolan Osmer.
Bereavement: Please be in prayer for Bill Cowley, whose sister Joyce died this week.
Expecting: Please pray for the Elliott family, expecting in September, and the Ely family, expecting in November.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

Emails:

general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs and prayer: deacons@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org

Address:
288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Well. . . let’s try that sermon from Colossians 2:11-15 one more time!

After completing the introduction last week (and then suddenly shutting things down for the day!), I hope to actually get into and complete the sermon this week, the Lord willing.  Again, I am so very sorry for all of the commotion I created last Sunday, and I trust that this week’s message will be both longer and less tumultuous!

In this inspired word from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Colossae, we discover the liberating truth that our Lord Jesus Christ is enough!  If we have Him as our Savior, by His grace through faith in Him alone, then we have all we need!  And upon the basis of all that He has accomplished on our behalf, as so wonderfully set forth in these verses, we also discover the unshakable foundation for the assurance of our salvation and joy.

Thank you for your prayers as we prepare to come before our Sovereign King to worship Him and to hear His blessed Word proclaimed.

Sunday School Begins on Sunday September 9 at 9:15 AM

Our Fall Semester of Sunday school starts two weeks from this Sunday, on September 9.  As always, there is something for every age.  Below is the line-up for Children through Adults, as well as a list of the teachers so that you may lift them up in your prayers:

Children & Youth Sunday School Classes and Teachers

Toddlers: Toddler Moms

PreK/Kindergarten: Penny and Stanley Gibson (sub Erin Bower)

1^st /2^nd Grades: Amanda and Normal Dean (sub Michael Stafford)

3^rd/4^th/5^th Grades: Leslie and John Jeffery (sub Amy Drown)

Middle School: Wayne and Cindy Johnson

High School: Glen Doughty (sub Tyler Pimental). . . This class meets in the Church house upstairs.

Adult Sunday School Classes and Teachers

The Adults will have two classes to choose from:

How Long O Lord?–This Sunday school study, team taught by Matthew Elliott and Daron Drown, focuses in on the reality and inevitability of suffering in the life of the Christian.  Following portions of D.A. Carson’s book, How Long O Lord?, the lessons will trace several themes, topics, and reflections on the difficulties we face as disciples of Christ.  This study will build a Biblical framework for suffering, address difficult topics such as grief and death, answer objections regarding the problem of pain, and encourage the believer to live out their suffering in light of eternity.  This Sunday school will meet in the church house on the first floor.  Book purchases are not necessary.

Taking God at His Word–This is a study of the doctrine of Scripture, and will be based on the book by Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me. The class will be team taught by Mike and the Session, and will cover topics such as the necessity of the Word, the clarity of Scripture, why the Word is our final authority on all matters of life and faith, and what these affirmations mean in practical terms.  This study will be held in the Worship Center.

I love you all with all my heart!

Mike

Upcoming Events:

August 26, 4:30 PM – Youth Group at Church
August 28, 10 AM – Senior Fellows visit the North Alabama Railroad Museum
August 29, 11:30 AM – Women’s Ministry Fall Bible Studies Kickoff Lunch at home of Christina Bagdazian
September 4, 9 AM – Senior Fellows Breakfast at Church House
September 4, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study at Church
September 4, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study at Church
September 5, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study at Church
September 6, 11:30 AM – Women’s Ministry Potluck Lunch and Timbers Edge Clubhouse
September 12, 6:30 PM – Parenting Small Groups
September 16, 12 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch
September 18, 9 AM – Senior Fellows visit Larry’s Gun and Pawn
September 19, 6 PM – Diaconate Meeting
September 21, 6 PM – Women’s Ministry Fall Conference Day One
September 22, 9 AM – Women’s Ministry Fall Conference Day Two
September 23, 5 PM – Nursery Families Fellowship at Church House

Order of Worship:

You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here

If you’d like to sing the songs with your family beforehand, the songs for this week are:

I Sing the Almighty Power of God – Hymn 119 v.1-3
We Will Feast in the House of Zion
Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Hymn 457, all 3 verses

Announcements:

Summer Schedule: Christ Presbyterian is on Summer Schedule. There will be no Sunday School, and regularly scheduled bible studies for men, women, and youth are on hiatus. Fellowship will be each Sunday at 10 AM, with worship beginning at 10:30 AM. Regular weekly activities will resume the first full week of September, with Sunday School resuming on September 9.

Children’s Ministry: Please finalize registration for all of our young people for Sunday School which begins September 9th. If you have an infant to 12th grader, please fill out the form for each of your children so that I can begin working on class breakouts, room assignments and materials.

Also for our member mothers, please sign up to work/greet in the baby nursery this fall. Y’all know the drill. Visitors, we want you to come and be in worship so no need to sign up just yet 🙂

Finally,  Sunday school teacher/sub kick-off THIS Sunday, 8/26, at 9:15 a.m. in the education wing. Ashley will be going over room assignments, handing out materials and going over our Child Protection Policy. Anyone teaching/subbing or planning to be involved in leading Children’s activities this year, please come for a brief meeting/overview of our policies.

Helpful Links: 
Infant to 12th Grade Registration Form
Parenting Small Groups Registration Form
Fall Programs 2018 Dates & Contact Info

New Members Meal: We have an opportunity to serve our visitors that have showed an interest in membership  The next class is being offered September 9. We will be feeding them a meal after class and I am including a link below for help and food needs we have.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact S’ine Trent at 256-426-2980 or Pat Galecki at 256-244-0612. Thank you in advance for being willing to serve!

Alleluia Choir: Music activities for Second through Sixth graders begins on September 9, meeting Sundays from 4:00 – 4:45 pm in the Music Room of the Church House. Please register by sending names with this year’s grade levels to acbarts@hotmail.com by August 31 so that music materials will be ready on time.

Youth Group: We will start meeting up again on Sunday, August 26th at the Church Fellowship Hall. The times will be from 4:30-6:30 pm and this will be for students ages 13-18 years of age. We ask that those who attend be at least 13 years of age due to the content of some of the discussions and the wide age range in the group.

Women’s Ministry: There are several upcoming Women’s Ministry events:
– On August 29th from 11:30 – 1:00 pm there will be a kick off luncheon for the Fall Bibles Studies at the home of Christine Bagdazian. 2614 Legacy Preserve Dr. Brownsboro AL 35741

– The next Women’s Monthly Lunch is September 6 at 11:30 AM at the Timbers Edge clubhouse. Contact Pat Galecki (countrypat055@gmail.com) for more information.

– The Tuesday Morning Mom’s Bible Study will begin on September 4 from 9-11:30 AM at the church. Childcare will be provided. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg (amyschnorrenberg@icloud.com) for more information.

– The Tuesday Night Women’s Bible Study will begin on September 4 from 6-7:30 PM at the church. The topic is Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation, book and video series (books can be ordered through Lifeway.com website for $12.99). Contact Denise Scrip (denise.scrip@gmail.com) for more information.

– The Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study will begin on September 5 from 10-11:30 AM at the church. The topic is Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation, book and video series (books can be ordered through Lifeway.com website for $12.99). Contact Denise Scrip (denise.scrip@gmail.com) for more information.

– Only two weeks left to Sign up for the OPEN HEART+OPEN HOME. Women’s Conference. You won’t want to miss this opportunity for fun fellowship and inspiration focused on the art of hospitality You will learn all kinds of practical and very doable information that will enhance your ability to minister to your family and others.

Senior Fellows: On Tuesday, August 28 at 10:00 AM the Senior Fellows will visit the North Alabama Railroad Museum at 694 Chase Rd. N.E, Huntsville. To carpool, meet at the Church at 9:30 AM. The Fellows will go to lunch afterwards. On Tuesday, September 4 at 9:00 AM  the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast, fellowship and a devotional at the Church House. Guests are welcome. Finally, on Tuesday, September 18, the Senior Fellows will visit Larry’s Gun and Pawn at 2405 Memorial Parkway SW for defensive training. We will arrive about 9 AM. Meet at the church at 8:15 if you want to carpool. Visitors are welcome Lunch will follow at about 11:30. For more information contact David O’Neil or Joe Sims.

Parenting Small Groups: 14 Gospel Principles

What?

Be sure to mark your calendars for this Fall’s parenting small group! We will use Paul Tripp’s 14 Gospel Principles of Parenting and cover an array of topics related to Gospel-centered parenting. The study and group discussion will center around how to be an ambassador for Christ to your children as you seek to faithful in your calling as a parent. Book purchases are not required, but are encouraged. As we will not cover all the book chapters during the Fall gatherings, owning the book will provide you an opportunity afterwards to continue your reading and thoughtful consideration of your calling as a parent. Hard copies can be purchased online for roughly $20, $12 for those who prefer Kindle reading. Please feel the latitude to contact Matthew Elliott in the event book purchases are out of your current family budgeting.

Who?

The small group is for anyone interested in issues related to raising children. Though the topic is on parenting, all of the church covenant community is encouraged to consider participating: nesters, empty nesters, single adults, and hopeful nesters, each have a role to play in nurturing our covenant children.

When?

Small groups will begin on Wednesday, September 12^th! Concluding on Wednesday, October 24^th, the groups will be each Wednesday night – the exception being October 10^th, which is Fall break. The six meetings will begin around 6:30 and wrap up about 8pm.

Where?

The group(s) will be in CPC member’s homes. The locale, number of groups and group size will be determined upon the conclusion of sign-ups!

How?

To sign up, please follow the link: https://goo.gl/forms/4bxwqqm5RUpeogFD3 Registration will conclude the last day of August. Once groups are established, you will be contacted by email with further information.

Other Info?

Childcare will be as needed, provided at the locate of each small group. In the event there are too many children for a particular location, CPC can financially assist those who might need to have childcare in their home during the time of the small group. Please discuss with your small group leader to arrange childcare.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Matthew Elliott: matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org

Thank you!

Care Center Needs Volunteers to Tutor and Mentor Students: The Care Center in New Hope is seeking volunteers to tutor and mentor children at Madison County Elementary, New Hope Elementary, New Hope High School, and Owens Cross Roads Elementary schools. Volunteer tutors are asked to serve at least 30 minutes one time each week. Volunteer mentors are asked to meet with a student during lunch time one time each week. If you would like to volunteer to help one of these students, contact Andrea Bridges (abridges@thecare-center.org) at the Care Center or for more information contact Norman Dean or Joe Sims.

Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch:
Starting Sept. 16th: Christ Pres. Second Sunday Fellowship Lunches
**because of the new member class on Sept. 9, meals begin on Sept. 16 (subsequent dates are the second Sunday of the month unless noted otherwise)
When:  Immediately after worship ends, please join us for lunch!
Where:  In and around the fellowship hall
Who:  Everyone is invited to attend!  A suggested donation of $5.00 per person/$20 max per family to help offset cost of food. Children under 5 and visitors eat free.
What: September menu: Loaded Baked Potato Bar/Drinks/Dessert
Please make plans to join us September 16th!
If interested in helping please contact: Denise & Jeff Brown niniandjb@gmail.com or 256-698-0475 call or text

Nursery Families Fellowship: There will be a fellowship event for families with children in the nursery on September 23 from 5 to 7 PM. For more information contact Norman Dean.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Andy Trent, Debbie Hill, Suzanne Nimon, Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, and Nolan Osmer.
Bereavement: Please pray for Megan Brown, whose mother died this week.
Expecting: Please pray for the Elliott family, expecting in September, and the Ely family, expecting in November.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

Emails:

general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs and prayer: deacons@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org

Address:
288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we have traveled through the first two chapters of Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, we have discovered that the Apostle is most concerned that the believers there in the little Church should not be taken “captive” by the false teaching—an anti-Gospel, if you will—that was circulating among them (2:8). You can easily imagine how such an un-Biblical and defective theology would wreak havoc on the believers in Colossae. Such teaching threatened to rob them of their assurance of salvation and their joy in Christ. Furthermore, it threated to put them back in the ‘performance trap’ of believing they must earn their status and place before God. It also threatened to foster spiritual pride and elitism as it separated believers into at least two classes, the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots,’ the spiritually elite who knew and practiced the ‘secrets,’ and everyone else.  And, of course, this would all but destroy any semblance of unity in the body of Christ.

Paul’s response to all of this was to set forth the wonderful things that Christ has already accomplished for all those who have believed upon Him for their salvation. We find these listed for us in 2:11-15:

In Christ, we have already been “circumcised,” and thus “buried” and “raised” with Him (2:11-12).

We have already been “made alive together with Him” (2:13).

We have already been “forgiven” of all of our sins, and our debts have been fully cancelled (2:13-14).

We now share in our Lord’s victory over all “rulers and authorities” whom our Lord has totally “disarmed” (2:15).

In these verses we have nothing short of a magnificent announcement of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us!  And to state the point of this passage most succinctly, Paul makes it clear that if we have the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, then we have all we will ever need, forever! Christ is enough!

What a joy it will be to explore this rich portion of God’s Word with you on Sunday!

I love you all so very much!

Mike

Upcoming Events:

August 26, 4:30 PM – Youth Group at Church
August 28, 10:00 AM – Senior Fellows visit the North Alabama Railroad Museum
August 29, 11:30 AM – Women’s Ministry Fall Bible Studies Kickoff Lunch at home of Christina Bagdazian
September 4, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study at Church
September 4, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study at Church
September 5, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study at Church
September 6, 11:30 AM – Women’s Ministry Potluck Lunch and Timbers Edge Clubhouse
September 12, 6:30 PM – Parenting Small Groups
September 16, 12:00 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch
September 16, 5 PM – Nursery Families Fellowship at Church House
September 19, 6 PM – Diaconate Meeting
September 21, 6 PM – Women’s Ministry Fall Conference Day One
September 22, 9 AM – Women’s Ministry Fall Conference Day Two

Order of Worship:

You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here

If you’d like to sing the songs with your family beforehand, the songs for this week are:

His Mercy is More
Sovereign
Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Hymn 32, all 3 verses
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Hymn 457, all 3 verses

Announcements:

Summer Schedule: Christ Presbyterian is on Summer Schedule. There will be no Sunday School, and regularly scheduled bible studies for men, women, and youth are on hiatus. Fellowship will be each Sunday at 10 AM, with worship beginning at 10:30 AM. Regular weekly activities will resume the first full week of September, with Sunday School resuming on September 9.

Children’s Ministry: Please finalize registration for all of our young people for Sunday School which begins September 9th. If you have an infant to 12th grader, please fill out the form for each of your children so that I can begin working on class breakouts, room assignments and materials.

Helpful Links: 
Infant to 12th Grade Registration Form
Parenting Small Groups Registration Form
Fall Programs 2018 Dates & Contact Info

Alleluia Choir: Music activities for Second through Sixth graders begins on September 9, meeting Sundays from 4:00 – 4:45 pm in the Music Room of the Church House. Please register by sending names with this year’s grade levels to acbarts@hotmail.com by August 31 so that music materials will be ready on time.

Youth Group: We will start meeting up again on Sunday, August 26th at the Church Fellowship Hall. The times will be from 4:30-6:30 pm and this will be for students ages 13-18 years of age. We ask that those who attend be at least 13 years of age due to the content of some of the discussions and the wide age range in the group.

Women’s Ministry: There are several upcoming Women’s Ministry events:
– On August 29th from 11:30 – 1:00 pm there will be a kick off luncheon for the Fall Bibles Studies at the home of Christine Bagdazian. 2614 Legacy Preserve Dr. Brownsboro AL 35741

– The next Women’s Monthly Lunch is September 6 at 11:30 AM at the Timbers Edge clubhouse. Contact Pat Galecki (countrypat055@gmail.com) for more information.

– The Tuesday Morning Mom’s Bible Study will begin on September 4 from 9-11:30 AM at the church. Childcare will be provided. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg (amyschnorrenberg@icloud.com) for more information.

– The Tuesday Night Women’s Bible Study will begin on September 4 from 6-7:30 PM at the church. The topic is Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation, book and video series (books can be ordered through Lifeway.com website for $12.99). Contact Denise Scrip (denise.scrip@gmail.com) for more information.

– The Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study will begin on September 5 from 10-11:30 AM at the church. The topic is Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation, book and video series (books can be ordered through Lifeway.com website for $12.99). Contact Denise Scrip (denise.scrip@gmail.com) for more information.

– There will be a two-day Women’s Conference entitled “Open Heart and Open Home: The Art of Generous Living” on Friday September 21 from 6 PM-8:30 PM and Saturday September 22 from 9 AM-3 PM. Cost is $30 which includes two meals and all materials. A special flyer is available to use to invite others from outside the church at the registration table. Please sign up in the Narthex. Final date to register is September 2. Please see Christina Bagdazian if you have any questions.

Senior Fellows: On Tuesday, August 28 at 10:00 AM the Senior Fellows will visit the North Alabama Railroad Museum at 694 Chase Rd. N.E, Huntsville. To carpool, meet at the Church at 9:30 AM. The Fellows will go to lunch afterwards.

Parenting Small Groups: 14 Gospel Principles

What?

Be sure to mark your calendars for this Fall’s parenting small group! We will use Paul Tripp’s 14 Gospel Principles of Parenting and cover an array of topics related to Gospel-centered parenting. The study and group discussion will center around how to be an ambassador for Christ to your children as you seek to faithful in your calling as a parent. Book purchases are not required, but are encouraged. As we will not cover all the book chapters during the Fall gatherings, owning the book will provide you an opportunity afterwards to continue your reading and thoughtful consideration of your calling as a parent. Hard copies can be purchased online for roughly $20, $12 for those who prefer Kindle reading. Please feel the latitude to contact Matthew Elliott in the event book purchases are out of your current family budgeting.

Who?

The small group is for anyone interested in issues related to raising children. Though the topic is on parenting, all of the church covenant community is encouraged to consider participating: nesters, empty nesters, single adults, and hopeful nesters, each have a role to play in nurturing our covenant children.

When?

Small groups will begin on Wednesday, September 12^th! Concluding on Wednesday, October 24^th, the groups will be each Wednesday night – the exception being October 10^th, which is Fall break. The six meetings will begin around 6:30 and wrap up about 8pm.

Where?

The group(s) will be in CPC member’s homes. The locale, number of groups and group size will be determined upon the conclusion of sign-ups!

How?

To sign up, please follow the link: https://goo.gl/forms/4bxwqqm5RUpeogFD3 Registration will conclude the last day of August. Once groups are established, you will be contacted by email with further information.

Other Info?

Childcare will be as needed, provided at the locate of each small group. In the event there are too many children for a particular location, CPC can financially assist those who might need to have childcare in their home during the time of the small group. Please discuss with your small group leader to arrange childcare.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Matthew Elliott: matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org

Thank you!

Care Center Needs Volunteers to Tutor and Mentor Students: The Care Center in New Hope is seeking volunteers to tutor and mentor children at Madison County Elementary, New Hope Elementary, New Hope High School, and Owens Cross Roads Elementary schools. Volunteer tutors are asked to serve at least 30 minutes one time each week. Volunteer mentors are asked to meet with a student during lunch time one time each week. If you would like to volunteer to help one of these students, contact Andrea Bridges (abridges@thecare-center.org) at the Care Center or for more information contact Norman Dean or Joe Sims.

Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch:
Starting Sept. 16th: Christ Pres. Second Sunday Fellowship Lunches
**because of the new member class on Sept. 9, meals begin on Sept. 16 (subsequent dates are the second Sunday of the month unless noted otherwise)
When:  Immediately after worship ends, please join us for lunch!
Where:  In and around the fellowship hall
Who:  Everyone is invited to attend!  A suggested donation of $5.00 per person/$20 max per family to help offset cost of food. Children under 5 and visitors eat free.
What: September menu: Loaded Baked Potato Bar/Drinks/Dessert
Please make plans to join us September 16th!
If interested in helping please contact: Denise & Jeff Brown niniandjb@gmail.com or 256-698-0475 call or text

Nursery Families Fellowship: There will be a fellowship event for families with children in the nursery on September 16 from 5 to 7 PM. For more information contact Norman Dean.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Andy Trent, Debbie Hill, Suzanne Nimon, Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, and Nolan Osmer.
Bereavement: Please pray for Megan Brown, whose mother died this week.
Expecting: Please pray for the Elliott family, expecting in September, and the Ely family, expecting in November.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

Emails:

general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs and prayer: deacons@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org

Address:
288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Sunday as we study the words of Colossians 2:6-10, we will arrive at the very heart and core of this letter. You can see the transition “therefore” in verse 6, which links this section to what Paul has said previously.

From his prison cell in Rome, Paul is very concerned about their protection from false teaching, and the disunity this will inevitably cause within the Colossian church. And this subject brackets what we find in verses 6-7. In 2:4, Paul’s concern is that they might be swayed and deceived by “plausible arguments,” and in 2:8 he is troubled that they might be taken “captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition.” As you remember, it was the threat of destructive doctrine that prompted Paul to write this letter in the first place.

In verses 6-7, our main focus for Sunday’s message, the Apostle sets out to counteract this peril in a most practical way by means of a solemn, yet simple, exhortation:

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

It’s all about how we “walk”!

On Sunday, we will discover the riches of this one blessed Apostolic exhortation, and we will learn how to “walk” all over again!

Special Announcement About Our Upcoming Fall Women’s Conference

Registration for our Women’s Fall Conference, Open Heart+Open Home: The Art of Generous Living, has begun and will continue every Sunday in August at the church.  Cost is $30.00, cash or check, which includes 2 meals and conference notebook. Join our ladies on Friday, September 21 (6:00-8:30) for a casual dinner and conference opening and Saturday, September 22 (9-3:00) for more speakers, catered lunch, and special interest break-outs. Please consider who you can invite from outside the church to join you for this special event—moms, sisters, neighbors, co-workers, friends, etc. We have printed invitations at the registration table for just this purpose. This will be an inspirational and fun time for all who attend! Contact Christina Bagdazian at cbagdazian@yahoo.com or 256.812.2442.

I love you all with all my heart!!

Mike

Upcoming Events:

August 12, 4:30 PM – Psummer Psalms recitation at the Church House
August 15, 6 PM – Diaconate Meeting
August 28, 10:00 AM – Senior Fellows visit the North Alabama Railroad Museum
August 29, 11:30 AM – Women’s Ministry Fall Bible Studies Kickoff Lunch at home of Christina Bagdazian
September 4, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study at Church
September 4, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study at Church
September 5, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study at Church
September 6, 11:30 AM – Women’s Ministry Potluck Lunch and Timbers Edge Clubhouse
September 12, 6:30 PM – Parenting Small Groups
September 21, 6 PM – Women’s Ministry Fall Conference Day One
September 22, 9 AM – Women’s Ministry Fall Conference Day Two

Order of Worship:

You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here

If you’d like to sing the songs with your family beforehand, the songs for this week are:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty – Hymn 53 v.1-3,5
Come Ye Souls By Sin Afflicted
Amazing Grace – Hymn 460 v.1-3,6
How Deep

Announcements:

Summer Schedule: Christ Presbyterian is on Summer Schedule. There will be no Sunday School, and regularly scheduled bible studies for men, women, and youth are on hiatus. Fellowship will be each Sunday at 10 AM, with worship beginning at 10:30 AM. Regular weekly activities will resume the first full week of September, with Sunday School resuming on September 9.

Psummer Pslams: Recitation is Sunday at 4:30 PM at the Church House. All are welcome, whether reciting or not.

Children’s Ministry: Moving into August, we are excited to kick-off another semester of programming. How blessed we are to have programs for all ages to disciple and train our young people with solid teaching and fellowship. Many good things are in the works for this upcoming year for both adults and children’s classes! Watch for more info on that to come.

1. We are now registering the kids for Sunday School which begins September 9th. If you have an infant to 12th grader, please fill out the form for each of your children so that I can begin working on class breakouts, room assignments and materials.

***Additionally, I am still working out details for teachers. If you are interested, please make a note on the form for being involved as a teacher or co-teacher or “sub” and for what class/age range. Thanks!

2. Dr. Carol Bart is starting to make plans for fall Alleluia Choir. We had such a great year last year, and I am thrilled she’ll be directing again this year. Please email her if you’d like to sign your child up. This is for ages 2nd grade to 5th grade, meeting Sunday afternoons from 4:00-4:45 pm in the Music Room of the Church House. Please email her with questions: acbarts@hotmail.com

Prayers for the new school year
I am away this week for some family time, but I am already praying for all of your children as they transition back to the school year. One of my favorite passages to pray for my own kids as they begin a new year is Colossians 1:9-10, that they “may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Women’s Ministry: There are several upcoming Women’s Ministry events:
– On August 29th from 11:30 – 1:00 pm there will be a kick off luncheon for the Fall Bibles Studies at the home of Christine Bagdazian. 2614 Legacy Preserve Dr. Brownsboro AL 35741

– The next Women’s Monthly Lunch is September 6 at 11:30 AM at the Timbers Edge clubhouse. Contact Pat Galecki (countrypat055@gmail.com) for more information.

– The Tuesday Morning Mom’s Bible Study will begin on September 4 from 9-11:30 AM at the church. Childcare will be provided. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg (amyschnorrenberg@icloud.com) for more information.

– The Tuesday Night Women’s Bible Study will begin on September 4 from 6-7:30 PM at the church. The topic is Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation, book and video series (books can be ordered through Lifeway.com website for $12.99). Contact Denise Scrip (denise.scrip@gmail.com) for more information.

– The Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study will begin on September 5 from 10-11:30 AM at the church. The topic is Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation, book and video series (books can be ordered through Lifeway.com website for $12.99). Contact Denise Scrip (denise.scrip@gmail.com) for more information.

– There will be a two-day Women’s Conference entitled “Open Heart and Open Home: The Art of Generous Living” on Friday September 21 from 6 PM-8:30 PM and Saturday September 22 from 9 AM-3 PM. Cost is $30 which includes two meals and all materials. A special flyer is available to use to invite others from outside the church at the registration table. Please sign up in the Narthex. Final date to register is September 2. Please see Christina Bagdazian if you have any questions.

Senior Fellows: On Tuesday, August 28 at 10:00 AM the Senior Fellows will visit the North Alabama Railroad Museum at 694 Chase Rd. N.E, Huntsville. To carpool, meet at the Church at 9:30 AM. The Fellows will go to lunch afterwards.

Parenting Small Groups: 14 Gospel Principles

What?

Be sure to mark your calendars for this Fall’s parenting small group! We will use Paul Tripp’s 14 Gospel Principles of Parenting and cover an array of topics related to Gospel-centered parenting.  The study and group discussion will center around how to be an ambassador for Christ to your children as you seek to faithful in your calling as a parent.  Book purchases are not required, but are encouraged.  As we will not cover all the book chapters during the Fall gatherings, owning the book will provide you an opportunity afterwards to continue your reading and thoughtful consideration of your calling as a parent.  Hard copies can be purchased online for roughly $20, $12 for those who prefer Kindle reading.  Please feel the latitude to contact Matthew Elliott in the event book purchases are out of your current family budgeting.

Who?

The small group is for anyone interested in issues related to raising children.  Though the topic is on parenting, all of the church covenant community is encouraged to consider participating:  nesters, empty nesters, single adults, and hopeful nesters, each have a role to play in nurturing our covenant children.

When?

Small groups will begin on Wednesday, September 12^th!  Concluding on Wednesday, October 24^th, the groups will be each Wednesday night – the exception being October 10^th, which is Fall break.  The six meetings will begin around 6:30 and wrap up about 8pm.

Where?

The group(s) will be in CPC member’s homes.  The locale, number of groups and group size will be determined upon the conclusion of sign-ups!

How?

To sign up, please follow the link:  https://goo.gl/forms/4bxwqqm5RUpeogFD3  Registration will conclude the last day of August.  Once groups are established, you will be contacted by email with further information.

Other Info?

Childcare will be as needed, provided at the locate of each small group.  In the event there are too many children for a particular location, CPC can financially assist those who might need to have childcare in their home during the time of the small group.  Please discuss with your small group leader to arrange childcare.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Matthew Elliott: matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org

Thank you!

Care Center Needs Volunteers to Tutor and Mentor Students: The Care Center in New Hope is seeking volunteers to tutor and mentor children at Madison County Elementary, New Hope Elementary, New Hope High School, and Owens Cross Roads Elementary schools. Volunteer tutors are asked to serve at least 30 minutes one time each week. Volunteer mentors are asked to meet with a student during lunch time one time each week. If you would like to volunteer to help one of these students, contact Andrea Bridges (abridges@thecare-center.org) at the Care Center or for more information contact Norman Dean or Joe Sims.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Andy Trent, Debbie Hill, Suzanne Nimon, Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, and Nolan Osmer.
Bereavement: Please pray for Megan Brown, whose mother died this week.
Expecting: Please pray for the Elliott family, expecting in September, and the Ely family, expecting in November.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

Emails:

general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs and prayer: deacons@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org

Address:
288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

This coming Sunday we will continue our studies in the Epistle to the Colossians, and our text will be Colossians 1:28-2:5. As we probe these verses together, we will consider some very important questions related to the life of the Church that this passage prompts us to reflect upon:

First: What is a pastor to do?

Second: What is the main goal of a local Church like ours?

Third: How do we know when we have reached our goal as a body of Christ?

Fourth: Is Christ enough for us?  Or is there something or someone else that we need in order to make our lives complete?

While to us these may appear to be simple questions with obvious answers, the truth is that even within conservative Protestantism, there are some divergent answers given to these fundamental questions related to the Christian faith and Church.  For example, some have argued that the pastor of a local Church is to function in much the same way as the head of a business or corporation.  And some are now promoting the idea that the Church exists to transform our culture, and to ensure the well-being and ‘flourishing’ of the city. And, as you know, others measure the success of the Church’s mission numerically—by how many members or attenders there are. And then, some have suggested that there is more to the Christian life than conversion and a life of sanctification, followed by the promise of our future glorification. A ‘second blessing’ or experience is needed, or even a more rigorous adherence to certain laws or unwritten expectations.  So this is certainly not a tempest in a teapot!  These are bigquestions, and getting the right answers is essential.

So please study this passage and pray that the Spirit of the Living God would illuminate His Truth to us this Lord’s Day.

I love you all, and pray for you constantly,

Mike

Upcoming Events:

August 5, 2 PM – Kristy Hill Wedding Shower
August 7, 9:00 AM – Senior Fellows Breakfast
August 12, 4:30 PM – Psummer Psalms recitation at the church
August 15, 6 PM – Diaconate Meeting
August 28, 10:00 AM – Senior Fellows at the North Alabama Railroad Museum

Order of Worship:

You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here

If you’d like to sing the songs with your family beforehand, the songs for this week are:

All Creatures of Our God and King – Hymn 115 v.1,2,5
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Holy, Holy, Holy – Hymn 100 v.1-4
Joyful, Joyful

Announcements:

Summer Schedule: Christ Presbyterian is on Summer Schedule. There will be no Sunday School, and regularly scheduled bible studies for men, women, and youth are on hiatus. Fellowship will be each Sunday at 10 AM, with worship beginning at 10:30 AM. Check this space for information regarding when the normal schedule will resume, including dates and times for specific studies and activities.

Children’s Ministry: Moving into August, we are excited to kick-off another semester of programming. How blessed we are to have programs for all ages to disciple and train our young people with solid teaching and fellowship. Many good things are in the works for this upcoming year for both adults and children’s classes! Watch for more info on that to come.

1. We are now registering the kids for Sunday School which begins September 9th. If you have an infant to 12th grader, please fill out the form for each of your children so that I can begin working on class breakouts, room assignments and materials.

***Additionally, I am still working out details for teachers. If you are interested, please make a note on the form for being involved as a teacher or co-teacher or “sub” and for what class/age range. Thanks!

2. Dr. Carol Bart is starting to make plans for fall Alleluia Choir. We had such a great year last year, and I am thrilled she’ll be directing again this year. Please email her if you’d like to sign your child up. This is for ages 2nd grade to 5th grade, meeting Sunday afternoons from 4:00-4:45 pm in the Music Room of the Church House. Please email her with questions: acbarts@hotmail.com

Prayers for the new school year
I am away this week for some family time, but I am already praying for all of your children as they transition back to the school year. One of my favorite passages to pray for my own kids as they begin a new year is Colossians 1:9-10, that they “may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Women’s Monthly Lunch: The next Women’s Monthly Lunch is August 2 at 11:30 AM.

Baby Nursery Volunteers: Moms of babies/toddlers, please sign up to work in our baby nursery at least once this summer. I also encourage all ladies of the church to sign-up. Please consider serving our families in this way! We need help July 29, and August 26. Click HERE to sign up.

Senior Fellows: On Tuesday, August 7 at 9:00 AM the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast, fellowship and a devotional at the Church House. Guests are welcome. Also on Tuesday, August 28 at 10:00 AM the Senior Fellows will visit the North Alabama Railroad Museum at 694 Chase Rd. N.E, Huntsville. To carpool, meet at the Church at 9:30 AM. The Fellows will go to lunch afterwards.

Member Services Survey: Annually we issue a list of church members who offer skills or services to other members. These may be professional services or just shared skills. This list is sent only to members by email and is not posted on any web site. Of particular interest may be services offered by our youth. Attached is last year’s list dated March 2017. If you would like to add an entry to this list or modify/delete your prior entry, please send your information in the format shown to Jack Loose, jackdloose@gmail.com, by August 1, 2018. If you have any questions, please contact Jack Loose by email or 256-881-8953.

Wedding Shower for Kristy Hill: Please join us August 5th at 2:00pm at the home of Jennifer Martin for a bridal shower to honor and celebrate Kristy Hill. See the link below for details and to RSVP.
http://evite.me/9DGzS6J1fj

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Debbie Hill, Suzanne Nimon, Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Elliott family, expecting in September, and the Ely family, expecting in November.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

Emails:

general inquiries: admin@christpreshamptoncove.org
benevolence needs and prayer: deacons@christpreshamptoncove.org
men’s ministry: men@christpreshamptoncove.org
women’s ministry: women@christpreshamptoncove.org
children’s ministry: children@christpreshamptoncove.org
youth ministry: youth@christpreshamptoncove.org
senior fellows: seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org

Address:
288 Old Highway 431
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763