Sermon Preview
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our walk through the Epistle to the Colossians continues this coming Lord’s Day as we now move to consider another section of the letter. For several weeks we’ve studied what Paul had to say regarding the new life in the home, and how the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ changes everything about us, and especially our relationships with one another.
This week, we are moving on with Paul to a new and final section of the letter (4:2-6) where he addresses some additional concerns before he brings his Epistle to an end. In verses 2-6, we will discover some critical duties, prompted by God’s grace and empowered by His Spirit, that every believer in the Lord is to faithfully carry out for the glory of Christ’s name.
As you can see, the first duty, or responsibility, is that of “prayer.” And we will find both an emphasis upon general “prayer” (v. 2), as well as specific “prayer” (vv. 3-4). And then, Paul will set forth the Christian duty of living in the world as a witness for the Gospel (vv. 5-6). He will exhort all believers to live among the lost in a way that magnifies the name of Christ and assists the free and unhindered advance of the message of salvation.
This Sunday, and the next Lord’s Day as well, we are going to consider the matter of prayer. Our special focus this week will be upon prayer in general as it is commanded in verse 2: “Continue steadfastly in prayer.”
I look forward to seeing you all on the Lord’s Day, and I love you and pray for you continually!
Mike
Upcoming Events:
February 16, 9 AM – PCA Disaster Response Training
February 17, 4 PM – Alleluia Choir at Church House
February 17, 4:30 PM – Youth Group
February 19, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study
February 19, 10 AM – Senior Fellow Bill Cowley Life Story/ Testimony
February 19, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study at the Church
February 20, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study at the Church
March 7, 11:30 AM – Women’s Monthly Lunch at Timbers Edge Clubhouse
March 9, 2 PM – Bridal Shower for Gibson Family
March 10, 2 PM – New Members Class
March 17, 12 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch
March 20, 6 PM – Deacons Meeting
March 29-30 – Men’s Retreat at Guntersville State Park
April 26, 6 PM – Parents Night Out
April 28, 4 PM – Church Picnic at Monte Sano State Park
May 19, 5 PM – End of School Cookout 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:
Hark the Voice of Love and Mercy (It is Finished)
Sweet Comfort
Be Thou My Vision – Hymn 642, vs. 1-2, 4-5
Doxology – Hymn 731
Announcements:
Childrens’ Ministry Update: I just wanted to send a quick update from our Children’s Ministry. So many exciting things to look forward to over the next six months. Our ministry thrives because our church body is so supportive! Thank you!!! Our nurseries are always growing and changing. We have been blessed with so many new, young families, and also many visitors. Almost every week we have a family visiting with small children. To be our main support, we have seven paid staff members who work in our three nursery/classrooms or to assist me each week. I also have a member volunteer in the baby nursery to supplement our staff. But, there is always a need to rock babies! I still have some slots needed for Spring: Click HERE to volunteer for the next few weeks.
Need: Nursery Backup Team There are times where I am scrambling to get a volunteer due to sickness or absence. I need women who would be able to sub in nursery on a last minute basis. This might mean a Saturday night text. But, with 6 women on my list, it would happen very infrequently. Ideally, this would be non-baby/toddler moms 🙂 Additionally, I am interested in finding any women who have experience with special needs children. This may mean that you have job experience or that you simply have a heart to serve and pray for this component of our ministry. Click HERE to sign-up to be on my nursery team. And email me at children@christpreshamptoncove.org if you have a heart for special needs (in any way, shape, or form). Please prayerfully consider serving in this way – not much of a commitment to you except to support this ministry!
Alleluia Choir: Alleluia Choir continues Sunday from 4:00-4:45 pm in the Church House. All second graders through age 12 are encouraged to join us. Practice will wrap up on February 24.
Youth Group: Youth Group for ages 13-18 meets February 17 at the church at 4:30 PM.
New Members Class: The Next New Member’s Class will be on Sunday March 10, from 2:00-6:00 PM at the Church, with supper provided. Please sign-up in the Narthex and indicate if you need childcare.
Senior Fellows: On Tuesday, February 19 at 10:00 AM Bill Cowley will give his Life Story and Testimony. We will meet at the Church House, and a chili lunch will be provided. Members and Visitors welcome.
PCA Disaster Response Training: On Saturday, February 16 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Mission to North America (MNA), Providence Presbytery, and Christ Presbyterian Church will host a disaster response team training session. Lunch will be provided. Topics include Initial Assessment of Disaster Sites and Church/Team Preparation. See Alan Cockrell for more information, and please sign up using the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mna-disaster-response-teams-training-huntsville-al-2019-tickets-52232651266
Bridal Shower: The women of the church are invited to a bridal shower Faithann Gibson is throwing for her brother’s fiance at the church on March 9 at 2 PM. The evite to sign up is here.
Men’s Spring Retreat: I am enthusiastic to share the plans for our Spring Men’s Retreat at Guntersville State Park Lodge. Mike will be leading four sessions on the theme: Counsel and Encouragement from the Apostle Peter. Session One- (1 Peter 1:1-2) “Living With Purpose”, Session Two- (1 Peter 1:3-5) “Living With Hope”, Session Three- (1 Peter 1:6-9) “Living With Joy” and Session Four- (1 Peter 1:13-16) “Living With Purity”. Logistics for the retreat are outlined below.
When: Friday night and Saturday morning, March 29-30.
Lodging and food plan: The cost per man is $75 which includes logging for Friday night (double occupancy), supper Friday night and breakfast Saturday morning. We will have a signup sheet for attendance and roommate name this Sunday and for the next three Sundays; or you can email Mark Cooper at cooperma777@gmail.com. Please pay by check made out to Christ Presbyterian Church noting Men’s Retreat on the memo line – deposit checks in the offering boxes by March 24.
This retreat is a great opportunity to have fellowship as brothers and be uplifted by God’s word.
Our preliminary outline for the event is as follows:
Friday Night
Arrive and Check In: 4:00 to 6:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 – 6:45 PM
Music: 7:00 – 7:15 PM
Session 1: 7:15 – 8:00 PM
Session 2: 8:15 – 9:30 PM
Saturday Morning
Checkout before 11:00 AM
Breakfast: 8:00 – 8:45 AM
Music: 9:00 – 9:15 AM
Session 3: 9:15 – 10:15 AM
Fellowship and Check-out: 10:15 – 10:45 AM
Session 4: 10:45 – Noon
There is planning underway for a golf outing by Ben Calvert. Other possible activities, such as hiking, are being considered.
If you have questions please contact Mark Cooper.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Andy Trent, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Cynthia Dent, Katie Dyer, Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Bryant family, expecting in September.
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: benevolence@christpreshamptoncove.org
counsel and ministry needs: matthew@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