Sermon Preview

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

I pray that you all had a most wonderful Thanksgiving! And now, beginning this coming Lord’s Day, we move into the month-long celebration of Advent.

This year, our Advent Sermon Series will be entitled, “ Merry Christmas From the Old Testament Prophets.” Each Sunday during Advent, and also on Christmas Eve, we will be considering some of the more obscure Old Testament prophecies of the incarnation and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we explore and compare these prophetic words, we will experience the unveiling of a magnificent portrait of our Savior, cast in the hopes and expectations of the Old Covenant people, but most revealing to all who know and trust our Lord today.

Below is our preaching schedule, plus a list of verses that we will be reading together in worship each Sunday of Advent. I hope this helps you and your family to prepare for such an exciting time of worship and study together as we once again consider the greatest miracle and most blessed Gift of all!

I love you all, and I pray for you without ceasing!

Mike

PS: And don’t forget our annual Christmas Eve Service of Worship and Communion at 5:00 PM on Tuesday evening, December 24!

Advent Readings and Sermon Texts

Week of December 1-7

Advent Reading:Matthew 21:1-11

12/1 Sermon Text: Isaiah 11:1-9

Week of December 8-14

Advent Reading: Matthew 3:1-12

12/8 Sermon Text: Isaiah 42:1-7

Week of December 15-21

Advent Reading: Matthew 11:2-15

12/15 Sermon Text: Ezekiel 37:24-28

Week of December 22-28

Advent Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

12/22 Sermon Text: Zechariah 12:10-14

Christmas Eve Sermon Text: Haggai 2:5-10

Upcoming Events:

Dec 1, 6 PM – Career/Singles Bible Study at Daughtry Home
Dec 3, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study
Dec 3, 9 AM – Senior Fellows breakfast at the church house.
Dec 3, 11:15 AM – Senior Fellows Team B Lunch Feeding at the Downtown Rescue Mission
Dec 4, 10 AM – Women’s Christmas Brunch
Dec 4, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study
Dec 8, 12 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch
Dec 8, 4:30 PM – Youth Group at Church
Dec 10, 6 PM – Ladies’ Christmas Dinner at Huntsville Country Club
Dec 11, 9:20 AM – Senior Fellows visit the Floyd E. “Tut” Vann State Veterans Home
Dec 13, 11:15 AM – Senior Fellows Team A lunch feeding at the Downtown Rescue Mission

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:

The Son Of God Came Down
He Will Hold Me Fast
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – Hymn 196 v.1-4
Who Would Have Dreamed

Announcements:

Advent Wreath:

The Advent Wreath in the narthex is full of rich symbolism anticipating the celebration of our Savior’s birth. It is round – in Him there is no beginning or ending. It is filled with evergreens – He is eternal. The four candles on the wreath, one for each Sunday of Advent, anticipate the coming of the Light into the world growing ever brighter each week. On Christmas Eve, we light all four and the center one, announcing that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Light of the world has come!

Advent Resources for Families:

I have compiled a list of Advent Resources for those with children or grandchildren. Read some of my recommendations by clicking HERE.

Ashley

Men’s Morning Study:

The men are meeting at Panera at Bridge Street on Tuesdays at 6 AM to study Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. If interested, email darondrown@gmail.com

Career/Singles:

There is an ongoing weekly bible study and fellowship at 5:30 PM Sunday evenings at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry. Email them to get involved.

Transportation for Jean Terry to Worship

Steve Terry’s treatment, which will take place in Arkansas,  will be a long process – 42 weeks.  So, we as a church body have the opportunity to serve this sweet family during the difficult road ahead.  One way we can serve and bless them is to provide transportation for Jean Terry, Steve’s mom, to and from worship service.  A link is provided to sign up if you are able to help in this manner.  Please contact Kim Fohrell if you have questions about serving. Click HERE to volunteer to drive Ms. Jean to and from worship service.

CPC Christmas Collection for Downtown Rescue Mission:

This Christmas season we will provide support in the name of Christ to the Downtown Rescue Mission (DRM), which for more than four decades has provided compassionate, Christ-centered programs and services to help those in desperate need. On Sundays in December, we will collect the following new or good condition used items for men, women and children in labeled containers in the church narthex: Undergarments (only new), Winter outerwear clothing, Nonperishable food, USB thumb drives, Headphones for computers, Lotion, Kleenex, and other toiletry items, Diapers/pull-ups. For more information or questions, contact Norman Dean or Joe Sims.

Youth Group:  

Second Sunday Lunches:

Many of you remarked to me that you’ve only been able to come to one or two lunches because of forgetting or making other plans – well let me encourage you to mark your calendars! 😉

We plan to continue each 2nd Sunday of the month from December through May. The May lunch will most likely move to the 3rd Sunday because of Mother’s Day.

December 8, and January 12 are the next ones coming up. Please make plans to join us in the Fellowship Hall after worship. And please welcome visitors to stay and join us to eat!

***A word of thanks to all the MANY helpers who prep, set out tables, serve the meals, bring food or dessert or tea, and those who linger to clean up – THANK YOU for making these lunches a great success. It is a pleasure to work alongside you and serve the church body this way.

Sincerely in Christ,
Denise Brown

Women’s Fellowship Opportunities:

The Christmas Brunch for the weekly bible studies is December 4th at 10 am.

The annual Ladies’ Christmas Dinner is Tuesday, December 10th, at 6 pm at Huntsville Country Club. Please RSVP by clicking on the Evite link HERE. Email Denise Scrip to volunteer to help with the event.

Mark your calendars for these fellowship opportunities. Contact Denise Scrip for any questions.

Senior Fellows:

Here is a list of Senior Fellows events for December:

9 AM, Tues, December 3 – Breakfast at the church house. Visitors welcome.
11:15 AM, Tues, December 3 – Team B Lunch Feeding at the Downtown Rescue Mission
9:20 AM, Wednesday, December 11 – visit the Floyd E. “Tut” Vann State Veterans Home (2701 Meridian St, Huntsville). Meet at entrance to the Vet Home. Carpools from the church 8:30 AM. Purpose is to bring some Christ centered Christmas joy to “ Americas Best”. Visit will consist of setting down one-on-one talking to the Vets.  Bring unwrapped gifts (optional) which will be distributed by the Vet Home Staff. Lunch follows the visit. Visitors welcome. Questions see Andy Trent.
11:15 AM, Friday, Dec 13 – Team A lunch feeding at the Downtown Rescue Mission

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Steve Terry, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Thoms, expecting in November, and the Brackins, expecting in March.
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).

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

Sermon Preview

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

This coming Lord’s Day we will bring our study of the life of king David to a conclusion as we consider 2 Samuel 12:10-25.

The story of David’s sin ends with the death of his son, born to Bathsheba, and the account of David’s grieving in the aftermath of this horrific loss. In these verses we are exposed to a deeply moving scene as the king walks through that awful ‘valley of the shadow of death,’ and seeks the mercy and favor of the Lord on behalf of his desperately ill son.

He prays, he fasts, he humbles himself before the Lord, begging for the recovery of his child. And yet, the prophetic word announced by Nathan concerning the eventual death of David’s son will come true (v. 19).

What is most instructive for us is what David does next (vv. 20-24). I’ll not spoil the surprise here, but I will say that he does what we might not expect. His reaction to the Lord’s discipline is quite remarkable, and it will serve as a most worthy model for future generations of believers in Christ.

And then, as I indicated last week, the episode also concludes with a most magnificent promise, one triumphantly arising from the smoking ruins of David’s greatest failure (vv. 24-25).

The Lord provides another son; a son with two names! And with his birth will come the very embodiment of God’s unfailing promise to bring One into this world who will undo all of the damage and destruction unleashed by David’s sins, and our sins, and those of the whole world!

What a wonderful and encouraging passage this is! And I can’t wait to explore it with you this Lord’s Day!

All my love always,

Mike

Upcoming Events:

Nov 24, 4:30 PM – Youth Group at Church
Nov 24, 4:30 PM – Youth Presbytery-Wide Roots Retreat Informational Meeting for Parents at Church (back classroom/preK/Kinder class)
Nov 24, 6 PM – Career/Singles Bible Study at Daughtry Home
Nov 26, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study
Nov 26, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study
Nov 27, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study
Dec 3, 9 AM – Senior Fellows breakfast at the church house.
Dec 3, 11:15 AM – Senior Fellows Team B Lunch Feeding at the Downtown Rescue Mission
Dec 4, 12 PM – Women’s Christmas Brunch
Dec 8, 12 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch
Dec 10, 6 PM – Ladies’ Christmas Dinner at Huntsville Country Club
Dec 11, 9:20 AM – Senior Fellows visit the Floyd E. “Tut” Vann State Veterans Home
Dec 13, 11:15 AM – Senior Fellows Team A lunch feeding at the Downtown Rescue Mission

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:

Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah
It Is Well With My Soul – Hymn 691 v.1-4
Be Thou My Vision – Hymn 642 v.1-2, 4-5
Give Us Clean Hands

Announcements:

Men’s Morning Study:

The men are meeting at Panera at Bridge Street on Tuesdays at 6 AM to study Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. If interested, email darondrown@gmail.com

Career/Singles:

There is an ongoing weekly bible study and fellowship at 5:30 PM Sunday evenings at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry. Also of interest, on Monday, November 18, Botanical Gardens Galaxy of Lights dog walking night (although, bringing a dog is optional!). Meet at the tent entrance at 6:00. Hot chocolate and fellowship afterwards at the home of Kerry Tameling.

Transportation for Jean Terry to Worship

Steve Terry’s treatment, which will take place in Arkansas,  will be a long process – 42 weeks.  So, we as a church body have the opportunity to serve this sweet family during the difficult road ahead.  One way we can serve and bless them is to provide transportation for Jean Terry, Steve’s mom, to and from worship service.  A link is provided to sign up if you are able to help in this manner.  Please contact Kim Fohrell if you have questions about serving. Click HERE to volunteer to drive Ms. Jean to and from worship service.

College Student Care Packages:

Thank you for all those who contributed or packed packages for the students in college. We sent out almost 20 packages on Thursday, and we pray that they will bless our college students as they enter into exams and their breaks.

CPC Christmas Collection for Downtown Rescue Mission:

This Christmas season we will provide support in the name of Christ to the Downtown Rescue Mission (DRM), which for more than four decades has provided compassionate, Christ-centered programs and services to help those in desperate need. On Sundays in December, we will collect the following new or good condition used items for men, women and children in labeled containers in the church narthex: Undergarments (only new), Winter outerwear clothing, Nonperishable food, USB thumb drives, Headphones for computers, Lotion, Kleenex, and other toiletry items, Diapers/pull-ups. For more information or questions, contact Norman Dean or Joe Sims.

Men’s Lunch Groups:

Today is the last Sunday to sign up for a Men’s Lunch Fellowship Group. More information and sign up sheets may be found in the Narthex. For questions please see Norman Dean.

Youth Group:  

Second Sunday Lunches:

Many of you remarked to me that you’ve only been able to come to one or two lunches because of forgetting or making other plans – well let me encourage you to mark your calendars! 😉

We plan to continue each 2nd Sunday of the month from December through May. The May lunch will most likely move to the 3rd Sunday because of Mother’s Day.

December 8, and January 12 are the next ones coming up. Please make plans to join us in the Fellowship Hall after worship. And please welcome visitors to stay and join us to eat!

***A word of thanks to all the MANY helpers who prep, set out tables, serve the meals, bring food or dessert or tea, and those who linger to clean up – THANK YOU for making these lunches a great success. It is a pleasure to work alongside you and serve the church body this way.

Sincerely in Christ,
Denise Brown

Women’s Fellowship Opportunities:

The Christmas Brunch for the weekly bible studies is December 4th at 12 pm.

The annual Ladies’ Christmas Dinner is Tuesday, December 10th, at 6 pm at Huntsville Country Club. Email Denise Scrip to volunteer to help with the event.

Mark your calendars for these fellowship opportunities. Contact Denise Scrip for any questions.

Senior Fellows:

Here is a list of Senior Fellows events for December:

9 AM, Tues, December 3 – Breakfast at the church house. Visitors welcome.
11:15 AM, Tues, December 3 – Team B Lunch Feeding at the Downtown Rescue Mission
9:20 AM, Wednesday, December 11 – visit the Floyd E. “Tut” Vann State Veterans Home (2701 Meridian St, Huntsville). Meet at entrance to the Vet Home. Carpools from the church 8:30 AM. Purpose is to bring some Christ centered Christmas joy to “ Americas Best”. Visit will consist of setting down one-on-one talking to the Vets.  Bring unwrapped gifts (optional) which will be distributed by the Vet Home Staff. Lunch follows the visit. Visitors welcome. Questions see Andy Trent.
11:15 AM, Friday, Dec 13 – Team A lunch feeding at the Downtown Rescue Mission

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Steve Terry, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Thoms, expecting in November, and the Brackins, expecting in March.
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).

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

Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Many years ago, as I was first getting into Reformed Theology, I was listening to The White Horse Inn, a Christian (and theologically Reformed) radio show originating from Los Angeles, and hosted by Dr. Michael Horton.

On this particular episode, Dr. Horton and his co-hosts we interviewing the late Dr. Robert Schuller, and they were discussing his controversial views on the Gospel and Scripture. During what proved to be a very lively, sometimes fiery, and thoroughly entertaining discussion, Dr. Schuller made this interesting statement: “Just because it’s in the Bible, doesn’t mean you have to preach it.”

What prompted that comment was their discussion of hell. Dr. Horton and his co-hosts were, of course, arguing that this unpleasant subject, clearly taught in the Bible, is yet a critical part of the Gospel that must be proclaimed in order to be faithful to Christ. Dr. Schuller, on the other hand, argued that the preacher is not at all obligated to preach on subjects that are so negative and difficult, even if they are found in the Word of God.

I’ve recalled that episode many times this week as I have prepared for Sunday’s message from God’s Word.

In 2 Samuel 12:10-25, we find a collision between two seemingly disparate and irreconcilable facts. First, Nathan announces to David that, as a consequence of his sins, “ the sword will never depart from your house” (12:10). And then, the prophet declares that the king’s gross transgressions have been fully forgiven by the Lord: “ The Lord also has put away you sin” (12:13). There will be both mercy and consequences, forgiveness and painful costs.

Most troublesome of all is the fact that the death of the son born to David and Bathsheba is among the consequences that the king must now bear: “ the child who is born to you shall die . . . . And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David” (12:14-15).

These are terribly hard words, indeed! Do we really have to preach them?

Well, you know the obvious answer. Even this is God’s Word that must be proclaimed. And there is a message here for each of us as we examine the perplexing intersection of mercy and justice, of the forgiveness of sins and the consequences of choices.

As we continue to probe the details of David’s fall and restoration, we will discover even in this admittedly difficult passage the sanctifying grace of God, that has its unshakable foundation resting upon His unfailing love for all who belong to Him!

Please read 2 Samuel 12:10-25, and pray with and for me as we prepare to come before our Savior this Lord’s Day.

I love you all so much!

Mike

Upcoming Events:

Nov 17, 6 PM – Career/Singles Bible Study at Daughtry Home
Nov 18, 6 PM – Career/Singles Christmas Dog Walking at Huntsville Botanical Gardens
Nov 19, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study
Nov 19, 10 AM Bags of Blessings Food Pickup at Sam’s
Nov 19, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study
Nov 20, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study
Nov 20, 6 PM – Diaconate Meeting
Nov 24, 4:30 PM – Youth Group at Church
Dec 4, 12 PM – Women’s Christmas Brunch
Dec 8, 12 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch
Dec 10, 6 PM – Ladies’ Christmas Dinner at Huntsville Country Club

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:

Man of Sorrows, What a Name – Hymn 246 v.1-5
Give Reviving
Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord – Hymn 465 v.1-3
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Announcements:

Men’s Morning Study:

The men are meeting at Panera at Bridge Street on Tuesdays at 6 AM to study Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. If interested, email darondrown@gmail.com

Career/Singles:

There is an ongoing weekly bible study and fellowship at 5:30 PM Sunday evenings at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry. Also of interest, on Monday, November 18, Botanical Gardens Galaxy of Lights dog walking night (although, bringing a dog is optional!). Meet at the tent entrance at 6:00. Hot chocolate and fellowship afterwards at the home of Kerry Tameling.

Transportation for Jean Terry to Worship

Steve Terry’s treatment, which will take place in Arkansas,  will be a long process – 42 weeks.  So, we as a church body have the opportunity to serve this sweet family during the difficult road ahead.  One way we can serve and bless them is to provide transportation for Jean Terry, Steve’s mom, to and from worship service.  A link is provided to sign up if you are able to help in this manner.  Please contact Kim Fohrell if you have questions about serving. Click HERE to volunteer to drive Ms. Jean to and from worship service.

College Student Care Packages:

The young ladies of Christ Pres are putting together care packages for our college students once again this year. Please let us know a good address for your students so we can send them a little something to let them know they are in our thoughts and prayers.  Parents, please use the Google Form to give us the information needed to get these to our students.

Click HERE

Over the next couple of weeks we will be collecting items to send to our college students in these Christmas care packages.  There will be a box by the table in the Narthex that you can place your items in.  We welcome two dozen of any of the following items: health bars, popcorn, snacks, Christmas cheer/treats, gum, gift cards, personal notes, school supplies, or any other smallish item that you think would brighten someone’s day in the midst of exams.  Thanks for showing our students that they are still a valued and prayed for part of our local Body of Christ.  See Amy Drown with any questions.

Men’s Lunch Groups:

Men’s Lunch Fellowship Groups are forming.  More information and sign up sheets may be found in the Narthex. For questions please see Norman Dean.

Youth Group:  

Youth Bible Study for Middle and High School is the following dates:

Sunday November 24–4:30 PM at the Church
Sunday December 8–4:30 PM at the Church

Second Sunday Lunches:

Please click the link HERE to view the sign up for our November Fellowship Lunch on Sunday November 10th.

Many of you remarked to me that you’ve only been able to come to one or two lunches because of forgetting or making other plans – well let me encourage you to mark your calendars! 😉

We plan to continue each 2nd Sunday of the month from December through May. The May lunch will most likely move to the 3rd Sunday because of Mother’s Day.

November 10, December 8, and January 12 are the next three coming up. Please make plans to join us in the Fellowship Hall after worship. And please welcome visitors to stay and join us to eat!

***A word of thanks to all the MANY helpers who prep, set out tables, serve the meals, bring food or dessert or tea, and those who linger to clean up – THANK YOU for making these lunches a great success. It is a pleasure to work alongside you and serve the church body this way.

Sincerely in Christ,
Denise Brown

Women’s Fellowship Opportunities:

The Christmas Brunch for the weekly bible studies is December 4th.

The annual Ladies’ Christmas Dinner is Tuesday, December 10th, at 6 pm at Huntsville Country Club.

Mark your calendars for these fellowship opportunities. Contact Denise Scrip for any questions.

Senior Fellows:

Here is a list of Senior Fellows events for November:
Nov 19 – 10 AM Bags of Blessings Food Pickup at Sam’s

Roots Retreat:

Registration for the upcoming youth retreat for the teens in our presbytery is now open. The Roots Retreat will be January 24-26, 2020. This year’s guest speaker is Daniel Hightower. Daniel is the RUF campus minister at Jacksonville State University (and former Youth Director at Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Payne). You may register by clicking here.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Steve Terry, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Thoms, expecting in November, and the Brackins, expecting in March.
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).

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

Sermon Preview

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

If I were to ask you to choose your favorite passages in the Bible about God’s grace, which ones would you think of?

Well, let me add one passage for your consideration. And it’s one that is likely absent from all our lists of verses.

Check out the words that follow from 2 Samuel 12.

And the Lord sent Nathan to David(v. 1)

Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”(v. 7)

“Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?(v. 9)

It may surprise you that I’ve included these verses among those from the Bible that speak of God’s grace. But I believe that, while the word ‘grace’ does not appear here, what we see in action is nothing less than a powerful example of God’s marvelous grace!

Of course, when we first think of grace we think of saving grace, and rightly so. But the saving or redeeming grace that we know from our Father through His Son is also a sanctifying grace. So this divine grace not only reclaims the sinner from guilt, death, and hell, it also begins to transform the sinner into a son of God, one who is holy and obedient.

It is this sanctifying grace that we encounter in this passage from 2 Samuel 12:1-9. David, the believer, but also the great sinner who is far from the Lord, will experience this grace in a most powerful and even embarrassing way. You can read about this in verses 1-7.

Our message on Sunday will deal with three components of the grace that we discover in this passage.

1) God’s grace seeks the disobedient, sinful believer.

2) God’s grace illuminates the sin in the believer’s life.

3) God’s grace convicts the believer of his or her sin.

So we might think of sanctifying grace as seeking, illuminating, and convicting.

Let’s pray that as we explore the riches of this passage from the Lord’s Word that our view of His amazing grace will be made much deeper for His glory and honor.

Mission Report This Sunday

Our final missions report for this fall will come from our own Ken Burnett. Ken is the Area-wide Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes here in North Alabama. And as you know, he is also our Assistant to the Pastor for Student Ministry.

Along with his wife Angie, Ken takes the Gospel to the multiplied thousands of students, teachers, and coaches in our Middle and High Schools all across our region.

We look forward to learning about the ways the Lord has blessed this great work!

Youth Bible Study

Speaking of Students, just a reminder that our Middle and High School Bible Study will be this coming Lord’s Day at the Church from 4:30-6:15 PM.

Second Sunday Lunch

And don’t forget our Second Sunday Lunch immediately following our Worship Service! I look forward to a blessed time of great fellowship!

I love you all, and you are always on my heart!

Mike

Upcoming Events:

Nov 10, 12 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch
Nov 10, 4:30 PM – Youth Group at Church
Nov 12, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study
Nov 12, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study
Nov 13, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study
Nov 13, 6:30 PM Seniors Fellows & Wives Night Out at Luciano
Nov 19, 10 AM Bags of Blessings Food Pickup at Sam’s

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:

By Thy Mercy
What Wondrous Love is This – Hymn 261, all 3 verses
Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross – Hymn 264, all 4 verses
Hark the Voice of Love and Mercy (It is Finished)

Announcements:

Men’s Morning Study:

The men are meeting at Panera at Bridge Street on Tuesdays at 6 AM to study Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. If interested, email darondrown@gmail.com

Transportation for Jean Terry to Worship

Steve Terry’s treatment, which will take place in Arkansas,  will be a long process – 42 weeks.  So, we as a church body have the opportunity to serve this sweet family during the difficult road ahead.  One way we can serve and bless them is to provide transportation for Jean Terry, Steve’s mom, to and from worship service.  A link is provided to sign up if you are able to help in this manner.  Please contact Kim Fohrell if you have questions about serving. Click HERE to volunteer to drive Ms. Jean to and from worship service.

College Student Care Packages:

The young ladies of Christ Pres are putting together care packages for our college students once again this year. Please let us know a good address for your students so we can send them a little something to let them know they are in our thoughts and prayers.  Parents, please use the Google Form to give us the information needed to get these to our students.

Click HERE

Over the next couple of weeks we will be collecting items to send to our college students in these Christmas care packages.  There will be a box by the table in the Narthex that you can place your items in.  We welcome two dozen of any of the following items: health bars, popcorn, snacks, Christmas cheer/treats, gum, gift cards, personal notes, school supplies, or any other smallish item that you think would brighten someone’s day in the midst of exams.  Thanks for showing our students that they are still a valued and prayed for part of our local Body of Christ.  See Amy Drown with any questions.

Men’s Lunch Groups:

Men’s Lunch Fellowship Groups are forming.  More information and sign up sheets may be found in the Narthex. For questions please see Norman Dean.

Youth Group:  

Youth Bible Study for Middle and High School is the following dates:

Sunday November 10–4:30 PM at the Church
Sunday November 24–4:30 PM at the Church
Sunday December 8–4:30 PM at the Church

Second Sunday Lunches:

Please click the link HERE to view the sign up for our November Fellowship Lunch on Sunday November 10th.

Many of you remarked to me that you’ve only been able to come to one or two lunches because of forgetting or making other plans – well let me encourage you to mark your calendars! 😉

We plan to continue each 2nd Sunday of the month from December through May. The May lunch will most likely move to the 3rd Sunday because of Mother’s Day.

November 10, December 8, and January 12 are the next three coming up. Please make plans to join us in the Fellowship Hall after worship. And please welcome visitors to stay and join us to eat!

***A word of thanks to all the MANY helpers who prep, set out tables, serve the meals, bring food or dessert or tea, and those who linger to clean up – THANK YOU for making these lunches a great success. It is a pleasure to work alongside you and serve the church body this way.

Sincerely in Christ,
Denise Brown

Women’s Fellowship Opportunities:

The Christmas Brunch for the weekly bible studies is December 4th.

The annual Ladies’ Christmas Dinner is Tuesday, December 10th, at 6 pm at Huntsville Country Club.

Mark your calendars for these fellowship opportunities. Contact Denise Scrip for any questions.

Senior Fellows:

Here is a list of Senior Fellows events for November:
Nov 13 – 6:30 PM Seniors Fellows & Wives Night Out at Luciano
Nov 19 – 10 AM Bags of Blessings Food Pickup at Sam’s

Roots Retreat:

Check this space for updates on the upcoming youth retreat for the teens in our presbytery. The Roots Retreat will be January 24-26, 2020. This year’s guest speaker is Daniel Hightower. Daniel is the RUF campus minister at Jacksonville State University (and former Youth Director at Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Payne).

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Steve Terry, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Thoms, expecting in November, and the Brackins, expecting in March.
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).

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

Sermon Preview

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

One thing that all people everywhere have in common is the predisposition to cover up one’s mistakes and sins. There’s just something in all of us that seems to drive us to hide them, to explain them away, to deflect attention from them, to assign blame elsewhere, and to do all within our power to make them go away.

We’ve all done this, multiple times. And we have done it from our earliest days as little children who did something mommy or daddy had forbidden. Perhaps you have even covered up something recently, maybe not on the scale that we will examine this Sunday morning from the life of David. But you have hidden something from your parents, your spouse, your boss, or your neighbor. In a moment when you were most keenly aware of your guilt, you have done your best to sweep away the evidence of your sin, and attempted to effect some repair of the damage you’ve done.

These cover-ups involve sins and transgressions of all types and sizes. Such sins range from those that appear to be the most trivial and inconsequential, to those that are abysmal, catastrophic, and involve consequences that are ultimate.

This is the story of 2 Samuel 11:6-27, king David’s story. And it is our text for this coming Lord’s Day message. David will attempt a cover-up. But, as we will see, things don’t go as planned. And chapter 11 ends with those dreadful words of verse 27, “ But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.”

Let’s be sure to read this story again as we prepare our hearts for worship this Sunday.

Men’s Retreat

Men, don’t forget that tonight at 6:30 PM we will meet at the Church for our Fall Men’s Retreat. We will be considering the subject of ‘Authority,’ and we will enjoy a great time of fellowship around the Word of God.

Then, Saturday morning at 8:15 AM we will gather at the Church for a delicious catered breakfast (my well-placed sources tell me that Cracker Barrel is providing the meal), followed by more study and fellowship. Our retreat will conclude by 11:30 AM.

I hope to see all of our brothers there!

Time Change

Finally, our clocks roll back one hour Saturday night, so enjoy that extra hour to sleep before we gather for Lord’s Day worship.

I love you all so much!

Mike

Upcoming Events:

Nov 1, 6:30 PM – Men’s Retreat at Church – Session 1
Nov 2, 8 AM – Men’s Retreat at Church – Breakfast and Session 2
Nov 5, 9 AM – Mother’s Morning Bible Study
Nov 5, 9 AM Senior Fellows Breakfast at the Church House
Nov 5, 11:15 AM Team B lunch feeding at Downtown Rescue Mission (DRM)
Nov 5, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study
Nov 6, 10 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study
Nov 7, 11:30 AM – Women’s Potluck Lunch at Timbers Edge Clubhouse
Nov 8 – 11:15 AM Team A lunch feeding at DRM
Nov 13, 6:30 PM Seniors Fellows & Wives Night Out at Luciano
Nov 19, 10 AM Bags of Blessings Food Pickup at Sam’s
Nov 10, 12 PM – Second Sunday Fellowship Lunch

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, vs 1,3-5
Spirit of The Living God – Hymn 726
Jesus, What A Friend For Sinners – Hymn 498, vs 1-2,5
The Precious Blood

Announcements:

Men’s Morning Study:

Rise early. Drink coffee. Meet with brothers to discuss the Word of God using Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. 6:00-7:15 AM, Panera – Bridge Street. Day TBD.  If interested, email darondrown@gmail.com

Men’s Retreat:

Men’s ‘Stay at Home Retreat,’ Friday November 1 and Saturday November 2 at the Church. All the men of the Church and visitors are invited. Schedule: Friday 6:30-9:00 PM, and Saturday 8:15-11:30 with breakfast included. Mike will be leading sessions on the subject, ‘A Man Under Authority, and Entrusted With Authority.’ See Mark Cooper with questions.

Men’s Lunch Groups:

Men’s Lunch Fellowship Groups are forming.  More information and sign up sheets may be found in the Narthex. For questions please see Norman Dean.

Youth Group:  

Youth Bible Study for Middle and High School is the following dates:

Sunday November 10–4:30 PM at the Church
Sunday November 24–4:30 PM at the Church
Sunday December 8–4:30 PM at the Church

Second Sunday Lunches:

Please click the link HERE to view the sign up for our November Fellowship Lunch on Sunday November 10th.

Many of you remarked to me that you’ve only been able to come to one or two lunches because of forgetting or making other plans – well let me encourage you to mark your calendars! 😉

We plan to continue each 2nd Sunday of the month from December through May. The May lunch will most likely move to the 3rd Sunday because of Mother’s Day.

November 10, December 8, and January 12 are the next three coming up. Please make plans to join us in the Fellowship Hall after worship. And please welcome visitors to stay and join us to eat!

***A word of thanks to all the MANY helpers who prep, set out tables, serve the meals, bring food or dessert or tea, and those who linger to clean up – THANK YOU for making these lunches a great success. It is a pleasure to work alongside you and serve the church body this way.

Sincerely in Christ,
Denise Brown

Women’s Fellowship Opportunities:

The women will continue their “First Thursday” monthly luncheons on November 7. They start at 11:30 am at Timbers’ Edge Clubhouse. There will not be a Thursday Luncheon in December.

The Christmas Brunch for the weekly bible studies is December 4th.

The annual Ladies’ Christmas Dinner is Tuesday, December 10th, at 6 pm at Huntsville Country Club.

Mark your calendars for these fellowship opportunities. Contact Denise Scrip for any questions.

Senior Fellows:

Here is a list of Senior Fellows events for October:
Nov 5 –  9 AM Senior Fellows Breakfast at the Church House
Nov 5 – 11:15 AM Team B lunch feeding at Downtown Rescue Mission (DRM)
Nov 8 – 11:15 AM Team A lunch feeding at DRM
Nov 13 – 6:30 PM Seniors Fellows & Wives Night Out at Luciano
Nov 19 – 10 AM Bags of Blessings Food Pickup at Sam’s

Roots Retreat:

Check this space for updates on the upcoming youth retreat for the teens in our presbytery. The Roots Retreat will be January 24-26, 2020. This year’s guest speaker is Daniel Hightower. Daniel is the RUF campus minister at Jacksonville State University (and former Youth Director at Grace Presbyterian Church in Fort Payne).

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Steve Terry, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, and Nolan Osmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Thoms, expecting in November, and the Brackins, expecting in March.
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).

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