Blessed is the one you choose and bring near to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
Prayer of Adoration:
Confession of Faith:The Westminster Confession of Faith, 8.5
The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience and sacrifice of Himself—which He through the eternal Spirit once offered up to God—has fully satisfied the justice of His Father. He purchased not only reconciliation but also an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for all those whom the Father has given to Him.
Song:Sweet Comfort– CCLI #7041363
Whatever my God ordains is right, His holy will abides
I will be still whatever he does and follow where he guides
CHORUS:
Sweet comfort, sweet comfort, yet shall fill my heart
Sweet comfort, sweet comfort, sorrow shall depart
Whatever my God ordains is right, He makes my feet to stand
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, He holds me in his hand
He is my God though dark my road, He holds me, I shall not fall
Whatever my God ordains is right, to him I leave it all
The Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 55:10-13
Prayer of Confession:
Pastor: O most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; who pardons all such as truly repent and turn to You; we humbly confess our sins and implore Your mercy. People: We have not loved You with a whole heart fervently; neither have we loved our neighbor as ourselves.
Pastor: We have not done justly, nor loved mercy, nor walked humbly with You, our God. People: Have mercy upon us, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out our iniquity.
Pastor: Create in us a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within us. People: As you have generously poured out Your love upon us, may we freely share that love with others.
Assurance of Pardon: From Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
The New Testament Lesson: Romans 8:12-17
Prayer for the Church: Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder.
The Sermon: “The Cross, the Church, and the World.” Galatians 6:14. Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder.
Song: God of My Life, To Thee I Call – CCLI# 5397370
God of my life, to Thee I call, afflicted at Thy feet I fall
When the great water floods prevail, leave not my trembling heart to fail
CHORUS: Poor though I am, despised, forgot
Yet God, my God, forgets me not
And He is safe, and must succeed, for whom the Lord is sure to plead
Friend of the friendless and the faint, where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with Thee whose open door invites the helpless and the poor
That were a grief I could not bear didst Thou not hear and answer prayer;
But a prayer hearing, answering God supports me under every load
The Benediction: From Ephesians 5:1-2
May you be imitators of God, as beloved children, walking in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Amen!
We would like to invite you to join us for a weekend parenting conference on August 28th and 29th. Our Friday evening and Saturday morning conference is entitled Parenting Faithfully: Challenging Topics for Today’s Christian Parents. The sessions will address difficult but pertinent topics in parenting including pornography and technology. Our hope is that the weekend encourages you in your calling as a parent, further equipping you to disciple and train your children toward conformity to Christ.
Pending circumstances with Covid-19, we anticipate serving coffee and dessert Friday evening. Optional upon registration, you may sign up for a fellowship breakfast (Chick fil A) on Saturday morning. All food will come pre-packaged. Registration for the event is now open. There is no cost for attendance.
Speaker
Our speaker is will be John Perritt (MDiv RTS ’09 & DMin SBTS ’16). He currently serves as the director of resources for reformed youth ministers. He previously served in youth ministry at Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS for over 12 years. Prior to that, he served in youth ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg, MS. He published Your Days Are Numbered (2016), What Would Judas Do? (2017), Time Out! The Gift or god of Youth Sports (2018), Bible 101: Living, Loving & Learning God’s Word (2018), Insecure: Fighting Our Lesser Fears with a Greater One (2019), and Mark: How Jesus Changes Everything (2019). He also serves as the host of RYM’s The Local Youth Worker and co-host for Parenting Today. He and his wife, Ashleigh, have five children and live in Ridgeland, MS.
Covid
Due to Covid-19, we will practice similar measures to our Sunday morning worship services. Along with proper spacing on every other pew, we encourage social distancing and masks. We will send out any additional changes via emial with information regarding our protocol and food as circumstances change. Any food items will come pre-packaged and will be served in a space, such as the outside front patio, that is conducive for social distancing.
Summary
What: Parenting Faithfully: Challenging Topics for Today’s Christian Parents
Where: Christ Presbyterian Church
When: Friday Evening, August 28th and Saturday Morning, August 29th
*There is no cost for the sessions
Childcare
There will not be any childcare provided at the church during the event. If you are in need of assistance securing childcare for the event, please contact either Matthew Elliott (matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org) or Ashley Turnbull (children@christpreshamptoncove.org).
Just a quick word before I introduce Sunday’s message.
As I pray for you and reflect upon our sweet fellowship, I am so very thankful for your endurance, your hope, and your vibrant faith in our Lord and Savior. By now we all had hoped that the threat of the virus would have substantially subsided, and we’d be closer to getting things back to normal. But this has not been the case, and I would guess that most of us now know someone who has been infected or otherwise directly impacted by this disease. With this comes more uncertainty and a host of additional questions, not to mention the fear that we have experienced. And yet, I rejoice in your perseverance, and in the sweet spirit of grace that characterizes our fellowship.
I find much personal comfort in rehearsing to myself that blessed Biblical truth that our Father loves us, is ever protecting us, and, even in times like this, is at work accomplishing His glorious and good will. Once again, I am so encouraged that His Word is ever sufficient for us, and is always timely.
This brings me to next Sunday, July 19, as we continue our series on the cross. On that day, the Lord willing, I will be addressing the subject of evil and suffering. I would especially ask for your prayers as this message comes together, for I believe the Lord will continue to nourish, encourage, and instruct us through His Word, especially at such a time as this.
This coming Lord’s day we will open the Word of the Lord together to the Epistle to the Galatians, and chapter 6 and verse 14. You will recall that this summer in our Lord’s Day messages we are looking at the subject of ‘The Church Under the Cross.’ And this week our sermon text will reveal to us another important link between the cross of our Lord and Savior and His redeemed people.
This is, indeed, a most intriguing passage of Scripture from Paul’s letter to the Christians in the first century province of Galatia. And in this letter, in which he sternly warns the Church to be alert to the grave danger of believing a distorted Gospel–one based not upon faith, but upon works– he addresses the believer’s relationship to the world. And, perhaps to our shock and amazement, in this verse Paul actually speaks of three crucifixions! You can spot them very easily:
“ But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Here we encounter our Lord’s crucifixion, then the world’s crucifixion, and then our crucifixion.
As we prayerfully walk through this one verse, we will see how the cross of our Lord and Savior has changed everything about our lives! And this impacts us right now as we, the Bride of Christ, live and serve Him in this world.
Thank you for your prayers for the preaching of God’s Holy Word, and I love you all with all my heart!
Mike
Announcements:
COVID-19 Message:
Our weekly service of worship has resumed! Please observe the following guidelines. First, practice distancing as much as possible – no physical contact, and keep 6 feet between your family and other families. Sit in pews where marked. There will be no nursery, or any other food or beverages on church property. There will also be no communion or congregational singing. Per Madison County Health Order, masks are strongly encouraged. There will be no Sunday School until September. If you have been in contact with someone who been sick, if you feel sick yourself, or if you have any pre-existing conditions, you should remain at home. We will continue to provide a recording of the worship service to allow for participation in worship at home.
Message from your Diaconate:
As we continue through this difficult time, if you have needs of any kind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Diaconate. We’re eager to help you or to find someone who can. This is one of the main reasons the church has deacons, to make sure that congregational needs are being met. Please remember that your Diaconate and Session are praying for you, and we’re here to help however we can.
Senior Fellows:
The Senior Fellows begin a new weekly Bible study on Tuesday, July 21 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. We will use the Zoom virtual meeting application to study Building a Christian Conscience by R.C. Sproul, and the topic will be The Razor’s Edge. Church members are welcome to join us. For further information, email us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org.
Future topics include:
July 28 – “The Legalist Distortion”
Aug. 4 – “The Distortion of Lawlessness”
Aug. 11 – “The Degrees of Sin”
Aug. 18 – “The Creation of Ordinances”
Aug. 25 – “The Question of Conscience”
Parenting Conference:
Please save the dates of August 28th and 29th for our parenting conference! Our guest speaker is John Perritt, current director of resources for Reformed Youth Ministries. Please mark your calendars for a Friday evening/Saturday morning event to consider how we might better disciple our children in today’s challenging culture. Further details will be forthcoming. For questions, please contact Matthew Elliott at matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org.
Psummer Psalms:
Announcing our 3rd year of Psummer Psalms! Everyone, young and old, is invited to memorize one entire Psalm this summer. Then join us for a recitation and light dinner at church on Sunday afternoon, Aug 16. Recitation can be individual, or together in a group or family. New this year: a trophy t-shirt for anyone who recites an entire Psalm from memory! If interested, email darondrown@gmail.com for periodic encouragement and accountability.
Resources for Further Study:
Pastor Mike has posted a list of books on a variety of theological topics that you might find useful. Check out the list by clicking here. You can also find this list from the About Us menu on the web site home page.
Children’s Ministry:
All, the Session and I have made the decision to cancel VBS 2020 this coming July. We are so sad to do this, but this is the precedent that has been set within our city and our denomination. Our theme of “Olympics” will be carried over to NEXT year when the actual Olympics have also been rescheduled. In place of VBS, watch for information on other fellowship opportunities in upcoming weeks!
Nursery Use – I have been asked if it is okay for parents to take their children into the nursery during the service if need be to alleviate any overcrowding in the cry room. That is not a problem, but please wipe down any surfaces that you encounter during your stay so that others may feel comfortable using it as well. There will be sanitizing wipes on the counters.
Women’s, Career/Singles, and Youth Ministries:
Ministry activities have been canceled pending the virus quarantine. Check this space for rescheduled events.
Men’s Studies:
The weekly Men’s study of John Calvin’s Institutes is meeting via Zoom, contact Daron Drown for details.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Elizabeth Holton, and Nolan Osmer. Expecting: Please pray for the Libertos, expecting in August, and the Elys, expecting in September. Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.
Online Donations:
If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:
. . . . and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On several occasions I have had the opportunity to attend a professional sporting event. There have been a couple NFL games, a Major League Baseball game or two, and several NBA games. Typically, I have gotten tickets in what is known as the ‘nosebleed section.’ I remember taking our sons to an NBA preseason game played down in Pensacola back in the early 1990’s. We had tickets on the very last row of the upper deck of the arena, just inches from the roof! The players looked like ants. No one really wants such seats, and as clear eyesight is more and more a thing of the past for me, I’d just rather watch the event on TV anyway.
But there is one great advantage to sitting high up like that. You can see everything going on. You can watch the plays as they develop. You can see the runner about to steal a base, the wide receiver breaking free from the coverage, or the fast-break that’s about to unfold down court. Yes, things do look smaller, but as far as getting the whole game in front of you, no seat affords the spectator such a strategic view as one way up in the nosebleed section!
This brings me to the inspired words of the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 2:6. Here he declares that we who have trusted in Christ Jesus–the One who died for our sins, who was buried, raised on the third day, and was taken to heaven–have been “ seated” with Him in the heavens.
Now, this is a most remarkable and comforting thing to consider! As our Lord now sits on His throne ruling the universe and interceding constantly for us, we sit with Him! Below us is the ‘arena’ where history is unfolding according to His game plan. From this lofty perch, we see Him directing the course of world events, both big and small, according to His purposes and for His glory. We recognize that He is in full command! He is ‘calling the plays’! Nothing happens apart from His sovereign will. There are no surprises. There is nothing unplanned or unforeseen. There is no real danger for those who belong to Him, for He has guaranteed that everything that happens down on the ‘field’ will result in our good and the advancement and consummation of His Kingdom! And even when things appear to be hopelessly chaotic below, we know–and can ‘see’ with the eyes of faith–that His eternal plan is unfolding with perfection. And in all of this we take great comfort and joy!
So, with this in mind, it behooves us to discipline ourselves so that we look at the world from our seats above! The marvelous grace of God in Christ has provided not only our eternal salvation, but a completely new perspective on everything! From the safety of His presence, and in the security of His reign, we observe the world beneath us as our Lord brings about His purposes. This is why we rejoice always, are ever hopeful, have no fear, and can live each moment in the peace that only He can give!
So, let me encourage you on this Monday to remember where your seats are! And they are the best seats in the house!
Call to Worship: Psalm 144, Trinity Hymnal p. 838.
[1] Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;
[2] he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
[3] O LORD, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?
[4] Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.
[5] Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down!
Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
[6] Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
send out your arrows and rout them!
[7] Stretch out your hand from on high;
rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
from the hand of foreigners,
[8] whose mouths speak lies
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
[9] I will sing a new song to you, O God;
upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
[10] who gives victory to kings,
who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.
[11] Rescue me and deliver me
from the hand of foreigners,
whose mouths speak lies
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
[12] May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
[13] may our granaries be full,
providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;
[14] may our cattle be heavy with young,
suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
[15] Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Prayer of Adoration:
Confession of Faith:The Heidelberg Catechism
Q 38. Why did Jesus suffer under Pontius Pilate as judge?
A. Though innocent, Christ was condemned by an earthly judge, and so He freed us from the severe judgment of God that was to fall on us.
Q 40. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble Himself even unto death?
A. Because of the justice and truth of God satisfaction for our sins could be made in no other way than by the death of the Son of God.
Special Music:
The Old Testament Lesson: Zechariah 9:9-10
Prayer of Confession and the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: From Hosea 1:7
But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God.
The New Testament Lesson: Romans 7:18-25
Prayer for the Church: Fred Fohrell, Ruling Elder.
The Sermon: “The Call to Take Up Your Cross: Part Two.” Mark 8:34. Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder.
Special Music:
The Benediction: From 1 Corinthians 15:58
My beloved brothers and sisters, may you be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
On Sunday we will continue our summer series of ten messages on ‘ The Church Under the Cross’ with our second look at the words of our Lord discovered in Mark 8:34–
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
In this passage, one that reveals our Lord’s candid message to the twelve Disciples and to the crowds that were attracted to Him, we find three phrases that help us to understand what is required to “ come after” Him. That is, we see what Jesus demands from anyone who would seek to be associated with Him and gain entrance into His kingdom.
Last Lord’s Day we examined what Jesus meant when He said that “ anyone” desiring to walk with Him must first “ deny himself.” In addition to this first requirement, our Lord adds that each must also “ take up His cross,” and then must “ follow” Him.
As we compare these words in Mark to the way that Luke also records this episode, we can gain a fuller picture of the scene:
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
You can immediately see the addition of the word “ daily.” The act of taking up our cross is something that, according to our Lord, is to be done each day. But what does this mean to pick up our cross? And what does it mean to do this each day. And what is the difference between the cross upon which Jesus died, and the one we are commanded to carry? And what is indicated and implied by the word “ follow.”
I hope you will pray for the preaching of the Word, and for the Lord to teach us how we might be more faithful to Him in these very critical days.
I love you all!!
Mike
Announcements:
COVID-19 Message:
Our weekly service of worship has resumed! Please observe the following guidelines. First, practice distancing as much as possible – no physical contact, and keep 6 feet between your family and other families. Sit in pews where marked. There will be no nursery or childcare, or any other food or beverages on church property. There will also be no communion or congregational singing. Masks are highly encouraged. There will be no Sunday School until September. Per the State Health Department, if you have been in contact with someone who been sick, if you feel sick yourself, or if you have any pre-existing health conditions, you should remain at home. We will continue to provide a recording of the worship service to allow for participation in worship at home.
Message from your Diaconate:
As we continue through this difficult time, if you have needs of any kind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Diaconate. We’re eager to help you or to find someone who can. This is one of the main reasons the church has deacons, to make sure that congregational needs are being met. Please remember that your Diaconate and Session are praying for you, and we’re here to help however we can.
Parenting Conference:
Please save the dates of August 28th and 29th for our parenting conference! Our guest speaker is John Perritt, current director of resources for Reformed Youth Ministries. Please mark your calendars for a Friday evening/Saturday morning event to consider how we might better disciple our children in today’s challenging culture. Further details will be forthcoming. For questions, please contact Matthew Elliott at matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org.
Psummer Psalms:
Announcing our 3rd year of Psummer Psalms! Everyone, young and old, is invited to memorize one entire Psalm this summer. Then join us for a recitation and light dinner at church on Sunday afternoon, Aug 16. Recitation can be individual, or together in a group or family. New this year: a trophy t-shirt for anyone who recites an entire Psalm from memory! If interested, email darondrown@gmail.com for periodic encouragement and accountability.
Resources for Further Study:
Pastor Mike has posted a list of books on a variety of theological topics that you might find useful. Check out the list by clicking here. You can also find this list from the About Us menu on the web site home page.
Children’s Ministry:
All, the Session and I have made the decision to cancel VBS 2020 this coming July. We are so sad to do this, but this is the precedent that has been set within our city and our denomination. Our theme of “Olympics” will be carried over to NEXT year when the actual Olympics have also been rescheduled. In place of VBS, watch for information on other fellowship opportunities in upcoming weeks!
Nursery Use – I have been asked if it is okay for parents to take their children into the nursery during the service if need be to alleviate any overcrowding in the cry room. That is not a problem, but please wipe down any surfaces that you encounter during your stay so that others may feel comfortable using it as well. There will be sanitizing wipes on the counters.
Women’s, Career/Singles, and Youth Ministries:
Ministry activities have been canceled pending the virus quarantine. Check this space for rescheduled events.
Men’s Studies:
The weekly Men’s study of John Calvin’s Institutes is meeting via Zoom, contact Daron Drown for details.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, John Baxter, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, Elizabeth Holton, and Nolan Osmer. Expecting: Please pray for the Libertos, expecting in August, and the Elys, expecting in September. Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada); Dieter Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.
Online Donations:
If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:
