Sermon Preview:

My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

We are all well aware of the fact that the word “love” is an incredibly flexible term, used in a number of popular contexts, and injected with a variety of diverse meanings and implications. Equally obvious to most Christians, this word is prominent in the Bible, and forms the very core of the message of redemption: “ For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only-Begotten Son. . . .”

Scripture has much to tell us about “love” in terms of what it is, where it comes from, who it’s for, and what it does. One place where this blessed word is set forth so beautifully is in Romans 12:9-13. In these inspired verses of Holy Scripture, Paul presents a long list of defining characteristics of “ love” that is “ genuine” (v. 1), each enunciated in the form of an exhortation.

For the sake of simplicity, we might outline the passage this way:

Genuine love is:

1. Discerning (v. 9)
2. Discriminating (v. 10)
3. Self-Denying (v. 10)
4. Energetic (v. 11)
5. Joyous and Prayerful in Affliction (v. 12)
6. Generous and Hospitable (v. 13)

This coming Sunday, we will begin our examination of these six attributes of authentic Christian love. Our focus this week will be upon the first two of these beautiful traits: love’s ability to discern, and its discriminating nature.

I can’t wait to open our Father’s Word with you!

All my love, always,

Mike

PS: I want to express our gratitude to all those who made last week’s Favorite Hymn Fellowship such a wonderful and edifying time! We appreciate Jeff and Denise Brown, Carol Bart, D. J. Alhorn, and all of those who brought ice-cream! Thank you so much, and we look forward to another night of singing and fellowship very soon!

Announcements:

Summer Worship Time Change:

Continuing throughout the summer, Sunday worship will begin at 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary. At 9 a.m. we have our coffee, snack and fellowship time just off the Narthex. We are serving special snacks to the children in the fellowship room at the same time. Parents, please encourage your children to enjoy their snacks where they are served.

Friday Night Fellowship:

We will have our final Friday fellowship event of the summer tonight, Friday, July 30th from 5:30 – 7:30 at the church house. The fellowship is open to all ages and has been a sweet casual time to spend with one another. Please sign up using the link below so we make sure we have enough food for those attending. We will have chicken tenders as our main dish and group games for our youth.

30 July Friday Fellowship Sign Up Link

Parenting Conference:

We want to invite you to our Fall parenting conference, Faithful Parenting in the Digital Age. Undoubtedly, all Christian parents in the modern era must wrestle with questions of technology, screens, explicit material, and the subtle and overt influences that vie for the hearts of their children. This conference targets issues and questions associated with parenting in an age of technology and considers the faithful response of parents who desire to train their children in Christian maturity. Registration begins Thursday, July 15th and ends Friday, August 13th. Please consider joining us for this important time together!

Our speaker is Dr. John Perritt, Director of Resources for Reformed Youth Ministries. John (MDiv RTS ’09 & DMin SBTS ’16) served in youth ministry at Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church 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.

Here are the conference details and registration information:

Where: Christ Presbyterian Church

When: Friday Evening and Saturday Morning, August 20th and 21st

Childcare: Alongside the conference for parents, we will have nurseries available for young children as well as a Bible club through the age of 12. These childcare times include all sessions of the conference but not the Friday evening dinner or Saturday morning family worship and breakfast. Please indicate on the registration form names, ages, and grades of the children that will be participating.

Cost: The cost of the conference is free. For those joining us at the meals, we do encourage a donation to help offset the cost of food. $10 for adults or $30 for families is recommended.

Registration: You may register for this event by clicking here.

Meals: We will have a Friday night dinner (Tazikis) and a grab-n-go Saturday morning breakfast with family worship. You may donate to the cost of food by clicking here and selecting the “Parenting Conference” tab on the drop-down menu.

Sessions: There will be two primary sessions, Friday night and Saturday morning. Additionally, we will have two breakout session options on Saturday morning. These are “Parenting Priorities: What’s my marriage got to do with it?” and “A Vision for Family Discipleship” Please indicate your breakout session selection preference on the registration form.

Who: Are you interested in inviting friends or family that might be interested in these parenting topics? We would encourage you to invite them to register on the link provided. We look forward to an opportunity to reach out to families who are interested in the conference material as well as opportunities to reach out to families who do not have a church home!

Schedule

Friday Evening
5:30-6:30 – Dinner (Tazikis)
6:45-8:00 – Session I & Q/A

Saturday Morning
8:00 – Breakfast Starts
8:20-8:45 – Family Worship and Breakfast
9:00-9:45 – Breakout Sessions
10:00-11:00 – Session II & Q/A

Questions: Please contact Matthew Elliott at matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org.

Psummer Psalms:

Summer is going by quickly, so don’t forget about our Psummer Psalms event scheduled for Sunday, August 15th! The format is simple: pick a Psalm, memorize it, and recite it. You can do this as an individual or as a family or group. The invitation to attend is for the entire church, even if you are not reciting a Psalm. A few coordinating details:

When: Sunday, August 15th, at 4:30 pm. We will have a pizza dinner at 5:30 pm in the fellowship hall, or immediately following the recital.
Where: Church sanctuary

I’ve heard from a few of you that are planning to participate, but I have a feeling there are others busy memorizing a Psalm. We only have about three weeks left, which is still plenty of time to memorize a Psalm!

Important: If you are planning to participate or attend, please send an email to schnorrenberg@gmail.com with a few important pieces of information so that we can coordinate the recital and make sure that we will have enough pizza:

Reciting a Psalm? Yes or no.
Which one(s)?
How many in your party plan to eat pizza?

Youth Group:

Youth GeoCaching Scavenger Hunt — And Pizza
On Sunday evening, August 29th, we wanted to invite the youth out to the church grounds for a fun night of food, games, and geocaching … with prizes. We will serve the traditional youth favorite for dinner. A reminder of the fellowship will come out the week before!

Additional Help for the Fall
We are looking forward to starting youth group again this Fall on Sunday evenings! Due to the number of junior high youth (plus additional incoming students), we are needing some assistance with junior high students on Sunday evenings during the teaching time (no teaching required on your part). If you are willing to sit in with the class once or twice during the semester, let me know as we begin to look at schedules for the Fall semester.

Children’s Ministry:

A note from Amanda, our Nursery Coordinator:

First, a huge thank you to those you have volunteered in our nursery during Sunday worship over the past couple of months. It has been a great blessing to our children, nursery staff, and families.

I have created a new sign up extending through the summer months so please click on the link below if you would like to help in the nursery in the coming weeks. Don’t forget our new worship schedule this summer! Since service begins at 9:30, we ask that you arrive in the nursery at 9:15 to help welcome our children in. More details can be viewed on the sign up page.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C48AEAD2DA3FA7-sunday1

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to Amanda Dean or Ashley Turnbull. It has been such a blessing as a parent to see our church as a whole lovingly take part in helping raise our children in a way that points them to their Creator. Thank you all!

Love,
Amanda Dean

Senior Fellows:

On Tuesday, August 3 at 9:00 AM the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast, fellowship and a devotional at the Church. Guests are welcome.

Women’s Ministry:

Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on August 5 beginning at 11:30 at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself.

Wednesday Summer Fellowships: Make plans to join other ladies in the church for fellowship throughout the summer. Our goal is to connect across generational lines and encourage one another. All ages welcome! Groups will meet on Wednesdays at 10:00 am at Sharon Daughtry’s (5726 Jones Valley Drive, Huntsville 35802) as well as at 6 pm at Panera Bread on Airport Road. Contact Denise for more information.

Career/Singles:

The weekly bible study and fellowship for career/singles meets at 5:30 PM Sunday evenings at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Dave Angotti, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, and Elizabeth Holton.
Expecting: Please pray for the Prinzingers, expecting in November.
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); Amos and Jessica Williams (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); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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

“ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

My Beloved Family in the Lord Jesus Christ,

In our neighborhood there is a ritual we faithfully engage in each Sunday evening. I might speak of it as ‘the parade of the big green cans.’ Like clockwork, we all drag those oversized (and usually overfilled!) garbage receptacles down to the street where, early on Monday morning, they will be emptied into that equally oversized truck (you know . . . the one with the squeaky breaks!).

Every Monday it happens. The garbage we have created and the junk we have accumulated over the previous seven days is taken away, never to be seen again. I am told that the final resting place of our garbage is a city-owned landfill where it is buried deep in the ground.

After decades of engaging in this weekly routine, there is one simple truth that would appear axiomatic and undeniable: in the act of living we produce lots of garbage!

There is no way around it! And this is true for every human society there is!
Wherever we might go, to any nook or cranny of this massive globe, we will discover people who are making garbage. It’s just what we do on this side of heaven.

There is also a lesson here, and a most encouraging one, that applies directly to our lives a Christians.

It is suggested by Paul in the words quoted above: “ to us who are being saved. . . .”

It’s quite natural for us to think of our salvation as a one-time event. Most of us will remember the glorious day, and perhaps even the precise hour, that we turned from our sins, trusted Christ, and received the gift of eternal life. In that moment we were united to our Savior, justified fully, adopted into the family of God, and made recipients of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

But there is a great sense in which we are also “ being saved,” as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:18. There is something happening to us right now, and every moment of every day! We are always in the process of “ being saved”! And by this, Paul means that there is an ongoing experience of the “ power of God” and the Gospel for all who have trusted in Christ Jesus.

One blessed aspect of this continual experience of our Father’s awesome saving “ power” and grace is illustrated by the weekly ritual of hauling out our garbage and junk.

As we all know, not only from Scripture but also from experience, we will war against our own temptations and sins until Jesus comes. Not even one of us will be fully sanctified in this life. Our need of the cleansing blood of our dear Savior is constant. We need forgiveness not only from our evil deeds and thoughts, but also from our acts of righteousness, which are stained with sin and are only made acceptable to God by Christ’s continual ministry as our Mediator. As reflected in an ancient Christian prayer, we must even beseech the Lord to “forgive us for our good works.”

The fact is, we make a lot of garbage, even as those who have been once-for-all redeemed!

So, what do we do? How do we avoid being overwhelmed by our perpetual sins and transgressions? What keeps us from being plunged into despair?

It is by remembering and believing that we have not only been saved in the past, but that we are “ being saved” every second in the present by the awesome grace of our Lord!

His once-for-all death upon the cross has fully atoned for our sins. But the impact and effect of His death is experienced over and again as we ‘take out our garbage.’ Many times a day, as the Spirit does His gentle work of shaping us into the image of God’s Son by convicting us of our transgressions, we take our sins to the cross. And there, they are whisked away by the omnipotent love of our Father, and buried for all time and eternity under His infinite mercy! Without fail, every time that we look to our Savior’s cross, our burdens are lifted, our junk is removed, and we are increasingly freed from sins’ guilt and tyrannical dominion.

And there’s more! Our Father never tires of receiving our humble confessions. He bids us to approach His throne of mercy with the boldness and confidence of His beloved children. His word to us is always “ Come to Me”! Our blessed Lord is, after all, the Divine ‘Garbage Remover.’ Taking away our rotting messes is His specialty! And He performs this task freely and with great joy:

“ for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2).

So, on this Monday be sure to take out the trash! Keep your eyes on your Savior who is saving you today!

I love you all so much,

Mike

Sermon Preview:

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The late Jerry Bridges, the dear and beloved friend of our Church family, said this about the sin of pride in his book, Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate:

“One of the problems with pride is that we can see it in others but not in ourselves.”

In his chapter on the sin of pride, Jerry suggests that there are four especially grievous manifestations of pride that appear in the Church among God’s people: the pride of moral self-righteousness; the pride of correct doctrine; the pride of achievement; and the pride of an independent spirit.

I bring all of this up because it is this terrible sin of a haughty, prideful attitude that the Apostle Paul addresses in Romans 12:3. He says that no Christian should “ think of himself more highly than he ought to think.” And this is another way of saying that we should not be prideful.

Later, in 12:16, he addresses this subject again when he writes: “ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”

This coming Lord’s Day we are going to examine these verses that exhort all of us to live in true humility. And we will discover that this beautiful Spirit-empowered virtue is one that flows from the infinitely deep well of God’s rich “ mercies” (v. 1) that we share equally in Christ Jesus. Those whose sins have been drowned in the “fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins” should be the humblest of all people on earth. I look forward to all that our Father will teach us from His Holy Word!

Don’t Forget Our Hymn-Sing and Ice-Cream Fellowship This Coming Sunday Night at 6:00 PM!

Everyone is invited to our old fashioned hymn night, followed by a time of fellowship around some delicious ice-cream! And please invite guests to join us as well!

I love you all so very much,

Mike

Announcements:

Summer Worship Time Change:

Continuing throughout the summer, Sunday worship will begin at 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary. At 9 a.m. we have our coffee, snack and fellowship time just off the Narthex. We are serving special snacks to the children in the fellowship room at the same time. Parents, please encourage your children to enjoy their snacks where they are served.

Friday Night Fellowship:

We will have our final Friday fellowship event of the summer next Friday, July 30th from 5:30 – 7:30 at the church house. The fellowship is open to all ages and has been a sweet casual time to spend with one another. Please sign up using the link below so we make sure we have enough food for those attending. We will have chicken tenders as our main dish and group games for our youth.

30 July Friday Fellowship Sign Up Link

Hymn Sing:

We will have a Favorite Hymn Night and Ice Cream Fellowship on Sunday evening July 25 at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary.  Join us as we sing our our favorite hymns and enjoy some sweet fellowship afterwards.  Submit your hymn choices to Jeff Brown at Jeff@henryandbrown.com

Parenting Conference:

We want to invite you to our Fall parenting conference, Faithful Parenting in the Digital Age. Undoubtedly, all Christian parents in the modern era must wrestle with questions of technology, screens, explicit material, and the subtle and overt influences that vie for the hearts of their children. This conference targets issues and questions associated with parenting in an age of technology and considers the faithful response of parents who desire to train their children in Christian maturity. Registration begins Thursday, July 15th and ends Friday, August 13th. Please consider joining us for this important time together!

Our speaker is Dr. John Perritt, Director of Resources for Reformed Youth Ministries. John (MDiv RTS ’09 & DMin SBTS ’16) served in youth ministry at Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church 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.

Here are the conference details and registration information:

Where: Christ Presbyterian Church

When: Friday Evening and Saturday Morning, August 20th and 21st

Childcare: Alongside the conference for parents, we will have nurseries available for young children as well as a Bible club through the age of 12. These childcare times include all sessions of the conference but not the Friday evening dinner or Saturday morning family worship and breakfast. Please indicate on the registration form names, ages, and grades of the children that will be participating.

Cost: The cost of the conference is free. For those joining us at the meals, we do encourage a donation to help offset the cost of food. $10 for adults or $30 for families is recommended.

Registration: You may register for this event by clicking here.

Meals: We will have a Friday night dinner (Tazikis) and a grab-n-go Saturday morning breakfast with family worship. You may donate to the cost of food by clicking here and selecting the “Parenting Conference” tab on the drop-down menu.

Sessions: There will be two primary sessions, Friday night and Saturday morning. Additionally, we will have two breakout session options on Saturday morning. These are “Parenting Priorities: What’s my marriage got to do with it?” and “A Vision for Family Discipleship” Please indicate your breakout session selection preference on the registration form.

Who: Are you interested in inviting friends or family that might be interested in these parenting topics? We would encourage you to invite them to register on the link provided. We look forward to an opportunity to reach out to families who are interested in the conference material as well as opportunities to reach out to families who do not have a church home!

Schedule

Friday Evening
5:30-6:30 – Dinner (Tazikis)
6:45-8:00 – Session I & Q/A

Saturday Morning
8:00 – Breakfast Starts
8:20-8:45 – Family Worship and Breakfast
9:00-9:45 – Breakout Sessions
10:00-11:00 – Session II & Q/A

Questions: Please contact Matthew Elliott at matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org.

Psummer Psalms:

Summer is going by quickly, so don’t forget about our Psummer Psalms event scheduled for Sunday, August 15th! The format is simple: pick a Psalm, memorize it, and recite it. You can do this as an individual or as a family or group. The invitation to attend is for the entire church, even if you are not reciting a Psalm. A few coordinating details:

When: Sunday, August 15th, at 4:30 pm. We will have a pizza dinner at 5:30 pm in the fellowship hall, or immediately following the recital.
Where: Church sanctuary

I’ve heard from a few of you that are planning to participate, but I have a feeling there are others busy memorizing a Psalm. We only have about three weeks left, which is still plenty of time to memorize a Psalm!

Important: If you are planning to participate or attend, please send an email to schnorrenberg@gmail.com with a few important pieces of information so that we can coordinate the recital and make sure that we will have enough pizza:

Reciting a Psalm? Yes or no.
Which one(s)?
How many in your party plan to eat pizza?

Youth Group:

Youth Cookout, Pool, and Cornhole Tourny

On Saturday evening, July 24th, Fred and Kim Forrell have offered up their home and pool for a youth cookout. We will grill burgers, enjoy ice cream Sundays, swim, and crown the winner of a corn hole tournament. We will get started around 4:30 and conclude at 6:30. We do need some parental assistance that evening to help prepare and serve food for our youth. Please contact me if you are interested in helping!

To make sure we have enough food for the evening, help us get a head count by letting us know your youth are coming. Click here.

Youth GeoCaching Scavenger Hunt — And Pizza
On Sunday evening, August 29th, we wanted to invite the youth out to the church grounds for a fun night of food, games, and geocaching … with prizes. We will serve the traditional youth favorite for dinner. A reminder of the fellowship will come out the week before!

Additional Help for the Fall
We are looking forward to starting youth group again this Fall on Sunday evenings! Due to the number of junior high youth (plus additional incoming students), we are needing some assistance with junior high students on Sunday evenings during the teaching time (no teaching required on your part). If you are willing to sit in with the class once or twice during the semester, let me know as we begin to look at schedules for the Fall semester.

Children’s Ministry:

A note from Amanda, our Nursery Coordinator:

First, a huge thank you to those you have volunteered in our nursery during Sunday worship over the past couple of months. It has been a great blessing to our children, nursery staff, and families.

I have created a new sign up extending through the summer months so please click on the link below if you would like to help in the nursery in the coming weeks. Don’t forget our new worship schedule this summer! Since service begins at 9:30, we ask that you arrive in the nursery at 9:15 to help welcome our children in. More details can be viewed on the sign up page.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C48AEAD2DA3FA7-sunday1

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to Amanda Dean or Ashley Turnbull. It has been such a blessing as a parent to see our church as a whole lovingly take part in helping raise our children in a way that points them to their Creator. Thank you all!

Love,
Amanda Dean

Senior Fellows:

On Tuesday, August 3 at 9:00 AM the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast, fellowship and a devotional at the Church. Guests are welcome.

Women’s Ministry:

Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on August 5 beginning at 11:30 at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself.

Wednesday Summer Fellowships: Make plans to join other ladies in the church for fellowship throughout the summer. Our goal is to connect across generational lines and encourage one another. All ages welcome! Groups will meet on Wednesdays at 10:00 am at Sharon Daughtry’s (5726 Jones Valley Drive, Huntsville 35802) as well as at 6 pm at Panera Bread on Airport Road. Contact Denise for more information.

Career/Singles:

The weekly bible study and fellowship for career/singles meets at 5:30 PM Sunday evenings at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Dave Angotti, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, and Elizabeth Holton.
Expecting: Please pray for the Deans, expecting in July, and the Prinzingers, expecting in November.
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); Amos and Jessica Williams (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); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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,

Before I give you a quick preview of Sunday’s sermon for this week, I want to remind you of three wonderful times of fellowship that we have coming up beginning tonight!

Our Friday Family Fellowship is at 5:30 PM tonight at the Church House.

Then, our After Worship Fellowship Lunch is this Sunday. All members and guests are invited to stay for a delicious meal.

Next Sunday, July 25 at 6:00 PM we will gather for our Favorite Hymn Sing, followed by an Ice Cream Fellowship.

And there are two more fellowship opportunities coming up in August!

Our Psummer Psalm Night will be on Sunday August 15 at 6:00 PM.

And our Parenting In the Digital Age Conference is on Friday night August 20 from 5:30-8:00 PM, and Saturday morning August 21 from 8:00-11:00 AM.

This coming Lord’s Day, I will be preaching from Romans 12:2 on the subject of a renewed mind (I was going to entitle this message ‘ Renewing Your Mind,’ but Dr. R. C. Sproul beat me to it!!).

Of course, it is in Romans 12:2 that we find the familiar command to “ be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” And we will also discover that there is a vital link between this “ renewal” and knowing and doing “ the will of God.”

What a joy it will be to explore the eternal riches of this great passage from our Father’s Holy Word!

I love you all so much,

Mike

Announcements:

Summer Worship Time Change:

Continuing throughout the summer, Sunday worship will begin at 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary. At 9 a.m. we have our coffee, snack and fellowship time just off the Narthex. We are serving special snacks to the children in the fellowship room at the same time. Parents, please encourage your children to enjoy their snacks where they are served.

Friday Night Fellowship:

Join us TONIGHT for our next Friday Night Fellowship of the summer! We will provide Lawlers barbecue sandwiches and have some water games!

Date: Friday, July 16
Time: 5:30-7:30p
Location: Church house
Food Provided: BBQ sandwiches, sides, drinks, & popsicles!
Bring: Chairs! Squirt guns, scooters, balls, etc.

Please RSVP HERE to help us with our dinner count!

Let Kerry Tameling know if you have any questions or if you would like to help set up!

Second Sunday Lunch:

Our next Second Sunday Lunch will actually be on the THIRD Sunday this month. Please plan to stay after the service on July 18 for a time of food and fellowship. Contact Denise Brown for more details.

Hymn Sing:

We will have a Favorite Hymn Night and Ice Cream Fellowship on Sunday evening July 25 at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary.  Join us as we sing our our favorite hymns and enjoy some sweet fellowship afterwards.  Submit your hymn choices to Jeff Brown at Jeff@henryandbrown.com

Parenting Conference:

We want to invite you to our Fall parenting conference, Faithful Parenting in the Digital Age. Undoubtedly, all Christian parents in the modern era must wrestle with questions of technology, screens, explicit material, and the subtle and overt influences that vie for the hearts of their children. This conference targets issues and questions associated with parenting in an age of technology and considers the faithful response of parents who desire to train their children in Christian maturity. Registration begins Thursday, July 15th and ends Friday, August 13th. Please consider joining us for this important time together!

Our speaker is Dr. John Perritt, Director of Resources for Reformed Youth Ministries. John (MDiv RTS ’09 & DMin SBTS ’16) served in youth ministry at Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church 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.

Here are the conference details and registration information:

Where: Christ Presbyterian Church

When: Friday Evening and Saturday Morning, August 20th and 21st

Childcare: Alongside the conference for parents, we will have nurseries available for young children as well as a Bible club through the age of 12. These childcare times include all sessions of the conference but not the Friday evening dinner or Saturday morning family worship and breakfast. Please indicate on the registration form names, ages, and grades of the children that will be participating.

Cost: The cost of the conference is free. For those joining us at the meals, we do encourage a donation to help offset the cost of food. $10 for adults or $30 for families is recommended.

Registration: You may register for this event by clicking here.

Meals: We will have a Friday night dinner (Tazikis) and a grab-n-go Saturday morning breakfast with family worship. You may donate to the cost of food by clicking here and selecting the “Parenting Conference” tab on the drop-down menu.

Sessions: There will be two primary sessions, Friday night and Saturday morning. Additionally, we will have two breakout session options on Saturday morning. These are “Parenting Priorities: What’s my marriage got to do with it?” and “A Vision for Family Discipleship” Please indicate your breakout session selection preference on the registration form.

Who: Are you interested in inviting friends or family that might be interested in these parenting topics? We would encourage you to invite them to register on the link provided. We look forward to an opportunity to reach out to families who are interested in the conference material as well as opportunities to reach out to families who do not have a church home!

Schedule

Friday Evening
5:30-6:30 – Dinner (Tazikis)
6:45-8:00 – Session I & Q/A

Saturday Morning
8:00 – Breakfast Starts
8:20-8:45 – Family Worship and Breakfast
9:00-9:45 – Breakout Sessions
10:00-11:00 – Session II & Q/A

Questions: Please contact Matthew Elliott at matthew@christpreshamptoncove.org.

Psummer Psalms:

I’m happy to announce that we will continue the tradition of our Psummer Psalms for the 4th straight year!

Please join us for an afternoon/evening of reciting Psalms followed by some food and fellowship. Everyone of any age is invited to memorize one entire Psalm this summer and then come together Sunday afternoon, August 15th, for a recitation and dinner.

Recitation can be individual, or together in a group or family.

Simple steps:

1)  Pick a Psalm, any Psalm
2)  Memorize it
3)  Recite it on Aug 15th, to God’s glory

It’s fine if multiple people pick the same Psalm. This happens every year!

As we get closer to Aug 15, I will send out more details about the event and get you to send me the Psalm you have memorized.

Join us by sending an email to schnorrenberg@gmail.com for periodic encouragement and accountability.

Youth Group:

Youth Cookout, Pool, and Cornhole Tourny

On Saturday evening, July 24th, Fred and Kim Forrell have offered up their home and pool for a youth cookout. We will grill burgers, enjoy ice cream Sundays, swim, and crown the winner of a corn hole tournament. We will get started around 4:30 and conclude at 6:30. We do need some parental assistance that evening to help prepare and serve food for our youth. Please contact me if you are interested in helping!

To make sure we have enough food for the evening, help us get a head count by letting us know your youth are coming. Click here.

Youth GeoCaching Scavenger Hunt — And Pizza
On Sunday evening, August 29th, we wanted to invite the youth out to the church grounds for a fun night of food, games, and geocaching … with prizes. We will serve the traditional youth favorite for dinner. A reminder of the fellowship will come out the week before!

Additional Help for the Fall
We are looking forward to starting youth group again this Fall on Sunday evenings! Due to the number of junior high youth (plus additional incoming students), we are needing some assistance with junior high students on Sunday evenings during the teaching time (no teaching required on your part). If you are willing to sit in with the class once or twice during the semester, let me know as we begin to look at schedules for the Fall semester.

Children’s Ministry:

A note from Amanda, our Nursery Coordinator:

First, a huge thank you to those you have volunteered in our nursery during Sunday worship over the past couple of months. It has been a great blessing to our children, nursery staff, and families.

I have created a new sign up extending through the summer months so please click on the link below if you would like to help in the nursery in the coming weeks. Don’t forget our new worship schedule this summer! Since service begins at 9:30, we ask that you arrive in the nursery at 9:15 to help welcome our children in. More details can be viewed on the sign up page.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C48AEAD2DA3FA7-sunday1

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to Amanda Dean or Ashley Turnbull. It has been such a blessing as a parent to see our church as a whole lovingly take part in helping raise our children in a way that points them to their Creator. Thank you all!

Love,
Amanda Dean

Senior Fellows:

On Tuesday, July 20 at 10:00 AM the Senior Fellows will visit The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL. Church members and guests are welcome. Please contact us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org if you plan to attend. Carpools will leave the church at 8:30 AM. The group will have lunch in the area after the event.

On Tuesday, August 3 at 9:00 AM the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast, fellowship and a devotional at the Church. Guests are welcome.

Women’s Ministry:

Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on August 5 beginning at 11:30 at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself.

Wednesday Summer Fellowships: Make plans to join other ladies in the church for fellowship throughout the summer. Our goal is to connect across generational lines and encourage one another. All ages welcome! Groups will meet on Wednesdays at 10:00 am at Sharon Daughtry’s (5726 Jones Valley Drive, Huntsville 35802) as well as at 6 pm at Panera Bread on Airport Road. Contact Denise for more information.

Career/Singles:

The weekly bible study and fellowship for career/singles meets at 5:30 PM Sunday evenings at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Dave Angotti, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, and Elizabeth Holton.
Bereavement: Please pray for Nikki Profozich, whose father died this week.
Expecting: Please pray for the Deans, expecting in July, and the Prinzingers, expecting in November.
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); Amos and Jessica Williams (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); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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

“ the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials”–2 Peter 2:9

My Beloved Family in Christ Our Lord,

Ever since 9/11, we’ve shared a collective, and much deeper, appreciation for those men and women who serve us so courageously as First Responders. And once again, just recently, we have seen them in action, risking life and limb in the effort to find survivors in the debris of the collapsed condominium complex in south Florida.

If we look to the West, we see them in the forests where wildfires are raging and so many are in harm’s way at this very moment. And today, in every State in the Union, rescues will be carried out. First Responders will appear at the scene of car and plane crashes, medical emergencies, fires, violent storms, floods, and accidents of all types. And every day going forward will bring the same, like clockwork–a never-ending stream of people who need to be rescued from some sort of peril.

If you think for a moment about what makes a good First Responder, or rescuer, several key qualities surface immediately.

You have to have knowledge of emergency situations of all types and levels of severity, as well as expertise in the technical and medical interventions necessary to save lives.

You have to be available in order to respond at all times and under every conceivable situation.

You have to possess a willingness to put your life on the line each day, sometimes several times in one day!

And, it’s just obvious that you must be present at the scene of the need, for no rescue can be effected virtually or from a distance.

All of this is what makes Peter’s statement in 2 Peter 2:9 so very reassuring. Here, he speaks of the “ rescue” of those who are “ godly.” That is, the spiritual deliverance of those who have Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

This “ rescue,” however, is the one that we need each day, many times over. It is to be distinguished from that initial deliverance that was brought about when we first trusted in Jesus; the one referenced in Colossians 1:13, where Paul declares that, “ He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (NASB). The “ rescue” that Peter has in mind is the one we need today, and the one we will need every day going forward.

Not only have we been rescued, we are always being rescued!

So, here is the promise that the One who saved us in the first place by means of a mighty deliverance from sin, evil, and death, is the very One who performs the “ rescue” we need today from our many “ trials”!

This wonderful truth implies several things, both about us and about our Lord and Savior.

First, it tells us that we will frequently be in situations of peril and trial in this life. This is simply the way it will go for all of us until our Lord returns. All throughout the duration of our Christian lives, we will need rescuing! The world, the flesh, and the devil are our persistent and dangerous enemies, constantly seeking our destruction. We will always be surrounded by hostile forces. Spiritual dangers are everywhere.

It is also implied here that we need help. That is, that we cannot extract ourselves from the trials that we experience. The enemies that we face, the temptations that confront us, and the various tests that we shall encounter are much bigger and stronger that we are. We need someone to deliver us!

But we also discover some wonderful things about our Lord in this verse.

In the first place, He is present with us, always! He is able to deliver us because He is always here! He is not only close to us, for by His Spirit He dwells within us! And when we speak His name and call out to Him in our distress, He hears with perfect clarity, for He is never far away!

He also possesses infallible and comprehensive knowledge of everything. With the fullness of His omniscience, He “ knows how” to save us in every possible situation. Nothing we face will ever surprise or confound Him, ever!

And then, He is faithful! He never fails. He never suffers the frustration of His efforts to deliver us in our time of need. His record of successful rescues is perfect, for not one of His elect sheep has ever been lost!

On this new Monday, be encouraged that the Lord “ knows how to rescue” you! You will face no trial that He has not ordained for your good and His glory. His deliverance will come right on time! He is here with you. He is always holding you up in His omnipotence and grace. He has paid for you with the blood of His Son, and He is not about to let you go, or will He allow Satan to have his way with you! He is standing guard over you right now and always, on duty 24/7!

Today, He will hear your cry, and He will “ send you help from the sanctuary, and support you from Zion!” (Psalm 20:2). Call upon Him now, for, “ The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are toward their cry for help” (Psalm 34:15).

I love you so much, and hold you in my heart and in my prayers always,

Mike

Sermon Preview:

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Before I introduce our sermon for this coming Lord’s Day, let me give you two quick announcements:

First, our next Sunday Lunch will be on July 18, right after worship.

Then, on Sunday night, July 25, we will have ‘Favorite Hymn Night’ at 6:00 PM in the Worship Center, followed by an Ice-Cream Fellowship.

We will gather to sing some of our beloved hymns of the faith, and then we’ll enjoy some very sweet fellowship! Please submit your favorite hymns to Jeff Brown by Wednesday July 20. Everyone is invited, and please bring guests and visitors with you!

On Sunday, we will begin looking at Romans 12, verse 2. As you remember, there are two words that are set in opposition here in this verse: “ conformed” and “ transformed.” One is bad, and the other is good. One is forbidden and the other is commanded. And between the two there is no mid-point, no third way, no compromise position. It’s like an old-fashioned light switch, either on or off. They are mutually exclusive in every way.

As you would guess, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to shun conformity and embrace transformation. But what is he talking about? What should be rejected? What should be welcomed?

I can’t wait to dig into our Father’s Holy Word with you this Lord’s Day!

I love you all, always,

Mike

Announcements:

Summer Worship Time Change:

Continuing throughout the summer, Sunday worship will begin at 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary. At 9 a.m. we have our coffee, snack and fellowship time just off the Narthex. We are serving special snacks to the children in the fellowship room at the same time. Parents, please encourage your children to enjoy their snacks where they are served.

Parenting Conference:

We wanted to invite you to save the date for an upcoming parenting conference on August 20th and 21st. The conference will focus on the topic of parenting in the digital age. Our speaker will be Dr. John Perritt, the Director of Resources for Reformed Youth Ministries. There will be family meals and childcare activities included at the event. Sign-up and additional conference details are forthcoming.

Are you in a season of life that might deter you from participation in a conference about parenting? We would invite you to consider the blessing the whole body of believers may be to parents and the parenting endeavor. We are in need of volunteers to assist in setting-up, serving, and clean-up at the event, as well as volunteers to assist in Bible club and fun activities for the children. If you are interested in serving, please contact Ashley Turnbull for more details.

Thank you!

Friday Night Fellowship:

Join us for our next Friday Night Fellowship of the summer! We will provide Lawlers barbecue sandwiches and have some water games!

Date: Friday, July 16
Time: 5:30-7:30p
Location: Church house
Food Provided: BBQ sandwiches, sides, drinks, & popsicles!
Bring: Chairs! Squirt guns, scooters, balls, etc.

Please RSVP HERE to help us with our dinner count!

Let Kerry Tameling know if you have any questions or if you would like to help set up!

Second Sunday Lunch:

Our next Second Sunday Lunch will actually be on the THIRD Sunday this month. Please plan to stay after the service on July 18 for a time of food and fellowship. Contact Denise Brown for more details.

Hymn Sing:

We will have a Favorite Hymn Night and Ice Cream Fellowship on Sunday evening July 25 at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary.  Join us as we sing our our favorite hymns and enjoy some sweet fellowship afterwards.  Submit your hymn choices to Jeff Brown at Jeff@henryandbrown.com

Psummer Psalms:

I’m happy to announce that we will continue the tradition of our Psummer Psalms for the 4th straight year!

Please join us for an afternoon/evening of reciting Psalms followed by some food and fellowship. Everyone of any age is invited to memorize one entire Psalm this summer and then come together Sunday afternoon, August 15th, for a recitation and dinner.

Recitation can be individual, or together in a group or family.

Simple steps:

1)  Pick a Psalm, any Psalm
2)  Memorize it
3)  Recite it on Aug 15th, to God’s glory

It’s fine if multiple people pick the same Psalm. This happens every year!

As we get closer to Aug 15, I will send out more details about the event and get you to send me the Psalm you have memorized.

Join us by sending an email to schnorrenberg@gmail.com for periodic encouragement and accountability.

Youth Group:

Stay tuned for upcoming youth events.

Children’s Ministry:

A note from Amanda, our Nursery Coordinator:

First, a huge thank you to those you have volunteered in our nursery during Sunday worship over the past couple of months. It has been a great blessing to our children, nursery staff, and families.

I have created a new sign up extending through the summer months so please click on the link below if you would like to help in the nursery in the coming weeks. Don’t forget our new worship schedule this summer! Since service will begin at 9:30 as of May 30th, we ask that you arrive in the nursery at 9:15 to help welcome our children in. More details can be viewed on the sign up page.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C48AEAD2DA3FA7-sunday1

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to Amanda Dean or Ashley Turnbull. It has been such a blessing as a parent to see our church as a whole lovingly take part in helping raise our children in a way that points them to their Creator. Thank you all!

Love,
Amanda Dean

Senior Fellows:

On Tuesday, July 20 at 10:00 AM the Senior Fellows will visit The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL. Church members and guests are welcome. Please contact us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org if you plan to attend. Carpools will leave the church at 8:30 AM. The group will have lunch in the area after the event.

On Tuesday, August 3 at 9:00 AM the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast, fellowship and a devotional at the Church. Guests are welcome.

Women’s Ministry:

Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on August 5 beginning at 11:30 at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself.

Wednesday Summer Fellowships: Make plans to join other ladies in the church for fellowship throughout the summer. Our goal is to connect across generational lines and encourage one another. All ages welcome! Groups will meet on Wednesdays at 10:00 am at Sharon Daughtry’s (5726 Jones Valley Drive, Huntsville 35802) as well as at 6 pm at Panera Bread on Airport Road. Contact Denise for more information.

Career/Singles:

The weekly bible study and fellowship for career/singles meets at 5:30 PM Sunday evenings at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Dave Angotti, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, and Elizabeth Holton.
Expecting: Please pray for the Deans, expecting in July, and the Prinzingers, expecting in November.
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); Amos and Jessica Williams (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); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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

“ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins”–1 Peter 4:8.

My Dear and Beloved Family in Christ Jesus our Lord,

I would suspect that when we think of the forgiveness of our sins and the subject of love, we are first mindful of the infinite love of God. This great love, so marvelously displayed upon the cross, is one that has fully achieved the forgiveness of our manifold sins and effected our reconciliation to the Father. And this is precisely what we should think of, first and foremost! In the simplest of terms, we have been saved from God’s wrath and the horrible consequences of our sins by His infinite love! Our multitudinous transgressions have been fully and forever covered by our Savior’s blood!

However, when the Apostle Peter penned the inspired words quoted above, he was not speaking directly of God’s love for us. Rather, he was addressing our love for one another–a love that flows to us from the Father, and from us out to our brothers and sisters in the Lord. And, as you can see, this is to be a love that is “ fervent” (NASB), one “ deeply” expressed (NIV), or “ unfailing” (RSV). It is this heavenly-borne “ love,” the very love of Christ that each of us have experienced, that we are to constantly extend to each other such that it “ covers a multitude of sins,” their sins against us.

We might say, then, that Christ’s reconciling and forgiving love for us should (and must) always govern our relationships with each other.

While the implications of these words of Holy Scripture are as profound as they are far-reaching, we are prompted by the Apostle to apply them in one specific way; within the context of daily life together. This seems clear enough as we consider verses 9-11. This being the case, Peter’s intent is to set forth a principle that is to guide and control our daily interactions with one another.

Throughout the course of life–from Sunday to Saturday, and then back around again–we will sin against one other in a host of ways. Many, if not most, of these offensives will be less than spectacular. A harsh or angry word, a broken promise, a neglected duty, impatience, frustration, a selfish act, and so on. This is, after all, what sinners do, even redeemed sinners who are in the process of being transformed into Christ’s image. As the brother of our Lord said, “ For we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2).

What the Apostle Peter appears to be saying, then, is that as we live and serve with one another, the greater portion of our relational sins are simply to be covered by love. And this means that when we are the one sinned against, we are to patiently bear our brother’s (or sister’s) sin, immersing their guilt in the same mercy and love that we have received so freely from our Father.

To state this more practically, we might say that our love for each other makes it unnecessary for us to ‘make a federal case’ out of every little offense that we suffer. For sure, there are some relational sins of such far-reaching magnitude that we must address under the guidance of Scripture (Matt. 18:15-20). But the better part of our transgressions against one another can be quickly forgiven, forgotten, and made to disappear under that magnificent “ fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins.”

In other words, such love makes it unnecessary for me to stop and confront my brother or sister each and every time that I believe they have sinned against me. I can bear their sins in the power of Christ’s love. I can move on, allowing that transgression to float down the river of mercy, out of sight and out of mind. I can patiently bear their imperfections, blind-spots, and weaknesses because I love them in the way that my Savior keeps loving me, with infinite tenderness and long-suffering patience.

It is only if I truly love my brother or sister in this beautiful, God-gorifying way that I can resist the urge to retaliate, to speak a harsh word in reply, to extract that ‘pound of flesh,’ to ‘set them straight’, to ‘give them a piece of my mind,’ and so forth. It is only to the degree that I love them that I can refuse to “ keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people” (1 Corinthians 13:5, Phillips Translation).

Perhaps we could even say it this way: If I “ keep loving” my brothers and sisters in Christ “ earnestly,” then I am set free! Free from bitterness. Free from the need to be proven right or vindicated. Free from always having to have the last word. Free from the prison-house of frustration and disappointment. Free from that awful tyranny of self-importance. Free from the silly relational games that we play so often. And free to be used by my Father as a conduit of the mercy and love of Christ to those closest and dearest to me, my precious fellow-believers in the household of God.

On this new Tuesday, let’s ask the Spirit of God to fill our souls with our Father’s patient, forgiving, sin-covering love for each other. Let’s seek the freedom of extending forgiveness, even (and especially!) when the sins that we suffer at the hands of our loved-ones are unacknowledged by them.

The next time we are hurt or offended, let’s pursue the Spirit-empowered ability to let that sin go, floating away forever in the same way that our sins have been forgotten for all eternity by our Father. May we remember that every single one of our brother or sister’s sins, even those that hurt and deeply wound us, have been fully paid for by love. Let’s ask for a fresh filling of the love of Christ for the purpose of blessing each other with its glorious, life-giving fruit.

May our Father bless and encourage you most richly on this good day!

I love you so very, very much,

Mike

Sermon Preview:

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

What if someone said to you, “We must obey the gospel”?

Likely, it would strike you as a bit strange. The juxtaposition of obedience and the gospel seems odd. It smells strongly of legalism. And it reminds us of what we absolutely do not believe; namely, that we are saved by our obedience rather than by faith in our Lord’s perfect obedience.

But, what if the person who made such a statement about obedience and the gospel was an Apostle?

Two times in his inspired New Testament letters, Paul does just this very thing!

Romans 10:15-16

And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

And then the Apostle Peter makes this same connection:

1 Peter 4:17

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

What are we to make of such statements? Do we need to adjust our view of salvation? Have we misunderstood the Bible and its message of redemption?

Well, this is where Romans 12:1 helps us enormously with these questions! It is here, in such simple words, that the relationship between the gospel and our obedience is made clear.

Paul tells us that there is, indeed, a vital link between our life of obedience and our reception of God’s mercy in Christ. But the order in which they function is critical. The “ mercies” of God come first. Then, the presentation of our “ bodies” to Him and our life of obedience!

This coming Lord’s Day, we will look very carefully at this connection. And we will discover that the more-than-abundant “ mercies” that we have in our Savior provide all the incentive that we need for a life of obedience to Him!

I love you, each and every one, with all of my heart!

Mike

PS: Next week’s Monday Encouragement will be posted on Tuesday.

Announcements:

Summer Worship Time Change:

Continuing throughout the summer, Sunday worship will begin at 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary. At 9 a.m. we have our coffee, snack and fellowship time just off the Narthex. We are serving special snacks to the children in the fellowship room at the same time. Parents, please encourage your children to enjoy their snacks where they are served.

Parenting Conference:

We wanted to invite you to save the date for an upcoming parenting conference on August 20th and 21st. The conference will focus on the topic of parenting in the digital age. Our speaker will be Dr. John Perritt, the Director of Resources for Reformed Youth Ministries. There will be family meals and childcare activities included at the event. Sign-up and additional conference details are forthcoming.

Are you in a season of life that might deter you from participation in a conference about parenting? We would invite you to consider the blessing the whole body of believers may be to parents and the parenting endeavor. We are in need of volunteers to assist in setting-up, serving, and clean-up at the event, as well as volunteers to assist in Bible club and fun activities for the children. If you are interested in serving, please contact Ashley Turnbull for more details.

Thank you!

Psummer Psalms:

I’m happy to announce that we will continue the tradition of our Psummer Psalms for the 4th straight year!

Please join us for an afternoon/evening of reciting Psalms followed by some food and fellowship. Everyone of any age is invited to memorize one entire Psalm this summer and then come together Sunday afternoon, August 15th, for a recitation and dinner.

Recitation can be individual, or together in a group or family.

Simple steps:

1)  Pick a Psalm, any Psalm
2)  Memorize it
3)  Recite it on Aug 15th, to God’s glory

It’s fine if multiple people pick the same Psalm. This happens every year!

As we get closer to Aug 15, I will send out more details about the event and get you to send me the Psalm you have memorized.

Join us by sending an email to schnorrenberg@gmail.com for periodic encouragement and accountability.

Youth Group:

Stay tuned for upcoming youth events.

Children’s Ministry:

A note from Amanda, our Nursery Coordinator:

First, a huge thank you to those you have volunteered in our nursery during Sunday worship over the past couple of months. It has been a great blessing to our children, nursery staff, and families.

I have created a new sign up extending through the summer months so please click on the link below if you would like to help in the nursery in the coming weeks. Don’t forget our new worship schedule this summer! Since service will begin at 9:30 as of May 30th, we ask that you arrive in the nursery at 9:15 to help welcome our children in. More details can be viewed on the sign up page.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C48AEAD2DA3FA7-sunday1

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to Amanda Dean or Ashley Turnbull. It has been such a blessing as a parent to see our church as a whole lovingly take part in helping raise our children in a way that points them to their Creator. Thank you all!

Love,
Amanda Dean

Women’s Ministry:

Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on August 5 beginning at 11:30 at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself.

Wednesday Summer Fellowships: Make plans to join other ladies in the church for fellowship throughout the summer. Our goal is to connect across generational lines and encourage one another. All ages welcome! Groups will meet on Wednesdays at 10:00 am at Sharon Daughtry’s (5726 Jones Valley Drive, Huntsville 35802) as well as at 6 pm at Panera Bread on Airport Road. Contact Denise for more information.

Career/Singles:

The weekly bible study and fellowship for career/singles meets at 5:30 PM Sunday evenings at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry.

Senior Fellows:

On Tuesday, July 6 at 9:00 AM the Senior Fellows will enjoy breakfast, fellowship and a devotional at the Church. This will be followed by a special treat, Perry Calvert’s testimony. Guests are welcome. Please notify us at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.org if you plan to join us for breakfast.

Prayer Requests:

Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Dave Angotti, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Larrabee Kirkland, and Elizabeth Holton.
Expecting: Please pray for the Deans, expecting in July, and the Prinzingers, expecting in November.
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); Amos and Jessica Williams (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); Gannon Miles (seminary student); The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center.

Online Donations:

If you would like to give to Christ Presbyterian, you can do so at the following link:

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