Month: July 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we gather together before our Lord in worship this coming Sunday, we will consider another unusual question that Jesus asked.  Our sermon text will be Matthew 12:46-50.  This question has to do with family. And, more precisely, those who are in the family of Jesus.

In verse 48 Jesus asked: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

Well, we all know the answer to at least one part of that question.  The Lord’s “mother” was, of course, Mary.  Some among us may also know the names of the brothers of Jesus, for we find them listed in Mark 6:3 as “James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon.”  We know that “James” was the author of the Epistle of James, and “Judas” (or Jude) was the author of the Epistle of Jude.

But if we examine the context of this strange question, we learn that it is not Mary or His physical brothers that Jesus is speaking of here.  Rather, He is referencing another kind of family composed of mothers and brothers.

I know that we will be blessed, informed, and encouraged as we examine this unusual question raised by our Lord!

I love you all,

Mike

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome to Christ Presbyterian Church! Thank you for joining us for worship. If this is your first time visiting our church, please fill out a visitor card and place it in the offerings box at the back of the sanctuary. If you have any needs or would like additional information, please see one of our elders or deacons. Finally, if you require hearing assistance or a pew cushion, please see one of our men in the sound booth at the rear of the sanctuary.

Children’s Ministry
• Family fun picnic at the church house today, Sunday, July 30th at 4pm for all involved with CPC Children’s ministries.
• Nursery – If you would like to serve in our nursery during service, contact Amanda Dean.

Women’s Ministry
• Senior Sisters meet monthly on the 3rd Thursday, 10-11:30am
• Senior Sisters exercise class meets Mondays at the church, 10-11:30am
• Monthly lunch 1st Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11

Men’s Ministry
• Senior Fellows next breakfast will be at 9 AM on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Our Summer Book Study, ‘We Cannot be Silent’ by Albert Mohler, meets at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16.
• Reformation Cup Golf Tournament – The annual men’s golf tournament between Huntsville area churches will be on Friday, August 25th at RTJ Hampton Cove. Please contact Ben Calvert for registration and details.

Creations Fellowship and CPC Ice Cream Social – The creations showcase and ice cream social will be on Sunday, August 27th from 3 to 5 at the church and the church house.

Career Ministry – Bible study & fellowship meets at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, Sundays at 5:30 PM. See christpreshamptoncove.org for detailed news and upcoming events.

PRAYER REQUESTS Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Perry Calvert, Bill Cowley, Elizabeth Holton, Steve Terry and Kristy York

Expecting – Please pray for the Paseurs due in August, the Prinzingers, Lancasters, Elliotts and Joe and Jennifer Calvert, all expecting in October and the Tomlinsons due 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)
• Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M)
• Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA)
• Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada)
• Dieter and Marty Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL)
• Gannon Miles (seminary student)
• The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center 

This coming Lord’s Day, we will return to our study of the ‘Unusual Questions that Jesus Asked.’  Out text for Sunday will be Matthew 12:1-8.  This passage will be familiar to most of us as it also contains one of the more memorable sayings of Jesus.  In verse 8 He declared, “For, the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

The question for our consideration this week is one that Jesus aimed directly at the Pharisees:

At first glance, we may not see how terribly offensive such an inquiry really was. After all, the Pharisees were the Bible experts of the day, which meant that they certainly knew the Old Testament better than other people, and they also knew for sure who David was and what he once had done.  Yet, Jesus raises a question that brings such claims into grave doubt.  The speech and the actions of the Pharisees seemed to indicate that they were, to the contrary, completely ignorant of David, unaware of his story in the Old Testament, and unfamiliar with what he had done and what it meant!

As with all of our Lord’s questions, this one is also designed for us, His disciples.  As we give if our full and prayerful consideration, there will be much to learn, not only about Israel’s great king David, but also about the Greatest King of All!

I love you all and can’t wait to see you on Sunday!

Mike

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome to Christ Presbyterian Church! Thank you for joining us for worship. If this is your first time visiting our church, please fill out a visitor card and place it in the offerings box at the back of the sanctuary. If you have any needs or would like additional information, please see one of our elders or deacons. Finally, if you require hearing assistance or a pew cushion, please see one of our men in the sound booth at the rear of the sanctuary.

Children’s Ministry
• Family fun picnic at the church house, Sunday, July 30th at 4pm. Register on Church Center App.
• Nursery – If you would like to serve in our nursery during service, contact Amanda Dean.

Women’s Ministry
• Senior Sisters meet monthly on the 3rd Thursday, 10-11:30am
• Senior Sisters exercise class meets Mondays at the church, 10-11:30am
• Monthly lunch 1st Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11

Men’s Ministry
• Our next breakfast will be at 9 AM on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Our Summer Book Study, ‘We Cannot be Silent’ by Albert Mohler, meets at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16.
• Reformation Cup Golf Tournament – The annual men’s golf tournament between Huntsville area churches will be on Friday, August 25th at RTJ Hampton Cove. Please contact Ben Calvert for registration and details.

CPC Ice Cream Social – The creations showcase and ice cream social will be on Sunday, August 27th from 3 to 5 at the church and the church house.

Career Ministry – Bible study & fellowship meets at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, Sundays at 5:30 PM.

PRAYER REQUESTS
Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Perry Calvert, Bill Cowley, Elizabeth Holton, Steve Terry and Kristy York
Expecting – Please pray for the Paseurs due in August, the Prinzingers, Lancasters, Elliotts and Joe and Jennifer Calvert, all expecting in October and the Tomlinsons due 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)
• Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M)
• Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA)
• Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada)
• Dieter and Marty Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL)
• Gannon Miles (seminary student)
• The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome to Christ Presbyterian Church! Thank you for joining us for worship. If this is your first time visiting our church, please fill out a visitor card and place it in the offerings box at the back of the sanctuary. If you have any needs or would like additional information, please see one of our elders or deacons. Finally, if you require hearing assistance or a pew cushion, please see one of our men in the sound booth at the rear of the sanctuary.

Children’s Ministry
• Family fun picnic at the church house, Sunday, July 30th at 4pm.
• Nursery – If you would like to serve in our nursery during service, contact Amanda Dean.

Women’s Ministry
• Senior Sisters meet monthly on the 3rd Thursday, 10-11:30am
• Senior Sisters exercise class meets Mondays at the church, 10-11:30am
• Monthly lunch 1st Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11

Men’s Ministry
• Our next breakfast will be at 9 AM on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Our Summer Book Study, ‘We Cannot be Silent’ by Albert Mohler, meets at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16.
• Reformation Cup Golf Tournament – The annual men’s golf tournament between Huntsville area churches will be on Friday, August 25th at RTJ Hampton Cove. Please contact Ben Calvert for registration and details.

CPC Ice Cream Social – The creations showcase and ice cream social will be on Sunday, August 27th from 3 to 5 at the church.

Career Ministry – Bible study & fellowship meets at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, Sundays at 5:30 PM.

HPRC Ministry – CPC will provide a meal on Thursday, July 27, for the Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center parenting class. It is a very simple, yet tangible, way to help this important ministry. See Carol Cummings with questions. See christpreshamptoncove.org for detailed news and upcoming events.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Perry Calvert, Bill Cowley, Elizabeth Holton, Steve Terry and Kristy York

Expecting – Please pray for the Paseurs due in August, the Prinzingers, Lancasters, Elliotts and Joe and Jennifer Calvert, all expecting in October and the Tomlinsons due 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)
• Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M)
• Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA)
• Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada)
• Dieter and Marty Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL)
• Gannon Miles (seminary student)
• The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center 

My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Beginning today, Carol and I will be away for two weeks on our summer vacation.

This coming Lord’s Day, it will be our great delight to welcome Rev. Amos Williams to our pulpit to preach God’s Word.   Amos is the founding pastor of the Hope City PCA Mission Church in Madison, AL and a Teaching Elder in our Presbytery.

Amos is a native of Decatur, and is married to Jessica. They have two boys, Caleb and Christian.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Ministry Leadership from Moody Bible Institute, and a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham.

Sunday’s message from John 2:15-17 will be entitled “No Ordinary Love.”   Please pray fervently for Amos as he comes to minister God’s Word to us.

Then on Sunday July 16, Dr. Matthew Elliott will preach for us.  Please support him faithfully in your prayers as he prepares to lead us in worship and in the proclamation of the Word.

The Lord willing, I will return to the pulpit on July 23 and we will continue our summer preaching series on ‘The Unusual Questions that Jesus Asked.’

I love you all so very much, and Carol and I always keep you before our Father’s throne in our prayers!

Mike