Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA)

Month: July 2024

  • Announcements – July 26, 2024

    My Dear Ones in Christ Jesus,

    I want you to pause and think about something.  Can you remember reading the Gospels and encountering an episode when Jesus ordered His followers to cease being afraid or living in fear?  If you are having a bit of difficulty remembering such places in the New Testament, let me help you.  You will find this command in Matthew 10:31; Mark 5:36; Luke 12:32; and John 14:27.

    Now, with these Divine words of our Savior in view, look at what the Apostle Peter orders us to do in 1 Peter 1:17–

    “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.”

    So what gives?  On one hand, our Great Shepherd and High Priest command us not to fear, and then, on the other, one of His Apostles orders us to live in fear!  What are we to do with such an apparent (and disturbing!) contradiction?

    As we come to worship together this Lord’s Day, we will examine another one of the ‘Gracious Commands of the Gospel.’  As Peter says, we must, in one very important sense, live all the time “with fear.”

    I love you all with all my heart,

    Mike

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Church Ice Cream Social/Field Day – Please come and join us for ice cream and afternoon games on August 25th from 3-5pm.

    Women’s Ministry
    • Senior Sisters meet monthly on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
    • Senior Sisters exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.
    • Monthly luncheon held the first Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am.

    Men’s Ministry
    • Senior Fellows – Our next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, August 6th.
    • Summer Book Study – “The Gathering Storm – Secularism, Culture and the Church” by Albert Mohler, Jr. will meet at 9am on the following Wednesdays at the church: July 31, and August 14, 28. Please contact Joe Sims with questions.

    Youth Ministry
    Youth Fellowship Night – CPC Youth will be going bowling Friday, August 2nd at Stars and Strikes from 5-7pm.

    Career Ministry
    The career group will meet on Mondays at 6:30pm for concerts in the park at Big Spring Park, sitting near the flagpole. Bring a chair & picnic supper (food trucks are also on site). Contact Jim or Sharon Daughtry with any questions.

    See christpreshamptoncove.org for detailed news and upcoming events.

    PRAYER REQUESTS

    Care and Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Maurice Belrose, Bill Cowley, Amy Fortenberry, Ken Galecki (brother of Leon Galecki), Sonny Henry, Elizabeth Holton, and Steve Terry

    Expecting – Please pray for the Thornhills due in September and the Kings due in October.

    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)
    • The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center
    • Southside Presbyterian Church

  • Announcements – July 19, 2024

    Beloved Church Family,
    I would imagine that whenever we encounter the Biblical command to “be holy,” a good many of us would immediately assume that this does not mean moral perfection.  After all, even Christians filled with God’s Spirit are incapable of offering to God a life of such pristine purity on this side of heaven.  However, while this is certainly the truth, there is more to the command to “be holy” than we might otherwise recognize.
    In 1 Peter 1:14-16, the Apostle Peter cites the Old Testament book of Leviticus, applying it to his original audience of Christian believers: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  These words are as penetrating as they are ominous.  How can we “be holy” now?  And how can we ever hope to “be holy” in “all” our “conduct”? (v. 15).
    In order to solve our dilemma, we will need to rethink the idea of holiness altogether. As we will see this coming Lord’s Day, Peter will give us lots of help in coming to terms with this very clear command of God, one that is as applicable to us today as it once was to the ancient Israelites.
    Our study of ‘The Gracious Commands of the Gospel’ will continue this Sunday with a look at this passage from God’s Word.
    I can’t wait to come before our Holy God with you!
    All my love, always,
    Mike


    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Church Ice Cream Social/Field Day – Please come and join us for ice cream and afternoon games on August 25th from 3-5pm.

    Women’s Ministry
    • Senior Sisters meet monthly on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
    • Senior Sisters exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.
    • Monthly luncheon held the first Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am. 

    Men’s Ministry
    • Senior Fellows – Our next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, August 6th.
    • Summer Book Study – “The Gathering Storm – Secularism, Culture and the Church” by Albert Mohler, Jr. Will meet for breakfast at 8am before each study, location TBA. Study will be at 9am on the following Wednesdays: July 31st and August 14th, 28th at the church. Please contact Joe Sims with questions.

    Youth Ministry
    Youth Fellowship Night – CPC Youth will be going bowling Friday, August 2nd at Stars and Strikes from 5-7pm.

    Career Ministry
    The summer schedule for the career group will be Mondays at 6:30pm at Big Spring Park, sitting near the flagpole. Bring a chair & picnic supper (food trucks are also on site). Feel free to invite friends or other family members. All of Christ Pres is invited to join the Career Ministry for this concert series. Please contact Jim or Sharon Daughtry with any questions.

    See christpreshamptoncove.org for detailed news and upcoming events.

    PRAYER REQUESTS

    Care and Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Maurice Belrose, Bill Cowley, Amy Fortenberry, Ken Galecki (brother of Leon Galecki), Sonny Henry, Elizabeth Holton, and Steve Terry

    Expecting – Please pray for the Thornhills due in September and the Kings due in October.

    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)
    • The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center
    • Southside Presbyterian Church

  • Announcements – July 12, 2024

    Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
    In 1 Peter 1:13, we discover one of the ‘gracious commands of the Gospel,’ the first such command that we will examine in our summer preaching series.
    In this verse, the Apostle Peter exhorts all believers in the Lord to be “preparing your minds for action” in view of “the grace” that we will experience “at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (His Second Advent).  If you read this same passage in the King James Version, you will find it rendered in this rather odd way: “gird up the loins of your mind.”
    If we are to understand and execute this command, we need to know a few things about the language that Peter is employing here.  For example, what is meant by the word “minds,” what is it to be “preparing” the mind for “action,” and how do we accomplish such preparation in practical ways?
    As you get ready for worship and the proclamation of God’s Word, let me suggest that you reflect upon some of the metaphors of the Christian life that we find in the New Testament. For example:
    It is like a race–1 Corinthians 1:9; Hebrews 12:1
    It is like a war­–2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Timothy 6:12
    It is like an athletic event–1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 2:5
    With these passages in view, we find some hints as to the meaning of Peter’s admonition to get ready for “action.”
    I look forward with great anticipation to our time together this Lord’s Day!
    I love you all so very much,
    Mike

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Church Ice Cream Social/Field Day – Save the date for a church-wide ice cream social and field day on August 25th from 3-5pm.

    Children’s Ministry
    Nursery: The summer quarter nursery sign up is now live. You can sign up through the link in the email you received this week or on the paper sign up in the narthex. Contact Amanda Dean if you have any questions or needs. Thank you for loving our covenant children so well!

    Women’s Ministry
    • Senior Sisters meet monthly on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
    • Senior Sisters exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.
    • Monthly luncheon will meet again August 1st at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am.

    Men’s Ministry
    • Senior Fellows – Our next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, August 6th.
    • Summer Book Study – “The Gathering Storm – Secularism, Culture and the Church” by Albert Mohler, Jr. Will meet for breakfast at 8am before each study, location TBA. Study will be on the following Wednesdays: July 17th, 31st and August 14th, 28th at the church. Please contact Joe Sims with questions.

    Youth Ministry
    Youth Fellowship Night – CPC Youth will be going bowling Friday, July 19th at Stars and Strikes from 5-7pm. Please RSVP to Matthew Elliott, or reach out to him for more information.

    Career Ministry
    The summer schedule for the career group will be Mondays at 6:30pm at Big Spring Park. Bring a chair & picnic supper (food trucks are also on site). Feel free to invite friends or other family members. All of Christ Pres is invited to join the Career Ministry for this concert series.

    See christpreshamptoncove.org for detailed news and upcoming events.

    PRAYER REQUESTS

    Care and Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Maurice Belrose, Bill Cowley, Amy Fortenberry, Sonny Henry, Elizabeth Holton, and Steve Terry

    Expecting – Please pray for the Thornhills due in September and the Kings due in October.

    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)
    • The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center
    • Southside Presbyterian Church

  • Announcements – July 5, 2024

    My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
    This coming Lord’s Day we will begin our summer preaching series on the subject of “The Gracious Commands of the Gospel.”  Now, you might be wondering about the title of this series.  We normally don’t associate or connect the concepts of grace and commands.  Perhaps they seem even directly opposed to one another, like salt and sugar.
    As you are likely well-aware, there has been no small controversy simmering in the Reformed branch of the Lord’s Church over this very matter: the relationship between saving grace and works, or between salvation and obedience, or between faith in Christ and the pursuit of a holy life, or between justifying faith/grace and sanctifying faith/grace.
    On one hand, there are those who see a radical opposition between grace and works, such that once saved, we have no obligation to live according to any laws or commands of the Bible. In this view, we are free from any responsibility whatsoever.  Once redeemed, there is nothing ‘required’ of us.
    On the other hand, there are those who, rightly so I believe, hold that there is a most intimate connection between grace and works.  In this view, grace and works track beautifully together while remaining distinct in many ways.  The one, grace, actually necessitates and leads to the other, works.  And since this, I would argue, is the Biblical view, we need to explore how this tight relationship between grace and works functions, and how it is set forth in the most explicit and practical of ways in the Word of God.
    All of this brings us to our starting text for this series, 1 Peter 1:1-2.
    Our sermon for Sunday will serve as the foundational message for this series.  I look forward to exploring this subject with you over the next ten weeks!
    All my love for all of you in Christ Jesus,
    Mike

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Children’s Ministry
    Nursery: The summer quarter nursery sign up is now live. You can sign up through the link in the email you received this week or on the paper sign up in the narthex. Contact Amanda Dean if you have any questions or needs. Thank you for loving our covenant children so well!

    Women’s Ministry
    • Senior Sisters meet monthly on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
    • Senior Sisters exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.
    • Monthly luncheon will meet again August 1st at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am.

    Men’s Ministry
    • Senior Fellows – Our next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, August 6th.
    • Summer Book Study – “The Gathering Storm – Secularism, Culture and the Church” by Albert Mohler, Jr. Will meet for breakfast at 8am before each study, location TBA. Study will be on the following Wednesdays: July 17th, 31st and August 14th, 28th at the church. Please contact Joe Sims with questions.

    Career Ministry -The summer schedule for the career group will be Mondays at 6:30pm at Big Spring Park. Bring a chair & picnic supper (food trucks are also on site). Feel free to invite friends or other family members. All of Christ Pres is invited to join the Career Ministry for this concert series.

    See christpreshamptoncove.org for detailed news and upcoming events.

    PRAYER REQUESTS

    Care and Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Maurice Belrose, Bill Cowley, Amy Fortenberry, Sonny Henry, Elizabeth Holton, and Steve Terry

    Expecting – Please pray for the Thornhills due in September and the Kings due in October.

    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)
    • The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center
    • Southside Presbyterian Church