Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA)

Month: September 2024

  • Announcements – September 27, 2024

    Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
    If you confessed to me that you are a little tired of hearing about false prophets (from our recent sermons on Ezekiel 13), I would completely understand!  “How much more is there to know about them?” is a very good question for sure.  Well, there is actually a need for one more message on this topic, and on Sunday we will finish our look at this chapter with a side-by-side comparison between a true prophet of God (Ezekiel) and bogus ones (Ezekiel’s rival prophets).  As we set them in contrast, guided by Ezekiel himself, we will examine three points of comparison:
    First, we will compare their respective audiences.
    Second, we will compare their respective messages.
    Finally, we will compare their respective destinies.
    And along our way we will make some observations that will assist and encourage us to remain faithful to our Savior and His Word.
    A Look Ahead
    As we move on through the fall toward Advent, our final messages from Ezekiel will focus upon the chapters and themes listed below.  I hope this will help you to target your studies and preparations for our upcoming sermons from this amazing book.
    Ezek 20:33-44 (28:25-26)–The Restoration of the Land of Promise
    Ezek 34:1-32 (37:24-28)–The Promise of a New Shepherd-King
    Ezek 36:22-38–A New Covenant of Salvation
    Ezek 37:1-14–Dry Bones and the Miracle of the New Birth
    Ezek 40-47–The New, Eternal Temple
    On Sunday October 6th, we will once again be blessed by the preaching of Dr. Matthew Elliott.  Carol and I will be taking a fall break from Monday September 30 through Sunday October 6, and Matthew will be filling the pulpit in my absence. Please remember him in your prayers as he prepares to bring us a Word from our Lord.
    I love you so much, and I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!
    Mike

     

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    New Members Class – The next New Members Class will be this Sunday, 2-5pm with dinner served at 5pm. This class must be completed prior to becoming a member. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.

    Church Cookbook     – Calling all cooks! We are collecting favorite recipes in order to create a church-wide cookbook. Submit your recipes to Tina Alhorn at thealhorns@gmail.com.

    Midweek Church Fellowship – Please join us for church-wide fellowship, dinner, and discipleship for all ages on Wednesday, October 23rd from 5:30 to 7:30 at the church! The dinner theme will be Crocktober! Be on the lookout for a food sign-up that will accompany the RSVP. The adult discipleship class will be The Christian’s Civic Duty.

    Women’s Ministry
    • Family Forum – Fellowship and teaching for our moms with elementary-aged children and younger will be Wednesday, October 16th from 6:30-8:30pm at the home of Leslie Jeffery.
    • Tuesday morning study meets at 9:30am at the church – “Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make”  (Childcare provided).
    • Tuesday evening study meets at 6:00pm at the church – “Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom”
    • Wednesday morning study meets at 10:00am at the church – “Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom” 
    • Women’s monthly luncheon is the first Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am.
    •     Senior Sisters monthly meeting is on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
    • Senior Sisters weekly exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.

    Men’s Ministry
    • A new ministry will be starting for the young men of Christ Pres in their late teens to early 30’s called the Junior Fellows. This will primarily be a fellowship group with activities about twice a month. The first gathering is this evening, September 27th at 5pm for a game night and pizza at the Alhorn home. Contact DJ Alhorn for more details.
    • Men’s Friday Bible study meets from 11:30am – 12:30pm studying The Revelation.
    • Men’s devotion/prayer time for young and mid-career men meets at the office of Paul Matheny on Tuesdays at 6:30am. Please contact Adam Turnbull for details.
    • Senior Fellows – Next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 1st.

    Career Ministry – The career group weekly fellowship and Bible study meets on Sundays at 7pm, at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry. The current study is “The Knowledge of the Holy” by A. W. Tozer. Contact Jim or Sharon for details, or with any questions.

    Ministry Opportunity – Christ Pres is compiling a list of church members willing to invite fellow members, who will not be with family, into their homes to share Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners. If you are willing to serve as a host or have any questions, please contact Tina Alhorn (thealhorns@gmail.com).

    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, Joe Prinzinger (father of Joseph Prinzinger), Joe Sims, and Steve Terry

    Expecting – Please pray for 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
    • Adam & Lisa Venable (Southside Presbyterian Church)

  • Announcements – September 20, 2024

    Dear Ones in the Lord,
    The “disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20), the Apostle John, strongly exhorted Christians in the late first century to be careful to avoid gullibility as they encountered anyone allegedly preaching in the name of Christ:
    “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
    As ominous and disturbing as those words must have been so long ago, they are to be received today with even deeper spiritual sobriety and alarm.
    We live in an age when virtually anyone can construct a platform from which to give their version of the truth, and this is especially the case for those who are claiming to speak for God.  Even in John’s day, there was no lack of ‘Christian’ charlatans who were, in reality, agents of the “father of lies” (John 8:44) who proclaimed their devilish distortions of the Gospel in the name of Christ.  John’s inspired words also suggest that until our Lord returns this will be the case.  There will always be bogus preachers until we enter the New Jerusalem.
    As we continue to reflect upon the words of Ezekiel 13, we will discover some critical Old Testament help in recognizing the “false prophets” who feverishly operate among us today. In the first sixteen verses of the chapter, the true prophet of God will reveal to us what the demonic counterfeit looks and sounds like. And then, he will announce the horrible fate that awaits all of them.
    This coming Sunday, we will prayerfully consider the ancient words of Ezekiel that, because they are inspired and originate in the mind of our Lord and God, are very timely indeed!
    I love you all so very much,
    Mike


    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Meals and Fellowship
    • Ministry Opportunity – Christ Pres is compiling a list of church members willing to invite fellow members, who will not be with family, into their homes to share Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners. If you are willing to serve as a host or have any questions, please contact Tina Alhorn (thealhorns@gmail.com).

    Directory Pictures – If you need a picture for the church directory or would like to update your picture, Timothy & Tina Alhorn will be set up to take photographs in the narthex before the worship service.

    Midweek Church Fellowship – Please join us for church-wide fellowship, dinner, and discipleship for all ages this Wednesday, September 25th from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the church. Dinner will be Lawler’s bbq. Adult discipleship classes include: (1) Gospel Implications for the Care of the Aged and (2) The Calling of One Another Ministry in the Local Church.

    New Members Class – The next New Members Class will be on Sunday, September 29, 2-5pm with dinner served at 5pm. This class must be completed prior to becoming a member. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.

    Women’s Ministry
    • Family Forum – Fellowship and teaching for our moms with elementary-aged children and younger will be Wednesday,October 16th from 6:30-8:30pm at the home of Leslie Jeffery.
    • Tuesday morning study meets at 9:30am at the church – “Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make” by Paul David Tripp (Childcare provided).
    • Tuesday evening study meets at 6:00pm at Timbers Edge Clubhouse – “Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom” by Jen Wilkin.
    • Wednesday morning study meets at 10:00am at the church – “Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom” by Jen Wilkin.
    • Women’s monthly luncheon is held the first Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am.
    •     Senior Sisters monthly meeting is on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
    • Senior Sisters weekly exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.

    Men’s Ministry
    • A new ministry will be starting for the young men of Christ Pres in their late teens to early 30’s called the Junior Fellows. This will primarily be a fellowship group with activities about twice a month. Our first gathering is Friday, September 27th at 5pm for a game night and pizza at the Alhorn home. Contact DJ Alhorn for more details.
    • Men’s Friday Bible study meets from 11:30am – 12:30pm studying The Revelation.
    • Men’s devotion/prayer time for young and mid-career men meets at the office of Paul Matheny on Tuesdays at 6:30am. Please contact Adam Turnbull for details.
    • Senior Fellows – Next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 1st.

    Youth Ministry – Sunday night youth fellowship this Sunday from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the church house.

    Career Ministry – The career group weekly fellowship and Bible study meets on Sundays at 7pm, at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry. The current study is “The Knowledge of the Holy” by A. W. Tozer. Contact Jim or Sharon for details, or 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, Joe Prinzinger (father of Joseph Prinzinger), Joe Sims, 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
    • Adam & Lisa Venable (Southside Presbyterian Church)

  • Announcements – September 13, 2024

    Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
    Of the many things the Book of Ezekiel is known for, one of its most prominent themes is that of false prophecy and its judgment.  It may be the case that when most of us think of ‘false-prophets,’ we instinctively consider the troubling presence of the many bogus divine spokesman who plague the Church today: the prosperity preachers, the faith-healers, the grace-abusers, the rigid legalists, and the narcissists who are intent on enriching themselves with false promises of ease and a ‘gospel’ without a cross.
    However, it may surprise you to know that false prophets have always accosted God’s people.  Wherever and whenever God’s Word is given, there is inevitably the satanic counter-offer of another word that is advertised as better, truer, and more enlightening.  We need only to trace the tragic narrative of Genesis 3:1-7 to make our point.
    In Ezekiel 13, we discover that way back in the time of the exile (593 BC) there were plenty of false prophets around.  Their messages, while sounding plausible and positive, were nonetheless an abomination to the Lord and spiritually deadly for the Israelites. In the twenty-three verses of this chapter we find a blistering condemnation of Israel’s professional class of male prophets (vv. 1-16), and certain women who assumed positions of prophetic leadership and offered messages tainted with elements of sorcery (vv. 17-23).
    This Sunday, our sermon text will come from Ezekiel 13:1-10, and we will take an initial look at the dangerous situation that had developed there in Babylon among the Israelite captives.  As always, there will be a most direct application to the New Testament Church, and especially to her preachers.
    You will benefit from prayerfully familiarizing yourself with this chapter as we prepare to meet together before our Lord this Sunday.
    I love you all, and pray for you constantly!
    Mike


    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Meals and Fellowship
    • We invite you to coffee and refreshments while extending a welcoming word to any visitors joining us for worship starting at 10am in the narthex.
    • Ministry Opportunity – With the holidays approaching, Christ Pres is compiling a list of church members willing to invite fellow members, who will not be with family, into their homes to share Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners.  We are looking for willing hosts, not necessarily if you are available for the coming holidays. As each holiday approaches, we will connect individuals with an available host family. If you are willing to serve or have any questions, please contact Tina Alhorn (thealhorns@gmail.com).

    Directory Pictures – Beginning this Sunday, if you need a picture for the church directory or would like to update your picture, Timothy & Tina Alhorn will be set up to take photographs in the narthex before the worship service.

    Midweek Church Fellowship – Please join us for church-wide fellowship, dinner, and discipleship for all ages on Wednesday, September 25th from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the church. Dinner will be Lawler’s bbq. Adult discipleship classes include: (1) Gospel Implications for the Care of the Aged and (2) The Calling of One Another Ministry in the Local Church.

    New Members Class – The next New Members Class will be on Sunday, September 29, 2-5pm with dinner served at 5pm. This class must be completed prior to becoming a member. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.

    Women’s Ministry
    •     Family Forum – Fellowship and teaching for our moms with elementary-aged children and younger will be Wednesday, September 18th from 6:30-8:30pm at the home of Leslie Jeffery.
    •Ladies’ Bible Studies
    -Tuesday at 9:30am at the church – “Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make” by Paul David Tripp (Childcare provided).
    -Tuesday at 6:00pm at Timbers Edge Clubhouse – “Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom” by Jen Wilkin.
    -Wednesday at 10:00am at the church – “Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom” by Jen Wilkin.
    • Women’s monthly luncheon is held the first Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am.
    •     Senior Sisters monthly meeting is on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
    • Senior Sisters weekly exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.

    Men’s Ministry
    • Men’s Friday Bible study meets from 11:30am – 12:30pm studying The Revelation.
    • Men’s devotion/prayer time for young and mid-career men meets at the office of Paul Matheny on Tuesdays at 6:30am. This is a great time to get to know other men in the church. Please contact Adam Turnbull for details.
    • Senior Fellows – Next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 1st.

    Youth Ministry – Sunday night youth fellowship this Sunday from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the church house.

    Career Ministry – The career group weekly fellowship and Bible study meets on Sundays at 7pm, at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry. The current study is “The Knowledge of the Holy” by A. W. Tozer. Contact Jim or Sharon for details, or 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, Joe Prinzinger (father of Joseph Prinzinger), Joe Sims, 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
    • Adam & Lisa Venable (Southside Presbyterian Church)

     

  • Announcements – September 6, 2024

    Beloved Ones in the Lord,
    This coming Sunday, September 8, our Fall Ministries kick off, and before introducing our sermon I want to make you aware of a couple of them.
    Sunday School begins this week at 9:15 AM and there is something for everyone, from birth through our adults.   Our adults will be meeting in the Wordship Center and will be studying ‘The Lord’s Prayer.’  This will be an 8-week class, and I will be teaching the first lesson on the introduction to the prayer that we find in Matthew 6:1-8.
    At 10:00 AM each week, we will enjoy a time of Fellowship before Worship. You’ll find refreshments in the Narthex, and we hope that you will take this opportunity to get to know one another better.
    I also want to share with you the good news that on August 31, Gannon Miles successfully completed his one-year ministry internship with us.   On September 1, the Session hired him as our full-time Assistant to the Senior Pastor (this is not the same thing as an Assistant or Associate Pastor).  Gannon will be working alongside me and our Session as he continues to prepare for licensure in our Presbytery, and eventually ordination to the Gospel Ministry.  Welcome aboard my dear brother!
    This Lord’s Day we will resume our preaching series on the Book of Ezekiel. Our text will be Ezekiel 4:1-8 (be sure to study the larger context of 4:1-5:17).  As you will see very quickly, this passage details a very bizarre series of actions taken by Ezekiel as ordered by the Lord.  Yet, despite what we find here, there is a vital, Christ-centered message for us contained in these ancient, inspired words.
    I love you, each and every one, with all my heart,
    Mike


    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Meals and Fellowship
    • Join us this Sunday for Second Sunday Lunch, immediately after worship. A sign up genius will go out by email in the coming days.
    • We invite you to coffee and refreshments while extending a welcoming word to any visitors joining us for worship starting at 10am in the narthex.

    Directory Pictures – Beginning next Sunday, if you need a picture for the church directory or would like to update your picture, Timothy Alhorn will be set up to take photographs in the narthex before the worship service.

    Midweek Church Fellowship – Please join us for church-wide fellowship, dinner, and discipleship for all ages on Wednesday, September 25th from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the church. Dinner will be Lawler’s bbq. Adult discipleship classes include: (1) Gospel Implications for the Care of the Aged and (2) The Calling of One Another Ministry in the Local Church.

    New Members Class – The next New Members Class will be on Sunday, September 29, 2-5pm with dinner served at 5pm. This class must be completed prior to becoming a member. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.

    Women’s Ministry
    • Fall Bible Studies are set to resume this coming week. Please join us!
    -Tuesdays at 9:30am at the church – “Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make” by Paul David Tripp.
    -Tuesdays at 6:00pm at Timbers Edge Clubhouse – “Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom” by Jen Wilkin.
    -Wednesdays at 10:00am at the church – “Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom” by Jen Wilkin.
    • Women’s monthly luncheon is held the first Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am.
    •     Senior Sisters monthly meeting is on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
    • Senior Sisters weekly exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.
    • Family Forum – Fellowship and teaching for our moms with elementary-aged children and younger will be Wednesday, September 18th from 6:30-8:30pm at the home of Leslie Jeffery.

    Men’s Ministry
    • Men’s Friday Bible study resumes on September 13 from 11:30am – 12:30pm, continuing the study of The Revelation.
    • Men’s devotion/prayer time for young and mid-career men meets at the office of Paul Matheny on Tuesdays at 6:30am. This is a great time to get to know other men in the church. Please contact Adam Turnbull for details.
    • Senior Fellows – Next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 1st.

    Youth Ministry – Sunday night youth fellowship will resume this Sunday from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the church house.

    Career Ministry – Weekly fellowship and Bible study will resume this Sunday, 7:00pm at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry studying “The Knowledge of the Holy” by A. W. Tozer. Contact Jim or Sharon for details or 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, Joe Prinzinger (father of Joseph Prinzinger), Joe Sims, 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
    • Adam & Lisa Venable (Southside Presbyterian Church)