Sermon Preview
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Before I give you a brief preview of Sunday’s sermon, I want to highlight some upcoming opportunities for us to grow in both our faith in Christ, and in our fellowship together as a Church Family.
Next Sunday, September 10, we are looking forward to the beginning of our Fall Sunday School Semester at 9:15 AM. There are classes for all ages, from birth through adults. Our Adult Class, which will meet each week in the Worship Center, will be a study of the History of the Church From the Reformation Forward. We will discover how the Lord used people like John Calvin and Martin Luther to recover the Gospel, and how the Protestant Church grew and expanded throughout the world.
Then, there are several opportunities for you to be involved in Bible study during the week.
Our Ladies Bible Studies get underway Tuesday night September 5 at 6:00 PM, and Wednesday Morning September 6 at 9:30 AM. The Ladies will be studying the book, Peacemaking Women: Biblical Hope for Resolving Conflict.
There are also upcoming studies for Men and Young Adults.
Our Men will gather on four consecutive Sunday afternoons (Sept. 10, 17, 24, and Oct. 1) at the Church from 2:30-4:00 PM beginning on September 10. We will be studying the topic of Maintaining Our Moral Purity, particularly in view of the dangers of pornography.
Then, on Thursday morning September 14 at 6:00 AM at the Church, our Men’s Bi-weekly Morning Bible Study will begin. We will meet every-other Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 AM, and all men, young men, and visitors are invited to attend.
Our Young Adult Bible Study will begin on Monday October 9 from 6:30-8:00 PM at the home of John and Leslie Jeffery. We will meet for four consecutive Monday nights in October (9, 16, 23, and 30). Our topic will be Humility: Developing The Mind of Christ. This study is for anyone who considers themself to be a ‘young adult,’ married or single.
I hope you will take advantage of these occasions for study and fellowship!
This coming Sunday I will be preaching from 2 Peter 3:3-13. This message will serve as a ‘bridge’ between our series from 2 John and our fall series from the Book of Judges that will begin on September 10. In this great text, the Apostle Peter reveals how we—the redeemed people of God—are to live in the “last days” (3:3). This breath-taking section of Holy Scripture comes to its conclusion with the practical exhortation to practice “holiness and godliness” as we await the Second Advent of our Lord (3:11-12). The connection to the Old Testament Book of Judges is just this: there is always the danger for God’s people that the world around us will have too much influence over our beliefs and behavior. Judges is a sad illustration of the power of secular culture to shape (or misshape) our lives. And this was precisely Peter’s concern as he wrote to the first century believers living and serving the Lord in the Roman Empire.
I can’t wait to see you Sunday, and I pray that you will have a restful weekend!
All my love to all of you in our blessed Lord,
Mike
Upcoming Events:
September 5, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Study
September 6, 9 AM – Women’s Morning Study
September 10, 9:15 AM -Sunday School resumes for all ages
September 10, 2:30 PM – Men’s Fall Study
September 14, 6 AM– Men’s Morning Bible Study
September 17, 4:30 PM – Youth Group
September 20, 12:00 PM – Senior Fellows visit to Lincoln Village
September 20, 6:00 PM – Diaconate meeting
September 24, 4:00 PM – Children’s Choir
Order of Worship:
You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here
The songs for this week are:
Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord
In the Shadow of the Glorious Cross
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Wonderful, Merciful Savior
Announcements:
Sunday School: Sunday School resumes on September 10 at 9:15 AM. There are classes for all ages. Please make plans to participate in this important opportunity for spiritual formation and education.
Texas: There are a few ways you can help with the PCA’s disaster relief efforts in Texas. First, pray for relief from the storm and for those being rescued and affected. Second, give generously. Funds will be used for assessment, mobilization, relief grants for flooded PCA families and churches, to purchase needed supplies and equipment, to construct Sheds of Hope, and to setup and operate flood recovery sites. Next, send relief supplies & equipment. Finally, prepare to go and help. If you would like to donate financially, provide supplies, or register your intent to serve, please click the following link: https://pcamna.org/disaster-re
Help Needed: Volunteers are needed to give an elderly church member a ride to and from church. Her apartment is near the intersection of South Parkway and Martin Road. Volunteers would need to pick her up around 8:40. If you would be interested in volunteering please sign up in the Narthex or on the church website. For more information, please see Norman Dean or Judi Fikes. You may sign up by clicking on the following link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444a9a92ca7ff2-volunteers
Men’s Bible Study: The Fall Men’s Bible study will begin September 10 at 2:30 PM at the church. The subject is maintaining purity. All men are encouraged to participate, and please invite guests.
Supper Club: Each fall we get together in small groups, typically about 8 people, to share meals together as a way to get to know one another better. Here’s how it works: We try to get together about four times between now and Christmas with each couple or single being responsible for coordinating one of the get-togethers. We often will meet at the coordinator’s home with everyone bringing part of the meal. But we’ve also done picnics or gone out to a restaurant after church or on a Friday or Saturday evening. Keep it simple. A pot of chili is great or hot dogs/hamburgers/pizza. You don’t have to be a Christ Pres Member – everyone is welcome to participate. We’ll have signup sheets in the narthex for the next two Sundays and then we’ll make group assignments. Please consider joining us! If you have any questions, contact Joe Fikes at 256-883-5281.
Senior Fellows: On Wednesday, September 20 the Senior Fellows will visit Lincoln Village Ministries located in a former textile mill area of Huntsville. This community helps project was started by Southwood PCA Church in the early 2000s. We will meet at 12:00 PM, in the Conference Room of Lincoln Academy, 1110 Meridian Street, Huntsville. Carpools will leave the Church at 11:15 AM. More information on Lincoln Village Ministries can be found at www.lincolnvillageministry.com. We will have a late lunch following the visit.
Music Time: We would like to offer to our children who are in Second through Sixth Grades an opportunity to come together each week for a focused time of singing and other musical activities. Our overall purpose is that every child would find his or her best singing voice and come to understand the importance of full participation in the corporate worship of our church. We would like to meet every Sunday afternoon from 4:00-4:45 pm on the upper floor of the Church House beginning September 24. For more information and/or to sign up your children with their names, ages, and grade levels, please see Carol Bart or email her at acbarts@hotmail.com.
Ladies Summer Scripture Read Along: I’ve heard some good things this summer regarding the Scripture Read-Along. Many of you have told me that you’re following the chapter guide and I, like you, have discovered new verses that I love as well as ones that I’d heard before but never been able to place. If you started but then fell off, I did too! My audio Bible app has been a help in getting caught up.
{This week’s reading: finishing up Jeremiah 51-end}
A few ladies have mentioned that they’d like to be able to pray for others who are participating, and we also talked about having a coffee fellowship at Panera Bread to close out the series. If we do another read-along this fall, I’d love to have a list to share so that we could pray together and for one another; and if a coffee fellowship interests you, look for an upcoming email announcing a date in September.
BUT before I plan out the next series: I would appreciate any feedback you have about this!
Email me at niniandjb@gmail.com
Sincerely In Christ,
Denise Brown
Women’s Bible Studies: The Women’s Bible studies will begin in September with the morning study being held on Wednesday morning at 9:30 at the church and the evening study on Tuesday evening at 6:00 at the church. The women will be studying Peacemaking Women: Biblical Hope for Resolving Conflict. Please, contact Kathy Cooper, Gretchen McKee, or Dona Sims for more information. They will be in the Narthex before and after church August 20 and 27 to sign up and to answer any questions. If you need childcare for the day time session, please email Ashley at children@christpreshamptoncove.org
Women’s Ministry Survey: Please take a moment to fill out a short survey that the Women’s Committee has created in order to better serve you. This is especially important for us to know if any of you would like to host, lead, or co-lead our various events. We are looking for those willing to serve in our ministry and for new ideas!
Email Sarah Burgess with any questions at scburgg@yahoo.com
Plug in by contacting any of our leaders as shown on the Christ Pres Ministry Webpage (Women, Flower Guild, Healing Hearts).
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Nolan Osmer, Frances McQuay, George Boyd, John Baxter, and Sondra Behmer.
Expecting: Please pray for the Bryant family, expecting in December.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).