Sermon Preview:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
The Psalmist tells us that, “ By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host” (Psalm 33:6).
Perhaps this verse was in the mind of the inspired author of the Epistle to the Hebrews when he explained that, “ By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (11:3).
While we recognize Hebrews 11 as ‘Faith’s Hall of Fame,’ we encounter an illustration of faith in verse 3 before we meet the faithful heroes of the Old Testament.
The verse teaches us that is by faith in Christ, and in the power of the Word of God, that we know both the origin and the history of the universe. It is, to use the language of the Psalmist, by faith that we can affirm that the “ heavens” and “ all their host” were created “ by the word of God.” All that we see with our physical eyes was designed and brought into existence by that which was and is not seen.
On Sunday, we will consider these amazing words, and how they challenge us to come to a deeper understand of the life of faith in Christ that we have been called to live.
Looking Ahead
Following worship on Sunday, Carol and I are scheduled to be away for a few days of vacation. Next Lord’s Day, October 10, it will be our joy to welcome Rev. Dieter Paulson to our pulpit to preach for us again in my absence. As you know, Dieter is the founding Pastor of Redeemer Church (PCA) in Scottsboro, a Church plant of our Presbytery and one of the missions that we support each month.
Dieter will be preaching a message from Matthew 23:1-36 entitled, ‘ Warnings for Christ-Followers and Fakers.’ I know you will look forward to this sermon and will pray fervently for Dieter as he comes to be with us.
Also, on October 10, Matthew Elliott will be teaching our Adult Sunday School class on the Song of Solomon.
Speaking of Matthew, as many of you know he is in the final stages of completing his PhD dissertation in Pastoral Theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Please keep Mathew in your prayers as he concludes this program of study. We look forward to officially calling him ‘Dr. Matthew’ very soon!
I love you all and pray for you always!
Mike
PS: The Next Monday Note of Encouragement will be delivered to you on October 11.
Announcements:
Children’s Ministry:
Warm up those crockpots and join us for a Children’s Ministry Fall Fellowship and Chili Cook-off October 29 from 5:30-7:30 at the church house. We will have a couple of Reformation Day games and crafts for the kids so come ready for a sweet time of fun and fellowship. Church family and guests welcome! Click the link below to RSVP and indicate if you plan to enter some chili for potential Christ Pres Chili Champ bragging rights!
Youth Group:
Fall Youth Calendar
October 3rd – Cookout and College Care Packages at the Turnbull House
October 17th – Youth Group
October 24th – Youth Group
November 7th – Youth Group
November 21st – Youth Group
December 5th – Youth Group
December 12th – Christmas Party
*All dates are Sunday evenings. Youth group is from 4:30 to 6:30.
College Care Packages:
Sunday will be a service night where we will box up our donated items from the church to send to our college students. We will meet at the Turnbull’s house and a hearty dinner will be provided. The entire event will be compelling.
Girls’ Night:
We will have the first of two youth “Girls’ Nights” on Monday, October 18th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the home of Jeff and Denise Brown. All middle and high school girls are invited to join us for dinner, a vibrant devotion, and a very special activity. Please feel free to bring a friend!
Senior Fellows:
The next Senior Fellows Breakfast will be 9 AM, Tues, Oct 5. The Discussion on Issues facing the PCA will now be 10 AM, Tues, Nov 9.
Limited Home/Auto Safety Checks for Christ Presbyterian Church Members:
Upon request the Senior Fellows or other CPC volunteers may perform Limited Home and/or Auto Safety Checks for CPC Members with the goal of maintaining a safer environment in homes and autos. This Ministry is intended for CPC members needing assistance such as the elderly, widows, or those who cannot find someone to help. The Senior Fellows and volunteers time is provided free of charge in the nature of neighbor helping neighbor. To request a Limited Home or Auto Safety Check, refer another CPC member who might need help or to learn more about helping with this Ministry, contact Senior Fellows at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.com or ask any Senior Fellow or Deacon for help.
Women’s Ministry:
Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on October 7 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.
Fall Bible Studies:
The fall Bible studies have resumed! The Tuesday study for mothers meets at 9:30 AM at the church. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg for more info. The Wednesday studies meet at 10 AM and 6 PM at the church. Contact Denise Scrip for more info.
Men’s Ministry:
Bible Study: We would like to invite all CPC men to our Fall Bible study series!
Title – Knowing the Times: A Look at Contemporary Works on Race, Social Justice, Wokeness and Christianity
Description – The church has always grappled with competing worldviews, issues of race, and alternate systems of morality. In modern society, we acutely feel the shifts in our society with our increased accessibility to information at our fingertips at all hours of the day. We would like to invite our men to our Fall study on issues of CRT, wokeness, and the response of the evangelical church. Led and taught by Dr. Mike Calvert, we will take several contemporary Christian works as starting points for our study and discussion. Among these works include Voddie Baucham’s Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe and Owen Strachan’s Christianity and Wokeness: How the Social Justice Movement is Hijacking the Gospel.
Time – Friday from 11:30 to 12:30. Please bring a bag lunch to enjoy while we study and discuss.
Locale – Church fellowship hall (to attend via Zoom, contact Senior Fellows at seniorfellows@christpreshamptoncove.com )
Schedule – We will meet a total of 10 sessions with our first meeting on Friday, September 24th. Our final meeting will be on Friday, December 10th. skipping Friday, October 8th for Fall break.
Please make plans to join us for this important study! If you have any questions, please contact Matthew Elliott at matthew@christpreshamptoncove.
Fellowship Lunch Groups: Men’s fellowship groups are now forming. The purpose of these groups is to facilitate getting to know our brothers in Christ and enjoy time together. Groups will form around October 12th and run through the Spring Semester, ending around Memorial Day. Normally, groups will meet together for lunch, but it is flexible. Groups could play golf together, go to a Trash Pandas game … whatever you decide to do. For more information, please contact Norman Dean ndeaniv@gmail.com. You may sign up in the Narthex or online at this link: https://www.
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: Suzanne Nimon, Lincoln Ely, Dave Angotti, Zig and Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Jacky Haynes, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, and Elizabeth Holton.
Bereavement: Please pray for the Trent family, as Andy went home to be with the Lord on Friday.
Expecting: Please pray for the Prinzingers and Paseurs, both expecting in November, as well as the Elliotts, expecting in March.
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