Sermon Preview:
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
There was an old joke about the Church making its way around the seminary when I was a student back in the early 1980’s. It went something like this:
A young man awakens on a Sunday morning. He’s not in a very good mood. He calls out to his mother and says, ‘Mom, I don’t want to go to church today.’ After some silence, ‘But you must,’ came the answer from down the hall. ‘But mom, I don’t feel good,’ he replied. With that, his mom ratcheted up her strategy and said, ‘But darling, Jesus wants you to go to church today.’
Unpersuaded, the boy retorted, ‘But I don’t like church! I don’t like the music! I don’t like the all the long prayers, and all that sitting and standing and sitting again! And I really don’t like the people there! They are mean and they call me names, and I’ve just had my fill of them!’
Then came the final salvo from his mon: ‘But son, you have to go to church toady . . . you’re the pastor!’
Well, perhaps we’ve all experienced similar feelings about the Church from time to time. But that silly story does strike an important nerve, prompting serious and prayerful reflection upon some of the very real questions and concerns being raised about the Body of Christ today.
As you might know, some ‘experts’ have actually gone so far as to declare the death of the local Church. In their view, there is no need for local Churches like ours, with membership rolls and weekly gatherings in person for worship, instruction, and fellowship. The Church has been killed by technology, by its own cultural and spiritual slide into irrelevance, and by massive scandals and the apparently ubiquitous moral shortcomings of Church leaders. Christians simply don’t need the Church in order to be good and faithful believers in Christ, or so the claim goes.
But is this true? Has the Church reached the end of her life-span and usefulness? Do we really need to ‘go to Church’ anymore?
In light of such questions, we must reflect very deeply upon what God’s Word says about this body called the ‘Church.’
Beginning this coming Lord’ Day, we are going to take an eight-week trip through the Scriptures to discover what the Church is, where the Church came from, why the Church exists, how a real Church can be recognized.
We will begin our study on Sunday with the inspired words of the Apostle Peter found in 1 Peter 2:9-10. There we will discover the origin and identity of the Church.
What a great joy it will be to worship together, and I can’t wait to see you all!
I love you so very much,
Mike
Announcements:
Church Directory:
If you haven’t yet, please use the link below to sign up in the new church directory.
https://christpreshamptoncove.
Church Picnic:
Save the date for April 29, details forthcoming.
Children’s Ministry:
After many months of prayerful searching, the Lord has provided us with a second nursery staff member!!! Mrs. Irene and Mrs. Sarah are now in our baby nursery. To continue filling our toddler nursery needs, we are asking moms of nursery-age children to fill one spot each Sunday and an additional volunteer to assist them. Please consider signing up to help by clicking the link below. Thank you so so much for all the love and prayers you pour on our children and on us as parents! What a wonderful church family to be a part of!
https://www.signupgenius.com/
Youth Group:
Below you will find the Winter/Spring dates for youth group, which meets at 4:30 PM at the church house.
April 24th
May 1st
May 22nd
Senior Fellows:
The Fellows will meet 10 AM, Tues, April 19 at Green Mountain Nature Trail for a fun day of Hiking/Fishing/Picnic. Wives and grandkids are invited. Visitors are welcome. Bring hiking shoes/fishing equipment/picnic lunch. Green Mountain Nature Trail web address is: https://www.madisoncountyal.
Senior Sisters:
The next meeting will be at 10:30 AM on April 21 at the church. We are delighted to announce that Eleanor will be leading us in making clay doves! If you know for sure that you will be able to attend, please let us know so we can correctly estimate the supplies needed to make them. For sign up and any questions you may have please contact Kathy Cooper, Kathy Hightower, or Suellen Dempsey.
Women’s Ministry:
Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be on May 5 beginning at 11 AM at the Timbers Edge Clubhouse located at 1 Timbers Main, Brownsboro. It’s potluck – feel free to bring a dish or just yourself. If you have questions or transportation needs please contact Pat Galecki at 256-244-0612
Winter/Spring Bible Studies: The Tuesday study for mothers meets at 9:30 AM at the church. Contact Amy Schnorrenberg for more info.
Baby Shower: There will be a baby shower for Katie Jackson from 3-5 on May 1. Location at the home of Cheryl Johnson.
Career/Singles:
Career/Singles meet on Sundays at the Daughtry home at 5:30 PM.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Virdia Jastrebski, Ramona Edwards, Bill Dent, Cynthia Dent, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, Elizabeth Holton, Jean Terry, and Jacky Haynes. Additional details may be found in the Ministries/Prayer Requests section of the church website.
Expecting: Please pray for the Jacksons (June); the Thornhills (August); the Thompsons (September).
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 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