SERMON PREVIEW:
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
This coming Lord’s Day is, of course, also New Year’s Day. And with the conclusion of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 we have another opportunity to recount the manifold blessings of the past year and to anticipate those that will flow down most graciously from our Heavenly Father in the next twelve months.
The beginning of another new year also provides us with an appropriate occasion for hard thinking about the months to come. If there were ever any ‘New Year’s advice’ to be found in the Word of God, surely it would be the words of Ephesians 5:15-17,
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
There is another passage from Paul that also comes to mind. In Colossians 1:10, the imprisoned Apostle says that we are to,
“walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.”
When we consider these Scripture passages together, we can identify a most significant theme as we begin a new year together. It is ‘Living on Purpose.’
I would suggest that Paul’s exhortations, taken together, give us inspired help in formulating our plan for the coming twelve months, and beyond. Will life ‘just happen’ in 2023? Or will we live our lives on purpose, with deliberate intent, with a worthy and all-consuming goal in view?
I look forward to probing this question more fully as we gather before our Lord this Sunday!
A Look Ahead to Winter/Spring Sunday School 2023
Remember, there is no Sunday School on January 1. We will resume Sunday School for all ages on January 8 at 9:15 AM.
Our Adults will be studying the subject of ‘suffering.’ Our textbook will be Surprised by Suffering, by Dr. R. C. Sproul.
I love you all so much,
Mike
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Sunday School: Sunday School for all ages resumes January 8 at 9:15 AM.
Book study on Christian marriage and relationships: A six-week small group study in the winter/spring beginning in the new year. This study will be a focus on Christian marriage and relationships using Vernick’s How To Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong. Each evening will have a potluck style meal with study and prayer following. Childcare will be provided at the location for those who need it!
When: Wednesday nights (5:30-7:30) in winter/spring (January 18th/25th ~ February 8th/15th ~ March 1st/8th)
Where: Elliott residence
Sign-Up: Please click here to sign up for the small group study!
For questions or additional information, please contact Matthew Elliott at mattke@live.com.
Children’s Ministry: I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season and are ready to tackle a new year. We have been extremely blessed by so many of you who have volunteered in our church nurseries this past year. From the bottom of my heart, thank you! We are continuing to staff our nurseries with volunteers and we ask that any woman or teenage lady consider signing up for one or two Sundays each quarter. If you have never served before and have reservations or questions, please reach out to me. We will have two volunteer members in the toddler nursery and one volunteer member plus Irene, our hired nursery worker, in the baby nursery. Please see the link below to sign up.
https://www.signupgenius.com/
Senior Fellows: The Senior Fellows will have breakfast on the first Tuesday of each month at 9 AM at the church.
Women’s Ministry Monthly Lunch: Our next monthly luncheon will be the first Thursday of each month 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
Men’s Ministry Book Study: There is a book study of Pilgrim’s Progress every Tuesday morning between 6:15 and 7:15 at the Cooper house in downtown Huntsville: 405 Randolph Ave SE, Huntsville, AL 35801. See Joseph Prinzinger for details.
Career Group: Sunday evening Bible study & fellowship meets at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, 5726 Jones Valley Drive each Sunday at 5:30 PM.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Bud Lancaster, Collins Bailey, Ramona Edwards, Steve Terry, Bill Cowley, and Elizabeth Holton. Additional details may be found in the Ministries/Prayer Requests section of the church website.
Expecting: Please pray for the Butlers (February); the Guytons (April).
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 by clicking HERE.
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