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Week of February 19, 2023 |
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The Goodness and Severity of God
By Mike Riley
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From today’s Montana Street bulletin, comes the following article by brother Raymond Elliott, preacher for the Capitol Heights congregation in Montgomery, Alabama, about the goodness and the severity of God:
One of the first truths that small children learn about God is that He is good. A prayer of thanksgiving offered by boys and girls is found in Psalm 33:5 and in Psalm 118:29. It was said of the seed of Abraham, God’s chosen people, in ages past:
“Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart” (Psalm 73:1).
Yes, God blessed Israel abundantly as long as the people were faithful to Him.
Likewise, God’s goodness and mercy have been manifested toward all men in the giving of Jesus to die for the sins of mankind (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17). James declared in his epistle:
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow turning” (James 1:17).
In order to enjoy the blessings of a spiritual nature in Christ, man has to turn to God in trust and in obedience. These blessings are “in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). And, the way a penitent believe gets into Christ is through the act of baptism (Gal. 3:26-27). However, all men both good and evil, enjoy the temporal and physical blessings (Matthew 5:45). The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 2:4:
“Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
On the other hand, God is also a just God, exacting severity upon all those who disobey Him. Both the Old and New Testaments are replete with examples of God punishing the disobedient. Adam and Eve brought suffering and death to the human family through their sin (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:1-2). God also drove them from the Garden of Eden and from the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24). The Lord placed a curse on Cain for murdering his brother Abel (Genesis 4:9-15).
The people of Noah’s day were destroyed by water because of the greatness of their corruption and sin (Genesis 6:5-7). Nadab and Abihu, priests of God and sons of Aaron, were consumed with fire because they dared to violate God’s law regarding the fire that should have been used in the offering of animal sacrifices (Leviticus 10:1-3; Leviticus 6:8-13). The Lord even scattered Israel from off the land of Canaan because of their sins (Leviticus 26:33; Nehemiah 1:8). God is indeed one of severity.
Today, warnings can be found in the covenant of Jesus Christ concerning punishment for those who live in sin. The Lord taught that they who enter the wide gate and travel the broad way would eventually suffer destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus frequently spoke of a place called hell (Greek, Gehenna – see Matthew 5:22,29-30). The wicked will enter this place of eternal punishment when the Lord comes again (Matthew 25:41). Paul declared that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), that is everlasting separation from God. The apostle John mentioned, “The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever” (Revelation 14:11).
Yes, God is the God of love, goodness, mercy and grace, but He is also the God of justice and severity (see article). Every sin not covered by the blood of His Son must be dealt with and justice must be exacted.
We all should desire to place our faith in Jesus Christ as being the Son of God and give our lives in humble submission to the will of the heavenly Father (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:8-9; Revelation 2:10).
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Elders
Leon Cort
Mark Craigwell
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Minister
Mark Craigwell
Assistant Minister
Denver Simmons
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Deacons
Raleigh Gallington
Anthony Johnson
Gregory Johnson
Carlfred Malcolm
Albert Martin, Jr.
Walter Maxwell
Richard Meuse
Barry Person
Jason Reid
James Wade, Sr.
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Sermon for Sunday, February 19, 2023
Title: The Power to Live Godly, Part 2
The Sufficiency of Our Salvation
2 Peter 1:3-4
Speaker: Denver Simmons
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DON'T FORGET YOUR MASK!
Remember that masks are required at all of our in-person events, including services, classes, and meetings. Please also remember to bring your mask with you. We have a limited supply of masks available for those who do not have them.
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An email with a draft church directory went out last week to all members for whom we have email addresses. Please review the draft ASAP and notify Sis. Nagarajah by return email of any updates or corrections. If your information is correct, please respond via return email to let Sis. Nagarajah know that as well. If you did not receive the email with the draft directory from Sis. Nagarajah, please email her at enagarajah@gmail.com so she can send it to you. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. |
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Please subscribe or resubscribe to TextAlertz to receive text blasts from the congregation. 5linx now requires a two-step opt-in process to subscribe to receive church text alerts. What this means is that some members who were previously subscribed have stopped receiving text alerts because they opted in using a one-step process. We sent out an email blast containing a list of members who need to resubscribe. To subscribe or to resubscribe, text the keyword CCROXBURY to 855-908-6614, which should generate an automated text instructing you to reply YES to confirm that you want to subscribe. Once you reply YES, you will receive another automated text confirming that you have successfully subscribed. You can also opt in by scanning the QR code below and following the prompts. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we thank you for your continued patience.
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Thank You for Your Support! |
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Thank you to all who came out to the Kroc Center to support Makaiya Sumerlin in her last basketball game of the season for Roxbury Prep Charter School. Makaiya scored 8 points. |
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We will continue to offer two Sunday morning worship services to accommodate in-person attendees
The first service begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs until approximately 9:45 a.m.; the second service begins at 11:00 a.m. The auditorium is sanitized between services. The weekly 10:30 a.m. devotional/adult Bible class will continue as scheduled. The usual sign-up rules and COVID protocols remain in effect. When you access the online sign-up form, you will be required to specify which service you would like to attend. Once capacity has been reached for a particular time slot, the form will no longer accept new registrations for that time slot. We will continue to livestream the 11:00 service on our YouTube channel, and we encourage members to utilize e-giving, even when attending in person.
PLEASE NOTE: THE LINK BELOW IS FOR NEXT WEEK'S SERVICE
In-Person Worship Sign-up
Please also note that there is a new registration link each week.
E-giving link
Livestream link
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Don't Miss Out! Scroll On... |
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Don't Miss Out! Please scroll through the entire e-bulletin each week to be certain not to miss any important announcements or links. Many items are repeated each week, but there are also new announcements that you'll miss if you don't scroll through the entire bulletin.
See the following sections for new/updated announcements.
- News & Notes (above)
- Community Outreach
- Worship & Class Schedule - Links to Services & Classes; link to worship attendance registration form for next week.
- Upcoming Events
- Ice Skating at the Frog Pond, 2/20/23 (stay tuned for weather-related updates)
- 2023 Caribbean Lectureship
- Mid-Wives and Marshmallows free family event, 3/18
- 3rd Sunday Fellowship hosted by Bedford Street CoC, 3/19
- Latest on COVID-19
- Vaccine available for ages 6 months and up. Booster shots available for J&J, Moderna, and Pfizer. Walk in appointments available at many clinics.
Please keep us updated: Please keep us apprised of any changes to your address, phone number and email address so that we can maintain an accurate database of member information. Please notify Sis Nagarajah at enagarajah@gmail.com or Sis Gallington at ggallington@gmail.com of any changes to your contact information.
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STAY TUNED FOR WEATHER-RELATED UPDATES |
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An Invitation from the Neighborhood Birth Center Team
This cold-winter air has us craving coziness and comfort with some hot chocolate, crafts and stories from our community! Join us for our Midwives & Marshmallows event where we are making the most out of winter by mingling with our NBC community. All ages welcome!
Midwives & Marshmallows is a free, family-friendly event with plenty to do! Join us and participate at one or all of our stations. Register here!
- Station 1: Children’s story time followed by an interactive musical circle with Annie Frannie
- Join us in person or virtually for this station!
- 10:30 - 11:00: Haitian Creole Story Time
- 11:15 - 11:45: Story Time (Language TBD)
- 12:00 - 1:30: English Story Time/Musical Circle
- Station 2: Share your dreams for NBC or your own stories from birth, parenting or self-care in our Storytelling Circle or post to your own Instagram page!
- Station 3: Get crafty by making cards for birth workers in celebration of World Doula Day
- Station 4: Warm up with our Hot Chocolate Bar with DIY Toppings
- Station 5: Learn about Roxbury History with a tour of the Thomas Dillway House, departing every 30 minutes from the lobby.
Can’t wait to see you there,
The Neighborhood Birth Center Team
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Our February outreach will take place on Saturday, February 25th. All are welcome to participate. Masks required.
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The Department of Public Health continues to urge all who are eligible to be vaccinated and/or boosted to do so, as vaccination is currently the best medical defense against the potentially deadly effects of COVID and its variants.
All Massachusetts residents ages 6-months and up are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and many facilities have walk-in hours. Booster shots are available for the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines at many pharmacies and health care facilities. Use the link below if you need assistance scheduling an appointment or locating a facility.
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Click here or anywhere in the announcement above for more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). |
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Remote & In-Person
Class/Meeting Schedule
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Wednesday Night In-Person & Dial-In Bible Study
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in-person and via freeconferencecall.com.
Dial in number: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
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Women's Saturday Prayer Meeting
Join us for prayer on Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. via freeconferencecall.com
NOTE NEW PHONE NUMBER
Dial-in: 945-218-0112; Access code 3730930#
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REMINDER: Please remember to mute your phone or computer when joining any of the above conference calls to avoid interrupting the class or service you are entering, particularly if you are joining the call after the event has started. |
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The Couples' Ministry meets via Zoom the second and third Fridays of the month at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
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Our February Women's Class will be held on Sunday, February 26,2023 at 5:00 p.m. at the church building, and via Free Conference Call for those who cannot attend in person.
Dial in: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
Or, join the class online at
Presenter: Sis. Sharee Farley
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Click anywhere in the announcement above for detailed information. |
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Please note that the dial-in number for this conference call has changed. The new number is 945-218-0112. The access code remains the same, 3730930. |
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2023 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion: Our 2023 trip is scheduled for Thursday, September 14th through Friday, September 15th to see a production of “Moses” at the Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 14th. The cost for bus, hotel, dinner and show is as follows:
- $340/person for quad occupancy (families)
- $358/person for triple occupancy (families)
- $393/person for double occupancy
- $514 for single occupancy
- $830/couple for grand king room
Sign up is open now and a $75 deposit is required by to hold a spot. The number is limited by bus capacity and hotel availability. If you have not already done so, please get your deposit in ASAP to secure your spot so we can finalize the theater seating. Seats can only be assigned for purchased tickets.
Payments can be made via our e-giving link at:
https://www.churchofchristinroxbury.org/e-giving. Please follow up any payments with an email to cocroxbury@gmail.com with the subject line "Pennsylvania Trip Payment" and your name and payment amount in the body of the email so that your payments can be properly recorded.
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Our February Men's Class will be held on Sunday, February 26th at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
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Click here to download full-sized flier.
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2023 New England Lectureship
May 5-7, Mansfield, MA
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Don't Delay!
Book your hotel room and register now to attend this year's New England Lectureship in Mansfield, Massachusetts, Friday, May 5th - Sunday, May 7th. This year's theme is, "The Post-Pandemic Church: Lessons on Our New Normal."
Use the links below to access registration forms, hotel information, vendor form, and souvenir booklet ad form. Registration deadline is April 15, 2023.
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Young Adult Ministry (YAM) |
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Date of next meeting will be announced. |
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Monthly Ministry Meeting
1st Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
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Meetings & Events
2/4 - Finance Ministry Meetings, 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. via Zoom
2/5- Youth Ministry Meeting, 2:00 p.m.
2/6 - Ministers/Elders/Deacons Meeting, 7 p.m. via Zoom
2/11 - Publications & Communications Ministry Meeting, 9 a.m. via Zoom
2/11 - Published Authors Celebration Luncheon, 11am-1:30pm @ church building
2/12 - Deacons' Meeting, following 11 a.m. service @church building
2/19 - Retention Ministry Meeting following 11:00 service @church building
2/20 - Ice Skating at Frog Pond on the Boston Common (details under Upcoming Events)
2/25 - Community Outreach, 10 a.m.
2/26 - Men's and Women's Classes, 5 p.m. @church building
Masks are required for all in-person events
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Ministry Meetings - Please contact your ministry coordinator for remote meeting schedules.
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- Sunday New Converts' Class, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Bible Class (children) Sundays at 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Adult Devotional/Bible Study, 10:20am @church building
- Sunday Worship Service 8:30 and 11:00 am in person and 11:00 a.m. via livestream on YouTube. See above for details.
- Men's/Women's Classes, 5pm (4th Sunday of the month); @church building;
- Youth & Family Ministry (1st Sunday of the month at 2pm)
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Mature in Heart Women's Prayer (Tuesdays @ 10:30am) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Prayer Meeting (Tuesdays @ 7pm) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Mid-Week Bible Study (Wednesdays @ 6:30pm) in person and VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Mid-Week New Converts' Class (Wednesdays @ 7pm) @church building
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Healing Hearts (Thursdays @6:15pm) VIA ZOOM
- Couple's Ministry (2nd & 3rd Fridays @ 7 pm)
- Women's Prayer (Saturdays 9:30am) VIA TELECONFERENCE (Connection info above)
- Ministers/Elders/Deacons Wives Meeting, (3rd Saturday @10 am) @church building
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Bro. John Kurpiel, minister for the Lawrence congregation, hosts an international radio program, “Soul Food,” on Mondays and Tuesdays from 11AM until 3PM. The program airs on Ignite Radio Broadcast via Mixlr, an interactive internet radio platform. Use the link below to tune in to listen, or to participate in the conversation. Always free to listen. https://mixlr.com/ignite-radio-broadcast.
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Church of Christ in Roxbury
81 Walnut Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-5826
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