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Week of February 26, 2023 |
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Growing in the Divine Nature of God
By Mike Riley
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In 2 Peter 1:5-7, the inspired writer Peter lays out a character development plan for those who are followers of Christ. This plan is described by seven different moral qualities known as the “Christian graces” (note the use of the word “grace” in 2 Peter 1:2).
However, this moral character is not automatically acquired. God’s part is to give “exceeding great and precious promises” that enable us to become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3-4; cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 12:10). Because His promises are immutable (Hebrews 6:17-18); if we fail to incorporate God’s moral qualities into our character, we cannot blame anyone but ourselves.
In becoming partakers of the “divine nature,” we become sharers of His divine moral character. This sharing of the divine nature is unlike rulers in the ancient Babylonian and Roman empires who were exalted to the level of gods.
It’s interesting to note that such rulers were not thought to be gods because of superior moral character, but because they desired to be exalted to the position and power of a god (cf. Acts 12:20-23). We become like the living God, only as we add to our character, the attributes of His moral character.
There is an inter-relationship between all the moral characteristics found in 2 Peter 1:5-7, that is equally important in our spiritual development. The whole character of man must be balanced, because unbalanced virtues become vices. Character that is overdeveloped in any one area, is skewed and dangerous. For example, moral courage that is not tempered by knowledge and love, becomes misdirected fanaticism with no tolerance for weakness.
In context, God is basically saying that He has done His part, and now it’s our time to do our part. Exertion on our part is required, and without “diligence,” no spiritual growth will occur (2 Peter 1:5-10).
Though it is certainly required that we “lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness” in order to “receive with meekness the implanted word” (James 1:21), building is more than a negative force — man’s moral character is not built up by merely being against certain things. Like building muscle, building character requires spiritual nourishment (1 Peter 2:2).
Then, that nourishment enables us to assimilate the energy by exercising “moral excellence” or courage (2 Peter 1:5 NASB). We must aggressively assert right principles and values as we resist the devil (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Because of our natural dispositions, we may find some of these characteristics more difficult to develop than others. Therefore, in order to be well-rounded in character, we must work on the more difficult ones with more energy.
And lest we pursue the effort to grow with only a momentary passing fancy, let us understand that God expects us to abound in these things — half-hearted efforts will only produce a dwarfed, malformed character as well as a barren spiritual life (2 Peter 1:8-9).
Brethren, we have God’s assurance that “if we do these things, we shall never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10). As followers of Christ, the more we grow in the divine nature of God, the stronger the Lord’s church will become (cf. Ephesians 4:11-16).
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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 26, 2023
Title: Partakers of the Divine Nature
2 Peter 1:4
Speaker: Mark A. Craigwell
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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 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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Jedidiah Nelson
00793152
2903 Middlebury College
14 Old Chapel Road
Middlebury, VT 05753
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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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Youth & Family Ice Skating Outing |
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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 adult Bible class/devotional begins at 10:00 a.m. 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
- 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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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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Thank you to all who assisted with Saturday's outreach effort. Our March outreach will take place on Saturday, March 25th. We will deliver 100 bags of groceries to MLK Senior Housing. 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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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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March 2023
Visitor Gift Bags - Sis. Marilyn Meuse
Baptistry - Sis. Liz Pegram
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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
3/3-4 - NEBI Church Leadership Workshop
3/5- Youth Ministry Meeting, 2:00 p.m.
3/6 - Ministers/Elders/Deacons Meeting, 7 p.m. via Zoom
3/11 - Publications & Communications Ministry Meeting, 9 a.m. via Zoom
3/12 - Deacons' Meeting, following 11 a.m. service @church building.
3/18 - Midwives & Marshmallows Free Family Event (details above)
3/19 - Retention Ministry Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
3/25 - Community Outreach, 10 a.m.
3/26 - 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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