James 4:14 reads: “How do you know what will happen tomorrow? What, after all, is your life? It is like a puff of smoke, visible for a little while and then dissolving into thin air.” With these thoughts in mind, let’s think about the following:
“What If’s” — often foolish and detrimental, but sometimes valuable. For example, “What if tomorrow never comes?”
(2 Peter 3:8-14). From this text one thing is certain — life is uncertain!
But there are some things that are certain! (cf. Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 25:32; Revelation 20:11-12). It is no wonder then that Peter, when he looked at the uncertainty of life, went on to ask what manner of persons we ought to be (2 Peter 3:11)! If tomorrow never comes, what manner of things do I want written in the book of life? Do I want it written that I…..
Was In Christ?
Many spend their whole life striving to be in the best clothing, house, car …. but what will these matter a hundred years from now? What will matter is whether I am in Christ(Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 5:23). But how? We must let the Judge answer (Romans 6:1-4; Gal. 3:26-27).
Was A Servant Of God?
Was An Example to Others?
If my son/daughter/grandchild/spouse …. follows me, then according to Bible teaching, my example will lead them to heaven or hell. Whether older like Paul (1 Corinthians 11:1) or young like Timothy (1 Timothy 4:12), we can each give the gift of an example to others. What kind of example will be written that I have been in …. becoming a child of God? Worshipping? Living?
Made a Difference?
We’re not speaking of worldly accomplishments, but making a difference for eternity! Making a real difference can come in many ways such as, (1) Influencing your child, spouse, or anyone else to obey the Gospel; (2) Allowing the light of God in you to push the darkness back in a world filled with darkness (Matthew 5:16); (3) Living so as to glorify God in the midst of a self-serving world. Such things make an eternal difference!
Conclusion
If tomorrow never comes (and indeed it may not), then who do I want to be like?
1) The rich man who is suffering and bemoaning the fate of others? (Luke 16:22-25)
Or
2) Lazarus, comforted in Abraham’s bosom? (Luke 16:23)
The choice is mine (and yours!)
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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, January 8, 2023
Title: The Righteousness of God
Text: 2 Peter 1:1
Speaker: Mark 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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Sympathy: We extend our sympathy to Sis. Jennifer Barrymore in the passing of her sister, Sis. Roxanne Marie Barrymore, in Detroit. Sis. Barrymore has traveled to Detroit to attend services for both her sister and her cousin. Please keep the Barrymore family in prayer.
We also extend our sympathy to Bro. Richard Myers in the passing of his brother-in-law in Florida last week. Let us keep the family in prayer.
Men’s Leadership and Worship Training Classes resumed on Saturday, January 7th, and will meet at the church building on the 1st and 2nd Saturdays of every month: Leadership Training at 9 a.m.; Worship Training at 10:45 a.m.
NEBI Leadership Workshop: The New England Bible Institute will host a leadership training workshop at the South Road Church of Christ in Farmington, CT on March 3-4, 2023. Our guest speaker will be Bob Turner, Director of Sunset Academy of Leadership Training. The deadline for registration is February 22, 2023.See flier below under "Men Take Note."
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Scan QR code above or click here for more information on this free event. RSVP required.
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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
- Publications & Communications Ministry Meeting, 1/14, details above
- Men's Leadership and Worship Training, 1/7 and 1/14. Details above.
- Worship & Class Schedule - Links to Services & Classes; link to worship attendance registration form for next week.
- 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.
TextAlertz: If you are signed up to receive church text blasts via textalertz, but have stopped receiving the blasts, please email Sis. Gallington at ggallington@gmail.com so she can troubleshoot the issue.
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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Current & Upcoming Events |
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Our January Community Outreach will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2023 beginning at 10 a.m. at the church building to prepare 100 bags of groceries for distribution to families in the community. All are welcome to participate. Masks required of all participants. |
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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 January Women's Class will be held on Sunday, January 22,2023 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. Pam Alexander
Topic: Psalm 51
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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 December Men's Class will be held on Sunday, January 22nd at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
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Click here to download full-sized flier.
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No announcements at this time. |
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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
1/1 - Youth Ministry Meeting, 2:00 p.m.
1/2 - Ministers/Elders/Deacons Meeting, 7 p.m. via Zoom
1/6 - Friends and Family Bowling Outing, hosted by Youth & Family Ministry, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (details above under News & Notes)
1/7 - Finance Ministry Meetings, 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. via Zoom
1/8 - Deacons' Meeting, following 11 a.m. service @church building
1/14 - Publications & Communications Ministry Meeting, 9 a.m. via Zoom
1/22 - Men's and Women's Classes, 5 p.m. @church building
1/28 - Community Outreach, 10 a.m.
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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