|
|
Week of September 24, 2023 | |
Why Become a Christian?
By Mike Riley
| |
A querist asks, “Why should I become a Christian? What’s the advantage of being a Christian versus a non-Christian?”
There are many biblical reasons for our becoming a New Testament Christian, but here are three primary reasons that stand out in this writer’s mind:
1) Our Past — The inspired writer Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 “….for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” Since our sins separate us from a holy God (Isaiah 59:1-2), and since sin’s wages is spiritual death (Romans 6:23), there has to be a means by which our sins are forgiven, thus bringing us back into a proper relationship with God. That “means” is the sacrificial offering of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7; cf. Romans 3:24-25; Hebrews 9:11-12).
2) Our Present — God has only promised us the present – the “now” in which to accomplish His purpose in our lives. James tells us in James 4:13-14:
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.“
Through our obedience to the gospel, we can experience joy and peace “now” (cf. Acts 8:39; Acts 16:34; Philippians 4:7). Part of that “joy” has to do with God bestowing us with “exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4), one of those being our salvation from sin — not having to face God’s wrath (Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 5:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
3) Our Future — The Bible not only gives us a glimpse of future judgment (Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 17:31), but also emphasizes the fact that there are only two eternal states of existence — either “everlasting punishment” or “eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). Our names must be found written in the “Book of Life” (Revelation 20:12), or we will be “cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
Yes, the above listed reasons are great reasons for becoming a Christian, being obedient to our Savior’s conditions of salvation. There is absolutely no good reason (or reasons) for remaining outside the saved body of Christ (Ephesians 5:23; cf. Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 2:47).
| |  |
Elders
Leon Cort
Mark Craigwell
|
Minister
Mark Craigwell
Assistant Minister
Denver Simmons
|
Deacons
Raleigh Gallington
Anthony Johnson
Gregory Johnson
Carlfred Malcolm
Albert Martin, Jr.
Walter Maxwell
Richard Meuse
Barry Person
Jason Reid
In Memoriam
Gone, but never forgotten, our beloved brother,
James W. Wade, Sr.
| |
|
Sermon for Sunday, September 24, 2023
Title: A Reason to Carry On
Text: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 (NLT)
Speaker: Bro. Noah Reed
New Haven Church of Christ
| |
|
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.
-
Community Outreach resumes Saturday, September 30th @10am @church building.
-
Roxbury Fall Gospel Meeting, October 14-18, with Bro. Gregory Dismuke. Details below.
-
Retention Ministry Books are in. See Sis. Pam Alexander to pick up and pay for your book.
-
Tech Day: Saturday, October 21st, 11-1 @church building. See Upcoming Events section below for details.
- See Men Take Note below for information on the following
-
2023 Men's Retreat: October 5-7, Rumney, New Hampshire
- 4th Sunday Men's Class, Sunday, September 24th @5pm @church building
- See Women's Ministry section below for information regarding the following:
- 4th Sunday Women's Class, Sunday, September 24th @5pm @church building
- Sisters in Service, September 2023
- Providence CoC Ladies' Day, Saturday, September 30th
- New Haven Coc Ladies' Day, Saturday, October 7th
- Kittery CoC Ladies' Day, Saturday, October 28th
-
2024 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion: We are now accepting registrations for next year's excursion to see a live performance of "Daniel" and the Sight & Sound Theater. See Mature in Heart Ministry section below for details and link to registration form. Registration form and deposits due by 12/31/23.
| |
|
The congregation is requesting member support of its Mission Fund as we provide an educational stipend to Bro. Phillip Morrison while he attends Sunset International Bible Institute full time for the next 18 months to train as a minister. We are asking members to commit/pledge at whatever amount your heart and ability can provide for this period of time. This is a commitment over and above your regular giving and we hope all members will participate to the level of their ability and heart for God. Our target is to provide $3,000 per month and all commitments, whether large or small, are helpful and appreciated.
-
Please make checks and money orders payable to Church of Christ in Roxbury and write Mission Fund in the memo line.
-
Electronic donations may be made via the E-Giving option at ChurchofChristinRoxbury.org/e-giving, followed up with a text or email to Bro. Gallington [(617) 922-4598, mrcg13@hotmail.com].
Click here to complete the pledge form electronically.
| |
OUR CURRENT COVID PROTOCOLS | |
Effective immediately, and until further notice, we have suspended the requirement for attendees to sign up in advance to attend Sunday worship. We have also suspended attendance taking at our in-person services, classes, and events. Masking remains optional.
Remember that although COVID numbers are down, COVID has not gone away, and is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Please protect yourself and those around you by adhering to the guidelines below.
If you test positive for COVID after attending an in-person church event, please notify us by email at cocroxbury@gmail.com or by text to Sis. Gloria Gallington at 617-922-5987 so that notifications can be made as needed.
For up-to-date information regarding COVID in Massachusetts, click the link below:
| |
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. Our weekly Bible classes for all ages begin at 10:00 a.m. 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. As noted under News & Notes, it is no longer necessary to sign up in advance to attend worship services in person.
E-giving link
Livestream link
| |
Click here to view full-size flier. | |
|
Brothers Jerard Samuel and Javier Jackson, Jr.
invite you to join them for Tech Day
Bring your cell phones, tablets and laptops for technical assistance with email clean-up, storage, best practices, etc.
WHEN: Every third Saturday of the month, beginning Saturday, October 21, 2023
TIME: 11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: Church Building
Our first two sessions (October and November) will be specifically geared towards our Mature in Heart/Senior Citizens. A sign-up sheet has been posted on the bulletin board downstairs.
Coffee and donuts will be served.
Please contact Bro. Jerard or Bro. Javier with questions.
| |
Our monthly community outreach will resume on Saturday, September 30th at 10 a.m. at the church building. | |
|
Remote & In-Person
Class/Meeting Schedule
| |
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#
| |
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. | |
|
Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at the church building
| |
COUPLES' MINISTRY MEETINGS WILL RESUME ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14TH WITH OUR GOSPEL MEETING COUPLES' SESSION AND ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH AT 7:00 P.M. via Zoom, and thereafter the second and third Fridays of the month at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
| |
|
This month's Women's Class will be held on Sunday, September 24, 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
join.freeconferencecall.com/carl95fred
Presenter: Sis. Gloria Gallington
Topic: Growing in Gratitude - Thank You, Aunt Pearl!
| |
September 2023
Visitor Thank You Letters - Sis. Caroline Myers
Visitor Gift Bags - Sis. Cora Morrison
Baptistry - Sis. Shante Creech
| |
The RSVP deadline for this event has passed, but feel free to call the number above to see if there is still space available if you would like to attend. | |
Although the RSVP deadline for this event has passed, the sisters in New Haven have extended it for us. Please let Sis Gallington know by Wednesday, September 27th if you would like to attend. Please also let Sis. Gallington know if you can assist with transportation. | |
|
The sisters of the Kittery Church of Christ will host their annual Ladies' Day on Saturday, October 28th in Kittery, Maine. Details to come.
| |
|
2024 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion:
We are accepting registrations for the 2024 trip to Lancaster County Pennsylvania to see the September 19th showing of "Daniel" at the Sight and Sound Theater. The bus will be scheduled to leave at 4am on the 19th and estimated to return between 9pm and 10pm on the 20th. A minimum initial deposit of $120 is required to secure a spot. This should be completed by December 31, 2023 to allow us to plan for the number to attend. The deposit (and subsequent payments) can be made by cash, check (payable to Church of Christ in Roxbury), or electronically via our e-giving link: churchofchristinroxbury.org/e-giving. If you make your deposit or any subsequent payments electronically, please follow up with an email to cocroxbury@gmail.com with the subject line 2024 Pennsylvania Trip, and your name and payment amount in the body of the email.
The number of participants is limited by bus capacity. The overall cost of the charter bus, show ticket hotel and banquet has increased by $54 per person from 2023, however we have made some changes and restrictions to try to reduce the impact.
1. The minimum number for the event is increased from 24 to 30 (bus passengers). This will ensure that the bus cost per person is no more than $145.
2. The family-only restriction is removed for triple and quad hotel accommodations. However, we are requiring that all roommates be identified at the time of registration and the spots are not confirmed until all roommates have registered. There are also restrictions on refunds to make sure room costs are covered. More details are available upon request. Please see Bro. or Sis. Gallington, Sis. Keitrice Johnson, or Sis. Elizabeth Nagarajah with any questions.
Based on the changes described above, the following are the trip costs for 2024:
-
Quad Occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $352
-
Triple occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $371
-
Double occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $408
-
Single occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $535
-
Grand king hotel room, two banquet seats, two bus seats and two theater seats -- $859
-
Banquet seat and theater seat only -- $120
Please click here to access the online registration form.
| |
Our monthly Men's Class will be held on Sunday, September 24, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
| |
|
|
Retention Ministry Books are Here!
"Consider One Another: God's Answer to Incivility," by Aubrey Johnson.
Please see Sis. Pam Alexander to pick up and pay for your book. $10 each.
| | | |
Young Adult Ministry (YAM) | |
Date of next meeting will be announced. | |
Monthly Ministry Meeting
1st Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m.
| |
|
Meetings & Events
9/4 - Ministers/Elders/Deacon's Meeting
9/8-9 - Bedford Street CoC Teachers' Workshop. Details above.
9/10 - Deacons' Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
9/10 - Retention Ministry Fellowship @ Reids' home.
9/17 - Retention Ministry Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
9/23 - 2023 Youth Rally @church building.
9/30 - Community Outdreach, 10am @church building.
| |
Ministry Meetings - Please contact your ministry coordinator for remote meeting schedules.
| |
- Sunday New Converts' Class, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Bible Class (children) Sundays at 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Adult Devotional/Bible Study, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Worship Service 8:30 and 11:00am in person and 11:00am 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)
-
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
-
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
| |
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.
| |
Church of Christ in Roxbury
81 Walnut Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-5826
| | | | | |
