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CrossPoint Community News 06/23/2023

by | Jun 23, 2023 | Announcement, CrossPoint Community Ministry, FrontPage-News | 0 comments

green trees under blue and orange sky during sunset
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
       I want to introduce you to a Christian named Christmas. (In my Christian experience, it has been helpful to learn about others who have sought to follow Christ and to see what I can learn from their life and ministry. If you want to know more about Christmas, read on! Otherwise, announcements are below).
       Christmas Evans was a one-eyed, Baptist preacher over 200 years ago in Wales (the above picture is in Wales). He had no formal education growing up, and had lost one of his eyes in a fight during his teenage years. But at the age of 17, he went to work for a Presbyterian minister and was converted. He found life in Christ.
       He was self-taught. He learned to read and write, shortly after his conversion. He later learned Greek and Hebrew and read weighty theological works from the likes of John Owen and John Gill. Even though he had only one eye, he was a voracious reader. He later became a Baptist and came to prominence as a preacher during a Baptist preaching festival (This was before social media and mass media).
       He aimed to serve the Lord faithfully. He generally served smaller churches but continued to preach God’s word faithfully. While serving at his first church, he did itinerant preaching (riding to different areas to preach God’s word). In a few years, he saw more than 600 people come to know Christ. Twice in his life he made covenants with the Lord – drafting his convictions and seeking the Lord’s help – once when he was 36 and again when he was 63.
He often counseled younger pastors. He told them: “Consider, in the first place, the great importance to a preacher, of a blameless life.” And “Remember this, that you cannot commit some loved sin in private, and perform the work of the ministry in public with facility and acceptance.” He also said: “Life is the only cure for death. Not the prescriptions of duty, not the threats of punishment and damnation, not the arts and refinements of education, but new, spiritual, Divine life.”
       But, as Warren Wiersbe notes, Christmas Evans should be most remembered as a man of prayer. He had three stated times for prayer during the day. He regularly rose at midnight to seek the face of God. During times of solitude during travel, “he could pray and meditate on the deep things of God.”
       Are we committed to learning and growing and praying as Christians so that we can be a benefit to the advancement of God’s kingdom in our time and day? 
 
       Also, please continue to pray for the nation of Ukraine. A main dam was breached a couple of weeks ago and now up to 700,000 people are without drinking water. Here is a suggested list of prayers if you are at a loss for words in how to pray: https://send.org/story/hh_pray_for_ukraine. Thank you for kneeling on behalf of the people of Ukraine and Russia, and taking a stand (or a knee in prayer) against the forces of darkness in this present age.

This Week (June 23 – 29, 2023):

1. Tonight, June 23, 2023, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 to continue our study about Dealing with Temptation. You can read Deuteronomy 6:10-15 and Matthew 4:8-11 in preparation for this time of fellowship. Join in person in Room A-216 or online via the following link at 7:30 pm:

https://zoom.us/j/685376249?pwd=cWtyUk1pckJiRHJxZVZCSGdJZWw2UT09
Meeting ID: 685 376 249
Password: 840840
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)

Also, the Empower Fellowship continues to meet in Room A-201A this week!

2. The Living Stones Sunday School and Grace Ambassadors Sunday School classes and Empower Sunday School are joining together for Sunday School talking about the Heart of Christ for sinners and sufferers this Sunday, June 25, at 9:45 am (in-person in Room A-202)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/491248585?pwd=RnpLcnpjQ01nTGZLSmhaZ3l4L3dKQT09
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
Password: 403767
Join by phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

3. This Sunday, June 25, 2023, at 11:25 am, Elder Charles Wang will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!

a. Text: 1 Samuel 20:1-23
b. Title: Blessing GIFT of Godly Friendship
c. Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/

4. Each Wednesday, such as this week (June 28) at 7:45 pm, you are invited, encouraged, and requested to join our weekly prayer meeting. We will not grow in Christ without growing in our dependence on God through prayer. In June, we will be taking time to pray more focused prayers (and for our college students!). The link is found below in the section on prayer.

Administration / Events

1. We have a missions update (so check out the missions tab from the bulletin)! This week, we have an update from S and S, serving in Japan. They are currently both servants in their church and students in Seminary. They are praying for family members and for friends who have been hospitalized, but recently discharged. Please check out the tab to keep them in your prayers.

2. Save the Date, and Plan Ahead – Join CBCGL to march in the Chelmsford Independence Day parade. Here are the details:

Parade starting point: Chelmsford McCarthy Middle School (250 North Rd, Chelmsford)
Parade endpoint: Chelmsford Town Center (in front of Choice Fitness)
Total distance: Approximately 2 miles
Parade time: July 4th (Tuesday), starting at 9:00 AM
Assembly time: July 4th (Tuesday), at 8:45 AM
Assembly location: In front of the main entrance of Chelmsford McCarthy Middle School
How to get there: Gather at the church at 8:15 AM for carpooling to Summer St, or go directly to Summer St (see map), then take the free shuttle bus (operating from 7:30 to 9:00) to the parade starting point.
Tips: Wear comfortable shoes and a sun hat, preferably with the church logo on clothing. Bring sunscreen and a bottle of (iced) water.
Contacts: Minister Changjian Sun/Elder Jeremy Wu

3. Sunday Lunch Service is taking a Summer Vacation. It will return in September.

4. CBCGL’s COVID-19 guidance has been updated. We still are following CDC guidance for travel and participation in activities following travel or exposure to a positive case. Please note, wearing a face mask to church is now optional.

5. All other announcements can be found here (in our CrossPoint Community bulletin).

For Prayer:

1. The one who lives without prayer lives as if there is no God. Truly, our time in prayer shows what we think about God! Do you see your need of Him? Or are you trying to live this life without / apart from Him? Please join our Wednesday night prayer meeting (7:45 – 9:15 pm) even if you can’t participate the whole time.

https://zoom.us/j/758587937?pwd=aS9sZUdxcm1janNNM2I2aXJ6Smx2QT09
Meeting ID: 758 587 937
Password: 030086
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)

2. We’d be glad to pray for you. If you need prayer, you can submit your prayer request via the following link: https://www.cbcgl.org/pray/

In Christ, your servant, SDG,
Rev. Dr. Nathan Willems
Associate Pastor of CrossPoint Community – A Ministry of CBCGL