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CrossPoint Community News 06/30/2023

by | Jun 30, 2023 | Announcement, CrossPoint Community Ministry, FrontPage-News | 0 comments

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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
       A theme that has been recurring for me in my devotions and in my time on social media is the idea that one of the ways in which we sin is through seeking to know something that we don’t need to know or shouldn’t know. For example, in the first instance of sin, in the Garden of Eden, our first parents were tempted with knowledge. Unfortunately, they already had knowledge of good and evil – it was good to obey God and it was evil to disobey God. They didn’t need to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to know what evil was. But the temptation that they faced implied that they had a lack of knowledge. There was something they could know, if they just crossed the line.
       A lot of us assume that our media usage is positive at best, most of the time neutral and only occasionally negative. But a lot of what we take in, whether it is a movie or a show or a podcast or a video or a post or an article, are things that are not helping us to become more like Jesus. One advertisement I saw implied, “There is just so much more to be revealed.” This kind of statement sparks our curiosity. We can be curious and use our curiosity to seek truth. But often we use our curiosity to try to know something that we don’t need to know or shouldn’t know. And we cross the line to seek it out. When we cross the line, we sin against God.
       I am not implying that we all live in blissful ignorance. Rather, wisdom dictates that we use discernment. A good question that we can ask ourselves is: “Will seeing this / knowing this help me to become more like Jesus?” If we are not sure, we should pause and reassess. If we know that it will lead us away from Christ, we should turn to Christ in that moment. If it will help us to become more like Jesus, then enjoy the knowing, for the glory of God!
       What would it look like in your life to use more discernment in the content that you take in? This question matters because, as one theologian has noted, we become what we revere whether for ruin or restoration. Are you being restored into the image of Christ or are you being ruined by the knowledge of things you can’t unsee or knowledge of the things you can’t unknow? May God grant us discernment to know the difference and grace to rely on Him to reveal what is best for us as we follow him. 
 
Also, please continue to pray for the nation of Ukraine. A main dam was breached a number 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 30 – July 6, 2023):

1. Tonight, June 30, 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 Psalm 32 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, July 2, 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, July 2, 2023, at 11:25 am, Pastor Nathan Willems will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!

a. Text: John 17:20-26
b. Title: Jesus’ Prayer for Us
c. Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/

4. Each Wednesday, such as this week (July 5) 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 July, we will be taking time to reflect in our 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 J and J, serving in East Asia. Last summer, they relocated to Thailand when God opened doors for them to return to Asia to work alongside old coworkers from East Asia in church planting, discipling, and meeting community needs. They continue to support their brothers and sisters in East Asia through regular discipleship virtually.

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