Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Where do you turn when you face troubles? In my devotions, I’ve been reading about David, after he had been anointed king, while he was being hunted down by King Saul. In Psalm 11 and Psalm 59, he writes about the Lord, his strength and salvation. David knew of God’s steadfast love. He knew of God’s reliability, calling God his fortress and his refuge.
Too often, in our times of distress and trouble, we seek to find solutions in our own strength. We don’t immediately turn to the Lord. We turn to Google or to a trusted friend or to our previous experience. But God gives us difficulties to shape us and mold us into people who more quickly and readily turn to him and depend on him.
He is the one we can trust. He is our fortress and our refuge. He is full of steadfast love for his people. What is helping you to trust Him or what is keeping you from trusting Him?
Additionally, please continue to pray for the nations of Israel and Ukraine. Pray that the wars would end. 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. And https://worldrelief.org/blog-prayer-for-israel-and-gaza/ Thank you for kneeling on behalf of the people of Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Gaza and taking a stand (or a knee in prayer) against the forces of darkness in this present age.
This Week (Apr. 12 – 18, 2024):
1. Tonight, April 12, 2024, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 to study about Yeilded Faith. You can read Luke 7:1-10 to prepare in advance. Join in person in Room A-218 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)
2. The Living Stones Sunday School and Grace Ambassadors Sunday School are meeting this Sunday. The Grace Ambassadors will be learning how to do better personal study of the Bible. The Living Stones will be studying an Overview of the NT in the Koinonia Room (A-216). They will use the following link for those who wish to join online this Sunday:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/491248585pwd=RnpLcnpjQ01nTGZLSmhaZ3l4L3dKQT09
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
Password: 403767
Join by phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
3. This Sunday, April 14, 2024, at 11:25 am, our CrossPoint Community Worship Service will start and Pastor Raymond Lee will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!
Text: Various
Title: Winning Over Worry
Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/
4. Each Wednesday, such as this week (April 17) 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 April, we’re praying for the future of the church. The link is found below in the section on prayer.
Administration / Events
1. We have a missions update (so check out the missions tab in the bulletin)! You can provide support for COCM (in England), for James Liang (at UConn), or pray for Gordon and Maggie who are serving in three different French towns. They are encouraged to see God at work in changing lives. Pray for them!
2. Sunday Lunch Service is available at CBCGL with $5 lunches that are first-come, first-served. We’ll work at ending our service on time so that you can get lunch!
3. If you’re interested in joining CBCGL as a member, please contact Pastor Nathan Willems for more information on how to become a member and to schedule a membership class.
4. All other announcements can be found here (in our CrossPoint Community bulletin).
For Prayer:
1. From Bishop J.C. Ryle – “To be prayerless is to be Christless, Godless, and in the high road to destruction…It will always be found that when prayers are few, grace, strength, peace, and hope are small.” 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