Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This week, I have had the pleasure of attending a retreat of sorts, as part of my Ockenga Fellows Program, where we have been discussing what the Christian’s role is in caring for creation. We took time before the retreat to read Sandra Richter’s book: “Stewards of Eden” which gives some Old Testament backgrounds to the case for Christian’s caring for creation. We met with Dr. Jonathan Moo at Whitworth college in Spokane, WA who gave us a New Testament perspective on why Christians should care for creation.
Have you ever given thought to what your role is in caring for the environment?
Christians are to care for what God cares for, and it is clear that God cares for his creation. While it is true that God will bring judgment, and that all creation is longing to be set free from its bondage to corruption (cf. Rom. 8:19-21), it doesn’t mean that God has given up on his creation. He will renew it fully and finally when he comes.
Another motivation we have for caring for creation is that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. This calls us to care for creation in at least two ways. First, we are to love our neighbors by not ruining the land or destroying its productive capabilities so that they have food to eat and space to live, move, and have their being. This also means that we are to love the next generation by not taking as much as we can from the land, but giving it time to rest, to be restored, so that it will be able to be productive for generations to come. Second, we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. But we often forget that our neighbors include the creation. We are created beings like the rest of creation. We are descendants of Adam who came from the earth. We are distinct from other creation, yes. But we are still part of the created order. We are to love, to seek the good, the flourishing, of the created order. One way you could do that is to participate in the Massachusetts DCR’s Park Serve Day tomorrow – April 20. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dcr-park-serve-day
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. 19 – 25, 2024):
1. Tonight, April 12, 2024, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 to study about Expectant Faith. You can read Luke 8:41-56 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 21, 2024, at 11:25 am, our CrossPoint Community Worship Service will start and Pastor Steven Chin will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!
Text: Genesis 6:5-8, 9:1-15
Title: A Children’s Story?
Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/
4. Each Wednesday, such as this week (April 24) 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 Candy Zhang serving with COCM. She has shared a number of things to praise God for – as he has provided for their ministry to help people to know God and to better serve students. Pray for the work God is doing there!
2. ***Save the Date – April 28 – from 1:30 to 3:30 pm***
CBCGL will host our annual State of the Church Meeting. Come to hear what is going across different ministries and have the opportunity to ask questions of ministry leaders. We also will welcome new members and ministry staff.
3. 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!
4. 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.
5. 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