Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This weekend is significant in the history of CBCGL. Since I’ve been at CBCGL, we have only had one congregational vote for a senior pastor. That was back in October of 2014 (Almost 10 years ago!) to call Pastor Peter Wu to be the Senior Pastor of CBCGL. He served from January 2015 to April 2018. During my time at CBCGL, we have had three Acting Senior Pastors (all appointed by the Church Council per our bylaw) – Pastor ChingWu Chen (2008?-2009), Pastor Gene Liu (2014), and Pastor Sean Lee (2022-2024).
On this coming Sunday, June 2, we will have a Q and A with Acting Senior Pastor Sean Lee during the Sunday School hour – from 9:45 to 11 am. This is for all of CPC and LYF in the Chapel (2nd floor Sanctuary). This Q and A will prepare us for a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday 6/2 at 1:30pm in the Main Sanctuary. Looking forward to our time together for this historic moment in the history of CBCGL!
During the congregational meeting, the Search Committee will explain the search process. Church members are welcome to submit questions regarding the Senior Pastor search via the following link prior to the meeting. https://forms.office.com/r/Cww1z0r0MM
At the meeting, we will be voting on whether or not to call Pastor Sean Lee as the Senior Pastor of CBCGL. All church members are invited to attend the meeting and cast your vote. If you are a member who cannot attend the meeting, you may request and submit an absentee ballot from Corinna Lee (corinna.lee@lowell.church) from 5/27 to 6/1 (no later than 1:30pm).
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 (May 31-June 6, 2024):
1. Tonight, May 31, 2024, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 to study the Identity of Jesus. You can read Luke 9:18-27 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)
Empower Fellowship (A201A) and the Grace Ambassador Bible Study (A216) will also be meeting!
2. The Living Stones Sunday School and Grace Ambassadors /Empower Sunday School are meeting this Sunday. The Grace Ambassadors / Empower Fellowship will be learning how to do better personal study of the Bible through a study in the Psalms. The Living Stones will be wrapping up their study of the 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/491248585?pwd=RnpLcnpjQ01nTGZLSmhaZ3l4L3dKQT09 Meeting ID: 491 248 585
Password: 403767
Join by phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
3. This Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 11:25 am, our CrossPoint Community Worship Service will start and Pastor Enoch Liao will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!
Text: Genesis 22:1-19
Title: I Surrender All
Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/
4. Each Wednesday, such as this week (June 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 May, we’re making time for corporate confession. 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 James Liang (at UConn), or pray for Chris and Emily who are serving in Japan. They are still making progress in language acquisition as they have begun serving in the church and filling new roles for their missions organization, all while raising two growing boys! 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. Save the Date – Senior Pastor Q and A – June 2nd – During the Sunday School Hour (9:45 to 11 am) in the Chapel – CPC and LYF will join for a time to talk with/interview Pastor Sean Lee (who is the Council-approved candidate for the role of Senior Pastor). This is a time for the congregation to ask questions before we vote on June 2 as a whole church congregation on calling him to serve as our Senior Pastor (since presently he is Acting Senior Pastor, as appointed by the Council). Please pray for discernment and wisdom as we seek God’s will together.
4. Beginning June 16 to August 25 – CPC will have a combined Sunday School discussing Christian Civility. If you don’t know what that is, come and learn! And if you do know what that is, come and practice it!
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