Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
There is a lot going on this week, and its only the third week of the year! For example, if you want to order Niangao or pickles to support Youth STM, then you need to place your order by tonight – January 17th. This way, they can pick up supplies and prep the food to have it ready and deliverable by Jan. 26, in advance of Lunar New Year, which is Wednesday, January 29. Please see the e-mail sent on Tuesday, Jan. 14 for the sign-up sheet and more information.
Another thing you need to know is that our Minister of Local Missions (Charles Wang) is working with our Local Missions Deacon (Huadong Sun) to plan and prepare a Church Anniversary / New Year Celebration. (See the above flyer). Please invite your friends and neighbors to check out church on January 26.
On January 26, CBCGL is celebrating its 36-year anniversary (which is Jan. 22). We will have a cake at lunch time to recognize this milestone. And before lunch, between services, at 10:50 am in fact, we will gather as a church to install our new Minister of Local Missions. So, please plan accordingly during the Sunday School hour to be done by 10:45 am on January 26.
CrossPoint Community is also planning to have our annual Soup and Bread Luncheon on February 9. This is the same date as the Chinese School New Years Celebration. But hopefully you can make it to the luncheon for a time of delicious food and fellowship. Sign-ups are forthcoming.
In the world, we heard news of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. That was announced on Wednesday. Since Wednesday, I’ve been praying that the ceasefire would hold and peace would be able to take root in this war which has been going for over a year.
Please continue to pray for the nations of Israel and Ukraine and South Sudan. 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 Lebanon, Sudan and South Sudan, and taking a stand (or a knee in prayer) against the forces of darkness in this present age.
This Week (Jan. 17-23, 2025):
1. Tonight, Jan. 17, 2025, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 to study “Looking Forward to Love”. You can read John 1:14-18 and 3:14-18 to prepare. 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. CrossPoint Community Sunday School meets this Sunday – Jan. 19 in the Koinonia Room (A-216). We are continuing our study of Church History in the 19th Century, led by Marina Lam. We 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)
There will also be a connection hour, a time for conversation and prayer, in A-202. And the Empower Fellowship will meet as well for Sunday School!
3. This Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at 11:25 am, our CrossPoint Community Worship Service will start and Pastor Nathan Willems will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!
Text: John 1:35-42
Title: Disciple Making
Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/
4. Each Wednesday, such as this coming week (Jan. 22) 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 January, we will be praying beginning with praising God each week. 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), and pray for him in the work that he is doing there. If you’d like to help with providing mission updates – let Pastor Nathan know!
2. CPCM has reserved the Multi-Purpose Room on Saturday’s from 1:30 to 4PM for sports. We hope to see you there this week! We can play any game: Ping-pong, badminton, pickleball, volleyball, basketball; we can do it all. The room is reserved only for CPCM members and their guests, so it is highly likely you will have lots of space and time to play whatever you want. The goal is to build deeper bonds through shared interest and activity. The contact person is Joshua Zhang.
3. Sunday Lunch Service is available at CBCGL with $5 lunches that are first-come, first-served. Pizza is $2 per slice and Ramen is available (priced variously according to size).
4. Women’s Bible Study – “KEEPING IT VERTICAL” meets the first and third Tuesday of each month to learn, share and grow in the Lord. We are studying the Fruit of the Spirit. Come join us and meet new friends and bring more friends along! Contact jeannemic50 (at) icloud.com
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