Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This past Sunday, we had the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Paul Biswas. He shared with us from Acts 8 about the strategy of Jesus. One thing that he pointed out during the sermon was that we need to be willing to reach out beyond our ethnic background to share the gospel with people around us. There is no problem with sharing the gospel with people who are of our same culture and same language. But there is a problem if we don’t share the good news of who God is and what God has done beyond our culture and language group.
As I thought about this, I realized that I haven’t really invited my neighbors to church. Why not? Well, primarily because they are outside the culture or language group that I spend most of my time with. So I feel you.
But there is no time like the present. Could you, this week, invite someone you know to church? Perhaps they’ll say “No” but if they say “Yes”, then bring them along and welcome them to CrossPoint Community. Why not try?
Also, my hope is that I will be able to connect with each of you, our members, in the coming months. I am once again aiming to set up meetings with you to see how you are doing, to see what you’re involved in, and how I can be praying for you specifically. So if you get an e-mail or text or message from me, you’re not in trouble. I am just working at getting to know and support you, the beloved members of CrossPoint Community.
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 (Nov. 15-21, 2024):
1. Tonight, Nov. 15, 2024, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 to study the topic of “Family Rivalry”. You can read Genesis 27:30-45 and Genesis 33 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)
Also, the Bible Study group John is leading will be meeting this week (Nov. 15).
2. CrossPoint Community Sunday School meets this Sunday – Nov. 17 in the Koinonia Room (A-216). We are continuing our study of Church History, considering the Reformation in England. 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)
Also, there is a connection hour during the Sunday School hour. Feel free to join in the Community Hall.
3. This Sunday, Nov. 17, 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: Nehemiah 8:10
Title: Finding Strength in God’s Joy
Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/
4. Each Wednesday, such as this coming week (November 20) 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 November, we will be praying with a focus on giving thanks. 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 can play any game: Ping-pong, badminton, pickleball, volleyball, basketball; we can do it all. The room is reserved only for CPCM members, 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. Also, the once-every-three years Chinese Missions Convention is being held again in Baltimore, MD, December 26-29, 2024. Here is a link with more information about the English track: https://www.thecmc.org/
6. 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