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CrossPoint Community News 09/29/2023

by | Sep 29, 2023 | Announcement, CrossPoint Community Ministry, FrontPage-News | 0 comments

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Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 
 
     We don’t want them, but they are a gift, if only we have the eyes to see them as a gift. Weakness and limitations are a gift when viewed properly. If we maintain a scarcity mindset, we will see weakness and limitations as proof that we can’t possibly try, or can’t possibly be generous, or can’t possibly do what the Lord is asking us to do. But if we have an abundance mindset, we will see weakness and limitations as opportunity. 
     How are weakness and limitations considered opportunity? We have the opportunity to depend on the Lord when we recognize our limits. We have the opportunity to bring what we have to Jesus when we consider what little we have. We have the opportunity to trust our Lord Jesus to work when we see that we couldn’t possibly go on or try. 
     In my experience, the Lord has brought me to the place where I get to the end of my efforts and realize my need for him. Often, I am so slow to turn to and rely on him. Yes, I’m working on it, but I could improve a lot in this area. But it often happens that when we get to the end of ourselves, then we are willing to turn to the Lord. 
     But this is exactly where our Lord wants us to be. That’s why Paul writes: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10) That’s why Jesus says: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). 
     God’s desire for you and for me is to recognize and live our lives based on the truth that we are dependent on him. That way, when God, by his Spirit, bears fruit in and through us, he is honored and glorified. 
 
In what ways is God calling you to recognize your limits/weakness and so encouraging you to depend on him? 
 
Also, please continue to pray for the nation of Ukraine. Pray that the war 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. Thank you for kneeling on behalf of the people of Ukraine and Russia, and taking a stand (or a knee in prayer) against the forces of darkness in this present age. 

This Week (Sept. 29 – Oct. 5, 2023):

1. Tonight, Sept. 29, 2023, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting from 7:30-9:30 to study how to live a life set apart in the way we think. You can read Romans 12 to prepare. Join in person in Room A-216 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 will be having our bi-annual townhall meeting in the Community Hall (A-202) during the Sunday School hour on Oct. 1st. You may use the following link if you wish to join online:

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, Oct. 1, 2023, at 11:25 am, Pastor Nathan will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!
     Text: Mark 7:24-37
     Title: A Demon, Dogs, and a Deaf Dude
Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/

4. Each Wednesday, such as this week (Oct. 4) 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. The link is found below in the section on prayer.

Administration / Events

1. We have a missions update (so check out the missions tab from the bulletin)! You can provide support for Candy in COCM (in England), for James Liang (at UConn), or for the Havlicek’s in Mexico (wycliffe.org/partner/Havlicek)

2. We are once again collecting new or used electronics to support the work of Benjamin Owino and Let the Needy Smile (in Uganda). Collections end next week on Oct. 8. For more information, check out the church announcement tab in the bulletin (Second Page).

3. Did you know that our buildings have been named/renamed? Check out the church announcement tab in the bulletin for more information.

4. On October 15, from 1:30 to 4 pm, CrossPoint Community will host a training facilitated by the Gideon’s International called “Conversations: A Simple Approach to Sharing the Gospel.” We will meet in Room A-213 for a time of learning and discussion. We do need you to sign-up (just so that we can ask for an additional facilitator if we have more than 25 people signed up). It would be great if every participant in CrossPoint Community could join. Here is the link to sign-up: https://forms.office.com/r/v0GZLpBq7E

5. Sunday Lunch Service is available at CBCGL with $5 lunchboxes. To place an order, please use the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/nCwQnMruKv Orders are preferred to be placed as soon as you know, but need to be placed by Saturday night so that the kitchen can prepare the correct amount of food. Note: The selection which states “Number of Meals” refers to the cooked food/lunch box/Chinese food option.

6. All other announcements can be found here (in our CrossPoint Community bulletin).

For Prayer

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)

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