CrossPoint Community News 12/15/2023

by | Dec 15, 2023 | Announcement, CrossPoint Community Ministry, FrontPage-News | 0 comments

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 
       How do you view announcements? Do you, like me sometimes, feel like they are for someone else? The truth is that announcements are for you. Yes, you, the one reading this weekly update. I want you to be informed so that you can join in the good things God has for you in the coming weeks. 
       For example, did you know that you could serve in a skit during the Christmas Eve service? For more info, see below and contact me or Min. Katherine so that you can help by being a presence on stage on Dec. 24. 
       Did you know that you are invited to a dumpling making party / game night / prayer meeting mash-up on Dec. 31st? It starts at 6 pm and goes until 12:15 am (so that we can pray together into the New Year). The space is limited to the first 20 people who sign-up. Sign-up by contacting me, Pastor Nathan. I’ll let you know the location and what to bring! 
       Did you know that you have two more Sundays after this coming Sunday, Dec. 17, to make your year-end contribution to CBCGL? Many people give at the end of the year, which helps to close our budget deficit. But we need regular giving from our members to sustain and strengthen the work of ministry at CBCGL. Consider giving regularly and generously in 2024. Don’t know where to start? Just ask! I’m glad to tell you how to get started. 
       Please also participate in the Local Missions Activities in December, which end this weekend. Bring nice clothing for Ukraine (Bring it either Dec. 15 (Fri) or Dec. 16 (Sat. Am)). Or Bring in food for local food pantries during the holiday season (due Dec. 15); or come Christmas Caroling at the Westford House on Dec. 16 (but you have to sign-up in advance – here). Practices happen tonight and tomorrow. 
       Also, coming up this week, on Dec. 19, Tuesday, all ladies are welcome to join the “Keeping It Vertical” Ladies Bible Study potluck. It begins at 12 pm (in the Community Hall) and goes to 1 pm. Then join the Bible Study (from 1 to 2:30) talking about the Fruit of the Spirit. Come share the Christmas meal with us. Come as you are and bring a dish for the potluck. Don’t want to do the potluck? Come anyway! The ladies are looking forward to seeing you there! Bring a friend or two! All women are welcome! 
 
Finally, 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 Palestine and taking a stand (or a knee in prayer) against the forces of darkness in this present age. 

This Week (Dec. 15-21, 2023):

1. Tonight, Dec. 15, 2023, the Living Stones Friday Night Bible Study is meeting for the final time in 2023 from 7:30-9:30 to study “Are miracles relevant?”. You can read John 10:22-42 and 14:1-14 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. The Living Stones Sunday School and Grace Ambassadors Sunday School are meeting this Sunday. The Grace Ambassadors will begin a discussion of “The Pilgrim’s Progress: Part 2” in the Community Hall (A-202). 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:

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, Dec. 17, 2023, at 11:25 am, Pastor Raymond Lee will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL!

Text: Luke 1:46-56
Title: Mary–The True Strength of Humility
Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/

4. Each Wednesday, such as this week (Dec. 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. 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 COCM (in England), for James Liang (at UConn), or Gordon and Maggie who are serving in France.

2. Please bring a willing heart and give your time to serve CBCGL by cleaning the cafeteria this coming Sunday. It’s the final lunch cleaning service of 2023. So let’s do great work and make the cafeteria spic and span for the glory of God. I’ll see you there at 1:15 pm in the Cafeteria on Dec. 17.

3. Christmas Skit Participants needed! If you are willing to help with a skit on Christmas Eve, playing a silent role, and helping to portray the life of Christ, let Minister Katherine or Pastor Nathan know by Dec. 17. We can send you a video to get an idea of what it will be like and the rehearsal for this part of the Christmas service will be Dec. 22.

4. Save the Date: Christmas Eve Services – Dec. 24 – happen at 9:45 am, followed by a baptism service around 11:15 am, with a Candlelight service at 7 pm.

5. Sunday Lunch Service is available at CBCGL with $5 lunchboxes. The final lunch of 2023 is this coming Sunday (Dec. 17). 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:

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