CrossPoint Community News 06/10/2022

by | Jun 10, 2022 | Announcement, CrossPoint Community Ministry, FrontPage-News | 0 comments

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

       We are nearing the end of our Sunday School on Radical and Practical Generosity. Our final class is on June 19. To give you an example of what radical and practical generosity can look like, consider the following written by Charles Edward White:

       “Most of us know that John Wesley was used of God to revive 18th-century England and to start the Methodist Church. We know him as a great preacher and a greater organizer. But few of us realize that Wesley made enormous sums from preaching–the sale of his writings made him one of England’s wealthiest men. In an age when a single man could live comfortably on 30 pounds a year, his annual income reached 1,400 [46.6x greater than a comfortable salary]. With such an income he had the opportunities to put his ideas on money into practice. What did he say about money? And what did he do with his own?
       John Wesley knew grinding poverty as a child. His father, Samuel Wesley, was the Anglican priest in one of England’s lowest-paying parishes. He had nine children to support and was rarely out of debt. Once John saw his father being marched off to debtor’s prison. So when John followed his father into the ministry, he had no illusions about financial rewards.
       While at Oxford, an incident changed his perspective on money. He had just finished paying for some pictures for his room when one of the chambermaids came to his door. It was a cold winter day, and he noticed that she had nothing to protect her except a thin linen gown. He reached into his pocket to give her some money to buy a coat but found he had too little left. Immediately the thought struck him that the Lord was not pleased with the way he had spent his money. He asked himself, Will thy Master say, “Well done, good and faithful steward”? Thou hast adorned thy walls with the money which might have screened this poor creature from the cold! O justice! O mercy!–Are not these pictures the blood of this poor maid?
       Perhaps as a result of this incident, in 1731 Wesley began to limit his expenses so that he would have more money to give to the poor. He records that one year his income was 30 pounds and his living expenses 28 pounds, so he had 2 pounds to give away. The next year his income doubled, but he still managed to live on 28 pounds, so he had 32 pounds to give to the poor. In the third year, his income jumped to 90 pounds.
Instead of letting his expenses rise with his income, he kept them to 28 pounds and gave away 62 pounds. In the fourth year, he received 120 pounds. As before, his expenses were 28 pounds, so his giving rose to 92 pounds.
       Wesley felt that the Christian should not merely tithe but give away all extra income once the family and creditors were taken care of. He believed that with increasing income, what should rise is not the Christian’s standard of living but the standard of giving.
       This practice, begun at Oxford, continued throughout his life. Even when his income rose into the thousands of pounds sterling, he lived simply, and he quickly gave away his surplus money.
       One year his income was a little over 1400 pounds. He lived on 30 pounds and gave away nearly 1400 pounds. Because he had no family to care for, he had no need for savings. He was afraid of laying up treasures on earth, so the money went out in charity as quickly as it came in.”
       Read more at: http://www.missionfrontiers.org/issue/article/what-wesley-practiced-and-preached-about-money or https://www.epm.org/blog/2014/May/14/john-wesley-giving

       May God have mercy, and please continue to pray for Ukraine. 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 (June 10 – June 16, 2022):

       1. Tonight, June 10, 2022, we will have Friday Night Bible Study. Join us from 7:30-9:30 as we take time to sing, share, and study the topic “Trust God’s Timing”. You can read John 24:32-41 in preparation. Join in person in Room A-216 or online.

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 and YAs Sunday School will continue our combined Sunday School this Sunday, June 12, called, “Radical and Practical Generosity”. We’ll be talking about the Giving in Community. Please join us in the Upstairs Cafeteria (Room A-202) and online via the following link:

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 12, 2022, at 11:25 am, Pastor Raymond Lee will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL! You can also watch the live stream if you wish.

a. Text: Isaiah 43:18-21
b. Title: With Change Comes Opportunity
c. Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/live-stream/

       4. Each Wednesday, for example, this coming June 15, 2022, at 7:45 pm, you are invited, encouraged, and requested to join our weekly prayer meeting. We’ll spend time praying for Ukraine as well as praying for CrossPoint Community. The link is found below in the section on prayer.

Administration / Events

       1. This Saturday, June 11, at 6 pm, join us at CBCGL to hear Lessons Learned from my Thesis, by Rev. Dr. Nathan Willems. We’ll be talking about understanding identity development and considering what we are doing to help the second generation. If you can’t join us in person, join online via the following link: https://www.cbcgl.org/livestream/

       2. Invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers! On June 18, beginning at 4 pm, CBCGL is having a Block Party (where we welcome the local community for games, food, and even a bouncy house). At 7 pm, we have the privilege of hosting the Hyssongs who will share a concert with us. We hope to see you there!

       3. We invite you to join our Alpha Tuesday Online Course this coming Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. #AlphaCourse for adults and youth is a chance to explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open, and informal online environment. Join us for a great conversation with others who are exploring life and faith; no strings attached.
Apr. 26, 2022 – June 28, 2022, 7:30pm – 8:30pm (1 hour – EST).
Here is the Zoom Meeting Info:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82080695483?pwd=L1hpeXcvZDRBK0MranRyNGZTaWM1dz09
Meeting ID: 820 8069 5483
Password: 233191
Contact: Marina Lam
E-mail: alpha.cbcgl@gmail.com

       4. CBCGL’s COVID-19 guidance has been updated. We still are following CDC guidance for travel and participation in activities following travel or exposure to a positive case. We are no longer requiring new guests to complete the waiver form.

a. Also, the taskforce has notified all ministries that we will no longer be taking temperatures but are once again recommending face masks. Please note, you are once again recommended to wear facemasks to church.

       5. Lunch service is back at CBCGL! To place an order, please use the following link: https://forms.gle/SJBrwGF4nb5w564DA Orders need to be placed by Friday at 11 pm so that we 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. Did you know that we have updated reports from our missionaries on a regular basis? Please check the missions tab in our bulletin to read through these reports and learn how you can support our missionaries. This week, there is an update about the Ronald Yu, who is entering retirement, following the past three years of mentoring a new leader for China Ministries International. Check it out!

       7. All other announcements can be found here (in our CrossPoint Community bulletin). Particularly, check out the Children’s ministry Tab to sign-up, show-up, serve, and see God at work in the next generation!

For Prayer:

       1. Our time in prayer shows what we think about God! Do you see your need of Him? Or are you trying to live this life without / apart from Him? 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. Here is our list of prayer and service requests. The service request tab is for brothers and sisters to ask for assistance or announce any give-away items. It is an attempt from CPC to reach out and take care of those in need among us. You may also enter yours via the provided link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U64MLIp-EpQ8YKfIpHzBNR_3tceMaOxrchnfbqlkcpU/edit?ts=5e851f21#gid=0

In Christ, your servant, SDG,
Rev. Dr. Nathan Willems
Associate Pastor of CrossPoint Community – A Ministry of CBCGL