More to Our God
September 8, 2023
August 18, 2023
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY
Weeding or Carpet Cleaning?
Would either appeal to you? Would you be able to adopt one of our mulched areas and keep it weed free? Do you have a carpet steamer? Perhaps you’d be willing to steam clean the carpet in the church area? Please speak to Kathy King if you’d like to make either of these your summer ministry. Kathy can be reached at 413-569-5151, extension 13.
Facing Your “What Ifs”
Facing the “What Ifs”
Acknowledge your fear and choose to trust God.
Whatever it is, acknowledge it honestly and make an intentional choice to trust the God of the universe. I’m not saying: Bury your head in the sand; ignore it; nothing bad will ever happen to you. What I am saying is: Whatever your fear is, do whatever you can do that is within your power to effectively minimize the risk. Then, with every ounce of faith you have inside you, trust God for the things that are outside of your control.
Let me say this clearly: Do what you can do to minimize the risk. Then, trust God for the things that only God can do, the things that are outside of your control. I will give you an example in Scripture …
Remember David who fought Goliath? When David was just a young shepherd boy, he was chosen to be the next king of Israel. It’s not a big shocker that this did not sit well with the current king sitting on the throne, King Saul. Saul felt very threatened by this young up-and-comer, David. Saul gave the order: “I want you to hunt down David and kill him!” So David spent month after month hiding out in the hills, running for his life. How did he overcome the fear?
He said, “When I am afraid … In other words, sometimes it’s just too much for me. And you can say that, too. “When I’m afraid about losing my job or losing my house, when I’m afraid of what the future might hold …” David said, “I will trust in You.” “I choose to trust that You are in control of all the things that are out of my control.
David said, “In God, whose Word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” (Psalm 56:3-4) Just say, “God, here’s what I’m afraid of, but I choose to trust You no matter what. In God I trust; I will not be afraid!”
July 7, 2023
- Christ Church Celebrates Independence Day! 7/2
- Acoustic Café with Rob Skiba 7/9
- Cruisin’ the Grind Car Shows at the Daily Grind 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31
- The Valley Kats play at the Daily Grind Car Show 7/10
- Acoustic Café with Ed Bentley 7/16
- Acoustic Café with Chris Shea 7/22
- Acoustic Café with Bob Allen and Chris Mastroianni 7/23
- The Rattletones Host Gospel Concert 8/19
- Cancer Awareness Golf Tournament 8/26
Champion
June 2, 2023
• June 4—Acoustic Café with Ed Bentley 11-1
• June 5, 12, 19, 26—Cruisin’ the Grind Car Shows 5:00
• June 11—Acoustic Café with Rob Skiba 11-2
• June 18—Happy Father’s Day, Enjoy a “Pop” Sicle with Dad!
• June 18—Acoustic Café with Bob Allen 11-1
• June 21—Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day Fundraising Event 4:30-7:30
Mike Hague and Linda Matthews
Many thanks to Mike and Linda for leading our First Communion Class this year! We had a big group wrapping up the class on May 21. Mike and Linda also host our Discovery Hour Program for children during our 10:15 service each week. We can’t thank them enough for all the time and effort they put into working with the children of our church.
The Longest Day
Come out with your family and friends for the Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day fundraising event Wednesday, June 21 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on our front lawn. There will be vendors, food trucks, raffles, a children’s area and a Zumba class! Please bring a donation for the Alzheimer’s Association and wear PURPLE!
Cancer Awareness Memorial Golf Tournament
Come for fun and join the fight for a cure! The 15th Annual Elsie Osman and Esther Cressotti Cancer Awareness Memorial Golf Tournament is Saturday, August 26 with a 1:00 shotgun start time. Please contact Leah Cressotti at 413-204-1730 for more information.
Rise Above It
One time Jesus was asleep on a small boat when suddenly a big storm came up. The winds were fierce and the waves were pounding the boat. The disciples got all upset. They said, “Jesus, wake up! We’re about to die!” Jesus got up and simply spoke to the storm. He said, “Peace, be still.” Instantly, the wind was quiet and the Sea of Galilee became as smooth as glass. Now, the reason Jesus was able to remain calm in that situation was because He had peace inside Himself. In other words, He was in the storm, but He didn’t let the storm get into Him. You can be in the storm, but don’t let the storm get into you.
Peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is not the absence of conflict. You can have trouble and conflict all around you on the outside, yet have real peace on the inside. Yes, you can be in the storm, but don’t let the storm get into you!
Somebody may be rude to you on the phone. You may want to jump down their throat. Instead say, “No, I’m not going to allow this to upset me. I’ve got a gentle spirit. I’m cool, calm, and confident.”
Or perhaps your boss doesn’t give you the credit you deserve. You didn’t get the big promotion you were hoping for. Say something like, “That’s okay. I know God is in control. I know God has something better in store for me.”
Maybe you say, “Well, Jeff, I’m upset because this man walked out of our relationship. It was wrong. It was just so unfair. I want to call him up and let him have a piece of my mind.” No, if you’ll keep your gentle spirit, God will bring somebody better into your life. He’ll take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around and use it to your advantage. But you’ve got to do your part and stay calm and confident. Don’t live upset and worried and frustrated.”
You can be like the Apostle Paul. Paul experienced all kinds of heartache. People did unfair things to him, others lied about him. But he said, “In spite of all these things, we are more than conquerors.” That’s the kind of attitude that we need to have. Don’t just use your faith to get rid of your problems. Use your faith to remain calm in the midst of your problems. Say it again:
Full of Joy!
Happiness is based on circumstances. Joy is based on Christ.
When missionaries in the northern part of Alaska were trying to translate the Bible for the Eskimos, they had some difficulty. When you go to translate the Bible in any culture, there’s always a difficulty translating some words that are foreign to that culture. For example, there was no word in the Eskimo language for joy. They had, like, 200 words for snow and, like, 300 words for ice. But they had not one word for joy.
So, the translators looked around and they saw the happiest, most joyful moment in that Eskimo village was in the evening when they fed their sled dogs. They’d go out with the food, and the dogs would yelp and jump and wag their tails and get all excited. And so, they pulled the word for joy out of that experience: “wagging their tails.”
So, when you translate the Bible passage where it says, “After the resurrection, when the disciples saw Jesus alive, they were full of joy,” for the Eskimos, it would read, “When the disciples saw Jesus alive, they wagged their tails!” Full of joy! (John 20:20)
Our tails ought to be wagging every day because we know that Jesus Christ is alive! He is risen! He is triumphant! He is victorious! And He promised to share His victory with us!
Would you make this your prayer?
May 4, 2023
- 5/7 Acoustic Café with Rob Skiba
- 5/14 Mother’s Day
- 5/14 Acoustic Café with Ed Bentley
- 5/7, 5/14 First Communion Class Meets at 11:15
- 5/21 First Communion Class Meets at 10:15
- 5/21 First Communion during 11:15 Service
- 5/21 Acoustic Café with The Rattletones
- 5/28 Acoustic Café with Kent Besocke
Fishing Trip