Vision 2022 · Body & Soul |
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Brothers & Sisters,
So far I have shared two of four yearly goals with you over the past two weeks.
Vision & Goals for 2022:
1 · To create new opportunities for adult spiritual formation and engagement. You can watch and read about our new Bridge Steps ministry, here.
2 · To help our church find unity around the person and work of Jesus Christ, rather than cultural or partisan ideologies. The Church of Jesus Christ is called to be an alternative to our culture, rather than a reflection of it.
As I write about the third goal this week, I am reminded of a question once posed by a seminary professor, in a class about God's purposes for the Church in the world. He asked us: "If your local church closed it's doors tomorrow, who in your community would suffer as a result?"
My professor's question was intended to make us to think about how invested our local church is in addressing needs in the local community. These needs fall into two categories in the New Testament: temporal and spiritual. Our God cares about soul and body.
During his three years of ministry, Jesus called sinners to repentance and invited them to believe in him. He instructed his disciples in Matthew 28 to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit, and teaching them everything he had taught them. Jesus also fed hungry people, healed the sick, reached out to the outcast, confronted corruption and helped people find a place of belonging with those who followed him. God cares about soul and body.
God's redemption is concerned with the whole person - body and soul. This is why “We proclaim no personal gospel that fails to express itself in relevant social concerns; we proclaim no social gospel that does not include the personal transformation of sinners" (United Methodist Book of Discipline).
The church doesn't simply pray for hungry people, we hold food drives. We don't just pray for the sick, we take them a casserole. We don't simply pray for racial harmony, we seek out conversations to learn about someone else's experience.
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In our local church, Pastor Jessica is currently offering a class on learning how to share your faith. At the same time, our 8th grade boys (under the leadership of Warren & Alisa Austin) held a cookout for 80 men in substance abuse recovery at The Foundry in Bessemer, this past Saturday afternoon. God cares about soul and body.
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This year our church has committed $200 a month to help support the Calvert family (Ronnie, Nani & Sophie), missionaries in Ecuador. We are scheduled to take a team of church members to Ecuador in July 2022 to serve in medical, construction and children's ministries. God cares about soul and body.
These three snapshots of ministry illustrate our third goal for 2022: To clarify and strengthen our church's mission priorities and partnerships.
This will be an evolving effort throughout the year as we pursue some strategic goals as well as respond to needs that arise. Taking God's Good News outside our walls is always an adventure because our church doesn't have a mission - God's mission has our church.
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In worship this month we are focusing on how the Christian faith equips us to receive, request, grant and live out forgiveness. God's grace is available to help us learn to forgive more deeply than our strength of will alone can provide.
I invite you to make weekly worship attendance a priority for your household this year. We are here each week at 9a & 10:30a, onsite and online - we hope to see you there!
Looking forward with hope,
Pastor Nathan
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Year End Giving Statement |
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Thank you for your generous support during 2021. Your worship through giving to God's church enabled our ministries to thrive and grow!
You will need to log into our church database to access your giving statement (Click the image below). If you need help doing so, please contact dawn@rossbridge.church.
Thank you again for your contributions. We hold great hope for all God will do in 2022.
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Bridge Steps: Adult Spiritual Formation Pathway |
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Click to watch the two minute video about this new Adult Spiritual Formation Pathway! |
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To see the 2-year schedule of classes and sign up for an upcoming course, please click this image! |
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$5 Mission Challenge · Urban Ministry |
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Urban Ministry is a faith-based nonprofit focused on working with the residents of West End to build a thriving community. Their ministries include a community garden, after-school tutoring for elementary students, and the WE Build program for job training and home ownership.
Thank you for your generosity!
You can text “bridgegive” (no spaces) to (833)572-2200, and click the link you receive in reply. Select “$5 Mission Challenge” from the giving options. You can also give through www.rossbridge.church
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The Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread across our country. Local dashboards currently classify Jefferson County as experiencing a "HIGH" level of community transmission.
During this current local wave of infections, our local church's team of healthcare professionals continues to RECOMMEND all persons 3 years + wear a mask for indoor church activities, including Bridge Kids, Bridge Students and Sunday worship.
Our Bridge Kids and Bridge Students ministries continue to follow the protocol of Hoover City Schools, which currently has a "mask required" policy, for indoor activities.
For all indoor church activities in the coming weeks, we will have masks available to anyone who would like one. We continue to encourage those who have not been fully vaccinated to follow the guidance of your personal physician. If you would like to receive four COVID-19 tests by mail, please click the image above.
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Congratulations to Rachel Garner! |
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CARB member Rachel Garner, daughter of Sonny & Jackie Garner, graduated in December 2021 from Troy University with her Bachelor of Science degree. Rachel majored in Business Administration and minored in Global Business. We was involved in Chi Omega and fostered dogs in her spare time. She has begun working at Murfee Meadows in Homewood as a marketing coordinator. Congratulations, Rachel! |
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New Men's Study · January 2022 |
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Men’s Book Study w/ Video · Led by Pastor Nathan Carden
Wednesday Nights 6:30-7:30p · Beginning January 19, 2022
Every follower of Christ will feel stuck at some point. These are challenging times when the Christian’s appetite to be with God through prayer and scripture, and to live for God through trust and obedience diminish like air slowly leaking from a tire.
Exploring the life of the Bible’s King David, this book presents a process for overcoming the slump so we reach our potential for a faithful, fruitful, and fulfilled life in Christ.
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As we begin a new semester of Bridge Kids, we want families to be aware of our church's current public health practices.
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We continue to follow the protocols of Hoover City Schools which is "FACE COVERING REQUIRED" at indoor activities.
- We will have masks available.
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Our church's team of healthcare professionals supports a "face covering required" policy for indoor church activities during the current wave of COVID-19 infections.
We look forward with prayer and hope for the day when the pandemic is behind us.
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TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT
Parents, please note a time change
to Bridge Kids this semester!
Bridge Kids will begin promptly at 5:30PM!
We will conclude our time together at 7:15PM!
We can't wait to see all of our BK students tonight - Wednesday, January 19TH!
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ATTENTION:
Bridge Kids is GROWING!!!
With the excitement and growth of Bridge Kids we realize that we need a few more hands to help out!
Volunteers are asked to serve once or twice a month!
Please email Ms. Julie if you are interested in being apart of the excitement at Bridge Kids - julie@rossbridge.church
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The Winter Retreat & Ski Trip sign-up is OPEN! The initial deposit is $100 to claim your spot, and please sign your student(s) up only if you know they can make it! We'd love to have your student join us.
Today is the last day to sign-up without paying an extra $50!
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Our FLOURISH Women’s Retreat is Saturday, January 29th, from 9:30AM - 3:00PM. The talented Natalie Moon will lead us in worship. Author & speaker, Sherry Bradshaw of Back 9 Ministries, will share wisdom from her two books on living lives of significance. Lunch will be catered by Chef Shelby Adams of Hometown Fare, and surprise activities and door prizes are planned throughout the day! Don't miss this incredible day together, carefully and prayerfully planned just for the women of CARB and their friends!
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Ministry Engagement This Week |
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Our IGNITE Men's Fellowship is BACK this week! Come share a cup of coffee with other men from our church family. This group is all about laughter together, encouragement, prayer with and for one another, strength through shared experiences, and reinforcing what men who pattern their lives after the example of Christ can accomplish together. George Foozer will present this week's brief devotional thought on the difficult habit of quiet from Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God."
Thursday - 1/20
7AM - 8AM @ CARB
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