I Am My Worst Enemy
Why are so many people so unhappy in so many different circumstances? Why are so many Christians, who supposedly have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in their hearts, so not joyful?
At first glance it would seem that circumstances are to blame. Can you blame a guy for being unhappy when he hasn’t had steady work for six months and he might lose his home? You wouldn’t think so, until you meet the six-figure Christian businessman who hates his job and is just hanging on until retirement. The twenty-something single woman doesn’t think she can be happy until she gets married and has children. But the thirty-something housewife with four kids can barely make it through the week without collapsing in a trembling heap of exhaustion. Circumstances aren’t to blame. There’s something much more sinister at work.
That something is my sinful, discontented heart. Jesus spelled it out in Mark 7:21–23 when he said, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” The problem is me. I am my own worst enemy. The raging, covetous, discontented desires come from within. They’re not the product of my circumstances, and the desires won’t be satisfied when circumstances change.
First it’s marriage. We dream about meeting that perfect someone—a person who likes long walks and French poetry and is kind toward animals and strangers alike. Or at least someone who is decent looking and doesn’t have a criminal record. Finally, after years of yearning, the wedding day arrives. But the idol factory doesn’t shut down after the wedding day. As soon as the marriage god is appeased, the factory belches forth the idol of a new house. Then it’s a new car, an end-of-year bonus, and a sweet retirement package. There’s no downtime, no coffee break, no union strike in the factory of our hearts. They are constantly churning, constantly stirring up discontentment, constantly producing new idols.
Then “catastrophe” strikes. The dream promotion is handed to someone else. A relationship never materializes. Our desires are thwarted, and we don’t get what we want. When we don’t get what we so desperately want, we throw the adult version of a temper tantrum. Our passions rage within us. We become angry at God and discontent with life. We grumble and complain, and happiness appears to be out of reach. We become a casualty of war.
Shutting Down The Factory
So, is there any hope for raging discontents like me? Can the circus of discontentment in my heart ever be stopped? Thankfully, it can. In Philippians 4:11–12 the apostle Paul said, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”
These words should startle us and cause us to catch our breath. Paul says that he has learned to be content in every situation. Not just happy, comfortable, “why, yes, I will have another latte” situations. Every situation.
Paul could find contentment in any season and any circumstance. He knew how to be brought low, and few people were brought lower than Paul. He was thrown into filthy prisons, savagely beaten with rods, stoned within a breath of death, whipped until his back was a bloody, dripping mess, driven out of cities, betrayed by friends, and shipwrecked on multiple occasions. In the midst of all this, Paul found contentment. The difficulties faced by Paul make my life look like a Boy Scout campout.
Paul also knew how to be content in the midst of prosperity. Prosperity and contentment don’t always go together. In fact, they rarely do. Rich people are unhappy just like everyone else. Members of the yacht club need to learn contentment too.
In 1 Timothy 6:6 Paul says of contentment, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.” False teachers were invading Timothy’s church and telling people that if they were godly they would also be rich, that if they followed Jesus, they would get their Lexus chariot or Rolex sundial or whatever it was they wanted. But Paul won’t have any of that nonsense. He says that following Jesus isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. If you follow Jesus, you will have every spiritual need met. Forgiveness, adoption, spiritual strength, everything. And if we have all our spiritual needs met and are content with what we have, that is great gain. If we have every spiritual need met and are content with what we have, what more could we want? We have everything we need for joy. Following a Jesus genie who gives us whatever we want is not great gain. Contentment is great gain.
If you need any further motivation to pursue contentment, there you have it. Godliness + Contentment = Great Gain. I’m into gain. And when God himself, speaking through the Scriptures, says that something is great gain, we need to pay close attention.
By Stephen Altrogge
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Elders
Leon Cort
Mark Craigwell
Martin Samuel
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Minister
Mark Craigwell
Assistant Minister
Denver Simmons
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Deacons
Raleigh Gallington
Anthony Johnson
Gregory Johnson
Carlfred Malcolm
Albert Martin, Jr.
Walter Maxwell
Richard Meuse
Barry Person
Jason Reid
James Wade, Sr.
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Here We Grow Again!
Two precious souls were baptized into Christ in Sunday, May 15, 2022
Carolyn Jackman Walrond (Sis. Denise Simmons's mother)
Derrell Desir
Let us welcome our new sister and brother in Christ!
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Save the Date: October 15-19, 2022, Roxbury Fall Gospel Meeting with Bro. Eric Owens. Details TBA.
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Congratulations 2022 Graduates!
If you are graduating this year, and have not already done so, please email the following information to cocroxbury@gmail.com as soon as possible: your name, the name of your school, the date, time and location of your graduation (and whether tickets or invitations are needed), and your plans for the next academic year (college, work, etc.) Please also submit a photo for inclusion on the bulletin board and in the e-bulletin.
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Roshani Nagarajah
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Degree: Political Science and Religious Studies.
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Demetria Eaton
Roxbury Prep High School
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Headed to UMass Dartmouth
to pursue a degree in Nursing
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Kamea Johnson
Weston High School
Friday, June 3, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
Weston Town Green (all are welcome!)
Headed to North Carolina Central University (NCCU)
Durham, North Carolina
click here for Kamea's graduation invitation
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Ailee Martin
Foxborough Regional Charter School
Friday, June 3, 2022
Headed to Massosoit Community College
Brockton, Massachusetts
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Louis Person
Wellesley High School
Friday, June 3, 2022
Headed to University of New England
Biddeford, Maine
Louis will be studying Business and playing football
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Jedidiah Nelson
Roxbury Latin
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Headed to Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont
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Sermon for Sunday, May 22, 2022
A Call to Excellence! (Part 2)
1 Peter 3:7
Speaker: Bro. Mark Craigwell
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Save the Date for New Converts'
Fellowship & Luncheon
We invite all those baptized between 2019 and the present along with those who have been in the body for 25 or more years to join us in the church parking lot on Saturday, June 18th (time TBA) for an afternoon of fellowship, food and fun. Save the date and stay tuned for details.
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Youth & Family Ministry
Muscle and a Shovel Book Discussion Group
for Ages 12 & Up
The Youth & Family Ministry will conduct a 10-week book discussion group on Muscle and a Shovel, by Michael Shank, for ages 12 and up this summer, beginning in June. Please use the link below to sign up or to request further information. The group will be facilitated by Bro. Garrett Alexander, Sis. Pam Alexander, Bro. Phillip Morrison, Sis. Velita Person, and Bro. Jerard Samuel.
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City of Boston Indoor Mask Mandate: Due to declining COVID-19 rates and high vaccination rates in the City of Boston, effective Saturday, March 5, 2022, the City of Boston lifted its indoor mask mandate. However, we will continue to require masking and distancing at our in person events until further notice. Thank you for your continued cooperation.
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Our May outreach will take place on Saturday, May 28th, beginning at 10 a.m. for bag assembly at the building. Masks required.
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We will continue to offer two Sunday morning worship services to accommodate in-person attendees
The first service begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs until approximately 9:30 a.m.; the second service begins at 11:00 a.m. The auditorium is sanitized between services. The weekly 10:30 a.m. devotional will continue as scheduled. The usual sign-up rules and COVID protocols remain in effect. When you access the online sign up form, you will be required to specify which service you would like to attend. Once capacity has been reached for a particular time slot, the form will no longer accept new registrations for that time slot. We will continue to livestream the 11:00 service on our YouTube channel, and we encourage members to utilize e-giving, even when attending in person.
PLEASE NOTE: THE LINK BELOW IS FOR NEXT WEEK'S SERVICE. PLEASE SEE LAST WEEK'S E-BULLETIN FOR THE SIGN-UP LINK FOR THE MAY 22nd SERVICE.
In-Person Worship Sign-up
Please also note that there is a new registration link each week.
Links from previous weeks will not work.
E-giving link
Livestream link
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Don't Miss Out! Please scroll through the entire e-bulletin each week to be certain not to miss any important announcements or links. Many items are repeated each week, but there are also new announcements that you'll miss if you don't scroll through the entire bulletin.
See the following sections for new/updated announcements.
- News & Notes
- Community Outreach
- Save the Date: October 15-19, 2022, Roxbury Fall Gospel Meeting with Bro. Eric Owens
- Worship & Class Schedule - Links to Services & Classes; link to worship attendance registration form for next week
- Please note that the New Converts' Class now meets both on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. at the church building.
- Latest on COVID-19
- Vaccine available for ages 5 and up. Booster shots available for J&J, Moderna, and Pfizer. Walk in appointments available at many clinics.
- Boston Black COVID-19 Coalition Services and Resources
- Current and Upcoming Events
- Monday-Friday Meal Distribution, 1:30 p.m. daily
- Ladies Take Note
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4th Sunday Ladies' Class, 5/22/22 @5pm VIA ZOOM. See below for connection details.
- Mature in Heart
- 2022 Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion, October 28-29
- Men Take Note
- 4th Sunday Men's Class, 5/22/22 @5pm at the church building.
TextAlertz: If you are signed up to receive church text blasts via textalertz, but have stopped receiving the blasts, please email Sis. Gallington at ggallington@gmail.com so she can troubleshoot the issue.
Please keep us updated: Please keep us apprised of any changes to your address, phone number and email address so that we can maintain an accurate database of member information. Please notify Sis Nagarajah at enagarajah@gmail.com or Sis Gallington at ggallington@gmail.com of any changes to your contact information.
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Midweek Bible Study
Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
via freeconferencecall.com
(Click image at left to join the class online, or see remote class schedule below for dial-in info)
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Current & Upcoming Events |
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The Department of Public Health continues to urge all who are eligible to be vaccinated and/or boosted to do so, as vaccination is currently the best medical defense against the potentially deadly effects of COVID and its variants.
Although the City of Boston has lifted the mask mandate for most indoor spaces, masks are still required on public transportation, in hospitals and medical facilities, and the Department of Public Health (DPH) still recommends masking in indoor spaces for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Click here for the most recent advisory (March 1, 2022) from the Department of Public Health regarding face coverings and cloth masks.
All Massachusetts residents ages 5 and up are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and many facilities have walk-in hours. Booster shots are available for the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines at many pharmacies and health care facilities. Use the link below if you need assistance scheduling an appointment or locating a facility.
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Click here or anywhere in the announcement above for more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). |
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Remote & In-Person
Class/Meeting Schedule
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Wednesday Night Dial-In Bible Study
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
Dial in number: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
Or join the class online at
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Mid-Week Youth Bible Study
Wednesdays 7-7:30 p.m. via Zoom
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Women's Saturday Prayer Meeting
Join us for prayer on Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. via freeconferencecall.com
Dial-in: 701-802-5069; Access code 3730930#
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REMINDER: Please remember to mute your phone or computer when joining any of the above conference calls to avoid interrupting the class or service you are entering, particularly if you are joining the call after the event has started. |
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2nd and 3rd Fridays of the month @ 7:00 p.m.
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4th Sunday Ladies Class
Sunday, May 22nd at 5 p.m.
VIA ZOOM ONLY
Presenter: Sis. Shamara Morrison
Topic: "Clothing Ourselves With Kindness: Supporting Each Other as Sisters in Christ"
Click here to join class online
Meeting ID: 842 7265 5713
Passcode: 037668
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Our 2022 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion is scheduled for October 28-29. Please give your name to Bro. Gallington, Sis. Gallington, Sis. Keitrice Johnson, or Sis. Elizabeth Nagarajah by Sunday, May 29th if you plan to participate. A deposit of $100 per person is required to secure your spot, followed by monthly payments of $100 in June and July, with the balance due in August.
Participants must be fully vaccinated, and masks will be required on the bus. Participants must also agree to comply with whatever COVID protocols are in place at the hotel, restaurant and theater, as well as any stores visited during the trip.
We will be opening up the trip to our sister congregations beginning on Monday, May 30th. All monies will be refunded if the trip has to be cancelled due to rising COVID levels.
Cost:
*Quad (4 people in room): $330 per person
*Triple (3 people in room): $347 per person
Double (2 people in room): $381 per person
Grand King (couples): $807 per couple
*Quad and triple accommodations are only available to members of the same household or family.
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Sunday Morning Devotional: Brothers, please see Bro. Phillip Morrison if you would like to present a Sunday morning devotional at 10:30 a.m., prior to our Sunday morning worship service.
4th Sunday Men's Class Sunday, May 22, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
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No announcements at this time. |
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Young Adult Ministry (YAM) |
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No announcements at this time. |
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Monthly Ministry Meeting
1st Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
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Click anywhere in the announcement above to download full size flier. |
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Meetings & Events
5/2-6 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
5/2 - Ministers'/Elders'/Deacons' Meeting, 7pm
5/6-8 - New England Lectureship, Marlborough, MA
5/9-13 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
5/16-20 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
5/21 - Ministers'/Elders'/Deacons' Wives Meeting, 9am
5/23-27 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
5/28 - Community Outreach, 10am @ church building
5/28 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Ladies' Class 5:00pm @via Zoom
5/28 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Men's Class, 5:00pm @church building
5/31-6/3 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
Masks are required for all in-person events
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Ministry Meetings - Please contact your ministry coordinator for remote meeting schedules.
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Weekly Events - ALL SERVICES, CLASSES, & MEETINGS NORMALLY HELD AT THE CHURCH BUILDING ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, except as noted below:
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- Sunday New Converts' Class, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Bible Class (children) Sundays at 10:30am @church building
- Sunday Adult Devotional/Bible Study, 10:30am @church building
- Sunday Worship Service 8:30 and 11:00 am in person and 11:00 a.m. via livestream on YouTube. See above for details.
- Men's/Women's Classes, 5pm (4th Sunday of the month); Men @church building; Women via Zoom (details above)
- Youth & Family Ministry (1st Sunday of the month at 2pm)
- Young Adult Ministry (2nd Sunday of the month at 6pm) VIA ZOOM
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Mature in Heart Women's Prayer (Tuesdays @ 10:30am) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Prayer Meeting (Tuesdays @ 7pm) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Mid-Week Bible Study (Wednesdays @ 6:30pm) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Mid-Week New Converts' Class (Wednesdays @ 7pm) @church building
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Healing Hearts (Thursdays @6:15pm) VIA ZOOM
- Couple's Ministry (1st & 2nd Fridays @ 7 pm)
- Women's Prayer (Saturdays 9:30am) VIA TELECONFERENCE (Connection info above)
- Ministers/Elders/Deacons Wives Meeting, (3rd Saturday @10 am) @church building
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Bro. John Kurpiel, minister for the Lawrence congregation, hosts an international radio program, “Soul Food,” on Mondays and Tuesdays from 11AM until 3PM. The program airs on Ignite Radio Broadcast via Mixlr, an interactive internet radio platform. Use the link below to tune in to listen, or to participate in the conversation. Always free to listen. https://mixlr.com/ignite-radio-broadcast.
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Church of Christ in Roxbury
81 Walnut Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-5826
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