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Week of December 25, 2022 |
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Sharing the Better Life in Christ
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For many years, we’ve been told through various media that the American dream is to live the “good life.” That “good life” usually consists of having a good job, owning a nice home, driving a new car, and providing our children with the best secular education possible.
In later years, the “good life” is a carefree retirement — having sufficient funds to provide ourselves adequate health care, and the ability to travel and see the world.
While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with these goals, they fall quite short of the noble goals set for us in Scripture. In Galatians 2:20, the inspired writer Paul provides a more accurate picture of the “better life” in Christ:
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”
Our importance to our family and our peers is not measured by our looks, our monetary success, or our position in life, but in Who “lives” in our life — as Paul acknowledged.
As Christians, we should possess high self-esteem because Christ lives in us. Additionally, Paul viewed the saints as having God’s Spirit dwelling in them (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16).
After our conversion to Christ, we experience a shift from selfish ambition to unselfish generosity (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). In quoting the Lord, Paul in Acts 20:35, makes it clear that the good life is achieved by giving rather than receiving.
As we become aware of our own inadequacies and sinful behaviors, we stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting in the true and living God (1 Timothy 4:8-10; 1 Timothy 6:17). Pride and its attendant destruction (Proverbs 16:18) are replaced with faith and its promised blessings (2 Corinthians 1:19-20).
We live our lives “in Christ” as an expression of thanksgiving for His great blessings (Ephesians 1:3), and we are motivated to faithful worship and sacrificial obedience because Jesus set the example at Calvary (Hebrews 5:5-9).
Brethren, the world will always call us to share with others, the American dream of the “good life” — but let’s also be ready to share with them the “better life” in Christ (John 10:10; cf. Romans 5; 2 Peter 1:1-11).
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Elders
Leon Cort
Mark Craigwell
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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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Sermon for Sunday, December 25, 2022
The Kiss of Love
1 Peter 5:12-14
Mark Craigwell
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DON'T FORGET YOUR MASK!
Remember that masks are required at all of our in-person events, including services, classes, and meetings. Please also remember to bring your mask with you. We have a limited supply of masks available for those who do not have them.
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We extend our sympathy to Sis. Molly Craigwell in the passing of her grandfather (this was inadvertently omitted from last week's bulletin), and to Sis. Gloria Jean Gallington in the passing of her cousin, Roger Williams, in North Carolina. Please keep both families in prayer. |
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This event, originally scheduled for Friday, December 23rd, has been rescheduled to Friday, January 6th due to flooding in Boston Bowl's parking lot on December 23rd. |
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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 9:45 a.m.; the second service begins at 11:00 a.m. The auditorium is sanitized between services. The weekly 10:30 a.m. devotional/adult Bible class 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
In-Person Worship Sign-up
Please also note that there is a new registration link each week.
E-giving link
Livestream link
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Don't Miss Out! Scroll On... |
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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
- Friends and Family Bowling Outing postponed until January 6th
- Worship & Class Schedule - Links to Services & Classes; link to worship attendance registration form for next week.
- Latest on COVID-19
- Vaccine available for ages 6 months and up. Booster shots available for J&J, Moderna, and Pfizer. Walk in appointments available at many clinics.
- Youth & Family Ministry
- Friends & Family Bowling Outing, Friday, December 23rd, 6:30-8:30pm @ Boston Bowl. Details below.
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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Current & Upcoming Events |
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Our January Community Outreach will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2023 beginning at 10 a.m. at the church building to prepare 100 bags of groceries for distribution to families in the community. All are welcome to participate. Masks required of all participants. |
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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.
All Massachusetts residents ages 6-months 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 In-Person & Dial-In Bible Study
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in-person and via freeconferencecall.com.
Dial in number: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
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Women's Saturday Prayer Meeting
Join us for prayer on Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. via freeconferencecall.com
NOTE NEW PHONE NUMBER
Dial-in: 945-218-0112; 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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The Couples' Ministry meets via Zoom the second and third Fridays of the month at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
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Our January Women's Class will be held on Sunday, January 29,2023at 5:00 p.m. at the church building, and via Free Conference Call for those who cannot attend in person.
Dial in: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
Or, join the class online at
Presenter: Sis. Pam Alexander
Topic: Psalm 51
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Please note that the dial-in number for this conference call has changed. The new number is 945-218-0112. The access code remains the same, 3730930. |
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2023 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion: Our 2023 trip is scheduled for Thursday, September 14th through Friday, September 15th to see a production of “Moses” at the Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 14th. The cost for bus, hotel, dinner and show is as follows:
- $340/person for quad occupancy (families)
- $358/person for triple occupancy (families)
- $393/person for double occupancy
- $514 for single occupancy
- $830/couple for grand king room
Sign up is open now and a $75 deposit is required by to hold a spot. The number is limited by bus capacity and hotel availability. If you have not already done so, please get your deposit in ASAP to secure your spot so we can finalize the theater seating. Seats can only be assigned for purchased tickets.
Payments can be made via our e-giving link at https://www.churchofchristinroxbury.org/e-giving. Please follow up any payments with an email to cocroxbury@gmail.com with the subject line "Pennsylvania Trip Payment" and your name and payment amount in the body of the email so that your payments can be properly recorded.
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Our December Men's Class will be held on Sunday, January 29th 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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Date of next meeting will be announced. |
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Monthly Ministry Meeting
1st Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
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Meetings & Events
12/3 - Finance Ministry Meetings, 8 & 9 a.m. via Zoom
12/4 - Youth Ministry Meeting, 2:00 p.m.
12/5 - Ministers/Elders/Deacons Meeting, 7 p.m. via Zoom
12/9 - Couples' Ministry Meeting, 7 p.m.
12/10 - Publications & Communications Ministry Meeting, 9 a.m. via Zoom
12/10 - Tejeda Baby Sprinkle, 2 p.m. (see above for details)
12/11 - Deacons' Meeting, following 11am service @church building
12/16 - Couples' Ministry Meeting, 7 p.m.
12/17 - Youth & Family Ministry Gingerbread House Party, 12-4 p.m. (details above)
12/18 - Men's and Women's Classes, 5 p.m. @church building
January 2023
1/6/23 - Friends and Family Bowling Outing, hosted by Youth & Family Ministry, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (details above under News & Notes)
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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- Sunday New Converts' Class, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Bible Class (children) Sundays at 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Adult Devotional/Bible Study, 10:20am @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)
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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) in person and 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 (2nd & 3rd 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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