Sharing the “Better Life” in Christ
Mike Riley
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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
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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Click the image above for information on Juneteenth celebrations in and around Boston. |
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Juneteenth Celebration produced by Beyond MEASURE Productions airing on NBC10 |
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For its second year King Boston has partnered with Beyond Measure Productions to produce their Juneteenth celebration. This year, we focused on showcasing Boston's young talent and behind-the-camera phenoms. The program features students from the Boston Arts Academy as well as King Boston's artists in residence DJ real P and Kaovanny. Our incredible directors Kat Otuechere (@snapsbykat), John Adekoje (@John_Adekoje) and BMP's own Noah Chrisofer (@filmsbeyondmeasure) blessed the program with their unique artistry.
We cannot wait to share it with you! Please tune in to NBC10 on Monday, June 20th at 7:30pm. For those of you not local to Boston, please check it out on King Boston's website after it airs on Monday.
Thank you, as always, for your support. Happy Juneteenth!
Miranda ADEkoje
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3rd Sunday Fellowship
Sunday, July 17, _2022
Program Starts at 3:00pm
Location
Right Next to the Church Building at the
Spacious and easy to socially distance
Knights of Columbus Meeting Hall
1195 Bedford Street, Whitman, MA 02382
Parking
Parking Lot of the Knights of Columbus
Meeting Hall
Lunch Will NOT Be Served
Maurice Davis, Minister
Bedford Street Church of Christ
21 S. Bedford St., Abington, MA 02351
www.bedforstcocinabington.org
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Save the Date!
October 15-19, 2022
Roxbury Fall Gospel Meeting
with Bro. Eric Owens
Minister/Elder for
the Avondale Church of Christ
in Decatur, Georgia
Details TBA
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Sermon for Sunday, June 19, 2022
How to Live and Love the Good Life, Part 2
1 Peter 3:9
Speaker: Bro. Denver Simmons
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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, June 25th, 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/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. PLEASE SEE LAST WEEK'S E-BULLETIN FOR THE SIGN-UP LINK FOR THE June 19th SERVICE. THE SIGN-UP LINK FOR JUNE 19TH WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 10 P.M. ON SATURDAY JUNE 18TH.
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
- New Converts' Luncheon, Saturday, June 18, 2022
- Community Outreach, Saturday, June 25, 2022
- 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, 6/26/22 @5pm VIA Zoom only
- Mature in Heart
- 2022 Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion, October 28-29
- Men Take Note
- 4th Sunday Men's Class, 6/26/22 @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, June 26th 5 p.m.
VIA ZOOM ONLY
Presenter: Sis. Christiana Adams
"The God-Fearing Woman"
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.
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.
This trip is now open to members of our sister congregations, who should email their names to cocroxbury@gmail.com with the subject line "2022 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Trip."
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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, June 26, 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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Meetings & Events
5/30-6/3 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
6/6 - Ministers'/Elders'/Deacons' Meeting, 7pm
6/6-10 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
6/11 - Youth & Family Ministry Canobie Lake Park Outing
6/12 - Deacons' Meeting, following 11am service @church building
6/13/17 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
6/18 - Ministers'/Elders'/Deacons' Wives Meeting, 9am via teleconference
6/18 - New Converts' Luncheon, noon-3pm in church parking lot
6/20-24 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
6/25 - Community Outreach, 10am @ church building
6/26 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Ladies' Class 5:00pm @via Zoom
6/26 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Men's Class, 5:00pm @church building
6/27-7/1 - 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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- 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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