According to the dictionary, despair is a loss of hope, which brings about a state of hopelessness. A loss of hope brings about discouragement. Discouragement brings about a loss of courage, hope, and ambition because of obstacles, frustrations and the problems of life.
What can we do to overcome despair in our lives? We can look for hope; but not just any hope. We look for the kind of hope that is based on “the light” at the end of what can sometimes be a very long and dark tunnel (John 8:12; John 9:5; cf. John 1:1-5; John 3:14-21).
The Christian hope is anchored in Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Through His perfect sacrifice on the cross of Calvary and God’s immutable oath that He would honor His promise to Abraham that through him, all nations of the earth would be spiritually blessed (Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 3:19-26; Gal. 3:6-9), our hope is made steadfast and secure (Hebrews 6:10-20).
As William Bradbury so eloquently wrote:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name ….
His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.”
Brethren and friends, no matter what sort of adversity or challenge that we might face in life, when we fix our eyes upon Jesus and His sacrifice (Hebrews 12:2 NASB), our hope for eternal life is solid and secure (Romans 5).
Hallelujah to God, who sent His perfect Lamb to redeem us from our sins (Romans 5:1-11; Hebrews 9), forever securing our place in eternity with Him (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Revelation 21:1-7).
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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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Sad News: We are saddened to report that Shamini Stewart Jackson and her husband Michael Jackson, lost their son, Michael Crew, to a late term miscarriage last week. Please keep the Jacksons in prayer for comfort and strength in the wake of this devastating loss. Contact information for the Jacksons was sent to members via text and email blasts last Wednesday.
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Sermon for Sunday, August 21, 2022
When Enough is Enough!
1 Peter 4:3
Speaker: Bro. Mark A. Craigwell
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Boston Lights at Franklin Park Zoo: |
Friday, August 26th at 7:30 p.m. Please see Sis. Pam Alexander on Sunday, August 21st to pay for and pick up your ticket(s). Tickets are $12.
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Our August outreach will take place on Saturday, August 27th, beginning at 10 a.m. for bag assembly at the building. Masks required.
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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 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.
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! 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
- 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 6 months and up. Booster shots available for J&J, Moderna, and Pfizer. Walk in appointments available at many clinics.
- Current and Upcoming Events
- Monday-Friday Meal Distribution, 1:30 p.m. daily
- Ladies Take Note
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4th Sunday Ladies' Class, 8/28/22 @5pm VIA ZOOM ONLY
- Mature in Heart
- 2022 Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion, October 28-29
- Men Take Note
- 4th Sunday Men's Class, 8/28/22 @5pm at the church building.
- Men's Retreat Details
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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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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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 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, August 28th at 5 p.m.
via Zoom only
Dial in #: 301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 842 7265 5713
Passcode: 037668
Presenter: Sis. Pamela Alexander
Topic: ACTION
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"Crowned with Confidence and Thriving in Christ Jesus" Psalm 46:1-5
Those who attended the 2022 Bedford Street Church of Christ Ladies' Day on Saturday, August 20th were truly blessed to enjoy a spiritually uplifting time of praise and fellowship. If you were unable to attend but would like to hear the keynote address by Sis. Shana Lewis of Houston, Texas, the audio has been uploaded as a podcast and can be accessed by clicking the following link: Podcast | BedfordStCOC (bedfordstcocinabington.org)
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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 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. Payments can be submitted electronically via our e-giving link. Please follow up any electronic 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.
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, August 28, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
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All payments are due by August 30, 2022. To pay online, use our e-giving link to make your payment and follow up with an email to cocroxbury@gmail.com with subject line "Men's Retreat Payment," and your name, congregation, and payment amount in the body of the email.
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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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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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Meetings & Events
8/1 - Ministers'/Elders'/Deacons' Meeting, 7pm
8/1-5 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
8/6 - Finance Ministry Meeting, 9am @ church building
8/8-12 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
8/14 - Deacons' Meeting, following 11am service @church building
8/15-19 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
8/20 - Ministers'/Elders'/Deacons' Wives Meeting, 9am via teleconference
8/20 -Bedford St. CoC Ladies' Day, Knights of Columbus Meeting Hall, Whitman, MA
8/26 - Boston Lights at Franklin Park Zoo, 7:30 p.m. (details above)
8/27 - Community Outreach, 10am @ church building
8/28 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Ladies' Class 5:00pm @church building
8/28 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Men's Class, 5:00pm @church building
8/29-9/2 - 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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