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Week of September 18, 2022 |
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Is Our Christianity One Of Convenience?
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From a practical standpoint, most of us like to hear of things that are convenient and easy to use (those so-called “time saving“ devices). For example, we have microwave ovens, electric door openers, remote control devices, and computers that are “user friendly.”
Unfortunately, in the religious world, some have the same “convenient” mindset. For example, we have folks among us who propagate the idea that Sunday and Wednesday night services are not required. And while it is good to be there with the assembled saints, it is not a sin to miss those assemblies.
But, have we ever thought of what Hebrews 13:17 says? It states:
“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
By the authority of the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV), the elders are given the responsibility to lead us to heaven. They are responsible to provide us with opportunities to learn God’s word, and in so doing, do what is right before God, so that we might not miss heaven.
Thus, to miss appointed assemblies by the elders, is to sin against the Lord, since He, through the Holy Spirit, is the one authorizing the rule of elders over us as members (and note the word “obey”).
The old statement about only needing the church at our baptism, our marriage, and our funeral, is far too often believed. Those folks who ascribe to such a view will definitely be in for a surprise on the day of judgment (Matthew 7:21).
Paul told Timothy to “Preach the word,” not only when it is convenient, but when it is not convenient, i.e., “in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
For those of us who do not want to assemble with the saints on Sunday and Wednesday evening, do we not have the mindset of those listed in 2 Timothy 4:3-4? As God’s children, we are obligated to live for Christ (Gal. 2:20), not only when others “do,” but when others “fail” to do so.
Wasted opportunities to serve the Lord, is going to be the downfall of many in the church of our Lord. We’re going to have to learn to make the most of every opportunity — “redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16), for we don’t know if tomorrow will come for certain (James 4:13-14).
Brethren and friends, there’s also one other important point we need to consider. We need to set the right example before others (our children, for example — could this possibly be one reason why over sixty percent are abandoning the church and renouncing Christianity?), by making Christianity a way of life — not one of convenience.
Convenience was never promoted by Jesus or the New Testament writers (Matthew 16:24), however, obedience was (John 15:12-15; cf. Hebrews 5:9; 1 Peter 1:22).
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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 here or anywhere in the announcement above to join the meeting online.
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Click here or anywhere in the announcement above to view full sized flier in multiple languages.
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Sermon for Sunday, September 18, 2022
How to Live in an Adverse Society
1 Peter 4:7-11
Speaker: Denver Simmons
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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
- They're Engaged!
- Education Ministry Meeting via Zoom, Tues., 9/20 at 6:30pm
- BTU Back To School Fair, 9/24, 1-4 pm
- Peacemakers Book Publication Project Update
- 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
- Community Outreach Monthly Grocery Distribution, Saturday, September 24th
- Save the Date: October 15-19, 2022, Roxbury Fall Gospel Meeting with Bro. Eric Owens
- Ladies Take Note
- 4th Sunday Ladies' Class, 9/25/22 @5pm at the church building.
- Mature in Heart
- 2022 Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion, October 28-29
- Men Take Note
- 4th Sunday Men's Class, 9/25/22 @5pm at the church building.
- Men's Retreat Details
- Youth & Family Ministry
- Youth Ministry Meeting, 9/4/22
- Annual Apple Picking, 9/24/22
- 10th Annual Youth Rally, 10/1/22
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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Our September monthly grocery distribution outreach will take place on Saturday, September 24th, beginning at 10 a.m. for bag assembly at the building. Masks required. Thank you to all who assisted with our August outreach efforts on August 27th.
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Save the Date!
October 15-19, 2022
Roxbury Fall Gospel Meeting
with Bro. Eric Owens
Minister for
the West Side Church of Christ in Round Rock, Texas
MASKS ARE REQUIRED OF ALL ATTENDEES
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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, September 25 at 5 p.m.
IN-PERSON AT THE CHURCH BUILDING
Presenter: Sis. Pamela Alexander
Topic: The Book of Ruth
Click here to download worksheet
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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, September 25, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
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All payments are now due. 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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Click here to join the YAM Zoom meeting online.
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Monthly Ministry Meeting
1st Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
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Meetings & Events
9/5 - Labor Day - no lunch distribution
9/6-9 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building (no lunch on 9/5)
9/11 - Deacons' Meeting, following 11am service @church building
9/12-16 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
9/13 - Young Adult Ministry meeting 7pm via Zoom. Connection info above
9/17 - Ministers'/Elders'/Deacons' Wives Meeting, 9am via teleconference
9/17 -Bedford Street CoC Bible Teachers' Workshop
9/19-23 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
9/24 - Community Outreach, 10am @ church building
9/24 - Annual Apple Picking Outing
9/25 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Ladies' Class 5:00pm
9/25 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Men's Class, 5:00pm @church building
9/26-30 - 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)
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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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