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Week of September 25, 2022 |
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GROWING IN MATURITY
Edwin Crozier (Franklin church of Christ)
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I recently read a great definition for the word “maturity.” Maturity “means maximizing our skills and talents, and using them effectively, while growing into the full capability of our individual designs.”
I couldn’t help notice maturity is not about what we know. Maturity is not about what we believe. Maturity is about what we do. We need to recognize this in the spiritual realm. Spiritual maturity is not about what we know and believe; it is about what we do. Don’t misunderstand; we have to grow in knowledge and faith if we wish to be mature Christians. Knowledge and faith alone, however, are not the markers for maturity. We can be extremely knowledgeable but still spiritually immature. Maturity is when we actually take the knowledge and faith we are gaining and put them in to practice.
Notice what happened when John the Baptist started preaching in Luke 3:10-14. The people asked, “What then shall we do?” They didn’t ask what to know or what to believe, but what to do. Then John got very practical. He didn’t wax eloquent about theology, soteriology, eschatology, or any otherology. He told them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” He told the tax collectors to take nothing more than they were authorized. He told the soldiers to be content with their wages and not extort money through threats and false accusations. Interestingly, not once can we find anyone ever asking, “What must I believe to be saved?” or “What must I know to be saved?” However, they do ask, “What must I do?” Maturity is about what we do.
Look at II Peter 1:5-8. How many of those attributes are about action? Virtue, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, love. What good are my faith and knowledge if I’m not changing because of them? Maturity is about what we do.
I Peter 4:10-11 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” Again, the concept of maturity is not about what we know but about what we do. Who cares if we have all knowledge but don’t do anything with it? Maturity is about what we do.
James 2:14-26 makes it quite clear. Maturity is not merely about faith. It is about action. What good does it do anyone to claim they have faith if they do not have any faith-based actions? Can a non-acting faith save that person? Absolutely not. Sadly, we usually turn to this verse when debating baptism. While this passage has application to the issues of baptism and salvation, it is not about baptism. If we take comfort in this passage simply because we’ve been properly baptized, we are missing the point of the passage. It was actually written to people who had already been baptized (note “my brothers” in James 2:14). James was writing to Christians explaining that their faith should be changing their actions. Maturity is about what we do.
So, the question about maturity is not what do we believe differently than we used to? It is not what do we know differently than we used to? The question is what are we doing differently? Is what we know impacting how we live? Perhaps we need to take a different approach to every opportunity we have to teach, whether class or sermons. We tend to focus on gaining knowledge. Perhaps we need to focus more on the “so what?” Perhaps we need to focus more on what we should do with what we’ve learned. What is an action that says the lesson has increased our maturity? Even if the teacher or preacher does not always provide one, let’s make our learning about real maturity, not just about assent to facts.
Maturity is about what we do. What then are we going to do this week that will show we are growing in maturity?
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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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Click here or anywhere in the announcement above to join the meeting online.
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Congratulations to Derrell and Nekeyla (Falaise) Desir, who were married on Thursday, September 15, 2022.
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Sermon for Sunday, September 25, 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
- Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Desir!
- Education Ministry Meeting via Zoom, Tues., 9/27 at 6:30pm
- 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.
- Current and Upcoming Events
- Monday-Friday Meal Distribution, 1:30 p.m. daily
- Community Outreach Monthly Grocery Distribution, Saturday, October 22nd
- October 15-19, 2022, Roxbury Fall Gospel Meeting with Bro. Eric Owens
- DRUMFOLK at ArtsEmerson, 10/5/22
- 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
- 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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The Good Life
2022 Fall Gospel Meeting
October 15-19, 2022
Roxbury Fall Gospel Meeting
with Bro. Eric Owens
Minister for
the West Side Church of Christ in Round Rock, Texas
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday, October 15th
Sunday, October 16th
Monday, October 17th
Tuesday, October 18th
Wednesday, October 19th
Registration forms for all sessions will be posted
in next week's e-bulletin
MASKS ARE REQUIRED OF ALL ATTENDEES
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Dear Church Family,
As a member of Boston While Black, I am extending an invitation to RCOC to join the Opening Night celebration for Step Afrika!s DRUMFOLK at ArtsEmerson on Wednesday, October 5th.
About the Artists:
Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional West and Southern African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience.
To unlock Boston While Black’s special ticket pricing, please use code BWBFRIEND to unlock special discounted tickets for this event.
Find out more about the DRUMFOLK at ArtsEmerson HERE, and watch THIS.
Learn more about Boston While Black HERE.
Sincerely,
Tchad A. Cort
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Our October monthly grocery distribution outreach will take place on Saturday, October 22nd, beginning at 10 a.m. for bag assembly at the building. Masks required. Thank you to all who assisted with our September outreach efforts on September 24th.
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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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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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Meetings will resume in October
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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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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
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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