The Word of His Grace
Joe Slater
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And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)
As Paul bade this tearful farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus, he urged them to rely upon God and “the word of His grace.” How is God’s grace related to His word? In what sense are the Scriptures “the word of His grace”?
First, God’s word informs us of His grace. How would we know about His grace, especially as it relates to eternal life, if not for the Scriptures? Observing God’s creation makes us aware of His infinite power (Romans 1:20), but not of His grace. Without God’s word, we could not know that we can be “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Only through the inspired word do we learn that salvation by grace through faith is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). A gift is of no value if you don’t even know it is available. Thank God for His inspired word that tells us of His grace!
Even if you know a gift is available, it helps little unless you know how to receive it. So, the second sense in which the gospel is the word of God’s grace is that by the word we access His grace. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have access by (the) faith into this grace in which we stand . . . (Romans 5:1, 2a).
Yes, our access to God’s grace is not simply “by faith” (your personal belief), but “by the faith” (i.e. the gospel). When you believe and obey the gospel, you access the grace of God; you enter into a state of grace. This cannot be done by any other means (e.g. saying the “sinner’s prayer,” being a good moral person, etc.). Thank God for His inspired word by which we access His grace!
Finally, the Scriptures are the word of God’s grace inasmuch as His grace motivated Him to give us His word. Certainly God was under no moral obligation to rescue sinful people. He did so through the Scriptures, not because we deserved it, but by His grace (unmerited favor). Thank God for His inspired word, which He gave to us by His grace!
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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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We now offer two Sunday morning worship services to accommodate in-person attendees
We are now offering two Sunday morning worship services each week to accommodate those who would like to attend worship in person. 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 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 live stream the 11:00 service on our YouTube channel.
In-Person Worship Sign-up
Please 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
- Free Chairs! Must be removed from the building by November 14th
- Flat 9 at Whittier Apartments available for rent
- 2021 Thanksgiving Outreach
- Worship & Class Schedule - Links to Services & Classes; link to worship attendance registration form
- Latest on COVID-19
- Vaccine available for ages 12 and up. Walk in appointments available at many clinics
- Current and Upcoming Events -
- Monday-Friday Meal Distribution, 1:30 p.m. daily
- Ladies Take Note
- 4th Sunday Ladies' Class, 11/28 @5pm in person @church building
- Men Take Note
- 4th Sunday Men's Class, 11/28 @5pm in person @church building
- Youth & Family Ministry
- Evening of Fellowship and Fun at Johnsons' residence, November 12th, 6-9 p.m. (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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FREE CHAIRS!
The gray plastic chairs at the church building have been replaced. If you would like to take one or more of them for personal use, please do so no later than Sunday, November 14th.
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2021 Thanksgiving Outreach |
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Please contact the designated contact person for the item you plan to donate to let them know how many items you will donate, and bring your items to the church building on Friday, November 19th between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.
Remember that all turkeys must be FROZEN SOLID.
If you would like to make a monetary donation toward this year's Thanksgiving Outreach, please use the congregation's e-giving link to make your donation and follow up with an email to cocroxbury@gmail.com with "Thanksgiving Outreach" in the subject line and your name and donation amount in the body of the email.
We will meet at the church building at 10:00 a.m. on November 20th to assemble the boxes for distribution.
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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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COVID Safety Protocols continue
As noted above, we now conduct two worship services on Sunday mornings to accommodate all who would like to attend worship in person. The first service begins at 8:30 a.m.; the second service begins at 11:00 a.m.
The usual sign-up rules and COVID protocols remain in effect to to provide as safe a worship experience as we can and to facilitate the notification process in the event of possible COVID exposure.
NEW: 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 continue to require that all attendees at our in-person worship services and classes comply with the following:
- sign up to attend in advance to facilitate seating and contact tracing (link below);
- wear masks (covering nose and mouth, NO VENTED MASKS);
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maintain social distance (6ft); and
- submit to temperature scans (fever free) to enter the building.
We are aware that not all members have been vaccinated and this requires that we continue the same safety protocols to keep ALL members safe – vaccinated and unvaccinated. Thank you for your continued cooperation.
We will continue to livestream the worship service on Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. on our YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend in person. See below for link to our YouTube channel.
If you will be attending the 11:00 a.m. service, please arrive at the building by 10:30 a.m. We ask that all attendees be seated by 10:45 a.m. so that the livestream can begin promptly at 11:00.
Please spread the word to those who do not have internet access to complete the form online that they can contact Sis. Craigwell at 617-980-7830 or Sis. Gallington at 617-922-5987. By signing up to attend worship in person, you are agreeing to follow all COVID protocols that have been put in place for the safety of all. All attendees will have their temperatures scanned (touchless) upon entry into the building. Facemasks covering the nose and mouth must be worn by all attendees while on church property, both inside and outside. Vented masks are not allowed. All attendees must sanitize hands before entering the auditorium.
To assist us with conducting the service in a decent, orderly and safe manner, we ask that you please not come to the building if you have not been added to the list of attendees. If you have been added to the list and find that you cannot attend, please let Sis. Craigwell or Sis. Gallington know right away so that your spot can be given to someone who can attend. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience.
Use this link to sign up to attend in-person on Sunday, November 7, 2021
Giving: We encourage members to continue using e-giving via the Paypal link on the church website, or to mail their offerings to the church building. There will be a one-week delay in processing offerings brought to in-person worship services. Use the following link to access e-giving:
Use the link below to join us for our worship livestream on Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m.
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Current & Upcoming Events |
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Monday 11/8: Big Salads with grilled chicken, dressing or big salads with falafel
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Tuesday 11/9: Beef and Broccoli over rice; salad or tempeh and broccoli
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Wednesday 11/10: Oven 'fried' Cod, Spinach salad, roasted sweet potatoes or vegan cutlet
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Thursday 11/11: Sliced pork roast with gremolata, Steamed green beans, roasted cauliflower or maple mustard veggie meatballs
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Friday 11/12: Turkey Pot Pie, Salad or veggie pot pie
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Massachusetts has lifted most COVID restrictions regarding masking, social distancing, and occupancy limits for most indoor and outdoor activities. The CDC recommends that those who have not been vaccinated continue to mask and adhere to social distancing recommendations. Businesses and organizations can, however still require COVID protocols at their venues, and the protocols are still in place on public and private transportation and in all medical facilities.
Click here for the most recent advisory from the Department of Public Health regarding face coverings and cloth masks.
All Massachusetts residents ages 12 and up are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and many facilities have walk-in hours. 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 Class/Meeting Schedule |
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Tender Lambs & Pure in Heart Sunday Morning Bible Class
Sundays 10-10:30 a.m. via Zoom
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Children's Sunday Morning Bible Classes
Sundays 10 -10:45 a.mm. via Zoom
Meeting ID: 861 5908 0656
Passcode: 733792
If you prefer to dial in, use one of the numbers below:
+13017158592,,86159080656# US (Washington DC)
+13126266799,,86159080656# US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 861 5908 0656
NOTE: The Peacemakers class, taught by Sis. Pam Alexander and Sis. Caroline Myers will meet at the building at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
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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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No announcements at this time. |
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4th Sunday Ladies Class, Sunday, November 28th at 5 p.m. at the church building.
Presenter: Sis. Carol Johnson.
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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, November 28th 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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Meetings & Events
11/1-5 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
11/8-12 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
11/15-19 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2 p.m. @church building
11/20 - Community Outreach - Thanksgiving Dinner for Five
- 10:00 a.m. - Box assembly and packing
- 12:00 noon - Distribution
11/22-26 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
11/28 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Ladies' & Men's Classes, 5:00pm
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Ministry Meetings - Please contact your ministry coordinator for remote meeting schedules.
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Weekly Events - ALL SERVICES, CLASSES, & MEETINGS NORMALLY HELD AT THE CHURCH BUILDING ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, except as noted below:
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- Sunday Bible Class (all ages) See above for connection info and times for individual classes.
- Sunday Worship Service 8:30 and 11:00 am in person and 11:00 a.m. via livestream on YouTube. See above for details.
- Evening Worship Service, 5pm (1st Sunday of the month)
- Spiritual Development Class 5pm (2nd Sunday of the month)
- Men's/Women's Classes, 5pm (4th Sunday of the month)
- 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)
- Congregational Song Practice, 3rd Wed. 6:30pm
- Mature in Heart Quilting (Thursdays 10:30-12)
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Healing Hearts (Thursdays @6:15pm) VIA ZOOM
- Choral Group Rehearsal (Thursdays @ 7pm)
- Couple's Ministry (Fridays @ 7 pm)
- Women's Prayer (Saturdays 9:30am) VIA TELECONFERENCE (Connection info above)
- Ministers/Elders/Deacons Wives Meeting, (3rd Saturday @10 am) VIA TELECONFERENCE
- Women's Saturday Bible Study (4th Saturday @ 10:30am)
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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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