From the Desk of the Superintendent |
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Merry CHRISTmas one and all!
My auto correct doesn't like it when I type CHRISTmas. It keeps telling me that is incorrect. However, I continue typing the word that way as I like to emphasize that CHRIST is the centerpiece of the Holiday! It isn't about Santa, presents, decorations, or even family. It is about Jesus. It is His birthday that we are celebrating, His Lordship, and His kingdom that we recognize just as the Angels foretold.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus and his Advent, as Advent Christians we also are reminded of His second Advent and celebrate the fact that Jesus is coming again! Hallelujah! I simply can't separate the two. I can't celebrate the first without getting excited about the second coming of our Lord and Savior. It's unfortunate that the Jews had such little regard for the fulfillment of scripture regarding the fulfillment of all the scriptures that pointed to the first coming of Jesus. As we will see below by Nancy Guthrie from Zechariah 9:9, it is my prayer that each of us will proclaim Jesus as the coming Savior and lead many to Christ in these last days by talking about the great news of Jesus who came as "righteous and having salvation... humble and mounted on a donkey." All the great and terrible events taking place in these days are part of the second coming that will lead up to His second Advent.
I pray that you will enjoy this season and the wonderful reason why it exists! That Jesus will be the focus of your life, and the joy of your existence. Happy Advent to you and yours!
We have put together a brief newsletter to keep you up to date with items taking place across the Region.
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Finances
Our ministry to the churches of the Eastern Region is funded by our churches and benefactors. Please consider a year-end gift to the Region to support this ministry.
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This weekend December 17-19, Emmanuel Church is performing A Christmas Carol: A New Musical. On Friday and Sunday the time is 7 PM, on Saturday it's 2 PM. No reservation required and there is no charge for the event. |
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12 more people were baptized at Hope Evangelical Community Church in North Dartmouth, MA on December 12th. Praise God for the work He is doing in hearts and lives! |
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Goodwins Mills held a baptism for Lauren Twitchell at the Sea Road Church in Kennebunk, ME on November 28th. |
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What's happening at your church? Send info and pictures to secretary@aceasternregion.org. |
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Penny Crusade
Advent Christian ministry partnerships now exist in more than 20 countries. Indian pastors, Filipino missionaries, African pastors, children’s homes, a Bible college, discipleship groups, feeding ministries, training events and new church plants are all strengthened by money raised through Penny Crusade.
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Please remember to send in your Donations.
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Totals through December 15th.
111% of Goal Reached!
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Can you guess which church this is? The first person to email the office (secretary@aceasternregion.org) with the correct answer will receive a small prize. If this is your home church, we ask that you refrain from answering.
The November Church was Oak Hill Bible Church in Oxford, MA. Tom Loghry guessed the correct answer.
Send an outside picture of your church, without the sign/name, to secretary@aceasternregion.org
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Pastors/Church Leaders: Would you take 5 minutes to help our students by completing a survey? At the Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies (BICS), we're offering a new course in the upcoming spring semester called The Local Church and the Mission of God. This new course explores the doctrine of the Church from a biblical and theological perspective and seeks to help students understand the centrality of the local church within the mission of God. As we finish designing the course, we would love to have your input! Since our primary aim is to prepare students to be faithful members of their local churches, we're hoping to include the insights of pastors/church leaders like you. You can take the 5-minute survey here: https://berkshireinstitute.org/pastor-survey/. Thank you in advance for helping us in our work to disciple young adults by grounding them in God's Word and helping to prepare them to flourish for God's Kingdom.
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Monthly Devotional Thought |
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Recently I was reading about the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Joshua had instructed them to prepare themselves for in three days the Lord would give them the land He has promised. I began to consider this generation about to cross the Jordan. This was a new generations, all those who had experienced the miraculous deliverance from Egypt had died save Joshua and Caleb. Incredibly out of a million plus people, only 2 remained who could say firsthand they had seen the miracles of God. I wonder if they were worried about crossing the Jordan. Did they wonder if God was still able to give them the land? Moses, who God often performed miracles through was gone. Would they ever see a miracle again? In truth they were still experiencing the miracles of God; manna was faithfully provided every morning, their clothes hadn't worn out, there was still the pillar of fire at night and the cloud overhead during the day.
But for this generation, these miracles had become... well... common place. These no longer felt like a miracle. I wonder if they had a view of God that looked a little like that of old Winter Warlock. Remember him? He was the aging warlock in the Santa Claus is Coming to Town cartoon. He didn't have the power he once had, there was concern that he couldn't help Kris Kringle when he needed him. Sometimes I wonder if we start to get this view of God. Maybe the miracle of Christmas has lost its "miraculous feeling" because it has become common place. Or maybe we start to doubt that God is able because, well you know, He is older than time!
Let me encourage you today with a few reminders. He is able to make you stand (Rom. 14:4). He is able to establish you (Rom. 16:25). He is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless (Jude 24). He's able to make all grace abound toward you (2Cor. 9:8). He is able to de exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20). He is able to save you to the uttermost! (Heb. 7:25). As I type, the song comes to mind, maybe you are already humming it: "He is able, more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. He is able, more than able to handle anything that comes my way. He is able, more than able to make me what He wants me to be." (Maranatha! Singers).
My friend, whatever concerns you today, He is able! May you experience the miraculous this Christmas as you take Him at His word! Blessings!
~Cindy Ludwick
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Meetinghouse Village reminds active and retired AC pastors that they may stay free of charge on Sunday and Monday overnights at our Tower Memorial Suite. Other nights are available at the reduced rate of $25 per night. Availability is dependent on prior bookings and certain Covid-19 protocols. To inquire about a reservation, email info@meetinghousevillage.org.
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Lowly and Riding on a Donkey
In order to present themselves in all their power and splendor, ancient kings would ride into the cities they ruled over astride a stout, white stallion. But according to Zechariah, this is not how Israel's coming Messiah-King will enter Jerusalem:
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
Yet he is humble, riding on a donkey-
riding on a donkey's colt. (9:9)
Zechariah's prophecy revealed unexpected qualities about the Messiah. He will not be a tyrant from another empire, but a people's king, coming for their benefit. He will not arrive on a warrior steed to conquer or enslave them, but to free them and bring peace to them.
But still Israel looked for a great conquering military leader to come into Jerusalem with his armies to expunge the filthy Gentile Romans from the land. Even though they had the prophecy from Zechariah, they didn't recognize-or perhaps did not want to recognize- what Jesus was saying about himself when he entered Jerusalem riding on a young borrowed donkey (Matthew 21:2-5; John 12:14-15).
Why did Jesus choose to ride into Jerusalem in this way? Matthew explained, "This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet" (Matthew 21:4, NIV), quoting Zechariah's prophecy. Jesus was emerging from obscurity to make clear his claims as Messiah-King and as Savior. By arriving on a donkey instead of a warhorse, Jesus was saying, "I am not coming to slay you, but to serve you; not with sword but with salvation."
The day is still to come when Jesus will enter Jerusalem on the most valiant white horse the world has ever seen (Revelation 19:11). His heart will not be burdened with the weight of offering himself as a sacrificial Lamb for lost sinners. That victory is forever won! At that time, he will come as a conquering King! The victorious processional parade into Jerusalem will find Jesus Christ riding atop a white horse, victorious in battle and riding with the full regalia of a mighty King's majesty into the city of God.
~ You have come gently, my King, announcing the day of salvation, and still you hold the door open. But one day that door will close, and you will come swiftly to judge all those who have refused to bow.
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Click on Willie's picture to visit his website for upcoming events. |
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Seminary-level teaching brought to your local New England church in partnership with Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
We believe that as leaders and lay people in the local church are equipped (Ephesians 4), churches will thrive. These courses will be offered in area churches in two, two-day intensives starting in Sept. Visit their website to see course offerings and schedules.
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Previous copies of the monthly newsletter and reports for the 2021 Convention are on our website.
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Have a mobile phone? You can now give to the Region through Venmo!
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Online Prayer Meeting Tuesdays from 9-10 AM |
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ERA Board of Directors
Rev. George Karl, President - sumkarl@yahoo.com
Rev. Dwight Dean, Vice President - fsufandsd@gmail.com
Rev. Allen Latimore, Clerk - aclatimore@netzero.net
Mr. John Jones, Treasurer - pastorjoj@gmail.com
Rev. Doug Tourgee, Heritage Conf. President - dougin401@aol.com
Rev. Alan Chamberlin, Maine State Conf. Vice President - polarpastor@roadrunner.com
Rev. Josh Rice, Maranatha Conf. President - jrice@emmanuelacc.net
Rev. Derek Irvine, New Life Conf. President - drick1221@gmail.com
Mr. Adam Facteau, New York Conf. President - afacteau@twcny.rr.com
Rev. Ken Perkins, Nova Scotia Conf. President - Ken.perkins@EastLink.ca
Mrs. Deb Reed, ERA Representative to ACGC - deborahjoreed@yahoo.com
Rev. Steve Lawson, ACGC Executive Director - slawson@acgc.us
The Eastern Regional Association Newsletter is published as a ministry of the Eastern Regional Association of the Advent Christian General Conference.
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Eastern Regional Association
32 Four Rod Road, Rochester, NH 03867
Phone: 603-332-1412 / Fax: 603-332-1648
www.aceasternregion.org
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