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Week of February 13, 2022 |
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Sharing The “Better Life” In Christ
By Mike Riley
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For many years, we’ve been told through various media that the American dream is to live the “good life.” That “good life” usually consists of having a good job, owning a nice home, driving a new car, and providing our children with the best secular education possible.
In later years, the “good life” is a carefree retirement — having sufficient funds to provide ourselves adequate health care, and the ability to travel and see the world.
While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with these goals, they fall quite short of the noble goals set for us in Scripture. In Galatians 2:20, the inspired writer Paul provides a more accurate picture of the “better life” in Christ:
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”
Our importance to our family and our peers is not measured by our looks, our monetary success, or our position in life, but in Who “lives” in our life — as Paul acknowledged.
As Christians, we should possess high self-esteem because Christ lives in us. Additionally, Paul viewed the saints as having God’s Spirit dwelling in them (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16).
After our conversion to Christ, we experience a shift from selfish ambition to unselfish generosity (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). In quoting the Lord, Paul in Acts 20:35, makes it clear that the good life is achieved by giving rather than receiving.
As we become aware of our own inadequacies and sinful behaviors, we stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting in the true and living God (1 Timothy 4:8-10; 1 Timothy 6:17). Pride and its attendant destruction (Proverbs 16:18) are replaced with faith and its promised blessings (2 Corinthians 1:19-20).
We live our lives “in Christ” as an expression of thanksgiving for His great blessings (Ephesians 1:3), and we are motivated to faithful worship and sacrificial obedience because Jesus set the example at Calvary (Hebrews 5:5-9).
Brethren, the world will always call us to share with others, the American dream of the “good life” — but let’s also be ready to share with them the “better life” in Christ (John 10:10; cf. Romans 5; 2 Peter 1:1-11).
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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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Sermon for Sunday, February 13, 2022
Be Holy, (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Speaker: Bro. Mark A. Craigwell
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Our February Community Outreach will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2022, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the building to assemble bags of groceries, which will then be delivered to seniors in the community. All are welcome to participate. Masks are required. |
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We now 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 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. PLEASE SEE LAST WEEK'S E-BULLETIN FOR THE SIGN-UP LINK FOR THE FEBRUARY 13TH SERVICE.
In-Person Worship Sign-up
Please also 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
- Friends and Family Skating Event, February 19th (details above)
- Baby Gift Registries for Alexanders, Craigwells, & Odimas
- Worship & Class Schedule - Links to Services & Classes; link to worship attendance registration form
- Latest on COVID-19
- Vaccine available for ages 5 and up. Walk in appointments available at many clinics
- Current and Upcoming Events -
- Monday-Friday Meal Distribution, 1:30 p.m. daily
- Couples' Ministry resumed on January 14, 2022 - connection info below
- Ladies Take Note
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4th Sunday Ladies' Class, 2/27/22 @5pm VIA ZOOM. See below for details.
- Men Take Note
- 4th Sunday Men's Class, 2/27/22 @5pm in person @church building
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New England Lectureship - See updated flier. It's not too early to register for 2022.
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 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.
The DPH also advises continued masking and social distancing, and several Massachusetts communities have reinstituted mask mandates. Click here for the most recent advisory from the Department of Public Health regarding face coverings and cloth masks.
All Massachusetts residents ages 5 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 Class/Meeting Schedule |
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Tender Lambs & Pure in Heart Sunday Morning Bible Class
Sundays 10-10:30 a.m. in person and 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
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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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January: Friday, January 14th and 21st @7:00 p.m.
February: Friday, February 18th, virtual dinner @7:00 p.m.
Beginning in March, 1st & 2nd Fridays of the month @ 7:00 p.m.
Click here for full size image to scan QR code
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4th Sunday Ladies Class, Sunday, February 27th at 5 p.m. VIA ZOOM ONLY
Sis. Elizabeth Nagarajah
Hospitality - We Can All Do This
Click here to join class online
Meeting ID: 842 7265 5713
Passcode: 037668
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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,February 27, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
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Click here to download full-sized flier.
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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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Meetings & Events
1/30-2/4 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
2/7-11 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
2/14-18 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
2/19 - Family & Friends Skating Outing in West Roxbury (details above0
2/21-25 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
2/26 - Community Outreach, 10am @ church building
2/27 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Ladies' 5:00pm @via Zoom
2/27 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Men's Class, 5:00pm @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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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 (children) See above for connection info and times for individual classes.
- 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)
- New Converts' Class (Wednesdays @ 7pm) @church building
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Healing Hearts (Thursdays @6:15pm) VIA ZOOM
- 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) @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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