MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF CALVARY BIBLE CHURCH, HANOVER JUNE

Transcription

1 Calvary s Light MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF CALVARY BIBLE CHURCH, HANOVER JUNE 2017 Ordinary Saints Pastor Mike Osladil If you had to use one word to describe yourself, what term would you use? It might depend of course on who is asking the question. If you have a job interview you might use a word that matches the most important qualification for the job. If the job required you to follow strict procedures we might hear you say conscientious, attentive, detail-oriented, or efficient. Or if the interview was related to a promotion within your current company, we might hear you use a word such as dependable, tenacious, dedicated or loyal. If asked for a one-word description of yourself and you are thinking of your role in your family, we might hear one of these words: Father, Mother, Son, Daughter, Husband, Wife, Sister, Brother, Aunt, Uncle, or Grandparent. Or you might describe what you do for a living, such as Contractor, Painter, Plumber, Engineer, Manager, or Police-officer. We often wear many different hats and adopt roles that fit the task to which we are assigned. But there s a one-word description of each of us as believers that is foundational to any other role or task we might possess, and that is the word saint. Did you realize that if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God s Word describes you as a saint? Now knowing your weaknesses and struggles, a saint may be the last word you would use to describe yourself. The popular opinion in many religious circles is that a saint is a person formally recognized or canonized by the Church after death. For example, in Roman Catholic tradition, sainthood is conferred after death on Christians of exceptionally outstanding character and achievement. For instance, on Sunday, Sept 4, 2016, Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa, a saint. Table of Contents Pg 1,2 Pastor s Message Pg 2 Library Link Pg 3 Elder Express Pg 3 CBC Marketplace Pg 4 Music News Pg 4 Cash Flow Pg 4 Kids Camp Pg 5 Calendar

2 Of course, over the course of church history, most of the original apostles, including Paul, came to be called saints. Here in Hanover a quick google search showed me that we have several churches named after saints, such as St. Paul s Lutheran Church, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, St. Bartholomew s United Church (ELCA), St. David s United Church of Christ, St. Vincent Church (made possible because of a gracious donor, Vincent O Bold), St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Mark Lutheran Church (the first English speaking Lutheran Church in Hanover), as well as All Saints Episcopal Church. Jerry Bridges notes, Today, outside the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions, the word saint is seldom used. But when it is, it is most often used to describe a person (usually elderly) of unusual godly character. Someone might say, If there ever was a saint, it is my grandmother. Upon hearing such a statement, we immediately picture a kind, gracious woman who regularly reads her Bible and prays, and who is known for her good deeds toward others. While we may use the word saint, to refer to a person of unusual godly character, do you realize that the apostle Paul addressed the messed-up believers at Corinth as saints? Notice 1 Corinthians 1:1-2, From Paul... to the church of God... in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours (1 Cor 1:1-2 NET). To be sanctified is to be set apart to God. A saint is simply someone who is sanctified. So the set apart ones, that s you and me as believers in Jesus Christ, have been set apart by God. We are saints because God has set us apart (i.e., sanctified) us. For whom has God set us apart? The answer, of course, is that God has set us apart for Himself. As a believer in Jesus Christ, God has separated or set you apart for Himself. For example, Paul states in Titus 2:14, [Jesus Christ] gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds (Titus 2:14 NLT). Let s remember who we are! God has set us apart to Himself. Your life, my life, no longer belongs to ourselves. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies (1 Cor 6:19b-20 NIV). These two passages help us understand the biblical meaning of saint. A saint is someone whom Christ bought with His own blood on the cross and has separated unto Himself to be His own possession. The fact that God s Spirit has made you and me saints by His supernatural action working deep within our inner being, gives us all the more reason to praise God for making us a new creation in Christ. Fellow saints, ordinary saints, let s remember who we are. Library Link Jack s Life Jack's Life- The Life story of C.S.Lewis by Douglas Gresham. The author is uniquely qualified to write the tender biography of Lewis. Gresham was a child when they first met. He recounts the story with wide eyes and open heart the man who endured his own childhood dramas. He illuminates the everyday charms of a literary icon who was far more than a genius. Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance by Charles R. Swindoll is a study of Job by a well known author. This careful study of Job's life will convince us that this is another one of God's amazing men with heroic character qualities worth emulating. The Legacy The Legacy by Dan Walsh & Gary Smalley is a novel about a man who is about to discover the true cost of independence. For years the main character has been slowly drifting from both family and his faith. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you look up. What will he do in the midst of crisis? Come in and check it out!

3 Elder Express During the Battle of Hanover, things didn't go so well for Confederate Cavalry Commander James Ewell Brown Stuart. Attacked from behind on Frederick Street by a northern cavalry led by Judson Kirpatrick and George Armstrong Custer, Stuart was pushed through the streets of Hanover, through Mt. Olivet cemetery, and back to the Old Westminster road. His route of retreat followed Fairview Drive to Furhman Mill Road to Jefferson, Dover, and eventually to the outskirts of Harrisburg, missing the first two days of the Battle of Gettysburg. Bad news for what was supposed to be the eyes and ears of the Confederate army. There are three different definitions of what a retreat is: 1) the kind Stuart did, which is a withdrawing from a dangerous situation, 2) a place of privacy, and 3) the kind of retreat your elder board experienced last month: a period of withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction. Retreats are serious stuff, not meant to be all fun and games, a time for re-grouping, revisiting, re-inventing, and reflection. Jeb Stuart's retreat was none of those things. Your elder board's was just that. We spent Friday evening listening to a woman's perspective of the ministry at CBC. The insight gained allowed us to re-think how the business of ministry is conducted here at Calvary from our wives vantage point. Lest you think the ladies agreed with all the decisions the men make, you would be sadly mistaken. Thank God for our wives counsel. meeting and reviewed the 5 goals they set forth for One of those 5 goals is to "work to increase the congregation's vision and passion for global outreach, educating our people regarding their biblical mission's responsibilities." And just what does that mean? A missions moment during the 5 Before? An increased awareness from the pulpit? A missions Sunday School class taught by members of the MLT? At CBC, we are a missions-minded church. We want you to be missionsminded people. We reviewed the fruits of our March ministry leaders meeting. We conducted in-depth discussions regarding the timing to "prune the limbs" of our in-house ministries so that the root system remains strong. Whether that means that annual ministries become biannual events in order to relieve the stress placed upon ministry leaders, or intense ministry leader training in recruitment strategies, or educating you, our congregation that ministries require involvement is to be determined. Discipleship requires involvement. Ministries need help! Finally, we spent time in prayer, praying for you, our congregation. You, your stewardship, your faithfulness, and your support for the body is an inspiration for us to fulfill the duties of elders set forth in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Christ expects excellence from His disciples, and where we fall short, His grace is sufficient. No retreat necessary! Your elders On Saturday, we re-visited our February 11 MLT CBC Marketplace All submissions will remain for three months unless you sell your item(s). Please call the church office if your items have sold. FOR RENT: Three bedroom, half house for rent near shopping and schools. $ per month plus all utilities. No pets and no smoking. Contact Bonnie Laughman at FOR SALE: Dark Blue Rallye 12 Speed Men s Mountain Bike $50. Call Lee Slagle at HOUSECLEANING WANTED: Looking for someone to clean house twice a month in the Sticks, PA, area off of 851. House has no kids, no pets. References requested. Please contact Scott or Annette

4 July 3rd through the July 7th Kids Camp is a camping ministry held at Mountain View Bible Camp and staffed by our congregation to allow our children and their friends to enjoy a full week of fellowship and fun in a unique atmosphere. We offer day camp for first and second graders. Third through sixth graders come as overnight campers. Go online for the registration form from our Crafts, games, swimming, special events, guest speakers, music, Children s Ministry page or stop by the Kids missions, and snack shop are all part of this special week. This Camp table. years guest speaker is Skip Kite from the Fellowship International Missions organization. Please see the Kids Camp Please pray about sponsoring a child or teen for camp. table or go online and download the brochure from the website. Envelopes for your donation are available at the Kids Camp table. Registration continues! This Hope Coming to CBC July 16 at 10:25 AM Plan to join us & invite others for a morning of worship!

5 CBC June Event Calendar Date Day Time Event Room 4 Sunday 9:30 AM Welcome Class :25 AM AM Service Sanctuary 5:00 PM Teen Group 6:30 PM Divorce Care, Kids Camp Meeting, PM Communion Service 5 Monday 9:30 AM Teens: McDonald s Monday 6 Tuesday 6:00 PM Girls Volleyball Gym 6:30 PM Precept: Ezra/Haggai 106 7:00 PM MLT Meeting 7 Wednesday 9:30 AM Widows Fellowship 202 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting, GriefShare 8 Thursday 6:30 PM Elder Meeting 10 Saturday 9:00 AM Pins N Needles 11 Sunday 10:25 AM AM Service Sanctuary 12:00 PM Usher Meeting, Meet the Pastor 6:30 PM PM Service, Divorce Care 13 Tuesday 6:00 PM Girls Volleyball Gym 6:30 PM Precept: Ezra/Haggai Wednesday 6:30 PM Grief Share, Grow Meeting, Prayer Meeting 18 Sunday 10:25 AM AM Service/Father s Day Sanctuary 6:30 PM No PM Activities 20 Tuesday 6:45 PM WAC Meeting 21 Wednesday 9:30 AM Widows Fellowship 202 6:30 PM Grief Share, Prayer Meeting 25 Sunday 10:25 AM AM Service Sanctuary 6:30 PM Divorce Care, PM Service 26 Monday 9:30 AM Teens: McDonald s Monday 27 Tuesday 6:00 PM Girls Volleyball Gym 28 Wednesday 6:30 PM Grief Share, Grow Meeting, Prayer Meeting 29 Thursday All Day Calvary Ambassadors: Bus Trip Multi-Day Events Date Day Time Event Location 9 11 Fri - Sun Church Wide Family Camping Trip Camp Hebron Mon - Sun Youth: Teen Camp Alpine Bible Camp