Week of June 18, 2017

Dear Friends,
Just a few things to let you know about this week at CtR:
Please register as soon as possible for Vacation Bible School.  We are still in need of the following:
  • Empty single serve water and soda bottles.
  • Help setting up and decorating.  Please join us at the church on Friday, June 23rd at 9:00 AM if you are available.
Contact Jennifer at brownie7506@yahoo.com for more information.
The Men’s Ministry is sponsoring an opportunity for our family to see the Norfolk Tides play baseball on Tuesday evening, July 25. There is a sign up sheet on the table in the Fellowship Hall. See Steven Dickens with any questions stevendickens548@gmail.com.
Our administrative office is in a season of transition. As Georgia leaves the administrative position to be at home with her family, we welcome Amy Correll as our new Office Administrator.
I look forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday.

 

Week of June 11, 2017

Dear Friends,
In our psalm set for today, Psalm 50, God himself directs us to ‘Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.’
​In the light of that great admonition let me ‘offer’ to you something to be thankful for and several things to be prayerful for:
First, give thanks that we have filled the position of our Administrative Assistant. Amy Correll, a former member of Christ the Redeemer and a friend to many of us, has accepted our invitation to replace Georgia.  Amy (and her family, husband John, son Tim) were with us in our infancy–while we worshiped in the cafeteria of Norfolk Christian in our first six months of existence!- and for several years in our Colley location.
Amy will be training with Georgia for the next week (Georgia’s last) and then take on the responsibility thereafter. Please give thanks to God for this provision, as well as for Georgia’s two years of service​. (If you would like to welcome Amy personally, her email address is ajtcorrell@verizon.net).
Second, there are several situations among us that cry out for you intercessions. Please continue to pray for Janie Atwood and her family as they deal with the tragic loss of her younger brother. The funeral took place yesterday and Janie and Bob return this evening from Florida.
Angela Copeland informed me of a tragedy in her family. Her nephew’s wife-who was five months pregnant-is in a life-ending coma; both the mother and child will not survive. Angela is travelling to West Virginia to be with the extended family. She goes as the only faithful member of her clan–pray that she embodies the peace and love of Jesus.
Remember to ‘offer to God your sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to him’.
I look forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday.

 

Week of June 4, 2017

Heading towards ‘Ordinary Time’
There is a definite rhythm to life: night and day, breathing in and breathing out, feasting and fasting.
We have just come through the great cycle of time associated with the “fullness of time”—the time when eternity entered into history, the Creator entered into his Creation, in order to fulfill his purpose for it and in it and through it. This cycle of time began with Lent, climaxed in the events of Holy Week, and then included the fifty days of celebration known as Eastertide.
Now we head into ‘Ordinary Time’, that season of the Church’s year when we seek to learn to live within that ‘fullness of time’; to live in accord with that fullness as revealed in and through Jesus, the Messiah of Israel.
There is great honor and dignity associated with ‘Ordinary Time’. It too is part of God’s plan for his creation, where we his Stewards, made-in- his-image and now being remade-into- the-Image- of-his- Son, fulfill our purpose within his partnership in and for his world. ‘Ordinary Time’ is OUR time, the time where we ‘manifest the manifold wisdom of God’ before the powers and dominions of this fallen age.
Let us enter this time joyfully, prayerfully, and confidently of the empowering presence of the Spirit of God.
Pentecost: We mark the end of Eastertide with the Celebration of the Feast of Pentecost. Father Jamal Scarlett will be preaching on Sunday. Please pray for Jamal+ as he prepares. And do remember to wear something ‘red’ in honor of the gift of the Spirit!
Some Things to Pray about: Can I ask for your prayers on a number of items:
  • First, for Janie Atwood and her family as they grieve the death of Janie’s brother John;
  • Second, for the search for our new Administrative Assistant (interviews begin today);
  • Third, for the Leadership Council as we gather on Saturday morning (9 am-1 pm) to take stock as to where ‘we are’ and to make plans for the next six months.
Looking forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday.
Brian+