Loving God, Serving Others
January 20, 2023
January Greetings, Church!
I’m thankful for the warmer weather. I said this to Pastor Rick the other day and he said, “What warm weather?? I still have to wear a coat and gloves!” I assured him I was not comparing our weather to normal June temps, but to normal January temps (You have to forgive Rick. He grew up in balmy Portland. Pray he survives this bitter winter). Being warmer is especially sweet after our frigid December. We’re over the minus zero temps, hopefully, and the days are getting lighter. God is good!
Something I’ve been mulling lately: We’re all getting older, one day at a time; even my three month old grandson Francis. But some of us feel it a tad more than the young ones do. As I’ve been slowly working my way thru Isaiah in the mornings, these verses have helped me:
…you whom I have upheld since your birth and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isa. 46:3-4.
This is incredible. God is writing to a stubborn people, one who he’s still in covenant with. And he is still committed. He will still sustain, he will carry, he will rescue. Wow. I’ve got gray hairs. This is encouraging, especially when I need to be sustained, which is pretty often. Remember, it’s when we’re weak that we’re strong because God’s power is perfected in weakness. That blesses my socks off. I hope it encourages you.
What’s Goin’ On…
* Normally this time of year, around the third week of January, we observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Our main observation has been to fill those baby bottles with change or checks to support Life Services, an excellent resource for those in unplanned pregnancies. Because we’ve just come off of an intense advent offering, I’ve asked Life Services to put us on the May-June schedule for baby bottles. That way we don’t have too many ‘asks’ bottled up, one after the other. We are still very much pro-life at CCC!
* That game day for ladies scheduled for Jan 19 from 1-3 has been moved to Thursday Jan 26. Don’t forget to bring a clean & gently used sweater for women’s shelters.
* If you’d like to be involved in Secret Sisters, they need your application in by Jan 29, a week from this Sunday.
* Tithe receipts are in the foyer, hanging on the wall (where the Christmas Cards were).
* A week from this Sunday, Jan 29, we’ll have one of our potlucks! The theme is ‘comfort food.’ (Yeehaw!) If your last name begins with A-M, bring a main dish and a salad. It it begins with N-Z, bring a main dish and a dessert.
* AND if you’d like to be a part of the upcoming Dinner for 7, don’t forget to fill out one of the forms on the foyer tables and drop that in the offering baskets by each sanctuary door.
This Sunday…
Story Hour continues downstairs at 9. I’m reading this week: Buckle up, kids! And Rick is back in the Ace saddle with a teaching on facing tests, trials and temptations. In the service, we’re looking at the fun and familiar story of Elijah being fed by ravens and a widow, talking about provision in fearful times. Elinor has agreed to share a bit in the context of the message. Should be good!
See you Sunday?
Pastor Rob