To God's Beloved @ Cloverdale Baptist Church:
A HUGE THANK YOU to all who were involved attending, and ministering in Sunday School. As we seek to honour Jesus, we know that one of the key ways of doing this is to teach God's people God's Word in a way that they can understand and apply it. We believe this happened this year for people of all ages and we praise God for your involvement in growing, teaching, and supporting! Looking forward to next year! If there are things you would like us to cover in Sunday School, please don't hesitate to ask!
Sunday was another day of being encouraged in our LORD. A friend came from Houston, and sent an email after the service praising God for our church, and what we are seeking to do as we pursue God's glory in Word, song, and seeking to be multi ethnic and multi generational! It is encouraging to hear from an outsider that we are moving towards who we believe God wants us to be. He also commented about receiving a warm welcome in our congregation! May that increase, as we seek to show our love for God by our love for one another, and all those God brings across our path! I praise God for you Cloverdale Baptist Church, and that He is increasing our love and faith!
I read an excellent book when I was away, called, The Compelling Community, it is focused mainly on elders, but he made great point after great point, including, "Our strength, our ability to showcase supernatural gospel power is our diversity." His point so powerfully made was that we show how great God is, by laying aside our selfishness, and embracing a Christocentric worldview that allows us to find unity among people who are different, and apart from the Gospel, would repel us, or at least not be those we would choose to hang out with. We serve an awesome God, who is at work in our lives, and this will allow us to be a compelling community as we display God's love to one another and have a unity that is an overflow of our love for Jesus and His Gospel. Once in a while as I struggle forward in the battle against the world, the demonic realm and my flesh, I need a great reminder like this! May we all who belong to Jesus and CBC find a unity that comes from our devotion to Him, and our desire to out honour one another! May we show that God is real and at work in us in our love towards one another, and our unity that flows from Him and our devotion to Him.
Baptisms are always a thrill, and Sunday was no different! God is at work, and to see people stand up and declare their allegiance to Him is so powerful in our midst! May our God be praised as we rejoice in what He is doing in us and through us!
A few important reminders:
1. Summer hours for service will be the same as they are now...10:30 am - 11:45 am. There will be coffee before the service, and coffee and treats after. Join us in coming early and staying late, and seeking to glorify God by growing with us and loving one another.
2. We have a Congregational Meeting coming up on JUNE 14.
At this meeting we will be voting to AFFIRM Rick Larter as an Elder, as well as seeking God's will in the report of the nominating committee for those they believe that God wants to serve us as a church on the deacons council as we vote what we believe to be God's will for our family. Please make sure to be in prayer about this, as well as to mark it on your calendar as we seek to be who God wants us to be as a church!
3. Summer Prayer Meetings: The elders invite all of the congregation to join us in prayer on Tuesday nights at 7:00 - 8:00 PM starting on July 5, as we seek God's face together. We firmly believe that our church will only be as healthy as our prayers. Please consider making this a priority this summer as we seek God's best for our church and others.
4. Be in prayer for our nation and government. This week voting will take place on assisted-suicide bill, please pray for Christians in Parliament as well as how we as a church can gracefully declare our value of life from the womb to the grave. Our greatest passion is to share the Gospel, and our lives are to be salt and light, please pray for one another as we seek to be in the world but not of the world in times like these.
As you prepare your hearts for Sunday:
Communion Sunday:
Meditate on: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Why is it so important that we celebrate communion together?
Why is communion serious and joyful?
What does remembering Jesus death do for us now?
What does it mean to proclaim His death until He returns?
As you prepare your hearts for communion, worship the KING and stand in awe of His greatness and grace! We will REMEMBER, REPENT, REJOICE & RENEW our devotion to our God together.
Have a great week, and I look forward to exalting our God together with you on Sunday!
Pastor Rob