Pastor's Blog

Pastor's Note - July 7

Sunday evening (10th) is our annual July Family Gathering. Traditionally we’ve held these meetings during lunch right after the service, so as to not make people make two trips during the day to church. However, we also know that makes for a very long Sunday morning, especially for kids (and adults) who need naps! So we are experimenting with meeting in the evening, and providing a light meal, so that all can rest at home and come refreshed. We do hope you will come and participate, especially as we present a budget proposal for the year ahead. We will also give some ministry updates – but the most important element of our gathering is the interaction we have over questions and comments and praises. These gatherings are valuable opportunities for fruitful discourse, and discerning the Lord’s will for the church. You can prepare for the gathering in a few ways. Frist, review the budget sent out via email. Second, think about what kind of ministry you would like to see at CBC next year, and what kinds of ministries in which you might want to engage. How do you want to see the Lord work at, in, and through CBC? Third, and most importantly, pray! Pray that God would guide and lead us, and that we would all be humble to listen to one another, and most of all be discerning to know His will. Many thanks in advance for your participation, and we look forward to seeing you at the gathering!

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Pastor's Note - July 7

I am certainly guilty of not thanking God enough for His simple providences. God’s grace and goodness are so constant that we easily forget He gives it. He provides all good things, from satisfying food to invigorating fellowship to comforting shelter. Things we experience daily. One of those good gifts God has given is the nation we live in. It is popular and trendy, especially in my generation, to constantly criticize and find fault with the United States. Cynicism comes easy for many of us. And, we must admit, our nation will one day fall, as all nations will. Any kingdom that is not the kingdom of heaven is ultimately Babylon. But it’s good to remember that the particular expression of Babylon that we inhabit, for all of her faults, is still an incredible gift of God’s grace. On Sunday, we will gather for worship without threat of governmental persecution. On Saturday, we will have more food than any of us need, because we happen to live in a land of plenty. We (or at least I) don’t often recognize that we live in a day of historic wealth and health. We may be tempted to feel guilty about it. And we can wrestle with that. But we should absolutely thank the Lord for it, because every good gift is from His hand. And the relative eas and freedom we have is a good gift. Praise His name for it – we may not always have it this good on this side of glory.

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