CBC Pastoral E-Letter: April 30, 2009

Dear Central Family,

 

 

     The final touches!  As I walk around the new facility that God is entrusting into our hands, I think about an artist putting the final touches on a masterpiece.  That is what is happening right now as the final pieces are being put in place so that we can be ready for our grand opening on May 17.  Please continue to pray that we will indeed worship for the first time in our new Worship Center on May 17. 

 

     I also trust that you will be with us on May 13 when we gather as a church family to ask God to bless this new phase of our journey to impact lives for eternity!  Bring the whole family— we are going to have fun seeking the face of God and what better time for parents to show children what it means to be dependent on God! I am looking forward to what God will do!

 

     I also hope that you will take advantage of a great ministry we have right here in our doors—I am speaking of our Bookstore!  Janet Perkins and her caring staff are here to serve you as you are looking for the right resource or gift for each occasion.  The front door of the bookstore is now accessible by just walking down our newly paved sidewalk around the front of the Fellowship Mall.  Once we move out to the new Worship Center on May 17, you will only be a few steps away from all those great resources as the Bookstore is open on Sunday mornings as well!

 

     Well, off to a furniture meeting as I get to hear what our team has come up with for the finishing touches for the Fellowship Mall!  Thank you for your faithful prayers and gifts towards the vision of a facility that will enhance our outreach to our community is becoming a reality!

 

     In His Grace,

 

     Pastor

 

 

 

 

In light of todays message

This was too good not to share. From Mark Batterson!

Surrenderfrom The Batterson Blog - Thoughts on Life and Leadership by Mark Batterson
I had such a strong impression from the Lord this weekend that I thought I'd blog it. We're in a series titled Influence. Here's how we're defining it: leveraging everything we are and everything we have for God's purposes.

Long story short, I believe that God's purposes for our lives are way beyond our wildest imaginations. But most us are falling short of that. There is a gap between our dreams and our reality. And the gap is the result of something we haven't surrendered to the Lord.

I challenged our Saturday night service to find a place to kneel before the night was out and surrender that thing to the Lord. I actually asked for a raise of hands with eyes open. I wanted people to see how many other people had things they needed to surrender. I'm sure some didn't have the courage to raise their hands. But about half the hands went up.

What do you need to surrender to the Lord? Find a place to kneel before the day is done, and give it over to God. Then, and only then, will you start to experience the kind of influence God has destined for you. You'll feel like you're giving something up, but you'll get back so much more in return.

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: April 23, 2009

 

Dear CBC Family,

 

      Hear that????  It is the buzz of people working very hard to get our new facilities in order and prepared for our anticipated Ribbon Cutting and First Worship Services on May 17. 

 

     Things are very busy around here as everyone is working in their own areas to get us ready for a new chapter in this ministry.  I hope that you are praying daily for God’s presence to be evident in all of the activities so that we will begin this new chapter fully dependent on our Lord for His Grace, His Power, and so that fruit will be produced that will bring glory to Him! 

 

     With that in mind, I want to invite you to join us on Wednesday, May 13 at 7 pm for an All Church Call to Prayer.  We will meet in Allen Hall and focus on calling on God to prepare our hearts and work in our midst as we open these new facilities.  This is an event that we want you to bring your family.  Nursery will be provided.  So plan to be with us at 7 pm on Wednesday, May 13 and come with expectant hearts to see God work.

 

      I also hope you are going to be here this Sunday as we continue our series Movin’ Out!  We will be studying Joshua 8 and learning the secrets of victory in our daily lives as we all move out to where God wants us to be.  I am looking forward to it. 

 

     Keep praying, and together we are about to see God do some amazing things!

 

            In His Grace,

 

            Pastor

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: April 16, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

     WOW!  That is the only word that I can use to describe how God’s presence was felt this past Easter Sunday!  Each of the services from 8:30 to 11:00 am were electric as we celebrated the Resurrection of Christ!  I hope that you were among the 870 were here!  That’s right—that is how many were here on Easter Sunday. 

     Even more exciting is the stories that I have heard this past week of individuals who took the step to invite a friend to come with them who did not know Christ. Thank you for your prayers, your help in making our guests feel at home, and those of you who gave up their seats so others could have a place to sit at 11:00.  You may not know it, but not only did we fill the gym at 11:00, but we also had overflow seating set up in Adult 1-3 that was used to accommodate all our guests.  Praise God with me as we thank Him for what He did!

     Please make sure that you pencil in on your calendar the date of Sunday, May 17, as that is the anticipated date of our “move out” to our new facility!  We will meet at 9:15 am for a ribbon cutting, and then praise God in our new Worship Center at 9:30 am, 11:15 am, and 6 pm.  Check out our website for information about all of the different services.  Also, mark down Sunday, May 31 at 7 pm as the date we officially dedicate our new facility in a powerful Worship Celebration and Reception for the entire church family.  More details to come. 

     As you can see lots is happening, and we are so thankful for God’s hand of blessing.  I look forward to worship this Sunday, and I hope you come anticipating God’s blessing on all of us!

 

     With lots of love and appreciation!

     Pastor

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: April 9, 2009

Dear Central Family,

 

     It is almost here!  The Day of Days, bigger than any Super Bowl game, than any Final Four Championship Game, than any final game of the World Series!  Easter Sunday is almost here, and for those of us who know Christ, this is what it all comes down to! All our faith, hope, and promises for now and the future rest on that empty tomb! 

     I hope you are as excited about this Sunday as I am!  I have enjoyed my time away for rest and refreshment and cannot wait for the opportunity to worship with you and share the message that God has been putting inside my heart to share with you.  So I hope that you will be with us this Sunday at one of our four Easter Services: 8:30, 9:45 (classic and contemporary), and 11:00.  We have special services planned that will bless your Easter socks off!

     Please also pray for our guests who will be present, that the gospel will be made clear to those who are unchurched, that hearts will be challenged, and that lives will be changed through the power of Christ.

 

     See you Sunday!

     Pastor

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: April 2, 2009

Dear Central Family,

           

What a family you have shown yourself to be!  You stepped up and ministered in amazing ways last week to the McNair and Alsdorf families.  The cards, the calls, the food, the hugs, the sharing of just being there—you as a Church showed this community what it means to be the Church and I love you for it! 

Last Sunday was a day in which we gathered as a family, grieved, and felt the presence of God in powerful ways.  The many ways that you gave of yourselves is an example of how we are connected in love to one another.  Add to this the number of men who stepped up and told me “I want my life to be different,” this is what the ministry is all about, and I am so thankful for your part in making us a Church that makes a difference!

           I hope that you will be with us this Sunday as Pastor Gilmer will be continuing our study “Movin’ Out” by looking at a dynamic passage in Joshua 5:13-6:20.  I hope you will read this before Sunday as I know that God will speak to you through the message and worship! 

I will be away getting some R &R and look forward to being back with you on Easter Sunday.  We have got a dynamic service planned for April 12 and you are not going to want to miss it!

         Thanks again for being a loving community!  God is working in amazing ways because you are choosing to be His agents of love and compassion!

 

                God bless!

               Pastor