Central's Pastoral E-Letter: December 22, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

This is an early edition of my weekly e-letter, so I hope that you and your family are enjoying this special season. 

 

A few things to keep in mind:

 

First, I hope to see you at one of our two Christmas Eve Services.  We will have two identical services at 5:30 and 7:00 pm.  Both services are meant for the whole family, so plan on bringing the kids as there will be a special children’s story.  Of course, the services will also feature all the great Christmas music that makes this time of worship so special—the majesty of the organ, the beauty of the handbells, and the warmth of the carols will all make these services a great start to your Christmas celebration.  We will conclude with a candlelight celebration of the One who came as the Light of the World.  I look forward to celebrating with you!

 

Second, we will finish the year with two Worship Celebrations on Sunday, December 27.  I have asked Pastor Gilmer to preach that day; I have sneaked a peak at his manuscript and you are in for a blessing.  I will be here just participating as a worshipper for the first hour (can’t wait!) and for the second hour, Kim and I will be leading our Kids’ Worship Time for 1^st to 5^th grade (double can’t wait!).  So plan to come and bring the kids as it will be a great morning.

 

I need to close because there are some last minute things I need to take care of!  See you Thursday night!

 

Pastor Gay

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: December 18, 2009

 

 

Dear Central Family,

 

This is a special time of year! 

 

This Sunday before Christmas, we have planned for a special time of worship in both of our morning services.  We will feature wonderful Christmas music which will include performances from the children and our Handbell choir.  We are also going to do something we have never done before!  I can’t tell you what it is, but you will have to be here to experience it!  Finally, I will be concluding my mini-series Open Before Christmas as we look at another Gift the Lord has given all of us that we can’t afford to wait till Christmas to open; we need to rip open the package now!  I am looking forward to sharing this with you so I hope you will take time out to be with us on Sunday.  I know you will be blessed!

 

            Christmas Eve this year will also be a special time with two identical worship services for the whole family.  We have shifted the times earlier this year, which I believe will make it easier for everyone to attend one of our worship services.  We will meet at 5:30 and 7 pm.  Please plan on bringing your family and friends!  These services will feature uplifting Christmas music, a children’s Christmas story, and a short (emphasis is short :) ) Christmas devotional.  We will wrap up (pun intended) the service with a celebration of Christ as the light of the world in a fun and exciting way!  Sorry, I can’t tell you what is happening; it is another Christmas secret! 

 

Don’t you love this time of year?  I do, and I can’t wait to worship with you this Sunday and Thursday night.  See you then!

 

Pastor

 

P.S. If there is any change in our Sunday schedule due to inclement weather, please check the website or the phone at the church.

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: December 4, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

So where are you from?  That is a typical question that people ask when they meet you for the first time. 

 

When it comes to our identity in Christ, it is a critical question that we know how to answer.  This Sunday, I will be wrapping up (no pun intended) my series, “Who Am I?” as I examine what the Bible has to say about us being from another world.  What does that mean?  What significance will it have in the way we live?  These will all be answered this Sunday and I am looking forward to sharing with you what God has to say on this topic. 

 

I also hope that you are planning on coming to our Classic Christmas Concert this Sunday night at 6 pm.  Our Classic Worship Team has worked hard in putting together a night of traditional Christmas music that is the perfect opportunity for you to invite friends to come with you and experience the love of God through music.

 

Finally,  we are only one week away from our Christmas Outreach!  The Characters of Christmas is a great opportunity for you to invite friends to come with you to a fun evening of drama, music, and special treats.  There will be two shows on December 12: one at 3 pm and one at 7 pm.  Click on the times to send an e-mail about the event to a friend.  I saw firsthand the work that has gone into this evening as I attended a rehearsal last week, and you will be glad you came and brought some friends with you.  I know I am inviting neighbors to join us.

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: November 27, 2009

           

Dear Central Family,

 

I hope that you enjoyed your time with family and friends in celebrating Thanksgiving!  I know that I did. 

 

I am away with my family at Kim’s parents in Central PA and enjoying the wedding of our niece.  So I will not be with you on Sunday, but you can be sure I will be praying for God’s Spirit to work in powerful ways.  I have asked Tim Loesch to speak in my place in the two morning services.  Tim will be continuing our series, Who Am I, looking at what the scripture has to say about our being a servant.  I know you will be blessed by Tim’s ministry, because let’s just face it: Tim is a blessing!  So if you are in town, please plan to be present as I know God will be working in our midst. 

 

In the evening service, Joe Paolella, who serves with Young Life in our area, will be sharing the message and mission of what God is doing through Young Life.  You will want to be present to hear all about it! 

 

One more thing before I go:  this will be the first Sunday that Project Angel Tree will be up this season.  The tree will have tags for you to pick up for the opportunity to purchase gifts for children of inmates.  This is always an exciting time for our outreach to share the love of Christ in such a special way. So make sure you come early and stop by the table in the Fellowship Mall, because these tags go quickly!

 

I am looking forward to being back with you next weekend, and I know that God is going to bless you greatly this Sunday!  PREACH IT TIM!

 

A Thankful Pastor

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: November 20, 2009

 

Give Thanks!

 

I love this time of year as we gather together to reflect and focus on all that God does for us and shows us through His loving care on a daily basis.

 

This Sunday is going to be a packed day!  In the morning, I will continue my series on our Identity in Christ when we look at what the Bible has to say about being a manager of all that God has blessed us with.  I am going to ask all of us to ask some important questions about how we are doing with what God has placed in our hands.  I am looking forward to it!  Pastor Ray has planned dynamic services as we express gratitude for all God means to us.  It is going to be a dynamic morning of worship and praise. 

 

Then to top the day off, we will be gathering for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner at 5 pm which will be followed by a wonderful time of worship and praise and testimony for the whole church family at 6:30.  Sign-up for the dinner is closed, but we would love to have you join us for praise and worship in the Worship Center.  Nursery will be provided for children up to age 5, so bring the whole family.

 

I hope that you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving and reflect on all that God does on a daily basis for us.  Join me and giving thanks!

 

                A Grateful Pastor

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: November 6, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

One of the greatest pieces of the puzzle of your identity in Christ is summed up in the statement, “I am a priest!”  I wonder if you ever thought of yourself in that light before? 

 

Well, when you read the Scriptures, one of the great privileges that we have as followers of Christ is that we are a kingdom of priests!  What does that mean?  What difference should that make in our lives?  Those are the questions we are going to answer in my message on Sunday morning.  I hope you are planning to be with us, as this is important life-giving truth that will make a difference in how you view your life.

 

            We have a number of exciting things coming up here at Central, so open up your calendar and mark these dates down!

 

Saturday, November 14 is our Focus on the Family Focus on Parenting Video Simulcast conference.  There is still time to register at the discounted rate, so please take time to check this out by going to our website.

 

Sunday, November 22, will be our annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Worship Service.  We did this for the first time last year and it was a big hit!  A great home-cooked meal followed by a dynamic time of worship together as a family in our Worship Center—what a great way to kick off the Thanksgiving Week celebration.  You can sign up on line and the suggested donation is $5.00 per person and $20.00 per family.  We are looking forward to a wonderful time.

 

Saturday, December 12 is our Characters of Christmas Community Outreach.  Check out the website for all the info you need.  This is a great tool for you to use to invite friends and co-workers to a clear presentation of the love of Christ in a non- threatening format of music and drama.  It is going to be a lot of fun.

 

One more thing that will happen this Sunday: we are going to reveal our new Church logo, which our creative team has been working so hard on, so you don’t want to miss that!

 

Hope you have a great weekend!  See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: October 30, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

Don’t forget to fall back! 

 

This Saturday when you go to bed, don’t forget to change your clocks so that you can enjoy an extra hour of sleep on Saturday night!  Then plan to be with us on Sunday morning for one of our two worship services, fresh and ready to go! 

 

I began a new series last Sunday I have called “Who Am I?” and we are examining our identity in Christ.  We asked the question, “Who do you think you are and why this is so important to understand?”  The answer is so that we can live a victorious Christian life.  I will continue this series this Sunday as we examine how we are His children and will celebrate that fact around the Lord’s Table.  I am looking forward to this time and I hope you will be present.

 

Sunday evening, I will continue my series in the book of Colossians and examine the subject, “RULES, RULES, RULES!”  This is an area we can easily get confused on in our Christian life, and as a result, we can get stuck in our growth.  So come on out and learn the Biblical response to legalism.

 

I hope you have a great weekend, and I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!

 

One more thing, my family and I want to express our deepest appreciation to you as a congregation for the wonderful recognition of our ten years of ministry with you that we experienced this past Sunday.  I was definitely surprised and we were all deeply touched!  We love this congregation and every day thank God for the opportunity to serve you in His kingdom! 

 

(Pastor’s Assistant’s Note:  If you missed the video tribute shown last Sunday, October 25 commemorating Pastor Gay’s ten years at Central and thirty years in ministry, click HERE.)

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

P.S.  GO PHILLIES!!!

 

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: October 23, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

“So who do you think you are?” 

 

If you are like me, you heard that question on a number of occasions as you were growing up.  It is a very important question for all of us to ask in this age of identity confusion and identity theft. 

 

I am looking forward to being back in the pulpit this Sunday as I start a new series called “Who Am I?”  Ken Boa has said, “We cannot consistently behave in ways that are different from what we believe about ourselves.”  Who are we really as a follower of Christ?  We are going to be looking at our identity in Christ, and how when you know who you really are, you are free to be who you are!  I would encourage you to take a glance at the key passage we will be studying this Sunday, 1 Peter 2:9-10.  I hope you are going to be with us this weekend so you can learn how to be free!

 

Sunday night will be a special evening as we celebrate Believers Baptism during our 6 pm service.  It’s always exciting to hear the stories of individuals who have trusted Christ and of their desire to be a fully-devoted follower of Christ. 

 

Following the 6 pm service, we will have our quarterly congregational meeting for all members.  If you are a member, please plan on being present. Not only will we take a look at what has been going on in the ministry, but I will be sharing some exciting plans that we have as part of our fall and Christmas schedule designed for you to bring your friends to experience the love of Christ.

 

Finally, I want to ask you to please come out for a special evening of Worship and Prayer this Wednesday night at 7 pm in the Worship Center.  We will be gathering as a Church family to worship our Lord who answers prayer and to call on His name to intervene in our lives, our church, and our community.  We will have regular children’s programs that evening, so your children will be ministered to.  Please plan to come out and be part of our body as we call on our Lord to do great and mighty things.

 

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: October 15, 2009

 

 

Dear Central Family,

 

I hope you are having a great week! I know I am, as I have taken a week off to be at home with my wife as we celebrate our wedding anniversary and also attempt to get a bunch of stuff done at the house. 

 

                I’m having fun here at home, but I look forward to being with you in a few days for our Impact Your World Sunday!  We have a powerful day in store for you this week!  The message will be given by Steve Tecco who serves with Open Door Eastern European Ministries working with the churches of the Czech Republic.  Steve has a passion for reaching people for Christ and will be headlining our team of World Impact Staff who will be present with us, including: Paul and Jan Bothwell of Mission Door’s CityChurch Movement in New England, Bill and Gina Laky who will soon be moving to Spain to minister to North African immigrants, and Tom and Lorna Simcox who minister to the Jewish people for the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry.  In between the morning services you will have a chance to visit with each of these staff members and see how God is working through your faithful prayers and gifts to impact people for Christ.

 

That evening, we will celebrate in worship at 6 pm, which will include a panel discussion with our World Impact Staff.  At that time, you will have a chance to ask our missionaries some questions about what it is really like to serve Christ where they are serving or preparing to serve.  We will finish the evening with a great ice cream social. 

 

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.  Gotta go!

 

Grateful for you!

 

Pastor Gay

 

 

 

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: October 9, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

            What a fun week this has been!  The highlight was attending a Phillies playoff game on Thursday!  I had a blast!  The only problem is that they lost, which was no fun! 

 

I am looking forward to finishing my series “What NOW” this Sunday as we look at the topic, “Get in the Game!”  In times like these, it is time to get off the bench and into the game.  We are going to look at the most important truth to make that a reality!

 

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

 

Go Phillies!

 

Pastor

 

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CBC Pastoral E-Letter: September 18, 2009

Jeff Bell

 

Dear Central Family,

 

Wow, God blessed us in so many ways this past week on our Back to Church Sunday! 

 

It was so exciting to see so many of you back after your summer vacations.  We had a great beginning to a new year, and the excitement continued on Wednesday night with all the kids’ programs, adult classes, as well as two nights of awesome ministry to our students in Breakaway! 

 

As you can see, Central is a happening place!  Please let us know if we can help you get connected with one of the many opportunities for growth here at Central!

 

I hope you join us this Sunday and that you bring a friend along with you!  It will be Bring a Friend Sunday, and we are going to be blessed by the worship and the message that God is going to bring through Pastor Jeff Bell, who is the Elkhart Campus Pastor of Granger Community Church in Indiana.  Oh yes, he’s also the big brother of our own Pastor of Student Ministries Jeremy Bell! 

 

Jeff is a dynamic communicator, shepherd, and pastor at heart, and I can’t wait to hear how God is going to use him to minister to us and our friends.  Jeff will be presenting the gospel during both morning services, and I encourage you to bring someone with you who does not know Christ, so they can be impacted.  Jeff will be also ministering to our leaders at our Leadership Kickoff on Saturday, so it is going to be a fun weekend! 

 

On Sunday evening, we will wrap up the day with a time of worship at 6 pm as we continue to study the book of Colossians. 

 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, and please bring a friend!  You won’t be disappointed! 

 

Blessings,

 

Pastor

 

 

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: September 11, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

Well, the Fall season is here, and off we go!  This Sunday is Back to Church Sunday and it will be so good to see all of you back after your summer break.  We missed you!  I am excited about all the things that are ready to go as we seek to set off into the Fall season!  Fall is always a time of new beginnings at Central as our programs boost off into action.  Let me tell you about a few exciting things!

 

Make sure you are here on Sunday morning for one of our worship services!  I will be starting a new series called What Now?  In light of all the uncertainties in our country— our economy, our families—we need some solid guidance from God's Word, and we will be getting it starting this Sunday!  I will be sharing something that God has been working in my heart all summer long that relates to our call as followers of Christ, and I can’t wait to share it. 

 

Sunday morning will also be the blast off for our new Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) season with a special Kick-Off Breakfast!  All current ABF members and anyone who might be interested in finding out more about the different ABF groups that meet on Sunday mornings are invited.  No RSVP required—just come out for breakfast at 9:45 or 11:00 in Adult 1-3! 

 

Then in the evening service, we will be studying the book of Colossians and we will all be blessed by the premiere ministry of the Central Worship Choir.  The choir rehearses at 4:30 pm and will perform at 6 pm; no long-term commitment is required.  Come on out to rehearsal to take part! 

 

Add to all of this, Central Park, our nursery and preschool area, is now all decorated and ready to go!  Wait till you see it!  We are also starting a brand new Celebration Children’s Church program during the 11:15 hour that I KNOW your kids are going to be talking about Sunday at dinner.  It is unlike anything we have ever done before. More on that later! 

 

There is much more to tell you, but I got to get back to work, so just be there on Sunday or you are going to miss out on all the excitement and fun! 

 

Man, I am glad fall is here.  I can’t wait to see you this Sunday!

 

Pastor

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: August 20, 2009

 

 

Dear Central Family,

 

Summer continues to fly by, and this Sunday is going to be one that you are not going to want to miss! 

 

First, at 9:30 we are going to be blessed as seven believers step out and get baptized!  This is our second Baptism service in just two months!  God is at work!  This is a great time to bring your kids to see what it means to be a follower of Christ.  The worship will be dynamic, the praise will flow, the testimonies of changed lives will be a charge to your soul, and the sermon a bit shorter J.  I hope you can join us!

 

At 11:15 I will be bringing a message that God has placed on my heart as I have been away these past few weeks that I have titled "Open up and Say AH!"  I can’t wait to share with you what God has put on my heart.  I can’t tell you any more than that!

 

Finally, we will wrap up the day with worship at 6 pm as we continue to study the book of Colossians.  I am loving this relaxed time of worship and teaching, and if you are not at the beach, come on in, bring the kids, and join us!

 

God is doing some awesome things in our church, and wait till you see all that is ahead this fall!  So pack up the family and join us this Sunday, it is going to be another memorable day of Celebration! Let’s Dive in!

 

Pastor

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: August 6, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

August is here already?  WOW!  Between Romania, VBS, name change discussions, and Sunday Worship Services, this summer is flying by! 

 

So here is the scoop:  This week I will be getting my yearly recharge as I attend the Willow Creek Leadership Summit on Thursday and Friday.  I always look forward to this time of refreshment, challenge, and renewal, as it charges me up for the new year, which begins in September around here.  What makes this year even better is that we have a large group of leaders who will be attending with me.  A team of staff and ministry leaders will all be challenged and enriched as we attend the satellite version of the summit in Northeast Philadelphia.  Pray that we will be open to hear what God has for us!

 

Then when that finishes, vacation begins!  I am looking forward to a week with our family and just laying low.  No email, no voice mail, no phone calls; just fun, relaxation, rest, and recharge.  Some good books by the pool and we will be set!

 

Don’t miss this Sunday as Pastor Gilmer will be preaching on “Getting It Right After You’ve Gotten It Wrong” during the morning services and “Paul’s Final Words of Wisdom” during the evening service.  Then on August 16, Thor and Kate Odland, our World Impact team members who serve with Young Life in Norway, will be with us in the morning and evening services.  Thor and Kate are dynamic leaders whom God is using in powerful ways to impact the students in Norway.  You will be blessed, so don’t miss either service.

 

Till then, I am off!  See you August 16!

 

Pastor

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: July 30, 2009

 

 

So what does a Tent in the middle of the dessert with a bunch of furniture have to do with me, today, with my hassled life, my busy schedule, and my media-driven existence? 

 

You might be surprised!  Make plans to show up this Sunday at either the 9:30 or 11:15 worship service to participate in a multisensory worship experience you will not soon forget.  Bring your elementary kids along with you, as this is a teaching and worship experience for all ages.  We will also be celebrating communion together as a community. 

 

I hope I have intrigued you enough to come and be a part of the worshipping community of Central this Sunday.  I mean it when I say you won’t be sorry!

 

Also, a brief reminder that this Friday and Saturday, July 31 and August 1, Central Christian Bookstore will be having its Blowout Sale at the Allen Hall gym!  The bookstore will be offering its products at drastically-reduced prices to make way for new inventory.  Bring your kids, as there are some activities for them.  Check out www.cbcnj.org for more information.

 

Finally, I encourage you to check out a slide show of our senior high youth and their weeklong trip to Harvey Cedars.  About 50 of our youth and leaders went to Harvey Cedars the week of July 13 to examine Living Life Redefined.  The slide show is on www.cbcnj.org (scroll down). 

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

CBC Pastoral Letter: July 24, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

This has been a week that I will not soon forget!  The way that God worked through over 100 volunteers to reach 177 kids who were registered for VBS was totally amazing!  We saw the gospel presented through the faithful work of the whole team and saw at least 5 children make decisions to trust Christ, though the seed was planted with over 157 kids!  Pray that the fruit will remain and bring honor to Christ! 

 

This has been a week of unbelievable impact! On Thursday night, I watched the gospel being presented in the Firefly Finale and I saw parents fill the stadium seating or stand in the back.  With tears coming down my face, I thought: THIS IS WHY WE BUILT THIS FACILITY! THIS IS WHAT THE VISION IS ALL ABOUT!  I then thanked God for each one of you who has given sacrificially to build this facility so we could build into the lives of children and impact eternity!  I told you this has been a great week!!

 

I have invited the children to come back on Sunday am at the 11:15 service to sing and worship with us.  We also invited their parents to come along!  We have a special drama planned that will tie the whole week together.  If you invited neighbors to VBS, I would encourage you to invite them to come and sit with you and experience this powerful morning. 

 

If you cannot come at 11:15, we have a dynamic service planned for 9:30.   I will be preaching on how to listen to God—a message that God has been using in my life all week and I can’t wait to share with you.  Finally, we will wrap up the day with a powerful evening service of worship and praise as we continue to study the book of Colossians and see how Jesus is more than just a superstar!

 

Thanks again for all your prayers this week.  Our VBS team did such a great job, and special kudos to our co-directors Kim Gay and Beth Canterberry.  WELL DONE!

 

See you Sunday, I CANT WAIT!

 

Pastor

 

 

Prayer Request: VBS

Please pray for Vacation Bible School tonight as the Gospel will be presented to the children.  Please pray that the Gospel will be presented clearly and for God to open the children’s hearts.  The pastoral staff and others will be available to pray with the children tonight.   

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: July 17, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

            Doors of Opportunity! 

 

God continues to open up many doors of opportunity for us walk through in order to effectively minister to this community. 

 

I hope that you are going to be present this Sunday at one of our three services as I share with you an exciting announcement about a new door of opportunity that we are going to walk through to reach our community.  We always desire to be diligent in making sure that we are ready to reach people where they are with the message that will never change.  I will be making a special announcement of such an opportunity this Sunday during my messages at all three services.  This is one you will not want to hear second hand.  I hope you will be with us. 

 

Also, at the end of each morning service this Sunday, we will dedicate the Vacation Bible School team in prayer as Crocodile Dock starts this Monday!  I hope you will join me in prayer for the rest of the week as we pray for all the volunteers who will be working hard to reach young people for Christ. 

 

God is at work and we are grateful for the opportunities He is placing before us.  See you Sunday!

 

Pastor

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: July 9, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

Both of our missions teams are back, safe and sound!  God worked in powerful ways through both our students who served in Savannah, Georgia, and our Romania team who served in Carapcesti, Romania.  We are working on a creative way to share what happened through our missions outreaches including the Saints Prison team, so stay tuned! 

 

By the way, there was another missions team that worked on July 4!  You may not know it, but a number of our adults and children manned the Ewing Fourth of July Parade telling people about VBS!  Thanks for stepping out and letting people know what is coming up!

 

Things keep rolling at a fast pace here at Central even though it is summer--which is GOOD!  This Sunday we will feature a guest speaker in the morning services.  Alan Brown grew up at Central and he and his wife Malinda serve on our World Impact Team in Hungary.  You will enjoy hearing how God has used them to impact lives. 

 

The Browns will also be present at the evening service for a Q & A, after which we will hold our quarterly business meeting.  This will be a good time of updates on what has been happening and where we are going as we approach the fall.  If you are a member, please plan on attending.

 

Also this Sunday, we will kick off the first week of our Starting Point class, which will be led by Tucker and Cathy Brown.  This is a great opportunity for you to get your questions answered about what it means to be a follower of Christ in a warm, inviting, non-threatening manner.  Just show up in the board room at 9:30 to check it out—you will be glad you did.  At 11:15, the newly-revised Foundations Class will meet.  This is a four-week class designed to help you know who we are, where we are going, and what it means to be a member of the Central family.  If you are interested in joining Central, Pastor Anthony Gilmer leads this lively class and it is what you have been looking for.

 

Be sure and add to your daily prayer list our upcoming Vacation Bible School which will be held July 20-24.  You can tell people to sign up on our website.  All the info is there.  We are fully staffed, and now we are just waiting for the children!  So get the word out!

 

Also, moms who are dropping off their kids at VBS: there is a class that week for you!  From 6:45 to 8:45 pm, join the VBS Moms’ Class for Bible study, crafts, and refreshments!  Please click here for more information or to register. 

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

VBS Co-Directors E-Letter: Friday, July 3, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

Greetings from your Vacation Bible School Co-Directors Beth Canterberry and Kim Gay!

 

It’s hard to believe, but VBS is only a little over two weeks away! 

 

Vacation Bible School 2009

Crocodile Dock

Where Fearless Kids Shine God’s Light

Monday to Friday, July 20 – 24

6:30 to 9:15 pm

at Central Baptist Church

 

We are so excited as we are just about fully-staffed and prepared for 250 kids!  We thank everyone who has volunteered, and we look forward to seeing how God will work through this program and His servants as we reach kids for Christ. 

 

As VBS approaches, we ask that you lift up the following prayer requests:

 

1.       Please pray that many more kids will register these next two weeks.  So far we have about 90 kids pre-registered. 

 

2.       Please pray for our VBS volunteers that we will be united our mission to reach young people for Christ.

 

3.       Please pray for Central’s participation in the Ewing Fourth of July Parade tomorrow that as VBS flyers and candy are handed out, more kids will register to come, and more importantly, learn about Christ in an age-appropriate and captivating way.

 

If you haven’t registered your kids, please register them on Central’s website (www.cbcnj.org) and invite friends and neighbors to come.  VBS is our biggest community outreach and it’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce families to our church. 

 

We thank you so much for all your support!

 

In Christ,

Beth Canterberry and Kim Gay

VBS Co-Directors

 

Dedication Service Video: Assistance Needed

Dear Friends and Members of Central,

 

On May 31, Central held its Dedication Service for our new Worship Center.  We had intended to tape the service and release a DVD.  Unfortunately, while we captured the video, there was a problem with the audio.

 

Because of this problem, we have been quietly looking for a way to resolve the situation.  We remembered that several people appeared to be taking their own video, and at least one person audio-taped the service.

 

At this point, we are asking that if you were one of those individuals, or if you know someone who did?  Could we borrow the tape (video or audio) to make a copy?  We will use utmost care in handling the tapes. 

 

If you can assist, please contact Bob Smallwood at RAS2007CBC@aol.com or (609) 587-2364.

 

The Audio-Video Team

 

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: June 25, 2009

Dear Central Family,

 

 

What a Sunday we had last week with the welcoming of new members, baptizing new believers, and seeing the commitment of servants who stepped forward in obedience! It was an awesome day of Celebration and Worship!  I was totally overwhelmed by the number of people who came forward for prayer during the 11:15 service.  The front altar was overflowing!  The Holy Spirit certainly showed up and we were ready to receive what God had for us.  Thank you for praying. 

 

I trust that you will be praying for both of our teams who will be ministering this coming week away from home!  Pray for our Youth Ministry Team in Savannah, Georgia and our Romania Team who will be serving in evangelism and discipleship.  We look forward to reporting back to you what God did through your prayers!  I will be preaching in Galati, Romania this Sunday, so please pray that the Spirit of God will minister through His Word.  I have this awesome opportunity to preach to a wonderful group of believers whom I have grown to love!

 

I also want to encourage you to be here on Sunday!  During the morning services, Pastor Ray Lombardi will be preaching and he has an exciting message to share.  During the evening service, Tucker Brown will be preaching, and Tucker always does a great job of being open to what the Spirit wants him to share.  Oh, and we will have a special guest musical group here with us on Sunday morning to lead us in worship, so it will be a great day and I look forward to hearing how God worked.

 

Thanks again for all you are doing to help us impact this community!  God is at work!  You are being faithful and your reward is to come! 

 

Off to pack!

 

Pastor Gay

 

 

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: June 18, 2009

Let’s Celebrate!

 

I know, I know…I have been saying that a lot the past few weeks, but this is a Sunday you will not want to miss.  Ready?  Here we go!

 

We have designed both Sunday morning services to be an experience in which you encounter the Living God as He desires to impact your life.  We will be finishing our New Beginnings series by looking at a new way to look at storms that come up in our life!  Who doesn’t need to be encouraged that way?

 

             At both services we will dedicate our summer teams who will be going to Romania and Savannah Georgia on short term trips.  We will also be welcoming new members to our congregation and at 11:15 we will conclude the services by conducting our first baptism in our new home!  What an exciting morning this will be.

 

             Then Sunday evening, we will gather to worship and we will look at a power-packed prayer of the Apostle Paul from Colossians 1 that is filled with good instruction for all of us.

 

I hope that you are planning on being here for a great Father’s Day of Worship, Praise, and Encouragement.

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: June 11, 2009

 

Dear Central Family,

 

            You Prayed

                     You Invited

                           You Came

                               You Worshipped

 

                                       GOD SHOWED UP

                                                GOD WORKED

                                                            GOD GAVE NEW LIFE!

 

 

This is what happened this past Sunday!  A number of new lives were brought into the kingdom as individuals prayed to trust Christ as their Savior!  I have been hearing stories this week and receiving emails telling stories of new life.

 

Someone has said, “Christ did not come to make bad people good, but to bring dead people to life”!  This is why we have built this building, and this is why we are working so hard to create dynamic worship services that you can feel comfortable bringing your friends to so they can hear the message of new life in Christ!  I love what God is doing in this church.

 

I am looking forward to this Sunday as we examine what happens when new life is infused into someone who trusts Christ!  What does it mean we were dead and now alive?  Jesus illustrated this in a way that we will not soon forget, so I hope you will be with us this Sunday at any of our three services.

 

During the 11:15 service we will also be honoring our high school graduates and asking God’s blessing as they follow Christ to enter a new chapter.  This is always an exciting time.

 

Finally, please pray for the 15 guys who will be ministering this weekend in 5 prisons to share Christ with the inmates.  We look forward to how God will work supernaturally to bring new life to those men.  

 

Enjoy the rest of your week, and thanks again for all your prayers and encouraging words.  Central, you are the best and I love you with all my heart!

 

Pastor Richard Gay

 

CBC Pastoral E-Letter: June 4, 2009

Dear Central Family,

 

 

            Here we go!  I hope you were able to be with us on Sunday evening for the dedication service!  It was a service that will be remembered for years to come as to its historic significance.  The presence of so many guests from the community added to the significance of the event (and I was even surprised when my mom showed up!).  It was an awesome night! 

 

Now that we have been dedicated, and our facility is wide open to the community, we begin the race that God has set before us.  With that in mind I want to call your attention to 3 very important things that will be happening this weekend.

 

1.       Please invite your friends and neighbors who are seeking Christ to come this Sunday!  I am preparing a message that focuses on our new beginning as a follower of Christ and what Christ does when he encounters us—we walk away changed!  This is going to be a clear, straightforward gospel presentation and I would ask you to please pray and invite someone to come along with you.  I will present this message in both morning services and I look forward to what God is going to do.  We will also be dedicating our team of men who will be leaving for a missions trip next week to minister to inmates in prison, so it is going to be a special day!

 

2.       Second, we have 11 of us who are going to Romania the end of this month for a missions trip of evangelism and discipleship.  All of our team members have been diligent in writing letters and seeking financial support, but we are $8,000 shy of our goal.  The next 3 Sundays, there will be a special offering taken so that we can reach this goal.  Thank you for asking God what you can do and then doing it—I know God will bless us as we all participate in this together.  You can just mark your check MISSIONS and we will see it goes to help those going “out of the boat” to serve Christ.

 

3.       Finally, I want to invite you to consider coming back on Sunday night for our 6 pm Worship Service!  I am really enjoying this service, and I am loving the opportunity to teach verse by verse through the book of Colossians.  We have just gotten started, so you won’t be lost!  The worship is dynamic, using the traditional hymns, organ and piano, and the fellowship is sweet!  We have nursery and children’s programs up to 5^th grade, so it is a great way to finish a Sunday by worshipping with the family.  I have noticed a number of you are inviting friends who have commitments in the morning to come with you at night—WAY TO GO!  So come check it out, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

Hope you have a great weekend, and I will see you on Sunday!  Pray for a great harvest for the kingdom!

 

In His Grace,

 

Pastor