Central's Pastoral E-Letter: October 29, 2010

 

Dear Central Family,

 

What a Day of Celebration this will be!  This Sunday, October 31, we are going to celebrate the power of NEW LIFE at our 9:30 Worship Service. 

 

Both the Contemporary and the Classic services at 9:30 will join together as we continue our series Modern Family, and Pastor Gilmer will be bringing the message.  We will also be baptizing 6 adults who are stepping forward in obedience to our Master’s command to show publically their commitment to Christ as Lord of their lives.  Scripture makes it so clear, that once you believe, the first act of obedience is to be baptized, and each of these individuals will be doing so.  I am looking forward to this time of Celebration.

 

If you cannot join us at 9:30, we will be having an awesome Contemporary Service at 11:00 and once again Pastor Gilmer will be speaking. 

 

I just returned from a very exciting field trip as I had the opportunity to see firsthand the work that so many of our committed volunteers have done at the local Dress for Success!  The kind folks who direct this community resource spoke over and over again about all the work that people from Central did to make this boutique a real eye pleaser!  I was so proud of all of you for your sacrifice, your love as expressed in all your hard work, and the hard work done by our CommunityConnections team to connect willing hands and hearts with a real need!  I know that God was pleased.  Way to go!

 

I am looking forward to a brand new series that we are starting next Sunday November 7 called Mind Your Business.  I know you are going to be ministered to through this series, and we have some very special announcements that we will be making next Sunday of ways to put this series into practice.

 

Finally, I hope that you have gotten plugged into a LifeGroup.  If not, we will be starting new LifeGroups in January.  The reason I say this is what I am observing in the LifeGroups I am leading.  I am seeing people who just attended our church, get connected in meaningful relationships, and starting to build friendships.  I am seeing firsthand what we are told of in Acts 2 of real true Biblical community.  It has been the vision of our staff for a long time to see this take hold throughout our church body.  We are seeing the beginnings of that.

 

Hope you have a good week!

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

 

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: October 22, 2010

 

Dear Central Family,

 

I hope that you are going to be with us this Sunday as we start a new two-part series in our contemporary services called Modern Family.  This is going to be an important series that is filled with truth and grace and challenge as we seek to grow in understanding and application of what God has to say about the relationships in our family.  So whether you are married or not, this is a series you will not want to miss.  Jared Alcántara will kick off the series this Sunday (I will be speaking at the 9:30 classic service) and I will wrap it up next Sunday.  So please plan to come with open hearts to what God has to say.

 

A few other things for you to remember: 

 

Men’s Retreat this Weekend.  More than 30 men from our church will be away at a retreat at Sandy Cove Bible Conference for a time of refreshing challenge and recharge.  Please pray for these men as they open their hearts to what God has to say to them regarding their relationships with their God and their families.

 

Newest Staff Member:  I want to make sure that you welcome our newest staff member Irene Knott, who is serving as our Office Administrative Assistant.  When you call our church office, she will be the friendly voice that will respond to your needs.  Stop by and welcome Irene to our team!  Also, Irene is the one to contact with any prayer requests you may have.  Just email her at iknott@cbcnj.org

 

Few Calendar Items:

 

October 31 -  Two Worship Services at 9:30 and 11:00

We will combine the 9:30 services so we can celebrate Believers Baptism and the new life that God is producing through this ministry.  This promises to be an exciting service! 

If you are interested in getting baptized, please contact pastor Gilmer at agilmer@cbcnj.org

 

November 7  New Message Series - Mind your business! 

That’s all I am going to tell you for now, but it is going to be a special series with some exciting ways for you to put the principles you will be learning into practice.

 

Thanks for your prayers and constant support.  God is at work! 

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: October 15, 2010

 

Dear Central Family,

 

Hope you will be with us this Sunday at either the 9:30 or 11:00 services!  We will continue our series SENT with a focus on what God is doing around the world!  Come be challenged and encouraged that God is at work around the world! 

 

I also hope that you will choose to attend one of our Sunday Life Groups this Sunday either at 9:30 or 11:00 am.  We will be Skype with our World Impact Associates, hear from them first hand, and connect with them to encourage them.  Just show up in Adult 1-3 and our hosts will direct you to the proper location.  This is going to be a Sunday that we will all be stretched to develop a heart for what God is doing around the world!

 

NEW SERIES coming on October 24

MODERN FAMILY

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: October 8, 2010

 

Dear Central Family,

 

For 11 years we have had a vision as a church to introduce people both locally and globally to Jesus Christ and to proactively help believers become fully devoted followers of Christ.  We have seen God do some amazing things through fulfillment of that vision.  This Sunday we will start a 2-part series we are calling SENT, and we will be examining what the Scriptures have to say about being salt and light in our community.  I am excited about what God has placed on our hearts to share with you, and once again in a way we can put into practice so that our light will be able to SHINE!  So please plan to be present for one of our three worship services.

 

As part of that series, we are holding a special event on Sunday, October 17.  We are calling it Sent: A Missions Prayer Event. During both worship hours, you will have the opportunity to attend one of our Sunday morning LifeGroups where will we have video Skype connections with our World Impact Associates from around the world.  You will have a chance to hear firsthand what God is doing through these amazing people who are being used in powerful ways.  You will also be able to pray for them and with them… LIVE!  You can sign up for a specific group this Sunday in the Fellowship Mall.  Even if you do not attend a Sunday morning LifeGroup, we want you to join in and get connected with what God is doing around the world.  I am looking forward to participating and I know you will really enjoy this. 

 

Finally, we want to welcome to our staff Irene Knott, our new Administrative Assistant.  Irene, her husband Moses, and their children Moses, Christopher, and Cassandra make Central their church home, and we are excited to have her on board.  Irene will be the one who greets you at the front desk and answers your calls when you phone the office.  She will also administratively support me, Pastor Gilmer, and Teresa Vann, our Executive Director of Operations.  Irene has a love for the Lord and heart to serve.  Stop by and welcome her to our team!

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: October 1, 2010

 

Dear Central Family,

 

What a weekend we had last week! 

 

It was obvious to many of us that many of you are taking seriously the command of Christ that we live in biblical community, which is the topic that we have been discussing the past three weeks. 

 

It was obvious in the many people who stepped out and joined a Life Group on Sunday morning.

 

It was obvious in the energy in our worship services as those who are experiencing community join together to worship our Awesome God! 

 

It was obvious in the reports we are getting from group leaders of meaningful prayer and community beginning to grow in different group settings. 

 

As of today over 330 people have signed up to be part of a LIFE GROUP!  We praise God for that, and there is still time for you to get on board.  Don’t miss out on connecting together in authentic community. I have been saying it for three weeks: Join a Life Group!  Go to our website (worshipatcentral.org) and all the information you need is right there!

 

This Sunday we will wrap up our series on community by looking at an often forgotten blessing that is available to all of us who live in Biblical community.  Come and find out what that is; you may be surprised!

 

I also want to take this time to express my thanks and gratitude to Susan Localio who has served as our Church Receptionist, Administrative Assistant, and Office Manager, and Helper Extraordinaire for over 6 years!  Susan has decided to step down from her position on staff effective October 1, and we will miss seeing her at the front desk as I know you will.  She has been such a help and blessing to our whole church family and we want to honor her with a card shower in thanksgiving to what God has done through her ministry. So if you want to express your appreciation to Susan (she loves and treasures cards) you can do so by sending her a card at:

 

Susan Localio

178 Carter Road

Princeton, NJ 08540

 

Susan will still be a part of our ministry family, continue to lead our GriefShare program, and help me with the Celebrate Recovery ministry. Only eternity will show what God has done through her faithfulness to Him!

 

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning!

 

Pastor