Central's Pastoral E-Letter: Friday, July 29, 2011

 

Dear Central Family,

 

What an awesome Sunday finale we had last week as we wrapped up Kids Camp Ewing, and announced Kids Camp Trenton!  The Worship Center was packed full of parents, children and guests, and the energy flowed as the Spirit of God spoke to hearts!  Thank you to everyone who participated. 

 

If you were not present, we also presented a video to announce an open door of ministry opportunity that God is giving to us to take Kids Camp to downtown Trenton to the facilities of Bethany Presbyterian Church.  Check out the video here or at Central’s Facebook page!  Just to fill you in, we will be holding a Kids Camp in downtown Trenton on August  22 to 26 from 5:30-8:00 pm each evening. We are still looking for help in a variety of ways and you can sign up in the Fellowship Mall this Sunday. As you know, through our CommunityConnections ministry we have been doing a number of outreaches into Trenton, and this is another opportunity to show the love of Christ by sharing the gospel to the children and parents.  I hope you will join me in being part of this next step to reach our neighbors in our own backyard.

 

I also want to let you know that we are continually receiving requests for our Deacons Fund to help people who are struggling financially.  As a result, our Deacons Fund has made a number of disbursements and our fund is in need of replenishing.  We collect for the Deacons Fund at each communion service, and we will be celebrating communion on August 7.  If you would prayerfully consider giving a sacrificial gift, it would help us so much as we use these funds to help those who attend Central in their time of need. There are many families and individuals who are hurting, and we so appreciate your responding to what God would lead you to do.  Thanks again for being such a generous congregation!

 

This Sunday, the classic service will get the chance to hear from Colin Maina, a pastoral intern whom I have been working with. Colin is a student at PBU, and I am excited he will have a chance to minister this Sunday.  I will be starting a new series this Sunday called WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? in both contemporary services.  This series is going to examine what we believe and how it differs with what other belief systems teach.  This week we will be answering the question SO WHAT?  Why does it matter? So I hope you will be with us either at 9:30 or 11:00 services.

 

God is at work, we are His servants, and this is an exciting time to be able to minister!

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

Norway Update from World Impact Team Members

Dear Central Family,

 

Below is an update from Thor and Kate Odland, who are part of our World Impact Team in Stavanger, Norway where they serve with Young Life.

 

Thor gives an account of how the recent tragedy in the country has affected them. 

 

If the e-mail is not displaying correctly, you can view it here:

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=ab0909e2588cc559e7fe56a98&id=c28fd8e4e8&e=7694b3bd99

 

Please continue to pray for the Odlands and for the people of Norway. 

 

Pastor Gay

 

From: Young Life Norway [mailto:thor=younglife.no@mail26.us1.mcsv.net] On Behalf Of Young Life Norway
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 7:37 AM
To: Richard Gay
Subject: YL Norway Update

 

Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.   Dear Friends, First the good news.  Our son "Jack" John Magnus Odland came into the world on Sunday afternoon!  He is perfectly healthy and everything went will with the delivery.  Kate is still recovering a bit but is in  great health.  We are both so grateful and thrilled to be parents of this little guy!   As most of you have heard by now, Norway experienced a major attack last week.  Apx 70 people were killed, most of them teenagers. Many of you have asked how this has affected us and how we are doing.  Needless to say, the birth of John Magnus has provided a very possitive destraction to what would otherwise have been such a tragic time.   Well, for us the tragedy has been close to home.  Three kids who were at the Labor Party camp where the shooting occured, were from this part of the city of Stavanger, Hundvaag, where we have our primary YL club.  We knew all three students and they have all attended a YL camp in the last 2 years, and been a regular part of our club ministry here these last years.  One of the two girls is best friends with one of our jr leaders.  She was running from the gun man hand in hand with another friend as her friend was shot.  She is still in shock.  A young man I have been close with for several years, not the type to cry, was weeping on the phone as he called to tell his parents he was okay and that there were bodies everywhere as he ran for his life.  Lastly, the youngest girl who was apart of our YL confirmation club last year, attend regular club and our fall weekend, is still missing and no-one has heard from her since the incident.    Our hearts break for these kids and their families and the pain they are experiencing.  What makes this tragedy especially painful is the fact that it wasn't an Islamic terrorist but one of Norway's own.  This type of thing doesn't happen here, especially in one of the worlds most peaceful countries (Norway awards the nobel peace prize each year) and violation we all feel from this sensless violence directed towards kids no less.  This past Monday was a national day of mourning.  There were solidarity parades in every city through out the country.  Almost every person in the country participated.        This past monday in downtown Stavanger.  The air is still thick today as many are still trying to deal with the fallout.     I recieved this note from a Norwegian friend some days ago: "We just came home from our local church. Packed with young people crying, lighting candles, praying. I think that is also the best you can do. Pray for these young people returning home. And for the nation to turn to God at this time of crises." Please pray for us and for Norway.  Pray that Norway as a country will turn back to God and that some good can come from this soul seaching tragedy.  Pray for the kids (600 kids were on the island at the time of the attack, 70 were killed, many others wounded).  Lastly,  please pray for us affected by the tragedy on Hundvaag and in Young Life here in Norway.  We're so grateful for you all. In His Grip,  Thor friend on Facebook                                 |                     forward to a friend Support our work with Norwegian kids:  Please visit  giving.younglife.org   Give to : "NORWAY X287"  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: July 23, 2011

 

Dear Central Family,

 

What can I say but THANK YOU GOD! 

 

What an awesome week we have had in impacting over 300 different children who attended Kids Camp this past week! 

 

The work of the volunteers who just caused this week to run like clockwork,

The passion of so many who decided that they wanted to connect with God’s mission to reach kids for Christ.

The response of parents in our community who saw a church that is focused on doing things with cultural relevance and excellence as their kids were presented with the claims of Christ and the love of God in creative ways. 

 

THANK YOU GOD! 

 

I wish you could have seen the energy that flowed through this place as the worship center was packed full of campers, workers, and parents for the closing assembly each night.  THANK YOU GOD!

 

This Sunday is going to be an awesome wrap up of it all.  Please note: During the 9:30 service, Jared will be preaching in the contemporary service, and I will be speaking in the Classic service.  Then at 11:00 we will have our KIDS CAMP WRAP UP!  There will be a special drama and presentation as the kids sing and lead us in worship.  It is going to be awesome!  I hope that you will be here, and that you will go out of your way to make all of our guests feel at home, and if need be, willing to give up your seat so that they can be treated like the VIP’s they are.  It will be a time you won’t want to miss.

 

I want to also let you in a secret that we revealed this past week at Kids Camp… Kids Camp is going on the road!  God has opened up a door for us to take Kids Camp to downtown Trenton.  The week of August 22-26, we are moving the panda and company to the facilities of Bethany Presbyterian Church on Hamilton Avenue to run a kids camp for elementary age kids.  The staff is so excited to be able to head this up, but we need an army of volunteers to help with everything from food, to crew leaders, prayer, facilities, security  etc.  Starting this Sunday in each worship service, you will have an opportunity to sign up to be part of this exciting outreach.  Imagine what could happen as we continue to seek kids for Christ and reach out through this opportunity.  More coming this Sunday…God is at work, and we are being blessed to be a part of it!

 

See you Sunday morning!

 

Pastor Gay

 

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: July 15, 2011

 

Dear Central Family,

 

I am REALLY looking forward to this Sunday as we wrap up our Song of Solomon Series in the contemporary services!  We will be focusing on the commitment that God has called us to all make as husbands and wives to each other, with the message “Till Death Do us Part”.  I hope that you will be here as we give couples a chance to rededicate their relationships to the Lord.  It is going to be a special Sunday.  Then, at the 11:00 service, we are also going to celebrate in a real honest-to-goodness wedding!  We have a young couple who have started to attend Central, and they are choosing to make their commitments to each other this Sunday.  What a day it is going to be!  Be sure and get here early, and make plans to stay for wedding cake after the 11:00 service!  It is going to be a memorable day!

 

Jared will be continuing his series on the Psalms in the 9:30 classic service, then at 10:15 we will be holding a town hall meeting in the classic service to interact with those who attend this service about this service.  This is your chance to speak up and share how this service has ministered to you as well as suggestions that you have to make this service even more effective.  Members from the Overseeing Elders council will be present to hear your thoughts, and this is as a result of the All Church Survey we took earlier this year.  Your interaction will be key as the elders continue to evaluate this ministry.

 

Finally, in just a few days, Central will be overrun by little panda bears as part of our Kids Camp!  Thank you for your prayerful support this week of this crucial ministry to children in our community.  We will be setting up for Kids Camp after the wedding at 12:30 pm, and we need an everyone and anyone who can help us out to do so.  I have included a note from Susie Canfield, one of our Camp co-directors as to the need, so if you can give some time to help transform Central into a bamboo paradise, we would sure appreciate it!

 

“The excitement is building among the kids and the volunteers.  In order to kick off camp with a bang, we will be transforming Central from a regular church to a bamboo paradise.  In order for that to happen we are calling on as many hands as possible to stay after church this Sunday, July 17, to help with this transformation.  This is more than just hanging things in the hallways, as that is important too, but we need some serious man power as it were to move the stage equipment, set up the stage, move tables and chairs and some other heavy lifting.  So we are asking for men and women volunteers.  The more hands we have, the quicker we can get the decorating done.  We will be having a pizza/salad luncheon after church this Sunday for those that will be staying to decorate.  I need a head count as to how many people will be eating so that I can order the proper amount of pizza.  If you plan on staying, please RSVP to me at susiern@comcast.net and indicate the number in your party.”

 

Hope you can stay and help! 

 

See you Sunday!

 

In His Grace,

 

Richard Gay

Senior Pastor

 

 

 

Reminder: Concert of Prayer tomorrow night at 7 pm

 

Dear Central Family,

 

A reminder about tomorrow’s (Wednesday) Concert of Prayer at 7 pm in the Worship Center. 

 

Join us as we ask God to impact kids with the gospel during Kids Camp.

 

See you there!

 

Pastor Gay

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: July 8, 2011

 

Dear Central Family,

 

I hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend! 

 

We are looking forward to a great weekend this coming Sunday and I hope you will be with us.  We will continue our series in Song of Solomon in the contemporary services, as I will bring a message called “Just Do It!”  We will be focusing on putting what we have been learning into action.  I am looking forward to it!  Jared will continue his series in the classic service by studying Psalm 23, so I know you will be encouraged.

 

We continue to make preparations for Kids Camp, and as of today we have over 200  kids registered!  We continue to march toward our goal of 300 children, and are excited about all the work so many are doing to connect with God who is on a mission to reach kids for eternity.  I had the privilege of participating in the Ewing Fourth of July parade, and I appreciate all the work done by Steve and Teri Marshall to get the float ready to go!  It was exciting to hear one woman yell out to us, “We are registered!”  It is going to be a fun week!  There are still some ways you can get involved, whether in making treats for our staff, bringing in snack items for the kids, or displaying a yard sign, we all want to connect together as we join God in His mission.  Don’t be left out! One last way you can get involved is by coming to an all church Concert of Prayer on Wednesday July 20 at 7 pm.  Join us as we ask God to impact kids with the gospel during Kids Camp.

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

P.S. The World Changers team of students and adults made it back home safely!  Thanks for your prayers. I am encouraged as I hear the reports of life impact that took place!

 

Central's Pastoral E-Letter: July 1, 2011

Dear Central Family,

 

I hope you are enjoying your time now that the kids are off from school and hopefully things are slowing down a bit. 

 

I also hope that you will be with us this Sunday!  I will be continuing our series God..Love..Sex.. from the Song of Solomon, and this week we will be looking at newlyweds working through conflict.  I have called this message, Reconcilable Differences.  As part of this message, I will be sharing something that I have shared with every couple that I have done premarital counseling called the Rules for a Good Fight!  So I hope I have raised your curiosity, and you will be with us either at 9:30 or 11:00.  Jared Alcántara will be speaking in the classic service and continuing his series in the Psalms, so either place, either choice, I hope you will be with us this Sunday!

 

We are counting down the days till Kids Camp, and the enthusiasm is building!  Let me tell you about a few ways you can get involved:

 

1.       Pray.  We are going to be having an All Church Concert of Prayer on Wednesday, July 13 at 7 pm.  The purpose for this concert of prayer is to ask God to show up and change kids lives the following week!  Please plan to attend. 

 

2.       Sign up to pray during Kids Camp.  We are looking for a prayer team who will pray from 6:30 to 9:30 pm from July 18 to 22.  You can sign up this Sunday or just respond to this email and let me know when you will pray.   

 

3.       Stop by the prayer room!  During the week we will have the conference room in the main office area open for people to come and pray for Kids Camp.  Requests will be left each day so you can pray for specific needs during the week.

 

4.       Pick up a yard sign and display it proudly that Kids Camp is coming to town!

 

5.       Volunteer to be a crew leader.  As our registration continues to go up each day, we need to fully staff our team of crew leaders.  The job is to love and lead a group of 5 kids through the different stations each night.  This is a ministry that will reward you in so many ways as you connect kids with God in community and you participate in connecting with God's mission to impact kids for eternity!  Call the church office at 609-882-0337 for more info or to sign up.    

 

6.       Donate snack supplies.  We are still in need of some remaining snack supplies to feed our hungry pandas!  We are planning on 300 kids, and they will be hungry.  If you could stop by the display either in Allen Hall or in Central Park, pick up an item to purchase, we would be so grateful.

 

Happy Fourth of July!  See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Gay

 

P.S. Keep praying for our Student team that is serving in North Carolina!  God is using them in a powerful way and your prayers are being answered!