Central's Pastoral E-Letter: Friday, April 25, 2014

Dear Central,   I hope that you all had a wonderful Easter Celebration with your family and friends!  We certainly were blessed in a great way with all of our guests and the energy was a boost to all of us.  We had a number of people indicate they made first time professions of faith and we are looking forward to seeing how God will be at work in their lives.  I am very excited for what God has in store this weekend as we worship together.    NEW SERIES!  We will start a new message series this Weekend called Q and A.  Each weekend we will be focusing on answering questions you submitted that you would like to see us address.  This weekend I will be speaking on Saturday night and in both Modern services on Sunday on the topic of the Church’s response to mental illness.  This is such an important topic that we want to examine how God has called us to minister to those who struggle with mental illness and to minister to the caregivers as well.  This is a topic that is close to my heart and I am looking forward to sharing the journey our family has been on and what God has taught us. We will also be featuring a special interview that you will not want to miss.  Pastor Gilmer will be addressing the issue of Why Pray? in the Classic Service.   GUEST WORSHIP LEADER!  This weekend, we will have a guest worship leader with us in all three Modern Services. Andre Butler led us in worship on New Year’s Eve and we are excited to have him with us this weekend to lead us once again.  I know you will be blessed by his ministry with us.   LAST CHANCE FOR GREATER 1:  This Sunday is your last chance to give to our Greater Vision Campaign, Year 1.  We will be closing the books on this first year of our debt removal and ministry expansion campaign.  I want to encourage you to give either in the offering or online so that we can finish this year well.  Thank you to everyone who has generously given!  God is doing great things because of your sacrifice!   COMMITMENT SUNDAY IS ONE WEEK AWAY:  Next weekend, which is May 3- 4, we are asking everyone to bring back their Greater commitment cards and their first offering to start our second year of the Greater campaign. You will remember our goal in this campaign: to pay down the debt on our facility so that we can expand our ministry to reach Trenton, Pennington, and Yardley.  So please keep praying and then take the time to fill in your commitment cards (available this weekend) and bring them back next weekend. Thank you for the way you are seeking to honor God through your gifts.   LAST DATE FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAMS:  The last day for the Winter Session of Life Groups and Wednesday Night Alive is this Wednesday, April 30. A new Spring/Summer Session of Life Groups will resume in June.     TRANSIT NIGHT:  Breakaway Student Ministries and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship will be hosting a night for high school seniors and juniors as well as their parents to talk about being a Christian on a college campus. We would love for you to join us on Sunday, May 4 at 7:00pm. For more information contact Pastor Bryan at bbunagan@cbcnj.org.   STARTING POINT:  Are you curious about Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity? Starting Point is a 10-week interactive discussion designed for anyone who is investigating faith or coming back to the faith but has questions. This is a safe place to discover the grand story of God and how our own stories fit into it. The discussion starts Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00pm. Sign-up through the Connect Card or e-mail agilmer@cbcnj.org.    CENTRAL CARES DAY:  The 2nd Annual Central Cares Day will be on Saturday, May 17 from 8 am to 2 pm!  Volunteers will go out into the community to serve in multiple ways with different community service organizations from 9 am to 12 pm then gather back at Central for a celebratory lunch. Anyone who participated last year was blessed and we know that God is going to do even bigger things through the event this year. Bring a friend! There will be a table this weekend at the Fellowship Mall for signups, but you can go to this link to volunteer.   SAVE THE DATE FOR KIDS CAMP!  Mark your calendars for Kids Camp Ewing on Monday, July 21 to July 25. Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved in bringing the gospel to the children of Central and the community.   CELEBRATION RINGERS: Central’s handbell choir is looking for a few good ringers. Ability to read music is helpful but not required! Join us for fun, fellowship and an opportunity to praise God in music. If you would like more information, please contact Cindi Glover at clglover1@verizon.net.   See you this weekend!   Pastor Gay

 

 

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Central's Pastoral E-Letter: Friday, April 18, 2014

Dear Central:   The Easter weekend countdown has begun!  I am looking forward with great expectancy as to what God will do this weekend through your prayers and boldness to invite friends to come with you to one of our weekend services.    So let’s recap:     Let's worship together at this evening's Good Friday service at 7 pm. We will be blessed by our Teaching Pastor Jared Alcántara and celebrate the sacrifice of Christ at the cross. Childcare will be available from birth to five years old. See you then!   Easter weekend services are: Saturday night at 6 pm, 9:30 Modern, 9:30 Classic, and 11:00 Modern.  I will be preaching Saturday night and at both Sunday Modern Services while Jared Alcántara will be giving the message at the Classic Service.  We are looking forward to all worship that has been planned for all of these services, so please plan to come and bring someone with you.  We will be focusing on the difference the resurrection of Christ can make in all of our lives and it is going to be a powerful weekend.  Thank you for reaching out to our guests to make them feel comfortable and by helping in any way to make this a special weekend.  Part of what will be happening is we will be giving out Q and A cards for our new series that will kick off next weekend.  This weekend you will have an opportunity to write down any questions you have that you would like to see us respond to from a Biblical perspective.  The next five weeks are going to be a lot of fun!   Other upcoming events:   Hey guys!  Save the date!  On April 26, 2014, you’re invited All In, a men’s mini-retreat that includes paintball, basketball, ping pong, and practical talks about staying pure, healthy, and happy in life and marriage.  The event is from 9am to 3pm.  More details to follow.    The 2nd Annual Central Cares Day will be on Saturday, May 17 from 8 am to 2 pm!  Volunteers will go out into the community to serve in multiple ways with different community service organizations from 9 am to 12 pm then gather back at Central for a celebratory lunch. Anyone who participated last year was blessed and we know that God is going to do even bigger things through the event this year. Bring a friend! There will be a table next weekend at the Fellowship Mall for signups and the online volunteer link will be sent out soon.    Praying and looking forward to a powerful weekend of impact!   Pastor Gay

 

 

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This e-mail address (pastorgay@cbcnj.org) is only used to send out weekly pastoral e-mails. 

To e-mail Pastor Gay, please send a message to dgay@cbcnj.org. 

 

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Special Post Palm Sunday E-Letter: Monday, April 14, 2014

Dear Central,   What a great Palm Sunday weekend!    I just want to encourage you to take time today at some point and just praise God with me for how He poured Himself out at all of the services.  God was at work in a powerful way and I just want to make sure we take the time to tell Him thank you!   The Motorcycle Rally for Promise of Grace on Saturday was unbelievable!  The event raised over $5,000 for the Ewing Girls’ Home, which is a home for unwed mothers.   Also, two families who came to the event that day came to the Saturday night service as a result.  To see the way that the CommunityConnections team joyfully served once again in so many ways to show the love of Christ was such a powerful boost to me and reminder of why we do what we do!  (pictures by Toni Campbell)         Saturday night service was very exciting as we baptized our first person on Saturday night and the whole group of 50 of us went into the worship center to surround this young man Sam Muscente as he got baptized.  His mom and brother even brought cake and cupcakes to celebrate!  It was a powerful time of reminding us that God continues to change lives.  (pictures by Toni Campbell)           On Sunday morning, there were about 116 in the Classic Service where Elizabeth did an awesome job of putting together a powerful worship service, with bells, a kids choir (15 kids), adult choir, and drama vignettes that I heard from a number of people were very powerful reminders of the gift of Christ for us.   I just prayed through the Connect Cards and saw two different families amongst others that were there to hear the kids sing and had great needs and were touched through the service.   The two Modern Services with baptisms were very powerful.  We had people coming out of the audience during both services and the worship team just rocked!!!! To see the Holy Spirit work in such a powerful way through the testimonies that were shared was a powerful reminder of why we are here and what God has called us to do!  The roof felt like it was going to blow off at 11:00!  And none of us will ever forget the powerful testimony of Terri Huggins who even though struggling with Cerebral Palsy chose to come to be baptized.  There was not a dry eye in the house as Kerry McClintock read her testimony. Due to her boldness and courage to step out and follow Jesus, others stepped up to be baptized! The worship kept flowing and the people kept coming to be baptized!         I just prayed for a new family, where the wife came a week ago, and now she and her husband came together yesterday.  The coolest thing was I called them this past week to thank them for coming and they just moved to the area and are looking for a church, did not plan to come back this week, but did, and see how God blessed them!   I met so many guests yesterday in each service who just praised God for what they experienced.  Our total worship attendance was just shy of 700 for all the services!   So with that in mind, please take time to thank God for what HE IS DOING!  Ask Him to continue to work this weekend, on Good Friday, and Easter weekend.  I know Jared and I are pumped to be preaching this weekend.  Pray that the people will be bold to invite friends, the gospel will come forth clearly, and we will see fruit that will remain!   Please also pray as people continue to pray about their commitments on May 4 to Year Two of Greater.  We are asking everyone to bring their commitment cards and first offering that Sunday.  Pray that God will work on hearts.  I just heard from a single mom who was praising God for a new job she has just received and here is what she said: “I am so excited to be able to now give more to the church.   God is so GOOD!”  This was a single mom, who is stepping out in faith and sees God’s hand at work.  Please pray that others will do the same.   Just had to take time as I begin this week to let you know how God is at work so we can praise, pray, and wait expectantly.    Thanking God for all of you!   Pastor Gay

 

 

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This e-mail address (pastorgay@cbcnj.org) is only used to send out weekly pastoral e-mails. 

To e-mail Pastor Gay, please send a message to dgay@cbcnj.org. 

 

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Follow us on Twitter at @CentralChurchNJ! 

Missed a message/sermon?  Download audio or video at our iTunes podcast.

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Central's Pastoral E-Letter: Friday, April 11, 2014

Dear Central,   I am sitting here in my office just reflecting over the different individuals who are committed to be baptized this coming weekend, and I am just thanking the Lord for His grace and how He is changing lives here at Central!  This Palm Sunday weekend is going to be a powerful weekend of hope and victory.  I will be preaching on Saturday night and at both Modern Services on Sunday at 9:30 and 11.  We will be baptizing people in all three services.  So if you are not yet baptized and God has been calling, the time is now!  Just bring a change of clothes and be ready to be blessed and be a blessing to others!  Jared Alcántara will be teaching in the 9:30 Classic Service.  I have seen the worship plans for all the services and they are going to be powerful expressions of God’s hope and desire for all of us.  So make plans to be with us.    But before all that happens, tomorrow we will be hosting a Motorcycle Rally in partnership with Promise of Grace ministries.  I am hearing that close to 200 bikers will be here to take off on a bike rally to Pennsylvania and then return for lunch.  This rally is being held to raise funds for the home for unwed mothers right here in Ewing.  Thank you to everyone who signed up to help out with this event!      This week, we will worship together on Good Friday evening at 7 pm.  We will be blessed by our teaching pastor, Jared Alcántara and celebrate the sacrifice of Christ at the cross.  Childcare will be available from birth to five years old.    Easter is coming!  Invite your friends and family and come to any of our services:  Saturday, April 19 at 6:00pm; and Sunday Morning, April 20 at 9:30 and 11:00am.   This past weekend, we announced that the second year of the GREATER campaign will kick off on Sunday, May 4.  We want to finish the first year strong and all gifts given by April 30 will be credited to your commitment for this year.  We are asking everyone to bring their commitment card for this new year of GREATER on Sunday, May 4 along with your first offering.  Remember the purpose of GREATER is to pay down the debt on this beautiful facility God has given to us so we can expand our ministry to the surrounding areas of Trenton, Yardley, and Pennington. Ninety percent of your gift goes to debt reduction and 10% goes to ministry expansion goals.  So please pray about what God would have you do and do and let’s finish well and bring a sacrificial offering on May 4!   Also, we will begin a new series called “Q & A” on May 4 that will answer your questions that you submit on Easter Sunday!  I can’t wait!    Other things to take note of:   ~ Hey guys!  Save the date!  On April 26, 2014, you’re invited All In, a men’s mini-retreat that includes paintball, basketball, ping pong, and practical talks about staying pure, healthy, and happy in life and marriage.  The event is from 9am to 3pm.  More details to follow.    ~ We are looking for team members who are gifted and equipped to serve in the following creative areas: graphics and media, drama and creative communication, and script writing.  We also need technical help on Sunday morning with running the camera and the pro presenter software for the worship services. We will train you!  If interested in learning more, please e-mail gperkins@cbcnj.org or mark your interest on the Connect Card.   ~ Central is seeking a new Director of Children’s Ministries!  We are looking for an energetic, passionate, organized individual who loves to work with children and equip adults to make a difference in children's lives. This part-time staff position will be available in June. Please send a cover letter and résumé to Irene Knott at iknott@cbcnj.org.   See you this weekend!  This place is going to ROCK!   Pastor Gay

 

 

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This e-mail address (pastorgay@cbcnj.org) is only used to send out weekly pastoral e-mails. 

To e-mail Pastor Gay, please send a message to dgay@cbcnj.org. 

 

Like us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/worshipatcentral.

Follow us on Twitter at @CentralChurchNJ! 

Missed a message/sermon?  Download audio or video at our iTunes podcast.

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For Central’s upcoming events, go to http://www.worshipatcentral.org/events.aspx.

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Central's Pastoral E-Letter: Friday, April 4, 2014

Dear Central,   I am looking forward to being with you as we worship this weekend!    We will be continuing our study of the last week of Christ’s life prior to the cross and I am looking forward to what God is going to do in our worship together.  I will be teaching on Saturday night and at both Modern services on Sunday at 9:30 and 11:00. Pastor Anthony Gilmer will be teaching in the 9:30 Classic service.    As we approach Easter, a few things for you to remember:   ~ Baptism Orientation is this Sunday, April 6 at 10:30 am in Adult 3.  This is the perfect opportunity for you to ask questions about baptism and also find out the details for that day.  Believer’s Baptism will be next weekend, April 12-13 at both Saturday and Sunday services!  Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to publicly express your faith in Christ! If you are interested in getting baptized, please sign up through the Connect Card or e-mail Pastor Anthony Gilmer at agilmer@cbcnj.org.    ~ On Saturday, April 12, Community Connections team is sponsoring a special Motorcycle Rally for Promise of Grace Ministries to benefit a local home for unwed mothers. Service openings include greeting, lunch prep/serving, setup/cleanup, and security. Check out www.promiseofgrace.org to learn more about the ministry. Signups continue this weekend in the Fellowship Mall.   ~ Your little ones can still join the Special Children’s Choir being formed for Palm Sunday!  Kids from age 6 to 12 have the opportunity to minister in the Classic Service on April 13 at 9:30 am.  If your children are interested in participating in this special choir, please bring them to a rehearsal tomorrow (Saturday), April 5 at 12 noon in Allen Hall.  Please contact Elizabeth Goida at 609-883-4000 for more information.    ~ Easter is coming!  Here’s the schedule for that weekend!    ~ A Good Friday Service will be held on April 18 at 7 pm in the Worship Center.  Childcare will be available from birth to 5 years old.    ~ Easter Weekend Services are: Saturday, April 19 at 6 pm; and Sunday, April 20 at 9:30 and 11:00 am.  Also, there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions via response card that you can have answered in the message series after Easter.    ~ Hey guys!  Save the date!  On April 26, 2014, you’re invited All In, a men’s mini-retreat that includes paintball, basketball, ping pong, and practical talks about staying pure, healthy, and happy in life and marriage.  The event is from 9am to 3pm.  More details to follow.    ~ We are looking for team members who are gifted and equipped to serve in the following creative areas: graphics and media, drama and creative communication, and script writing.  We also need technical help on Sunday morning with running the camera and the pro presenter software for the worship services. We will train you!  If interested in learning more, please e-mail gperkins@cbcnj.org or mark your interest on the Connect Card.   ~ Central is seeking a new Director of Children’s Ministries!  We are looking for an energetic, passionate, organized individual who loves to work with children and equip adults to make a difference in children's lives. This part-time staff position will be available in June. Please send a cover letter and résumé to Irene Knott at iknott@cbcnj.org.   I look forward to seeing you this weekend!   Pastor Gay

 

 

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This e-mail address (pastorgay@cbcnj.org) is only used to send out weekly pastoral e-mails. 

To e-mail Pastor Gay, please send a message to dgay@cbcnj.org. 

 

Like us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/worshipatcentral.

Follow us on Twitter at @CentralChurchNJ! 

Missed a message/sermon?  Download audio or video at our iTunes podcast.

You can also view messages on our YouTube page:  www.youtube.com/centralchurchewing.

For Central’s upcoming events, go to http://www.worshipatcentral.org/events.aspx.

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