Free in Christ
By Mike Riley
| |
Too many people are looking for a church that pleases them rather than a church that pleases God. When the standard of excellence in the church is “what I like,” there is a horrible tyranny of selfish pursuit. People deceived by this approach think they are being liberated, but they are really being enslaved.
Freedom Through Obedience
True freedom can only come through submission to the will of God (Matthew 7:21). Having a standard for truth beyond ourselves is the only right way we can have the freedom to function as we ought.
As long as we place our preferences as the standard for Christian faith, we are enslaved by a system that binds us tightly. Understanding the will of God, however, provides a context within which we can be free. As Jesus told His followers, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32 NKJV).
In the words of the old Shaker hymn; ‘Tis the gift to be simple; ‘Tis the gift to be free; ‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be.”
The law of God facilitates our freedom as human beings in the same way traffic laws facilitate our freedom to travel from one side of town to the other. Without these laws to regulate us, driving would be encumbered, not liberated, just as we would not be liberated by not following God’s laws.
Freedom Through Truth
The difference between self-centered verses and God-centered approaches to religion, is like the differing purposes of a projector and a flashlight. A projector casts an image with the purpose of fooling your senses into believing something is present that really is not. However, engaging the image may be on the screen, but it really does not exist.
A flashlight, in contrast, reveals reality thorough illumination. When I go hiking through the woods, can you imagine how useless my flashlight would be if, instead of revealing the truth about the path ahead, it projected a fanciful image of whatever I chose to see at that moment? A projector is appropriate for entertainment because it is dealing with fantasy. A flashlight is appropriate for illumination because it reveals reality.
In His grace, God has provided illumination through Scripture. “Your word is a lamp to my feet,” the Psalmist writes, “And a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
The Bible does not exist to titillate our flights of fancy, but to inform and direct us in accuracy. This truth is a light that frees us from the darkness of sin and the enslavement of eternal death. In the truth of Scripture, we are free to be the people God would have us to be.
Far too many Christians today point to an isolated, out-of-context verse or idea as their excuse for disobeying God. Let us choose to be those who “retain the standard of sound words” that is the whole counsel of God “in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (cf. 2 Timothy 1:13 ESV).
Conclusion:
Let’s choose to be those who are truly free “in Christ”; free to submit to His will and serve Him with our all this week and always!
| |  |
|
Elders
Leon Cort
Mark Craigwell
Raleigh Gallington
Carlfred Malcolm
|
Minister
Mark Craigwell
Assistant Minister
Denver Simmons
| |
Deacons
Anthony Johnson
Gregory Johnson
Albert Martin, Jr.
Walter Maxwell
Richard Meuse
Barry Person
Jason Reid
In Memoriam
Gone, but never forgotten, our beloved brother,
James W. Wade, Sr.
| | |
|
|
Sermon for Sunday, July 28, 2024
Title: Bound for Bondage
Reading: Ephesians 4:1-3
Speaker: Bro. Mark Craigwell
| |
|
Schedule Change for Sunday, July 28th: There will be no 8:30 service, Sunday morning Bible Class, or evening Men’s and Women’s Classes on Sunday, July 28th due to the recent COVID surge. We will have one service, at 11:00 a.m.
The Very Newest: Khairai Michai Doyle, II, born June 30, 2024, to Tannice (Lindsay) and Khairai Doyle. Khairai arrived at 12:25 p.m., weighing in at 4 lbs., 5 oz., and 17.1 inches. Mom, Dad, and Baby are all doing well.
| |
|
Don't Miss Out! Please scroll through the entire e-bulletin each week to be certain not to miss any important announcements or links. Many items are repeated each week, but there are also new announcements that you'll miss if you don't scroll through the entire bulletin.
Current and Upcoming Events
Youth & Family Ministry Car Washes: Postponed until further notice
Bedford Street CoC Summer Concert: Saturday, August 31st, at 6 p.m. Details below.
Gander Brook Ladies' Retreat: September 12-14 at Gander Brook Christian Camp. See Women's Ministry section below for details.
Roxbury Annual Youth Rally: September 13-15. See Youth & Family Ministry section for details.
Westside CoC Women's Empowerment Weekend: September 13-14 in Jacksonville, FL. Our own Pamela Alexander is one of the featured speakers. Details below.
Providence CoC Ladies' Day: Saturday, September 28th. See Women's Ministry section below for details.
Manchester CoC Youth Rally: November 15-17 in Manchester, CT. Save the date and stay tuned for details.
Ministry Meetings and Events
The Singles’ Ministry meets the 1st Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the church building.
The Couples’ Ministry meets the 2nd and 3rd Friday of the month via Zoom. See Couples' Ministry section below for connection information. Meetings will resume in the fall.
Young Adult Ministry Bi-Weekly Devotional: Every other Monday at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. See Young Adult Ministry section below for connection information.
Tech Day: 3rd Saturday of the month, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the church building. Bring your cell phones, tablets, and laptops for help with your tech issues. See Bro. Javier Jackson, Jr., or Bro. Jerard Samuel for details. Sign-up sheets will be posted monthly.
Community Outreach: Our next monthly community outreach grocery distribution will take place on Saturday, August 24th at 9:30 a.m. at the church building. All are welcome to participate.
2024 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion: All balances must be paid in full by the end of June. See Bro. Gallington with any questions.
| |
|
The congregation is requesting member support of its Mission Fund as we provide an educational stipend to Bro. Phillip Morrison while he attends Sunset International Bible Institute full time for the next 18 months to train as a minister. We are asking members to commit/pledge at whatever amount your heart and ability can provide for this period of time. This is a commitment over and above your regular giving and we hope all members will participate to the level of their ability and heart for God. Our target is to provide $3,000 per month and all commitments, whether large or small, are helpful and appreciated.
-
Please make checks and money orders payable to Church of Christ in Roxbury and write Mission Fund in the memo line.
-
Electronic donations may be made via the E-Giving option at ChurchofChristinRoxbury.org/e-giving, followed up with a text or email to Bro. Gallington [(617) 922-4598, mrcg13@hotmail.com].
Click here to complete the pledge form electronically.
| |
OUR CURRENT COVID PROTOCOLS | |
|
Until further notice, we have suspended the requirement for attendees to sign up in advance to attend Sunday worship. We have also suspended attendance taking at our in-person services, classes, and events. Masking remains optional.
Remember that although COVID numbers are down, COVID has not gone away, and is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Please protect yourself and those around you by adhering to the guidelines below.
If you test positive for COVID after attending an in-person church event, please notify us by email at cocroxbury@gmail.com or by text to Sis. Gloria Gallington at 617-922-5987 so that notifications can be made as needed.
For up-to-date information regarding COVID in Massachusetts, click the link below:
COVID-19 Updates and Information | Mass.gov
| |
|
We will continue to offer two Sunday morning worship services to accommodate in-person attendees
The first service begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs until approximately 9:45 a.m.; the second service begins at 11:00 a.m. Our weekly Bible classes for all ages begin at 10:00 a.m. We will continue to livestream the 11:00 service on our YouTube channel, and we encourage members to utilize e-giving, even when attending in person. As noted under News & Notes, it is no longer necessary to sign up in advance to attend worship services in person.
E-giving link
https://churchofchristinroxbury.org/e-giving
Livestream link
Church of Christ in Roxbury - YouTube
| |
Our next monthly community outreach grocery distribution will take place on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at the church building. All are welcome to participate. Distribution will begin at 11:00 a.m. | |
|
Remote & In-Person
Class/Meeting Schedule
| |
Wednesday Night In-Person & Dial-In Bible Study
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in-person and via freeconferencecall.com.
Dial in number: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
| |
REMINDER: Please remember to mute your phone or computer when joining any of the above conference calls to avoid interrupting the class or service you are entering, particularly if you are joining the call after the event has started. | |
The Couples' Ministry meets the second and third Fridays of the month at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Contact Sis. Craigwell for summer schedule. | |
|
Our next Women's Class will take place on Sunday, August 25th at 5:00 p.m. at the church building and via Free Conference Call.
Dial in number: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
Or join the class online at join.freeconferencecall.com/carl95fred
Presenter: Sis. Juanita Tabb
| |
|
July 2024
Visitor Thank You Letters: Sis. Veronica Tejeda
Visitor Gift Bags: Sis. Esther Vallepu
Baptistry: Maria Harris/Carol Johnson
| |
A sign-up sheet will be posted on the bulletin board. | |
|
2024 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion:
Payments can be made by cash, check (payable to Church of Christ in Roxbury), or electronically via our e-giving link: churchofchristinroxbury.org/e-giving. If you make your deposit or any subsequent payments electronically, please follow up with an email to cocroxbury@gmail.com with the subject line 2024 Pennsylvania Trip, and your name and payment amount in the body of the email.
The number of participants is limited by bus capacity. The overall cost of the charter bus, show ticket hotel and banquet has increased by $54 per person from 2023, however we have made some changes and restrictions to try to reduce the impact.
1. The minimum number for the event is increased from 24 to 30 (bus passengers). This will ensure that the bus cost per person is no more than $145.
2. The family-only restriction is removed for triple and quad hotel accommodations. However, we are requiring that all roommates be identified at the time of registration and the spots are not confirmed until all roommates have registered. There are also restrictions on refunds to make sure room costs are covered. More details are available upon request. Please see Bro. or Sis. Gallington, Sis. Keitrice Johnson, or Sis. Elizabeth Nagarajah with any questions.
Based on the changes described above, the following are the trip costs for 2024:
-
Quad Occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $352
-
Triple occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $371
-
Double occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $408
-
Single occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $535
-
Grand king hotel room, two banquet seats, two bus seats and two theater seats -- $859
-
Banquet seat and theater seat only -- $120
All balances must be paid in full by the end of June. Please see Bro. Gallington with any questions.
Please click here to access the online registration form.
| |
|
Next men's class is Sunday, August 25th at 5 p.m. at the church building. NO CLASS IN JULY.
| |
The registration fee for the whole weekend is $45. Please sign-up ASAP if you plan to attend. Click HERE for more details. | |
Young Adult Ministry (YAM) | |
|
YAM Devotional Presenter Lineup
- 7/8/24 - Darrell Johnson
- 7/22/24 - Kamea Johnson
- 8/12/24 - Laurecia Simmons
- 8/26/24 - Jitaya Mccorvey
- All 2024 slots are filled. We are now seeking presenters for our 2025 Devotional series.
- We are also planning for our 2025/2026 YAM Retreat (more details to come).
- Please see Brother/Sister Gregory/Keitrice Johnson for more details.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81248419432?pwd=cvjN58xN6xSlINtdoM2evHeaiz1MNY.1
Meeting ID: 812 4841 9432
Passcode: 114072
| |
Monthly Ministry Meeting
1st Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m.
| |
|
Meetings & Events
7/1 - Ministers'/Elders'/Deacons' Meeting, 7pm
7/1- Singles' Ministry Meeting, 6:30pm @church building.
7/7 - Youth & Family Ministry Meeting, 2pm @church building.
7/8 - YAM Devotional via Zoom, 7pm. Details above
7/13 - Spiritually Fit Leadership Workshop, Warwick CoC (details above)
7/21- Retention Ministry Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
7/21-24 Southwest CoC (Hartford) Gospel Meeting. Details above.
7/22 - YAM Devotional via Zoom, 7pm. Details above.
7/27- Community Outreach, 9:30am @church building.
7/28 - Men's & Women's Classes, 5pm @church building. - canceled due to COVID surge
| |
Ministry Meetings - Please contact your ministry coordinator for remote meeting schedules.
| |
- Sunday New Converts' Class, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Bible Class (children) Sundays at 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Adult Devotional/Bible Study, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Worship Service 8:30 and 11:00am in person and 11:00am via livestream on YouTube. See above for details.
- Men's/Women's Classes, 5pm (4th Sunday of the month) @church building
- Youth & Family Ministry (1st Sunday of the month at 2pm)
-
Mature in Heart Women's Prayer (Tuesdays @ 10:30am) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Prayer Meeting (Tuesdays @ 7pm) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Mid-Week Bible Study (Wednesdays @ 6:30pm) in person and VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Mid-Week New Converts' Class (Wednesdays @ 7pm) @church building
-
Healing Hearts (Thursdays @6:15pm) VIA ZOOM
- Choral Ministry (Thursdays @7:30pm) in person @church building
- Couple's Ministry (2nd & 3rd Fridays @ 7 pm)
- Retention Ministry (3rd Sunday following 11:00 service)
- Women's Prayer (Saturdays 9:30am) VIA TELECONFERENCE (Connection info above)
| |
|
Bro. John Kurpiel, minister for the Lawrence congregation, hosts an international radio program, “Soul Food,” on Mondays and Tuesdays from 11AM until 3PM. The program airs on Ignite Radio Broadcast via Mixlr, an interactive internet radio platform. Use the link below to tune in to listen, or to participate in the conversation. Always free to listen. https://mixlr.com/ignite-radio-broadcast.
| |
Church of Christ in Roxbury
81 Walnut Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-5826
| | | | | |
