The Value of the Church (Part 2 of 3)
By Mike Riley
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How valuable is the church of our Lord? To answer that, one must consider what it cost to purchase it. Of all the material things on earth, is there one possession that is worth more than your life? Have you ever desired a possession so badly that you would give your own life, or the life your only child, in order to purchase it? Jesus placed a value on a single human soul, greater than all the combined material possessions of earth, (Mark 8:36). He refused all earthly kingdoms, yet gave His own life to possess the church, (Ephesians 5:25). One must then ask, what is the church worth to Jesus? The church was worth Jesus coming to earth in the flesh and dying for. The church was worth enough to God that He allowed His Son to be put to death for it.
If the cost of something is any reflection of its value, then what is the church of our Lord worth? The church of our Lord is unique; one of a kind. Jesus only died for one church, He only bought one, He built only one, heads only one and He is the savior of only that one, (Ephesians 5:23). Those who create their own church in His name and offer their own worship demonstrate their lack of reverence for the original. They don’t seek first the real Kingdom of God, but rather create their own with no regard whatsoever for the one Jesus died for. They place no value whatsoever on God’s masterpiece, choosing to elevate their own work above His.
But what about the ones that are close? Aren’t they good enough? It’s easy to spot a counterfeit with glaring imperfections, but what about the really good fakes? A counterfeit dollar bill, no matter how close it may resemble the original is still worthless. The best counterfeits are the deadliest because they are the hardest to spot. We must shun the counterfeits and have no part with them for in the end they will all be rooted up, (Matthew 15:13). It is not possible for the faithful Christian to offer acceptable worship to God in fellowship with a manmade body. There can be no fellowship with unrighteousness, there can be no communion between light and darkness, (2 Corinthians 6:14). We cannot participate in unacceptable worship and expect God’s approval. Those who accept and approve of doctrinal error are partakers of the evil, (2 John 10-11). Continued next week.
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Elders
Leon Cort
Mark Craigwell
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Minister
Mark Craigwell
Assistant Minister
Denver Simmons
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Deacons
Raleigh Gallington
Anthony Johnson
Gregory Johnson
Carlfred Malcolm
Albert Martin, Jr.
Walter Maxwell
Richard Meuse
Barry Person
Jason Reid
In Memoriam
Gone, but never forgotten, our beloved brother,
James W. Wade, Sr.
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Sermon for Sunday, May 26, 2024
Title: Built to Last
Text: Ephesians 2:19-22
Speaker: Bro. Mark Craigwell
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Schedule Change: There will be no 8:30 a.m. service on Sunday, June 2nd. | |
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We extend our sympathy to Sis. Loulee Morrison and family in the passing of her aunt, Rebecca Bowens, and to Sis. Maggie Robbins and family in the passing of her cousin, LaChanda Shearer. Let us keep both families in prayer for comfort and strength in their bereavement.
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Scan QR code above or click here to register.
Questions? Contact Juanita (937-751-6230) or R.J. (781-520-6039).
Please note the later starting time (10 AM).
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Click anywhere in the announcement above for more information. | |
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Come out and support Moses Tejeda and the Nationals!
Rotch Field: 30 Emerson Street, Boston 02118
Carter Field: 795 Columbus Avenue, Boston 02120
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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
Singles' Weekend Registration remains open for the Saturday, June 1st workshops and luncheon. See Upcoming events section below for registration details. Please note that seating is limited and the Saturday events will take place at One Marina Park Drive, Boston, MA 02210.
Clothing Giveaway: Saturday, June 1st, 9AM-12 NOON. Details in News & Notes section above.
Sojourner House Fundraiser: Saturday, June 8th. Details in Upcoming Events section below.
Warwick Church of Christ Ladies' Day: Saturday, June 15th. See Women's Ministry section below for details.
Gander Brook Ladies' Retreat: September 12-14 at Gander Brook Christian Camp. See Women's Ministry section below for details.
Ministry Meetings and Events
The Singles’ Ministry meets the 1st Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at the church building. See Singles' Ministry section below for details about the Singles' Ministry upcoming event, "Being Confident in Your Singleness" workshops and luncheon on June 1-2, 2024, featuring Bro. Willie Williams, III. Registration remains open to all congregations.
The Couples’ Ministry meets the 2nd and 3rd Friday of the month via Zoom. See Couples' Ministry section below for connection information.
Young Adult Ministry Bi-Weekly Devotional: Every other Monday at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom through June 24th. 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. There will be no session in June.
Community Outreach: Our monthly community outreach grocery distribution will take place on Saturday, June 22nd 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.
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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.
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Please make checks and money orders payable to Church of Christ in Roxbury and write Mission Fund in the memo line.
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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.
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OUR CURRENT COVID PROTOCOLS | |
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Effective immediately, and 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
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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
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Our next monthly community outreach grocery distribution will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at the church building. All are welcome to participate. Distribution will begin at 11:00 a.m. | |
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Remote & In-Person
Class/Meeting Schedule
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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#
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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. | |
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Our May Women's Class will take place on Sunday, May 26th 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. Fastina Rivera
If you would like to present a lesson for our Women's Class in 2024, please see Sis. Wendy Craigwell
or Sis. Gloria Gallington.
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May 2024
Visitor Thank You Letters:
Sis. Veronica Tejeda
Visitor Gift Bags: Sis. Velita Person
Baptistry: Sis. Pam Alexander
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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:
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Quad Occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $352
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Triple occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $371
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Double occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $408
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Single occupancy hotel room, banquet seat, bus seat and theater seat -- $535
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Grand king hotel room, two banquet seats, two bus seats and two theater seats -- $859
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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.
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May men's class is Sunday, May 26th at 5 p.m. at the church building.
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Scan QR code or click here to register. Registration remains open.
Please note the later starting time (10 AM).
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Young Adult Ministry (YAM) | |
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Topic: YAM Devotional Series
Time: May 13, 2024 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every 2 weeks on Mon, until Jun 24, 2024, 4 occurrence(s)
May 13, 2024 07:00 PM
May 27, 2024 07:00 PM
Jun 10, 2024 07:00 PM
Jun 24, 2024 07:00 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUvc-GsrzIuGdaem7JyzQ7Lgvy4dW3By3n3/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGprD8iHtWctBqFRpwcAI-gWejzmFhbjadcmRKyKTlJU1TaMfRbZrZIQ_rJ
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81248419432?pwd=cvjN58xN6xSlINtdoM2evHeaiz1MNY.1
Meeting ID: 812 4841 9432
Passcode: 114072
One tap mobile
+13092053325,,81248419432#,,,,*114072# US
+13126266799,,81248419432#,,,,*114072# US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 812 4841 9432
Passcode: 114072
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Monthly Ministry Meeting
1st Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m.
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Meetings & Events
5/3-5 - New England Lectureship, Mansfield/Foxboro
5/5 - Youth & Family Ministry Meeting, 2pm @church building.
5/6 - Ministers'/Elders'/Deacons' Meeting, 7pm
5/6 - Singles' Ministry Meeting, 6pm @church building.
5/12 - Deacons' Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
5/12 - Spiritual Development Class, 5pm @church building.
5/13 - YAM Devotional via Zoom, 7pm. Details above
5/17 - Youth & Family Ministry Art Night
5/18 - Ministers', Elders', Deacons' Wives Meeting, 9am
5/18 - Tech Day, 11am-1pm
5/19 - Retention Ministry Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
5/20 - YAM Devotional via Zoom, 7pm. Details above.
5/25 - Community Outreach, 9:30am @church building.
5/26 - Men's & Women's Classes, 5pm @church building.
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Ministry Meetings - Please contact your ministry coordinator for remote meeting schedules.
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- 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)
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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
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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)
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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.
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Church of Christ in Roxbury
81 Walnut Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-5826
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