Making a decision like this is never easy. Determining the severity of the weather required to cancel a church activity while keeping the best interests of all involved in mind is a tough call. This was the dilemma faced by nearly every church in Western New York this past weekend. Although driving bans and being instructed on what to do are never enjoyable situations, the implementation of a driving ban across Erie County ended up making the decision for us.
I hope you found time this past weekend to engage with the condensed worship service that was made available to help you ground yourself in Christ, similar to our usual in-person Sunday morning gatherings. A few individuals took advantage of the connecting Zoom gathering that was set up following the worship stream, and I believe it was an encouraging experience for those who participated.
I'm grateful for the quick, creative, and intentional response by the church leadership to present and make available an engaging digital worship experience with limited preparation time. While it is not ideal, it serves as a temporary reflective practice that can sustain us until we can meet in-person again.
Moments like these may serve as reminders of our current daily situation— that we do not yet see Jesus face-to-face. However, one day we will. While our communion with Jesus is limited on this side of eternity and not ideal, God still meets with us here. Our daily moments of communing with God feed our anticipation of the day when we will encounter Jesus face-to-face for eternity in never-ending communion with God.
I hope this Sunday we are able to re-gather as is our normal practice (and the example set before us by the early church, like what we encounter in the book of Acts in the Bible).
Below you will find other CCC updates and resources for participating in the body of Christ over the coming weeks.
See you Sunday if not before then!
Jordan Byrd
Read and begin reflecting on Luke 4:1-13 before the sermon on Sunday
We will continue in reframing/refocusing on the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus as the standard for our own lives. This Sunday, we will reflect on the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. May God guide us in taking a step of obedience toward Him. May we learn from Jesus how to confront the temptation to sin.
IDES.org Food Pack, February 3&4
This year’s foodpack through IDES will happen: Saturday, February 3rd — 9am-noon; and Sunday, February 4th — Worship: 10am, Food Pack: 11:00am-2:30pm.
The food packing process will happen at ten stations. Each station involves at least ten people. Would you consider being a table leader for one of these ten stations? All this role involves is receiving some further instruction from the IDES food pack coordinator, and being a point-person for your packing station to help relay any needs or questions to the IDES food pack coordinator. You can sign-up to be a table leader via the information linked here.
This event is a great opportunity to invite your family or friends to join you in being a blessing — to be the hands and feet of Jesus — to people in need around the world. You can invite and encourage people to participate via the information linked here.
Due to the Bills’ playoff game time, Merge Youth Group this Sunday, January 21st, will be from 4pm-6pm.
Games and Bible lesson: continuing to look at the fruits of the Spirit. A youth retreat at the Southern Tier Church of Christ in Elmyra is also coming in February. Message Mitch Knight with any questions.
Meets at CCC on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, 6:30pm-8:30pm. On January 24th, the group is starting a new discussion on Justin Whitmel Earley’s book, Made for People. Contact Bobbie Ludwick, Valerie Hubert or Renee Paul for more information.
Meets at CCC on the first and third Thursdays of the month, 10:30am-11:30am. Contact Linda Cronin for more information.
CCC Mission Partner in Egypt: Safaa and Mona F. with Christian Arabic Services
Add your “amen” to the following PRAYER POINTS from the most recent CAS update:
1. Most souls saved in our history
2. Most money raised in our history. Goal for CAS this year is $600,000
3. Most churches planted in our history
PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!
In this episode of the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, David Kinnaman, President of Barna Research, highlights a 27 percent increase in Bible sales in the United States. Despite the perception of an increasingly dark world, statistics like this indicate that people are still actively seeking out God's good news in His Word. Speaking of Bible sales, which format do you typically use these days: a physical Bible or a digital app? Share your thoughts below in the comment section at the bottom of this post. The surge in sales is surprising, especially considering the ready availability of free Bible apps. An interesting fact, to say the least.