New Series / Every Sunday 9am, 10:45am or 12:30pm / May 19th – June 9th

• Good Friday Service, March 29 / 7 – 8 pm / special commemorative (communion) service / full children’s programming available.

• “Welcome Home” Easter Sunday Services, March 31 / 9 am, 10:45 am or 12:30 pm / live music, testimonials & baptisms / Egg hunts following each service

• New series “You Asked For It” begins the Sunday after Easter. Here’s the deal: you or anyone you know can submit questions & the top 5 voted on during our Easter services will be examined in our Sunday messages over the next several weeks. So, submit any question you wrestle with or have wanted to ask God or a pastor. Remember, this is a series where you (& anyone else truly interested) get to ask the questions & with an open mind pursue the truth. Here’s 3 ways to submit questions-1)through our website: www.thecommunitychurch.org/page/you-asked-for-it 2)through our Face Book page: www.facebook.com/CommunityChurch or 3) through Twitter: #YAFI

Any parent will understand this. They often have to repeat themselves over & over (& over again) until the message is really heard, received & followed through on. & when a parent repeats himself, a child shows his lack of maturity when he rolls his eyes, complains & basically says, “I know, I’ve heard this all before!” But a perceptive child will stop & listen, trusting that the parent is repeating himself because it’s very important to hear certain things again. That’s one of the reasons God repeats himself often to us & that’s one of the reasons I wanted to repeat a few messages from God that some of us have already heard but need to be really heard again.

Yes, we have other pastors & we’ll get to hear from them soon enough…but at the beginning of the year a few ‘reminders’ are in order first & I hope you will really listen to them.

So, get ready! And come to God’s house with a right heart—a humble & open attitude—asking the Spirit to speak to you. As you honestly engage, take notes & listen, I’m certain the Lord will not let you go away disappointed nor without learning something new…even if it’s through video!

Here’s the tentative schedule of topics:

Sunday, Jan 13^th: What is a church?

Sun, Jan 20^th: Help I’m a Parent (Grandparent)

Sun, Jan 27^th: What are we doing?

Sun, Feb 3^rd: New Marriage, Same Spouse

7 Words from God I Choose to Believe (& Confess)

1.God is with me! The odds are stacked in my favor. It isn’t even fair. God is biased toward me. Romans 13

2.The Lord is my healer. I will live & not die. This sickness will not last forever! Psalm 118

3.I am a redeemed child of God. I am blessed! Who or what can be against me? Romans 8

4.I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

5.The best is yet to come. Titus 2:11-14

6.With God all things are possible! Luke 1:37

7.There are more than enough resources on my side. Hebrews 13:20-21

Directions: Choose the word or words below that most apply to your situation; daily 1^st thing in the morning confess the word of God out loud; repeat out loud throughout the day, as needed.

I repent. Forgive me. You have not been what’s most important to me. I have made other people & even things of more value than you. If there’s a conflict between my duties to you & whatever else is going on, I always reschedule with you. After all, you can wait! I’ll catch you next Sunday…well, maybe. Oh, Lord enough. I’m sorry.

My attitude stinks. & what’s even worse is that I’m passing this wrong attitude—this casual & flippant attitude toward knowing & pleasing you—on to my kids. I am not passionately & intentionally leading them to know you. Oh God of mercy, be merciful to me. Do not let my neglect of you—my refusal to make you the #1 priority—be the cause that ultimately undermines my children.

Today, renew in me a right spirit. You are the greatest, the highest. There is no one; there is nothing that comes close you. May there be no gods in my life that even come close to rivaling you. You are my light, my strength, my hope , my confidence, my peace, my deliverer. So, deliver me!

& above all, as a parent, help me to pass this blessed & joyful way of living on to my children. May they know you, the true & living God & your son Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Hear my cry, Oh Lord. Amen.

REMINDER: To listen to teaching series like “Parenting 101: Help, I’m a parent!” & others click here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Men, stand infront of the mirror, raise your right hand & confidently declare (out loud) this Manthem:

1.I will not wear skinny jeans.

2.I will not order a soy no skim chi tea latte…ever.

3.I will not look like, act like or smell like a girl.

4.I will not text a smiley face to other guys.

5.I will not spend more than 3 minutes fixing my hair.

6.I will not wear a Speedo in public.

7.I will not carry a purse.

8.I will not drive a Prius.

9.I will not move back into my parent’s house.

10.I will not watch Life Time, O or the Hallmark channel.

NOTE: This is an open invitation to all men & their sons to join FORGE where we celebrate all things manly!

Aunt Patty was born with Cerebral Palsy which prohibited her from getting a formal education. But due to her perseverance she accomplished many things that others said she couldn’t. For example, when she wanted to have her own apartment at age 47, she did just that. Living at Russell House in Norfolk, VA she would push a cart down the busy highway to do her errands. She was most proud that she had her family over for a Thanksgiving dinner.

Aunt Patty made an impression on all she touched & to the many who took care of her needs. She liked to tell jokes & laugh & to be a part of whatever was going on. She liked to travel & even went to Israel. She took Catechism, was confirmed & even was a choir member at our church. Her life was a testimony of her faith in Jesus Christ & her love for others.

Aunt Patty, I love you & thank God for you. You were a wonderful aunt—energetic, funny, thoughtful & determined. You didn’t let circumstances—your disability or otherwise—keep you down. I’ll see you again soon!

We will certainly miss Demple but we will cherish her memory. She was full of herself, if you know what I mean—a real character. She loved life and enjoyed a good laugh. She was also one church member who I could count on to shoot straight with me & to tell me like it really is.

Well, after my grandma Whitlow passed away, Demple stepped right in & every Sunday (& many days in-between) was a present grandma to me & great-grandma to my kids.

Lord, thank you for bringing Demple into our lives & for the great eternal reunion you have promised to all who are truly yours.

Note: Demple passed away in the early morning hours on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Her memorial service will be held at our church on Saturday, August 11 at 11 am.