[Members] Your NCPC Christian Formation Newsletter

[Rev. Christian D Boyd]

Dear Friends, 

 

Your weekly opportunities to learn and grow in Christ.

 

BOOK OF THE WEEK FOR DISCIPLESHIP

The Book of Family Prayer

The Book of Family Prayer is a wonderful resource in bringing the life of
prayer into the daily junctures of family experience.

In an age where social isolation is as much a reality within our homes and
families as it is in the outside world, Robert Webber invites us to turn off
the television, and remember again what day this is, what season-to
participate in a celebration of life's special occasions, joys, and
difficulties as a family. With responsive readings of prayer and scripture
such as are found in the widely used and revered Book of Common Prayer, The
Book of Family Prayer provides a setting in which families can participate
and grow in the often poetic and dynamically enriching discipline of
household worship and devotion. Sections for all the seasons of the church
year, special occasions, and non-festive seasons that include points of
interest and discussion questions encourage families to grow in their
awareness of the wonderful life around them and to mark the time that we
might learn to be increasingly mindful of who we are as Christians and
members of a family.

About the Author
Robert E. Webber, Th.D., has been on the forefront of the worship renewal
movement for more than two decades as a speaker, author, and teacher. He has
held the post of professor of theology at Wheaton College since 1968 and is
currently involved in the development of the Institute of Worship Studies, a
school for pastors and other church leaders. He is the author of Blended
Worship, Worship is a Verb, and is the editor of The Complete Library of
Christian Worship.

Email me and I will order it with others you have already requested a copy.
Price: $16 / Full and Partial Scholarships Available. 

 

SNEAK PEEK:

The Website is under renovations. It is close to being ready to be launched.
If you like, take a sneak peek at  <http://www.newcreationpc.org/new.php>
http://www.newcreationpc.org/new.php and provide some feedback.

 

 

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

I am convinced New Creation is a community led by the Holy Spirit. (Romans
8:14). Thus, as we should, we take seriously our birthing as children of God
(by water and the spirit), and our royal priesthood (as disciples of Jesus
Christ). Presbyterian Christians believe that through baptism God has called
us all into ministry and mission. Within a body of believers, God always
provides those who have the charisms (gifts) needed for the community at
that time as God leads them in mission. Based on the gifts God has given
each of us through the Holy Spirit, faithful members of Christ's Church
accepts God's call to be involved responsibly in the ministry and mission of
the Church. Such involvement includes:

.         proclaiming the good news;  

.         taking part in the common life and worship of a particular church;


.         praying and studying Scripture and the faith of the Christian
Church;  

.         supporting the work of the church through the giving of money,
time, and talents;  

.         participating in the governing responsibilities of the church;  

.         demonstrating a new quality of life within and through the church
community;  

.         responding to God's activity in the world through service to
others;  

.         living responsibly in the personal, family, vocational, political,
cultural, and social relationships of life;  

.         and working in the world for peace, justice, freedom, and human
fulfillment.

We encourage every one to discern their spiritual gifts and
<http://www.elca.org/evangelism/assessments/spiritgifts.html>  then pray on
how God may be calling them to be ministers and missionaries to the
Christian community, and to the world (click on the sentence to find out
what yours are and then share the results with me and the rest of the
community, if you like).

When we exercise our spiritual gifts in the ways that build up the body of
Christ, we share in leading the way for others to become a new creation in
God's transformative love.

 

BOOK OF ACTS BIBLE DISCUSSION   

For those working on the Book of Acts bible study, mark your calendars for
July 29 at 5pm for our check in party, discussing the June - July sermons on
Acts as well as the self-directed Bible study many have been. It will be at
my home (21 Shallowbrook Drive, off of Smiley, in O'Fallon). I will order
pizzas, you will need to bring your Bible, something to sit in (we don't
have any furniture yet), and a beverage of choice. Please RSVP (
<mailto:pastor at newcreationpc.org> pastor at newcreationpc.org or 618.292.9593)
with me SOON so I know how many pizzas to order, and if you have any
preferences.

 

 

EVENTS AND CULTURE (updates)

(We have had many sign up on Sat & Sun for the following and a good number
of suggestions. If you are interested in any of the things below, send me an
email (pastor at newcreationpc.org) or Gerry (secretaryncpc at aol.com) with name,
best day and time of the week for you, and any other ideas or interests).

SUPPER CLUB: food, conversation, and community. JULY 14TH, 7 PM AT CHEVY'S
MEXICAN RESTURANT. Please rsvp with me asap so I can have a head count for
tables

THEOLOGY ON TAP: free-thinking discussion about theology/God/church, over
beverages and food, and among friends old and new, meeting in quality public
houses around the area (Note: we strongly encourage all participants to
follow the wisdom of the early Church father, Tertullian: "All good things
in moderation".)  JULY 7TH, 7 PM AT THE DANDY INN. Please rsvp so I can look
for you.

PRAY AND PLAY: move your tail, enjoy creation, foster community, explore the
great outdoors. Golf outings, YMCA family days, out of doors day trips,
laser tag, hikes, overnights, retreats, camp outs. . . are scheduled
throughout the year as members get ideas to go someplace or do something
that is re-creational for body, mind and soul. If you have an idea for an
outing, organize a few folks, plan it, and post it with us. MARK YOUR
CALENDARS for Saturday, July 21, from 6 pm to 9 pm. Geared toward youth and
young adults, as well as those who are young at heart, we are going to  THE
EDGE in Belleville. PLEASE RSVP ASAP so we can get a group rate (One game of
laser tag, pizza and soda  $10.50 per person. . . also, don't let this be a
barrier for not coming; NCPC has 'ya covered if needed). For more info on
THE EDGE, go to: http://www.at-the-edge.net/. We will meet at the Parking
lot next to the Katy Cavins Community Center, located across from the
Community Park at 308 E. 5th Street in O'Fallon. Once again, PLEASE RSVP
ASAP with so we can get a group rate. ALSO Westminster Presbyterian Church
is going to a GRIZZLIES GAME on Friday, July 20, and NCPC and friends are
invited to join them.  Tickets are $8/person, payable to Westminster Pres.
They have 38 seats reserved and are filling up. Reservations and payment
need to be in by July 10. . . but the sooner the better.  It's a 7:05pm game
and there is a group meeting at the Westminster church at 6:15pm if anyone
is interested in carpooling. For those in O'Fallon, we can also carpool if
interested. Contact Pr. Christian. GOLF UPDATE: Mark your calendar and
Register now for a tee time! The NCPC Golf Tournament, August 11th at a time
after 1 pm, at Tamarack.  LASTLY Is anyone interested in Archery or
Tae-Kwon-Do? We have an offer for free or just about free instruction
through a couple NCPC mission partners. Contact us for more information.
ALSO, Canoe Trip anyone???

 

MISSION OPPORTUNITIES

Reflect on the mission, vision, and values of the New Creation community,
and ask "What is God doing?", "What does God desire", and "How is God
calling me to serve?" Share with me and your sisters and brothers.

 

SPIRITUALITY (I am going to keep bringing this up)

(Reprinted from the Growth tab on the NCPC website
<http://www.newcreationpc.org/menu_growth.php> )

Daily personal worship is a discipline for attending to God and accepting
God's grace. The daily challenge of discipleship requires the daily nurture
of worship. Daily personal worship may occur in a gathered community of
faith , in households and families, or in private. Scripture, prayer,
self-offering, and commitments to service are elements of daily personal
worship. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are by their nature communal, but
preparing for and remembering these Sacraments are important in daily
personal worship. An aspect of the discipline of daily personal worship is
finding the times and places where one can focus on God's presence, hear
God's Word, and respond to God's grace in prayer, self-offering, and
commitment to service. 

It is often helpful to keep a record of one's insights and personal
responses to reading, studying, and meditating upon the Word, or to share
them with others. Writing paraphrases, summaries, and brief reflections,
making creative responses, and keeping journals are all disciplines which
assist in responding to the Word of God in Scripture. It is especially
important in personal worship to read widely in Scripture. Using
lectionaries and various translations and paraphrases is helpful in seeking
to hear the full message of God's Word. (from The Directory for Worship,
PC(USA))

Some Help Links:

 <http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html> Praying the Scripture (Lectio Divina)

Daily Bible Readings <http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi>
(ecumenical lectionary from the PCUSA website)

Daily Prayer
<http://www.rejesus.co.uk/spirituality/daily_prayer/dailyp_media/dailyprayer
.swf>  (This is an ancient future way of praying and as web-based may help
you find time, as it has me)

On-Line Labyrinth  <http://www.yfc.co.uk/labyrinth/online.html> & Prayer
Walk (This is just a cool site t try at least once. Dial-up doesn't work
well)

Method X <http://www.upperroom.org/methodx/thelife/>  (From the people of
Upper Room ministries, opportunities to exploring Christian spirituality
deeper)

 

SELF-DIRECTED STUDIES

Pastor Christian will work with any individual or groups and create a
curriculum or course of study for any topic of interests that deals with
being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Contact him through the "Contact Us" page
of this site.

ON-LINE STUDIES

The Thoughtful Christian
<https://www.thethoughtfulchristian.com/main/home1.asp>  is a web-based
resource center located at TheThoughtfulChristian.com, and created by
Westminster John Knox Press, a publishing house of the Presbyterian Church
(USA). It is filled with studies ranging from one to four sessions each for
adult groups and individuals. Each session is designed for forty-five
minutes to one hour and comes with a three- to four-page Participant Handout
and a two- to five-page Leader's Guide with lesson plans and resources. The
studies can be downloaded as Acrobat PDF files, printed out, and photocopied
for use in classes or for personal study and devotion. In addition, leaders
can e-mail the Participant Handout to students in advance of the next
meeting. New studies, including rapid responses to current events, will be
added to the site on a regular, ongoing basis. 

 

 

Peace of Christ be with you all,

+Christian

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