[Members] Your NCPC Christian Formation Newsletter

[Rev. Christian D Boyd]

Dear Friends, 

 

Your weekly opportunities to learn and grow in Christ.

 

 

SNEAK PEEK:

The Website is under renovations. It is not done yet, but close. If you
like, take a sneak peek at  <http://www.newcreationpc.org/new.php>
http://www.newcreationpc.org/new.php and provide the Sheldons and I 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.

 

BOOK OF THE WEEK FOR DISCIPLESHIP

Creation to Revelation: A Brief Account of the Biblical Story

Many people are active Bible readers, reading a chapter or more every day,
yet find it difficult to understand how individual passages relate to the
entire biblical story. James Chatham, a beloved minister and Bible teacher,
has spent decades introducing people from all walks of life to the panorama
of the biblical story from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. 

In this accessible volume Chatham takes readers into the familiar yet
fascinating story of God's gracious action in the world. From Abraham and
the children of Israel to Jesus and his apostles, Chatham brings fresh
insights to the old, old story. Rejecting the unhelpful practice of taking
passages out of context, he encourages instead the ancient, biblical
practice of consulting "the whole counsel of God." 

Including pertinent sidebars and a helpful "Chronology of the Bible's
Story," the book is broken up into twenty-six easy-to-use segments and
enhanced by carefully designed discussion questions. While no substitute for
careful Bible reading, Chatham's Creation to Revelation will surely deepen
one's understanding of how the Bible's many pieces fit into the whole. 

About the Author
James O. Chatham is pastor emeritus of Highland Presbyterian Church,
Louisville, Kentucky. He has brought his unique Bible teaching to
congregations throughout the U.S., and has taught every fall for the past
twenty-six years at the Lay Institute of Louisville Presbyterian Theological
Seminary. 

186 pages.

 

Email me and I will order it with others you have already requested a copy.
Price: $11 / Full and Partial Scholarships Available. 

 

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

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://newcreationpc.org/pipermail/members_newcreationpc.org/attachments/20070625/a3870d32/attachment-0001.html