June 2, 2023
• June 4—Acoustic Café with Ed Bentley 11-1
• June 5, 12, 19, 26—Cruisin’ the Grind Car Shows 5:00
• June 11—Acoustic Café with Rob Skiba 11-2
• June 18—Happy Father’s Day, Enjoy a “Pop” Sicle with Dad!
• June 18—Acoustic Café with Bob Allen 11-1
• June 21—Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day Fundraising Event 4:30-7:30
Mike Hague and Linda Matthews
Many thanks to Mike and Linda for leading our First Communion Class this year! We had a big group wrapping up the class on May 21. Mike and Linda also host our Discovery Hour Program for children during our 10:15 service each week. We can’t thank them enough for all the time and effort they put into working with the children of our church.
The Longest Day
Come out with your family and friends for the Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day fundraising event Wednesday, June 21 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on our front lawn. There will be vendors, food trucks, raffles, a children’s area and a Zumba class! Please bring a donation for the Alzheimer’s Association and wear PURPLE!
Cancer Awareness Memorial Golf Tournament
Come for fun and join the fight for a cure! The 15th Annual Elsie Osman and Esther Cressotti Cancer Awareness Memorial Golf Tournament is Saturday, August 26 with a 1:00 shotgun start time. Please contact Leah Cressotti at 413-204-1730 for more information.
Rise Above It
One time Jesus was asleep on a small boat when suddenly a big storm came up. The winds were fierce and the waves were pounding the boat. The disciples got all upset. They said, “Jesus, wake up! We’re about to die!” Jesus got up and simply spoke to the storm. He said, “Peace, be still.” Instantly, the wind was quiet and the Sea of Galilee became as smooth as glass. Now, the reason Jesus was able to remain calm in that situation was because He had peace inside Himself. In other words, He was in the storm, but He didn’t let the storm get into Him. You can be in the storm, but don’t let the storm get into you.
Peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is not the absence of conflict. You can have trouble and conflict all around you on the outside, yet have real peace on the inside. Yes, you can be in the storm, but don’t let the storm get into you!
Somebody may be rude to you on the phone. You may want to jump down their throat. Instead say, “No, I’m not going to allow this to upset me. I’ve got a gentle spirit. I’m cool, calm, and confident.”
Or perhaps your boss doesn’t give you the credit you deserve. You didn’t get the big promotion you were hoping for. Say something like, “That’s okay. I know God is in control. I know God has something better in store for me.”
Maybe you say, “Well, Jeff, I’m upset because this man walked out of our relationship. It was wrong. It was just so unfair. I want to call him up and let him have a piece of my mind.” No, if you’ll keep your gentle spirit, God will bring somebody better into your life. He’ll take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around and use it to your advantage. But you’ve got to do your part and stay calm and confident. Don’t live upset and worried and frustrated.”
You can be like the Apostle Paul. Paul experienced all kinds of heartache. People did unfair things to him, others lied about him. But he said, “In spite of all these things, we are more than conquerors.” That’s the kind of attitude that we need to have. Don’t just use your faith to get rid of your problems. Use your faith to remain calm in the midst of your problems. Say it again:
Full of Joy!
Happiness is based on circumstances. Joy is based on Christ.
When missionaries in the northern part of Alaska were trying to translate the Bible for the Eskimos, they had some difficulty. When you go to translate the Bible in any culture, there’s always a difficulty translating some words that are foreign to that culture. For example, there was no word in the Eskimo language for joy. They had, like, 200 words for snow and, like, 300 words for ice. But they had not one word for joy.
So, the translators looked around and they saw the happiest, most joyful moment in that Eskimo village was in the evening when they fed their sled dogs. They’d go out with the food, and the dogs would yelp and jump and wag their tails and get all excited. And so, they pulled the word for joy out of that experience: “wagging their tails.”
So, when you translate the Bible passage where it says, “After the resurrection, when the disciples saw Jesus alive, they were full of joy,” for the Eskimos, it would read, “When the disciples saw Jesus alive, they wagged their tails!” Full of joy! (John 20:20)
Our tails ought to be wagging every day because we know that Jesus Christ is alive! He is risen! He is triumphant! He is victorious! And He promised to share His victory with us!
Would you make this your prayer?
May 4, 2023
- 5/7 Acoustic Café with Rob Skiba
- 5/14 Mother’s Day
- 5/14 Acoustic Café with Ed Bentley
- 5/7, 5/14 First Communion Class Meets at 11:15
- 5/21 First Communion Class Meets at 10:15
- 5/21 First Communion during 11:15 Service
- 5/21 Acoustic Café with The Rattletones
- 5/28 Acoustic Café with Kent Besocke
Fishing Trip
April 7, 2023
• Acoustic Café with Ed Bentley 11-1 4/2
• Maundy Thursday 4/6
• Good Friday 4/7
• Decorate for Easter 10-2 4/8
• Easter Sunday 4/9
• Women’s Bible Study Begins 4/12
• Acoustic Café with Chris Mastroianni & Bob Allen 4/16
• First Communion Classes Begin 4/23
• Acoustic Café with the Rattletones 11-1 4/30
• Mother’s Day 5/14
• First Communion at 11:15 5/21
Jesus was fun. I’m sure of it! Because children loved to be around Him—and children don’t gravitate to
cold, crabby people! Plus, people loved to invite Jesus to their home for dinner. And who wants to have
dinner with a sour, bitter person? Jesus was positive. I know that for a fact! Because
no one goes out of their way to spend time with someone who discourages them, tears them down, or
crushes their dreams. Yet people flocked to Jesus, wanting to be close to Him.
Join us in the weeks ahead as we meet the real Jesus.
And maybe —just maybe — we can become more like Him!
Ain’t No Grave! Happy Easter
Let’s get right to it. I want to take you to one of the most dramatic moments in human history. They place the dead body of Jesus in the tomb and roll an enormous rock over the entrance.
Then they stand back, look at their work, and say, “Well, that’s that. It’s finished. Ain’t no way He comes back from that.”
But early on Sunday morning, just before sunrise, the earth rumbles and the stone explodes outward. A light brighter than the sunrise shines from inside that open tomb. And what happens next is mind-blowing … Jesus steps out.
Now, what do you think He said? I can’t prove it. But I bet I know what He was thinking … “Ain’t no grave gonna hold my body down. They said, Ain’t no way! But I say, Ain’t no grave!”
Forgiveness Prayer
Lord Jesus, when people were at their worst, You were at Your best. That’s how I want to be. So, I’m going to start right now. My heart is open to your influence.
And now, let me ask you this: Is there a damaged relationship? What you’re going to do today is, you’re going to own it. It may have been the other person’s fault. Yeah, so what? It’s time for you to do what’s right. It’s time for you to take responsibility for your side of the relationship, clean up your side of the street.
Right now, think of that person and say, “Lord, I ask to You to bless that person. I pray for Your best for them. I pray for their happiness.” …. Pray that in your heart.
Now, ask God to take your heart and make it soft. When you have a hard time forgiving that person, think about how much you have been forgiven. And then, by faith, even though you may not feel an ounce of forgiveness inside of you, tell God you forgive. Tell Him you choose to forgive.
And, ask God to show you what your part is, what He wants you to do. Maybe a phone call, an e-mail; maybe even an apology. Ask Him what He wants you to do, then commit to doing it.
And here’s what you’ll see. Your prayer, your attempt at reconciliation, you doing the right thing – it may or may not change them. But it will change you.
Lord, we pray it all in the Name of Jesus, whose courage and wisdom inspires us, whose spirit and love lives within us, Amen.
March 3, 2023
- Small Group Bible Study Tuesdays at 6:00
- Class 301 Thursdays at 6:00
- Acoustic Café with Rob Skiba 3/12
- Acoustic Café with Ed Bentley 3/19
- Acoustic Café with Kent Besocke 3/26
- Palm Sunday 4/2
- Maundy Thursday 4/6
- Good Friday 4/7
- Decorate for Easter 4/8
- Easter Sunday 4/9
CHOIR MEMBERS WELCOME
If you would like to join our adult choir for Holy Week please speak to Mike Curran, Mike can be reached at 413-222-8345.
Worry
• Food.
• Fitness.
• Fashion.
• Future.
January 6, 2023
Jan. 17 Winter Bible Study Begins
Jan. 22 Acoustic Café—Bob Allen
Jan. 29 Acoustic Café—The Rattletones
Jan. 26, Jan. 29 Ministry Fair
Feb. 7 Class 101, 7 pm
Feb. 16 Class 301, 6:30 pm
Find out about our Ministry Opportunities at Christ Church’s Ministry Fair Thursday, January 26 and Sunday, January 29. Check out all the exciting possibilities and put your unique God given S.H.A.P.E. (Spiritual gift, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experience) to good use. Explore our many small group ministries and meet our Ministry Facilitators. Sign up for classes or enroll in one of our Small Groups or Bible Studies.