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CPC Announcements for the Week of March 8, 2010


Worship

Sunday's message

On March 14 Pastor Allen Harris will preach on "Judas I: Two Coins, Two Tensions, Two Mysteries " from Matthew 26:24.  Please read Matthew 26-28 during the week and ask God to prepare your heart to hear from Him on Sunday and to worship Him.

News

Out of office

Steve Green will be out of the office March 11-23.

Vision Event #3

Session is increasingly excited about what God is doing at CPC through this time of pastoral staff transition.  Please join together as the CPC community on Sunday, March 21, 4:00-6:30 p.m., in the main hall of the Ministry Center to seek the Lord's guidance in prayer, Scripture, and dialogue, focusing on our vision and goals in future ministry.

Green farewell dinner

Mark your calendars for June 5 and get your babysitter now!  Stop by the side table in the main hall on Sunday and pick up details!  RSVP by March 28!

Elder Home Meetings

Elders generally meet with member families in their Undershepherd Groups three times a year.  Most groups will meet on April 18. Details will follow.

Middle Hour

Adult Middle Hour Classes resumed on March 7, 2010

Acts (MC-1)
Teacher: Bill Sciannella
We will be taking a look at the Book of Acts to see just how the gospel was spread in the early church.  How did God grow His kingdom?  How did true community develop?  Why did people seem to speak in tongues when the Spirit was given?  All these topics and more will be covered in this highly interactive, discussion-oriented class.

Colossians (AC-5)
Teachers: Larry Clairmont, Ben England, Roger Kraus
In Colossians God has preserved for us his view about who Jesus Christ is and what He did for us.  The Apostle Paul in Colossians primarily focuses on the excellencies of Christ and how they affect our thinking, our behavior, and our relationships on a daily basis.  In this class we will try to see (1) what God says about Jesus and His work; (2) how Paul argues against ungodly thought, culture, and behaviors; and (3) how to study the Bible.

Discovering CPC (AC-4)
Teachers: Larry Clifford, Dave Scheerer
This class introduces CPC to those who are interested in church membership.  It covers our history, our distinctives, and our vision for the future. 

"Lies we believe---truths we don't" (AC-6)
Teachers: James Bauer, Steve Green, Dick Stum
Some of the lies we will cover will be: God doesn't listen to my prayers; God can't, or won't, forgive me; I'm only as valuable as you think I am; change is up to me; and any number of other topics.  We will be asking for your input on the topics we cover in our first class session, so you can shape this class along with us!  God has given us His word to tell us truth and His Spirit to transform us with that truth.  We hope you will join us!

A Praying Life (Main Hall)
Teachers: Allen & Kathie Harris
We will seek to grow in our prayer lives using Paul Miller's book, A Praying Life.  Join us in the main hall for some honest conversation about prayer in order to grow in this means of grace.

Youth

SHINE parents

Remember that SHINE is a "covenant and complement" ministry, and you are always welcome to come and check us out for an evening or part of an evening.  We would also love to have volunteers to help with set-up, small group facilitation, chaperoning, clean-up, snacks, driving, group leaders, etc.  If you have any questions, please speak to one of your friendly neighborhood SHINE crew: Jeff Corbett, Anne Dransfield, Michael LaBelle, Christina Rushing.  Thanks!!

All high schoolers ~ Wii bowling!

Combined Revolution and Elevate Wii Bowling event on Friday, March 12, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Missions

Missions opportunities in Ciudad Juárez/El Paso this summer

Our World Mission Task Force has been notified that two small projects have opened up for this summer: one in Ciudad Juárez building a nursery at Promisa de Vida Church (the one we worked on for two years) and one finishing up a home in El Paso sponsored by Las Tierras Community Church (the Padillas' church).  As you know, Juárez is not exactly the garden spot of Mexico.  However, Border Evangelism and Mercy Ministries feels that it is essential to accomplish this work there.  A brief description of these projects follows:

The Juárez project requires four male adults with one member of the team being familiar with framing and installation of sheet rock.  Dates: July 18-24.

The El Paso project requires a four member team two of which could be older teenagers.  Dates: within the first three weeks of July.

Contact George Walgrove at 410.740.5002 by Wednesday evening, March 10, for details.

Haiti update

OPC missionary Ben Hopp has sent an update on the situation in Haiti which is posted on our website.   Click here to read his report.

thrive.  Women's Ministries

Women's Spring Retreat ~ True North: What directs your heart?

Need a weekend away with your girlfriends?  Or do you need time to decompress, refuel, and relax?  Whatever your personal situation, Thrive, the Women's Ministry of CPC, would love to have you join us for a time of refreshment at Black Rock Retreat and Conference Center, Quarryville, PA, near Lancaster, the weekend of April 30 through May 2 .  Our guest speaker will be Debby Jones who has 25+ years of experience ministering to women of all ages.  Afraid of an over-programmed weekend?  Never fear.  Plenty of free time has been allotted for those who truly need to retreat.

Online registration will begin March 1.  An Early Bird discount of $20 will be available to all who register before March 31 and is reflected in the following pricing: triple/quad occupancy - $170; double occupancy - $190; single occupancy - $240.  This includes hotel style accommodations with a private bath in each room, 6 delicious meals that you don't have to prepare or clean up, spot-on teaching by a skilled speaker, and a bonfire with S'mores.  Consideration for a confidential scholarship is available if needed.

What more could you ask?  Don't miss this opportunity.  And, by all means, bring a friend.  Questions? Contact Sue Clairmont.

Phase 2

Phase 2 Building Project News!

Thank God for the owner’s representative we’ve hired to oversee our expansion!  Tim Munshell has already been of tremendous help to us. 

The Building Executive Committee is in the process of receiving construction cost estimates so that we can formulate a more definitive financing plan for the construction project. Additionally, the Design and Construction Subcommittee is working through a list of remaining design decisions prior to the start of construction in May. We are also working on finalizing the A/V and sound specs for both the current facility and the Phase 2 expansion.

For more information on the CPC building plans, click here.

Phase 2 giving as of February 28, 2010: $315,280.

Service Opportunities

Winterhaven

Covenant Presbyterian is hosting Winterhaven again this year.  They will be hosting the homeless March 7-14.  They are looking for teams to cook and serve dinner, to make bag lunches, and to chaperone the men overnight.  Anyone can help with the meals, but we need men to serve as chaperones.  If you have questions, contact Steve Green.  This is a great opportunity for Home Fellowship Groups to serve our community and make a difference.

Meals ministry leadership

The deacons are looking for someone to chair or co-chair our Meals Ministry.  We have new systems in place to make the work easier and more efficient.  The introduction of the meals "Care Calendar" and meals-to-go in the CPC freezer are both recent innovations.  We are searching for a person who feels they have the gift of hospitality and a desire to serve our CPC body with this gift.  If you feel the Lord is calling you to help with the administration of the Meals Ministry, please contact the church office or one of the deacons.

Prayer

Please join us in prayer--be a link in our prayer chain.
Columbia Presbyterian Church Prayer Chain is the channel for getting weekly requests to our members and friends. To be added to the Prayer Chain email distribution list simply send an email to the office. Besides the individual prayer requests sent to the office, you will get a weekly prayer guide created by Pastor Steve Green. This is normally sent out mid-week. 

Prayer chain guidelines
In order to keep our prayer load realistic, requests that we circulate on the prayer chain should be for a member of CPC, a regular visitor to CPC, or someone in their immediate family (parent, grandparent, spouse, children, grandchildren, sibling, niece, or nephew).

Seminars

Gospel and the Heart

As Christians, we have some comprehension of the gospel.  All of us know that the gospel is how God brought us into His family, but the gospel is so much more than simply how we come to Christ.  Paul tells us that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).  He also tells us that believing the gospel is how we live our lives in Christ day to day.  We receive the Spirit by hearing with faith (Galatians 3:2).  Many of us live lives working hard to live up to the relationship God has given us through Christ's work of redemption.  This seminar will hopefully clarify for you how God is shaping you through His powerful gospel day by day.  We will discuss what the gospel is, how it frees us to live by faith, what it means to be adopted into God's family, how to recognize and deal with the many false gods and idols we accept, and how to live out our faith day by day.    

We will meet in the Potter's House basement Friday, March 26 and Saturday morning, March 27.  The cost is $20 per person or $30 per couple.  You can register using the brochure on the side table, or by calling the office (410.730.6004).  There are 10 spaces still available so register soon to reserve your place.  

For parents of toddlers through middle school...Getting to the Heart of Parenting Conference with Paul Tripp

Parenting is more than using your power to get children to behave in certain ways.  Parenting is all about the exposure and change of the child's heart.  When the heart of a child changes, the behavioral change that is needed will last.  Learn how to be an instrument of heart- changing grace in the little moments of life that God will give you with your children.  Paul Tripp will give you a picture of God's design for the family, help you to understand the life transforming and agenda-setting things that the Bible says about the heart.  Then he will apply the principles about the family and the heart to three primary stages of parenting.

Paul Tripp is the author of 10 books written on Christian living.  He is Professor of Pastoral Life and Care at Redeemer Seminary in Dallas, TX, and is also the Director for the Center for Pastoral Care in Fort Worth.  He is married and has 4 adult children.

Chapelgate Church is hosting this conference on Friday evening, May 7, and Saturday morning, May 8. $20/person; childcare is available through grade 1 at $10/child   For more information and to register by May 3 call 410.442.5800 ext. 165, email them, or visit their website.  

Lost and Found: Ravi Zacharias International Ministries--Oxford Summer School, July 4-9, 2010

Ex-slave trader John Newton wrote what would become one of the most famous hymns of all time: Amazing Grace.  He described part of his journey from "many dangers, toils and snares" to his eventual redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ.  But what rescue is there today for those who have been taught that God is merely a myth best relegated to history books?  Has science rendered faith in God obsolete?  Are Christians deluded?  Is what you believe simply a matter of where you were raised?  Please join us at the 2010 annual Oxford Summer School to explore the answers to these many other critical questions - that through our lives and words, the lost may see the light of Christ, and His grace may lead them home.    Click here to register.  Contact Paulette Goddard for more information.

Home Fellowship Groups

Would you like to be part of a smaller, more intimate group than the 500 who worship together on Sunday mornings?

We offer a variety of small groups, called Home Fellowship Groups, throughout the week.  Click here to learn more.

Easter Musical Celebration

The Christian Choir of Howard County (including some of our CPC family) presents A Time for Praise

Friday, March 19, 8:00 p.m. ~ Liberty Baptist Church, 1200 Madison Street, Lisbon, MD 21765

Sunday, March 21, 6:00 p.m. ~ Bethany United Methodist Church, 2875 Bethany Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Sunday, March 28, 3:00 p.m. ~ Bon Secours Spiritual Center, 1505 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104

The 2010 Census

Coming Soon

As the 2010 Census approaches, each of our households will receive a form.  Since the census has such an impact on the communities in which all of us live and work, we have partnered with the U.S. Census Bureau to encourage participation. As mandated by the U.S. Constitution, every person living in the United States must be counted - both citizens and noncitizens.  Data from this national count help determine key funding and government representation decisions.  Please complete and mail back your form and encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.  For more information, visit 2010census.gov

Academy Events

Heritage Instructional Services Open House

Heritage Instructional Services (H.I.S.). is a homeschool tutorial service that meets twice a week (Monday and Wednesday) at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Catonsville.  Currently serving 1st-12th grades it offers a broad educational program with classes in math, writing, science, art, and history.  There will be an Open House on Monday, March 8, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at St. Timothy's, 200 Ingleside Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228.  For more information please email heritage instructional his@verizon.net or call 410-719-9682.

Granite Classical Tutorials

Granite is holding an Open House on Monday, March 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Granite is a two day a week service to home school families with at home assignments provided for the other three days .  Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays at CPC.  This open house will give interested families the opportunity to sit in on classes and talk to staff and students.  Space is limited.  To reserve a space, please email karenvitek@graniteclassical.org.

Come, Learn More about Rockbridge Academy!

Are you considering your child's school options for the coming fall or perhaps for the years ahead?  Whether you have preschoolers or high schoolers, you might enjoy learning more about what a classical Christian school has to offer - from excellent, Christ-centered academics to the loving development of godly character.  Please join CPC families who attend Rockbridge Academy on Saturday, March 20, 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the home of Scott and Missy Sheldon.  A brief presentation will be followed by snacks, conversation, and the chance to have your questions answered.  Both moms and dads are encouraged to attend; childcare will be provided for little ones.  If you need childcare, RSVP by March 17 to ensure that we have enough helpers to care for the children.  Please contact Sandy England at 410.740.9584 if you have questions.