The 

Sterling

 Christian

Community 

Newsletter

                                          October 1,2010-------December 31 2010

W

 elcome back to our second quarterly Christian community newsletter. I want to thank everyone involved for your continued support and participation. This quarter will take us through both the Thanksgiving and Christmas season which we all know can be a very busy and hectic time of the year. As these holidays approach, let us as Christians (those who strive to be like Christ), take the time to remember what Christ did for us. Let us not be thankful just for the things we have, but for the price Jesus paid so that we can have victory over death and the promise of eternal life. As we celebrate Christmas tell someone about the glorious place Jesus left to come here so that we could leave here to go there. Wow what would happen if everybody could really comprehend the reality of that?

So many of our family, friends and neighbors have felt the spirit of God calling them to accept Christ as Lord and Savior but have refused that calling. They believe they can’t live the perfect life it takes to be a Christian, but they don’t realize that no one can but the Bible says we are to “strive for perfection. They believe they won’t be allowed to do the things they want to but they don’t realize they can do the things they want to because God has a wonderful way of changing our want-to’s. They even believe that their life here on earth would be void of joy and happiness but what they don’t realize is there is not only joy in this life for them but in the life to come. Share your testimony with someone this quarter and let them know what this holiday season should really be about. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Community Thanksgiving

Service

Sunday night November 21

@ 7:00 pm

Everyone Is Invited

Every year at Thanksgiving the Christian community churches are invited to join together and participate in a service of giving thanks to God for all He has done. Everyone in the community is invited regardless of whether you belong to one of the community churches or not. As a matter of fact, it is a great opportunity to see what worshiping Christ is all about.

All the Christian community churches are not only welcome but invited to participate in this service. If your church hasn’t participated in the past community services, but is interested in participating this year, we would be excited to have you there. For more information about this service contact your local church or e-mail me at rbussey7 @aol.com and I will help you find the information you seek.

Community

Christmas

Cantata

Sunday night December 19^th

@ 7:pm

Everyone Is Invited

To participate

The Sterling 1^st Baptist church is hosting the 2010 Christmas cantata. Everyone is invited to participate and attend the cantata service. If you are interested in participating in the Christmas Cantata, practice is every Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm at the 1^st Baptist Church starting (tentatively) October 27^th. Feel free to Contact the 1^st Baptist or me at rbussey7@aol.com for more information.

Sterling United Methodist Church

 

  Rev:  Sharla Reynolds

Sunday school:  10:00 am

Sunday Worship:  11:00 am

Choir Practice: Wednesday 6:00 pm

Statement of Faith

We believe in one God in three persons; God, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God.  We believe that all persons were made in the image of God and are sinners for whom that image is distorted. Sin estranges us from God.  Salvation comes through Jesus Christ.  The UMC believes that people are free to make their own choices because of God’s divine grace.  The UMC also believes that God gives unmerited favor freely to all people though some may resist. We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. 

Devotional

Philippians 3:10-11

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."

There are times that beginning something new like a new job, the start of a new school year or becoming part of a new community we are a little anxiety-ridden.  We become fretful that there is more that we need to know than we do OR we might just like to blend in and not be noticed at all.  The hardest part of coming to a new church or returning to our “old” one is that we believe that there will be an accounting of the time we have been away.  The fact of the matter is, your faith community is just glad you are here, the first time, or that you have returned home for fellowship.  The United Methodist Church is ready to welcome you home into the fellowship of believers.  We celebrate the grace of God that is forgiveness of sins on the cross.  It is our desire to guide you along in this relationship with Jesus Christ at a pace of your choosing.  This relationship is the one which brings the resurrection from the dead to a life of eternity.  We are not perfect, but we strive to become more like Christ each and every day.

Prayer:

        Gracious God, be with each of us in our imperfections and sufferings.  Help us to die to our old habits and desires.  May we die to the fear of beginning something new that we may come to be your people in your land.  May we become the new creation that you desire us to be, little by little; bit by bit until we are fully your people in all that we say and do; in the name of Jesus Christ our redeemer and savior, Amen.

Visiting his grandparents, a small boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages.

Suddenly, something fell out. He picked it up and found that it was an old leaf that had been pressed flat between the pages.

"Mama, look what I found," he called out.
"What have you got there, dear?" his mother asked."
With astonishment in his voice, the boy answered,

"I think it's Adam's underwear!"

1^st Baptist Church Sterling

  Pastor:  John Tims

Sunday

Sunday School:   10:00 am

Morning Worship 11:00 am

Discipleship Training 6:00 pm

Evening Worship 7:00 pm

Wednesday

RA’s, Ga’s Mission Friends:   7:00 pm

Youth:  7:00 pm

Adult Bible Study: 7:00 pm 6:00 pm

Choir Practice 7:45 pm

Statement of Faith

We believe that there is one God and one God only, that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them.

We believe that God consist of three persons God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (Trinity) and that all three being one God and each one separately being fully God.

We believe that God created mankind in his image innocent and without sin and that sin entered into the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden.

We believe that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. We are all therefore in need of a Savior (someone to pay the penalty of our sin).

We believe that Jesus Christ is that Savior. He was God incarnate (God in the flesh) conceived through the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary. With the power to stop it all with a single word Christ willingly gave himself to be crucified on a cross to pay the price of our sins.

We believe after three days Jesus arose from the dead victorious over sin and death and ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father.

We believe that it is Gods desire that no one parish but that everyone would have eternal life with him.

We believe that God offers salvation to everyone as a free gift (Eph 2:8-9) and that everyone has been given the free will to accept or reject that gift.

The Sunday school teacher was describing that when Lot's wife looked back at Sodom she turned into a pillar of salt, when Bobby interrupted. "My mommy looked back once while she was driving," he announced, "and she turned into a telephone pole."

THE EXCITING FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

I am John Tims, the Transitional Pastor at First Baptist Church.  I am not the “new pastor”.  I am just what the title implies.  I am here to help First Baptist through the transition until they call a “new pastor”.  I came here with little knowledge of the church or of the community.  I have pastored for over 53 years and I have seen many churches in small rural communities like Sterling.  I have been serving First Baptist about two and a half months and I am anxious to tell you how God is at work here in the life of this body.

From the first Sunday I preached here (June 27) I realized that this was not just an “ordinary” church.  Over the past couple of months I have found that First Baptist is truly extra ordinary.  They have been loving and generous toward me and open to my leadership.  They love each other and they love the Lord.  They have dreams of God using them to make a difference in this community and in His eternal Kingdom. 

They are excited about the way God is moving in the life of the church.  The Sunday School attendance has increased by about thirty percent.  The worship center has been almost full for the morning worship services.  There are visitors in Sunday School, morning and evening worship and even Wednesday evening.  I have experienced a strong sense of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit every time I have preached or taught.  God has touched the hearts of nine people, six adults and three children, leading them to profess faith in Christ and follow Him in baptism. 

I have never seen a church this size with so many people who were eager and willing to take responsibility and serve.  This church has so many young adults and so many children and pre-schoolers.  Every church in the country is trying to reach this age group.  What a blessing.  I am also aware of the large number of men in leadership.  It is every church’s dream for men to take responsible leadership in the body. 

Sometimes the people who make up a church like First Baptist, Sterling, don’t really know what they have and how God has blessed.  I don’t know how much the members at First Baptist are bragging on their Lord and their church, but I want to say that I believe this church is one of the best I have every had the privilege to serve.  God is at work and we haven’t seen anything, yet

Calendar of events

October 3, 2010............................................. Men's Breakfast @ 8:00

October 3, 2010................................................ Youth Committee Mtg.

October 4, 2010............................................................. WMU @ 7:00

October 6, 2010................................................. Business Mtg. @ 7:00

October 29, 2010.................................................... Children's Hayride

October 31, 2010.................................... Fifth Sunday Singing @ 7:00

October 31, 2010............................................... Deacons Mtg. @ 8:00

November 1, 2010........................................................... WMU @ 7:00

November 2, 2010........................... Election Day - Remember to Vote

November 7, 2010.................................... Daylight Savings Time Ends

                                                                                      Fall back 1 hour

November 7, 2010........................................... Men's Breakfast @ 8:00

November 10, 2010............................................ Business Mtg. @ 7:00

November 25, 2010.......................................................... Thanksgiving

1^st Assembly Of God

 

Pastor:

Sunday School:   10:00 am

Sunday Morning Service: 11:10am

Sunday Evening Service: 6:00pm

Wednesday Night Service: 7:00pm

Statement of Faith/Our Mission

The Assemblies of God is committed to fulfilling a four-fold mission. Its primary reason for being is:

1. Evangelize the lost.
2. Worship God.
3. Disciple believers.
4. Demonstrate God's love through Compassion.

Assemblies of God core values

We are committed to the following core values.

1. Passionately proclaim, at home and abroad, by word and deed Jesus as Savior, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, Healer, and Soon Coming King.
2. Strategically invest in the next generation
3. Vigorously plant new churches
4. Skillfully resource our Fellowship

Fervently pray for God’s favor and help as we serve Him with pure hearts and noble purpose

CELL PHONES VS. THE HOLY BIBLE

Have you ever wondered what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?  What if we carried it around in our purse or pocket or even in a little pouch on our hip?  What if we flipped through it several times a day?  What if we turned back to get it if forgot it at the house?  What if we used it to receive messages from the text?  What if we treated it like we could not live without it?  What if we gave it to kids as gifts?  What if we used it when we traveled?  What if we used it in case of an emergency?  This is something to think about.   This is something to make you say "HHHHMMM... Where is my Bible?"  And unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected for non-payment.  Jesus has already paid the bill. He gave is life by hanging on the cross.  Knock!!!   Knock!!!  Jesus has already called for you.   He has left his message.   Revelations 3:20 says "BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK:  IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HIM WITH ME."  This is something that we all need to think about.  We are all Christians and we all have one goal in mind:  That is to enter into Heaven's Gates and spend eternity with Jesus Christ.  We may come from different paths of life; we may come from different decades of life.  BUT, we all must meet on THE ROAD TO HEAVEN.  There are several paths, but they all pass through Jesus Christ.  In the next few weeks, let's try to pick up our Bible a little more often.  We would never think about letting dust build up on our cell phone now would we??    Let's dust our Bibles off and study a little more.   Let's open up the door that Jesus is knocking at and let him into our lives.  Let's enjoy the happiness and joy that Jesus Christ can bring to our lives.

ONCE UPON A PEW

Once upon a pew, I sat once upon a pew, I sat and I heard the Preacher ask,
"We need someone to teach a class, now who will take this task?"

Then God sat down beside me there and said, "Son, that's for you."
"But, Lord, to stand before a class is one thing I can't do.

Now Bill would be the man to call, there’s nothing he won't do.
I'd rather hear the lesson taught from right here on my pew."

Once upon a pew I sat and heard the preacher ask,
"We need someone to lead the songs, now who will take this task?"

Then God sat down beside me there And said, "Son, that's for you."
"But Lord, to sing before a crowd is one thing I can't do.

Now Sister Turner can do the job, there’s nothing she won't do.
I'd rather hear the music played from here upon my pew."

Once upon a pew, I sat and heard the preacher ask,
"I need someone the keep the door, now who will take this task?"

Then God sat down beside me and said "Son that's for you."
"But saying things to strangers, Lord, is one thing I can not do.

Now Kenneth can talk to people, Lord, There's nothing he won't do.
I'd rather someone come to me, right here on my pew."

As years just seemed to pass me by, I heard that voice no more.
Until one night I closed my eyes and I awoke on Heaven's shore.

'Twas four of us together to face eternity.  God said
"I need just three of you to do a job for me."

"Oh Lord", I cried, "I can do the job, there’s nothing I won't do."
But Jesus said, "I'm sorry, Friend, In Heaven there is no pews."

Sterling Church of Christ

Minister:  James Rennaker

Sunday Morning Bible Study:  10:00 am

Sunday Morning Worship:  10:45 am

Sunday Evening Worship:  6:00 pm

Wednesday Night Bible Study:  7:30 pm

Contact Info:

(580) 476-2544

(405) 574-6444

jrennaker@sbcglobal.net

Statement of Faith

What is the distinctive plea of the church of Christ?

It is primarily a plea for religious unity based upon the Bible. In a divided religious world, it is believed that the Bible is the only possible common denominator upon which most, if not all, of the God-fearing people of the land can unite. This is an appeal to go back to the Bible; it is a plea to speak where the Bible speaks and to remain silent where the Bible is silent in all matters that pertain to religion. It further emphasizes that in everything religious there must be a "Thus saith the Lord" for all that is done. The objective is religious unity of all believers in Christ. The basis is the New Testament. The method is the restoration of New Testament Christianity.

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

ARE IN CHRIST

Throughout history it has been important to be in God's appointed place at God's appointed time. In Noah's day it was important to be in the ark.

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21).

Notice that Peter says "wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water". They had to be in the ark. In Moses day it was necessary for the Israelites to be in the house with the blood on it (see Exodus 12:21-23). Today, to receive spiritual blessings one must be in Christ.

ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSING ARE IN CHRIST: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" (Ephesians 1:3). Thus, there are NO spiritual blessings out side of Christ!

WE ARE CHOSEN IN CHRIST: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" (Ephesians 1:4).

WE HAVE THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BY JESUS CHRIST: "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Ephesians 1:5).

WE ARE ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED: "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians 1:6).

REDEMPTION IS IN CHRIST: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1:7).

ALL THINGS ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN HIM: "That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" (Ephesians 1:10).

WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE IN CHRIST: "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Ephesians 1:11).

HOW DOES ONE GET “INTO CHRIST?”

Truly, one in Christ is rich! How does one get into Christ? One must believe that Christ is the Son of God. Jesus stated; “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). One must also repent of his sins. Paul said; “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). In the next place, one is to confess his faith in Christ as God’s Son. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). The final step the one takes in obedience to get into Christ is immersion in water. Paul wrote; "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). Reader friend, Are you "in Christ"? Are you faithful? Don't forfeit your spiritual inheritance.

Lot again... A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. He read, “The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt."

His son asked, "What happened to the flea?"

 

 

If you have any

Questions,

Comments,

 Suggestions,

 Complaints or Ideas

Please let me know at

 rbussey7@aol.com