Dear CCGR Family,

February 20, 2021 Worship Service

Pastor Terry’s Sermon Title – Ladies and Gentlemen- the Temptations!

Homage to Spirituals during Black History Month

Janet Montroy, our very talented Music Director, paid homage to Harry Burleigh  and Moses Hogan both in words and music for preserving so many beautiful spirituals.  These men preserved both text and melodic expressions.  Harry Burleigh’s Deep River from 1916 was sung beautifully by Melanie Lota and arranged by Moses Hogan.  It embodies the yearning we all feel for peace and fulfillment.

Gospel Reading             Matthew 4:1-11        read by Gail Sternitzke

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone”,  Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”  Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Sermon     Ladies and Gentlemen – The Temptations!       Pastor

Pastor Terry spoke of a critical moment in the life of Jesus when he was tempted by Satan three times.  Pastor Terry pointed out that this happened immediately after he had been baptized and the heavens opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.  And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”

Pastor Terry said Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness.  And after 40 days and nights of fasting, Jesus was met by the tempter.  Pastor Terry said this speaks to our own faith – we all face temptation.  Pastor Terry reminds us that God is no less present with Jesus in the wilderness than he was at the banks of the Jordan.  This Gospel passage tells us about the spirit filled life .  Do we use the powers God has given us for ourselves – or the well-being of our community?  We will always encounter temptation, it is a part of the spiritual journey .  Yet it is also an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God .  How we respond to these temptations will either build up or breakdown our spiritual character.  If we learn from our mistakes as part of our spiritual journey our faith will be deepened.

Let us pray:  Help us see the testing we face as an opportunity to bring ourselves closer to you., God.  Help us to learn from our mistakes.  Amen.

PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER

“The value of persistent prayer is not that God will hear us, but that we will finally hear God.” William McGill

We continue to pray for the SInkway/Emery family, the Strickland family, Trudy Carhart, Anne Allen and Bob Freudenrich. Please send special prayers for recovery to Kimberly Briggs, Carolyne Gulmy-Monti, Beryl Ferrari, Janie Roed and Donna Nihen.

CCGR PRAYER CHAIN

The prayer chain consists of a small group of people who pray daily for people in our congregation- especially for those who wish to keep their needs and prayers private and confidential.  For those more ‘private’ prayer requests, please email requests to: 

Candy Hall at candy.hallccgr@gmail.com and Donna Nihen at blackvelvet1299@aol.com, and of course, Pastor Terry at pastor@communitychurchgr.com.  

What’s Happening in the next few weeks:

GLEN ROCK SENIORS 65+

If you still need a vaccine appointment:

Call 646-980-7452 or email

GlenRockDems@gmail.com

Volunteers are ready to book your appointments

Open to all Glen Rock Seniors regardless of Voter Registration

 

Save the Date:  March 15, 2021

Join the Fight Against Hate!  A conversation featuring Attorney General Grubir Grewal and other leaders whose goal is to educate and inspire action against hate.   The Religious Communities of Glen Rock (RCGR) along with the Community Relations Advocacy  Network (CRAN) and the National Anti-Defamation League (ADL)  will be sponsoring this eventPanelists will speak about trends, taking action and joining efforts to conquer hate at all levels with a Q and A to follow.  More information to come.

Religious Communities of Glen Rock is continuing their weekly messages of hope, unity and healing each week on facebook.com/glenrockinterfaith

Vision Planning Update!  We want to hear from you!

Members of the Vision Planning Committee thank those who have shared their ideas about the church and our community through Zoom.

Over the next few weeks, the team will be inviting the Church School parents and members of the Prayer Chain to share their ideas. After that the team will be setting up Zoom conferences with individuals as well as those involved with some of our other church groups. We hope that when you are contacted, you will be able to find the time to take part. After all, it is the Community Church or, Your Church. Now more than ever, your input will be helpful in shaping the future!

CCGR Book Club

Next CCGR Book Club will be meeting via Zoom on

Friday, March 12th at 7 p.m.

“Born a Crime, Stories from a South African Childhood”  by Trevor Noah

Everyone is welcome.  Contact Kim Franklin at

kfranklin@mlschools.org is you want to join.

 

Ageless Grace Continues at 9am on Wednesday mornings.

Come to Fellowship Hall or via Zoom –

Join Sara Lowry for our weekly Ageless Grace class- a brain health fitness program.  The zoom link is sent to all members prior to Wednesday.  To learn more about this program please go to agelessgrace.com

For other news around town:

Don’t forget to check glenrocknj.net and glenrocklibrary.org for additional community news and updates

And finally, please remember to support Community Church – your church:

You can donate on our website:     https://communitychurchgr.com , set up auto-pay through your bank or pay by mail.

Thank you!

Candy and Donna

 

 

 

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