News from

Christian Community Presbyterian Church

3120 Belair Drive | Bowie | MD | 20715

 

June 6, 2007


In This Issue

The Pastor's Corner

VBS

Bus Trips

Childrens Ministry

Counters Needed

Work Camp!

Community Ministry House Dedication

Paper Tigers Book Review

New Beautification Committee

Optional Activity

Baby Shower!

CCPC Spirit & Self Discovery Group

Events Calendar

Library News

Flowers

Pantry Needs

Notes from the Office

Lost and Found

 

 

 

 


 

 

Worship Notes

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

10AM Worship Service
Ilko Daughters Baptism

Summer Choir

CCPC Sermon's
on the Web
Did you know that now you can hear audio versions of Sunday sermons on the web the following morning? Yes, you can access the sermons at the CCPC website. Go to worship, then click on sermons. Click on the m.peg of the sermon
you wish to hear.

 

 


 

Quicklinks

 

 

CCPC Web Site

National Capital Presbytery

Presbyterian Church USA

Bowie Spotlight

 

 

 


The Pastor's Corner

     One of the important concepts that came out of the Protestant Reformation in the 15th and 16th century was the "Priesthood of all believers." Reformers Martin Luther and John Calvin examined the New Testament and discovered that the dramatic distinction in the Catholic church between priesthood and lay people was a false one. In the New Testament, every believer is called to a life dedicated to prayer, the study of scripture and service to others. The only difference between being a member of a church and being an officer (Pastors, Elders and Deacons) is one of the role and responsibilities. Everyone is called to be a servant and to use his or her gifts to build up the Body of Christ.

      Whenever the church structures its life based on the conviction that all people are called to ministry and all are given gifts for service a powerful flow of energy and passion for doing God's work is unleashed ... The results were, and still are, dramatic . Sadly, the church doesn't always help its members succeed in putting their gifts to effective use. Sue Mallory in her book "The Equipping Church" laments that "The church by definition is the greatest gathering of potential servants in the world, but she is also the most notorious vehicle for disappointing, discouraging and even destroying them. Too often we give someone a role in the church without giving them the training and assistance to do it well.

      I ask you to pray for our Elders and Deacons as they take office. Encourage them. Pray for them. When they ask for help, volunteer with enthusiasm. We have high expectation for those that answer the call to serve in these important roles. Pray that their time of service is one filled with grace and growth.


James Brassard

 

Worship Notes for Sunday, June 10th:
10th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rebecca and Victoria Ilko will be baptized this Sunday during the 10AM worship service. The sermon by Rev. Brassard is titled "Living in a World Stripped of Grace." The Apostle Paul asks a rhetorical question in 1 Corinthians 4:7 : "What do you have that you did not receive?" The answer is nothing. There are two attitudes essential for thriving in a world stripped of grace. One is to become a giver and the other to be a receiver.


The Service of Ordination and Installation of Church officers will take place on Sunday June 17th at 10AM. The sermon is titled "When a Church is Healthy She Dances" based on Ephesians 4:11-13.


New elders are: Barry Bahler, Marshall Saylors, Kathy Sprouse, Myrna Webb, Jim Woods and Allen Frank. Incoming Deacons are: Bridget Peters, Deborah Hoppe, Amy Littlefield, Kevin Rice and Diane Kemberling.


There will be a reception to honor our Officers following the service in Dodds Hall. We will also give a brief commissioning to the 30 people who will be leaving for the 2007 Work Camp at Hosanna Ministries in the Pittsburgh area.


Put on your calendar a special celebration to honor Audrey Scott's long service to CCPC. Following the July 8th worship service there will be an "Audrey Fest" featuring a humorous "Roast" in Dodds Hall. Sharon Youngdahl is putting together the program and Patty Adams is putting together a "Finger Food Lite Brunch." To help with the food please contact Patty by e-mail: paa888@yahoo.com or by phone 410-643-6107. This will be a fun way to honor Audrey and share some good fun and food. Don't miss it!

 

Sunday, June 17, 2007
Father's Day; Men of the Church
New Officer Ordination and Installation!

 

  • Worship Service at 10AM
  • Session Meets at 9:45AM
  • Work Camp Begins!

 

 



VBS

Hang on to your life preserver!!

The VBS crew at CCPC is preparing for a VBS waterpark adventure. They are getting ready to TAKE THE PLUNGE and MAKE A SPLASH WITH JESUS!! As kids move from one whirlwind activity to the next, they will be soaking up lessons that will last for a lifetime.

It will be a week of fun and excitement sure to make a splash with kids of all ages. The twisting and turning will begin each day at 6:00PM and end at 8:30PM, July 15-20 at CCPC. To dive into the excitement, sign up at the SPLASH ZONE registration table in the Narthex every Sunday until July 8th.

Please bring your child with his/her bathing suit on and a beach towel as they PLUNGE into worshiping the Lord. Dinner will be provided nightly, with a potluck dinner on Friday night. As always, volunteer sign up is in the Narthex and donations are always accepted.

For further information, contact Pamela Garwacki, this year's director of VBS.
We look forward to seeing your child PLUNGE into learning about Jesus.

 

 

Bus Trips

"Jersey Boys"
New York City - June 13, 2007


OUR ITINERARY IS AS FOLLOWS:

8:30AM - Bus departs CCPC.
Please be at the church by 8:15AM and park in the area on the side of Dodds Hall. Fast food stop en route, on your own
1:00PM - Arrive in NYC at August Wilson Theatre
2:00PM - Showtime! "Jersey Boys"
5:00PM - Depart NYC
6:30PM - Arrive-Bordentown, NJ at Mastoris Restaurant. Dinner on your own
8:00PM - Depart Bordentown, NJ
10:45PM - Arrive at CCPC. Water, juice & sodas as well as Gunter's Louisiana ring Cake will be served on the bus.

 

The Miracle of Christmas"
Sight & Sound Theatre in Lancaster, PA

November 28, 2007.


A deposit of $25 is due to me by June 15. The balance of $50 will be due October 15. Checks should be made payable to Marge Clark. They may be put in the Treasurer's box in the church office or mailed to my home at 1732 Tedbury St., Crofton, MD 21114. Reduced rates are available for children ages 3-12 and 13-18. The cost includes transportation, lunch and the show.

 

Questions concerning either trip should be addressed to Marge Clark by phone  or by email.

 

 

Children's Ministry

Meeting: Sunday, June 10th-8:30AM

We will be discussing summer plans (including Vacation Bible School) as well as the fall curriculum and teachers. 
PLEASE JOIN US, "our" kids need you!


Thanks, Laurel Cox

 

 

 

Counters Needed

Be a counter!


Heartfelt thanks to Lois Pals for being a counter for so many years!  Cal is continuing to count but needs a person to help him count on the third Sunday of each month. 

For more information, please call Ron Stokes.

 

 

 

Work Camp!

Work Camp is Coming Soon!


Dates:Sunday, June 17th Returning - Saturday, June 23rd
Hosanna Ministries-Pittsburgh, PA

 

 

Community Ministry House Dedication

Community Ministry of Prince Georges County invites everyone to the grand dedication and opening of the "House of David" at 2308 Penrod Court in Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 (located just off Town Farm Road) on Sunday, June 10th from 2:00PM to 4:00 PM.  The house was donated to Community Ministry by Walter Prediger and Ms. Joan Beavers.

 

 

Paper Tigers Book Review

The Idolater who learns the Torah is greater than Aaron the High Priest.

      Attributed to Rabbi Meir, Second century A.D.

Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know-and Doesn't, by Stephen Prothero, HarperCollins, 2007, pp. 296.

Stephen Prothero, Chair of the Religion Department at Boston University, tells us that the United States, one of the most religion-centered countries in the world, is a nation of religious illiterates. This predominately Christian nation knows shockingly little about the Bible and even less about the other major religions of the world. The author backs up his claim with polling data, and provides a quiz (answers given) by which every reader can measure his own knowledge.

Prothero's central point is not simply that we don't know much about religion, but that this lack of knowledge prevents us from understanding the cultural environment in which we live. The rhetoric of our political leaders is rife with biblical references which many of their constituents-and journalists-do not get. When, for example, in his first inaugural address, President Bush made reference to "that wounded traveler on the road to Jericho," referring to the Good Samaritan story, a CBS newsman confessed that he had no idea what the President was talking about. As another example, the President himself might have made different decisions if someone in his advisory circle had been better informed about contending factions of Islam.

It is perhaps asking too much to expect that Americans should be familiar with all of the religions represented in the United States, but it is not asking too much to expect citizens of a predominately Christian country to know more about the Bible than they now do. Note these examples of American Biblical illiteracy:

-Only half of American adults can name even one of the four Gospels.
-Most Americans cannot name the first book of the Bible.
-Only one-third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
-When asked whether the book of Acts is in the Old Testament, one quarter of Americans said yes. More than a third said they did not know.
-Ten percent of Americans believe that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.


Puritans, with their emphasis on religious knowledge, recognized not one clerical office but two. Each congregation had, in addition to a pastor, a teacher, whose job was to deliver sermons and catechize and tutor youth.

Prothero does not ask that we return to the Puritan system, but that, beginning in junior high, we teach children religion, but not doctrine. He recommends that we teach the Bible and show how it is the foundation of much of our social culture, our literature, art, and music. He acknowledges that it will not be easy to strike the right balance, to avoid conflicts, and to stay within the guidelines of the U.S. Constitution, but he thinks that the alternative is the kind of religious and cultural ignorance that we are now stuck with. (No, Billy Graham did not preach the Sermon on the Mount.)

The title, Religious Literacy, is somewhat misleading since the book is not primarily about religious literacy, but about Bible or Christian illiteracy. The author does provide a glossary of religious terms, some of which give important facts about the world's other religions, and a recommended list for further reading on religions of the world; but the reader who does not know much about the great religions of the world other than Christianity will not be much better informed about them after reading only Professor Prothero's book. If the above cited examples are an accurate indication of how much the general public knows about the Bible, members of CCPC who read this book will doubtless feel some satisfaction that they are better informed than most of their contemporaries. How much we know about other faiths is another question. Still it is well to put our own house in order first. Start with Genesis, the first book... Yes, I know. You knew that.

Jack Jones For the Paper Tigers
May 30, 2007

 

 

 

New Beautification Committee

Work Day on Saturday, June16th at 8:30AM.


Everyone is welcome. We need to re-do the landscaping in the area between the parking lot and the street. Please come out.


Thank you! Dick (Green Thumb) Arnold

 

 

Optional Activity

Optional Activity Assistance Needed

We are looking for adults to work with our youth who are leading the optional activity during the 10AM service.

If you are interested in assisting once a month please sign up on the orange sign up sheet in the atrium and call Ajibade at 301-262-6008.

 

 

Baby Shower!

Sunday, June 24th - 12Noon


CCPC will be hosting a baby shower in Dodds Hall for Mary Saylors-Walker.


Mary is registered at Target and Babies-R- US

Please RSVP to Judy Genson or Laurel Cox.

 

 

 

CCPC Spirit & Self Discovery Group

Reiki Healing will be offered June 15th from 7-9pm in the CCPC Sanctuary; And will continue every 3rd Friday each month.
Join Jan, Linda & Sheree for healing. Reiki practitioners welcome!

 

 

Events Calendar

This Week at CCPC & Upcoming Events:

  • Worship Services (10:00AM
    Summer Worship Schedule)
  • Jr. High Youth Group (6PM, Sundays)
  • Sr. High Youth Group (7PM, Sundays) *** No Munchin Lunchin this month ***
  • Tuesdays - Health & Healing
  • 1st Tuesdays - Gadabouts
  • 1st Tuesdays - Deacons Meeting
  • 4th Tuesdays - Mission Committee
  • 2nd/4th Tuesdays - Stephen Ministry
  • 2nd/4th Tuesdays - Quilters
  • last Tuesday - Outreach & Evangelism
  • Tues/Thurs - Yoga
  • Wednesdays - Paper Tigers
  • Every 3rd Wed -"Mixed Bag" Sew Guild
  • June 7th - Charity Circle @ Joy Bible's home) 10AM
  • June 7th - Stephen Ministry (AE) 7-9:30PM
  • June 8-12th - Abrakadoodle Summer Art Camp kids age 6-11
  • June 11th - Session Meets
  • June 13th - Paper Tigers (8-10AM)
  • June 13th - Bus Trip "Jersey Boys" NYC
  • June 13th - Quilters
  • June 13th - Joy Circle
  • June 13th - Lady Tigers
  • June 15th - Reiki Energy Night - (Sanctuary)
  • June 17-23rd - Work Camp
  • June 17th - New Officer Installation
  • June 18th - Tiger Lilies (Parlor)
  • June 20th - "Mixed Bag" Sew Guild
  • June 24th - Baby Shower (Mary Saylors-Walker)
  • June 25th - Grace and Glory Circle (T Backus home)
  • Stephen Ministry Training - AE Rm, 7-9:30PM - Thursdays thru June & (9AM- 2:30PM - Saturday, June 23rd)

 

 

Library News

Library News for the month of June
Next Meeting TBD


Please remember to return all adult and children's books that you have completed reading to the basket outside our library. The library committee will be working to get the bookshelves in order so that you may check-out books over the summer.

Thank you!

 

 

Flowers

Please,when you give flowers in memory or in honor of someone for Worship Services on Sunday morning, return to the church office any flower vases and baskets that you have taken home or given to someone else.


The cost of flowers is $20 and the Flower Committee use the vases and baskets over again. Half of the beautiful supply we had last year is missing.


Thank you.

 

 

Pantry Needs

 

The Pantry is in need of: mandarin oranges, canned fruit, juice, jelly, peanut butter and desserts (cookies).

Thank you!

 

 

Notes from the Office

RE: Tidiness of the Church office
TO: All CCPC Members and users of the facility,

When visiting CCPC for meetings, events, etc., if you use the workspaces or the secretary's desk in the church office, please leave them as you found them ... tidy, neat and in order. Feel free to use any of the supplies (pens, stapler, tape dispenser, etc); We only ask that you please return these items to their original location when done.

To maximize effective business practices, whenever possible, please email requests for additions or changes to the Caller for Calendar blocking and bookings, as well as any miscellaneous request to ccpcbowie@verizon.net. Please refrain from leaving sticky note requests on the desk. Sticky notes may easily be misplaced or discarded.

Please refrain from writing events onto the wall calendar. All requests for additions to the monthly calendar, should be submitted in writing. Please use the "CCPC Event Form," located on the entrance desk of the church office, or please leave all written request in the Secretary's In-box at the church or fax written requests to 301-262-5177.


Thanks in advance for your cooperation!

Renee Georges

 

 

Lost and Found

ATTENTION! A VERIZON FLIP PHONE WITH BLACK LEATHER CASE WAS FOUND IN THE SANCTUARY THIS PAST SUNDAY.

Looking for a lost item? If you have recently misplaced an item, please call (301-262-6008), stop by the church office or email us at ccpcbowie@verizon.net.

 

 

 


 
 
   

Caller Options.   Postal Mail or E-mail? In the ongoing effort to update our Caller distribution list, please let the office know by which method you would like to receive your copy of the Caller -- postal mail, or electronic? Please indicate your preference via email to ccpcbowie@verizon.net, or send a note to the church office. Thank you!

Contact Info

   
Pastor Rev. James Brassard Office: 301-262-6008 ccpcpastor@verizon.net
Director of Youth and Family Ministry Ajibade Jegede Office: 301-262-6008 ccpcydir@verizon.net
Music Director Susan Ricci-Rogel Office: 301-262-6008 ricci-rogel@msn.com
Caller Editor Renée M. Collins Georges Office: 301-262-6008 ccpcbowie@verizon.net
Administrative Assistant Renée M. Collins Georges Office: 301-262-6008 ccpcbowie@verizon.net
Website: http://www.ccpc.bowiemd.org/ Webmaster: webmaster@bowiemd.org

Link to previous Caller

Back to CCPC Home Page