Alliance Prayer Requests, May 1, 2012

Mali Coup Update

Continue to pray for Mali. The interim government has until May 22 to hold elections; otherwise, the military intends to step back into power.Please pray:
  1. For the regional director and Mali field leader as they make decisions regarding going back into Mali
  2. That God will protect civilians, national believers, and Koutiala hospital staff
  3. That stability will return and the rebels in the north will be pushed back
  4. That many will come to Jesus during this time of trouble and that Malian Christians will be able to stay strong in their faith
Russia
After undergoing a biopsy for a suspicious-looking mole, Steve Volstad was diagnosed with stage 1 malignant melanoma. Thankfully, the doctor said that it should not be difficult to treat; it appears that after a second surgery, all of it should be removed. Pray that the next tissue sample will show no more abnormal cells.Syria Update
Continue to pray for peace in Syria, where more than 11,100 people have been killed since March 2012. Hundreds of families have fled to neighboring countries, where Alliance churches work with refugees. Pray that God will protect His people and end the violence. Also, pray that believers will demonstrate Christ’s love and that God will be gloried in this situation.CREATIVE-ACCESS COUNTRIES
Remember creative-access (CAC) workers around the world. Pray for protection, good health, and opportunities to share the good news. Pray that contacts will be drawn to Jesus. Pray that God will break down strongholds and give courage and boldness to national believers.

Continue to pray for an Alliance worker who had surgery for a degenerative hip disorder and early onset of arthritis (April 9 prayer requests). A rare, recurring infection has developed in the wound, necessitating another operation. After the surgery, he will continue to receive intravenous antibiotics for two weeks at home. Pray for a complete recovery.

Go to www.cmalliance.org/pray for the expanded Weekly Requests

Who is Team Will and What is Go the Distance?

By Brian Williams

Team Will is a community of cyclists of all levels and ages committed to raising public awareness and funds for childhood cancer research and support through a mixture of cycling activities and events.

This summer, Team Will is embarking on its fourth “Go The Distance” coast-to-coast bicycle event, with shifts of cyclists on the road 24 hours a day for ten consecutive days, visiting children in hospitals and advocating for the fight against childhood cancer. Team Will is partnering with the Foundation for Children with Cancer (FCC), directing funds raised to families coping with the financial strain of childhood cancer, so families can focus their energies on their children’s treatment.

As part of “Go The Distance 2012”, Don Black, Jonathan Weast and Brian Williams are joining the cyclist teams on this summer’s coast-to-coast event across the country. Please keep all three in your prayers as they strive to bring hope and encouragement to the children and their families.

Some Quick Facts

  • The ride begins in San Francisco on June 24 and finishes in Boston on July 3.
  • 3 shifts will cover a total of >3600 miles, riding through 16 states, visiting hospitals and participating in community rallies.
  • The riders are supported by volunteer drivers who help keep the teams hydrated, fed and safe across the country and join the hospital visits and community events. In 2010, the team collected and distributed 4,000 handmade cards to kids in the hospitals; their goal in 2012 is to collect 20,000 through the Team Will Cards for Kids Program. (See teamwillcardsforkids for more information or to participate.)

The team’s goal is to raise $125,000 to provide financial support to more than 300 families through the Foundation for Children with Cancer. By providing financial assistance for the families’ everyday living expenses, such as mortgage payments, auto expenses, rent and utilities, FCC helps reduce family stress and allows them to focus the well-being of their child and keeping the family whole. The cyclists and support teams dedicated to this effort are passionate about making a difference for children battling cancer and the families who support them every day. Team Will is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

How You Can Help

Ÿ Pray for physical and mental endurance for the riders and support team.
Ÿ Pray for healing and comfort for the Children and Families we meet.
Ÿ Learn more at team-will.org
Ÿ Donate to 2012 Go the Distance Ride through Crowdrise:
donate

Summer Ministry

By Pastor Bryce Cooley

Hello CNC! Exciting news. This summer, July 7 – 13, we are taking a small group of students along with Rancho Murietta Neighborhood and Church of the Foothills youth to Ensenada, Mexico on a short term mission trip. It has been far too long since our students have gone to serve in Mexico. I am excited for this opportunity. Below is a broad overview of the ministry we will do in Mexico.

Participants will have the opportunity to assist with three styles of ministry: Construction Projects, Breakfast Ministry, and Sports Outreach. We are looking for people who are willing to get dirty and serve in the name of Jesus.

The students going will be raising money, on top of the cost of Summer Camp, to serve the Lord in this way this year. They will need your help. There are three ways you can get involved:

(1) Students will be putting on Car Washes. We will post the dates in the bulletin all you have to do is show up and get your car cleaned, it’s that easy!

(2) Rancho Murietta is putting on a golf tournament. Date is TBA. Proceeds go towards Mexico. Like Golf? Like Watching Golf? This might be the right fundraiser for you.

(3) Our students need to send out support letters. Are you interested in supporting a students desire to do a mission trip this summer? Please right “Mexico Mission Support Letter” along with your name and address on your communication slip and we will give your information to our students for their mailing list.

This will be an amazing experience. Our group is small this year but my desire is that through the lives touched this year, the group size will double next year. Please be praying for the trip and the students as it draws near. I look forward to sharing all the amazing ways God came through this summer.

In Christ,
Bryce

PEP Activities in May for those 55+

Remember that Breakfast Club has move locations. It is still at 10:00 AM every Thursday. We are now meeting at PERKOS, 9647 Micron near Bradshaw and Highway 50. Connie Weber is the hostess; contact her at 363-3572. Order what you like and enjoy the fellowship. We’d love to have all those 55+ join us.

Sunday, May 6 at 2:00 PM PEP will go to the theatre to see “Oklahoma,” the classic Broadway musical, at the 3 Stages Performing Arts Center, Folsom Lake Community College. Tickets are $25. For tickets contact Pastor Bill or Judy Everett at 635-5992.

Sunday, May 27, we are going out to eat at Brookfields following the 11:00 Service. Brookfields is on Folsom Blvd. at Sunrise Blvd. Great menu and wonderful fellowship. Rusty Bloomquist is our host.

New Small Group beginning May 6 at 9:30 AM

Understanding Your Mormon Friends

Led by Pastor and Elise Gaube

The purpose of this class is to improve the dialog between you and your Mormon friends. While there are similarities on social issues, there is also a lot of fuzzy thinking about Mormon beliefs. A big block to meaningful dialog between biblical followers of Christ and Mormons is the enormous misconceptions we have of each other.

Elise and I pastored in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Idaho Falls, Idaho, for 18 years. They were both about 70% Mormon at the time. We became friends with our neighbors many of whom were multigenerational Mormons.

One of our main goals is to help us define the terminology that is being used so we may better understand each other. We ask those who attend to have an attitude of respect and there will be no political discussion.

RSVP today at Susan@CNChurch.org.

Variety Show

 

By Pastor Bryce Cooley

On May 18, the youth ministry is putting on a variety show. A show which I have unofficially dubbedCNC’s Got Talent! Remember the Talent Show we did last year at the Family Reunion? This will be very similar but without the judges. We are going to offer a simple meal: hot dogs, chips, drink and some various kind of candy, for your enjoyment during the show. There will be a photo booth for kids and families as well as fun props to take your pictures with.

The variety show is for any kind of talent you want to showcase! Have a poem? A comedy act? A Skit? A Dance? A song? Share it with us on May 18. We will be doing an “audition” May 12 at noon in the sanctuary. This isn’t to determine who can perform, it is to determine order of performers for the 18th as well as give some helpful critiques to our budding stars!

There will be prizes for performers! We are not having professional judges like last time. This time you are the judge. There will be three peoples choice awards. Like a performer? Each vote costs 50 cents. Simply go to the voting table in the back, tell the student manning the table who you’re voting for and how much you’re voting. Invite your friends; this will be a good time for all, young singles to seniors.

There is a sign up to perform in Rudat Hall on Sunday mornings. Please sign up and encourage any of your talented friends to sign up as well. We’re looking forward to making you part of something special. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at bryce@cnchurch.org.

CMA Prayer Requests

Mali Coup Update

Continue to pray for Mali. “The coup leader has stepped down and elections are promised, but the situation is still fragile,” an Alliance worker writes. “With the distraction of the coup, rebels in the north have taken over large portions of the country. Alliance workers from Mali are now in eight different nations. Pray for our regional director and Mali field leader as they make decisions regarding going back into Mali. A small presence of international workers has been maintained at the Koutiala hospital.” Also, pray for protection of civilians and national believers, especially in the north where there are reports of killings and rapes by rebel soldiers. Pray, too, for divine health, energy, and grace for those in Koutiala to keep the hospital running.

Syria Update

Continue to pray for peace in Syria, where more than 11,100 people have been killed since March 2012. Hundreds of families have fled to neighboring countries, where Alliance churches work with refugees. Pray that God will protect His people and end the violence. Also, pray that believers will demonstrate Christ’s love and that God will be gloried in this situation.

Go to www.cmalliance.org/pray for the expanded Weekly Requests»

When my human frailties show up

By Pastor Bill Gaube

Jesus understands we sometimes feel weak and alone in living the Christian life. Notice His gloom shattering statement at the last supper, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). Jesus had scared his disciples by saying He was going away. How would they live without Him? We know that feeling, don’t we?

Jesus knows we are incapable of living the Christian life on our own. He is not surprised by our human frailties and tendency to sin. That is why Jesus promised a comforter who would stick by us. One who would give us strength to live in His truth.

Paul’s testimony was, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Sometimes I forget He has given all we need to live the Christian life. There is nothing wrong with me because I am completely dependent on Him. After all, Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.” We start by acknowledging that we can do nothing to save ourselves. We are justified when we accept Christ’s death on the cross as payment for our sin.

How then do we live this Christian life? It logically follows that Christ sent His Spirit because we cannot live it on our own. Our part is to continuously acknowledge our need of Him. It is to rest, to trust, and freely receive the wisdom and power His Spirit gives. Theologically this is called sanctification.

Let me share something I’ve been learning. Prayer need not be wordy. At the opportunity to choose the Spirit’s direction, my most effective prayer is, “Lord, help!” It is not moaning about my weakness nor fearing sin is irresistible. It is resting in the faithfulness of God.

During this Holy Season, would you join me in understanding in a deeper way that Jesus has not left us as orphans? Let us partake of His life empowering resources.

PEP Club Activities for April

Breakfast Club, every Thursday at 10:00 AM

Remember that Breakfast Club has moved locations. We are now meeting at PERKOS, 9647 Micron near Bradshaw and Highway 50. Connie Weber is the hostess; you can contact her at 363-3572. Order what you like and enjoy the fellowship. We’d love to have all those 55+ join us.

Potluck in Rudat Hall, Sunday, April 22

Our Spring Potlucks are always a lot of fun and beautiful. Put this on your calendar and check bulletin for more details.

PEP Goes to the Theatre, Sunday, May 6 at 2:00 PM

This time we are going to see “Oklahoma,” the classic Broadway musical. It is presented by the El Dorado Musical Theatre at the 3 Stages Performing Arts Center at Folsom Lake Community College. Everyone was so impressed with the last production they asked that we go to see this one. Again tickets will be $23. Judy Everett will have sign ups in Rudat Hall soon.

Circle of Friends Book Club

By Edward Strom

Our BookClub will be reading Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas for the April 10 meeting. It was previously planned for the May meeting but was moved up due to a change in the schedule. For our May 8 and June 12 meetings we will cover The Blind Side by Michael Lewis and The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boon, respectively. We meet at 2:00 PM at the Waffle Shop, located southeast of Folsom Blvd and Zinfandel. Looking forward to seeing all who would like to come and talk about our books. If you need more information, please give me a call at 916-812-5290.