ARE YOU READY FOR REVIVAL?

 

 

For two nights now Life Church and Union Road have joined together for a time of Spiritual Renewal, more commonly known as REVIVAL. And it has been all that we anticipated! Tonight our goal is for 200 people to attend from each of our churches. WILL YOU HELP US REACH THIS GOAL? Pastor Lane from Union Road will be preaching. You will be greatly blessed by his ministry as well as of that by the musicians and singers from the joint band and choir. YES, WE’RE READY! YES, WE’RE READY! YES, WE’RE READY FOR REVIVAL!!!

GET YOUR VALENTINE’S DINNER THEATER TICKETS

Due to the weather related cancellation of services on January 31st we were not able to sell tickets for the Feb 13th dinner theater. This delay has put us somewhat behind in sells. Therefore, we are asking everyone who would like to attend the dinner theater to please reply to the church office via email kwright@carolina.rr.com or 704-824-4286 with the total number of tickets you would like and your choice of entrée (Chicken Parmesan or Lasagna). Please also let us know if you will need childcare for an additional cost of $5 per child. We will have your tickets ready for you to pick up and pay on this Sunday, Feb 7th. You may also get your tickets at the Revival services @ Union Road Church of God tonight & Wednesday night. This process will speed up the time waiting in line this Sunday and give us a better idea of how many to plan for. Thanks for your cooperation.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

A number of people have inquired how to submit their tithes and offerings this week for this past Sunday since the morning worship service had to be cancelled. There are several ways this can be done: 1) Bring your check by the church during the day. If, after 1:00 pm, no one is in the church office, you may leave it with someone in the Life4Kidz office; 2 )Mail your check to Life Church, 501 Cramer Mountain Road, Cramerton, NC, 28032; or 3) Log in to our church website, www.lifechurchcramerton.org, click onto the “donations” banner at the top of the page (on the right of the toolbar, directly beneath the photo of the church) and follow directions using your credit/debit card.

Thank you for your faithfulness and for your inquiries regarding this matter!

Annual Church Business Meeting Update

As posted in last week’s Slice of Life, on Sunday Evening, January 24, in our Annual Church Business Meeting, the members and regular attendees of Life Church approved a Balanced Budget for the 2010 fiscal year which had been presented and recommended by the Church and Pastor’s Council. In order to accomplish this, it was necessary for budgetary revisions in several major areas of the budget: 1) Projected Income was adjusted to reflect current attendance averages; 2) 75% of the monthly utilities for the facilities are now being paid by Life4Kidz; 3) In addition to Utilities, Life4Kidz will also be contributing $3,000 per month to the budget (during January, $5,750 was received from Life4Kidz for these two areas); 4) Life Church Salaries have been adjusted with a 5% decrease across the board, including Pastor; 5) The position of Maintenance Engineer, held by Steven Liscum, was eliminated effective February 1; however, Steven will continue as Pastor of Young Adults; 6) Other areas of Expenditures were adjusted to reflect savings throughout.

We are thankful for all those who attended this meeting and for the wise council we received during this meeting from various members. We ask you to pray for God’s continued direction in this area.

WEDNESDAY EVENING YOUTH FUNDRAISER MEAL POSTPONED

Due to Revival at Union Road Church of God there will be no Wednesday meal for this week we will resume on Wed, Feb 10th with breaded chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Sign up in the foyer or call the church office.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

“We Believe in Tithing”

Pastor Sammy Oxendine
During 2010 at Life Church, I feel led to share with you the things we believe. Last month, for example, we emphasized WE BELIEVE IN REVIVAL. In order to begin speaking on Revival, it was necessary for me to postpone until February how I normally begin the year…teaching on stewardship or tithing.

These two topics, Revival and Stewardship are closely related and bring to mind a question: Is there a direct connection between tithing and revival?
One of the most frustrating questions I face as a pastor is, "Where is the money to conduct ministry going to come from?" I often remind God saying...

· Lord you called me to Cramerton for the purpose of revival.

· You have commissioned the church to go out into the community to compel people to come.

· This Gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all nations for Your Name's sake.

•Lord you said that we need pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists, and apostles for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body.
· We need land, buildings, and ministers to house this revival.

How are we going to accomplish Your will without the finances we need?
I believe it upsets God that we even have to approach that question. Nevertheless, the question still exists:

How can we have revival without the proper funds?

The answer is...we can't.
It takes money to have revival. Just like anything else in this world takes money, revival takes money. Perhaps one reason that we have to ask this question is that only four percent of professing Christians tithe to the Lord.

Is it any wonder the church labors to have revival?

Revival is absent because pastors are too worried about the bills. Money that should go toward the expansion of the ministry is used for electricity, gas, water, heat, the mortgage, maintenance and so on.

And what about missions? How can we afford to support missionaries if we barely get by maintaining our churches?

Sadly, the same old 20/80 rule applies. Twenty percent of the people carry eighty percent of the burden. However, that was never God's plan for His kingdom.

Revival depends on our tithing and giving.

So for the next few weeks I will be addressing the questions:

· What happens when people tithe?

· Is tithing outdated?

· What happens when you don't tithe?

· How do we increase tithing in Life Church?

I sincerely look forward to sharing this with you.

Pastor Sammy

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST – SAT, FEB 6TH 8 :30 AM

All men are encouraged to attend this monthly time of fellowship. Meet at the Village Restaurant in McAdenville.

WATER BAPTISM SERVICE – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH

If you would like to make a public profession of your faith by participating in our Water Baptism service on Sunday morning February 7th please complete the necessary application located at the front entrance to the sanctuary. Submit forms to the church office by Thursday, Feb 4th.

“DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL MATURITY” CLASS 201 BEGINS SUN, FEB 7TH @ 9:30 AM

During this class we will focus on five basic habits that Christians need to develop in their movement towards spiritual maturity. This class will help you better understand and develop these five habits: Time with God, Bible, Prayer, Tithing and Fellowship. If you have already completed Class 101 and would like to continue your spiritual journey by attending Class 201 please call Kelly Wright at the church office 704-824-4286 or register online at www.lifechurchcramerton.org.

“GROWING GOLDEN” A DINNER THEATER – FEB 13TH

Tickets are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance. This includes a 5 course meal and show. Appetizer, Soup, Salad, choice of Chicken Parmesan or Lasagna & dessert. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go toward the Youth Winterfest trip. Childcare will be provided for children up to age 10 years for an additional cost of $5 which includes pizza and snacks. Reserved seating is available upon request for groups of 6 or more. Tickets will be available at the Revival services this week as well as this Sunday in the foyer. If you are unable to get your tickets during these times you may call the church office 704-824-4286 or reply to this email with the total number you wish to purchase, your choice of entrée and whether or not you will need childcare.

THIS WEEK AT LIFE CHURCH

Monday

Revival @ Union Road Church of God 7 pm

Tuesday

Revival @ Union Road Church of God 7 pm

Wednesday

Dinner Postponed until 02/10/2010

Revival @ Union Road Church of God 7 pm

Thursday

Senorita Night @ Life Church 6 pm

Friday

Prayer Shawl Knitting @ Margo Englehart’s 9:00 am

Saturday

Prayer Walk @ Life Church 8:00 am ‘til 9:00 am

Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 8:30 am @ The Village Restaurant

Sunday

Water Baptism Service

Class 201 “Developing Spiritual Maturity” 9:30 am

Sunday School 9:30am

Worship Service 10:30 am

Hispanic Worship 1:00 pm

LIFE CHURCH VEGETABLE GARDEN

If you are interested in taking part in this project by helping with the planting and maintaining of a vegetable garden on the Life Church property please sign up in the foyer this Sunday or reply to this email. Ed Duckworth has agreed to get the land ready if others can work to maintain it. At this point we are trying to take an interest poll and find a coordinator. The idea behind this project is to share the items with those who labor in the garden and the excess to be sold at the Farmer’s Market in Cramerton. Any proceeds will go to benefit missions. If you would like to coordinate this effort please contact Jeff Padgett at 980-722-3055 for more information.

Hispanic Pastors Jorge and Nancy Diego Returning

Our help is still needed
On February 25th, Hispanic Pastors Jorge and Nancy will be returning to resume their ministry at Life Church. Because of Immigration issues it was necessary for them to return home in November 2007. Now those issues have been resolved and they are returning. In anticipation of their return, we are attempting to have a residence ready – fully furnished – when they arrive. We now have a microwave oven small tv, washer, dryer, kitchen table and chairs and some household items. WILL YOU HELP? We still need living room furnishings (sofas, tables, lamps); bedroom furnishings (one adult bedroom and one child’s bedroom. Joy, the daughter, will be 4years old this summer). Wall decorations, etc. We only ask that these items be new or in excellent condition.

Also, we need new towels and wash clothes, dishes, silverware, pots and pans, new pillows and bed sheets, comforters, etc. Any and everything will be appreciated. Please contact Kelly Wright, administrative assistant, to let her know if you have any of these items you can contribute. We will not need them until the weekend of February 20-21 when we hope to prepare their apartment. As items are received or committed, we will update the list each week to let you know what is still needed.

THANK YOU in advance for what you are going to do for this wonderful couple and for this important ministry of Life Church.

WEDNESDAY EVENING NURSERY WORKERS NEEDED

We need loving volunteers to help with our Wednesday evening nursery for infants – 3 years. If you can spare just a bit of your time one Wednesday evening per month we would greatly appreciate your help. Please contact Sonja Caldwell @ 704-827-8284 or email her at sonja.caldwell@carolinaapplicators.com.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT POSITION AVAILABLE

We are in need of a Sunday School Superintendent. This person would voluntarily oversee the Sunday School department to ensure that various teaching positions are filled, collect the offerings and track attendance.

If you would like to consider accepting either of these positions please contact Pastor Sammy Oxendine at the church office 704-824-4286.

IMPORTANT DATES

Feb 1st – 3rd Joint Revival @ Union Road Church of God 7 pm

Feb 04 Senorita Night @ Life Church 6 pm

Feb 06 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 8:30 am (Meet at The Village Restaurant in McAdenville)

Feb 07 Water Baptism Service

Class 201 Begins (4 Week Series) 9:30 am

Feb 10 Prayer Conference in Lincolnton – Youth to leave Life Church at 5:30 pm

Feb 13 Dinner Theater @ Life Church 5:30 pm

Feb 14 Angel Food Order Deadline

Feb 19 Senior Adult Fellowship 6:30 pm @ Life Church

Feb 20 Angel Food Pick Up 9:30 am ‘til 10:30 am

Feb 26 Youth Worship Service @ Life Church 7:00 pm

Feb 27 Ladies Fellowship Breakfast @ 9 am (Meet at the Gastonia Ryan’s)

Mar 21 8:00 AM Service Returns

WHO’S ON DUTY THIS WEEK

Saturday

Chair Team – Gilberto Badillo

Cleaning Team – Mull/Owens/Badillo

10:30 AM Sunday

Nursery – Sharmie Gray, Cathryn Michael & Ashtyn Wright

Nursery –BLAST – Chris and April Ray

JR. BLAST – Valerie Hall

EARLY WORSHIP SERVICE RESUMES ON SUN, MARCH 21ST

We are pleased to announce that our 8:00 am worship service will resume on Sun, Mar 21st. This service will be in addition to our 10:30 am worship. We will need additional nursery workers on a rotation willing to commit to working during this service time. If you are able to help with this need please contact Sonja Caldwell 704-827-8284 or email her at sonja.caldwell@carolinaapplicators.com.

DISHES COLLECTED FROM FUNERAL MEALS ARE IN THE CHURCH OFFICE
If you’ve been missing bowls, baking dishes, utensils, etc., you may want to check in the office at the main building to see if we have your items. Several dishes were never picked up after the last two funeral meals that we served.

Come Join The B.L.A.S.T.

Believing, Living and Surviving Together

Kindergartners – 5th Graders (8:00 am and 10:30 am)

Jr. B.L.A.S.T. for 3 year olds – Rising Kindergarteners (10:30 am)

Jr. B.L.A.S.T. and B.L.A.S.T. Connection each Wednesday Night at 7:00 p.m.

Kidfest 2010 Deadline Extended

Kidfest 2010 is just around the corner and preparations are being made for this exciting adventure. Carolina Kidfest will be held at the Carolina-Marriott Executive Park in Charlotte on April 23 – 25, 2010. A deposit of $30 is now due. Chaperones are also needed for this trip, and we would love to have you be part. A brief meeting will be held on Sunday, February 7th in the Children’s Church Room immediately following service for those who wish to go

LIFE STUDENT OUTREACH

FOR INFORMATION ON YOUTH EVENTS VISIT:

http://lso-cramerton.club.officelive.com/default.aspx

OR CONTACT JEFF PADGETT, YOUTH PASTOR 980-722-3055.

PRAYER CONFERENCE IN LINCOLNTON WED, FEB 10

Youth will be leaving Life Church at 5:30 pm. Please arrive by 5:20 pm!

COMMUNITY YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE @ LIFE CHURCH – FRI, FEB 26TH

Youth Praise Band from Lake Wylie Assembly will be ministering and Youth Pastor Victor Cabe from Union Road COG will be speaking.

WEEKLY “DAYTIME” BIBLE STUDY
Please note that a “Daytime” Bible Study is conducted each week! It meets on Tuesday Morning from 9:30 am – 10:30 am. It is taught by Steven Liscum, Pastor of Young Adults, and Amy Odom. It is open to EVERYONE, regardless of age or gender.

REMEMBER WE ARE ON “TWITTER” @CRAMERTONLIFE
We are now up to 33 followers. Come on, join in, and learn to “tweet!” Simply go to Twitter.com/cramertonlife

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS & PRAISE REPORTS

Requests will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise specified. If you currently have a prayer request on our list and have not given an update recently please contact Kelly Wright to do so. Email kwright@carolina.rr.com or call the church office 704-824-4286. If you would like to join our Intercessory prayer team please attend Tuesday evenings in the choir room at 6:30 pm, Saturday mornings in the church parking lot at 8:00 am and during worship services every Sunday morning in the choir room.

Purple denotes new requests and updates to previous requests.

Lola Hedrick’s Family – (Allen Hedrick’s mother, Patti Hedrick’s mother-in-law & Allison Cotton’s grandmother) passed away over the weekend. The visitation is at McLean’s in Gastonia this Wed, Feb 3rd 1:30 pm ‘til 3:00 pm and the funeral is immediately following at 3 pm.

Sandra Ocasio’s Family – Sandra Ocasio’s grandmother passed away on Sun, Jan 31st. The family is traveling to New Jersey for the funeral.

Amy Moore – Surgery at CMC on 02/02/2010.

Deena Loftis’ brother-in-law – The family would like to thank us for praying during the time hip replacement surgery. He has several health problems and was not expected to make it but he came through the surgery just fine.

Phyllis Pressley – Recovering from surgery on 01/26/2010

Renee Hamby – Stress test.

Dean Morris – Life Church attender and father of Donna Williams will undergo chemo beginning 01/26/2010 and will also have to have surgery for his cancer.

Linda Ollis – Suffering from arthritis. Linda will also have an ultrasound on Friday, Jan 29th to determine if she has artery blockage.

Bob Fechner - CEO for the American Red Cross is fighting cancer. Doctors have given him one week; he has a wife and two daughters. (Submitted by David Pullen 01/13/2010)

Jo Tesseeneer’s niece is student-teaching overseas. Please pray for her safety while she’s there and during her travels. (01/18/2010)

Marjorie Shook – Facing knee replacement soon. (01/12/2010)

Lou Ann Webb – Will be undergoing strong doses of chemo treatment soon. (01/12/2010)

Bill Guy – Remember Preston Guy’s father. (01/12/2010)

Smitty Cline – Raymond and Kathleen Cline’s son is in very poor health. 01/06/2010)

Paul Rusty Lanier – Liver Cancer. Pray that the Surgery has been successful. (12/28/2009)

JoAnn Tesseeneer – Special request. 12/07/2009

Revelene McGee – Diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. The mass is the size of a football. She has opted for no chemo treatment. Revelene is a long time friend of The Grice family. 12/07/2009

Skylar * – Judy Carver’s great granddaughter was diagnosed with a rare condition called Williams Syndrome which causes narrowing in the aorta and in the pulmonary arteries. She received a feeding G-Tube on 12/03/2009 and is doing well. She needs to gain weight and get stronger. Please remember Skylar’s parents as they continue to give her the 24/7 care that she needs. To offer financial support to the family, a fund has been set up for Skylar. To make donations please send checks payable to: Skylar McCroskey’s Medical Fund - 230 Hill Street, Mt Holly, NC 28120.

Paul Parker * - Glenda Parker’s husband – Paul is suffering from Lung Cancer which has gotten worse, he is now in Stage 4. He is continuing chemo to try to stabilize it. It is growing less than 25% each month. Doctors are amazed at his blood work and his everyday living. He has good days but more bad than good. Please continue to pray for healing, salvation and for the family’s financial situation. Paul’s social security check was cut and the family is not doing well financially.

Monica Orr * – Diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver Cancer (Requested by Janet Grice).

Sara Orr* - Undergoing maintenance chemo for Leukemia. Sara is in her 20’s and her mother, Monica Orr is currently battling liver cancer.

Trey * – Brenda Hearn’s son is in the Air Force. He left for a 7 month tour in Afghanistan on 10/20/2009.

Adam Carter – Pauline Carter’s grandson.

Haleigh Barnett – Granddaughter of June and Joanne Patterson. She has an abnormal growth in her chest causing her problems. She’s waiting for tests results (10/22/2009)

Gayla Graves * – Pastor Sammy’s 1st Cousin –Crohn’s Disease.

Ms. Dimpal Patel * – 14 year old cousin of Deepa Brooks. Dimpal has MS and is handicapped. She remains in the hospital and had to have a Trachea to help her breathe. She is going through rehab. Please remember her parents, Rajesh & Sushila Patel and older sister Karisma Patel. (Updated 03/13/2009)