“A quick look at our culture shows that idealized images of motherhood are inaccurate, and Scripture reveals the same. Ruth was left childless and widowed at a young age. Rachel, Hannah, and Sarah were infertile. Eve and Mary lost sons under terrible circumstances. Two mothers of two kings, both named Ahaziah, encouraged their sons to be wicked and unjust. The Prodigal Son acted with terrible disrespect toward each of his parents. Scripture tells stories like those in our churches: women in diverse life circumstances, sometimes thriving, sometimes coping, and sometimes going under.

The fairy tale of marriage and motherhood is just that-a fairy tale. Our culture is one of motherhood deferred due to later childbearing, motherhood disrupted by divorce, motherhood lost by infant/child death and miscarriage, and motherhood unachieved due to infertility and undesired singleness. Of course, our culture also includes wonderful families with strong marriages and happy children. The point is that there is not a one-size-fits-all journey of womanhood, and we hurt women in our churches by venerating one path over all others. .

So let’s be gentle with each other this Mother’s Day. Let’s celebrate with the women who have happy families. Let’s remember the women, men, girls, and boys who are hurt by their mothers. Let’s remember the mothers who have lost their children. Let’s remember the women who long to be wives and mothers, but aren’t. Let’s come together and worship Jesus alone, not idealized images of our mothers or ourselves.”

What struck me when we visited Fond Deron, however, was the collateral damage caused by the earthquake.  People displaced from their homes, children orphaned, families split up, lives changed forever.  On of the boys I met in Fond Deron was named Gary.

After talking to him through a translator I learned that Gary’s parents had died in the earthquake, and that his uncle had come to get him and take him to live on Fond Deron.  He is now living with his aunt and uncle but is not enrolled in school yet.  Gary is an example of those that God has a special place for in his heart- the orphaned and fatherless.  As Christians we also have a responsibility to look after those in similar circumstances. James calls this “true religion” (James 1:27) “to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Recently in Ocala there was a family who lost both parents within a year’s time- 5 children now without a mother and father.  The church they attended took up a collection to buy a large van so that another family in the church could take in all 5 children for the time being.  That is the church in action- taking seriously our responsibility to care about the things God cares about, to sacrifice our comforts so that others can see the true love of Christ.  I hope we can take opportunities each day to look around and see how God might want to use us to serve his children.

There will be no children’s class Sunday, May 13th. Please plan accordingly. We
will have a children’s sermon during the worship service.

Vacation Bible School is tentatively scheduled for July 30 to August 2. Contact Carole Rowe if you are willing to help. All workers will need to fill out a background check application form if you have not already filled one out. You can get one from Carole Rowe or Gail Vadnais.

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.

The dead do not praise the LORD,
nor do any who go down into silence.
But we will bless the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 115:1, 11, 17-18)

As I think about our upcoming trip to Haiti and God’s kingdom, I am filled with thankfulness and the work God is doing in and through our lives. God uses us as his vessels, in order to display his love, his power and glory. God does not want us to make a name for ourselves, but for him. I am thankful for our church because many of you remind me that our work is not about building one church, but doing God’s kingdom work.

There are also many times we do not feel properly equipped for God’s work, but the reminder of these verses is that “God is our help and our shield”. A helper is someone who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Being help-less is a difficult place to be, but that is when God’s strength becomes most real to us. A shield is a piece of armor that protects us from outside attacks. God both strengthens us from within and protects us from the outside.

The other privilege we have as believers in Christ is that we get to praise God both in this time period and in eternity. Jesus came to give us abundant life, and that life in his name begins now and continues forever. Let’s praise God now with thankful and joyful hearts, knowing that we will continue to praise him for eternity. We will join with believers from all over the world, from all races, nations, and tongues- to give glory to God the Father.

As we worship in Fond Deron Haiti this Sunday with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will be praying for the service on Ocala and that God would be glorified and his name be lifted up, so we can all taste of his steadfast love and faithfulness.

There will be a fellowship meal immediately following the service Sunday, May 6. Please bring a main dish and side dish or dessert. The church will provide the drinks.

There will be a fund-raising dessert night for ITEC on Saturday, April 28 at 5:45pm at New Testament Baptist Church. The church is located at 3740 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL. Come hear about innovations in technology that are being used around the world to reach people for Christ.

In May, June, and July we will be doing Summer Suppers. This is a great way
to get to know others in the church on a personal level and share a meal together.
Please sign up on the welcome table if you would like to participate and indicate
if you are willing to host a meal with 2-3 other families.

Child Dedication Service:

We have scheduled a child dedication service for Sunday, May 13th.
Please see Pastor Jim if you want to have your child (or children)
dedicated to the Lord. If you have an older child who you would like prayer
for please email Gail at admin@christccocala.com and we will pray for them during the service.

Haiti Sunday

Sunday April 15th will be Haiti Sunday. We have a sister church in Fond Deron, Haiti.
A team of 11 from Christ Community Church will be going to visit our sister church from April 27-May 4. The team will share about the trip and we will be taking an offering to provide Bibles and Songbooks for our sister church. Please pick up a prayer itinerary on the welcome table so you can pray for the team daily.

Pictorial Directory:

Our Pictorial Directory is being developed and will be put on a CD so each person in the church can have a copy. If you have not had your picture taken for the directory, please contact Gail Vadnais.

There will be a Memorial Service for Cliff and Brenda Dykeman on Saturday, March 31st at 11am at Christ Community Church. There will be a meal immediately following the service. If you would like to help with food please e-mail Joan Hansen

Eleven people from Christ Community Church will be visiting our sister church in Fond Deron, Haiti from April 27- May 4. We will be taking a special offering on April 15th to raise funds for Bibles and Songbook for our sister church.

If you are interested in mentoring another man or meeting one on one to go through the book “The Measure of a Man” please contact Bartow Mcdonald or Pastor Jim through the church office.

Invitation cards are now available on the welcome table. Please take some and invite others to Christ Community. Pray about who you might invite to Easter service.

There will be a Wonderful Outing for Ladies at Susan Jackson’s home on March 23rd at 6:30pm. All ladies are invited and encouraged to come. Please RSVP to Susan Jackson through the church office or sign up on the welcome table so that we can know how many to prepare for. There are also directions available on the welcome table.

There will be a Seder Passover Meal on Thursday, April 5th in the fellowship hall. We will be needing people to help with setting up and bringing food items. Lorna and Stuart Meyer will be coordinating; please contact them if you can help or have any questions. You can sign up on the welcome table.

We will be collecting a benevolence offering on March 18 during the worship service. The benevolence offering helps to provide for the needs withing the body here at Christ Community Church.