Coming to Sacramento November 19-21!

Get more info here

By Pastor Mike Mitchum

In October, Robin and I will be hosting the “Pastor’s Class” in our home. It is designed for people who are making CNC their home church and would like to know more about our ministries, beliefs and future plans. I will share my vision for the Church. The class is always a highlight for Robin and me. We enjoy getting to know new friends and sharing the story of CNC.

It all begins on Wednesday, October 6th. We will meet on five consecutive Wednesday nights. Here’s what one who attends can look forward to:

• Arrive at 6pm for dinner. Robin and I provide dinner so you don’t have to bother!
• Meet some who have been in the Church for a time and others that are brand new to the family!
• At 6:45pm we will sit and discuss the topic for the night. These include: My vision for CNC, the history of CNC, what we believe, discovering your spiritual gift, and how we support our missionaries.
• Over the course of the class, you will meet each staff person at the Church. They will explain what they do to minister to the congregation.

I hope, if you have not attended this class before that you will consider signing up in the lobby on Sunday mornings in September. We limit the class to fifteen attenders, but if more sign up we will just plan another class! Please come, Robin and I are looking forward to getting to know you better!

PEP – People Encouraging People

By Pastor Bill Gaube

Our son loves his swimming pool, especially this summer when his city, Mesa, Arizona was the hottest place in the nation. The clear blue water is refreshing. Yet when he moved in, the pool was an uninviting murky green color. He found out that he needed a new filter system.

Sometimes when our lives and thinking get murky, we need new filters. Here are two that will help no matter what age we are.

Filter 1: PRAYER Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

The key is to let go of our concerns and present them to God. And don’t forget to season with thanksgiving. This forces us to remember God’s faithfulness and all he has done for us. Lord, help us remember, if it is big enough to make us anxious, it is big enough to pray about.

Filter 2: SCRIPTURE Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

Where do you let your mind dwell? Would the filter of this verse catch those thoughts or let them through? My problem is I don’t stop and realize where I’m letting my thoughts dwell. Lord, help us “bring every thought” under the control of your word.

So when your life is getting murky and stagnant, check that the filters of Prayer and God’s Word are in place.

PEP CLUB ACTIVITIES FOR SEPTEMBER

Breakfast Club every Thursday at 10:00 AM

The every Thursday format gives opportunity for more to be involved. We meet at the Waffle Shop on the corner Zinfandel and Folsom Blvd. Order what you like and enjoy the fellowship. We’d love to have all those 55+ join us.

Sunday, September 12 at 2:OO PM, “Room Service”

This is a classic screwball comedy presented by Chatauqa Playhouse. We have always enjoyed their presentations given in a small intimate theatre. They are in their 34th year of giving quality productions. Tickets are $16 for seniors. Pastor Bill has purchased 15 tickets and if you’d like one, give your money to him or Reva Bryson.

Sunday, September 26 Chicken BBQ by Bob Robbins

We’ll have a potluck for side dishes and dessert to complete the dinner. These are always very popular dinners and you will not want to miss the wonderful food and great chance for fellowship. Bobbie and Bob Robbins are hosting us.

by Pastor Jeff Davies

We’ve all got ‘em. I have them. You have them. Those pesky little (or not so little) areas in our lives that seem to frustrate us so greatly. Often we chalk it up to another’s fault. Left to ourselves we’ve had a perfectly glorious day. Then that family member or that co-worker does or says just the right thing to set us off. Of course as we mature we get better at not having a major meltdown on the spot. Does that mean we are better off, or just more skilled at hiding?

I have come to a conclusion based largely on my own life but also observed in others. These “hot-button” areas are great indicators, not of how bad someone else is, but of where we are. They are tell-tale signs of areas in which we need to grow. If we are truly healthy in an area, we should have grace toward others in that area. A guy content in who he is doesn’t have to jump to defend an infringement of his character. A lack of patience toward others or uncontrolled anger indicates a deficiency in us, regardless of the circumstances that sparked a particular incident.

I am not saying we should never be frustrated. Wrongs are done in this world, and they are offensive in their nature. We should be mad about injustices and seek to right them. But perhaps we should ask ourselves if someone else is being hurt by the situation. Is there truly something wrong in what is going on, or do I simply not like it? Left to ourselves we often get a distorted view of life, particularly in areas that involve us. What might a level-headed observer conclude?

So where does that leave us when we are set off in the course of our day? Here’s a wild idea: instead of beating ourselves up with guilt and shame about how we’re horrible Christians who can’t seem to handle our mess, why not thank God? Recognize we often do act like silly little kids toward God and thank him for his faithfulness toward us. We can even thank him for the reminder of our need to live our lives in the power of his.

Rather than letting that person ruin our whole afternoon, why not recognize the moment as an opportunity to grow in maturity. It’s a moment to take a step toward our destiny, the noble and radiant Bride of Christ being revealed in us all.

Saturday, December 11

CNC Christmas Celebration sponsored by Children’s Ministry

Mark you calendars now for an evening of fun, games, music, food, family, and friends!

With the office move there is also a mailing address change for all correspondence and checks sent to Cordova Neighborhood Church. Please change the church address to 10604 Coloma Road when you send anything to the church office. If you send checks via the internet, you also need to change the address on your bill pay to 10604 Coloma Road.

By Pastor Bryce Cooley

June and July have been interesting and full to say the least! With two weeks of Summer Camp and one week of fireworks booth, I have been running around non-stop. Two weeks later I am finally recovering.

Summer Camp was an amazing experience for both student and counselors. There were about 400 students at each camp, a great worship band (Between the Trees) and very energetic and engaging speakers. Each night our students were challenged to go deeper with God and were challenged in their current outlooks on God, Faith and Life. Cabin discussions were honest and encouraging. I couldn’t have asked for more out of camp this year. I know for those Seniors who went for their last year as a camper this was a high note to end on! For those who went for their first time the future looks bright!

Fireworks Booth. For those of you who did not hear, on July 2nd in the early morning someone stole all our fireworks. This started off as a bad day but over the next week showed itself as an opportunity for God to provide. Though we would have preferred not dealing with this situation we have seen God come through in this situation through many avenues. Our church and community both showed up with donations and prayers which was a huge encouragement to us. Phantom Fireworks and our Insurance company are both trying to work with us in order to make sure we end up somewhere in the black. Considering Phantom does not offer theft insurance for store containers on site, this is a huge blessing. All in all I have seen a situation that was bad turn into an opportunity to see God do great things. That you for all involved.

Upcoming Events Now that we are back from camp and settled in we are working on our schedule for the end of summer and spring. Please continue to check link name for updates.

On a personal note. For those of you who have not heard, I am now engaged to my long time girlfriend Bethany Broughton. Our wedding is set for December 18, 2010. We are doing everything in our power to get as many people — Family, Friends and Church family — involved as possible. We would appreciate your support in prayer. If you are interested, you can check out our website at http://www.bryceandbethany.net

By Pastor Susan Wright

The topics are varied and groups will meet on Sundays and mid-week. Some of the class offerings are on marriage, finance, church history, 40 Days of Love and Becoming a Godly Wife. Signups will begin mid-August. Check next month’s CrossRoads and the Sunday bulletins for more information.

If you have questions, ideas or want to volunteer as a teacher or host home, contact Susan Wright: susan@cnchurch.org or 635-5992 x14.

Coming Sunday, September  5, 2010

“Names of the Table”

By Pastor Dave Zimbelman

We will discuss the various names for Communion.

Missed a Sunday sermon? Not a problem…download it!

• "Reason and Revelation" August 15, 2010
• "How Many Christians Does It Take to Change a Culture?" August 8, 2010
• "Our Body, God's Temple" July 25, 2010

>>Click for more sermon downloads

Subscribe to CNC’s Sermon Podcast on iTunes

You’re invited, Sunday, July 11

after each service to our open house

Come see what’s new!

New Office Building

Rudat Hall Sound System

New Adult Classrooms

Friday evening, July 2nd, CNC women’s ministry will be having a cookout to go along with the BKC carnival, water volleyball and fireworks. Please help support women’s ministry in one of several ways . . .

• Buy your hot dog or hamburger meal from our stand.
• Volunteer: set-up, cooking, serving, cashier, clean-up.
• Spread the word and bring guests.

The money we earn will go into our fund for future events like the Christmas party, Missionary Tea, Mother’s Day gift, and annual Retreat. To sign-up or to get your questions answered, call Susan Wright at 949-0724.

Are you able to help with the carnival?

Areas of needed assistance…

Game booth attendants — Waterslide supervision — Dunk tank participants

A few borrowed pop-up tents — Closing duties (simply carrying items indoors)

If you’re interested in having fun and can help, please call Miss Angie

at the Big Kids Club 439-5307. Thank you!

Then on Saturday, July 3rd, 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., come join us for the parade or buy breakfast or novelty items at the Big Kids Club corner store – located in the CNC small parking lot.

“I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”

Jeremiah 31:13

Where there is a need, we should fill it. In keeping with this, we are starting a Share and Care Group for widows and widowers. The group will meet in homes on the first and third Fridays of the month, beginning August, 2010, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. The gathering will consist of prayer and prayer concerns,discussion and sharing. For more information, you may call Sandy Christiansen at 852-6288 or email your questions/concerns to CNCShare2Care@gmail.net. All widowed persons who have not remarried are invited and encouraged to attend.

• August 6 we will meet at 2405 Glenfaire Drive, Rancho Cordova
• August 20 we will meet at 2540 El Cedro Ct., Rancho Cordova

The following report was sent to us from Bob Hepokoski, a C&MA missionary in Chile.

During my June visit to Talca, in Chile’s central valley, I was awakened by an aftershock at 4:15 a.m. It was one of three that gently shook that night. Three months after the 8.8 cataclysm, the ground has ceased to tremble with the same frequency or intensity; now the aftershocks that are most evident are the personal tremors of the millions who lived through the disaster.

To my eyes, Talca looked worse than it had in the first weeks after big quake, when the streets were congested with piles of rubble and partially collapsed buildings.

As I lay awake, I reflected on what I had seen driving into town that evening. Bulldozers and front end loaders had trucked away mountains of rubble and torn down the remains of hundreds of former homes and businesses. Several city blocks were almost barren, except for a few temporary wooden homes that had been placed there by the government. There were still hundreds of buildings with walls cracked and split and I wondered if how many, if any, could be saved. The images brought tears to my eyes, and I thought how Nehemiah had cried over the walls of his city so long ago.

Despite the devastation, the church in Talca was celebrating. For two Sundays they had not met, while they worked on an emergency structure where they could meet during the winter. With help of a Santiago men’s group they had taken the old rafters and placed them over the courtyard where they could make a temporary meeting hall for 120 people. It was filled on Sunday and there was great joy and more than a few tears. Tears for their old building, now a broken shell, and joy for being together once again.

The day before we had traveled from Arauco, a small logging town on the southern coast of Chile. They were spared from February’s tsunami, but they were struck by the power of seismic waves that moved the sandy soil almost as if it were liquid. Most of the streets were broken and the entire city water system was ruined. In the 50 member Alliance church, five families lost their homes and the church building will need to be rebuilt. Despite such widespread damage, Pastor David Cabezas says that local church giving has increased, because the people want to rebuild as soon as possible.

That night, as I waited for more tremors (none came), I meditated more on the story of Nehemiah. It is natural, I thought, to shed tears when one’s city is in ruins. It’s ok. But it is also natural to take steps to rebuild. Many of our churches here are doing major repairs and others are speaking to architects about new plans. But not one of them has the funds they need.

Just as in the days of Nehemiah, rebuilding the walls will take a concerted effort of all the people working together. Several of the churches have been helped by a special offering of all the Chilean Alliance and others are being assisted through a cooperative project set into motion by CAMA Services. Offerings were received from other Alliance national churches and from interdenominational agencies as well. We are currently trying to help establish partnerships for earthquake recovery.

I share the sense of loss and the sense of hope that is present in so many of our Chilean brothers and sisters. I know that many of you do as well. On behalf of the Chilean church, I want to personally thank the individuals and churches who have shown fellowship and compassion by giving for this reconstruction. We have felt your love and we praise God for you

Grace and peace, 
Bob Hepokoski