MEETS AT THE FARM CENTRE, 420 UNIVERSITY AVE.

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE SUNDAY MORNINGS 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

AUGUST 25, 2013

Why Are You So Afraid?

From out of nowhere it seemed the storm had charged across the lake and threatened to sink the small boat and the disciples.Terrified they finally realize Jesus was asleep and awakened him. He looked in their frantic eyes and asked them one simple question. Why are you so afraid? Why? Because. Because they were a long way from the shore. Because their boat was at one moment tossed into the air by an angry wave, and in the next it would slam into the bottom of a trough where more waves washed over the side, threatening to rip them out of the boat. Because they were about to capsize and they couldnt even see where the nearest shoreline was. Because they were about to die. Werent those reasons enough to be afraid? Sure, they might seem silly now that the sky was clear, the wind barely a whisper and only the tiniest of ripples lapped against the side of the boat, but how were they to know he could or would command the storm to silence? How were they to know that they would be safe after all? They didnt, of course, which couldnt have been his point. Certainly the circumstances were such that any rational person would be afraid. Unless. Unless they were looking at someone more certain than the wind, more powerful than the waves, more loving toward them than any of them yet knew. You of little faith, he had called them. I would love to see the look on his face when he did so. I dont think

byWayne Jacobsen
this is the angry rebuke our movie versions have made it out to be. Couldnt he have said it with a chuckle in his voice as hes roughing up Matthews hair? Thats what I suspect, because this was a lesson not a test. There was something he wanted them to grasp here. Having little faith is not a measurement of quantity. On another occasion when Jesus pointed out how little their faith was, the disciples asked him to increase their faith. He responded that faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains. So if quantity was not his concern, then it must have been something else. If our faith is in the wind and the sea, then you will only feel safe when it is clear and calm.When it is not, you will be stricken with fear. But if you can learn to vest your trust in Fathers love and care for you, then it matters little what wind and sea can hurl at you. This is perhaps your greatest challenge in learning the freedom and joy of trusting Father. For in trusting him we have to put more faith in what we cannot see than what we do. Nothing is more difficult for us to learn. We are physical creatures that find it easier to trust the tangibles in time and space more than we trust Fathers love for us. But isnt our trust in circumstances, really a trust in ourselves? Before the storm hit, the disciples trusted the skills of the fishermen among them. They were certain of their abilities to sail the sea as long as the weather didnt get too nasty. Up until the moment it did, they had no fear because they were certain of themselves. But when the storm reached full fury, they knew they were in over their heads. continued on page 2

SERVING THIS SUNDAY

WORSHIP TEAM Tom Zawacki SPEAKER Tom Zawacki COMMUNION PREPARATION Bernice Gallant OFFERING COLLECTION TBA SOUND TBA MEDIA TBA TODDLER MINISTRY Julie Corrigan CHILDRENS MINISTRY TBA CLEAN UP - TEAM C Steve & Deb Price, Ferne MacEwen, Lisa Taylor, Patsy Doirin, Justin Perry and Tom Banks

PRAYER
requests
Charlottetown Community Church & Surrounding Community The Presence of God That we Live Loved That we Live Love That we Live Supernaturally Lori McDonald Healing & comfort from surgery, peace & well-being. 4 week old Baby Miles He is in desperate need of a heart transplant and needs to be healthy enough to have procedure done should one become available. Wayne Simmons sister Healing and relief from blurred vision in one eye. Trevena MacLeods mother Healing, freedom from pain, lifted spirits & support for her and her family. Jack McAskill Healing & recovery from surgery and complications, lifted spirits & support. Donna MacDonald Healing, freedom from pain, lifted spirits & support for her and her family. Lori McDonalds friend Jen Healing from cancer, lifted spirits & support for her and her family. Karen Gallants grandson Oliver Healing and support for him and his family. Marsha McAndrews father Bazil Healing and relief from pain related to back surgery. Marsha McAndrews mother Blood pressure to become more normal and comfort while dealing with stress.

Why Are You So Afraid?

continued from page 1 We do the same thing, dont we? We take care of ourselves the best we can. As long as everything works the way we want it to, we are content. But when crisis hits, our misdirected faith is unmasked.We are not so well-equipped as we thought. Now, not only do our eyes fix on the circumstances that rage around us, but also on our own failures to deal with them. Perhaps even the disciples, swamped by the tempest turned to blaming themselves.We should have stayed closer to land.We should have taken a bigger boat.Whose idea was it to go boating today? And once you start down that road there is no hope in crisis. How can I trust God with something when its my own fault to begin with? We can rattle off a hundred things we could have done differently, and all of them become excuses for why we cant trust him now. Trust in God based on our own performance, is still trust in ourselves. If God only helps the perfect, what hope have any of us? If we must earn the right to trust in Father, then we still end up only believing in ourselves. It will even work for us as long as the weather is nice. But when the storm crashes down us, such faith is worthless indeed.Who cannot point to weaknesses, ignorance or failure in our own lives that would make it impossible to believe he will help me out? Jesus ministry with his closest friends was designed to bring them to the end of themselves so that they might trust in Father alone. But no matter how hard they tried, they always seemed to come up short. Even on the night Jesus was arrested, Peter was so certain his faith in God would overcome any temptation to deny his friend. But it wasnt so. As soon as the heat was turned up he caved in, his fears overwhelming his faith. You know what that is like, dont you? If youre like me you probably have plenty of stories where you really needed to entrust yourself to his care, but instead reacted to your fears. Like Peter, we look back at our faithlessness and weep. Blame and accusation swallow up any confidence we have that God will work in our lives. As long as Ive been a Christian I should be doing better by now. But our self-focused faith only lets every trial and difficulty either prove that were not good enough, or that God doesnt care enough about us. Both will make us afraid. Both are little faith, because that faith is vested is something so little ourselves! As God invites us into relationship with him where he becomes far more real than any circumstance we encounter. Instead of seeing wind and waves, or our inability to deal with them, we see him in the midst of it all. We may not know how he is going to deal with our circumstances, but we can rest secure that no one loves us more. And when his work is unfolding in our lives, no circumstance is a cause for fear. How can we get to that place? Wrong question, for in asking it we only prove our eyes are still on ourselves. Like the storm on Galilee, it matters little what we do, only what he will do. By keeping our eyes on him we can be free of fear or anxiety no matter what we might encounter in this life. And what he has done in us and what he will continue to do even in the midst of the most painful circumstances you face today, will absolutely astound you. Copyright 2009 Lifestream Ministries, Permission is herby granted to anyone wishing to make copies for free distribution.
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WORSHIP TEAMS If you would like to take part in or lead worship on Sundays please contact John McDonald on Facebook, by email at johnperogie@gmail. com, or call or text at (902) 213-0504. CHILDRENS MINISTRY NEED TEACHERS & HELPERS!

Kidz

Church

If you are interested in volunteering in Childrens or Toddler Ministry, contact Laurie MacPhee or Carolyn Read.

CHURCH NEWS & GROUPS

There is lots going on, be free, go where the life is, family first. Church website is now updated with all activities.
CHURCH FINANCES Four Week Average Giving: $1,958.68 Four Week Average Needed: $2,000.00 Lets keep praying for God to supply all we need! MEDIA HELP We need additional Media Help with running video projector on Sunday mornings. Please contact Tom if you are interested. NEXT ELDERS MEETING Saturday, September 7 The elders are: Wayne & Natalie Simmons, Errol & Shelagh Campbell, Greg & Debbie MacKinnon, Garfield & Brenda MacDonald and Tom & Nadine Zawacki.
Please feel free to contact us anytime with your thoughts, questions or ideas.

SUMMER GROUP 7:00 P.M, Thursday

(if it rains, meeting will be continued the next Thursday. Check on CCC Facebook page for cancellation notice)
for further info, ask Lisa Taylor

Beach Grove Park

Drive to bottom of Beach Grove Road, past the Beach Grove Home, all the way to the bottom until you see the water. There is parking at the bottom on the right (past the staff parking lot).

Bring a chair or blanket if you like (there are picnic tables but other than that, we are roughing it!). Bring some bug spray. Bring a coffee or tea if you like. Bring a Bible or notebook.

MOMS & TOTS GROUP

MOMS & TOTS

A Charlottetown Community Church Group

10:00 AM, Wednesday mornings Contact Lindsey Perry or Trevena MacLeod for location.

Bring all those questions you ever had about God, Christianity and faith but were always afraid to ask! This group is about asking questions, exploring perspectives, dispelling judgment, having real authentic conversations and building relationship!
The simplest questions are the most profound. Where were you born? Where is your home? Where are you going? What are you doing? Think about these once in a while and watch your answers change. - Richard Bach

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The Sunday morning service requires a large number of volunteers. If you can help, put a note on the Facebook page, sign one of the sheets in the lobby, or mention it to one of the leaders. Positions we are often looking to have help with are:
OFFERING COLLECTION, GREETERS, WORSHIP TEAMS, CLEANUP TEAMS, KIDZ CHURCH & TODDLER MINISTRY, PRAYER MINISTRY

Charlottetown Community Church

Part of the Vineyard Network in Canada P.O. Box 1081 Charlottetown, PE C1A 7M4

Pastor Tom Zawacki (902) 892-5001 communitychurch@pei.aibn.com www.charlottetowncommunitychurch.com

If you would like to get something in the newsletter (prayer request, FACEBOOK announcement, etc.), please email it to communitychurch@pei.aibn.com Joining the Charlottetown Community Church Facebook group is the fastest way to get up to the minute news, prayer byWednesday of each week. requests and get in on discussions. Check it out today!
OUR DESIRE IS TO BE A COMMUNITY OF GRACE THAT PRESENTS JESUS IN A RELEVANT WAY REACHING OUR CITY AND BEYOND WITH THE LOVE OF GOD.

OUR MISSION IS POSSIBLE:

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