Dearest Christ Church Family,

The summer is upon us, and there are many things to be grateful for at Christ Church Presbyterian. The Lord has brought us through a very challenging eighteen months, leading us by His Spirit and Word through a global pandemic. Rather than experience decline and disunity, however, we’ve seen growth (spiritual and numerical) and deeper accord in the body. In the last month we’ve received numerous families and individuals into church membership, including several covenant children through baptism. What a blessing! Make sure to welcome them into our church family. Of course, moving into our beautiful new facility has fostered much encouragement and stability for our flock. Furthermore, it has provided a more suitable location for making disciples and receiving new visitors. Our sanctuary is wonderful and our nurseries are outstanding! The seats during worship are filling up, especially on Lord’s Day mornings. For this reason the deacons have ordered fifty more chairs for the sanctuary. May the gospel of saving grace go forth unashamedly with power from the pulpit, ministries, and people of Christ Church!

Now that COVID numbers are greatly reduced and various restrictions are vanishing from public venues, we’ve begun planning several new events in the life of the church. Please take note of the numerous opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship enumerated below in this email. In addition, remember that this Lord’s Day evening we will worship at Church Creek Presbyterian in West Ashley. We want to support and pray for our sister church as they install Rev. Nick Batzig as their next senior minister. Let’s show up and encourage our brothers and sisters at Church Creek!

As we head into the summer months, let’s pray for opportunities to reach out to friends and neighbors with the gospel. Let’s pray for the boldness and courage to speak the truth in love, and to invite friends and neighbors to our church and our homes. One of the easiest things we can do is warmly greet those who visit our church on a Sunday. Ask about them. Get to know them. Take time to welcome them, and encourage them to come back. You can also invite them to join you in the foyer for tea, coffee, and cookies — a new weekly post-morning-service fellowship time that we will begin this coming Lord’s Day! I would only ask that parents accompany their small children to the foyer. We are hoping to avoid the “mad rush of little ones” looking for cookies after the service. Our aim is to cultivate a hospitable environment for our new visitors and increase our body life as a congregation.

This summer is shaping up to be a busy one. Many will be traveling and taking vacation time away. The church calendar is filling up! The PCA General Assembly is in St Louis at the end of June and all of your elders will serve as commissioners. This is an important assembly. Let’s all pray for the work of the church. Let’s remember each other in prayer and seek one another out for fellowship during the week. As we do, may we hold fast to our blessed nail-scarred Savior; even as we know His hold on us will never fail.

Your Pastor, Servant, and Friend,

Pastor Jon

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Announcements & Upcoming Events

Installation Service for Nick Batzig at Church Creek Presbyterian | June 6th
On the evening of Sunday, June 6th Rev. Nick Batzig will be installed as the new minister of Church Creek Presbyterian, a PCA church in Lowcountry Presbytery located in West Ashley. The session of Christ Church Presbyterian has decided to forego our own evening service in order to support our sister church and her new pastor. If you are able, please join us at Church Creek Presbyterian [2234 Plainview Road, Charleston, SC 29414]. The service will begin at 5:30 PM on Sunday, June 6th.

Christ Church Youth Night | Wednesday, June 9th
All youth (grades 7-12) are warmly invited to attend a time of food [grilled hamburgers and hot dogs], fun, games, and Christian fellowship at the home of Andrew and Lizzie Godwin [987 Governors Rd, Mt. Pleasant] on Wednesday, June 9th. Don’t miss this great time of encouragement!

Sunday School | Summer Break
Our Sunday school program will go on Summer Break from June 13th to August 22nd.

Young Mother’s Bible Study Fellowship | Beginning June 26th
Led by Ruth Peterson, all young moms are encouraged to attend the young mother’s Bible study fellowship at Christ Church. The fellowship will meet Saturday mornings, beginning June 26th, 9:30 AM. It will be a time to help equip young moms—both biblically and practically—to raise their infants and toddlers for the glory of God. The study will use Ginger Hubbard’s book, Don’t Make Me Count to Three. Childcare will not be provided; thus, (when possible) dads are encouraged to spend time with their children during the study.

PCA 2021 General Assembly | June 28th—July 1st
Please be in prayer for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America which meets in St Louis, Missouri, June 28th—July 1st. Pray for your elders [Pastors Jon and Michael, Mike Royal, and Tobe Hester] as they attend and do the work of the church. Pray for reformation and revival in our beloved denomination.

MUSC & Young Professionals Cookout | July 21st
MUSC & Young Professionals: Please join us for a Cookout and time of Fellowship at the Payne’s home on Wednesday, July 21st. More information to come!

Church Picnics | Save the Dates
We have reserved space at Palmetto Islands Country Park [444 Needlerush Pkwy, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464] for both summer and fall church picnics. The SUMMER picnic is on Saturday, July 24th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (Yes, we know, it’s going to be hot!). The FALL picnic will be on Saturday, September 11th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Please take a moment to mark your calendars and plan to attend these wonderful times of fun and fellowship with your church family.

New Members Class | Beginning July 25th
If you would like to take part of our next New Members Class, beginning Sunday July 25th at 4:15 PM, please contact Pastor Michael. This is a great opportunity for visitors to learn more about the distinctives of Christ Church and to understand what it means to be a member of the church.