Stuffed Animals

Derry Meade has already collected over 1000 stuffed animals to be given away to the nursing homes during the Christmas season. We still need more to help accomodate all the facilities. If you would like to donate or contribute stuffed animal to this ministry you can contact us by calling: (205) 553-9413. Office hours are every Wednesday from 9:30 to 2:30.

Give Thanks 4 Everything!

There is a true story of GIs stationed in the Philippines during WW II. Although the region was secure, sometimes the enemy tried to infiltrate their food storage area. One such adversary, dressed in GI clothing, had worked himself into the noontime chow line. But the camp cook spotted him, pulled a pistol from under the serving table and yelled for the MPs to come and arrest the man.After it was all over, the soldiers asked the cook how he knew the man wasn’t one of them."I figured it wasn’t one of you guys, ’cause he was coming back for seconds."

(Reader’s Digest 5/93, p.46)

What gave the enemy away? He was grateful for all the food he could get.He was thankful for the food no one else wanted. Being thankful was what set him apart.

In Ephesians 5, God tells us He wants us to stand out. He wants us to be known for something. He wants us to be known for being thankful.

Ephesians 5:20 says we should be “always GIVING THANKS to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 3:17 tells us “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, GIVING THANKS to God the Father through him.”

And 1 Thessalonians 5:18 evens says we should “GIVE THANKS in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

A few years ago, the Peanuts cartoon pictured Charlie Brown bringing out Snoopy’s dinner on Thanksgiving Day. But it was just his usual dog food in a bowl. Snoopy took one look at the dog food and said, "This isn’t fair. The rest of the world is eating turkey with all the trimmings, and all I get is dog food. Because I’m a dog, all I get is dog food." He stood there and stared at his dog food for a moment, and said, "I guess it could be worse. I could be a turkey."

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a Gloriously Happy Thanksgiving!

More Thanksgiving Celebration

The Lord blessed during our Community Thanksgiving Service and the congregation responded with a wonderful offering of $825.00. This offering will go to The Care Package Food Pantry. The next distribution date will be Saturday December 19th from 8 - 10 a.m. If you want to celebrate the holidays as Christ would have intended, volunteer your time on that day to help the needy. It is a tremendous blessing.

Happy Thanksgiving Celebration

The Lord moved wonderfully during our Thanksgiving Celebration this past Sunday. Pastor Ron preached on the subject of "In Everything, Give Thanks!" The basic plan of God's will is that we 1. Rejoice Evermore; 2. Pray Unceasingly; 3. Give Thanks Continually!

Sunday evening brought a special time of community fellowship. Our annual Cottondale Community Thanksgiving Service was held at the Cottondale Community Church. There was an overflow crowd of 340. The presence of God was in every word spoken and every song sung. Pastors and churches who participated were: Ben West, Cottondale Christian; Simon Hunter, Benville Baptist; John Hassell, Cottondale United Methodist; Dale Glover, Cottondale Baptist; Mark Potter, Bible Methodist Church; Ron Martin, Cottondale Community Church.

The congregation was blessed by the music of choirs from Cottondale Baptist and Benville Baptist churches. The Cottondale Community Church youth drama team ministered dynamically and Pastor Mark Potter's Thanksgiving message was outstanding.

A wonderfully prepared fellowship dinner followed the evening service. We thank God for His bountiful supply and awesome presence during our community gathering.

Sour Grapes

Jeremiah 31:29-34,
"In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

God has taken away our excuses for sin. He has taken away our excuses for not living a holy, sanctified life. God has removed the skin of our reason for not obeying his voice and revealed the lie that is stuffed inside. We stand on our own now and we cannot blame another for the sin we commit.God has given us everything we need to be saved. He has provided a way out of our death penalty if we will only confess that we are wrong in the first place and face up to our own guilt.We will all live or die based upon what we do with the gospel and death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

John Killinger tells about the manager of a minor league baseball team who was so disgusted with his center fielder’s performance that he ordered him to the dugout and assumed the position himself. The first ball that came into center field took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth. The next one was a high fly ball, which he lost in the glare of the sun--until it bounced off his forehead. The third was a hard line drive that he charged with outstretched arms; unfortunately, it flew between is hands and smacked his eye. Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted. ’You idiot! You’ve got center field so messed up that even I can’t do a thing with it!

Only when we face up to our own “sour grapes” and confess that we are the ones at fault and no one else, can we find true repentance and forgiveness for sin.

Great Service!

The Spirit of the Lord was overwhelming as He tabernacled in our presence Sunday morning. We enjoyed the ministry of Steel City Quartet. What a great anointing that flowed throughout the service. God showed up and His blessings were ministered.

Veteran's Day at Merrill Gardens

Ron & Pamela had the priviledge of being guest at the Veteran's Day celebration at Merrill Gardens
Assisted Living Center. We were honored to present several certificates of appreciation to the veterans in the audience and acknowledge their achievements.

Following a session of patriotic music by the Martins the group was treated to a wonderful reception. It was a wonderful celebration.

Jumping Through Genesis

There is a great warning in Genesis 19 for all nations, especially the United States. The hallmark of the grievous sin that consumed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexuality. Such was the condition that when the two men, who are really two angels, show up in the city, all the men of the city want to gang rape the two heavenly host. This condition of the city, that would face the judgment of God, should concern us as Americans because the moral condition of our own nation is not far behind Sodom and Gomorrah. I have to agree with one commentator who said, “If God does not judge America, then the Lord will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”

Join us Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. as we continue our study in the book of Genesis.

Steel City Quartet

CCC is delighted to welcome Steel City Quartet to our church this coming Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. Join us as we worship the Lord and exalt His name in praise.

Food Distribution

The Care Package food distribution was a tremendous success. The Lord blessed us to be able to bless 140 families with food for the Thanksgiving holiday. The provisions included turkey and ham, as well as, other food staples. We give God the glory for all His blessings. The next distribution date will be December 19th.

Food Pantry

The Care Package Food Pantry will be open this Saturday, November 7th at 8:00 a.m. There are food preparations available to serve 200 families. We will also be distributing winter coats for those in need. If you would like to help distribute food please be a the church by 7:30 a.m.

The Care Package received a high acknowledgement during its recent audit by the West Alabama Food Bank. The overall leadership, organization, finances and participation of The Care Package is considered to be in the top ten category of food distribution agencies.

We are averaging over $1500 in food purchases and spent over $10,000 for food in 2009. Special thanks goes to everyone who has contributed to this program. We are proud to acknowledge the Cottondale United Methodist Church, Cottondale Christian Church and Cottondale Baptist for their partcipation, also.

This ministry is a testament to God's provision and glory!

Fall Festival 09

There was a record crowd for the Annual CCC Fall Festival. It was great evening!

The Serpents Bite

Sunday's message used the Scripture lesson from Numbers 21: 4 - 9. The story reminds us that sin can destroy our lives if allowed to go unrepented.
In the story of the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness in the Book of Numbers we find that often these folks were inclined to grumble, fuss, fight and complain. They would get angry and upset and - as is almost always the case under these circumstances – they would began to criticize. Soon the words became heated. The harshness of the comments spoken were only thinly veiled. The angry words spoken were like painful, barbed darts – intended to hurt and wound. The outcome was predictable – there was offense created; harsh angry words were returned; trust and esteem for the other person diminished. People that were supposed to be close – brothers – felt uncomfortable in each other’s company. Fact of the matter is that conflict and disagreement with others is a common thread in the fabric of humanity. Griping and complaining are the symptoms for a much deeper problem.The Israelites were wandering in the desert. Why were they wandering? - Because they refused to trust God’s leading. They had been led right to the border of the Promised Land, but they were afraid to enter. They didn’t believe God would usher them as victors into the land He had led them to. And so they wandered in the desert. And then they began to fuss and fume. Only problem – they picked the wrong person to criticize.