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Sunbury City Church Newsletter


August, 2022
 
ELDER'S UPDATE


Every year as our national denomination gathers together, reports come out describing the decline in evangelism and baptism.  2022 is no exception.  As I pondered this decline across our denomination and even in my own life, I began to remember what John Piper once stated, “missions exists because worship doesn’t.”  The only reason worldwide missions and local evangelism exists is because there are billions of people around the world who do not worship the Lord.  Thus, one of our goals until we reach heaven is to share the good news of Jesus Christ to those around us because in heaven we won’t need to evangelize.  But I wonder if worship is part of the reason we don’t evangelize?  I wonder if the reason I lack boldness to share the gospel at certain times is because I also lack a heart of worship and awe of Jesus Christ.  We see in Mark 5 when Jesus comes and heals the man with demons, when this man receives his life back, his only response is to plead with Jesus, to which Jesus commands him to go and declare all that Jesus had done for him.  And excitedly he does just that.  This man experienced life change and out of that life change, through a heart of awe for Jesus, he took the gospel to those he knew.  Before we can talk much about the need to share the gospel, we need to start with ensuring our hearts are in awe of Jesus Christ.  Could that be said of you?  Do you marvel at Christ?  Do you worship Christ?  May I plead with you to see Jesus as the treasure he is, and stir your heart to see him as such, then out of a heart of worship, declare that treasure to your friends, your family, and your neighborhood.  

                                         
                                           Pastor Derek

         

                                
                          Derek Van Ruler, Lead Pastor

                
 
Recently, two of our members put together a couple of gift baskets for residents who recently moved to our area.  Baskets included small items to bless these residents, as well as information about Sunbury City Church.  On one of the visits, the new resident was simply shocked by our care and generosity for him, acknowledging that people don’t really do this anymore.  Praise the Lord for an opportunity to simply bless people who are in transition in our area.  If you would like to be a part of this, please email info@sunburycitychurch.com or talk with Pastor Derek and he will connect you to those leading this ministry.  

We want to hear from you! If you have a story of how you have seen God working in your life or the life of someone else in our church, we would love to include your story in our next newsletter. Please contact Rhiannon @ 570-850-2769 or by email at:  info@sunburycitychurch.org.  
What's Happening At SCC


First Sundays: Since we have temporarily moved to the fellowship hall for our Sunday service, shortly after our morning service, we will open the floor for questions regarding the current sermon series through Revelation 2-3 on August 7th.  Feel free to ask questions and learn more.


Mission Team, August 7-14.  We are hosting a mission team from First Baptist Church Indian Trail.  They will spend the week prayer walking and serving communities across our valley.  Please pray for them and spend time chatting with them after the Sunday service on August 14th.



Equip Night: Want to see what the Bible says about parenting?  Come August 31st at 6:30pm to find out more at our next Equip Night.  We will take 2 sessions to look at Biblical commands about parenting and then talk about some specific tips about ways to shepherd your children to hear the glorious truths about Jesus Christ.  


Letters to the Churches Series, July 24th.  We will be pausing on our series in the book of Romans to look at the letters to the 7 churches found in Revelation 2-3.  This is Jesus stark warning to his church about the dangers of compromise and losing our first love for Jesus Christ.  May we take heed and turn to Jesus Christ.  


Members Meeting: September 11th directly following our Sunday service, we will host our next members meeting.  These are great times of fellowship along with hearing what God is doing in and through Sunbury City Church.  Please mark it on your calendar to attend.  Childcare and food will be provided.
 





 


 
 

Missional Communities are groups of people gathering as a family, growing as servants, and going as missionaries to a designated target area to reach their neighbors with the good news of Jesus Christ.  Currently, we have four of these groups that meet and would love for you to join us!  If you are interested in joining a group, please contact us at: info@sunburycitychurch.org.
 
One Challenge
The New Testament describes the gospel of Jesus Christ as good news.  Paul says this news declares that there is no condemnation if we are in Christ Jesus.  And yet many in our community and our lives walk around with a weight of condemnation.  We want to encourage you to prayerfully consider who God has put in your life that you might begin to pray for their salvation and the opportunity to share the gospel with them.  Then we will display their name on our board so we can rejoice together in how God is using us to light our community with the gospel of Christ.  
 

To see more prayer requests follow this link and login to your Elvanto account: Be sure to create an account if you do not have one already.    
https://sunburycitychurch.elvanto.net/posts/prayer-list/
We would love to pray for you.  If you have prayer request needs, feel free to follow this link and fill out the form to let us know how we can pray for you:
 https://www.sunburycitychurch.com/prayer
 
Support Our Ministry: 
We exist to glorify God by making disciples who love God, live the Gospel, embrace our community, and plant movements.  With your support, we can better carry out this mission.  If you are able, please consider becoming a financial partner with us.  You can give online at: sunburycitychurch.com/give or in person, by placing your donation in our offering boxes.  
 
 Don't forget to check out our podcasts, available to stream on our website or any platform where you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Stay up to date with what is going on at Sunbury City Church by checking out our blog at:
 https://www.sunburycitychurch.com/blog



Want some good books but don’t know where to go?  Check out our online bookstore at:
 https://www.sunburycitychurch.com/bookstore



Want to familiarize yourself with the music we sing every Sunday? Our Spotify playlist can help you with that!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7ifRnFCfmaWwimPKQi2i7e?si=8a74b473cfed4d5c

CONTACT US

SCC mailing address:


P.O. Box 344
Sunbury, PA 17801-0344



Phone:
(570) 492-4962


Email address:

info@sunburycitychurch.com

Lead Pastor: Derek Van Ruler