Christ Methodist Church of Auburn

Our Need for a Good Shepherd

In a world filled with uncertainty and challenges, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and directionless. Yet, the Bible paints a vivid picture of our deep need for a Shepherd—one who guides, protects, and provides for us. Psalm 23 and John 10 remind us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd we desperately need in every aspect of our lives.

Psalm 23 begins with a simple yet profound statement: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." These words reveal the essence of our need for a shepherd—we are unable to navigate life’s complexities on our own. Sheep, by nature, are dependent creatures, prone to wander and vulnerable to danger. Like them, we need guidance, provision, and protection. Jesus, as our Shepherd, leads us to green pastures, symbolizing His provision for our needs, and still waters, offering us rest and peace. Even when we walk through dark valleys of fear or uncertainty, we are reminded that His presence comforts and sustains us. He is our light and our defense.

In John 10, Jesus takes this imagery even further, declaring, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." Here, we see the depth of our need—someone who not only guides and protects us but also sacrifices for us. Jesus contrasts Himself with a hired hand who abandons the sheep at the first sign of trouble. In contrast, Jesus stands by us, even at great personal cost. Our need for a shepherd is not just about provision and protection; it’s about salvation. We need a Shepherd who knows us intimately, calls us by name, and ultimately leads us to eternal life.

What does it mean to live under the care of the Good Shepherd today? It means that we can trust Jesus with every aspect of our lives. He knows us by name (John 10:3), and we, His sheep, can recognize His voice and follow Him. In a world full of competing voices, we need the guidance of our Shepherd more than ever. In a culture that often prizes independence and self-sufficiency, the idea of needing a shepherd might seem countercultural. Yet, deep down, we know how fragile life can be. We get lost in the busyness of life, struggle with anxiety about the future, and face circumstances beyond our control. In these moments, we need the steady, loving hand of the Good Shepherd to lead us.

Jesus meets us in our need, offering not only to guide and protect but to be with us through every trial and triumph. His voice calls us into deeper trust, reminding us that we don’t have to navigate life’s difficulties alone. We need a Shepherd who provides, cares, and ultimately saves. And in Jesus, we have that Shepherd. His path may not always be easy, but it is always for our good. And as we walk with Him, we are never alone.

Psalm 23 ends with a beautiful promise: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is with us now and will be with us for eternity. I hope to see all of you in worship on Sunday as we turn our praises to our Good Shepherd.

In Christ,

Pastor Tony

We have an amazing team of leaders who will be guiding us over the next few weeks in gathering all of the school supplies, personal items, toys, and games that we will use to fill the Shoebox Gifts. Our goal this year is to fill 500 boxes! Let's do it together!

We need your help!

If you would like to sponsor a box or several boxes for Operation Christmas Child, each shoebox gift will be designated for a boy or a girl from 5-9 years old and will cost approximately $35. This will include all of the items placed in the boxes as well as the shipping cost of $10 per box. To donate to OCC, please click the link below. You may also write a check to Christ Methodist Church of Auburn and write OCC in the FOR line. You may mail the check to CMCA, P. O. Box 2491, Auburn, AL 36831, or place it in the offering plate on Sundays.

If you and your family would like to do the shopping for and packing of your own shoebox, we will be happy to provide a packing list of do's and don'ts as well as a shoebox and label. Please contact Liz Kenemer at info@christmethodistauburn.com for more information. These shoeboxes will need to be turned in by October 27.

We will also need help in making and putting together some of the toys and supplies that will go into the boxes. For example, we will need to make 500 "medical kits". This will be a ziploc bag with wipes, bandaids, and cotton balls. We will be making 500 tic-tac-toe games. Please email or call if you're interested in helping construct these items.

And lastly, we'll be having a CHURCH-WIDE packing party event on Sunday, November 10, immediately after our worship service in the cafetorium at Lee-Scott. We will not have Sunday School on 11/10. Instead, we invite every class and ALL CMCA attendees and members - from the youngest to the oldest - to plan to come help us pack 500 shoeboxes starting at 10:45 a.m.

On Saturday, November 9, we will need "All Hands on Deck!" to help set up the boxes and all the items to put in the boxes. We will meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Cafetorium at Lee-Scott for this Pre-Packing Party set-up. Please let us know if you can be there for the morning to assist.

Please be listening for further announcements and instructions concerning Operation Christmas Child 2024.

If you have questions, please call or email the church office and let’s do God’s work! (email: info@christmethodistauburn.com or phone: 334-209-0074)

Click to donate

Children's Music Ministries

It's Not Too Late for Your Children To Grow in Their Musical Gifts!

We're thrilled that our children's choirs are up and running. It's not too late for your children and grandchildren to join the fun. We've started a new Cherub Choir for ages 3 - Kindergarten as well as a new Handchime Choir for Grades 4 - 6. They are having so much fun.

All groups will continue to meet each Wednesday at Greystone - SIGN UP TODAY (gary@christmethodistauburn.com)

Cherub Choir - Ages 3-5 (3:45-4:15pm)

Genesis Childen's Choir - Grades 1-6 (4:30-5:15)

Children's Handchimes - Intro to Handchimes for 4th-6th graders (5:15-6:00)

Sign Up Here for Children's Music Program

Don't Miss Your Opportunity to Travel With Us to Austria and Switzerland

A few spaces still remain for joining our church family on a spectacular and inspiring trip to Austria with an optional extension to Switzerland. This is one you don't want to miss. You can join us as a non-singing guest or as a choir member. While there, our choir will join singers from around the world to perform in two of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe: St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and the Salzburg Cathedral in Salzburg, Austria. While singers are in rehearsals, guests will have opportunities to explore on their own for numerous excursions and the full group will experience together the wonderful sights from the beloved "Sound of Music" movie, the phenomenal Melk Abbey, the majestic Alps, the Schönbrunn Palace, and much more. We're also developing a lot of fun opportunities to grow together by offering basic German lessons, an introduction to Baroque and Rococo art and architecture, a movie screening of "The Sound of Music," and even a walking fitness challenge. It's going to be a wonderful journey. Join us and help spread the word to singers, family, and friends. For more information contact our Director of Worship and Arts, Gary Klarenbeek, at Gary@christmethodistauburn.com.

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Please be in your seats by 9:25 for the announcements and prelude to begin. The service will start at 9:30am.

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LOST AND FOUND

We have accumulated several items from the gym at Lee-Scott following worship services. These items include a pair of prescription glasses, umbrellas, a journal, a child's retainer, and more. If you are missing any of these items, you make pick them up at the receptionist desk at Greystone during the week.

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*We are still in the process of gathering names and street addresses of those in our congregation who do not receive our weekly Newsletter by email. We would like to begin mailing them a copy of our email. If you know of someone who would like the weekly Newsletter mailed to them, please let us know.

Let's continue to make a habit to check the Connect Cart and tables as you enter the lobbies for worship each Sunday. In addition to hymnals, we have guest name tags as well as regular name tags for regular attendees who forgot theirs (Pastor Tony appreciates those as he learns everyone’s name). Also, there are "Our Daily Bread" devotional booklets, volunteer forms, car stickers and magnets, packets with CMCA note pads and pens to have or share with friends, maps to Sunday School classes, order forms for plastic magnetic name tags, worship kits for children (they can take home), offering envelopes, Connect Cards (place in offering plate), VBS flyers, etc. Another suggestion is to give your worship bulletin to a friend and invite them to worship with us.

*As you arrive at Lee-Scott on Sunday mornings, we encourage you to be aware of marked parking spaces in the back entrance and to make sure you park in a marked space. Please be aware that the trailer used to transport our equipment will be parked at the back entrance and does not need to be blocked so that it can be moved or it can be opened in the rear area. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter!

We are so grateful for each and every one of you and for your commitment and faithfulness to serve our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Please continue to pray, and pray some more for our body of believers as we move forward together and seek God’s guidance in the days to come. You are all so loved and appreciated!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

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Christ Methodist Church of Auburn

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