COP - Lion's Roar December 2012 by City of Praise Church

Lionâ€™s Roar Magazine December 2012

A Publication of The City of Praise Church Family Ministries

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1

One Band One Sound

The Birth of Christ

It Really is A Wonderful Life

The Christ in Christmas

contents Lion’s Roar

Praise the Lord. Christmas season is here and 2012 is almost coming to a close.

Over the last year, we have been extremely busy. We have expanded children’s church, held youth conferences, trained over 100 church leaders, hosted some of the most respected leaders in the faith and ministered to the needs of the community. This activity would be nothing more than busy work and nonsense if it did not introduce more people to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. God continues to show himself faithful. Our activity has not been mere busy work. The City of Praise is blessed beyond measure as Christ continues to add to the number of those who are accepting Christ not only as their Savior, but also as their Lord. At the end of the day, winning souls for Christ is the only reason we exist. We are happy to offer this December issue of Lion’s Roar. This issue highlights the extraordinary story of Christ’s birth and why it is important in our everyday lives. We know that reading the story of the Christ child’s entry into the world will bless you as it always blesses us.

December 2012

january 2011

Pastor & Co-Pastor Joel & Ylawnda Peebles

Lion’s Roar STAFF PASTOR JOEL PEEBLES Co-Pastor YLAWNDA PEEBLES DEANA BASS MALIKA CAREY-JORDAN DIANE GEORGE RAYMOND MORSE SOUTHERLYN REISIG PAULETTE SHELTON DEE-DEE BASS WILBON

Weekly Worship Services Sundays 10:00 a.m. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 7601 Hanover Parkway Greenbelt, Md 20770 CHILDREN’S CHURCH (Ages 3-11) Intercessory Prayer & Holy Communion Mondays 7:00 p.m.

As always, God’s blessing on you and your family. Sincerely,

Joel & Ylawnda Pastor & Co-Pastor

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Cover Photo: Top - Christmas Ornaments - Silhouette from the Leaders of Distinction Ceremony

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The Most Amazing Story Ever Told

The Most Amazing Story Ever Told by Lion’s Roar Staff One of the most amazing stories ever told can be found in the Holy Bible in the books of Matthew and Luke. During this time of year, most people, regardless of their religious views, can tell the story of Mary, a young Jewish girl who learns from an angel that she will bear a special child through a virgin birth. An angel confirms Mary’s miracle by also visiting Joseph, the man to whom she is betrothed. When the child is born, he is born in a stable because there is no room for him in any of the inns. As Christians, followers of Jesus the Christ,

this story should bring us to cheers and tears. It must be more than a quaint fable told during the holiday season. Every element of the story is what makes the birth of Christ not just a holiday event, but also truly a HOLY day event. Really think of the wonder of it all. The Son of God comes to earth in the most vulnerable package – a little baby. Below is a copy of this amazing story. Cut it out and keep it with you to remind yourself throughout the year of the extraordinary gift and what it means to your everyday life.

The Birth of Christ

Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 2:1-12 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:” But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

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The Christ in Christmas

The Christ in Christmas by Pastor Joel Peebles We know that each year the Christmas season becomes increasingly watered down and secularized. Instead of Christmas vacation, our children take a holiday vacation. Rather than hosting Christmas parties, companies host holiday parties. In an effort not to offend people of other religious faiths, there is both a subtle and blatant attempt to remove Christ from Christmas. This has not been an overnight move. It is something that is happening so gradually in our culture that we barely even notice. A perfect example is the YMCA’s Holiday Toy Drive. This is a wonderful outpouring by which people give toys to children from under-privileged backgrounds. The YMCA or Young Men’s Christian Association host a Holiday toy drive rather than a Christmas toy drive because like many national organizations once rooted in a Christian worldview

erasing any visible link to the Christ child seems prudent and less offensive to other faiths. My caution this Christmas season is that by removing Christ from Christmas, we may not be offending the world. But it is a great offense to Christ. When we replace Christmas with “the holidays” or even worse “Xmas,” we are attacking the very essence of the Holy day. Christmas must be about Christ because Christ represents the great selflessness and sacrifice that sets the season apart from all others. Let’s face it, Christmas is a time of year when people are a little bit nicer, a little bit more thoughtful and giving and selfless. We are bent towards serving others as we model the way Christ served the world. By removing the very reason for the season from the season, Christmas becomes nothing more than a month of tinsel and retail sales strategies.

Furthermore, as we celebrate Christmas and not Xmas, we know that the birth of Christ is a real and historic event. While it may not have actually occurred on December 25, the celebration of this actual historic happening gives us an anchor to something tangible and not abstract. This anchor begins to frame our very identity on this earth.

It’s OK to say, “Merry Christmas.”

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT Outreach 24/7, led by City of Praise member, Tree Walters is this month’s spotlight. Congratulations to Outreach 24/7 on the release of their new CD and a successful concert. 4 - Lion’s Roar

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It Really Is A Wonderful Life

It Really Is A Wonderful Life by Lion’s Roar Staff Frank Capra’s film, It’s a Wonderful Life, is of course an American classic and one of the most watched films during the Christmas season. The story of “Everyman” George Bailey’s journey of discovering his self worth is one that resonates beyond the holy-day season. Capra may not have realized it, but It’s a Wonderful Life is a chiros moment story. Like George Bailey, you and I have wondered if our lives have any value. We have each wonder if our very existence matters or makes any difference in the outcome of world events. Because the Great Creator created each of us, you and I can believe with 100% of certainty that He has a purpose for our lives that makes each moment of our lives important. Usually when Christians speak of chiros moments, they are referencing monumental and extraordinary seasons of life when they are preparing to make life altering decisions. In reality every encounter with every person who crosses your path is an opportunity for you to impact the world for Christ. Impacting the world for Christ in every person’s life does not necessarily mean to extend an invitation to accept Christ to every single person who crosses your path (unless of course this is a mandate that you have received from God). What it means is that if you believe that the power that raised Christ from the dead lives within you, then you have to believe that your life and the way you live it can bring value to those around you. George Bailey is given the opportunity to see how his community would be affected if he had never been born. He sees the profound impact that seemingly insignificant acts of kindness had on the people in his community. He understands that his really is a wonderful life. All of the opportunities that George had to show Christ’s love by extending love in big and small ways were his chiros moments.

Merry Christmas & May The Lord Continue to Show You Favor in the New Year! 5 - Lion’s Roar

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The Church is The People

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The Church is The People

Merry Christmas! & Happy New Year! 7 - Lionâ€™s Roar

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Article title On The Horizon

On The Horizon City of Praise Events and Updates

December

Sunday

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

9:45 am Children’s Church 10:00 am Sunday Service

7:00 PM Intercessory Prayer

2 9:45 am Children’s Church 10:00 am Sunday Service 4:00 pm Rehobeth Rebirth & Restoration Church Bishop Keith Martin

9:45 am Children’s Church 10:00 am Sunday Service

18 7:00 PM Ntegrity Group 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

7:00 PM Intercessory Prayer

23/30

11 7:00 PM Ntegrity Group 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

7:00 PM Intercessory Prayer

4 7:00 PM Ntegrity Group 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

7:00 PM Intercessory Prayer

9:45 am Children’s Church 10:00 am Sunday Service

27 7:00 PM Ntegrity Group 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

24/31

7:00 PM Bible Study 8:30 PM Youth Choir Rehearsal 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

Praise Dancers rehearsal 7:30 PM Choir rehearsal 7:30 PM Ntegrity Men’s Ministry 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

7:00 PM Bible Study 8:30 PM Youth Choir Rehearsal 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

Praise Dancers rehearsal 7:30 PM Choir rehearsal 7:30 PM Ntegrity Men’s Ministry 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

7:00 PM Bible Study 8:30 PM Youth Choir Rehearsal 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

Praise Dancers rehearsal 7:30 PM Choir rehearsal 7:30 PM Ntegrity Men’s Ministry 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

19 7:00 PM Bible Study 8:30 PM Youth Choir Rehearsal 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

Friday 30

7:00 PM Ntegrity Group Meeting 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

Merry Christmas

Men Meeting With God Join the Men of The City Of Praise for an Overnight Getaway DYNAMIC SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS, INDOOR & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, FOOD & FELLOWSHIP December 14th - December 15th, 2012 Camp Bennett - Brookeville, Md Cost $50 - Space is Limited. RSVP Today. RSVP to Minister Donald Ross 202-369-2204 or Deacon Moses Vincent, Jr. 301-938-7279 8 - Lion’s Roar

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7:00 PM Ntegrity Group Meeting 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

7:00 PM Ntegrity Group Praise Dancers rehearsal 7:00 PM Bible Study Meeting 8:30 PM Youth Choir Rehearsal 7:30 PM Choir rehearsal 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer 7:30 PM Ntegrity Men’s Ministry - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295# - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295# access code 658295#

7:00 PM Intercessory Prayer

7:00 PM New Member Class 7:00 PM Ntegrity Group Meeting 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

20 Praise Dancers rehearsal 7:30 PM Choir rehearsal 7:30 PM Ntegrity Men’s Ministry 10:00 PM Intercessory Prayer - Dial 1-712-775-7000 Enter access code 658295#

Saturday