We are a Presbyterian Church, a member church in the Presbyterian Church in America
denomination. ( www.pcanet.org )
Christ the Shepherd Church held its first worship service in 2006 in a rented space on North Street. The first song that was sung in worship was “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” — it was the goal then and is still the goal that we will be a church that exalts the Person and Work of Christ on behalf of His people. In the decade-and-a-half since that time, there have been various challenges and distractions and even temptations to subtly add to the Good News about Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross to save us.
I Corinthians 2:2 – For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Galatians 1:8-9 – But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Colossians 2:13-14 – And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
What’s in a Name?
Our church name was chosen with the hope that we would always look to Christ as our Shepherd and that God would see fit to use us as under-shepherds, to lovingly shepherd those of His people whom He would bring into His congregation here. This is not to say that we do this perfectly, but that is certainly the goal!
John 10:10-11 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Ezekiel 34:11-15 – For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring
them into their own land. And I will feed them….
I Peter 5:1-3, So I exhort the elders among you…shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
What’s in a Building?
Even though we sometimes refer to the building as “the church” (as in, “I hope to see you here at the church for work day next Saturday”), we know that in reality the Church is actually the congregation, and not the physical location where the congregation meets.
Yet we are so thankful for the building that God has given us and what happens here! A year into our church’s existence, a gracious congregation known as Candlewood Baptist was dissolving. They sold us their building and land for a more-than-generous price. They were happy that the Gospel would continue to be proclaimed in the building that meant so much to them over the years, and we were happy to move into a permanent space.
It doesn’t happen so much lately, but many people have come to the church building and have said, “I was saved in this church building!” Or, “I was baptized in this church building!” Or, “We were married in this church building!” There is a long legacy of the Holy Spirit’s work at 52 Stadley Rough Road. We see ourselves as stewards of the building and location in God’s ongoing plan.
We know that the building space is a gift from God.
One of the things that we try to do is to share the building for God’s glory whenever we can. We have hosted events such as Homeschool groups for standardized testing. Three AA groups meet in the building during the course of a week. We teach English as a Second Language here.
And one thing that we LOVE is that the Gospel is preached in three languages each and every Sunday. A Portuguese-language Brazilian church in our own denomination meets after us on Sunday mornings. Then in early afternoon, a wonderful Chinese congregation in the Christian Missionary Alliance has a service in Mandarin. (There are links to both of these congregations on our Resources page).