FREEDOM!In Braveheart, Mel Gibson, as the Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace, delivers a passionate speech to motivate his greatly outnumbered band of rebels as they prepare to face the British.

Fight and you may die. Run and you will live at least awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take our freedom!

These lines, and this moment in the film, stir something deep within many of us. Perhaps a shared memory that the freedoms we enjoy are an uncommon treasure that has been hard won and preserved for us. On Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, we remind one another that freedom is an inheritance and not a birthright.

Many centuries before the Declaration of Independence was written, or William Wallace led Scottish rebels into battle, the Apostle Paul wrote about the gift and responsibility of freedom.

Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again . . . You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. Galatians 5:1, 13, CEB

It may sound overly simplistic, but freedom in Christ is freedom from “got to” to “get to.” Christ sets us free from acting on “selfish impulses” that produce the compulsiveness of “got to” living. Ironically, religious legalism and habitual sin are both expressions of “got to” bondage. The apostle’s challenge to “serve each other through love” is not possible if we are still shackled by “got to” living.

(Alert: bad grammar ahead.) In the freedom provided by Christ we do not “got to,” we “get to” follow Jesus as we serve others, and love God. Do you want to know how free you are? Here’s a simple self-examination: when you think of serving at church or on a mission project, do you think “I got to” or “I get to”? Go ahead and try it! Apply it to service, worship, witnessing, or giving.

May we all “get to” enjoy the uncommon gift of freedom!

In Christ,

Lyle 

AROUND THE BEND

This Month at Cahaba Bend• AlleventslocatedattheCCBCampusunlessotherwisenoted.• TheDaySchoolatCahabaBendfollowstheShelbyCountySchool

System schedule.

July 2012 www.cahababend.org

Every Sunday 9:30 am Worship FOCUS Adult Sunday School Class Youth Sunday School Class Credo (Middle School Class) TWEENS 3:16 Study Group (3rd-5th grades) Children’s Sunday School (5K-2nd grade) Preschool (3k and 4k) Toddlers (18 months-2 years) Nursery (birth-18 months)

10:45 am Worship Connections Adult Sunday School Class Preschool (3k and 4k) Toddlers (18 months-2 years) Nursery (birth-18 months)

Wednesday, July 4 Independence Day Holiday 7:00 pm Threshold (6th-12th grades)

Tuesday, July 10 August Newsletter Information DueSend to dianekjackson@bellsouth.net

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, (July 10 - Aug. 2) 9:00 am - Noon DCSB Summer Fun Days

Wednesday, July 11 7:00 pm Threshold (6th-12th grades)

Thursday, July 12 7:00 pm SCRT Meeting

Wednesday, July 18 7:00 pm Threshold (6th-12th grades)

Wednesday, July 25 7:00 pm Threshold (6th-12th grades)

Friday, July 27 - Saturday, July 28NavTeam Leadership Retreat, Camp Sumatanga

Children's Ministry NewsSchool may be out for summer, but Sunday school is in session!

Every Sunday, even during the summer months, each of us has the opportunity to be in ministry with children through Sunday school. On a recent Sunday in June, 42 children were in attendance in Children’s Ministry during the second hour alone.

As a Children’s Ministry volunteer, you have the opportunity to plant seeds of faith that can change a life for eternity. Not to mention, by serving in Children’s Ministry you create a welcoming environment for families with young children who are visiting Cahaba Bend for the first time.

We need Children’s Ministry volunteers every Sunday. Please consider serving this summer and beyond. You can volunteer to serve by e-mailing Stephanie Bedsole at Stephanie_bedsole@yahoo.com.

FL!P and TWEENSFL!P and TWEENS will participate in family worship during the month of July.

3721 Highway 52, Helena, AL 35080 | PO Box 477, Helena, AL 35080 | www.cahababend.org | 205.621.8060 | Lyle Holland, Pastor

Guest Preachers In July

July 8 - Rev. Matt LaceyMatt Lacey is the pastor and director of The Church of the Reconciler, a missional church in downtown Birmingham.

July 15 - Costa Rica Mission TeamIn June, a 21-person team from Cahaba Bend spent a week in Costa Rica serving a church and people of Piedras Blancas.

July 22 - Paul JohnsonPaul Johnson is the Executive Director of Samaritan Counseling Center, as well as a Marriage and Family Therapist. As part of the Cahaba Bend family, Paul and his wife Cathy are actively involved in Sunday school and the children’s ministry.

July 28 - Rev. Wade LangerWade Langer is the founding pastor of The Capstone United Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa. The Capstone Church has been gathering at the Belk Center once a month for worship since April 29, 2012.

The Experiment: 30-Day Challenge

You are invited to participate in The Great John Wesley Experiment, a 30-day experiment in putting God first in one’s daily life.

The Experiment consists of five parts:1. Meet with a group once a week to pray together.2. Give two hours time each week to God. (Self-Surrender)3. Give God 10% of earnings during the month. (Self-Denial)4. Spend 5:30-6:00 a.m. in prayer and Bible meditation. (Self-Control)5. Be a witness for God to others.

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CONNECT with the Body of Christ

Small GroupsPlans are under way for new small groups. Please contact Amy Ray at AmyWalkerRay@gmail.com or at 527-5273 if you are interested in leading or hosting a small group this summer or fall.

COMMIT to life in Christ

Connections Adult Sunday School Class Meets Sundays at 10:45 am, CCB CampusThis adult Sunday school class is engaged in an ongoing discussion of the Sunday sermon topic and its daily application in our lives, with a focus on mutual encouragement in Christian living. The class contact is Shawn Menke at smenke@gbrecap.com or 413-5528.

FOCUS Adult Sunday School Class Sundays, 9:30 am, CCB CampusThis adult Sunday school class studies scripture and a variety of interest topics. The class contacts are Brian Scott at brian.scott@wikoff.com or 999-1645, and Jennifer Scott at jennifer5278@att.net.

Men’s Ministry Fellowship Second Sundays, 8 am, CCB CampusBiscuit breakfast served. This group is currently studying “Putting Faith to Work,” on the book of James. Sam Curtis leads the study. For more information, contact John Beard at john-beard@att.net.

BE the Church in the World

Day School at Cahaba BendThis summer, the Day School at Cahaba Bend will have a summer program called Summer Fun Days. It will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 am-noon, beginning July 10 and running through August 2. The cost is $185 for the summer. Registration has already begun and space is limited. If you are interested, please e-mail Maggie Bell at dayschoolcahababend@gmail.com or call the Day School office at 621-1268.

Disciple Classes Conclude

Disciple 1, titled Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study, is a survey class that covers the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The class consists of 34 sessions and, at Cahaba Bend, it usually runs from September through May. The weekly classes include review of Bible readings and in-depth discussions. Participants explore, through class sessions, the meaning of the readings and how to apply the scripture to their lives and discipleship. Those completing the 2011-2012 class, which was led by Shawn Menke and Steve Collins, included Kristy Ingram, Jarrod Parrish, Sherry Parrish, Megan Saindon, Michelle Saindon, Brittany Stegall and Dan Stegall.

Disciple 2 is structured for those already familiar with the Bible. Generally those taking Disciple 2 have already completed Disciple 1. Titled Into the Word, Into the World, the class focuses in-depth on the books of Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts. This class was offered at Cahaba Bend for the first time this past year. It was led by Mike Lange, with Ben Williams serving as assistant. Those completing this class include Merle Clement, David Crandall, Sam Curtis, Jennifer Key, Lara Sparks, Tim Thomas and Tracy Williams.

The formation of new classes for the next year will begin in August. Watch for more information to come!

And, if you know what this is, then you know what to do. … so do it already!

@www.cahababend.org

The Costa Rica mission team has made it safely back home! Members of Costa Rica Mission Projects greeted our team at the airport. From there our travels led us from San Jose to San Isidro and from there to Piedras Blancas and our camp, K-37. Our first night in K-37 Wil Bailey, the founder of CRMP, spoke with the team about the program and it’s purpose. Wil said through-out his work, and especially over the last few years, CRMP had begun to grow its purpose on the idea that the foundation of a church was based on five things: Prayer, Service, Fellowship, Wit-ness and Worship. PRAYER First, the team wants to thank everyone for their help in their fundraising efforts, prayers and support. This trip would not have been possible without everyone’s help. Prayer was a constant sta-ple in our trip from beginning to end. The Lord was ever present and His grace had a hand in all of our work. We continue to pray for Wil, CRMP and the teams that continue to travel and do God’s work both here at home, in Costa Rica and all over the world.

SERVICE

As a team we had hoped to serve many people during our time in Costa Rica. However, we quickly came to understand that service would not consist solely of what we would be doing, but also how we would be served by others. Shortly after arriving we discovered we had already been served ourselves. Wil and some of the CRMP members had come to Alabama last spring to help in the tornado recovery efforts.

Over four days our team was able to work on the kitchen and parsonage at the work site. The women on the team had the amazing opportunity to host Vacation Bible School one after-noon for the local children as well.

FELLOWSHIP Wil shared that one important aspect of CRMP was that he does not set goals on work to be done. Creating relationships with each other and the locals was just as important to him as the work itself.

In one short week, relationships were formed during our time spent on the work site, while eating meals, washing dishes, riding the bus and everything in between. The experience of commu-nicating in broken Spanish or confusing hand gestures created laughter and common bonds. Team members very quickly came to value the friendships with CRMP members and interactions with locals. WITNESS We were constantly witnessed to by the people of Costa Rica in their outpouring of love for us. Words were not necessary, the hugs and smiles showed their appreciation and their love of God.

Before leaving for Costa Rica, the team chose to do devotionals every morning and night. The experience allowed us to witness to each other in ways we did not expect. The common theme that developed over the week was that this work was not being done by us, but through us and for God. Recognition of our work was not important, building for more people to experience His grace and presence was our hope and goal.

WORSHIP As a team we were able to attend three worship services during our trip. Although the services were in Spanish, the presence of God was more profound then we could have imagined. We would all like to invite you to come worship with our team on Sunday, July 15. The mission team will be hosting this service and we will be sharing our experiences with the congregation. Following the service a longer article will be posted on the church’s website detailing the service and our experiences more extensively.

Costa Rica Mission Team Trip Was A Success!!