Clearfield Community Church

Please continue to be in prayer for our re-building committee.  The current tasks of itemizing lost inventory and redesigning the floor plan for improved usage take much time and effort.  We’re thankful for those who have volunteered to lend their time, knowledge, and wisdom to accomplish these.  Do you desire to help the re-building committee? Currently there is a need for data entry.  Contact Richard Axmann (801-510-5418) if you are willing and available.

“Have you ever noticed that people usually only pay attention to the “heavy question” of life when things go wrong?

“When things in life are going along well, we assume that we must be doing something right.  It’s when they go wrong that we begin to wonder.  And even then we often try to shut out the questions that bother us.”

“But everyone tends to think that the ideas most people have accepted must therefore be ‘right’ ideas.  We forget to think for ourselves.”

“No one can run away from these questions and decisions forever.  You already believe in something.  Whether you’ve thought about it or not, you have your own philosophy of life.  It’s made up of what you believe about right and wrong, life and death, truth and God and man.  And your life view affects you.  It affects the way you take a test tomorrow as well as what you’ll do in a job or in your love life ten years from now.”

“If something is true…you can look at it hard, and think about it, and compare it with other beliefs, and it will stand.  It will be reliable.”

“Take a look at yourself.  What are your roots?  What is it that you hold onto to keep yourself going, day after day?  Do you believe in things your parents told you?  Television?  Your school?  Your friends?”

“Do you know what’s really true?”

“And what will it take to get you to look for answers?”

Excerpted from Chapter One “Don’t ask questions.” of

How to be Your Own Selfish Pig, and Other Ways You’ve Been Brainwashed

by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Definitions: As I understand it the term Insider is used to represent a person who may be identified as a Christian, born again, evangelical, Christ follower, believer, or one who attends a Christian denomination church.  The term Outsider is a person who is not an Insider.

The Outsider Interviews is a commentary on interviews done in four US cities with four panelists in each city.  The panelists consisted of two Outsiders and two Insiders in the age range of 16-29 years.  The purpose of the interviews was to document how Outsiders and Insiders in this age range perceive the Christian and the Christian Church.  The book also comes with a DVD which contains excerpts of the interviews, snippets of which are referenced throughout the text.

Of the four topics explored (Christianity’s Image, Christianity’s Beliefs and Blinders, How Christians deal with Diversity and Difference, Agreements between Insiders and Outsiders) it was noted that there is much agreement between Insiders and Outsiders in the younger age range about Christians, and there is much disagreement between the younger Insiders and the older Insiders.

The consensus seemed to be that Christians need to do more listening and be less judgmental.  There was discussion about the need for Christians to explore how to do this and yet not compromise personal, Biblically based, convictions such as views on abortion, politics, and homosexuality.

Shifting one’s paradigm is always a challenge, but the world in which we now live is significantly different from the one many of us older Insider’s grew up in.  So it seems imperative that we look around with the intent to see what Jesus sees and prepare to shake off some of our fast held traditions that don’t make much sense any more.  While it makes no sense for us to follow the world’s ways instead of the ways of Christ, it does make sense to listen to how the world views Christians, learn why we are turning them away from Christ, and determine how we can better serve our Lord and Master by serving those he loves – both Outsiders and Insiders.

March 26, 2013

Clearfield, Utah

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

Tuesday afternoon, March 19, a fire tore through the meeting place of the Clearfield Community Church in Clearfield.  The building is in bad shape but the Christ-followers are doing well.   God willing we plan to repair and replace.   The church is moving forward into God’s future in the graceful strength God provides.

The Clearfield Community Church family is most grateful to the protective services of our communities who responded so quickly and professionally to assure the safety of people and the care of property.  In a matter of seconds Clearfield Police Department and North Davis Fire District were on the scene to take command and take care.  We are blessed by all the additional departments who came to our aid.

Faith communities with whom we share the love and care of Almighty God responded quickly to promise prayer support and tangible aid.  God’s grace continues to be evident and a wonder to behold in the love of Jesus Christ.

The wider community is offering on-going support and genuine love to our church family in the days following the fire.  Our hearts are filled with joyous thanks for the opportunity to meet in the Wasatch Elementary School…a place very dear to our church and our community.

Resurrection Sunday Worship will be held at Wasatch Elementary this Sunday at 10:00 AM and for the immediate future.  Persons have asked how they can gift the church family:  Clearfield Community Church Rebuilding Fund, Post Office Box 6007, Clearfield, Utah  84089 by check with REBUILDING FUND in the Memo.

It is with thanks to God for the past and a positive view to tomorrow that I paraphrase a great preacher:  “It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a-coming!”

Soli Deo Gloria

John C Parsley, Pastor

Clearfield Community Church

The Clearfield Community Church is moving forward in faith to re-build the Lord’s house for ministry and service in our community.  In cooperation with our insurance company, we are moving ahead with cleanup of the site and plans for reconstruction of a Worship Center.  Our Re-Building Committee has begun to pray and seek the wisdom of God (James 1) while looking over very preliminary drawings of replacement structure.  Sub-committees are serving too.  The whole congregation will have many opportunities for input further down the planning road.  This early, though, there remains so much we do not know about what is to come…but we are moving ahead in faith of God’s graceful guidance.

Jeremiah, the Biblical prophet, said it well as he encouraged the captive Israelites, speaking for the Lord, who said:  “‘I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’”

We are counting on God, we will minister in the might of Jesus’ Name, we are Worshiping together to the glory of God, we are the Clearfield Community Church.  Soli Deo gloria!

REMEMBER:  We are meeting at Wasatch Elementary School Gym on the Lord’s Day at 10:00 am at 210 East Center Street in Clearfield.  JOIN US THERE to PRAISE GOD!

If anyone needs to contact Cathy or John we now have an office in the Clearfield City Fine Arts Building (Community Center.) Phone number is still the same 801-825-1115 and the address is 140 E. Center St. Office hours are Monday-Friday 9am-3pm.