God's people are the hands and feet of Christ. We cannot experience God and grow spiritually in a truly gospel-centered and biblical way if we are living in isolation. Neither can we say we are flourishing if our brother or sister in Christ is suffering. Bound together with covenant communion, God brings us into new relationships where sacrifice is freedom and giving to others is where we find life.
Life Groups are our way of doing church in the small with all sorts of people engaged in prayer, teaching, fellowship and care. They are the vehicle that we use to help its participants continue to experience Christ outside of our worship gatherings and to impart the pastoral care that Christ provides through the love of His people. Thus, the worship, teaching, fellowship, and care for one another supply a more intimate and hands-on encounter with the living Christ.
Christian discipleship is the application of the gospel to every aspect of life. The very gospel that sets us free from the fear of divine and human condemnation is the same power that transforms our relationships, work, and worship. Biblical discipleship, including word, worship, and fellowship, exists at CPC primarily through Sunday worship, courses offered through the School of Discipleship, and Men's and Women's Discipleship Groups.
We encourage all congregation members to participate in both a Life Group and a Discipleship Group. Although there are components of study in each Discipleship Group, their focus is on living and sharing truth through mutual accountability, study, and prayer.
In an attempt to assist our covenant families in raising their children in the grace of the gospel, we have developed a thoughtful and comprehensive approach towards providing your children with deep and enduring roots in the Christian faith. Our philosophy emphasizes close parent/church cooperation. As a result, our strategy for "making disciples" seeks to be primarily relational rather than programmatic.
Our curriculum represents both a deductive and
inductive approach to education that is intended to
give our children a lasting and full knowledge of
the Christian faith. Our goal, then, is to help our
children become faithful disciples of Christ, well
prepared to live and defend the Gospel into the 21st
century.
By the time a child leaves their home, they will
have been trained in:
Our youth ministry at CPC is the capstone of our broader children's ministry, and targets both junior and senior high. We have many various goings-on throughout the year, but here are some of the offerings we have for our youth:
Sunday School: CPC's Sunday School program goes from preschool through graduation. Our goal is to partner with parents in the Christian discipleship of their kids, in order that our kids ultimately embrace the gospel of grace for themselves.
One-On-One Discipleship: Beyond our calendar events, we seek to schedule one-on-one time with students for discipleship. This takes the form of going out for lunch, monthly fellowship gatherings, ice cream, or anything that gives us an opportunity to deepen relationships and minister to the students' needs.
For any inquiries regarding our youth ministry, contact Jerry Ornelas
CPC's college ministry is a collection of students from wide-ranging backgrounds gathered under the banner of Jesus Christ. Mostly made up of Yale, Southern (SCSU) and Gateway students, the college ministry also includes students from other area universities. CPC seeks to help students love Christ, love the church, and love the campus life to which they are called. Because we love the campus, we send campus ministers to the campus, but above all, we invite students to take part in the fullness of Christ through CPC's rich, communal Sunday morning worship. Students, please honor us with your presence and unique gifts!
One-on-One and Small Group
Discipleship
Depending on the needs of the students or campus, we
are also deeply committed to individual and small
group discipleship on campus. This has been
happening at Yale and Southern, and we look to serve
students of all local campuses (Quinnipiac, Gateway,
and Albertus Magnus) in the future. For any inquiries
regarding our Undergraduate ministry, contact Jerry
Ornelas
Bridging the Church-Campus Gap
This is our internship program for college students
interested in learning more, investing more, being
more knit in to the family of God. It is a great
opportunity to serve, receive valuable theological
training, and have practical experiences and
opportunities within the church. Go here for more
information on the internship.
Athletes in Action
CPC supports several on-campus ministries at Yale
including Athletes in Action: One World To Reach,
One Language of Sport, One Message of Victory.
Athletes in Action is a student-led sports ministry
dedicated to building a community of fellowship
founded in the loving character of Jesus Christ. We
seek to reach out to students through large group
meetings, fun activities, and individual
connections. We welcome people of all backgrounds to
explore the Christian faith. We meet weekly during
the academic year and have Bible studies throughout
the week, fellowship activities, and retreats
throughout the year.
For all things college-related, contact Jerry Ornelas.
The Graduate group exists to minister to men and women in their post-college years as they follow God through their academic, vocational, and relational callings. We seek to develop a deeper love for Christ and a richer involvement in the life of the Church.
On Campus Mini-Groups
In many areas of campus, like the med school, law
school, divinity school, and graduate school, we
will begin small groups with the intent of providing
respite from the busy yet often lonely life of a
grad student. Meeting during the day throughout the
week, these will include Scripture reading and
meditation, prayer, and fellowship. Contact Craig to
get involved in one near you.
Get Involved
Join the church family for Adult Sunday Studies
classes, Sunday Studies, church-wide events, and
work days! You can also become a leader within the
Graduate Group or through other ministries at CPC.
For all things related to Graduates, contact Craig Luekens.
MERCY BEGINS WITH PARTICIPATING IN A LIFE GROUP At CPC, participating in mercy begins with actively participating in one of our many Life Groups within and around greater New Haven. Each life group is as a "church in miniature" where we are each "seen" and "known" at a more intimate level facilitates mercy with and for one another often before a situation reaches a crisis. Each Life Group is assigned a trained Life Group Mercy Coordinator to assist each group's care for one another as needs arise. This care includes sharing in prayer, emotional and spiritual support, and tangible assistance as needed. If you are interested in doing and/or receiving mercy in an authentic and holistic way, start by joining a life group.
MERCY THAT INVOLVES THE VARIETY OF GIFTS AND ASSETS OF THE FULL BODY OF CHRIST As needs become greater than can be dealt with at the Life Group level, or the need for a special expertise or asset not represented in the group is needed including financial assistance, the greater CPC body of Christ is made available. This is coordinated by the CPC Mercy Coordinator with the assistance and oversight of the Sr. Pastor. The CPC Coordinator works with the CPC Mercy Team consisting of CPC Life Coordinators and other select persons with skills or training relevant to the kinds of mercy needs that arise. This team meets quarterly or as needed to review the needs of the body of Christ and make recommendations to the Servant Leader Board and/or CPC Shepherds as needed.
IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE? The CPC Mercy Fund is financed by our annual designated Christmas offering. We encourage all of our members and regular attenders to participate in this fund in the spirit of Acts 2:44-45: And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. The process for applying for financial assistance ideally originates from the potential recipient, assisted by his/her Life Group Mercy Coordinator, filling out the CPC Mercy Fund application. Once the application is filled out, the two will then contact the CPC Mercy Coordinator who will in turn review with Sr. Pastor, and as needed other relevant members of the Mercy Team, toward presenting the request for approval by the Shepherd Leader Board. Those qualified to receive financial assistance must fulfill the following criteria: Complete Financial Mercy Fund Application; be a member in good standing of CPC New Haven (some exceptions can be made by those who are in process of becoming a member as a regular attender.) The recipient must agree to actively participate in a CPC Life Group.
MERCY PROJECT One form of helping meet the outward needs of a person can be in the form of seeking assistance for projects that might not always require financial assistance but the "know-how" of someone in the congregation. A Mercy project can range from seeking help in financial planning, ride to the doctor, a home repair project, etc. Again, the first step would be to seek the assistance of your Life Group Mercy Coordinator. In the event that the Life Group needs the assistance of the greater Church, the CPC Mercy Coordinator is contacted wherein the full gifts and vocations of the body of Christ can be accessed. We also encourage everyone in the church to "tithe" a day or two vacation and participate in an opportunity to do Mercy through Youth Camp and Mercy Projects throughout the city.
The mission of CPC's Men's Ministry is to provide all men the opportunity to experience genuine Christian fellowship, build strong friendships, grow spiritually, and reach unbelieving friends. Through these opportunities, men will increasingly experience the transformative power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all spheres of their lives to the glory of God.
Women at CPC are encouraged to live their lives in a gospel-centered (missional, sacramental, confessional, and communal) manner. We hope to see the fullness of the image of God expressed in both men and women, as they work in partnership with one another for the glory of God. Women's events seek to minister to women in their various phases and spheres of life.
Throughout history, special relationships have been set apart by the taking of vows. What exactly is a vow? A vow is a "confession" regarding the meaning of ones participation in a given institution. Therefore, vows are ordinarily limited to initiation ceremonies. And according to the Bible, there are three such institutions that enjoy a divine sanction--the church, the state and the family. For instance, vows are used to initiate a judicial proceeding or even citizenship in the civil sphere. Vows are used to initiate a family relationship between a husband and wife in the family sphere. And, for those who believe that the church is a third institution set apart by God, vows are used to initiate a church relationship, or perhaps one's service in an office of the church. And would it surprise you that every one of the above examples can be located in the Bible? We will review briefly the biblical rationale that relates to the taking of vows in the church sphere.
According to the apostle Paul, one becomes a Christian when "you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10:9). Who are we "confessing" to with our lips and in what context? Related to this, what else could it mean for the elders to "watch over the flock of God" if not a flock that can be defined by some "initiation" ceremony in relation to the exchange of vows? Or, in the words of Hebrews, what else could it mean to "obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account," apart from some willing and voluntary way to form an association that is predicated upon the taking of vows one to another? (see 1 Peter 5, Hebrews 13:17). And when the church is exhorted to "remove such a one" from "the assembly" as the ultimate, albeit tragic, expression of church discipline, what else could it mean except that the person was joined to the assembly by some confession that is later deemed broken? (1 Corinthians 5:3-5). Or, when we are exhorted to support one another even through our financial means, how could such benefits be distributed except that it means something to bind one's self to another through the authenticating protections of an initiation ceremony? (2 Corinthians 8).
And so, for these abbreviated reasons, we believe that church membership as a good thing. It sets people apart into a special relationship with each other, where the terms are clear and where loyalties for the mutual benefit of all are expressed and preserved. Membership is simply a way to say: "I confess my faith in solidarity with you so as to enjoy the mutual support of one another until, for whatever reason, someone is led elsewhere."
Contact us for more information on becoming a member at CPC.
For more read Good News of Church Membership