Congregación Cristo Rey

Advance Project # 3021287  “House of Prayer for All People”.

Because indeed we have received, we will continue giving!

Your contribution will be extra special next Tuesday November 29th. Thank you in advance!

 

It is with great joy that we would like to share very good news with you: we have been able to purchase a place to build our church in the Saavedra neighborhood. Thank be to God, the contribution of the Methodist Church in Argentina, our congregations’ offerings and your contributions through our project at The Advance # 3021287 we have been able to collect the necessary funds to purchase a house at Lugones 3950, Buenos Aires city.

 

We are deeply thankful for your company in prayers, donations and for caring for our dream.

 

The challenge continues. Now it is time to move forward to the next step and make some adjustments in the building, so that we can put into action John Wesley’s words: “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the plaes you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can. With the help of God.”

On Dec. 1, United Methodists once again are invited to extend the spirit of giving thanks into the Advent season by participating in UMC #GivingTuesday. Every gift made online through The Advance at www.umcmission.org/give on Dec. 1, 2015 will be matched up to $1 million.

(Global Ministries will allocate matching funds dollar for dollar up to the first $1 million in gifts to Advance projects received online on Dec. 1, 2015, between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. CT. A maximum of $2,500 per individual gift to a project will be dispersed as matching funds. A project may receive a maximum of $25,000 in matching funds.)

 

We know who we trust; we know God has answered our prayers at the right time. We hope and pray that you will continue to walk with us, for there is still much work to be done!

 

 

It is March already, and as summer ends, students go back to school, kindergarden, college or university. We want them to be ready and well prepared, so we celebrated a special service and asked God to bless their lives and studies. We pray for their good disposition to learn and that they can be faithful witnesses of our Lord. Amen.

Last Saturday we lighted the 4th Advent candle in our wreath and share a precious Christmas celebration.

The children delivered a clear Christmas message: Jesus is born for each and everyone. For me and for you. Merry Christmas!

 

Now we are 7 years old! Thank your, Lord, for your love!

 

Last November 8th, the teenagers lead the service. They took care of everything: ushers, music, readings and preaching. Since they had been studying the life of several profets, they shared with us what the’ve learned. To see the video the presented at the service, please go to this same post, in the Spanish version.

We are celebrating our 7 th birthday! We praise de Lord!

 

A party of our young people got  to the Methodist Church in Argentina Young Adults Conference 2014 at Embalse Río Tercero, Córdoba province.

They had a great time and were challenged to engage in the Lord’s mission.

 

Last October 4th, after the Spring outreach activity at Parque Saavedra, Cristo Rey’s youth met at Saavedra and shared the message that was offered by Pastor Manuela Kauer, from FPC at Bethlehem, US. They also went through the last details for the National Youth Camp, to be held next weekend at Rio Tercero, Córdoba, Argentina.

 

Saturday, April 12th, 2014

7:30 pm at Conesa 2224, CABA

 

“Whether you come from far away, or close, this is your home”

We celebrate our diversity, and the independence of our country.

Do come! We will share delicious empanadas!

Last week, September 28th to October 4th, 2014, we recieved the visit from our friends from Pennsylvania, Marie, Jim, Ben, Michell, Rich and Manuela.

They came to Buenos Aires to share a week with us, at our Bible Study groups and help us get ready everything we need for our Spring outreach activity  at Parque Saavedra.

May the Lord bless us all!

 

 

 

 

God gave us some gorgeous days, January 3 – 6, and Cristo Rey’s teenagers were able to have fun, learn, play games and share a great camp at Chapadmalal, near the beach. The group meditated about adolescence, and their possibilities to grow and enjoy.

Déborah, Martín, Sofía and Juan Pablo, their leaders, did a great job, with the help of Lucas, Eduardo, Patricia and Hansy. The teenagers are getting ready for the year to come. We’d like to enhance the attendance of the youngest camper: Facundo López Petcoff!

Our Lord is good! He blesses and cares…

This year, the Pentecost service was led by the teenagers’ group. It was very good indeed!

Listen to the song by Caleb group, from Venezuela, which encourages young people to continue with their commitment in Christ. (please, see the Spanish version of this post).

Youth meeting at Villa Ballester: worship service, meditation, prayers and a beautiful sunny day. We also had a delicious asado!

 

 

 

 

We had the opportunity to visit the headquarters of the Upper Room at Nashville, and tell her Director, Ms Sarah Wilke, how our congregation esteems her ministry and  how important it is for our community.

 

We also visited Dr. Douglas Ruffle and thanked him for all his help and efforts towards our project.

Our good friend Douglas Ruffle plunges into the pool again…!

 

Scripture says ministry can be like a foot race. Sometimes though, it’s more like a swim! You can participate in a swim to support ministry by sponsoring Associate Director of Path 1, Doug Ruffle, on a 3-mile swim at his local YMCA benefitting the following new church ministries: 1). The Large Impact Church Residency Program and/or 2). The New House of Prayer for All People in Argentina

To show our appreciation for your generosity and participation, and in honor of Doug’s 63rd birthday, all friends who give a donation of $36 or more to either ministry will receive a  “Swim 4 Path1” T-shirt!

 

More info at http://www.swim4path1.org

Last Good Friday, we remembered Jesus sacrifice together with our neighbors, at Saavedra Park.

Happy Easter!

As usual, for the Palm Sunday weekend, Cristo rey congregation (Belgrano, Dock Sud and Villa Ballester) went out on a family camp. 93 people -from 6 months old to 83 years old- participated this year!!!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-

Psalm 103: 2

 

We played, studied the Bible and celebrated! … and we also had lots of fun and yummy pastries!

Girls and boys had fun at Colegio Ward’s premises.

… and they also shared Bible School lessons.

…together with the rest of the group.

We had fun after dinner.

and -of course- played some soccer.

Mr Barrios drove us to the premises in this van.

It was cold, but sunny weather.

Our camp director, helped us get organized.

 

 

 

We invite you to come and join us at 2014 Family Camp, next weekend -April 12 – 13, 2014. Together, we will rethink Palm Sunday, share with our children and get ready for our outreach activity on Good Friday.

See you!

Last March 8th, we celebrated a special worship service. All kids and teenagers -starting classes these days- recieved a special blessing so as to go to school holding tight Jesus’hand.

We thank our Lord for this possibility!

Getting ready for the service

The congregation.

Rev. Juan Gattinoni tells us about the importance of walking hand in hand with Jesus.

Boys and girls from Kinder and Pre school.

 

Primary school students…

 

… and teenagers too!

 

Let’s allow the Lord to shape us

Isaiah 64: 8-9

But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.

 

One of the nice things we do together as a congregation is going to the cinema! We had an awesome time, as a big, big family!

 

Thanks to the hospitality of Nico and Analía, we were able to meet as the Pastoral Team in order to discuss the ministry of our church.

 

(From left to right: Enrique, Hansy, Barrios, Analía, Marta, Mauro. Front row: Rubén)

It wasn’t a perfect Spring day… but it didn’t matter. Boys and girls were ready to give a try to a new experience. They have been working to build rockets recycling  plastic soda bottles and were decided to launch they joy into the sky!

We had a great time! And we told everybody at the park about the love of Jesus and asked the Lord to bless our neighborhood.

 

We had a special service to celebrate all our mothers at church, previous to Mother’s Day. In Argentina, we dedicate the thrid Sunday in October to the mothers, since it is Spring time!

 

[Children do not  interrupt our work, they are our most important task]

It was a sunny, warm afternoon at Buenos Aires. There were many families enjoying Moudy Friday holiday at Saavedra Park. We arrived in there, to help remember what had happened to Jesus those days..

 

The actors arriving at the park.

 

Sound, music and hosts are ready.

 

Rev. Juan Gattinoni.

 

Our scenario, painted by Prof. Patricia Benedicto Vives.

 

Judas betrayes Jesús.

 

Jesus heals the soldier Peter had wounded.

 

 

 

 

Jesus gives himself in.

The people, expectant.

 

Jesus is taken to Poncious Pilate…

 

 

 

 

…and as we know, he washed his hands.

 

A friend takes the cross.

 

Jesus is crucified.

 

 

Preaching God`s love and forgiveness.

 

The whole group who took part: actors, directors, people in charge of sound, music and reading, scenery and costumes and all kind of support.

We thank you, Lord!!

At the last two services, we had special blessings for children, teenagers and young people who are going back to theirs classrooms these days.

May our Lord take care of them and encourage them to study and become good disciples of Jesus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last January 26, 2013, Thiago Soto was baptized at Cristo rey Church. We celebrated a joyful service. Thank you Lord, for your love and our brothers and sisters!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can join us next Wednesday, February 27, at 7 pm for a new worship service at Dock Sud.

Let’s praise the Lord together!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Sunday, November 4th, 2012, we celebrated a special service to thank our Lord for 54 years of mission at Va. Ballester neighbourhood.

We thank Jesus for his company and love and for all those who attended the service.

 

 

Its been three years now since a group of brothers and sisters started gathering to read the Bible and pray at Cynthia and Gaby’s home.

Last Wednesday Auguts 22, 2012, we celebrated the first worship service at that neighborhood: we preached the Good News and celebrated Communion. May our Lord like and bless our work and give us strength and wisdom to go on sowing the good seed of redemption.

We were 62 persons, including visitors and neighbors. There was also a special class for children prepared by Paula.

 

 

Last Saturday, August 25, 2012, the teenager’s group from Cristo Rey was in charge of the worship service. Singing and praying guided by them was a real joy, for they are the present of our church. Not only did they lead the liturgy, but preached and finished their message inviting us wiith a quote from John Wesley “Gain all you can, Save all you can, Give all you can”.

 

We are very happy to share a few pictures of the special celebration at Villa Ballester Sanctuary, last Sunday August 26, 2012. Rev. Marco Ochoa and the young people from the Methodist Church in Morón visited us and performed, and preached the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We thank God for a blessed Sunday evening!

 

Rules for a Christian life

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

With the help of God.

John Wesley

If you happen to run into this little house, do not hesitate: God has placed it there for some reason or other.

You might know that we are raising funds to reach our own “House of Prayer for All People”, as we named the sanctuary we are longing for.

 

Your contribution will help us find the right place and build it. Thank you for becoming our partner in mission to serve Christ, King and Lord of our lives.

Advance  Proyect #3021287
General Board of Global Ministries – United Methodist Church

DONATE NOW: http://www.umcmission.org/Give-to-Mission/Search-for-Projects/Projects/House-of-Prayer-for-All-Peoples

Last July 21 and 22, 2012, a group of brothers and sisters from “Cristo Rey” congregation travel to Colón, Entre Ríos province, in order to visit the Methodist Church. This was the second time we travel and share the worship service and some fraternal moments.

A group of 17 people travelled by car to Colón, although initially we had a larger group of almost 30. There, we met Rocío Bárcenas, the new pastor from Colombia, and her children Pamela and Andrés.

We thank God for the experience of travelling together and celebrate with our brothers and sisters at Colón.

Last Saturday, March 24, the workshop for kids (3 to 12 years old) was launched. We will be sharing games, sports, art and a delicious snack every Saturday from 6  to 7 pm. Come and  join us!

Yes Sir, we crossed the Río de la Plata and arrived at Playa Fomento, Colonia Valdense, Uruguay. It was an awesome and blessed experience. We went to the beach, ate delicious meals, played games and learned about the will of God in our lives. We studied Ephesians 3: 14 “For this reason I kneel before the Father”.

Good indeed!

They say “one example will suffice to prove it”.

 

 

This picture reflects the spirit of joy and fellowship that prevailed at the teenagers’ camp, Summer 2012.

Boys and girls got to the top of the cliff to watch the sunset and a few minutes later, the moon rise from the sea: a perfect opportunity to admire the Creation of God.

Just as we did last year, Methodist Church Cristo Rey celebrated a special worship service to bless and pray for the children on the eve of a new school year.

Each student received a “guardapolvo”  (white long coat used as uniform at public schools) and some school supplies. But overall, they were given prayers and blessings from our ministers, who laid on their hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit on them.

We were very pleased and full of joy to receive in our congregation brothers and sisters from the Methodist Church at Villa Ballester who decided to join Cristo Rey Congregation in order to work together in mission. We will join our forces and skills to serve the Lord not only at Belgrano but at Villa Ballester as well.

Last Good Friday, April 6th, 2012, the people from Cristo Rey Methodist Church in Belgrano offered the neighborhood a representation of the “Via Crucis” at Saavedra Park. A number of people who were enjoying a leisure day on Easter weekend were invited to remind the events that lead to the crucifixion of Jesus.

In order to celebrate May 25th national celebration, we had a great party and a “locro”, cooked by José Zelaya, José Díaz, Eduardo Coronel and Miguel Rodríguez.

The Choir “Cantares del Alma”, directed by Maestro Vabio Valente, who offered a varied repertoir, that included tango and folklore.

Around 140 people enjoyed the concert and the “locro” stew and “pastelitos”, traditional Argentine meals.

The Feast of Pentecost was fully celebrated: Bishop De Nully Brown visited us and we celebrated the baptisms of three young people who decided to follow Jesus Christ.

As never before, 160 people were gathered to praise the Lord and partake the Holy Communion.

 

We had a great time celebrating Flag’s Day (June 20^th) at Villa Ballester.

Almost 70 people enjoyed a wonderful time! We shared “locro”, cooked by Paul, Claudia and Marcelo Horisberger. We played games and sang songs! There were seven different games we could play and check our skills…

More than 100 persons tasted the “locro”. It was a sunny day and we had a great time playing, chatting and getting to know each other. This way, the congregation at the Methodist Church in Villa Ballester opened their doors to the community.

Thank you Lord, for your love and mercy!

 

The Methodist Church “Cristo Rey” shared their faith in Christ, dead and risen so that we were saved at Saavedra Park (Parque Saavedra, Buenos Aires).

Watch the complete video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck89HR8-Ktw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K7S5jHBrR0

Kids and teens camp at Gowland took place January 7^th – 10^th, 2011 and gathered 44 campers and 26 leaders. It was a wonderful experience!

We played, praised, sung, listened to stories from the Bible and made puppets. And we enjoyed the huge pool at the camping!

More information soon!

For three years in a row, our congregation staged a live Nativity scene at Saavedra Park, Buenos Aires. It took place last December 25^th, 2010 and actors and actresses were boys, girls and your people from our community.

We invite you to watch a video about this wonderful celebration at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnLD80v_3fc

You can watch at You Tube some precious memories from our congregation’s  Camp for Boys, Girls and Teenagers which took place at Gowland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_NFfHyutmc

Last Saturday February 26th, boys, girls and teenagers from “Cristo Rey” congregation were visited by friends from Paraguay and Uruguay who helped us singing, playing and drawing. During the service, the children received “guardapolvos” (white workcoats they wear at school), school supplies and our minister and leaders layed their hands each of them, and prayed for our Lord’s blessing for the new academic year we have just started.

…and little Ulises Luciano Carrizo was baptized!

The intense moments lived while visited by our brothers and sisters from the Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, will be cherished into powerful memories. One of them was translated into a meditation for The Upper Room.

Which is God’s plan for me?

Read Acts 2: 43-47

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” Acts 1: 8

We are a new congregation; we started our community less than three years ago. Some of us have been Christians for a long time, others have just arrived in our community of faith, and they are giving their first steps in the way of our Lord.

We don’t own a sanctuary. We celebrate our worship services in a borrowed hall and –during the week—we gather together to study the Bible at different homes.

“Eleven persons from a church from abroad are coming to visit us?” ”What are they coming for? … we don’t even have a place where we can receive them”.

“They want to share some activities with us, and some of them would like to help in those houses where there are needs. These brothers and sisters started reading The Upper Room because they know we are, and they wish to arrive in our city knowing a little more about us”, somebody told me. I was gladly surprised.

The visitors shared our worship service and, during the week, the joined us for the Bible study in one of the neighborhoods around Buenos Aires city. When praying, one of them said: “dear fellows, we came from a church which has plenty of goods, material goods. But in these few days we’ve been witness of the love among you, how you love and care for each other. We are taking with us something we have not experienced before, and we will share this with our own community, back home”.

I feel surprised. As Act 1:8 reads: we have been witnesses.

I was sure we had very little to offer, and then I realized that God uses us as witnesses to people coming from far away.

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for giving our lives a deep significance, wider than we could have possibly imagined.

Mauro Rapuano

Some years ago, there was a Methodist Church in Belgrano, at 1616 Cabildo Av., Buenos Aires.

Today, under the name “Cristo Rey” it is again being used in Belgrano. The same pulpit used in the former church was set up, last November 27^th, 2010.

Brothers and sisters from the Methodist Church in Almagro kept it for years, and brought it back to the neighborhood.

Rev. Claudio Pose, pastor at the mentioned Methodist Church, preaches at the first celebration for Advent in 2010.

The President of our Board, Mr. Enrique Gabioud, expresses our gratitude.

NOW, WE WILL GO ON PREACHING THE GOSPEL, WITH THE CERTAINTY OF HIS COMPANY AND POWER.

Our congregation was born three years ago, and one of our hopes is that God shall show us the place to serve Him.

You can watch the following presentation which shows with music and images these hopes.

Whenever possible, we organize children’s, teenagers’, young people’s, men’s, women’s… and family camps!

Why?

Because we believe that camping together is an excelent way to grow as a community and learn from each other, get into a deeper relationship with our Lord and His love for each and every person and also… have fun!

Come!  Join us for the next camp!

Every Saturday, at 5 pm, our teens meet at the corner of Conesa & Mendoza.

Boys and girls from 12 to 17 years old,
together with their leaders,
spend two hours playing, singing and learning.

 

Next Saturday, October 23^rd, a very special celebration
will take place at Cristo Rey Congregation.

Brothers and sisters from the Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem, PA, US
are coming to Buenos Aires for a week.
We will be praising and working together ,
…and getting to know each other!

We will also celebrate three baptisms and receive a new member to our congregation.

You are welcome! Saturday, October 23^rd, 7:30 pm.