Sunday Teaching Series

What happened after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven? The Book of Acts tells us. Acts is the historical account of the first three decades of church history, when Christianity went from a small group of believers in Israel to a diverse movement that spanned the Mediterranean world. If you are a Christian of any background, then the Book of Acts is part of your spiritual origin story. We hope you'll join us for this encouraging series!

New Member Spotlight!

Cristen and Andreas Matilainen

Independence High School marked the beginning for Cristen and Andreas, who will celebrate their 30th anniversary this year! Andreas, originally from Sweden, came to the US as an exchange student. "The Swede," an appropriate moniker given to Andreas by Kristen, became a member of her lunch bunch, and the rest is history! After high school Andreas went home to Sweden, then later returned to the US to join Cristen at UNC Chapel Hill where they both graduated. After their marriage the couple moved to Sweden for 4 years for Andreas to learn more about the family business. When their son, John, who is now 29, married and living in Waxhaw was born, they returned to the States. Cristen is a paralegal manager in the Wells Fargo Legal Department, and Andreas is a radiation protection specialist for Westinghouse. They love living in the Steele Creek area due to its proximity to Charlotte and the lake. For fun they love traveling and gardening and have plans to take up pickle ball. They, naturally, are avid Tar Heel fans and also enjoy watching Formula 1 racing.

Once again, a postcard was the impetus for their visit to CCLW! Cristen was especially interested when she recognized the church picture on the card as the church attended by Al and Grace Waddell, her aunt and uncle. The couple came, loved the service and now value their friendships with fellow members of the Empty Nesters small group. They look forward to getting involved in outreach projects like Habitat for Humanity. Cristen finds inspiration in the classic edition of Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest. The couple cite their marriage and their son as their greatest accomplishments in life.

The Summer Give

CCLW first donated food to the Clover Area Assistance Center with the Summer Give last year due to the increase of families using the food pantry and the decline of donations over the summer months. This year there is an even greater need. South Carolina is one of 15 states that has opted out of continuing a program that would give lower income families an extra $120 over the summer months to access food. This money in the past has helped those children who would benefit from the free lunch programs during the school year.
The food pantry at CAAC is already experiencing a shortage of many food staples, and with the increased needs over the summer, they could use our help.
CCLW has always been a generous and giving church. The familiar blue bags are available in the Gathering Space, along with a list of 20 items to shop for. The filled bags can be returned to the church anytime before July 28. Thanks in advance for your help.