Family News and Notes
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
We usually have Building Fund contributions on the first Sunday of each month. HOWEVER, for the month of June this will be deferred until June 11th. So, if you had plans to contribute to the fund please remember June 11th for this purpose.
Sunday, June 4th is FRIENDS & FAMILY DAY. Be sure to invite your friends and neighbors so you can each have one visitor that day. We will have a combined class in the auditorium for Bible Class hour that day to highlight our VBS that starts the next day. The sermon topic for the worship service that day will be "The Church of Christ, Who are We and Why?"
We need card tables and chairs to set up in the foyer. If you have these please contact David.
After the morning service we will have a luncheon therefore every family should bring a complete meal so we will have plenty for our visitors (meaning a main dish, vegetable dish and salad or dessert).
Check the round table in the foyer
We have available copies of a brochure showing the FAMILY & FRIENDS DAY, VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL and SUMMER YOUTH SERIES dates and times. Please feel free to take several copies as you wish to pass out to your friends and neighbors. We can print more as needed.
Each of our young people are reminded to see David or Janice McCain for Camp applications to Indian Creek Youth Camp in Alabama on June 23rd thru 30th; Camp Cisco July 23rd thru 28th, and Camp Ida.
Johnny Ramsey came back home Wednesday. However, he had a light stroke Thursday and had to be admitted to ETMC in Mount Vernon, Room No. 10. Friday morning he was much better and hopefully will continue to improve. He stated he appreciates the cards and emails he is receiving. Pray for his recovery and pray for Iris.
Elna O'Neal is home again but still in lots of pain and very weak. Pray that she regains her strength and her pain diminishes.
Ruby Pipkin is in the local hospital, Room 326. She is suffering from memory difficulties.
Nancy Chastain is making progress in her battle with cancer, but still has two more treatments to go. Continue to pray fervently for her.
Edna Graves (Dalton's wife) was in the local hospital Thursday with heart problems. Please remember her in your prayers.
Robert Perryman was scheduled to have heart cathertization Friday at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler.
Juanita DuBose (Judy Freeman's mother) had to be taken back to Baylor Hospital on Wednesday. Her heart and the valve replacement are doing just great; however, she has developed an infection and blockage in her foot. She has been in lots of pain for many days. Doctors at Baylor admitted her for treatment for the infection and possible surgery for a stint when they feel the infection has cleared up enough. Friday morning she was free of pain and resting well. Judy has been with her mother. Rhodney has been staying with her dad (who is in a wheelchair).
GOSPEL MEETING
Blodgett Church of Christ
Guest Speaker: Ken Hope
Sunday, June 4 thru Wednesday, June 7
TOPICS:
Sunday AM Bible Class .. 10:00 AM
How To Tell If I Am Growing Spiritually
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM
How To Better Understand The Doctrine of Obedience
Sunday Evening Worship 7:00 PM
How To Better Appreciate The Seven Wonders of Christianity
Monday Evening 7:00 PM
How To Encourage And Refresh Others
Tuesday Evening 7:00 PM
How to Remember To Forget
Wednesday Evening 7:00 PM
How To Be Saved / Lost
*************
PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Jean Bell, Deborah Biesemeyer, Winell Blackard,
Annah Brown, Nancy Chastain, Perry Cooper, Grady Duncan, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Courtney Marshall, Elna O'Neal, Wayne Pickrel, Marie Plemmons, Johnny Ramsey, Helen Roper, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet,
Ola Mae Simpson, Julia Terrell, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Wanda Abbey Rivera, Melba Boyd, Cristell Cato, Austin Cody,
Juanita DuBose, Wesley DuBose, Horace George, Edna Graves, Ruby Jeffery,
Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
*************
"Friends & Family Day"
Sunday, June 4th, 2006
How You Can Help To Make This A Great Day For The Glory of God!
We are just one week away from Friends & Family Day, scheduled for next Sunday, June 4th, on the theme: "The Church of Christ, Who Are We & Why?" The following day, Monday, June 5th, at 9:00 a.m., we will begin our Vacation Bible School, on the exciting theme: "The Christian Soldier's Armor!" Then, that Monday evening, the New Boston congregation will host the kick-off session of our 4th Annual Summer Youth Bible Series of North East Texas, on the timely theme: "Take Time To Be Holy." Finally, we will host the second SYBSNET here, on Monday evening, June 12th, with Sam Dilbeck, from Leonard, TX, as our guest speaker. Brethren, all these activities can bring great glory to God, and will help this congregation to grow both spiritually and numerically, if we will all work hard and pray diligently for God to give us great success, for His glory and honor!
We must realize, though, that the greatest spiritual harvest will come only to those who daily keep on striving for excellence in the Lord's service. Sadly, it is easy for us to grow complacent in our dedication to service, but that's what Friends & Family Day, and these other activities are all about. They are intended to be a spiritual "shot in the arm," a recharging of our spiritual batteries, an annual spiritual checkup (a "spiritual" rather than a "physical"), as they remind us to take inventory of our spiritual progress, They also should help to revive our spiritual zeal and enthusiasm for living like committed children of God.
I think most folks would agree with me that the North Jefferson congregation has enjoyed some solid spiritual and numerical growth the past few years! But, what might hinder us from moving forward in the Lord's work to greater heights spiritually? Sadly, the answer is that ever present malady of "spiritual complacency." When progress is made in the Lord's work, you can be sure Satan will not be far away, because he can't stand it when the Lord's people are successful. He will either be one step behind us, nipping at our heels with temptation and pouring cold water on our zeal, or he will be one step ahead of us, laying traps and obstacles before us, trying to stop our progress.
The intent of Friends & Family Day is to prevent Satan from hindering us, by showing us we can be successful in getting more folks to come hear the Gospel preached, if we will just put forth a little extra effort to talk to people about Jesus and His church. To that end, we are trying to double our attendance next Sunday, by inviting our friends, neighbors, relatives, and associates to come and be our special guests! I promise the sermon is one you will want your denominational and un-churched friends to hear. Of course no good will come from preaching to empty pews, so here's how you can help for our own individual good, for God's glory, and for the collective growth of His kingdom.
Plan personally to be present How can we encourage our friends and family to come and invite lost sinners from the community, if we don't care enough to be present ourselves? I am pleading with, even begging every member of this congregation who loves the Lord and wants to go to heaven, to please be present next Lord's Day.
Do all you can to invite everyone you know to attend Use our advertising flyers to invite your relatives, friends, neighbors, and associates to attend. Could you knock every door on your street, inviting all of your neighbors to attend? This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce your best prospects to the Lord's church.
Pray for God's blessings on our efforts Pray that God will help us to find those good and honest souls who are searching for His truth. Pray for me that I might boldly preach the Good News in love! Pray that God will providently aid you, as you seek to bring your friends to Christ.
Finally, do all you can to make our visitors feel welcome & at home Please search out our visitors, especially all who are not Christians, and do all you can to help them see the Lord's church in a favorable light, as you warmly meet, greet, and get to know them! Will you help to do so, for the glory of God? David McCain
*******************
Have We Shared the Word with a Friend Today?
(Author Unknown)
My friend, I stand in judgment now, and feel that you're to blame somehow.
On earth I walked with you by day, and never did you show the way.
You knew the Lord in truth and glory, but never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim; you could have led me safe to Him.
Though we lived together here on earth, you never told me of the second birth.
And now I stand this day condemned, because you failed to mention Him.
You taught me many things, that's true. I called you friend and trusted you.
But I learn now that it's too late, and you could have kept me from this fate.
We walked by day and talked by night, and yet you showed me not the light.
You let me live and love and die. You knew I'd never live on high.
Yes, I called you friend in life, and trusted you throughout joy and strife.
And yet on coming to this dreadful end, I cannot now call you my friend.
How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:14, 17).
There is nothing greater you can do for friends than tell them about the abundant and eternal life they can find in Christ. It is my prayer that each of us begin and end our day by sharing Christ with a friend. Let us not forget that the world begins with our friends, neighbors and family members. Christians can change the world like no world leader had ever done by simply standing up and sharing Christ. Find a lost soul today so they can be found in Christ!
