Family News and Notes
GOOD MORNING! All you "on-timers" who set your clock back one hour before you went to bed last nite. We are glad you are here this morning. Daylight Savings time is gone until the spring.
EVERYONE is encouraged to complete an ATTENDANCE CARD. Fill out a card for the Bible Class and another for the Sunday morning and evening Worship service and on Wednesday nite fill out another card. Visitors are encouraged to furnish a complete and legible mailing address. (Please print) Your cooperation in this important records keeping is needed.
As David has mentioned from the pulpit, we are encouraged to see the young folks sitting near the front in the center pews these past few weeks. It is uplifting to see them do this and it is an example for visiting young folks and those little ones who will one day become teenagers.
Grady has the Volunteer Sign-up Sheet on the table in the foyer for volunteers to help clean our building. If you are able and willing to help in this endeavor please sign up.
We also still have available a list of the Pantry Items on the table in the foyer. (It's printed on both sides) Please check the list for those items we are short on and if you are able please help us replenish our pantry so we can have items available when needs arise. Thanks.
Don't forget the Bible Quiz this Tuesday evening in Clarksville. We will meet here at the building at 6:15 PM. We will be quizzing on Hebrews, Chapters 8 thru 10. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The Ladies Monthly Devotional will be Monday, November 03, at 7:00 PM. We will meet in the multipurpose room for a lesson, prayer, singing, snacks and fellowship. Please bring your Bible and a snack-type dish.
Steve Thomas continues his recovery (at home) from West Nile Virus.
Ralph Phillips had cataract surgery Wednesday. He is doing well.
Jim Parker is scheduled for surgery on November 05 in Tyler. Please remember him in your prayers.
Billy Carter has been ill at home with pneumonia, but is feeling much better.
Janelle Stephenson has been in Titus Regional Medical Center this past week (Room 321) with pneumonia. She is doing better.
Shawn Phillips (Ralph's daughter) was in an accident last Wednesday and suffered a ruptured disc in her back. She was admitted to Medical Center in Dallas for surgery on Sunday October 26.
We have enjoyed having Sandra and Darrell Cooper back in Mount Pleasant and worshiping with us. Sandra is scheduled to return to Houston on November 03 for further treatment.
Howard Horton was taken to the Emergency Room Thursday night because of difficulties he was having. He is back at home, but still does not feel well.
THANK YOU ... "Our sincere thanks for your concerns, cards, prayers and words of encouragement during my series of eye surgery.
--Carl & Pat Lee"
THANK YOU .. "For all the kindness you have shown, We thank you very much, For sympathy in sorrowing days, For friendship's healing touch With gratitude our hearts are full, Though words cannot convey The tender thoughts and thankfulness We hold for you today.
By the family of
Gladys Cannon"
THANK YOU "The prayers, calls, cards and flowers meant so much to our family in the illness and death of our mother. For those who took the time and effort to come to the funeral home visitation, we were touched by your love. How wonderful it is to be part of such a loving spiritual family. You are the best!
Thank you,
Ann & Family"
Clarksville church of Christ will be having Clarksville Fall Ladies Day on Saturday, November 08, 2003 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Topic is "God's Woman." Registration is from 9:009:30 AM. Salad luncheon to follow. Everyone is welcome.
Hughes Springs Church of Christ invites you to a Congregational Singing on November 02, 2003 from 2:004:00 PM. Sunday evening service will be immediately after the congregational singing and everyone is invited to stay for that service.
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PRAYER LIST
Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Sandra Cooper, Bonnie Horton, Howard Horton, Carl Lee, Joyce Lee, Autumn Miller, Ralph Phillips, Janelle Stephenson,
ALSO: Judy Betts, Marie Butler, R. C. Grissom, Ken Mullins, Jim Parker, Shawn Phillips, Gene Riley, Steve Thomas
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Service Arrangements
ANNOUNCEMENTS......................Bob Hedges
SONG LEADER.................................. Bill Jones
PRAYERS Sunday
AM First Prayer...............................Jim Duncan
AM Closing...............................Wayne Charlton
PM First Prayer..........................Grady Duncan
PM Closing...........................Rhodney Freeman
PRAYERS Wednesday Nite
First Prayer.................................Gene Campbell
Closing.............................................Wade Miller
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COMMUNION FOR NOVEMBER
AM Wayne Pickrel.........................Jim Duncan
Lewis Robertson..................Roger Grimes
William Embree..........................Tim Davis
PM Frankie Sargent.................Gene Campbell
ATTENDANCE COUNTER.......Grady Duncan
TRANSPORTATION....... Call Frankie Sargent
903-572-2647
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Why We Meet on the First Day of Every Week
by Lee Moses
Someone recently mentioned in discussion to me a growing trend: That of various denominations to provide church services at alternate times for those not desiring to come Sunday mornings. Many people have found it unreasonably burdensome to awake at a reasonable hour on the Lord's Day to worship their Creator, so they have moved worship services to another day. I recall when living in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex that there were particular roads to avoid on Saturday nights, because certain mega-churches would be dismissing thousands from their services at that time. Is it acceptable to forego assembling on the first day of the week in favor of meeting on a more convenient day? No one disagrees that churches professing Christianity have traditionally met on the first day of the week. But that in itself is not sufficient reason to say that churches professing Christianity must meet on the first day of the week (Matt. 15:9). What does the Bible teach? Is it obligatory to meet on the first day of every week?
Clearly the apostolic pattern entailed assembling at a particular time to worship. When Jesus gave instructions to the apostles regarding how they were to partake of the Lord's Supper, He told them, "I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom" (Matt. 26:29, emph. LM). They were not to be partaking of the Lord's Supper prior to the time of the kingdom's establishment on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and there would be a specific day on which it would be taken. Jesus did not yet make clear whether "that day" was literal or figurative; weekly, monthly, or yearlythe apostles would have to wait for further instructions. But as of the day of Pentecost, the apostles had clearly received those instructions, as all the early Christians "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). The phrase "breaking of bread" is obviously included here in a context of worship (the use of the phrase in Acts 2:46 is clearly in the context of a common meal), therefore referring to the Lord's Supper, and there was a particular pattern being observed by all. From what Jesus had told His apostles as recorded in Matthew 26:29, this pattern would have to include assembling at a particular time to partake of the Lord's Supper. The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (I Cor. 11:26). And how often was this?
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight (Acts 20:7).
While it is again agreed that the phrase "break bread" can refer to a common meal, it is impossible but that it here refer to the Lord's Supper. The prior verse indicates that they waited a full week for this day and came together to break bread, that is, for the purpose of breaking bread. It cannot be understood that they waited a full week to eat, but that they waited a full week to partake of the Lord's Supper. Since it is to be understood that this congregation was also following the apostolic pattern (Acts 2:42), and that this is provided as an example for us; it follows that we should observe this pattern.
Not only is the first day of the week set aside as the time to partake of the Lord's Supper, it is also set aside as the time for giving: "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (I Cor. 16:2). The phrase "in store" has reference to a common treasury; made clear by the fact that if it were not a common treasury, there would still have to be gatherings made when Paul came. One can only put into a common treasury in a common place, showing that they were assembled together for this, and on a common daythe first day of the week, literally translated, "the first day of every week."
Pliny in AD 112 wrote in a letter to the Roman Emperor Trajan regarding Christians: "It was their habit to meet on a fixed day to assemble before sunlight and sing." The day was fixed but the particular time was their "habit." Jesus Christ began the practice of assembling on the first day of the week:
Then the same day (of Christ's resurrection, LM) at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you (John 20:19).
And after eight days again (the Jewish way of counting one week, LM) his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you (John 20:26).
The key to understanding the need for meeting on the first day of the week is understanding the need for responsibility to God and authority from God. Each of us has a responsibility to worship God, including partaking of the Lord's Supper and giving of our means. But when do we have Biblical authority to do these things? (Col. 3:17). Only on the first day of the week. Also essential to the first-day-of-the-week worship is congregational singing (Matt. 26:30; Col. 3:16), preaching of God's word (Acts 20:7), and prayer (Matt. 26:26-27; I Tim. 2:8); although these acts of worship are authorized at other times as well (James 5:13; Acts 13:14ff; I Thess. 5:17).
If we are to be pleasing to God, we must indeed meet on the first day of the week. It is a day greatly anticipated by Christians for the opportunities it provides that exist at no other time. We love the Lord, and we love to worship Himthis is why we meet on the first day of the week.
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It is a great privilege to assemble once a week for the purpose of partaking of the Lord's Supper. However, we have needs that require us assembling together more than once a week: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb 10:24-25). Consider the following poem by the late, respected Gospel preacher, Gus Nichols:
But Not On Sunday Night
by Gus Nichols
I love the church that Jesus bought
And know that it is right.
I go there every Sunday morn,
But not on Sunday night.
I love to sing the songs of God,
Such worship must be right.
And this I do on Sunday morn,
But not on Sunday night.
I love to hear the Gospel, too,
It gives me pure delight.
I hear it every Sunday morn,
But not on Sunday night.
And may God bless our preacher, too,
And give him power and might.
And put a sinner in my place
At worship Sunday night.
It's true, the church can save the world,
If good light shines bright.
I help it every Sunday morn,
But not on Sunday night.
Yes, all of us must one day die,
I hope I'll being doing right.
So may I die on Sunday morn,
But not on Sunday night!
