Family News and Notes
There will be a Fellowship Luncheon today (May 4th) following the morning services. (This is the last day of our Gospel Meeting) Everyone is invited to attend.
As mentioned last week the Building Fund Contribution Day has been moved to next Sunday, May 11th. If you have made plans to contribute to this fund you may do so on that date. Thanks.
Men remember that we have the Men's Business Meeting following evening services next Sunday. Please try to attend.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL is quickly approaching...June 2-6. We will be having a meeting in the Multi-Purpose Room pertaining to VBS following Wednesday evening services. Teachers and all who are interested and wish to participate in any way are encouraged and invited to attend this important meeting.
Woodrow and Geneva Cooksey placed membership with our congregation last Sunday. Their address is:
1203 South Garden
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
903-575-1128
Karen Sargent won Second Place for the High School Division at the Clarksville Bible Quiz last week. We appreciate the example Karen sets and we are appreciative of Karen's mom and dad for their faithfulness to the Word.
Makayla Zacarias (Kathy Zacarias' daughter) has won the Texas Rising Star Award for writing. Makayla is in 3rd grade at Corprew Elementary in Mount Pleasant. She went to Austin on Saturday, May 3rd to accept the award and will also qualify for the State competition. Congratulations Makayla.
Also, thanks to everyone who helped to provide refreshments for the Bible Quiz, particularly Veleta McFerrin for coordinating the effort.
Last Tuesday ended the season for the Ladies Bible Class. The class will resume in September. Ladies please mark your calendar now as a reminder.
According to Jean Tarver, Ruth Taylor continues to improve and Jean still requests your prayers on behalf of Ruth.
Nona Bell remains in Room 511 at Titus Regional Medical Center as a result of falling and breaking her left arm. She continues physical therapy and hopes to be able to return home about Wednesday.
Lana Downs is taking chemo treatments for her cancer and she is having a difficult time. Remember her in your prayers.
Brother Wayne Jackson of California is scheduled to have cancer surgery on May 15th. Please remember him in your prayers.
Please remember the family of brother Henry Roper, who passed away this past week. Henry was an elder at the Oak Grove church of Christ. His funeral was conducted by Bates-Cooper Funeral Home Wednesday at 2:00 PM with burial at Old Union Cemetery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THANK YOU."Dear Brothers and Sisters: I appreciate so much the wonderful spray of flowers that were at the funeral. It was so nice to know you all were thinking of us during the time of the funeral. Paw Paw was 83 years old and a Christian of just over 1 year. Thank you for all the cards and prayers. We will miss him deeply. -Love, Kelley Moses and Family"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PRAYER LIST:
Bob Adams, Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Nona Bell, Iona Carpenter, Billy Carter, Geneva Cooksey, Woodrow Cooksey,
Sandra Cooper, Barbara Duncan, Patsy Duncan, Howard Horton, Corine Hudson, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Wade Miller, Ruby Pipkin, Meryl Riley, Murphy Ross, Dorothy Sargent, Ruth Taylor
ALSO: Marie Keith, Minnie Moore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS................Wayne Pickrel
SONG LEADER ..............................Bill Jones
PRAYERS -- Sunday
AM First Prayer...........................Charles Kyle
AM Closing..................................Jim Duncan
PM First Prayer.....................William Embree
PM Closing.................................Wade Miller
PRAYERS - Wednesday Nite
First Prayer.............................Darrell Cooper
Closing..............................Fred Harkrider, Jr.
COMMUNION FOR MAY
AM ........Wayne Pickrel .........................Grady Duncan
Tim Jones ...............................Darrell Cooper
William Embree .......................George O'Neal
PM .........Ralph Phillips .........................Gene Campbell
ATTENDANCE COUNTER...................Grady Duncan
TRANSPORTATION.......Thoses who need a ride, call,
Frankie Sargent at 903-572-2647
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Responsibility Regarding Worship
by Tom Wacaster
Each one of us has the responsibility of rendering worship to God. No one can offer homage to God for another, nor can the congregation as a "group" fulfill the obligation of the individual. An important truth regarding worship was expressed by our Lord: "They that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth" (Jno 4:24). A standard must be followed. That standard is the "truth" of God's word (Jno 17:17). It is also important that each individual worship in "spirit." This is generally understood to mean attitude, purpose, and intent of the worshipper. Consequently, there are certain obligations that rest upon each of us with regard to our participation and the participation of others in our worship to God. Care and consideration should be given to what I do in the assembly, not only from the standpoint of doing what is scriptural, but in concern for others about me. The act of worship is difficult enough as it is. It takes serious concentration. Small distractions may disrupt others, breaking their train of thought as they attempt to pay homage to God. While it may be unrealistic to expect any given worship service to take place without any distractions, we should do all within our power to eliminate, or at least limit, those things that would hinder others from fulfilling their God-given obligation (and privilege) to worship God. Lets concentrate on a few.
First, some consideration should be given to our time schedule. We
should make a concentrated effort to get away from the house in plenty of time so as to be conducive to a proper mental attitude when we arrive at the building. When we are rushed, hurried and pressed for time, it effects our mental attitude. I never cease to be amazed that so many are habitually "tardy" when it comes to Bible class and/or worship. I wonder if these same folks would arrive late for work, or for a ball game and the like? Not only does the tardy member disrupt his own worship, he disturbs those around him who are settled and now concentrating on their spiritual activities of the hour.
Second, serious thought should be given to our actions during worship.
When I am preaching I am amazed at what I see taking place in the
auditorium. There are a few who habitually laugh, talk, pass notes, and
entertain themselves during the sermon that I am led to believe that they
do the same during the other acts of worship as well. When I was growing up mom and dad would seat us four boys in such a way that the long arm of my dad could reach any one of us and remind us (with a gentle "thump" on the head or ear) that we were to sit still during worship. As we grew up we were allowed to sit with those of our own age, but never were we allowed to sit at the back of the auditorium out of sight from mom and dad. As children we were "taught" to worship. Training of children should begin at an early age. We underestimate the learning capacity of young children when we think they must be allowed to bring toys to worship so as to entertain themselves during the worship hour. We assume that a quite child, regardless of the means used to obtain and maintain thatquietness, is a child being properly trained. Not so. A child allowed to crawl on the floor, shuffle around in the isle, stand up on the pews, and/or play with toys as if he were in his bedroom or living room at home (with the exception that he do it a little quieter), is a distraction to both parents who have to keep a hand on him so as to limit his noise level, and to those around who are distracted by the movements and noise; even the slightest of noise. But we also leave the impression in the mind of the child that he can do what he wants in worship so long as he is quiet enough. When our children were growing up, even before they could read, we would hand them a large pad of paper, draw some figures at the top of the paper that would represent some of the words that I would use in my sermon, and tell them to put a mark by that figure every time I used the word in my sermon. They learned at an early age to concentrate on what was taking place in worship. Song books were placed in their laps, and either Johnnie Ann or I would follow down through the song with our finger showing them what we were singing. No, they could not read the words, much less the music, but they were learning to concentrate.
Brethren, when are we going to "wean" our children from the play things we surround them with during worship? At age 5? 10? One of the reasons why some teenagers still "play in worship services is because they were never taught the seriousness of worship when they were small toddlers. The toys have changed from the crayons and pencils to the books, cards and items of their own bringing, but the attitude is still the same. Is it any wonder that we have raised a generation that seeks excitement and entertainment in the church assemblies rather than deep, heart-felt, soul-searching involvement in praise to God?
Third, we must guard against a general attitude of carelessness during the worship service. Worship etiquette is important and it shows
consideration for those about us. We should limit our movement and
activities during every aspect of worship. Why is that we attempt to
concentrate on the Lord's supper with such deep reverence, but take the invitation as a time to gather coats, pick up our belongings, and prepare to make the mad dash to the doors when the song is finished (or in some cases, even before the invitation is finished). When we sing the invitation song we, as the "bride of Christ," are inviting souls to
respond to God's gracious offering of salvation. How can we take that so lightly? Lets sing TO those who are in sin, instead of performing some sort of ritual as a sign that "the end is near."
Perhaps we ought to ask ourselves, "If everybody did what I was doing at any given moment, would it contribute to, or take from the quality of
worship that we are offering to our God? Beloved, God will not take
lightly a flippant attitude toward worship, nor will He treat lightly those who, by their disregard for others, disrupt others who are attempting to worship in spirit and in truth. Think about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
