The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/221682
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 C-1 Church notes Opinion Letters to the editor Files OUT of the past ayrshire valley g.b. church Sunday school 9:30 a.m., Jim King, superintendent, Eric Hill, assistant; morning worship 10:30 a.m.; evening worship 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday prayer meeting 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8—Holiday supper at the fellowship hall at 5:30 p.m. Serving will begin at 6 p.m. Meat and drinks and table service will be provided. Free your faith "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any" (Mark 11:25). Few people realize just how closely connected faith and forgiveness are, Jesus taught about that connection in His sermon on mountainmoving faith that's recorded in Mark 11:22-26. He said, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying forgive" (Mark 11:24, 25). We cannot have our prayers answered and hold grudges in our hearts at the same time. If you've been praying for something and you just can't seem to get an answer, check your heart for unforgiveness. Ask the Holy spirit to bring any grudge that's hidden there to light. Unclog the channel of faith and you will soon see things you've been praying for come to pass. You are welcome to worship with us. Have a great week in the Lord. Alec Hensley, Pastor Eleanor Bellamy, Reporter of Acts and this is how the church should be operating today. One to another, we are the avenue that God can get His message, His lifestyle, and His culture through to the world. Church services will be in the 4-H building at Hornady Park through December. Sunday morning 10 a.m. and Sunday evening at 6 p.m. Stay current with updates from our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/livingfaithchurchintl Upcoming Events: Women's Christmas party, Thursday Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at The Esteem Coffee Shop on Main Street, in Petersburg. Youth Christmas party, Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. at 664 E. Co. Rd. 300 N. Petersburg. Call if you have any questions or need a ride. 812-610-0218, 812-610-0216 Christmas Candlelight service, Sunday, Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. at the 4-H building in Hornady Park. Join us for an hour service with music and a Christmas Story. Be Blessed. Don and Christina Priest, Senior Pastors First Christian Church 1400 E. Main Petersburg 354-8591 Service times: Sunday school 9:30 a.m. and worship 10:30 a.m. Second Sunday worship at 6:30 p.m. with John Howard, leading contemporary worship and preaching. Dec. 15—Starting at 10:30 a.m. Ansil Harpold, with ARM Prison Outreach Living Faith International, singing and Church preaching. International Dec. 22—Starting at P.O. Box 556 6:30 p.m. Michael Cochran, Petersburg Christmas Concert. 812-809-4544 Dec. 24—Starting at 11 "Go therefore and make p.m. Candlelight Commudisciples of all the nations" nion service. (Matthew 28:19). Everyone is welcome to "You shall teach them to worship and celebrate the your children, speaking of Christmas season with us. them when you sit in your You'll be glad you did. house, when you walk by the Jack Howard, Minister way, when you lie down, and Mt. Pisgah G.B. when you rise up" (DeuterChurch onomy 11:19). Ye have an unction from There is a theme here. The message is that what the Holy One, and ye know we receive we are not sup- all things. God anointed Jesus of posed to just keep to ourselves. God's desire for us Nazareth with the Hoas His people is to pass on ly Ghost and with power.what we learn to future gen- -It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness erations. We do this by speaking dwell.--Of his fullness have and training our children all we received, and grace in the things of the Lord. for grace. Thou anointest my head We do this by making disciples, not just merely preach- with oil.--The anointing ing, but getting down in the which ye have received of trenches with people and him abideth in you, and teaching them what it looks ye need not that any man like to "be" a Christian. We teach you: but as the same do this by passing on what anointing teacheth you of we have learned, but not on- all things, and is truth, and ly passing on the informa- is no lie, and even as it hation, but teaching others th taught you, ye shall abide how to teach others to pass in him. The Comforter, which is on what they have learned. This is how the church the Holy Ghost, whom the was started in the Book Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Intercessory prayer each Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m.; adult Sunday school class in the Fellowship Hall at 9:15 a.m. Care provided for children; morning worship at 10:15 a.m.; Sunday school for children and youth during morning worship service. Sunday night; Celebrate Recovery at 6 p.m.; Celebration Station Ministry for ages four including, fifth grade and youth meeting at 6 p.m. We are still taking orders for the Pumpkin Rolls. The proceeds go to help with the Church food ministry. If at any time you have no church to attend, feel free to join us for services. Your presence will be greatly appreciated and you will receive the blessings of God. Josh Luker, Pastor Sharon Kendall, Reporter Hephzibah-Lit tles G.B. Church 743 W. Co. Rd 125 S. Petersburg Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; Sunday morning worship and children's church 10:30 a.m.; Sunday evening service 6 p.m.; Wednesday Bible study and Wednesday night youth group 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14—Holiday dinner at the Fellowship Hall at 5 p.m. with singing following at the church by Sacred Calling. Sunday, Dec. 15—Christmas program. Wednesday, Dec. 18— Church Christmas party and gift exchange. Wednesday, Dec. 25—No Bible study. Sunday, Dec. 29—Birthday and anniversary celebration with the children leading the service. Tuesday, Dec. 31—Watch night service. Keith Jenkins Sr., Pastor Jamie Jenkins, Reporter st. john's lutheran church 6483 W. 580 N., Otwell Sunday, Dec. 8: Sunday school, adult class, Praise Team practice 9 a.m.; worship 10 a.m., Christmas program practice following worship; WELCA Christmas party 11:15 a.m.; Monday, Dec. 9, Church Council 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, Bible study 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 11, Christmas Program practice 6 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 13, LYO attending "The Journey." Catherine Burnette, Pastor Paula Mann, Administrative Assistant Continued on page 4 Two Minutes with the Bible by Pastor Ricky Kurth My job is God's will? "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters… doing the will of God from the heart" (Ephesians 6:5, 6). Surely what was true of servants and their masters applies equally to employees and their employers. Thus our text suggests that Christians involved in secular labor are "doing the will of God." Of course, Paul says that we are to labor and work with our hands "the thing which is good" (Eph. 4:28). So unless you are an abortion doctor or some such thing, when you go to work, you are doing the will of God, and your work clothes are just as holy in the eyes of God as the vestments that Aaron wore when he entered the presence of the Lord, whether you wear a white collar or a blue collar. Is it possible then that secular employment will earn rewards for Christians at the Judgment seat of Christ? The Apostle Paul says yes! If such labor is done "not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart," and if it is done "as to the Lord, and not unto men," then Paul unequivocally asserts "that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance" (Colossians 3:22-24). There is even evidence to suggest that those involved in secular labor who then faithfully support the ministry can look forward to rewards equal to those given to Christians directly engaged in the Lord's work. God instructed Moses: "And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to the battle, and between all the congregation" (Numbers 31:27). When "wicked men" tried to ignore this plain command of God (I Samuel 30:22), David insisted: "…as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff; they shall part alike" (v. 23-25). Secular labor constitutes half of the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:9, 10), and is also a commandment of grace. When the Thessalonians got so excited about the Rapture that they quit their jobs in eager anticipation, Paul twice reminded them that he had "commanded" them not to do this (I Thessalonians 4:11; II Thessalonians 3:10). He then re-issued the command (II Thessalonians 3:12) and further commanded them to "withdraw" from any who wouldn't obey these commands (II Thessalonians 3:6-10). Thus we see that working for a living is a commandment of God given to members of the Body of Christ through the Apostle Paul. Finally, if you are considering entering the Lord's work, you should know that throughout Scripture, God called to His service men who were already demonstrating their faithfulness and dependability in secular employment. God called Moses when he was tending his father-in-law's sheep, Gideon as he was threshing wheat, David as he was shepherding his father's flock and several of the apostles as they were fishing or mending their nets. Religious Viewpoint by Clyde Dupin American traditions worth keeping America is in the process of great change in the church, government, education, and the family. Many pastors and church ministers seem to be out of touch with the message of God's Word. Liberation theology, universalism and social justice has replaced the life changing message of Jesus Christ and personal salvation. Both religion and politics are going through what some call a generational change. We see truth that was neglected in the last generation is now being rejected by this generation. Truth and real Christianity have many enemies today. We have seen same sex marriage approved and little restraint on premarital sex. A wave of Internet pornography corrupts our families. Half-truths are so often repeated by politicians and the media that intelligent people accept it. The new age movement a few years ago decided to infiltrate the evangelistic church and divert its mission away from the message of Jesus Christ. Many churches today are like ships without rudders. As Newsweek magazine headlined, "We are all socialists now." We hear daily about political correctness, New World Order, secular humanism and big government. As I see America drifting from her traditional values, I recall the words of President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln expressed that if America falls it won't be from an outside enemy but from its deterioration within. Today our music, movies, and elite media promote a dangerous lifestyle of permissiveness and sexual freedom. They encourage the destruction of marriage, family and church. The government that once walked beside the church now seeks in many ways to intimidate and destroy God's great plan to save both the soul and society. I pray for and long to see pastors call America back to God. Many of the good things they promote are fine but a lost, lonely, broken world needs to hear the simple Gospel. History shows when a nation forgets God and loses its moral compass, destruction comes. ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CANTATA Hephzibah-Littles General Baptist Church 743 W. CR. 125 S. PETERSBURG, IN FEATURING SACRED CALLING DECEMBER 14, 2013 @ 6:00 PM SUPPER IN FELLOWSHIP HALL @ 5:00 PM Sacred Calling is a local group that has been called in to the music ministry. The members are Diane Fleetwood, Loretta Busick and Jane Sizemore. Diane plays guitar, harmonica, mandolin, bass lead and harmony vocals. Diane has been singing and writing songs over 20 years. For more information about Diane and her songwriting go to www.noahsdovepublishing.com. Diane's family are members of the Springs Valley Wesleyan Church. Loretta plays bass, Native American flute and lead vocals. Loretta is a member of the Indiana Flute Circle. Loretta and Diane are sisters. The Busick's are also members of the Springs Valley Wesleyan Church. Jane plays fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo lead and harmony vocals. Jane is also a composer and songwriter. She teaches K-4 visual arts and directs an after-school orchestra program at East Washington School Corporation. The Church Page is made possible by the following Firms and Businesses: Amber Manor Care Center Petersburg — 354-3001 Benner & Co. Heating and Air Petersburg — 354-3433 Computers Plus Radio Shack Petersburg — 354-9633 DougGlass DBA Hold Everything Self Storage — 354-1110 Four Star Fabricators Petersburg — 354-9995 www.fourstarfab.com German American Banking | Insurance | Investments Main Office — 354-8471 Harris Funeral Home 7th and Walnut Streets, Petersburg Phone: 354-8844 Martin's Used Cars Monroe City — 743-2229 Play & Learn Preschool Campbelltown — 354-3999 Solar Sources Coal for Steam and Industrial Market Petersburg — 354-8776