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Family
Lines Newsletter, December 22,
2002
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**My Personal Gratitude**
David Chadwell
Rarely does a single day pass without reminders of ways many
of you "quietly" touch the lives of others. My situation positions me to
see many of your quiet acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. I personally
appreciate every act of kindness! Thank you for thinking of others.
Thank you for allowing God to increase your concern for others. Thank you
for demonstrating love for God through thoughtfulness to people.
May I express gratitude to a much appreciated group? We
easily assume everything will be "just right" in our worship. When worship
is "just right," we easily assume it just happened. Those are false
assumptions! It never "just happens!" Many unseen people
conscientiously care for needs and responsibilities. Though they are not
seen, we would miss them if they were not there! One such group is our
projectionists.
Our announcements do not "just happen" to be on the
screen. The communion picture does not "just happen" to appear. The
words for our songs do not "just happen" to be there for us to see. The
pictures or words in sermons do not "just happen." Were it not for the
work of our projectionists, those pictures and words could not be
there.
Several years ago we started projecting pictures and words
with some sermons in our desire to intensify the worship experience for
many. Some of us learn visually. To combine visuals with spoken
words increased the learning experience.
Next we projected our announcements prior to worship.
This enabled us to inform people without devoting significant amounts of worship
time to announcements.
In time we projected an appropriate picture with a few words
at communion to aid Christians who are visually oriented. The objective:
intensify worship as we commune.
For those who serve us as projectionists (David Pippin, Darrell
Moses, Brad Walker, and Hank Watlington), intensifying worship involved a lot of
work. On Fridays or Saturdays, they had three to five hours of preparation
to make for Sunday!
For several months many requested that the words of our songs
be projected on our screen. Doing this required a significant increase in
preparation time. When we began projecting the words to our songs, we also
moved much of the slide preparation to the office. Debbie Belote now
prepares most of the slides for the projectionists.
During an assembly when pictures or words appear on the
screen, be aware that many "quietly" make it happen! Personally, I deeply
appreciate all they do! It requires concentration and skill to "make it
happen." To all who help "make it happen," I personally thank you for your
help as we honor God!
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**Holiday Schedule**
Sunday evening, December 29, will
be a time of singing and devotion. The Family Meeting usually scheduled for the
5th Sunday of the month is postponed until Sunday evening, January 5th. We will
not have a fellowship meal.
The church office will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas
Day.
On Wednesday, December 25th, and Wednesday, January 1st, the
congregation will assemble in the auditorium for a devotional. Bible classes
will not meet on those evenings.
**Remember Our Homebound Members**
During the holidays,
remember to encourage one of our shut-in members by a visit, a phone call, or a
card.
* Treva Marter, Medi-Homes, 4623 Rogers, D1, Bed 2, Fort
Smith, AR 72903.
* William Bealer, Medi-Homes, 4623 Rogers, D20, Fort Smith,
AR 72903.
* Blossom Mahan, Brentwood Manor, #7 West, Van Buren, AR 72956.
* Mildred Saxton, Beverly Health & Rehab, 228 Pointer Trail, Van Buren,
AR 72956.
* Cecil Knight, Medi-Homes Nursing Home, 4613 Rogers, Room D-10,
Fort Smith, AR 72903.
* Thelma Blackburn, 3901 North 50th, AR 72904
(782-2680).
* Ada Ferguson, 1903 North 45th Circle, Fort Smith, AR 72904
(783-7122).
**Poinsettias for the Auditorium**
To everyone who purchased a plant, "Thank you."
The
poinsettias are beautiful in the auditorium!
Poinsettias donated
by:
Jess & Mary Huff in
memory of Linda Huff Morrow
Karen Carter in memory of Jim
Carter
Glenda & Wayne Roberts in memory of Randy Roberts
Glenda
& Wayne Roberts in memory of Samantha & Tabitha Roberts
Ron
& Debbie Belote in memory of Our grandparents
Mary
Vampola in memory of Robert & Perrian Gibson
Sam & Debra
Lively in memory of Mr. & Mrs. J. J. Lively
Sam & Debra
Lively in memory of Phyllis Brown
Sam & Debra Lively in
memory of Jerry Lively
Sue Hastings in memory of George &
Hazel Hastings
Lynn Alexander in memory of George & Hazel
Hastings
Joyce Pippin in memory of Stan Spainhour
Charles
Pippin in memory of Frankie Pippin
Ron & Brenda
Lenderman in memory of Bill & Ena Lou Lenderman
Greg &
Nancy Dockery in memory of Emmett Wilkins
John & Nelda
Fowler in memory of Kaye Jansen
Bob & Sharon Faries in
memory of Bula Faries
Jim & Vicki Hardin in memory
of Robbie Kilmer
Neil, Jena & Luke Roberts in memory
of Bill Manning
Richard & Mary Broyles in memory of Jack
Remler
David & Sandy Berger in memory of Alean Atkins
David
& Donna Beneux in memory of Cliff Casey
Myra Flippo in
memory of Bill Flippo
Harold Davis in memory of Letha
Davis
Denise Lusby in memory of Lou Porter
Jim & Ann
Selig in memory of Our Dads: Dalton Land & Cline Selig
Judy
Halford in memory of Joe Halford
Gary & Judy Green in
memory of Mary McClary
Scott & Staci James in memory
of Miranda James
John & Donna Lindgren in memory of Hazel
Naylor
Bob & Patti Null in memory of Lona Schenk
Larry &
Donna Roper in memory of Effie Roper
Larry & Donna
Roper in memory of Randy Jolley
Myra Flippo, Bill & Lynn
Dickey in memory of Jonette Shirley
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**Say A Prayer For**
* Bonnie Ray (mother of Karen Carter)
fell Monday and broke her ankle.
* Ruth Edwards is in Sparks Hospital, room
477A.
* Missy Blasdel's grandmother, Lotty Moore, is in Sparks Hospital, room
559 following a stroke.
* Judy Halford (formerly of West-Ark) had surgery
Tuesday. She now lives in the Rogers, AR area.
* Continue to pray for
Helen Branum, Anita Maxwell, Erma Beshears, Sandy Berger, Virgil Kirchner, Kathy
Bauer, Vicki Varvel, and Sandy Thurman.
**Sympathy**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Cecil
Knight in the death of his beloved wife, Robbie early Monday morning. Funeral
services were Thursday afternoon at West-Ark church of Christ.
Our love and sympathy is also extended to Marlene Tucker in
the death of her brother, Nuell Putman, on December 12th in Rio Rancho, New
Mexico.
**Ladies Retreat Sign-Up**
Please mark your calendar for
the Ladies' Retreat in Morrilton on January 24 & 25. The sign-up sheet is in
the Library window.
**Notes of Thanks**
West-Ark Church of Christ,
Thanks to
all of you who have kept us in your prayers and thoughts while we have been away
for two months. The outpouring of cards, letters and calls has meant so much to
us.
Love,
Helen and Richard Branum
Just a note to say "thank you" for the visits, the cards, and
especially for the prayers while I was in the hospital. Please continue to pray
for me while I go through the recoup period.
In Christian love,
Jean
Dicks
**Widows/Widowers/60+**
There will not be a Car Clinic or
luncheon in January.
**Contribution Envelopes**
The contribution envelopes for
2003 are available in the foyer.
**New Van Fund Drive**
Many ministries have the need of
reliable transportation. We would like to purchase another van to be utilized by
our various ministries. To date, we have raised $10,000. If you would like
to make a donation, please give a check to any staff member, elder, or BMT
member. Our goal is $35,000. We would like to reach this goal this
month.
**Coming Event**
Sunset International Bible
Institute's
Combined Workshop
January 17-18, 2003
"Lead or be Left
Behind"
**Anniversary Celebration**
Congratulations to Bill &
Peggy Brazelton
who celebrated 46 years of marriage on November
23rd!
**Wedding Invitation**
Mr. and Mrs. Randy Coleman
invite
you to the marriage
of their daughter, Kristin Anita
to Set Gomez
on
Saturday, December 21st
at one o'clock in the afternoon
Pleasant Valley
Church of Christ
Van Buren, Arkansas
Reception to follow
**David's Sermons**
Sunday Morning: The New
Beginning
Sunday Evening: "Fixing" God's Concerns
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
Parents and families, I hope you have enjoyed the recent class
that just ended with Ron Lenderman and Joe Pistole entitled The Disconnected
Generation. I know the information was not always easy to hear or apply, but
weve got to begin to struggle with and grow through these changes in our
culture if we are going to be effective with our children. They are being raised
in a totally different world!
We dont want to overload you, but we do want to feed you
continuously. We will take a short break during this next quarter to let you
attend the class of your choice, but well get right back to our focus on the
family on April 6th.
From April 6th - June 29th, we will offer a class to all of
our parents and teens entitled Parenting Teenagers. Please make plans now to
attend this video/discussion class that will help parents and their teens learn
how to communicate effectively with one another and grow together as a family.
Please take the time in the coming weeks to check out the teen
website at
www.westarkchurchofchrist.org/youth
There are new events and details for those events on the calendar for 2003 and
some new pictures of our recent family night.
Merry Christmas to everyone and may you enjoy the holiday
season with your friends and family. Count your blessings!
**Special News**
Congratulations to Nathan Davis and Bailey
Williams. They both made Jr. High All-Region Band this past week at the tryouts
in Alma. Good job!
**Fourth Sunday Nursery 12/22/02**
A.M. Infants: Berniece
Rogers, Sharon Faries, Joann Davenport.
Toddlers: Sue George, Kristin
Smith
P.M. Nursery: Marjorie Blake, Bennie Hedrick
**Fifth Sunday Nursery 12/29/02**
AM Infants: Cristy
Pressley, Kay Pressley, Hannah Pressley
Toddlers: Louise Howard, Cami
Stancil
PM Nursery: Robertta Moses
Laurie Armstrong
**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship
(10:30)............... 672
Sunday Classes (9:30) .................
447
Sunday Evening (6:00)...................305
The Way (4:00)
...............................47
Spanish............................................19
Wednesday
Worship (7:00)........... 330
Sunday Contribution
................$19,813
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