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Family
Lines Newsletter, January 29,
2004
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**Communion to Be Our Focus In February Morning
Worship**
By David Chadwell
On Sunday mornings during the month of February
[beginning this Sunday, February 1], the focus of morning assemblies will be on
communion. Basically, the following will be each Sunday's format for the
month. With praying and singing together, we will praise God. I will
focus our minds on a specific accomplishment God achieved in Jesus' death and
resurrection. We will take communion together as we focus on the sacrifice
of Jesus' body and blood. After remembering the gift which allows us to
exist as God's family, Chris will challenge us to focus on our response to God's
achievement.
Each Sunday morning in the month of February, we
[as a congregation] will focus on a different achievement God accomplished in
Jesus' death and resurrection. Each Sunday morning we will be challenged
to respond to God's accomplishment in Jesus' death and
resurrection.
This Sunday morning we will focus on God's gift of
freedom (redemption).
The challenge to worship God as a response to His
achievement in giving Jesus' life for us is an extension of our focus on Sunday
evenings. Beginning in January, each Sunday evening we focused on worship
as a concept. In January, we noted from scripture in a study of Genesis 4
and Isaiah 1 the first concept: worship must arise from the person's
heart. We also noted the inadequacy of the conviction that we worship
because we physically are at a place.
Concept two: worship is a declaration of dependence
on God. We stressed this fact: it is possible for a person to be
surrounded by those who are worshipping while he/she is not
worshipping.
On Sunday evenings in February, we will stress the
difference between worshipping God and worshipping idols, the importance of
God's creative power, and the moods of worship. Most of the Life Groups
focus on these same lessons about worship concerns in their Sunday evening
meetings.
The objective is simple. We want each person
to worship God. We deeply appreciate everyone's presence. In no way would
we discourage anyone from attending. Yet, we seek for more to happen than
people being present. We want each person's presence to honor God as
he/she glorifies God in his/her mind and heart.
Glorify God in your every word and action all
week! Join with us in praising God Sunday! May each of us care about
the God Who cares so much about us!
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**LFC Upcoming Events**
* February 13 -
Valentine Party, 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. at Larry & Laurie Armstrong's home, 1609
Fianna Way in Fort Smith.
* February 17 - Lion's Feast, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at
UAFS Campus Center.
* February 18 - Chili Supper, 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. at
Sebastian Commons.
* February 22 - Game Night, 7:30 to 10 p.m. in the
FLC.
**Inner City Needs**
We need furniture, beds,
and mattresses, etc. If you have items to donate, please call Jack Lewis at
459-0168.
**LTC Practice Schedule **
February 1st
*
2:00 Senior High Chorus
* 3:00 Junior High Chorus
* 4:00
Junior High Bible Bowl
* 5:00 All Puppets
* 6:00 Elementary
Chorus
**LTC Elementary Chorus**
For those who can, we
have been invited to sing for the widows and widowers on February 7 in the FLC.
Come join us at 12:30 p.m. to sing, and stay for special Valentine cookies and
fellowship. There will be enough cookies for your little brothers and sisters,
too!
**Old Testament Survey Class**
Class begins
Wednesday, February 4 in Room 203, and is taught by Jerry Canfield. The survey
class is for adult students of all ages (especially high school, college aged
and other adults).
**"Peak of the Week"**
Wednesday, February
4
"The Lord Most High"
Read Genesis 14 and Psalm 9
Join us at 7 p.m. in
the FLC!
**Community Outreach Day**
Tell those in need
about it.
Everyone welcome!
WHERE? West-Ark Church of Christ Family Life
Center
WHEN? Saturday, January 31, 2004, 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
MEAL
PROVIDED
All clothing and household items are FREE!!
**"Outreach" Workers Needed**
Workers will be in
the Family Life Center
Thursday and Friday (January 29 & 30)
to sort
& display clothing, household items,
and furniture for our Community
Outreach Day,
If you can help any day -- for a few hours, half a day,
or
all day, please call Kathy Rosalez (452-2157)
or the church office
(452-1240).
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**Remember in Prayer**
* Maile McDonald and her
family.
* Lear Mae Moody (mother of Sue George)
* Pete Michael (of Valley
View Church of Christ)
* Glenanna O'Mara (daughter of Larry & Janice
Prater)
**New Addresses**
Bennie Hedrick
410 Village
Drive, Apt. #91
Gonzales, TX 78626
Phone: (830) 672-3727
I just wanted
to let everyone know that my mother has moved to an assisted living
apartment.
~~Nancy James
Vicky Mason
1900 Countryside Lane
Rogers, AR
72756
Phone (479) 636-4546
(Vicky wants all her friends at West-Ark to
have her new address.)
**Baptisms**
Dale Lusby
8100 Valley
Forge
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Dale was baptized by his father-in-law, Tom
Porter, on Friday evening.
Tom Porter also baptized Frank Agrusa Friday
evening. Frank will be attending Rudy Church of Christ.
Bryan Clark
9008 Timberlyn Way
Fort Smith, AR
72903
Phone: 484-1867
Bryan was baptized by Chris Benjamin this past
weekend. Bryan and his wife, Rachel, have two sons.
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended
to Larry & Janice Prater and Shanna Davis in the death of Janice's father in
Amarillo, Texas. Funeral services were Monday in Amarillo.
Our love and sympathy is extended to Margaret
Gillian in the death of her brother, Champ Remy, on Tuesday. Funeral services
are in St. Augustine, Florida.
Our love and sympathy is also extended to Lorene
Yates in the recent death of her daughter-in-law, Barbara Yates, of Fort Smith.
**Baby Shower**
A shower honoring Jenny Atchison
is planned for Sunday, February 1, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the home of Helen
Pratt, 3705 May Branch Lane. Jenny is registered at Blessed Baby and Toys 'R Us.
It's a girl!
**New Arrival**
Congratulations to G.C. and
Margaret Stone on the birth of a great-granddaughter. Hannah Mae Stone was born
to Brian and Tara Stone on January 22 here in Fort Smith. She weighed 7 lbs., 6
ozs.
**Car Clinic**
Saturday, February 7, 8 - 11
a.m., weather permitting.
**Widows/Widowers Luncheon**
Saturday, February
7, at noon in the Family Life Center. After lunch, singing entertainment will be
provided by some of our children. It will be a treat! Call Janice, Mary, or
Bobbie if you need transportation.
**Notes of Thanks**
Brothers and
Sisters,
Hello! I trust you have had a happy holiday season. The kids and I
enjoyed being there for Christmas. Todd and I wanted to thank you for your
support of our work. We pray that much will be accomplished there.
In
Him,
The O-Donnells
The kids who were involved in LTC Teaching
Challenge (19 of them) would like to thank all the Bible class teachers who
allowed them to shadow in their classes, and then to teach the Bible classes.
The experience was challenging and fun. What talented young people God has
given us! They are serving now and will serve for many years to come, Lord
willing! We appreciate you, our mentors, our Bible class teachers!
Our thanks to the wonderful West-Ark Church Family
for all the kindness shown to Eileen Jones through her years of illness. The
flowers were beautiful and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Rulene and
Linda Williams
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
You have
been such an encouragement and an inspiration in the manner you have supported
us in the tragic loss of my father and critical injuries to my mother. The
flowers, cards, prayers, and calls are gratefully acknowledged and deeply
appreciated.
In Christ's love,
Karen & Mack
Farris
**Habitat for Humanity**
Arkansas Valley Habitat
for Humanity needs volunteers on Saturdays to:
* help build houses (no
experience required) or
* provide a meal for workers.
If you would like
to help (there are 49 Saturdays to choose from), call Kim Nester at (479)
782-8255.
**Sunday Morning**
Communion and Freedom By David
Chadwell & Chris Benjamin
**Sunday Evening**
The Difference Between
Worshipping God and Worshipping Idols by David Chadwell
We will assemble at
6:00 p.m. There are no special plans for a Super Bowl gathering this
year.
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**Family Life Ministry**
"It's the Most
Wonderful Time of the Year"
By Brad Pistole
I know what you're
thinking...why is Brad using a title like "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the
Year" for an article in January. After all, that phrase is used to describe the
Christmas Holiday season, and it has just passed.
Well, that may be
the case, but when you talk about youth events this is one of my favorite times
of the year. Everyone is coming off of vacations and holiday weeks. They have
been with their families and they have time to rest. They have a break from
school and they are ready for a regular routine again.
One of the
difficult things about Youth Ministry in the fall is COMPETITION. After all,
I've had the attention of many of the teens all summer and by August, they are
often ready for a change of pace.
I've learned that once school
starts, there's no need in competing for our teens' time. There's band, choir,
football, basketball, track, volleyball, rekindled friendships, and let's not
forget about the biggie: HOMEWORK.
Our kids are involved in
too many activities, and they are BUSY ENOUGH as it is. Therefore, I've learned
to focus the majority of my youth ministry energies into a 9 month period each
year: January - September.
By giving our teens a short break, I've
found they enter the new year HUNGRY and ready to recapture the close
relationship they developed with God during the summer. That's why we schedule
Winter Retreat as the first major event each year.
Winter Retreat is always one of the best spiritual
events of the year. I always tell the teens, if there is one MUST EVENT of the
year, it would be Winter Retreat. This year will be no exception. Our theme for
the weekend is "Speak Lord, Your Servant is Listening." I hope everyone will
join us for a life changing event, January 30th - February 1st.
**First Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Nursery
Paula May
Sandi
Pippin
Melissa Walker
Dena Jenkins
Irene Willis
P.M. Nursery
Dixie Burkhart
Gina
Williams
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday
AM 703
Bible Classes 447
Sunday P.M.
283
Wednesday P.M. 339
Contribution $12,155
Childrens
Home $215
The Way 56
Laotian
Attendance 35
Laotian Contribution $147
**Communion Workers for February**
Prayer Leader:David Chadwell
Servers: Marvin
Hughes
Charles
Karr
Tom
King
Jack
Lowry
Randy
Hankins
John
Kamp
Nathan
Griffin
Adam
Davis
John
Berger
John
Lindgren
Charles
Pippin
J.T.
Smith
Phillip
Abuzeide
Jim
Mason
Lyndon
Blackman
Travis
McDonald
Ushers/Nursery Communion: David Berger and Kevin
Vaught
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