The newsletter published on Thursday is now dated for the following
Sunday.
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Family
Lines Newsletter for April 19, 2009
(mailed on
4/16/09)
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**“Lord, What Did You Intend?”**
By David
Chadwell
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A
ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light; for you were not A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;
you had not RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. (1 Peter 2:9.
10, NAS)
God called Abraham (Genesis
12:1-3), and Abraham listened. By God’s action, Abraham had Isaac, Isaac
had Jacob, Jacob had 12 sons, and from those 12 sons came Israel. Through
Israel God sent Jesus who, by God’s intent, brought a blessing to all
humans. That was God’s intent from the call of Abraham (see Genesis 12:3b,
22:18, Acts 3:25, and Galatians 3:16).
God solved a problem: the
problem was produced by human rebellion that perverted His good creation.
Nothing is the same since that rebellion! We could not “fix” the results
of human rebellion! The human inclination continually seems to be toward
evil, not God’s purposes! Too often we exploit God’s goodness as we are
motivated by greed and an insatiable appetite for pleasure. What was
impossible for us to solve of ourselves, God, in His incredible love, solved for
us with mercy shown in divine forgiveness.
For what purpose? Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, the 12 sons, and Israel served God’s intent. Jesus served
God’s purpose. So did the 12 apostles, Paul, John Mark, Timothy, Titus,
Acquila and Priscilla, the early church, etc. What about you?
To be God’s people is bigger
than a clique, a group, a society, or even a nation. To be God’s
people means God is allowed to work through us to bless our relationships—
family, friends, the unknowns we meet, jobs, neighbors, the church, society, the
nation, and the world. Because of God working through us, all we touch is
blessed because of our relationship with God. Our reason for existing: to
proclaim His excellencies because He enlightens our lives. You are a
Christian because you are dedicated to God working through Jesus Christ in your
life. That good is produced by nothing else!
Nowhere should that be more
obvious than when people blessed by divine mercy assemble to worship the patient
God who gave us Jesus Christ. Do you exist to allow your life to proclaim
His excellencies? Or, do you exist to attempt to use God? Can people
see the benefit of belonging to God by observing your behavior and your
worship? Is God’s goodness obvious in your life as you worship and as you
interact?
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Order
of Worship
Worship Leader -- Brent Evans
#238 – Words and the
Music
#103 – He Has Made Me Glad
#148 – I Keep Falling In Love With Him
(vs. 1, 2, 3)
#484 – You Are My All in All (vs. 1, 2)
Welcome & Children’s
Activity
#382 – Why Did My Savior Come To
Earth? (vs. 1, 2)
#228 – Oh, How He Loves You and Me (vs. 1, 2)
Lord’s Supper
Offering
[If
you are visiting with us today, please fill out one of the cards you will find
next to the song book rack and place it in the plate.]
#448 – The Greatest Commands
Dismiss for Children’s Worship
Coins for Christ
(children)
I Am the Vine (on
screen)
Sermon -- Chris
Benjamin
Song for Responses
989 – Soon
and Very Soon (vs. 1, 2, 3)
[Our elders will be in Room 100
(in the foyer) ready to pray with anyone who has a prayer request of any kind.]
Elder’s Prayer
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**On
Our Prayer List**
• Praise! Aiden Scott (daughter of Randy &
Ashley) is feeling better after a second surgery for tubes in her ears.
•
Aura Lee Land (mother of Ann Selig) has a blockage in the heart and will have a
stent put in next Wednesday, April 22, at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.
•
Carter Scates (5 year-old grandson of Coleen Shirley) is having his tonsils
removed Thursday (4/16/09).
• David Dotson (Jennifer’s husband) is waiting on
test results.
• Earl Reed (a friend of Florence Cotner) is in Sparks Hospital
after suffering a heart attack.
• Faye Craig (Kristi Wilson’s grandmother)
was admitted to hospice care Saturday night in Hot Springs.
• Inez Hatfield
is struggling with breathing difficulties.
• Jack Smith (minister for the
Airport Road Church of Christ in Hot Springs) was recently diagnosed with
prostate cancer. He is a friend of Mark & Kristi Wilson and Chris
& Karen Benjamin.
• John Hawkins will see a specialist in Little Rock soon.
• John Holley has been in the hospital for tests.
• Lindsay
Cunningham (great-neice of Donna Beneux) is scheduled for neuro surgery.
•
Wendell Fenton (father of Natalie Nelson) has pneumonia.
**People of Mena, AR**
• Carrie Burris requests prayers
for her aunt and uncle, Teena and Andy Brown, whose house was totally destroyed
in the Mena tornado. Another uncle, Rick Carver, also had his optometry business
totally destroyed.
• Amanda Courtney’s mother’s home was destroyed in the
Mena tornado.
**CURE
Goes to Mena, AR**
CURE (Compassionate Utilization of REsources) is
working with the North Side Church of Christ in Mena, AR. We have made two
shipments of relief supplies, one last Friday and another on Tuesday. Supplies
include blankets, sheets, bath towels, paper towels, shovels, racks, tarps,
plastic sheeting, work gloves, and pry bars. This will be a ongoing need for
weeks.
**Love
and Sympathy**
Our sympathy is extended to Jennifer Dotson and family
in the recent death of her uncle, Bill Previtt of Tulsa, OK.
**Continue
to Pray for ...**
• Bennie Hedrick (Nancy James’ mother)
• Bernice
McFarland (mother of Wendell)
• Fred Smith (friend of Joe & Kathy
Rosalez)
• Jim Priester (as he relocates to Ohio)
• John Counts (friend of
Terry Robertson)
• Kathleen Taranto
• Larry Treat
• Lloyd Priester
(Jim’s father)
• Louise Cline
• Margaret Stone
• Max & Maddie Reed
(infant grandnephew and grandniece of Louise Howard)
• Sue Grantham (Jennifer
Dotson’s sister)
• Trucilla Surrat (mother of Kathy Rosalez)
• Wallace
Farris (Mack’s father)
• Wilma Son
**Parents’
Night Out**
Friday, April 17th
Sponsored by BRIDGE 56
6:00 -
9:45 PM in the FLC (gym)
Children age 3 (potty-trained) to 4th
grade.
Donations welcomed! If you have any questions, please
contact Greg &Tiffany Null or Brad & Melissa Walker.
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**"Town Hall
for Hope" -- April 23 Dave Ramsey Broadcast Event**
Tired of hearing
the fear, doom, and gloom that’s filling the airwaves? It’s time to connect with
families across the nation for a truly radical message—hope. Join Dave Ramsey
for a nationwide town hall meeting and discover what’s happening with the
economy, how we got here, and where we’re going. Plus, Dave will answer your
questions live throughout the event!
Join us in the West-Ark
Auditorium on April 23 for this free event as we stand together to reignite the
fire of hope! Doors open at 6:00 PM and the event starts at 7:00 pm.
It will last approximately two hours. For more information contact Jeff or
Michelle Lovelace, 479-883-5542.
**Change of
Address**
Wilma Son
c/o Cedar Ridge Living Community
10107 S.
Garnett Road
Broken Arrow, OK 74001
Phone: (918) 688-2414
**Note of
Thanks**
Just wanted to thank the church, especially Chris & Earl,
for the love and prayers given us during Cecil’s illness and death. The cards,
flowers, book memorial, and food basket from Coleen Shirley helped us through
this time.
Betty Mathies
(Editor’s note: beginning next week, thank you
notes will be posted in the Information Center.)
**West-Ark
Online Calendar**www.westark.org/calendar.htm• LTC Awards Lunch! Sunday, April 19 in the
Family Life Center, following morning worship.
• JOY Bunch Supper, April 18,
6 PM, Family Life Center. Come and join us!
• Bridal Shower for Alisha
Wewers, April 26th, 2:00 - 3:30 PM in the Annex. Alisha is registered at
Wal-Mart, Target, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
• Sunday Night, April 26, 6:00
PM Worship in the Family Life Center and fellowship meal. Please bring
desserts!
• Motherly Love Dinner, April 30, 6:30 PM in the home of Karen
Farris. A sign-up sheet is in the Information Center.
• Senior Girls’ Tea,
Saturday, May 9th in the Family Life Center. Special Guests, Daisy Powell
and the United Ladies of Tulsa.
• Baby Blessing on Mother’s Day, May
10th.
**Senior
& 7th Grade Sunday**
We are gathering information for our
Graduation/Promotion Sunday event on May 17. The names below are all of the
graduating seniors and incoming 7th graders that we have on record. If your name
is not on the list, or is on there by mistake, please contact Jackie Sofio in
the office.
Seniors:
Erika Beshears
Meredith Brown
Kaitlynn
Burk
John Kamp
Kaylee Lindgren
Brad Moore
Tori Sweatman
Andrew
Todd
Julie Vongdara
Hannah Watlington
Lindsey Yowell
7th Graders:
Race
Burns
Hope Frost
Hannah Hesslen
Haley Hickey
Megan Howard
Pedro
Luna
Alexandra Martin
Manuel Mendez
Hannah Null
Madelyn
Willis
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**Youth Group //
News**
HAVE YOU
PICKED UP YOUR SOUL QUEST APPLICATION?
June 14-20 // There
is still time to get $25 off your application fee.
BABYSITTING
SERVICE PROJECT // Saturday, April 18 // 5:00 -
8:30 PM
LTC AWARDS
LUNCH // Sunday, April 19 // FLC
There will be
an awards luncheon in the Family Life Center for LTC participants after morning
service.
SNL AT
BENTONVILLE // Sunday, April 19
Vans will leave at 4:30
PM and return around 9:45 PM. No Youth Worship.
FAMILY
MEAL // Sunday, April 26 // 6 PM
Instead of
Youth Worship we will join in on the singing service in the Family Life Center,
followed by the Family Meal.
INTERSECT
WORSHIP // Sunday, April 26 // 8 PM
At 8 PM
will we have the first ever Intersect Worship for High School, LFCs and the
20-Somethings. It will wrap up around 9:30 PM. Location: UAFS Campus Flanders
Room 113. Don’t miss it!!
HOME
DEVO // Sunday, May 3 // 5-8 PM
The home devo
will be hosted by Rachelle Pratt. The vans will leave the church building at 5
PM and return around 8 PM. Please bring $3 to cover the cost of food. There will
be no class at the building.
SENIOR
GIRLS’ BRUNCH // Saturday, May 9 // 10:30 AM
// Family Life Center
There will be a brunch for the Senior Girls in
the Family Life Center. For more information, contact Gina
Williams.
PARENT
MEETING/FAMILY DEVO // Sunday, May 10 6-7 PM
// Family Life Center
Bring your calendars and get ready to sign up to
help our youth and family ministry be the best it can be! Bring a 2L drink and a
dessert per family to share.
**Happy
Birthday To...**
April 19
Juddson Bice
Kevin
Hesslen
April 20
Jenny
Atchison
Wyatt Benjamin
Robin Webber
Lauren Willis
April 21
Inez
Hatfield
Jewell House
April 22
Lindsay B.
Hines
April 23
Louise Cline
Mia
Nelson
April 24
Cristy
Pressley
April 25
Karen
Carter
Adriane Martin
Madine Rose
**Nursery
Helpers**
Morning
Flora Johnson
Betty Callicott
Amanda
Basham
Carol Schaper
Evening
Sheila
Vaught
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible
Classes...………....389
Sunday AM Worship.…...697
Sunday
PM Worship…...175
Wednesday
Classes…...249
Contribution………..$17,200
Children’s
Homes……..$280
Lao
Worship
Attendance………………..15
Contribution……………$138
Iglesia de
Cristo
Attendance………………..68
Contribution……………$203
Office Phone (479)
452-1240
Fax (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Making
disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve
others."
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