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Family Lines Newsletter, June 7, 2009
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**Thank You, God!**
By David Chadwell

 

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men and being found in the appearance of a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:5-11

 

When someone does the incredible for you, how do you say, “Thanks”?  There is no way you can return the favor you received on the same level!  In fact, anything you are able to do for your benefactor appears “down-right wimpy” in comparison. So what do you do?

 

First, you do not shirk expressing your gratitude because “you can not repay in kind.”  Second, you do what you can do (not what you wish you could do).  Third, you understand that your benefactor did what he (she) wanted to do for you.  It is this heartfelt desire that made the needed gift the more precious!  Fourth, you realize your response must come from your heart—not a sense of obligation.  You declare gratitude because you feel gratitude!

 

Need at times teaches valuable lessons!  Because a congregation is “big” (as compared to what?) does not mean it has endless resources, endless programs, or endless finances which enable it to do anything it wishes.  Size merely increases need!

 

This week we were told that in actual spending (merely meeting commitments) we are running $3190 a week below budget.  As a congregation, we handle finances responsibly—no one wastes!  It will be 22 weeks before our fiscal commitments end.  Multiply 22 times $3190, consider the picture, and realize that is only to “break even.”

 

What is the answer?  Each realizes what God and Christ do for us.  Each is humbly grateful.  Each does what he or she can.  That will be far more than enough!  Perhaps need teaches some how to say, “Thank you!” to God and Christ.

 

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**Order of Worship**
Worship Leader -- Brent Evans

 

Awesome God Medley
Our God Is an Awesome God (on screen)
#38 – Awesome God (repeat)

 

Welcome
God’s Love Medley
#121 – Come, Let Us All Unite to Sing (vs. 1, 3)
#122 – The Love of God (vs. 1, 3)
#123 – The Steadfast Love of the Lord
#76 – How Great Thou Art (vs. 1, 2, 3, chorus)

 

Lord’s Supper
Offering

 

#555 – Seek Ye First (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Coins for Christ
Children’s Worship

 

Shout to the North (on screen)
Sermon -- Chris Benjamin

 

Song for Responses
#924 – Just As I Am (vs. 1, 2, 4)

 

Elder’s Prayer

 

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**In Our Prayers**
• Bobbie Bolinger (Rochelle Brown’s aunt) and family are still in need of prayer as they deal with her cancer treatment.  She now has a Caring Bridge site to which notes of encouragement may be sent.  Her address is:  caringbridge.org/visit/bobbiebolinger
• Brice Carroll (Chris Carroll’s father) has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  He will have further testing in the next few weeks.
• Georgia Burns (James Anderson’s mother) is in Sparks Hospital, room 593 after hip replacement surgery.  She may get to go home on Friday.
• Guyana Medical Mission Team (June 6-14)
• Jane (Dunavin) McGowan was dehydrated after her chemo treatment and fell resulting in multiple fractures of her nose along with cut lips. Prayers for her encouragement and comfort are needed.
• John Hawkins will go to UAMS in Little Rock Friday morning (6/6/09) for, hopefully, a non-surgical procedure.  He has a blockage to his liver which doctors plan to remove and then add a stint.
• Phil Chavis (son of Sandy) is recovering from pneumonia.
• Prayers are requested for one of our elderly sisters in Laos who had leg surgery this week.

 

**Continued Prayers**
Bill Wilson, Grace Peters, Inez Hatfield, Jeana Belote, Jessie Moore, Kathleen Taranto, Larry Treat, Lloyd Priester, Louise Cline, Margaret Stone, baby Max Reed, Oscar Nolasco’s family in Honduras, Russell & Theresa Weiser, Tom Ed Gooden, and Wilma Son.

 

**Baptism**
There was much rejoicing Sunday night as John Kamp was baptized into Christ by his father.  John is the son of Bill & Elaine Kamp.

 

**Congratulations**
Harold & Ruth Gouty welcomed their fifth great-grandchild on June 2.  Ella Grace Bizzell weighed in at 7 pounds even and is 20 inches long.  She is the daughter of Robbie & Sarah Bizzell in Katy, Texas.  Janice & Jack Lowry are the proud great-aunt and uncle.

 

**Prayer Pager Ministry Update**
Rachelle Pratt has volunteered to manage this encouraging ministry.  If you or a loved one is in need of a prayer pager, please contact Rachelle at 783-3171 or e-mail her at lrpratt [at] sbcglobal.net.

 

**Change of Address**
Andy and Ruth Rye
11801 Deerfield Court
Fort Smith, AR 72916

 

**Welcome, Blessed Baby!**
Congratulations to Greg & Nancy Dockery
on the birth of a son, Caidan, on May 22! 
Caidan had to stay in the hospital for a while due to pneumonia.
He was able to go home on Monday! Please continue to pray for baby and family.

 

**Don't Forget**
Baby Bottles are due back on June 21st.  Fill your bottle with spare change, dollars, or checks! Proceeds benefit the Heart to Heart Pregnancy Crisis Center in Fort Smith.

 

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**Vacation Bible School is June 21-24,  6-8 PM, Nightly**

 

Registration
Registration for participants and volunteers is open! You can register 2 different ways -
whatever is more convenient for you!
1.  Online at www.westark.org/vbs.htm
2.  At the VBS table in the foyer
     (by the nursery)

 

Did you know ...?
VBS invitations are available on the VBS table in the foyer.  Be sure and pick some up for friends and family.

 

Attention Kids!
Grab a grownup and check out this fun website that will give you a sneak peak into some of what we will be learning about Rome! www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/

 

VBS . . . will be here before we know it.
Remember the old saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day”?  We need your help to make our Rome happen!
If you can help with any of the following, please contact Dena Jenkins OR sign up at www.westark.org/vbs.htm OR sign up on the board in the foyer (by the nursery).
1. Preschool workers
2. Nursery workers
3. Registration workers
4. Family Helpers
5. Marketplace Helpers
6. Bread makers (VERY easy recipe)

 

We are also in need of the following items to be donated or loaned:
• Hot knife (to cut styrofoam, preferably curved)
• Rugs
• Greenery

 

**Wedding Shower for Kara Lankford**
Sunday, June 7, 2-4 pm in the Annex

 

**Saturday, June 6**
Car Clinic, 8-10 AM
Annex parking lot (weather permitting)

 

Widows/Widowers trip to Mount Magazine 
Cost will be $6.  The van will leave the Annex at 10:30 am.

 

**King's Kids Calendar**
Grownups - be sure to pick up our Parent Link Resource Newsletter by the board in the foyer!

 

June 7 - Bridge 56 Party, 12 Noon - 2 pm (See details on King’s Kids Board)
June 10 - Bridge 56 VBS Work Night, B56 Room, 6-8 pm
June 21 - Vacation Bible School Kick-Off During Sunday Morning Worship (No Children’s Worship)
June 21 - 24 - Vacation Bible School Every Evening 6-8 pm

 

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**Youth Group News**
Jr./Sr. Trip  //  Friday, June 5 - Tuesday June 9
We will be returning late on June 9 (approximately 10 PM).

 

No Youth Worship  //  Sunday, June 7, 14, 21
Due to Jr/Sr Trip, Soul Quest and VBS, we will not have this event on these dates.

 

Youth Group  //  Wednesday, June 10  //  7 PM  //  Youth Room

 

Soul Quest  //  Sunday, June 14 - Saturday, June 20
We will leave Sunday morning, June 14 at 7 a.m. sharp to head north to Soul Quest, arriving about 3:30 PM in York, NE.  You’ll need to bring money for a fast food meal on the way up and back.  Please contact Rick if you have not gotten a copy of the “what to bring” and “what not to bring” list or look in the hanging files next to the Youth Group bulletin board in the foyer. 

 

We will be returning on Saturday, June 20 at about 4 PM.  Although the deadline for the best rate has past, you can still go if you pay an additional late fee.  See Rick or look in the hanging files next to the Youth Group bulletin board in the foyer for an application.  We do have several going that are in need of financial assistance.  If you would like to contribute scholarship funds, please see Rick.

 

Youth Group  //  Wednesday, June 17  //  7 PM  //  Youth Room
 
VBS  //  Sunday, June 21-Wednesday, June 24
Sign up to help out with VBS on the sheets on the bulletin board in the foyer.

 

No Youth Group  //  Wednesday, June 24  //  7 PM
Due to VBS, we will not have this event on this date.

 

Friends Day at West-Ark  //  Sunday, June 28  //  9:30 AM // Auditorium
Join in with the whole church and invite a friend you want to share Christ with on this special Sunday.  We’ll combine our 9:30 AM class with the adults, meeting in the auditorium for a fantastic concert by New Reign, an a cappella singing group from Oklahoma Christian University.

 

Mexico Mission Trip  //  Saturday, July 11 - Saturday, July 18  // Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
We are heading to Monterrey, Mexico to continue work on the church building we worked on this past March.  This trip is open to ALL members of the West-Ark church family, so if you feel God is calling you to be a part of it, please do so!  Applications are available in the hanging files next to the Youth Group bulletin board in the foyer or you can see Rick.  This will truly be a life-changing event that you shouldn’t miss.  Make sure you read Rick’s perspective about safety issues in Mexico on his blog at http://rickmon.blogspot.com.

 

**Happy Birthday to...**

 

June 7
Mary Burkett
Doris Pressley
Randy Scott

 

June 10
Benny Gooden

 

June 12
Barbara Aldridge

 

June 13
Brent Evans
Randy Moss

 

**Morning Nursery**
Melissa Walker
Suzi Jennemann
Dena Jenkins
Julie Orick

 

**Evening Nursery**
Gina Williams

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible Classes...………....417   
Sunday AM Worship.…...627
Sunday PM Worship…...N/A
Wednesday Classes…...276
Contribution………..$16,213
Children’s Homes……..$280

 

Lao Worship
Attendance…………….....53
Contribution……………$280

 

Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance………………..57
Contribution……………$237