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Family Lines Newsletter, September 13, 2009
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**Moving Toward God’s Unity (Part One)**
By David Chadwell

 

Then Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do.”  . . .  (The workmen) said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work for which Lord commanded us to perform.”  Exodus 35:1 and 36:5.

 

 

When God through Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, in a short time the Israelites came to Mount Sinai. There the Israelites received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), other teachings, and built the Tabernacle.  The construction of the Tabernacle (a tent) is recorded in Exodus 35:4 - 37:29.  It served the Israelites as a portable place of priestly worship for the forty years they spent in the wilderness.  Its internal furnishings, especially the ark of the covenant, were in Canaanite worship centers after Israel’s conquest of and settling in that land.  Then the furnishings, especially the ark, were placed in the temple David desired and Solomon built. The Tabernacle was built with free will offerings given by men and women who wished to give.
 
Since the construction (1) was funded by free will offerings and (2) was an expensive task involving expensive materials (Exodus 12:31-36 suggests the origin of these materials), congregations used this occurrence to do two things: (1) build buildings, and (2) impose a worship dress code.  The evolving reasoning based on these scriptures  was (1) God’s people give Him their best when constructing a place to worship God, and (2) God’s people wear their best when they worship God. (This concept was also based on understandings/applications that came from scriptures such as Exodus 19:9-15.)

 

Whether you agree with this concept or not, understand that (1) many of the past building of facilities were based on this concept/understanding; (2) Scriptures were used to form the concept; and (3) many Christians you know use this teaching to form a specific conscience reaction to what they do and why they do it.  Please remember, Christian consciences are not easily nor quickly changed.  Also remember respect, not agreement, is the basis of God’s concept of Christian unity.

 

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**Order of Worship**

 

Worship Leader -- Brent Evans
When The Night Is Falling (on screen)
Welcome
Blessed Be Your Name (on screen)
#221 -- Jesus, Name Above All Names
#222 -- There’s Something About That Name
#308 -- Wonderful Love of Jesus (vs. 1, 3)

 

Prayer – Bill Dickey
#228 -- Oh, How He Loves You and Me (vs. 1, 2)
Table of the Lord
Offering

 

Sanctuary (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Coins for Christ
Children’s Worship
#869 -- We’re Marching to Zion (vs. 1, 2, 4)

 

Sermon -- Chris Benjamin
Songs for Responses
#766 -- Open Our Eyes, Lord
#768 -- Jesus, Let Us Come to Know You
Elder’s Prayer

 

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**Remember in Prayer**
• Donnie Howell (Marjorie Blake’s son) had open-heart surgery Tuesday.  He is in Sparks Hospital, ICU #264.
• Doris Robertson is home from the hospital after being treated for double pneumonia.
• Jerry Canfield is home from the hospital after being treated for a post-surgery blood clot.
• John Hawkins is still at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston.  He is being kept comfortable, but not currently receiving any treatment.
• John Richards is scheduled for an MRA on his kidneys on September 17.
• Karen Snipes (daughter of Ruby Nichols and mother of Melissa Walker) is home from the hospital after being treated for blood clots in both lungs.
• Lenora Word will have total hip replacement surgery on Friday morning (9/11/09) at St. Edward Hospital.
• Mary Burkett requests prayers for her 10-year-old nephew, Lucas, who has a 70% hearing loss. He is scheduled for ear tube surgery on Sept. 14.  Please pray that his hearing will be restored.
• Prayers are requested for the friends and family of Stephen, Dana, Christina & Laura Lester and Ken Veteto.  These five members of Park Plaza Church of Christ (Tulsa, OK) died in a plane crash last Saturday morning.

 

Sympathy
Our love and sympathy is extended to Toka Beall in the death of her brother-in-law, Clifford Davis, on Thursday morning (9/10/09). 

 

**Continue to Pray for ...**
• Aura Lee Land
• Bobbie Bolinger
• Inez Hatfield
• Jay Wood
• John Holley
• Maddy Grist
• Margaret Stone
• Vicki Hardin
• Wilma Son
• Winnie Brown

 

**Prayer Pagers**
441-2378 - Doris Robertson
441-1722 - Jerry Canfield
441-2387 - John Holley
441-2381 - Karen Snipes
441-2395 - dial all pagers at once

 

**Wedding Shower**
There will be a wedding shower honoring Brittanie Cooley, bride-elect of Kyle Stinchcomb, on September 20, from 1:30 – 3:00 PM in the home of Rochelle Brown, 9617 Painter Drive, Fort Smith.  Brittanie is registered at JCPenney, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Wal-Mart. 

 

**Attention JOY Bunch Members**
Those who have signed up for the trip to the Amish farm on Saturday, September 19, need to meet at the building at 1:45 PM. The vans will load and leave by 2:00 and will return by 8:00 PM. Any questions can be directed to the Turpins.
 
**Tutoring Program**
The Tutoring Program beings on October 6th.  Please look for the sign-up sheets in the foyer.  If you have questions, call Sheila Vaught. 

 

**Budget Planning**
October 3 will be a budget-planning day for all ministries starting at 9 AM at the building.

 

**Aluminum Can Recycling**
Mark Wilson is collecting aluminum cans to recycle.  100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Heart to Heart Pregnancy Center. Recycling bins are located throughout the building. Save your cans and bring them with you once a week -- it’s one more way to help children and families in need.

 

**All the Ladies’ Classes are studying Proverbs!**

 

Tuesday Morning WINGS
Orientation & Breakfast
September 15th,  9:30 AM
Family Life Center

 

Wednesday Morning Ladies’ Bible Class
Begins September 16
10:00 AM in the Annex 
See Rochelle in the library before or after
worship services to receive lessons.

 

Wednesday Night WINGS
September 16, 7:00 PM in the Annex
Orientation & Fellowship

 

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**Blue Jeans Sunday 9.27.09**
[Jeans]  bring them  .  wear them  .  serve in them
How will you see God at work?
Come ready to Serve!

 

**Ways to Serve on Blue Jeans Sunday**
1. Donate blue jeans -- any size, new or used. Add your donations to the Hope Chest container outside the Library.
2. Sign up to participate in a work group at the free-standing bulletin board in the foyer. There are lots of ways to help: 
• Make quilts for the China orphanage
• Re-stocking at the Hope Chest
• Writing cards for encouragement
• Packing and sorting at CURE warehouse
• Prayer walk on UAFS Campus

 

**King's Kids Calendar**

 

Kids For Christ Update!
Beginning this Sunday night (9/13), KFC will have two age groups & will be the same as FLOCK & GATEWAY:
KFC 1 - ages 2 years  - 1st grade
KFC 2 - grades 2, 3 & 4
If you love being with kids and serving God in the process, come join the KFC Team!
Contact: Kerry or Dena Jenkins at dena@westarkkids.org

 

September 12 - Bridge 56 Fun Night
 5-7 PM in Gym
 What to bring? $2 for pizza and a pillowcase if you have not decorated one yet

 

September 19 - Family Video Scavenger Hunt (Kindergarten through 6th Grade AND FAMILIES)
 3:00-6:30 PM in the Annex
 What to bring? Video camera with cords for TV and/or computer (no worries if you don’t have one - we’ll have extras!)  Also good idea to bring vehicle with a full tank! =]
- Boys bring soda, Girls bring cookies (We’re having pizza for dinner!)
- Sign up on King’s Kids Bulletin Board in the foyer or at www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146326976544

 

PLEASE register your kids for King’s Kids.  Forms may be found and returned to the file box by the King’s Kids Board in the foyer.  Thank you!

 

**The River Within**
www.theriverwithinmovie.com
“A journey home can change your life forever.”
If you’re looking for a good faith-based movie with a positive message, “The River Within” begins Friday, September 11, at the Malco Cinema in Fort Smith.  It was filmed in Northeast Arkansas. (Ages 12 and up.)

 

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**Youth Group // News**

 

Bulgaria Mission Trip Informational Meeting Sunday, September 13  /  5 PM  /  Youth Room
If you want to find out about this high school only mission trip, come to the meeting!

 

Youth Worship - Sunday, Sept. 13 / 6 PM / Youth Rm
Join us as we discover what purpose God has for us in our lives.

 

Youth Group - Wed., Sept. 16 / 7 PM / Youth Room
Don’t miss out as we continue our series “Be-Attitudes.”

 

Home Devo (Glidewells) - Sunday, September 20  /  6 PM 
Join us for praise, food, fellowship and fun for all 7-12th graders. Vans leave at 6PM and return at 8PM. Cost is $3 per person to help cover food costs.

 

See you at the Pole - Wed., Sept. 23 / 7 PM / Your School  //  Join other students around the flag pole of your school to pray for your teachers, students, etc.

 

Crosswalk - Saturday, September 26  /  Rogers, AR
We will be leaving at 7:30 AM sharp on Saturday, September 26. We return that evening at about 11 PM. The cost is $35, which includes transportation, conference fees, and a t-shirt.
Money and applications are due to Rick by Sunday, September 13. Applications are available in class and in the hanging files by the bulletin board in the foyer.

 

NO youth Worship - Sunday, September 27

 

Intersect Worship - Sunday, Sept. 27 / 8-9:30 PM Location: TBD   (High School Only)

 

Paintball - Sunday, October 4 / 12:30-4:30 PM / All American Field, Charleston, AR
Vans will leave the church at 12:30 and return at 4:30 PM. Cost is $26. Eat lunch before you come.Registration forms are available in class and in the hanging file next to the youth group bulletin board. Deadline to sign up is Wednesday, September 30.

 

**Happy Birthday To...**

 

September 13
Cheryl Hamilton
Barry Owen

 

September 14
Ethan Benjamin
Logan Kleman
Lela Neal
Julie Tignor

 

September 15
Marilyn Coffelt
Nancy Dockery
Irene Willis

 

September 16
David Beneux
Joann Davenport

 

September 17
Cheryl Byrd
Ann Holland
Connye Neal

 

September 18
Madelyn Willis

 

September 19
Walker Allen
David Harwell
Andrew Todd

 

**Morning Nursery**
Trish Carson
Dwonne and Breck Cogswell
Vicki Anderson

 

**Evening Nursery**
Terri Jones
Marquetta Walker

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Bible Classes...………....348   
Sunday AM Worship.…...591
Sunday PM Worship…...228
Wednesday Classes…...N/A
Contribution………..$19,485
Children’s Homes……..$208
Coins For Christ.............$34

 

Lao Worship
Attendance……………......20
Contribution……………$145

 

Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance………………..45
Contribution……………$156