The Visitor » 2007 » December » 14

Here and There
by Wes Price
Our Holiday Party was indeed a great success. The food was good (yes, I know some of you were less than satisfied, oh brother!, we can never satisfy everyone), the fellowship was outstanding as was the entertainment with Joe Hancock and his guitar. My wife and I enjoyed having them in our home for Saturday night and the whole church was blessed by his message at the morning worship. Those of us who knew him and heard him preach here as a student in Brown Trail School of Preaching could see the great progress he has made these four years since graduating. We wish he and his wife, Sharon great success in their work with the Hallsville, Texas church.
A special thanks to all of you who helped out in the kitchen and especially to Alletha Lee for cleaning up the dining room.
Now that’s a good way to close out the year with our fellowship time.
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There is a plentiful stock of 2008 calendars on the table in the foyer for you to use to give to your friends. On the opposite side, there is a simple step-by-step explanation of the gospel plan of salvation. It will help someone find the truth, so let’s get these out. Don’t be afraid to take a handful for distribution. We never know when some simple thing like a calendar will be just the thing to open the door for someone who is searching.
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We have suspended our “Friendspeak” program until after the first of the year. We advised our students on Sunday evening of this plan and they assured us that they would be back to resume the studies on Sunday, January 6.
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We are continually warned this time of year about various scams that are being used to take advantage of our senior citizens. Please be advised that all of us are open to such efforts. Resist the temptation to get involved in any of these, either by phone, e-mail or door-to-door. Don’t release any information to anyone about your Social Security number, or your bank account number. Check it out.
In addition, please remember when you are shopping to pay close attention to your purse or wallet. Don’t leave any packages in view in your automobile and be sure your car doors are always locked when you are driving on the streets.
Then there is the home itself. Don’t leave home without making sure all outside doors are secured. Even then our homes are vulnerable. We were very distressed to learn this week that C.B. and Doris Henry’s home was broken into and a large number of valuables was taken. Please keep them in your prayers. We’ll keep you posted about how we may exercise “active pity” on their behalf.
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Mack Lyon’s lesson for Sunday, December 23, will be “A Stone of Stumbling And A Rock of Offense.”
While we do not recognize or celebrate Christmas as the birthday of
Christ, we are thankful that He came as Deity to live among us and suffer as we

MEN TO SERVE
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Morning Service
Prayers for Lord’s Supper & Giving – David Calvert
Tom Dipprey David Johnston
David Gonzales Richard Perkins
Jimmy Mooney Terry Crossland
Afternoon Service
James Schoolfield Ben Perkins
PARKING LOT MONITORS
Sunday, December 16, 2007
A.M. Jimmy Morris
P.M. Ben Perkins
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Willie Wright

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do so as to be a faithful intercessor. When He came to the Jews, He was indeed “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”
You can enjoy this lesson on Channel 27, KDFI-TV at 7:00 am.
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THINK ABOUT HIS LOVE
“Tis the season to be jolly,” we are told. Shoppers are bustling about, driving to and fro, picking up gifts for family and friends, mailing out greeting cards and making plans “to be home for Christmas.” Special music fills the cold, crisp air, and smile after smile creeps across the faces of those we meet. Children wait in eager expectation of what is to come, and excitement continues to build.
Mothers and grandmothers are busily engaged in preparing the special meals of the season. Delightful odors in the kitchen cause the mouth to water in anticipation of good things to come.
On the streets the greeting “Merry Christmas,” is heard time and again, and “Joy to the World” fills the airwaves.
Now admittedly, no one knows the month of Jesus’ birthday, much less the exact day, but it was an earth shaking event. The Bible speaks of this momentous turning point in the history of the world in these words, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” This occasion caused both men and angels to rejoice in the long ago, and its echo has permeated the universe from that hour to this.
Talk about love! “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“
O worship the King, all glorious above, and gratefully sing His wonderful love.
In the midst of all of the activities and bustles of the season,
Think About His Love!
John Gipson

PRAYER LIST
Carmen McMillion – Grace Presbyterian Vlg. Room 220.
Doris Henry – Lynnwood – Her new Room Number is Room 603.
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Oleta Landin, Marke Locke, Kim Harrison, Mary Perkins, Morris Miller,
Nancy Spurgeon, Catherine Coronado, Urbanell Cox, Ada Couch, Sylvia & Muriel McMillion, C. B. Henry, Lucille Reid, Marjorie Moore, Bonnie Hinton,Joe Benedick, Treva Traylor, Oleta Armstrong, Addie Bennett, Jennie Wright, Billie Morgan, Naomi Sanchez, Myrtle Brunton, Bea Dipprey, Ruby Faas,Laura Wood, Lois Rodriquez, John & Lillian Rowland, Ida Smith,Nell Tubbs, Holly Lee, Weldon Siler, Mildred Sala, Catherine Jayroe, Faye Shuffield,Geraldine Hurley, Oleta Rogers, Dr. J & Dorothy Coats.
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NEWS & NOTES
THE NEXT “FRIENDSPEAK” MEETING WILL BE JANUARY 6, 2008
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VITAL SIGNS: Dec. 9
Bible Study 66
Morning Worship 89
Afternoon Worship 44
Offering $3,801.00
Budget $3,651.00
Wed. Dec. 5 40
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CHRISTMAS IS REAL
We do not know the birth date of Jesus but we do know that he was born. It is not important that we know when. I had a dear friend that was not sure of his birthday, no birth certificate was ever filed and no surviving family members knew for sure, but we all knew he was born!
Even if we knew for sure the correct date for the birth of Jesus, the Bible nowhere tells that it should be celebrated! Yet, many people celebrate December 25 as though it were the exact date. Most people that I know do not celebrate Christmas as an act of worship to God but simply as a national holiday. It is a wonderful time to spend with family and maybe other friends.
Neither does God tell us to celebrate the advent of a new year but many of us go to New Year’s Eve parties.
Whether or not you celebrate Christmas with religion in mind, it is still real. Thanksgiving Day is real. Nothing has to be ordered by God in order to be real.
Acceptable worship must be by the command of God. It must be regulated by the word of God. May we never confuse our holidays with the worship of God.
The Christmas season is almost upon us. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, the gifts you want, the family get-togethers and whatever else that is right.
It should never be a time for drinking alcohol, carousing and wild parties. Our whole conduct the year long should be moral and honorable.
Lewis G. Hale

REFLECTIONS
by Jack Armstrong
While sitting here writing my column I sometime like to reflect on things that have taken place here at the corner of Jefferson Blvd. just off Hampton Road and down the street from my “’ol Alma Mater”, Sunset High School. Several of us here attended that fine old high school such as: Helen Jones, Bobbie Vivrett, Maurine Fleming, Baby Jones, Yours Truly, our beloved, departed Cecil Ethridge, Byron Rhome, Jerry Rhome, Abe & Lou Barnett and many more. These are just a few who come to mind!
Before Lloyd Lee took over I remember when I was a semi-young fellow and used to mow the grass and trim the hedges and had to mow the lot where the Medical Clinic now sits. Now that was a real chore. I had to tie a rope on the push mower to mow the steep slopes. One day I was out there sweating up a storm and our preacher stopped by and visited with me for a spell and told me it was guys like me that kept him doing what he does, ‘course he always knows the right thing to say at the exact right time.
I remember when Clinton White, Jimmie Morris, and I used to go upstairs and count the collection, sort it out and have it ready for deposit on Monday, and believe me everything had to be just right for Clinton, and he’s the one who eased me into the coordinators job all those years. He was 82 years old back then and I was only 70 or so, but I couldn’t keep up with him. He and his wife Margaret were two of the sweetest Christian folks I’ve ever known. It was always a great pleasure to go down to the “Pecan Plantation” where they last lived, for a visit. Margaret always brought out some of Clinton’s rhubarb pie, that he took great pride in. Then there was Glen & Helen Payne, Roger & Inez Schrum, George & Veona Barker, The Lyons, all the Willis Clan, Gaston & JoAnn Adkins, the Benedicks, the Tysons, Cecil & Arta Ethridge, the Gammons, all the Hintons, and all the others who are not with us anymore who we love so much. It gives me great pleasure to reflect back on all the great times we had with all those wonderful brothers and sisters in the Lord!!
Around this time of year we think of one of the hardest workers in preparing things for our annual Christmas get together, and any time we had something going on, sister Louise Lawrence, our dearly departed sister we all loved deeply as we do brother Paul, who is a mainstay of this congregation, as he was at the Edgefield congregation. What a wonderful example they set for us all!
Well folks we’ve run out of space so we’ll see you next time the good Lord willin’, and we sure enjoyed having Joe & Sharon Hancock with us at
the Holiday Party and December 9 at the worship service.
Remember Our Goal…
“When Duty Becomes Desire”
Semper Fidelis
(Always Faithful)