News and Notes
Men’s Leadership Meeting
We had a good meeting this past Sunday. Our next meeting
will be March 25 at 3:00 p.m. with Pat Lambert presiding.
Thanks
Thanks to Fred and Maxine Duke for the antique wooden table
that is now in the lobby.
Ladies Bible Class
The Ladies Bible Class meets every Wednesday morning at
10:00 AM. Kim Gott is the teacher.
Teen Rally
All who are involved in preparation for the Teen Rally are
asked to meet briefly Wednesday night Feb. 21 after services.
Glenn and Cindy Colley will be here March 10 for our Teen Rally.
Let’s all pray and plan for this event. We will need plenty of 2
liter drinks. You can bring the drinks now and place them in the
kitchen.
Door Knocking for Teen Rally
We will meet Saturday morning March 3rd to advertise our Teen
Rally. More info later.
Annual Couples’ Retreat
Several of our married couples will be in Gatlinburg this
weekend. If you are a Bible class teacher who will be out of
town, make sure you have a substitute, or if not please see
Michael Long.
Guest Speaker
Dean Beard, preacher for Piedmont church of Christ, will teach
the adult class Sunday and will preach on Sunday morning in
Tom’s absence.
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Dr. Seuss Musical
Anyone interested in attending a Dr. Seuss Musical at
Jacksonville State on Sunday, Feb. 25, needs to see Cheryl
Lambert. The musical begins at 2:00.
Somebody Loves You Banquet
Sunday, March 4 at 3:30 P.M.
Honoring those age 50 and over
Hosted by our Teens and Youth
Area Events
Area Wide Singings
Grant Church of Christ
Friday, Feb. 23 from 7 until 9:30 PM
Cedartown Church of Christ
Friday, Feb. 23 at 7:00 PM (EST)
Arab Church of Christ
Friday, March 2 at 7:00 PM
Ladies’ Day
Antioch Church of Christ at Snead
Saturday, Feb. 24 – Registration at 8:30 AM
Speaker: Teddy Copeland from Florence
Theme: “Crock Pot Living
in a Pressure Cooker World”
Islam
Riverchase Church of Christ
Feb. 25 – 27 with Dr. Jack Evans, Sr.
Sun. night at 6 PM - Mon. and Tues. at 7 PM
Ladies’ Day
Ironaton church of Christ in Talladega
Saturday, March 3rd - Registration at 9:00 AM
Speaker: Pam Clark
“What on Earth are we Teaching our Children?”
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The Power
of Public Scripture Reading
The public
reading of Scripture has fallen out of favor with many congregations. As
a result, our people have grown apathetic toward the Oracles of God.
Several years ago, I heard the late Wendell Winkler lament the fact that
brethren who are late for worship often pause in solemn observation of
the public prayers but trample through the auditorium without a moment’s
hesitation during the public reading of God’s Word. He was exactly
right, and what a shame! Should we not demonstrate the same degree of
reverence when God speaks to us as we do when we speak to Him?
Unfortunately, Scripture reading is treated as a chore in many churches.
We typically relegate such an honor to young teenagers who are neither
experienced nor excited at the prospect of their duty. They view the
Scripture reading as a stepping stone for more “substantial” tasks.
However, what greater honor could there be than communicating the
God-breathed message of redemption and salvation to man? In the New
Testament and in the early centuries of the church, Scripture reading
was treated as a central portion of worship and was among its most
revered aspects.
Public Scripture Reading in the New Testament
The primary word translated “read” in the New Testament is anaginosko.
In the majority of cases, the term should be translated “read aloud” (A
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament 60). We can clearly see the
validity of such a translation in some of the passages in which the term
occurs.
In Colossians 4:16 Paul writes, “And when this letter has been read
among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see
that you read the letter from Laodicea” (ESV). We have often been so
caught up in determining what the “letter from Laodicea ” was that we
have missed the meaning of the passage. There is no mistaking the fact
that Paul intends for his letters to be read publicly as an
authoritative part of the church’s common assembly.
Paul not only exhorts but also commands the Thessalonians to read his
letter publicly: “I put you under oath before the Lord to have this
letter read to all the brothers” (1 Thessalonians 5:27 ). The term
translated “I put you under oath,” used only here in the New Testament,
appears on a Greek tomb inscription as a warning to avoid the corpses
lying in the tomb (Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament 216-17). Thus
Paul’s adjuration is likely a binding one. Perhaps a better sense of the
term is, “I hold you to an oath.” He obviously considered the matter a
grave one.
In a third text, Paul encourages his young protégé Timothy to “devote
yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to
teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13 ). Here anaginosko is translated properly as
“public reading.” The term “yourself” is in the singular, indicating
that Paul intends for Timothy to read publicly. Clearly Timothy was
already acquainted with the Scriptures “from childhood” and experienced
their power to “make you wise for salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15 ). Paul is
simply wishing for the congregation to experience their authority “for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness” (v.16).
A final text explicitly expresses the blessing of Scripture when read
aloud: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy,
and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for
the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). This passage appeals not only to the
necessity of public reading but also to the fruit it produces in
hearers. Indeed, if we will read Scripture and intently hear what God
says, we will keep what is written. The Word will cut through our hard
hearts and penetrate the deepest of fleshly desires (Hebrews 4:12 ).
by Justin Rogers
portion of article written in Gospel Advocate-Feb. 2007
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In Our Prayers
Updates: Martha Kirby, Jan Ragsdale, Martha Dowdy, Floyd Hollis,
Betty Pennington and Deana Pendley were all back at services last
Sunday. We are thankful all of these are better. Peggy St. John, Georgia
Parnell and Kevin Edmondson are all sick at home. Marshall Hall was
scheduled for a heart cath on Tues. Feb. 20. Don Guest, father of Stacy
Long, had quadruple bypass surgery in Birmingham on Friday 2/16- he
hopes to be discharged from Trinity Medical Center in a few days. Please
pray for the parents of 19 year old PFC Justin Patton, friend of Robert
& Amy Stigers, and a member of Robert’s platoon, who was killed by enemy
sniper fire in Iraq last week.
Shut In: At Home- Frances Wesson, Martha Phillips and Ruby Brown;
Floyd Hollis is at his daughter’s home and Katie Pendley is at Wanda’s
home
Coosa Valley Healthcare: Canolia Bone –Rm 208
Meadowood Retirement-Walter Thompson Rm 107
Prayer Requests: Canolia Bone; Betty Lankford; Doyle and Betty
May; Amanda Davis; Melissa Telfrey; Katie Pendley; Russell Horton; Floyd
Hollis; Marvin Wing; Larry Phillips, kidney transplant soon; Janice
James; Harvey Sheppard; Ed Turner; Shelia Stansell; Ruby Brown; Frank
Payne, colon cancer; Ken Pylant, friend of the Hodges, has prostate
cancer; Ottey Simon-young girl from Guyana with an eye tumor; Amy
Stigers and Anna Sanders and their families as Robert and Gary are in
Iraq; Sara Murphy- 7 yr old girl with non-Hodgkins lymphoma; Rita
Waller, sister of Sandy Statom, who has lost peripheral vision in both
eyes; Shane Leath, a relative of Wanda Laney, has leukemia and other
health problems; Tara Lovell, friend of the Blys, has health problems;
Bill Carter, friend of the Blys, has a spot on his lung; Merlene & Steve
Gregory, anniversary of their son’s death; Kendall Conder, friend of
Kacie Jackson, having health problems; Grant Lassiter, friend of Kacie
Jackson, having family problems; James Pendley and Pat Lambert and
others will arrive back from Guyana on Feb. 26 & 27; family of Ronnie &
Cheri Kitchens; family of Rosemary Headrick; Don Guest, father of Stacy
Long
In the Military- Mack Johnson, William Gregory, Jared Jacobs,
Jeff Brewster, Steven Whitehead, Randy Brown, Johnny Matherne, Jeff
Erwin, Bill McCarver, Stan Gunter, Kevin Latta, Allen Yancey, Nathan
Silvey, Gary Sanders and Robert Stigers.
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God’s Word
John 14:7-11 NKJV
7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from
now on you know Him and have seen Him."
8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient
for us."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not
known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you
say, 'Show us the Father'?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The
words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the
Father who dwells in Me does the works.
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else
believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
Thank You
Somehow, a mere thank-you card seems like such an inadequate way to
express my gratitude. The prayers, cards, calls and all the offers for
help is really what it’s all about. I’ll always remember and adore every
one of you.
Martha Kirby
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Happy Birthday!
Feb. 27 – Stephanie Pittard
Feb. 28 – Mallorie West
March 1 – Kelly Jones
Happy Anniversary!
March 1 – Michael & Sandy Statom
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