Listeners

    One of the best things about our Awana program is the Listeners.  We pair each kid with an adult who spends about twenty minutes each evening helping them with their work and building a relationship.  The kids know who their person is and they go straight to them. 

It has been so successful that we are going to expand it to include the teen group.  Alfred’s teen group is very enthusiastic and have been great help in the skits during the opening. 

Recently we have had some visitors sign up and it just made sense to have adults that will build relationships with them.  Studies show that the more adults a kid knows at Church the more likely they are to retain their faith. 

What the listeners are doing is critical to the spiritual success of our kids.  Thank you so much for your work.

Have a great weekend.
Allen L. Close

Sermon: “The Touch of Jesus” Mark 1:40-45

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You

As I go through this life,
O my God, this I pray
May I do what You will,
May I walk all the way…with You

May the words that I speak,
May the thoughts of my heart,
May the songs that I sing,
Praise and glory impart…to You.

May the help that I give
To a person in need,
Show concern for others,
As expressed by my deed…like You

May I bow to Your will
And be filled with Your grace,
May my yielding to You
Show the trust that I place…in You

May I praise only You,
Lord of all, God above,
May I grow near to You,
May my life show my love…for You.

DJ Lee

Sermon: “The Disciplines of Jesus” Mark 1:35-39

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In Matthew chapter 22, Jesus tells the parable of a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. When those who had been invited refused to come, he opened the invitation to everyone. It was the custom for the king to provide wedding garments for the guests. It was usually a long white robe. To refuse to accept or wear the gift was an expression of highest contempt toward the king.

When this king went in to see his guests, he found one man not wearing the robe. He questioned the man who had no excuse. He had deliberately rejected the king’s gift. In anger, the king had him cast from the splendor of the feast into the darkness of the street.

One day there will be a heavenly banquet. The king, the Lord God Almighty, wants all to come. He has provided the wedding garment. “He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:10) These garments are far more costly than a long white robe. To refuse them is to insult the Creator of the universe. To wear them, shows grateful respect to God Who offers salvation through His Son. Only those clothed in God’s garments can be present at the banquet.

Let us humbly don the robe of righteousness God has provided as we eagerly await His feast.

DJ Lee

Sermon:  “Why Was Jesus Baptized?” Mark 1:9-13”

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Thank You!

     We all know that saying “Thank you” is important.  Last Sunday we had our first Awana event and all I want to say is “Thank you.”  Everything went smoothly because we had plenty of help to do something that takes a lot of help.  We had everything we needed because the elders and this congregation are behind what we are doing.  It was organized because I was smart enough to ask Kathy and Tausha to help me get things ready.  I loved roaming through the building watching everyone do their job so well.  Everything made me smile and be thankful.  Most of all, I am thankful to God.  We asked him to bless our efforts and to put his Holy Spirit behind this and we saw it in the eyes of the kids.  They all got a heavy dose of Bible story, Bible memorization, relationships with adults, and fun.  Praise God.  This is a combination that will grow results for years to come.  Thank you God.

Have a great weekend.
Allen L. Close

Sermon: “Elders”
I Peter 5:1-4

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Mother’s Day Blessings
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

“Her children arise and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:28-29

Sermon: “The Powerful Influence of Women”
Romans 13:7-8

This coming up Monday we will hold a service for Alice Stephens. Alice lived alone in her apartment off Hopeman Parkway for a long time and finally had to move into Choice of Waynesboro, a care facility. I know we always say it, but this time it is as true as it has ever been that she is in a better place. When I first moved here, I didn’t realize that Alice suffered mentally. I would argue with her sometimes over the things she said. I eventually realized to not do that. This week, all of Alice’s problems came to an end. I believe she will make a beeline to Jesus to ask him to heal her just like the woman who suffered from bleeding did. The next time we see Alice, we might expect her to say something crazy, but she won’t. She will be in her right mind – completely healed. That is the gospel.

Have a great weekend.
Allen L. Close

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PREACHING TODAY

Alfred Toole

ELDER OF THE MONTH FOR MAY

Brent Starkey

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Christmas and Easter

Every December I preach about the birth of Jesus and on Easter, I preach about the cross. I don’t ever get tired of it because both events are central to Christianity. How could you ever run out of things to talk about in relation to the crucifixion of Jesus? This year I will preach on his death in a way that I never have. I like to talk about the power of the life of Jesus but this Sunday I will preach about the power of his death. If we had been alive at the time we would have intensely wanted Jesus to live, but what we actually needed was for him to die. We have an enemy, Death, that is merciless and cruel. Easter addresses the question to God, “Can you do anything about that?” Obviously, Easter is God’s way of saying, “Yes, I can. And, yes I will.” Hallelujah for the saving power of God that is the heart of the gospel.

See you on Sunday.
Allen L. Close

Sermon: “The death of Death”
I Corinthians 15

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Broken Toys
As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
Because He was my friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help,
With ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried,
“How can you be so slow?”
“My child,” He said,
“What could I do? You never did let go.”
Bulletin Digest

Sermon: “Jesus Enters Jerusalem”

Matthew 21:1-11

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