Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene

June 28, 2009

2009-06-25T22:54:00.001-04:00

What is WMB?

WMB is a ministry of our church to reach the world with the greatest news of all. God loves everyone across the globe. This love is seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

World Mission Broadcast (WMB) uses radio signals, TV signals, Internet, and every communication means to share the good news of Jesus.

World Mission Broadcast reaches out in: 31 languages, 74 countries, and 112 programs

“I was a Buddhist but began going to the Lampang Church of the Nazarene because of the radio program Friend to Friend and because of a sign in front of the church that said, “Friend…the only word that matters.”

“When I first listened to the radio program I was afraid and not brave enough to call the church because I was sure it was a trick. I had been fooled by many people promising to be my friend only to take advantage of me. But at the church I learned there is no one who loves me as much as God does. Now I understand what peace is because Jesus is my friend.”

“Being a Christian isn’t about changing religions, it is about God changing our life. In the past I tried to convince people who had converted from Buddhism to Christianity to switch back. But now, I encourage everyone to listen to the radio program Friend to Friend from the Church of the Nazarene and to find Christ.”

–Inthun, former Buddhist, now a believer in Christ –Lampang, Thailand

Prayer Petitions: Scott Messer has been suffering with seizures. Bill Reece is recovering very well from his surgery. Ben Lowe is recovering well from his surgery. Continue to pray for Tina Limburg for renewed strength. Karen Owens. Rozanne Funkhouser. Alma Abell. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Louis Conyers. Mary Pierson. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Missionaries: Robert Pickle- Set Free Ministries. Dan & Sheri Miller. Dana Harding. Daniel Duke. Bob & Janet Miller. Dee Sudnig. Lindell & Kay Browning. Bill & Kay Swesay. Ken & Linda Walker. Greg & Amy Crofford. Wayne & Connie LaForce. Mark Ryan. Dan & Margaret Clark. Scott and Emily Armstrong. Kathy Matson. Matt & Priscilla Parrett.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams. Albert Pence.

NEWS -

A new Sunday School Class for young adults is forming to study the topic The Case for Christ. This class meets every Sunday evening 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Softball practice is Monday 6:00 p.m. at Williamsburg.

Small group discipleship study is this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The ladies are studying the Beth Moore series Breaking Free- Your Liberty in Christ. The men will spend time praying and studying I Peter.

Praise Team Singers practice each Wednesday 7 p.m.

Recycle your computer printer cartridges Bring your used cartridges to the church and place them in the white box in the foyer for the daycare.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898.

Next Sunday is our Call2Fall day of celebrating our dependence upon God for our nation. The Bible declares, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Commander Michael H. Imhof, U.S. Navy (retired), is our guest speaker. was born in Fort Bragg and raised in Blasdell, New York. After receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree of Science, he was commissioned in 1973. After completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, Commander Imhof was assigned to SEAL Team TWO, and subsequent Naval Special Warfare.

Commander Imhof has served throughout the world in numerous positions including Platoon Commander, Training Officer, Operations Officer, Staff Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer. His awards include Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star; and United Nations Medal.

He has lived in Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Panama, South Korea, Liberia, Sudan, Sinai and Afghanistan besides serving in numerous other countries throughout the world. On 17 December 1981, he was hijacked in Southern Lebanon while on duty with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. He believes his later escape was truly a blessing of God.

As military officer of strong Christian convictions, he is ready and willing to share his faith. The Bible is his authoritative and uncompromised Word of God. Positions in Christian service include: Evangelist, Church Board Member; Adult Sunday School Teacher; Youth Sunday School Teacher; Head Usher; Prayer Team Member; Director of Nursing Home Outreach, Board Member of Operation Love Ministries; Link Prison Fellowship Participant; and Chairman of Charity Fund-Raiser Events.

You will appreciate the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in his testimony y Spirit in encouraging, edifying and inspiring others in the things of God.

Church Calendar:

Sat. July 4: “Independence Day”

Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

Sun. July 5: “Call2Fall Day” with Mike Imhof.

Sun. July 12: ‘eat and meet’ church board, 12:30 p.m.

Mon. July 13: Vacation Bible School begins, 9:30 a.m.

Sat. July 18: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast

Sun. July 19: Vacation Bible School Program

Jeremiah 23:24“Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.”

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Sunday, June 14, 2009

2009-06-16T09:41:00.001-04:00

Prayer Petitions: Bill Reece is recovering very well from his surgery. Ben Lowe is recovering well from his surgery. Continue to pray for Tina Limburg for renewed strength. Karen Owens. Rozanne Funkhouser. Alma Abell. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Louis Conyers. Mary Pierson. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams. Albert Pence.

NEWS -

Church elections results:

Sunday School Superintendent: Kevin Rogers

Missionary President: Melissa Sutton

Trustee: Jason Johnson, David Shepherd, Monty Sutton, Frank Swoveland

Stewards: Sharon Brothers, Amanda Johnson, Kathie Stomm, Chris Walker

A new Sunday School Class for young adults is forming to study the topic The Case for Christ. This class will begin this Sunday evening.

Congratulations to James and Bethany! Their wedding was yesterday with Pastor Ames officiating.

Softball practice is Monday 6:00 p.m. at Williamsburg. *Richmond Friday game: 6:00 p.m. Diamond 1.

*Williamsburg Saturday games: Team 1 9:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Team 2 12:45 & 2:00 p.m.

Praise Team Singers practice each Wednesday 7 p.m.

Thank you for giving. Jesus said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Next Sunday our fathers will be honored in the morning service. Let’s make this a special day for the youngest, eldest, the most productive dad, and for all dads.

Recycle your computer printer cartridges Bring your used cartridges to the church and place them in the white box in the foyer for the daycare.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898.

Thank you to those who helped move our baby grand piano, for those who helped weed-eat the bank, and for those who helped assemble child care play equipment.

Students Recite the Lord's Prayer
Despite threats from the American Civil Liberties Union, nearly 400 students at Pace High School in Santa Rosa County, Florida, stood and recited the Lord's Prayer during their graduation ceremony. The prayer was recited in protest of a lawsuit the ACLU had previously filed against the school alleging the principal asked the athletic director to bless a meal at an awards ceremony. “The ACLU had actually threatened the school that they would be in trouble with the court if any student or any kind of religious message was given at this graduation. They did not want any student to say anything religious, or no prayer,” said Matt Staver of Liberty Counsel. “The students would not take this sitting down, and they decided to fight back.” Liberty Counsel says they will defend any students if action is taken against them. [WorldNetDaily, Liberty Counsel]

Church Calendar:

Sun. June 4: Church Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.
Sat. June 20: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.
Sun. June 21: Father’s Day

Pastor: Rev. Robert Fannin, Ph: 489-5440

Assoc. Pastor: Rev. David Ames 465-4463

Amazing Angels Child Care, Ph: 489-3544

Website http://HagerstownNazarene.org

Psalm 103:13“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;”

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Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2009

2009-06-10T23:37:00.001-04:00

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” We are present on the first day of the week putting God first in our worship. Welcome!

In the Christian calendar the Sunday following Pentecost Sunday is known as Trinity Sunday. It’s a day for focusing on what theologians call the Triune God- The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The diagram is called triquetra. The three equal arcs are interwoven into one continuous line. All three arcs form into one figure. Christians believe in only one God. Yet we talk about the doctrine of the Trinity or the teaching that God has revealed Himself in three persons.

Someone said about the concept of the Trinity, “You will lose your soul if you don’t believe it, and you will lose your mind if you try to explain it.”

The bottom line is this: God (one Person) has been revealed to mankind in three ways. He is our Creator, who then came to Earth as our Savior (in the person of Jesus) and is eternally present with us as the Holy Spirit.

On Trinity Sunday, we praise the Father-God above us, the Son-God with us, and the Spirit-God in us. It took the God to plan, prepare, and provide for our salvation.

Prayer Petitions: Bill Reece is recovering very well from his surgery last Wednesday. Ben Lowe is recovering well from his surgery. The family of Travis Casteel. Continue to pray for Tina Limburg for renewed strength. Karen Owens. The family of Ray Hall. His funeral was Friday. Rozanne Funkhouser. Alma Abell. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Louis Conyers. Mary Pierson. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams. Albert Pence.

NEWS:

Church elections results:

Sunday School Superintendent: Kevin Rogers

Missionary President: Melissa Sutton

Trustee: Jason Johnson, David Shepherd, Monty Sutton, Frank Swoveland

Stewards: Sharon Brothers, Amanda Johnson, Kathie Stomm, Chris Walker

The Wedding of Jasmine and Seth is set for today at the Farmers Pike Festival Lighthouse, 2:30 p.m. Reception is at Hagerstown Elementary Cafeteria.

Wayne County Holiness Campmeeting final service is tonight at 7:00 p.m. We will dismiss our evening service in order to attend this service.

Softball practice is Monday 6:00 p.m. at Williamsburg. Hagerstown won Friday’s game at Richmond. On Saturday Hagerstown Team 1 won both their double-header.

There are no games this coming weekend.

Praise Team Singers practice each Wednesday 7 p.m.

A new Sunday School Class for young adults is forming to study the topic The Case for Christ. This class will be moved to Sunday evening beginning June 14^th.

Thank you for giving unto the Lord. The Bible states to the Old Testament people to “honor the Lord with the firstfruits of all your increase.” “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898.

Recycle your computer printer cartridges Bring your used cartridges to the church and place them in the white box in the foyer for the daycare.

The Wedding of Bethany and James is set for next Saturday at New Castle Memorial Park 2:00 p.m. Reception following. Everyone is Welcome.

A baby grand piano has been donated to our church. We need help to move it from downtown to the church tomorrow morning around 9:00.

June Declared 'LGBT Pride Month'
President Barack Obama has proclaimed the month of June 2009 as “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.” Obama states in the official proclamation, “The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more to be done.” The most recent reliable figures, from a study called the “National Health and Social Life Survey” in 1994, found that only 2.8 % of American men and 1.4 % of American women reported some level of homosexual or bisexual identity.

Church Calendar:

Today: Wedding of Jasmine and Seth, 2:30 p.m.

Mon. June 8: Softball practice, 6:00 p.m.

Wed. June 10: District NYI Convention, 9:00 a.m.

Sun. June 4: Church Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

Sat. June 20: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

Sun. June 21: Father’s Day

Final May Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 31^st

Received

For the Month

Disbursed

For the Month

Tithes and Offering

1,533.18

7,857.34

7,420.89

Building Fund Loan

282.00

964.00

735.00

Missions

133.00

605.13

588.02

Colossians 3:13“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

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April 12, 2009

2009-04-19T20:23:00.001-04:00

The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!

Resurrection means…

The resurrection of Jesus is the very foundation of Christianity. If Christ had never been raised from the dead, we’d have no Christian religion.

God’s power was at work in Christ’s death and resurrection. “It was on the resurrection fact that the church was built,” said New Testament scholar James Stewart.

Paul understood that the resurrection was the bedrock of our Christian faith. “If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain,” he wrote to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 15:14). The apostle went on to say, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (v. 17).

The resurrection proves that Jesus is Lord and Savior. Its authenticity means that by faith in Christ, we are reconciled with God.

Billy Graham said the risen Christ is the bridge between us and God. “One of Christ’s hands holds the hand of God; his other hand holds ours.”

Prayer Petitions: Remember Faithe Haeck and Paula Fannin. The babies can come any day (grandma’s bags are packed). Diana Ames is recovering well from foot surgery. Alma Abell. Herb Dumford. Mary Beth Thalls is at Renaissance Specialty Hospital. Bryan Holt. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Louis Conyers. Mary Pierson. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence is in Ball Memorial Hospital. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams. Karen Sitzler.

Softball practice is Monday 6:00 p.m. at Williamsburg weather permitting. Seth and Richard are our coaches. We enjoy a good physical work-out with fun and fellowship.

Small group discipleship study this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The ladies have begun studying the Beth Moore series Breaking Free- Your Liberty in Christ. The men will spend time in prayer and begin studying I Peter.

Praise Team Lead Singers practice each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

A brand new Sunday School Class will form and begin the first Sunday in May with Jason Johnson leading.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898.

Recycle your computer printer cartridges Bring your used cartridges to the church and place them in the white box in the foyer for the daycare fundraiser.

Our Goal is $2000

We believe that Jesus’ Great Commission to go and make disciples of all the nations includes supporting the missionaries God has called. This offering will support taking the Good News of Christ around the world. “Let’s Get the Word Out!”

Rural Urban Banquet is this Saturday, April 25, 5:30, at Hagerstown High School with speaker Chuck Avery. The cost for an evening of chicken noodle dinner, entertainment by Martha Hall Bowman, and tons of doors prizes is $5.00 each. See Pastor Fannin for tickets.

Adam’s Voice Singers will be here next Sunday, April 26, in the 10:40 Sunday morning worship service. With six recording projects Adam’s Voice communicates God’s love through music to churches across the nation. Most recently they were guest vocalist on Bill Gaither’s 2008 Homecoming Tour.

Death and Resurrection of the Messiah is the video series that will continue next Sunday evening at 6:00. Our session will be The Gates of Hell.

Coming Up:

Sat. Apr. 25: Annual Rural-Urban Banquet, 5:30 p.m.

Sun. Apr. 26: Adam’s Voice Singers

Thu. Apr. 30: Coaches meeting at Williamsburg, 7:00 p.m.

Sat. May 2: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Sun. May 3: Church Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

Sat. May 9: Kayla McCormick’s College Graduation

Sun. May 10: Mother’s Day

Thu. May 14: Celebrate Life begins at Olivet

Sat. May 16: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

April Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 12^th

Received so far

for this Month

Goal for

this Month

Tithes and Offering

1,247.98

3,971.94

6,000.00

Building Fund Loan

119.00

430.00

735.00

Missions

Easter

56.00

876.40

111.75

976.40

400.00

2,000.00

April 12, 2009

2009-04-11T22:24:00.001-04:00

We are Easter People

Though the English word “Easter” comes from the name of a pagan feast in England, the celebration itself has no pagan roots. The Christian Easter is rooted in an actual datable event: the resurrection of Christ in the year 30 A.D.

The first celebration of Easter was not a yearly event but a weekly one. To the early Christians every Sunday was a mini-Easter. After Jesus’ death on the cross He first appeared to his fearful disciples on a Sunday. When Jesus reappeared to the disciples the following Sunday, doubting Thomas was there and fell to his knees exclaiming, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus told Thomas, “You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who haven't seen Me and believe anyway” (John 20:29). Christ died for us and was raised to new life! Believe and be saved, and become as blessed as an apostle.

The evidences of Jesus’ resurrection surround us. The early church thrived in the city where Jesus was put to death and now thrives around the world.

Jewish Christians began the Sunday worship. Though Saturday was the written-in-stone worship day for the Jews, the resurrection of Christ eventually caused Sunday to become the Christian worship day.

Changed lives are the greatest evidence. Any person can encounter the resurrected Christ by admitting they have a broken relationship with God, by believing Christ died to restore that relationship, and by confessing Jesus as Lord of their lives. Only believers know the reality of Christ. Receiving Christ brings hope and a new beginning that is out of this world.

Prayer Petitions: Remember Faithe Haeck. The baby can come any day (grandma’s bags are packed). Diana Ames is recovering very well from foot surgery. Alma Abell. Herb Dumford. Mary Beth Thalls is at Renaissance Specialty Hospital. Bryan Holt. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Louis Conyers. Mary Pierson. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence is in Ball Memorial Hospital. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams. Karen Sitzler.

Our Good Friday Community Service hosted by our church was a special time for our community to combine in a special service commemorating the suffering of our Lord

Special thanks are in order to Chris Walker and the Praise Team Singers and to Seth and Jason for a great Sight and Sound presentation. Attendance was nearly 100.

Softball practice is Monday at 6:00 p.m. Williamsburg weather permitting. Seth and Richard are our coaches. We enjoy a good physical work-out with fun and fellowship.

Death and Resurrection of the Messiah is the video series that will continue next Sunday evening at 6:00. Our session will be The Gates of Hell.

Thanks to those who helped us have a great time with the children’s Easter egg hunt.

Small group discipleship study is this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The men will study How to Use Scripture in Helping People. The ladies will begin studying the Beth Moore series Breaking Free- Your Liberty in Christ.

Praise Team Singers practice Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

Sunday School teachers ‘eat and meet’ next Sunday following the morning service.

Our Goal is $2000

We believe that Jesus’ Great Commission to go and make disciples of all the nations includes supporting the missionaries God has called. Today’s offering will support taking the Good News of Christ around the world. “Let’s Get the Word Out!”

A brand new Sunday School Class will form and begin the first Sunday in May with Jason Johnson leading.

Wedding Shower for Michele Hupp is set for this Saturday, April 18, 2:00 p.m. in the OutPost. Michele is from Pomeroy, OH, and is engaged to Richard Butler. Their wedding date is Saturday, May 16.

Rural Urban Banquet is Saturday, April 25, 5:30, at Hagerstown High School with special speaker Chuck Avery. The cost for an evening of chicken noodle dinner, entertainment by Martha Hall Bowman, and tons of doors prizes is $5.00 each. See Pastor Fannin for tickets.

Adam’s Voice Singers will be here April 26 in the 10:40 Sunday morning worship service. With six recording projects Adam’s Voice communicates God’s love through music to churches across the nation. Most recently they were guest vocalist on Bill Gaither’s 2008 Homecoming Tour.

Church Calendar at a Glance

Today: SonRise Service and Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Celebration Easter Service, 10:00 a.m.

Sat. Apr. 18: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

Wedding Shower for Michele Hupp, 2:00 p.m.

Sat. Apr. 25: Annual Rural-Urban Banquet, 5:30 p.m.

Sun. Apr. 26: Adam’s Voice Singers

April Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 5^th

Received so far

for this Month

Goal for

this Month

Tithes and Offering

2,724.00

8,589.23

Building Fund Loan

311.00

735.00

Missions

Easter

55.75

100.00

55.75

100.00

400.00

2,000.00

1 Peter 2:24“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

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March 29, 2009

2009-03-30T12:01:00.001-04:00

We sincerely desire that everyone present will feel welcome in the Lord’s house. Contribute a special effort of love and acceptance to those around you in the name of our Lord Jesus.

Every January many of us make the New Year’s resolution to lose weight. It is perpetually on our list because we never actually do it. Even though we make a concerted effort this past year, we managed only to lose a few pounds. Why bother? What’s the use in making resolutions that seem incapable of being kept?

But just think about this verse in Lamentations:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (3:22-23).

While we might be ready to give up on ourselves, the Lord is not. He never gives up on us. When we come to the end of ourselves, when we fail and fall short, his mercies are new every morning. His steadfast love never ceases. He is there ready to help us start over and try again.

We may convince ourselves that we will never be as thin as we want to be, but we can at least be healthier for the trying. The same lesson holds true for our spiritual goals as well. We may never be as close to God as we should be, but the more we try and fail and try again, relying on his never-failing mercy, the closer we will get. And that’s what we believe life is all about — striving to know and love God better every day. On bad days, when we are discouraged, we can find the strength to persevere in knowing that God’s mercy is there to help us anew every morning.

—adapted from Kari Myers, “New Mercies,” The Link, January 2004, 12.

Prayer Petitions: Diana Ames is home recovering well from foot surgery last Friday. Alma Abell is home from the hospital. Herb Dumford. Mary Beth Thalls is at Renaissance Specialty Hospital. Bryan Holt. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Louis Conyers. Mary Pierson. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence is in Ball Memorial Hospital. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams. Karen Sitzler is recovering from a broken leg.

Softball season begins soon. Practice is Monday at Williamsburg 6:00 p.m. Seth and Richard are our coaches. We enjoy a good physical work-out, fun, and fellowship.

Death and Resurrection of the Messiah is the video series that we will continue this evening at 6:00. Our session is titled Piercing the Darkness.

We can all identify in certain areas of our culture where Satan’s activities are active. It can be more difficult recognizing where the light of God is piercing the spiritual darkness in these areas. Which places seem so evil that you don’t want anything to do with them? Jesus visited such a place and only had one convert. He was immediately driven out. But the long term results were crucial to the church.

Holiness Today is our church magazine for the denomination. It has articles of inspiration and information to live a holy life for today. Drop a note in the offering plate if you wish to receive a copy.

Small group discipleship study this Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. is How to Use Scripture in Helping People.

Praise Team Lead Singers practice each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Be there, be square.

Alabaster offering keeps coming. As of last Sunday we have received $377.91. We appreciate everyone saving their pocket change for this foreign mission building fund.

Thanks very mulch to John Sutton, Dean Auker, Kerry Sutton, Jamie Grubs, Amazing Angels, and others for spreading Day Care mulch for the playground.

Our Easter Offering Goal for missions is $2,000. Your sacrificial giving enables our church to take God’s Good News of Jesus to all the nations.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898.

Faith in the news: While many speculate that the recent economic downturn would cause a return to God and church, a new study released by Gallup shows church attendance and the importance of religion in our lives has not changed over the past year. Research shows that:

65% of the population says that religion is important in their daily lives (64% in Feb. 2008).
42% say they attend church, synagogue or mosque weekly (41% in Feb. 2008).

The study also shows that the percentage of Democrats, Republicans and independents who say they attend church, synagogue or mosque weekly or almost weekly has also remained constant over the past year.

Republicans — 55% (55% in March 2008).
Democrats — 34% (34% in March 2008).
Independents — 37% (37% in March 2008).

Coming Up:

Mon. Mar. 30: Nettle Creek Schools Spring break begins

Sat. Apr. 4: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Sun. Apr. 5: Sunday School Teachers ‘eat and meet’

Sun. Apr. 5: Church Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

Fri. Apr. 10: Good Friday Community Service, 7:00 p.m.

Sun. Apr. 12: SonRise Service and Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Celebration Easter Service, 10:00 a.m.

March Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 22^nd

Received so far

for this Month

Goals for

this Month

Tithes and Offering

1,658.35

7,153.50

6,000.00

Building Fund Loan

287.00

799.00

735.00

Missions

Alabaster

132.83

81.89

354.83

151.16

500.00

100.00

Isaiah 53:3-4“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.”

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March 22, 2009

2009-03-22T19:58:00.001-04:00

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we have gathered as the family of God. Reach out a friendly hand to those around you. Welcome!

High on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful city of Venice, Italy, there lived an old blind man who was very wise. Legend has it that he could answer any question anyone might ask of him.

Two of the local boys figured they could fool the old man. So they caught a small bird and headed for his residence. One of the boys held the little bird in his hands and asked the old man if the bird was dead or alive.

Without hesitation the old man said, “Son, if I say to you that the bird is alive, you will close your hands and crush it to death. If I say the bird is dead, you will open your hands and the bird will fly away. You see, son, in your hands you hold the power of life and death.”

Likewise in our hands we have the awesome power of deciding whether we will choose good or evil. Choose good; more good will follow. Choose evil; less good you will have. Choosing the good comes down to doing what you ought to do rather than doing what you want to do. Choices not chance determines your destiny.

Prayer Petitions: The son of the Economy Methodist Church’s pastor, Wendy Cannon, was killed in an auto accident Friday. Diana Ames is home recovering well from foot surgery last Friday. Alma Abell. Herb Dumford. Mary Beth Thalls. Bryan Holt. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Louis Conyers. Mary Pierson. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence is in Ball Memorial Hospital. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

NEWS -

Softball season begins soon. Practice is Monday at Williamsburg 6:00 p.m. Seth and Richard are our coaches. We enjoy good physical work-out, fun, and fellowship.

Death and Resurrection of the Messiah is the video series that we will begin this evening at 6:00. Our first session is When Storms Come.

We often take for granted that the Bible is about real people in real situations. Our Western ways of thinking spiritualize the faith of Bible people in the sense that we tend to think that our earthly experience is simply preparation for an eternity in the “Promised Land.” This distorts God’s mission for us. That mission is the same one He gave to the Israelites: to live obediently within the world so that through us, the world may know that our God is the One true God.

Small group discipleship study this Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. is How To Help People Who Hurt.

Praise Team Lead Singers practice each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Be there, be square.

Gideon Offering last Sunday was a record breaking $279. Our speaker, Mike Fry, is a very passionate Gideon. He loves God’s word and loves distributing it. Let’s continue to pray for the Gideon ministry around the world.

Our Easter Offering Goal for missions is $2,000. Your sacrificial giving enables our church to take God’s Good News of Jesus to all the nations.

Our sanctuary lights need replaced. Pledge with us that we may purchase new fixtures. Approximate cost per fixture is $200. The wiring of our original fixtures has deteriorated to where the insulation crumbles.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898.

Faith in the news: The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) announced that it has reached an agreement with the New York Department of Transportation to allow a tractor-trailer owned by Daniel Burritt to remain on his private property that sits beside a public highway. The source of the contention was the fact that Burritt's tractor-trailer, which is used to store supplies for his construction company, has the following message on each side and is positioned so that all travelers on U.S. Route 11 can see it:

Your way or God's way?
Jesus said "I am the Way the Truth and the Life
No man comes to the Father except by me"
Will you spend eternity with Jesus?

The trailer has been there since August 2007. Last May, the transportation department sent him a letter stating the trailer was in violation of state law, would require a permit, would be declared a "public nuisance" and would be forcibly removed if he did not move it himself. ADF discovered that the agency does not require permits for similar commercial messages and sued on behalf of Burritt, alleging the state had violated the U.S. Constitution and Burritt's First Amendment rights to free speech. [WorldNetDaily.com]

Coming Up:

Sun. Mar. 29: Sunday School Teachers ‘eat and meet’

Mon. Mar. 30: Nettle Creek Schools Spring break begins

Sat. Apr. 4: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Sun. Apr. 5: Church Board Meeting, 4:30 p.m.

Fri. Apr. 10: Good Friday Community Service, 7:00 p.m.

Sun. Apr. 12: SonRise Service and Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Celebration Easter Service, 10:00 a.m.

March Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 15^th

Received so far

for this Month

Goals for

this Month

Tithes and Offering

828.50

5,495.50

6,000.00

Building Fund Loan

56.00

512.00

735.00

Missions

Alabaster

55.00

00.00

222.00

69.27

500.00

100.00

Ephesians 6:10-11“[The Armor of God] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.”

Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

March 8, 2009

2009-03-08T20:28:00.001-04:00

Worship God with adoration in the sanctuary location. Put God first to quench your thirst and greet others as you wish to be greeted.

A fresh look at Holy Communion

A minister was having lunch with a retired college professor when the professor said that he looked upon Communion as a form of cannibalism. The pastor was so astounded that he decided to examine the meaning of the sacrament again.

His re-examination of the meaning of the Lord’s Supper yielded these thoughts:

1. Communion is extremely important because Jesus asked his followers to follow the practice often – in remembrance of Him. (See Luke 22:19) Was that a request we should ignore?

2. Communion is significant because it reminds us of the price Christ paid for our salvation – his death on the cross. “This is my body, which is given for you” (Luke 22:19, NRSV).

3. It is also a symbol of the new covenant which God has made with us in Christ. Upon taking the cup of wine, our Lord said, “This is my blood of the new covenant” (Matthew 26:28, NRSV). He is our Lord. Communion helps us remember that we are His people, servants of the covenant-maker.

4. The sacrament is a vivid reminder that we are grateful that we are tied to Christ and look forward to His ultimate triumph on Earth. We partake of Communion joyfully, thanking God for the gift of Christ and anticipating his final victory when He shall be known worldwide as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).

-The NewsletterNewsletter, March, 2006

Prayer Petitions: Candi Robertson, Carolyn Talbott’s daughter, was involved in a serious accident yesterday. Pastor Fannin’s aunt Mary passed away last week. Remember the Denna family. Herb Dumford. Mary Beth Thalls. Bryan Holt. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Louis Conyers. Mary Pierson. Albert Abbott, Juanita’s neighbor, passed away. Diana Ames. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

Fortville Church of the Nazarene will host a Wild Game Night this Saturday, March 14, 6:00 p.m. with Eddie Brochin and his red-tailed hawk. Eddie hosts “OUTDOORS WITH EDDIE BROCHIN” TV show which airs nationwide every Saturday morning on World Harvest Television Network (Channel 321 on Direct TV).

This event includes a carry-in dinner featuring wild game dishes. There is no set cost for the evening; however, donations will be accepted. If you are interested in attending, let Pastor Fannin know.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898.

Praise Team Lead Singers practice each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Be there, be square.

Alabaster offering is the building fund for our missionaries. We receive this offering every September and February. As of last Sunday we have received $266.81. A year ago last February we received $505.92. If you haven’t given yours, you may still bring it this month.

Celebrate Life was yesterday for our teens at Indy Westside Nazarene. Those from our church include Derek Talbott, Tyler Funkhouser, Gabe Shepherd, Ashley Fletcher, and Skyler Fletcher.

Thank you, Amanda and Kathie, for your decorating the church sanctuary and bulletin board.

Faith in the news:

Supreme Court Allows Local Government Control Over Public Displays In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark First Amendment ruling, clearing the way for local governments to place monuments of their choosing in public places. The American Center for Law and Justice asked the high court to overturn a decision by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that ordered Pleasant Grove City, Utah, to display a monument from a self-described church called Summum because the city displays the Ten Commandments in a public park. The Supreme Court decided that the city has the right to decide for itself. "It clears the way for government to express its views and its history through the selection of monuments — including religious monuments and displays," said Jay Sekulow, ACLJ chief counsel for the case.[WorldNetDaily.com]

Coming Up:

Sun. Mar. 8: Baby Shower- Jessica Ames, OutPost 2 p.m.

Church Board Mtg, 4:30 p.m.

Thu. Mar. 12: Pastors’ Gideon Banquet

Sat. Mar. 14: Secret Sisters- Reveal / Sign up / Pitch-in, OutPost 4:00 p.m.

Wild Game Night at Fortville Nazarene

Sun. Mar. 15: Gideon Sunday

Sat. Mar. 21: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

March Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 1^st

Received so far

for the Month

Goal for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

1,900.00

6,000.00

Building Fund Loan

124.00

735.00

Missions

Alabaster

84.00

40.06

84.00

40.06

719.00

.00

February 9, 2009

2009-02-09T20:33:00.001-05:00

X = KISS

During the Middle Ages, when few people were able to write, many documents were signed with an X. Signers kissed the letter to affirm their sincerity in the same way they kissed the Bible when taking an oath.

The letter X wasn’t selected at random. It was the sign of St. Andrew, who was crucified on an X-shaped cross. The X implied a sacred promise to fulfill one’s obligation in the saint’s name.

What Tony learned

When Tony Snow was 17, he watched his mother die of colon cancer. In his early 50s, he learned that he, too, had the disease. Sadly, it was too late to do much about it.

As White House press secretary, Snow sometimes shared with members of the press what he was going through. At one gathering, he told what he’d learned during his ordeal. “You have to learn something that is very hard in the modern era,” he said, “and that is you have to give yourself to God, to surrender.”

Snow discovered that he could find joy even in sickness. Beyond the pain and worries about his family, he sensed God’s telling him that he was more blessed than he realized. God was preparing him for his graduation to the Father’s house.

When Snow died, he experienced the promise of Scripture: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). This is another great verse to memorize this week.

-retrieved from internet 2/7/09 Newsletter Newsletter

Prayer Petitions: Dear Lord, grant us the grace to love You with all our heat, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves.

Cathy Harris, wife of Paul, Swifty Gas Station manager. The family of Andrew Trisler. Bryan Holt, Anna Cox’s son. Joseph Limburg. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray. Diana Ames. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

NEWS -

Off to Belize! Pastor Fannin and Pastor Ames will leave this Thursday for Belize via Atlanta. They will return Sunday, February 22. Keep them in your daily prayers. If you wish to contribute, mark you gift “Back to Belize.”

Meanwhile Jason Johnson will fill the pulpit for two Sundays.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Praise Team Lead Singers practice each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Softball is right around the corner. If you wish to play see Seth or Richard. They will head up our teams for this year. Next batting practice is Friday, March 6, 6:00 p.m.

Zone Indoor Campmeeting begins Wednesday, February 25, at Richmond First Church with Billy Huddleston. Plan to attend these services each evening at 7:00. Sunday evening rally will begin at 6:00 p.m. Our zone churches are to supply special singing for each service.

Church electric heating bill was almost $1,000. Appreciate your extra giving in the offering.

Alabaster gift is our building fund for our missionaries. We receive this offering every September and February. Last February you gave $505.92. We will receive this offering on the last Sunday of February.

February Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 1^st

Received so far

for the Month

Goal for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

646.76

5,000.00

Building Fund Loan

64.00

735.00

Missions

Alabaster

79.00

.00

79.00

.00

300.00

500.00

Coming Up:

Thu. Feb. 12: Pastors departing for Belize

Sat. Feb. 21: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

Wed. Feb. 25: Zone revival with Billy Huddleston begins each evening at 7:00

Sun. Mar. 1: Zone revival rally 6:00 p.m.

Sat. Mar. 7: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. District Celebrate Life at Westside

Sun. Mar. 8: Church Board Mtg, 4:30 p.m.

Thu. Mar. 12: Gideon Banquet

Sun. Mar. 15: Gideon Sunday

February 1, 2009

2009-02-02T21:56:00.001-05:00

Fishy love

A certain man decided to take up fishing. He bought the most expensive equipment and bait, but caught nothing. He passed by a farm boy who had an old stick and a rusty hook but had caught a whole string of fish. “How did you manage to catch so many, when I couldn’t catch one?” he asked. “Oh,” said the boy. “I try to keep out of sight so the fish won’t see me. But I think you show yourself to them too much.” Many times we may want to be seen, but the effect may have the opposite results.

Authentic love flows outward which has nothing to do with what you expect to get but what you are expected to give. There is nothing wrong in self-interest, but becoming absorbed with yourself will cause your train to jump the track. Self-love is implied when Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

The source of all love is of God. Love is more than a characteristic of God; it is His character. This leads to our memory verse of the week: “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:7-8).

Prayer Petitions: Dear Lord, may we follow your will rather than our personal desires in this New Year. Make us restless until we surrender completely to You. Cathy Harris, wife of Paul, Swifty Gas Station manager. The family of Andrew Trisler. Bryan Holt, Anna Cox’s son. Joseph Limburg. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray. Diana Ames. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson, Helen’s brother, is facing surgery. Helen’s sister. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

NEWS -

Back to Belize! A little over a week away Pastor Fannin and Pastor Ames will be on a work and witness trip to Belize, February 12 thru 22. They will fly out of Dayton on Thursday, February 12, and return Sunday, February 22. Jason Johnson will fill in for those two Sundays. If you wish to contribute, mark you gift “Back to Belize.”

Tithe contributions of 2008 are now ready. Our treasurer, David Shepherd, has put all this together for your taxes. This will help lower your tax rate with the IRS.

Church Board will meet in the OutPost, 4:30 p.m. Missionary meeting follows at 6:00 p.m.

Small Group Discipleship begins at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday instead of 6:30 p.m. Praise Team Lead Singers practice at 7:00 p.m.

Softball is right around the corner. If you wish to play see Seth or Richard. They will head up our teams for this year. Next batting practice is this Friday, Feb. 6^th. We’ll leave the church at 6:00, go eat, and bat at Muncie at 8:30 p.m.

Our building fund needs a loving boost. With the economy slow down finances are tight. If you can donate a little extra, it will be much appreciated. This is an important fund. It is like making our house payment. Mark your gift “building fund.”

Coming Up:

Sun. Feb. 1: Church Board and Missionary Meeting

Sat. Feb. 7: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Thu. Feb. 12: Departing for Belize

Sat. Feb. 21: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

Wed. Feb. 25: Zone Revival with Billy Huddleston

January 25, 2009

2009-01-28T23:16:00.001-05:00

Did You Really Fail?

You’ve failed many times, although you may not remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim. Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the one who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.

Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs. R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in the New York caught on and eventually became an American institution. English novelist John Creasy received 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books.

Even America’s great inventor, Thomas Edison, wasn’t successful on every attempt. He once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Don’t worry about failure. It reveals what doesn’t work. Jesus shows us that many of our failures are directly related to not heeding our memory verse of the week:
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need”

(Matthew 6:33)

Life’s priority includes above all that God is first. Anything else only leads to defeat and failure.

“We are because God is.”

–Emanuel Swedenborg: Divine Providence

Prayer Petitions: Dear Lord, may we follow your will rather than our personal desires in this New Year. Make us restless until we surrender completely to You.

Remember the family of Andrew Trisler, the son of Sueanna and the brother of Presley and Chyenne. Bryan Holt, Anna Cox’s son. Joseph Limburg. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray. Diana Ames. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson, Helen’s brother, is facing surgery. Helen’s sister. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

News -

Back to Belize! A little over two weeks away before Pastor Fannin and Pastor Ames will be on a work and witness trip to Belize, February 12 thru 22. Our goal is $500 more.

Pastor Bob and Dave will fly out of Dayton Airport on Thursday, February 12, and return Sunday, February 22. Jason Johnson will fill in for those two Sundays. Oh yes, Paco will be going with his little brother Oinky.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Tithe contributions of 2008 are now ready. Our treasurer, David Shepherd, has put all this together for your taxes. This will help lower your tax rate with the IRS.

Sunday School teachers and workers will ‘eat and meet’ at the parsonage for training. Melissa will lead the study in the book, You Can Double Your Class in Two Years or Less.”

Next Sunday church board meets at 4:30 p.m. and the missionary meeting is 6:00 p.m.

Small Group Discipleship begins at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday instead of 6:30 p.m. Praise Team Lead Singers practice at 7:00 p.m.

Our building fund needs a loving boost. With the economy slow down finances are tight. If you can donate a little extra to this fund, it will be much appreciated. This is an important fund. It is like making our house payment. Mark your gift “building fund.”

Friday Child Care Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m.

Softball is right around the corner. If you wish to play see Seth or Richard. They will head up our teams for this year. Next batting practice is Friday, Feb. 6^th, 8:30 p.m. at Muncie batting cages.

Coming Up:

Today: Sunday School Workers ‘eat & meet’

Fri. Jan. 30: Day Care Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 1: Church Board and Missionary Meeting

Sat. Feb. 7: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Thu. Feb. 12: Departing for Belize

Sat. Feb. 21: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

Wed. Feb. 25: Zone Revival with Billy Huddleston

January Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 18^th

Received so far

for the Month

Goal for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

1,219.82

3,470.38

7,000.00

Building Fund Loan

66.00

511.00

735.00

Missions

Belize

6.00

30.00

90.00

370.00

500.00

1,000.00

John 4:24“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

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January 18, 2009

2009-01-19T20:14:00.001-05:00

Eventful Week

Tuesday, January 20, 2008 the inauguration of the 44^th President of the United States takes place with president–elect Barak Obama taking the oath of office on Abraham Lincoln’s Bible.

When president-elect Abraham Lincoln headed to Washington, he called himself a “humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty.” He spoke of America’s citizens as God’s “almost chosen people.” Speaking as a good father to his children, he wanted the “almost chosen people” to be servants of the living God.

As God’s chosen people, as well as Americans who soon will have a new leader, how can we live up to God’s expectations for us? What can we each do to make our country a better place? Not only can we share the good news with others, we can do this week’s memory verse: “I urge you, first of all, to pray

for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ²Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

This Thursday, January 22, marks the 36^th anniversary of Roe vs Wade decision of the Supreme Court that legalized abortion. Since then the lives of 50 million unborn babies have been terminated. Ironically, there are those who seek constitutional rights for terrorists who see to kill us; while our US Constitution does not protect the rights of the weakest and most vulnerable among us, i.e., the unborn baby. Let’s pray and work for the day when the unborn will have the same constitutional rights as citizens of the United States.

Prayer Petitions: Dear Lord, may we follow your will rather than our personal desires in this New Year. Make us restless until we surrender completely to You.

Remember the family of Andrew Trisler, the son of Sueanna and the brother of Presley and Chyenne. His funeral was Friday. Bryan Holt, Anna Cox’s son, is having surgery Jan. 21. Joseph Limburg. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray. Diana Ames. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson, Helen’s brother, is facing surgery. Helen’s sister. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

NEWS -

Back to Belize! The church board is supporting Pastor Fannin and Pastor Ames on a work and witness trip to Belize, February 12 thru 22. To support this ministry, mark your gift “Back to Belize.” Our goal is $500 more.

Pastor Dave has received his immunization shots and passport. Pastor Bob and Dave will fly out from Dayton Airport on Thursday, February 12, and return Sunday, February 22. Jason Johnson will fill in for those two Sundays. Oh yes, Paco will be going with his brother Oinky.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Tithe contributions of 2008 are now ready. Our treasurer, David Shepherd, has put all this together for your taxes. This will help lower your tax rate with the IRS.

Sunday School teachers and workers will ‘eat and meet’ at the parsonage for training. Kevin will lead the study up through page 22 in the book, You Can Double Your Class in Two Years or Less.”

Next Sunday they will have a second meeting continuing in the same study. We beg anyone interested in building our Sunday School to attend these meetings.

Small Group Discipleship begins at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday instead of 6:30 p.m. Praise Team Lead Singers practice at 7:00 p.m.

Our building fund has been lagging. With the economy the way it is, finances are tight. If you can see your way into donating a little extra to this fund, it will be much appreciated. This is an important fund. It is like making our house payment. Mark your love offering “building fund.”

The Creation Museum offers a complete day’s worth of activities for the entire family to enjoy: exhibits that captivate, theaters that reveal biblical truth, and other educational/entertaining programs. So, “Prepare to believe.” Tickets: adult $21.95, child $11.95, senior $16.95.

Our plans are to caravan down next Saturday, Jan. 24. Let Pastor Bob know your intentions. We’ll depart shortly after 8:00 a.m. It is about 1½ hour trip.

Softball is right around the corner. If you wish to play see Seth or Richard. They will head up our teams for this year. Batting cage practice is this Friday, Jan. 23^rd, 6:00 p.m.

Coming Up:

Today: Sunday School Teachers & Workers ‘eat & meet’

Tue. Jan. 20: President’s Inauguration

Thu. Jan. 22: Roe vs. Wade 36^th Anniversary

Fri. Jan. 23: Softball Batting Cage Practice

Sat. Jan. 24: Creation Museum

Sun. Jan. 25: Sunday School Workers ‘eat & meet’

Fri. Jan. 30: Day Care Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 1: Church Board and Missionary Meeting

Sat. Feb. 7: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Thu. Feb. 12: Departing for Belize

Sat. Feb. 21: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

Wed. Feb. 25: Zone Revival with Billy Huddleston

January Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 11^th

Received so far

for the Month

Goal for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

1,424.00

2,250.56

7,000.00

Building Fund Loan

353.00

445.00

735.00

Missions

Belize

29.00

90.00

84.00

340.00

500.00

1,000.00

1 Corinthians 10:13“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

January 11th, 2009

2009-01-11T21:06:00.001-05:00

Can you recall last week’s memory verse taken from Romans 8:28? This week’s verse is also a good one for the New Year.

Jesus told us that we will have concerns and worries. He knows things can get out of hand and overwhelm us. It can distract and defeat us. Peter said, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you” (I Peter 4:12). He gives us a memory verse for the week:

“casting all your care upon Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Everyone has an occasional down day. You know the dreaded “flat” or “blah” feeling. Sometimes you don’t even feel like praying.

In the 12th century, a Carthusian monk named Guigo felt drained and depressed. But as he rested, the following prayer came to his mind:

My soul is so dry that by itself it cannot pray; Yet You can squeeze from it the juice of a thousand prayers.

My soul is so parched that by itself it cannot love;
Yet You can draw from it boundless love for You and for my neighbor.

My soul is so cold that by itself it has no joy; Yet You can light the fire of heavenly joy within me.

My soul is so feeble that by itself it has no faith; Yet by Your power my faith grows to a great height.

Thank You for prayer, for love, for joy, for faith;
Let me always be prayerful, loving, joyful, faithful.

-adapted from The Newsletter Newsletter

Prayer Petitions: Dear Lord, may we follow your will rather than our personal desires in this New Year. Make us restless until we surrender completely to You.

Bryan Holt, Anna Cox’s son, is having surgery Jan. 21. Joseph Limburg is recovering well from a broken arm. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray. Diana Ames. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Jimmy Wilkinson, Helen’s brother, is facing surgery. Helen’s sister. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine” Proverbs 17:22

A young pastor tried to comfort a widow as they stood looking at her husband’s body in a casket.

“I know this is very hard for you,” he said. “But we Christians have hope. The body is only a husk. It is only the shell. It is what we see. But the nut that was in the shell has already gone to heaven.”

Joshua’s Vision Singers will minister to us this morning with contemporary gospel music. This is one of the finest groups we have had. They were with us during our last revival. Following the service they’ll receive a love offering.

Also, after the service everyone is invited over to the OutPost for a pitch-in lunch and fellowship. Thanks to Chris, Kathie, Nancy, Lanelle, and others for their preparations at the OutPost.

Back to Belize! The church board is supporting Pastor Fannin and Pastor Ames on a work and witness trip to Belize, February 12 thru 22. If you wish to support this ministry, mark your gift “Back to Belize.” Our goal is $500 more.

A CD Song of Charlotte was requested. Sixteen songs were recorded and available. If you would like a copy, see Seth. These are free. If you wish to help with the expense, make your donation to the “Sight and Sound Fund.”

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Tithe contributions of 2008 are now ready. Our treasurer, David Shepherd, has put all this together for your taxes. This will help lower your tax rate with the IRS.

Next Sunday our Sunday School teachers and workers will ‘eat and meet’ at the parsonage for training. Kevin will lead the study up through page 22 in the book, You Can Double Your Class in Two Years or Less.”

The Creation Museum in Kentucky is one of the newest and neatest tourist attractions in the area. This $22 million exhibition shows the biblical view of the beginning of the earth and humanity. It also covers the dinosaur era. The cost is $20. We will depart a little after 8:00 a.m.

Our plans are to caravan down on Saturday, Jan. 24. Let Pastor Bob or Pastor Dave know your intentions.

Softball is right around the corner. If you wish to play see Seth or Richard. They will head up our teams for this year. Batting cage practice is Friday, Jan. 23^rd.

Coming Up:

Sat. Jan. 17: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast at the Truck Stop, 8:30 a.m.

Tue. Jan. 20: President’s Inauguration

Thu. Jan. 22: Roe vs. Wade 36^th Anniversary

Fri. Jan. 23: Softball Batting Cage Practice

Sat. Jan. 24: Creation Museum

Fri. Jan. 30: Day Care Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Sun. Feb. 1: Church Board and Missionary Meeting

Sat. Feb. 7: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.

Thu. Feb. 12: Departing for Belize

Sat. Feb. 21: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

Wed. Feb. 25: Zone Revival with Bill Huddleston

January Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 4^th

Received so far

for the Month

Goal for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

826.75

826.56

7,233.55

Building Fund Loan

92.00

735.00

Missions

Belize

55.00

250.00

55.00

250.00

500.00

1,000.00

January 4th, 2009

2009-01-07T23:07:00.001-05:00

We want to wish you more than just a Happy New Year; we want to will you a Blessed New Year. What’s the difference?

Many believe happiness depends upon happenings. We think that just the right circumstance is needed to secure our happiness.

True and fulfilling happiness which we call joy is rooted in attitude. Our attitude in turn is rooted in our will because attitude is a matter of choice. If we choose to believe what the Bible says, we can live a confident life with true joy. The Bible states that whatever happens we can have true happiness. Can you really believe the following?

“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

This week meditate on and memorize this verse. It will make a difference.

Have a Blessed New Year!

Prayer Petitions: Dear Lord, may we follow your will rather than our personal desires in this New Year. Make us restless until we surrender completely to You.

Bryan Holt, Anna Cox’s son, is having surgery Jan. 21. Joseph Limburg is recovering well from a broken arm. Beverly Andrews. Alex Fox. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray. Diana Ames. Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine” Proverbs 17:22

An elderly man told his pastor about a variety of health problems. His hearing was going as well as his eyesight. He couldn’t remember things. He ended by saying, “I don’t know why God just doesn’t take me.”

His pastor tried to reassure him by saying, “God must still have something for you to do.”

The old man snapped back, “Well, I’m not going to do it.”

News...

Back to Belize! The church board is supporting Pastor Fannin and Pastor Ames to go to Belize in February on a work and witness trip. If you wish to support this ministry, mark your gift “Back to Belize.” The need is $1,000 more.

Joshua’s Vision Singers will minister to us next Sunday morning with contemporary gospel music. Let’s invite family and friends for this special Sunday. Following the service there will be an OutPost pitch-in fellowship meal.

A CD Song of Charlotte was requested last Sunday. Sixteen songs of Charlotte were recorded this past week. If you would like a copy, see Seth. These are free. If you wish to help with the expense, make your donation to the “Sight and Sound Fund.”

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Our building fund has been lagging behind. This is an important fund. It is like making our house payment. Mark your gift “building fund.”

Tithe contributions of 2008 are now being made. David Shepherd, our treasurer, is putting all this together for your taxes. Many of you have given to the Lord this past year which will lower your tax rate with the IRS.

The Creation Museum in Kentucky is one of the neatest tourist attractions in the area. If you’re interested, let Pastor Fannin or Pastor Ames know. The cost is $20 before any group discount. This $22 million exhibition gives the biblical view of the beginning of the earth and humanity. It covers the dinosaur era also.

Coming Up:

Sun. Jan. 11: Joshua’s Vision Singers, 10:40 a.m.

Fellowship lunch in the OutPost.

Our building fund has been lagging behind. This is an important fund. It is like making our house payment. Mark your gift “building fund.”

Coming Up:

Sun. Jan. 11: Joshua’s Vision Singers, 10:40 a.m.

Fellowship lunch in the OutPost.

Final December Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 28^th

Received

for the Month

Disbursed for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

1,101.90

5,323.56

7,233.55

Building Fund Loan

44.00

632.00

735.00

Missions

Belize

53.00

242.00

399.00

295.00

399.00

00.00

Ephesians 5:1-2“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

December 28, 2008

2008-12-29T14:05:00.001-05:00

Christmas and Hope

Chuck Colson writes in Breakpoint about the tragedy that occurred when a Marine F-18 Hornet jet fighter lost power and crashed into a home in University City, CA. Dong Yun Yoon had just moved his family into their new home when in an instant the mother, their daughters Rachel and Grace, and the grandmother were killed.

Of course the tragedy was front-page news. But what happened next stirred many hearts. A devastated Yoon the next told reporters that he didn’t have any “hard feelings” toward the pilot and that he knew that the pilot “did everything he could.” Yoon said, “I pray for him not to suffer for this action,” and called him “one of our treasures for the country.” Yoon, embodying grace and forgiveness told them, “I believe my wife and two babies and mother-in-law are in heaven with God.”

This attitude reminds us of the words of Horatio G. Spafford when he penned the song “It Is Well with My Soul.” He had lost three daughters in a shipwreck. This tragedy and sorrow were turned into a great witness to the power of the Christian hope. Christmas and the incarnation of our Lord give victory over death.

Because of the incarnation Jesus had a body subject to the ills of humanity even unto death. Without sin Jesus lived with humanity but suffered the consequences of our sin. Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection resulted in a new hope and new beginning.

Placing our personal faith in Christ opens up a new arena of life which we call eternal life. We have hope beyond the tragedies and devastations of life. We are able to explain with a hope-filled faith, “Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.” Truly we see this in the present life and faith of Dong Yun Yoon. –Breakpoint Newsletter dated 12/24/08

Prayer Petitions: Olive Bruner lost her sister Jean Clark due to a severe head injury from a fall. Her funeral was last Tuesday. Joseph Limburg is recovering from a broken arm. Beverly Andrews, Kevin Rogers’ mother. Alex Fox is taking chemo. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen is fighting cancer. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray, friend of Juanita Townsend, is fighting cancer. Diana Ames. Maurice Beaver’s sister, Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

Thanks to all who helped with the Christmas Community dinner. It was a great time of Christmas fellowship for our community members.

New Year’s Eve Service begins at 7:00 p.m. followed by a finger food pitch-in and activities at the OutPost. Bring your favorite game. At 11:30 p.m. the Watch Night Service begins with praying out the old year and praying in the new. We want to express our gratitude to God for a good year in 2008 and acknowledging the need for His blessings in the New Year.

If you can’t come to the Watch Night Service, you may just come to the New Year’s Eve Service beginning at 7:00.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Coming Up:

Wed. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Fellowship, 8:00 p.m.

Watch Night Service, 11:30 p.m.

December Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 21^st

Received so far

for the Month

Goal for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

1,594.75

4,331.66

5,000.00

Building Fund Loan

76.00

588.00

735.00

Missions

Belize

50.00

10.00

236.00

53.00

400.00

1,000.00

December 21, 2008

2008-12-21T22:38:00.001-05:00

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Christmas is a time to be happy!

… A time for celebrating and sharing. For God becomes one of us, born as a poor baby so we can be rich.

God does not leave us to get along as best as we can. He joins us where we are. An atheistic teacher wrote on the blackboard ‘God is no where.’ Later a student moved the letter w a little to the left. The sentence now read, ‘God is now here.’ God is here committed to us. Christmas is proof that He cares. “We love Him because He first loved us.” That is why we celebrate — and show our care in turn to those who need it. Like God strive to be first: first to nod, first to smile, first to compliment and first to forgive.

A missionary kid had to spend Christmas without his parents who were ministering in a far away land. The headmaster tried to cheer up the melancholy boy. He asked the boy what he would like for Christmas. With moist eyes he pointed to the picture of his parents and said, “What I want most for Christmas is for my parents to step out of that picture frame.” The grandest meaning of Christmas is God stepping out of the frame of the universe and showing us the greatest expression of love ever known among humans. The gospel of John records, “…the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14).

–adapted from the Newsletter Newsletter December 2008.

Prayer Petitions: Joseph Limburg is recovering from a broken arm. Beverly Andrews, Kevin Rogers’ mother. Alex Fox is taking chemo. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen is fighting cancer. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray, friend of Juanita Townsend, is fighting cancer. Diana Ames. Maurice Beaver’s sister, Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

News -

Thanks to all who came last Sunday night to our Christmas party at the elementary. We had a good turnout of people and food. We even had special entertainment from soloist Jonathan Farley. It was a great evening.

The Youth Happening last Friday went very well with our teens taking a chili supper meal to 45 people in the Hagerstown area. Rev. Billy Huddleston from Cincinnati brought a great message to the teens. Later they went to the gym and then spent the night at Carolyn’s. Thanks Carolyn for providing a great time for our teens.

Christmas Eve Family Communions will be this Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. by appointment. See the sign-up sheet for your time slot. This has been a very meaningful time as we partake of the Lord’s Supper on Christmas Eve.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Christmas dinner will be this Thursday 12:30 p.m. at Hagerstown Masonic Lodge basement for those who wish to interact with community members. This is for anyone who would like community fellowship. Meals are also delivered.

2009 Church Directories are available.

We have supported several families for Christmas by paying bills. If you have the means and wish to help with this, mark you offering “local families.” Kudos to those who helped with the various gift items.

Christmas Caroling tonight for those who wish to spread the good news in song and to help deliver the Christmas items you purchased for the Christmas families.

American Family Association has reviewed this year’s companies that either use or avoid “Christmas” in their stores. The nice companies use the term “Christmas” on a regular bases. The naughty companies avoid or refuse “Christmas” and substitute “Holidays” in its advertisements.

It’s been thoroughly documented that Barnes & Noble, Braum’s Ice Cream, CVS Pharmacy, Old Navy, Kroger, Office Depot, Olive Gardens, Radio Shack, Staples, and Supervalu, are on the naughty list.

Companies for “Christmas” are Bass Pro Shops, Bed Bath & Beyond, Belk, Best Buy, Big Lots, Costco, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Home Deport, Kmart, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Menard’s, Petsmart, Rite Aid, Sears, Super D Drug Stores, Target, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club.

Coming Up:

Sun. Dec. 21: Christmas Caroling, 6:00 p.m. today.
Wed. Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Family Communions
Thu. Dec. 25: Happy Birthday, Jesus!
Community Christmas Dinner, 12:30 p.m.
Wed. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.
Watchnight Service, 11:30 p.m.

December Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 14^th

Received so far

for the Month

Goal for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

1,550.32

2,736.91

5,000.00

Building Fund Loan

372.00

512.00

735.00

Missions

Belize

31.00

20.00

186.00

43.00

400.00

1,000.00

Luke 2:6-7“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

2008-12-16T20:39:00.001-05:00

Hark, the Herald Angel

This children’s Christmas program looks at the Christmas story through the eyes of one of the angels. One angel named Hark was a herald angel. It was his job to be the announcer for any significant event. All the angels were wondering what was God up to with His Son and the sinful people of the earth. Though the inhabitants of the earth knew little of what was taking place, all of heaven’s angels were stirred up with God’s plan.

The Bible states that the angels are eager to look into the God’s plan of salvation for sinful people. And yet you get the impression that the angels are more interested than humans care to be. Busy people are occupied with their affairs while heaven is a stir of spiritual activities.

One can’t help believe that the angels are still in wonderment over humans. What angels can’t understand is how humans can give themselves to stuff that last only a brief time, while God offers everlasting pleasure and happiness.

Today’s Christmas program helps us focus on what matters most. The action of our lives should reflect on the question, “What difference will it make 100 year from now?”

Prayer Petitions: Beverly Andrews, Kevin Rogers’ mother. Alex Fox is taking chemo. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen is fighting cancer. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray, friend of Juanita Townsend, is fighting cancer. Diana Ames. Maurice Beaver’s sister, Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

Thanks to all who planned and made our church tour a great experience last Sunday night. We had a good turnout of churches participating in the evening. Chris, Kathie, Seth, help make our portion of the tour a time of Christmas celebration.

Youth Happening begins this Friday at 5:00 p.m. with the teens taking a chili supper meal to 51 people in the Hagerstown area. The teens themselves will have a chili supper at the OutPost beginning at 6:00 p.m. Rev. Billy Huddleston from Cincinnati will be here to bring a special youth message at 7:00 p.m. Following this the teens will go to the elementary gym for a time of evening activities. They’ll come back to the church to watch a special video around 10:00 p.m. Let’s support our teens and leader, Carolyn Talbott, by our prayers and signing up on the food list for the chili supper.

Small group discipleship Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Worship team singing practice Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Thanks for Giving to our Thanksgiving Offering for World Evangelism. We went over our goal of $1,500 for World Evangelism in the Church of the Nazarene. We are involved in something bigger than ourselves. “To God Be the Glory.”

Thank You Cookie Bakers for today’s treat and thanks to Susie for getting it all assembled. We need all our greeters and ushers to distribute this treat following the service.

2009 Church Directories are available.

Coming Up:

Sun. Dec. 14: All Church Christmas Fellowship at Hagerstown Elementary 5:00 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 19: Teen Overnighter

Sat. Dec. 20: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast

Sun. Dec. 21: Christmas Caroling, 6:00 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Family Communions

Thu. Dec. 25: Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Community Christmas Dinner, 12:30 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.

Watchnight Service, 11:30 p.m.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine” Proverbs 17:22

What happened when the snowgirl fell out with the snowboy? She gave him the cold shoulder!

What do snowmen wear on their heads?
Ice caps!

What do snowmen eat for lunch?
Icebergers!

Where do snowmen go to dance?
Snowballs!

How do snowmen travel around?
By icicle!

What sort of ball doesn't bounce?
A snowball!

What do you get if cross a snowman and a shark? Frost bite!

How do you call an Eskimo cow?

“Eskimooooooo!”

Sunday, December 7, 2008

2008-12-09T10:34:00.001-05:00

Amazing Christmas

Consider this: God loved the world so much that he came visiting. God slipped into the world as a helpless baby, without fanfare or heraldry.

Think of it: The baby, born of humble parents, the man a carpenter, the woman still in her teens. Jesus was born in a backwater town called Bethlehem, in a stable reeking with animal smells.

It took years before people comprehended fully God’s self-revelation. Even John the Baptist, sitting in Herod’s prison, sent a message to Jesus asking, “Are you the One who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (Matthew 11:3). Jesus then explained that He was working miracles and bringing good news to the poor.

That became even more clear when Peter concluded that Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

What’s amazing about Christmas is that it began in a manger. And today more than two billion people around the world celebrate Jesus’ birth.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian, stated, “In the child of Bethlehem, the life of the world that is to come has come into the life of the world that is.”

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Earl Goodwin. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

NEWS

Hagerstown Hometown Christmas This evening the Tour of Churches begins at our church 5:30. After our service the congregation will travel to the Methodist Church for a 6:00 p.m. service, then the Christian Church at 6:30 p.m. and ends at the New Testament Church. The Hagerstown Women’s History Club will host the refreshments following the service. The Hometown Hagerstown Christmas Committee wanted this Tour of Churches to help keep the real meaning of Christmas.

Small group discipleship Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Worship team singing practice Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Church Board Meeting is today at 4:00 p.m. The meeting is advanced to accommodate the Tour of Churches.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

All Church Christmas Party is next Sunday at Hagerstown Elementary Cafeteria beginning at 5:00 p.m. There will be a pitch-in meal, activities for all ages, singing, skits, the Christmas story and the infamous Chinese gift exchange. So each one bring a good appetite and gift for this time of fun and celebration around Christian fellowship.

Thanks for Giving to our Thanksgiving Offering for World Evangelism. We have received $1,498.25 in the offering. With the goal $1,500 we’re real close. If anyone would give $1.75, this will make our goal. It’s our joy to see God’s kingdom advance around the world. We are involved in something bigger than ourselves. “To God Be the Glory.”

Cookie bakers are needed for our Christmas Treat for next Sunday. See sign-up sheet. It’s been an annual treat to give home-baked cookies and fruit from FFA.

Church Directories are available. Thanks Chris.

Children’s Christmas Program is this Friday and next Sunday morning. Today the children will practice and have lunch in the OutPost.

Needy families have been received by our church to supply Christmas presents. See the sign-up sheet.

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Coming Up:

Fri. Dec. 12: Children’s Christmas Program, 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 14: Children’s Christmas Program

Sun. Dec. 14: All Church Christmas Fellowship at Hagerstown Elementary 5:00 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 19: Teen Overnighter

Sat. Dec. 20: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast

Wed. Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Family Communions

Thu. Dec. 25: Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Community Christmas Dinner, 12:30 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.

Watchnight Service, 11:30 p.m.

Final November Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 30^th

Received

for the Month

Disbursed

For the Month

Tithes and Offering

1,622.50

6,791.33

5,695.29

Building Fund Loan

86.00

688.00

735.00

Missions

Thanksgiving

Belize

45.00

130.00

1,216.00

472.74

1,498.25

1,236.00

472.74

1,498.95

1,000.00

John 15:5,8“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, November 28, 2008

2008-12-01T09:22:00.001-05:00

The Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath symbolizes watchfulness and increasing joy as we anticipate Jesus’ birth. The wreath’s circular shape symbolizes eternity, or life without end.

The candles remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World — He brought light and life to a dark world. On each of the four Sundays of Advent, we light a new candle. As the light grows, so do our hope and joy.

Several families will light specific candles as we approach Christmas Day. With Christ as the light of our world we can be assured that our destination is secured and present is firm within the promises of God never to leave us or forsake us. Our theme to those in our world is peace on earth and goodwill to all.

Whether we realize it or not, Jesus gave us the eternal life that began our spiritual journey. He alone is the only access to God. Our good works or claimed religious status or any other claim to fame falls short of what is required to receive eternal life. Christ’s death on the cross vents God’s wrath on sin. Christ raised from the dead provides forgiveness for the sinner who repents of their sins and receives God’s light seen in the life of Christ.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine” Proverbs 17:22

The Christmas grump

Uncle Henry had the reputation of being a curmudgeon. He always seemed to have something to grumble. Henry’s friends and family were used to his demeanor and usually took it with a grain of salt.

One year, while Henry’s relatives were decorating for Christmas, his six-year-old nephew wondered aloud, “Do you think Uncle Henry will put up the negativity scene again this year.”

Prayer Petitions: Beverly Andrews, Kevin Rogers’ mother. Ron Madison. Alex Fox is taking chemo for lymphoma. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen is fighting cancer. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray, friend of Juanita Townsend, is fighting cancer. Diana Ames. Maurice Beaver’s sister, Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Earl Goodwin. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

News -

Community Christmas Advent Service is hosted by the Sugar Grove Church this evening at 6:00.

Small group discipleship and worship team singing practice meets each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. respectively.

Hagerstown Hometown Christmas begins this Friday and climaxes Sunday with the Tour of Churches that begins at our church, 5:30 p.m.

Recycle your computer printer cartridges Bring your used cartridges to the church and place them in the white box in the foyer for the daycare fundraiser.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Glenna Beavers, Maurice Beaver’s sister is recovering from a severe stroke. For those who wish to send her a card, her home address is: Glenna Beavers, 3302 Diamond Ave., El Paso, TX 79904-2531.

Back to Belize! The church board is supporting Pastor Fannin and Pastor Ames to go to Belize this February. If you wish to support this work and witness trip, mark your gift “Back to Belize.”

Thanks for Giving to the Thanksgiving Offering for World Evangelism. Christians may not be making the headlines news but we are making a difference in the lives of countless people. The good news of God’s Son is for the whole world. WOW! What a privilege to be involved with something way bigger than ourselves.

Our goal for our Thanksgiving Offering is $1,500. Let’s do our best. The offering received so far is $1, 368.25. We are very near reaching our goal. “To God Be the Glory.”

Thank You, Kathie and Amanda for the beautifully decorating the church for the Christmas Season.

When doing your Christmas cards this year, fill out an extra one and send it to this address. If everyone sends at least one card, just think of how many cards these special courageous and sacrificial people would get.
          A Recovering American Soldier
          C/O Walter Reed Army Medical Center
          6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
          Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Coming Up:

Sun. Nov. 30: Community Advent Service at Sugar Grove Church, 6:00 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 5: Hagerstown Hometown Christmas begins

Sat. Dec. 6: Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Sun. Dec. 7: Church Board, 4:30 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 7: Hagerstown Christmas Tour of Churches:

Nazarene, 5:30 p.m.

Methodist, 6:00 p.m.

Christian Church, 6:30 p.m.

New Testament Church, 7:00 pm.

Refreshments by Women’s History Club, 7:30 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 12: Children’s Christmas Program, 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 14: Children’s Christmas Program

Sun. Dec. 14: All Church Christmas Fellowship at Hagerstown Elementary 5:00 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 19: Teen Overnighter

Sat. Dec. 20: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast

Wed. Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Family Communions

Thu. Dec. 25: Community Christmas Dinner, 12:30 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.

Watchnight Service, 11:30 p.m.

November Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 23^rd

Received so far

for the Month

Goal for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

1,613.75

5,248.83

7,000.00

Building Fund Loan

62.00

602.00

728.77

Missions

Thanksgiving

125.00

785.25

377.74

1,368.25

300.00

1,500.00

Sunday, November 23, 2008

2008-11-23T20:58:00.000-05:00

Count your blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

_________________________________

On this Thanksgiving think thanks, no complaining.

It’s not what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.

Prayer Petitions: Beverly Andrews, Kevin Rogers’ mother, is back in Reid. Ron Madison is in New Castle Hospital with a bleeding ulcer. Alex Fox is taking chemo for lymphoma. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen is dealing with cancer. Louis Conyers. Mary Mowbray, friend of Juanita Townsend, is fighting cancer. Diana Ames. Maurice Beaver’s sister, Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Earl Goodwin. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine” Proverbs 17:22

A doctor’s daughter was married to a special young man. At the wedding reception the father of the bride stood to read his toast, which he had scribbled on a piece of scrap paper.

Several times during his speech, he halted, overcome with what was assumed a moment of deep emotion. But after a particularly long pause, he explained, “I’m sorry. I can't seem to make out what I've written down.” Looking out into the audience, he asked, “Is there a pharmacist in the house?”

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Small group discipleship and worship team singing practice will be this Tuesday instead of Wednesday.

Recycle your computer printer cartridges Bring your used cartridges to the church and place them in the white box in the foyer for the daycare fundraiser.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Our Church Directory is now being updated for the congregation. Please let Pastor or Chris know of any changes to your address, phone, or email.

Community Thanksgiving Service is hosted by the West River Friends Church this evening at 6:30 p.m.

Our goal for our Thanksgiving Offering is $1,500. Let’s do our best. The blessings for giving to God’s cause are out of the world.

Congratulations to DJ Sanders for achieving Eagle Scout rank. DJ is a member of Troop 1832 sponsored by our church. He joined when Monty was Scoutmaster.

Coming Up
Sun. Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Offering
Sun. Nov. 23: Community Thanksgiving Service at West River Friends Church, 6:00 p.m.
Thu. Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day
Sun. Nov. 30: Community Advent Service at Sugar Grove Church, 6:00 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 5: Hagerstown Hometown Christmas begins
Sat. Dec. 6: Men’s Prayer Breakfast
Sun. Dec. 7: Church Board, 4:30 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 7: Hagerstown Christmas Tour of Churches:
Nazarene, 5:30 p.m.
Methodist, 6:00 p.m.
Christian Church, 6:30 p.m.
New Testament Church, 7:00 pm.
Refreshments by Women’s History Club, 7:30 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 12: Children’s Christmas Program, 7:30 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 14: Children’s Christmas Program
Sun. Dec. 14: All Church Christmas Fellowship at Hagerstown Elementary 5:00 p.m.
Fri. Dec. 19: Teen Overnighter
Sat. Dec. 20: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast
Wed. Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Family Communions
Thu. Dec. 25: Community Christmas Dinner, 12:30 p.m.
Wed. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.
Watchnight Service, 11:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

2008-11-17T15:28:00.000-05:00

God’s Memory Lapse

Our memory can bring up some bad stuff now and then. When we are not quite asleep or busy doing something else, suddenly some past event raises its ugly head. When we dwell on it, we begin reliving the same emotions. For our period of time we’re stuck in a rut as if the event just happened. How to get out of this? The devil will take advantage of our thought patterns and bring a fog of gloom over everything we do.

First, we need a visit with God, who knows just how to deal with memories. He has a unique ability to forgive and forget that we need to experience. As Micah 7:18-19 says,

Where is another God like you, wiping the slate clean of guilt, Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people? You don't nurse your anger and don't stay angry long, for mercy is your specialty. That's what you love most. …You'll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean.”

Corrie ten Boom had the right idea. She said God buries our sins in the sea and puts a sign on the bank saying, “No fishing allowed!”

After we accept God’s forgiveness, we must forgive ourselves and others and move on into the future God has for us.

St. Paul’s words to the Philippians are relevant for Christians struggling with past sins: “One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Prayer Petitions: Beverly Andrews, Kevin Rogers’ mother, had major surgery Thursday. She is doing well. Alexander Fox is taking chemo for lymphoma. Paul Barnard’s daughter Colleen is dealing with cancer. Tyler Pierce, great-nephew to Carolyn Talbott. Louis Conyers is dealing with health issues. Mary Mowbray, friend of Juanita Townsend, is fighting cancer. Continue to prayer for the Don Talbott family. Diana Ames. Maurice Beaver’s sister, Glenna Beavers. Melvin Messer. Rev. Edsel and Alice Trouten. Michael Stomm. George and Helen York. Carol Stinson. Elsie Hall. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb and her mother Dorothy Larrison. Marilyn and Charles Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Olive Berkebile. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. The Persecuted believers in Christ. Amazing Angel Childcare Ministry. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nursing Home: Rev. R.C. Boynton. Franklin White. Earl Goodwin. Bonnie McLain. Dorothy Hall. Kenny Williams.

Thanks to Nancy for hosting the ladies overnighter. Other than the neighbors calling the police, everyone enjoyed a great time together.

Recycle your computer printer cartridges Bring your used cartridges to the church and place them in the white box in the foyer for the daycare fundraiser.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior rental assisted living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders at 489-4898. There are vacancies.

Our Church Directory is now being updated for the congregation. Please let Pastor or Chris know of any changes to your address, phone, or email.

Community Thanksgiving Service is hosted by the West River Friends Church next Sunday 6:30 p.m.

Our goal for our Thanksgiving Offering is $1,500. Let’s do our best. The blessings for giving to God’s cause are out of the world.

When doing your Christmas cards this year, fill out an extra one and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends at least one card, just think of how many cards these wonderfully courageous, special people, who have sacrificed so much for us, would get.
          A Recovering American Soldier
          C/O Walter Reed Army Medical Center
          6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
          Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Thanks to Seth and Richard for all their work on the sight and sound system yesterday.

Coming Up

Sun. Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Offering

Sun. Nov. 23: Community Thanksgiving Service at West River Friends Church, 6:00 p.m.

Thu. Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Day

Sun. Nov. 30: Community Advent Service at Sugar Grove Church, 6:00 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 5: Hagerstown Hometown Christmas begins

Sat. Dec. 6: Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Sun. Dec. 7: Church Board, 4:30 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 7: Hagerstown Tour of Churches:

Nazarene, 5:30 p.m.

Methodist, 6:00 p.m.

Christian Church, 6:30 p.m.

New Testament Church, 7:00 pm.

Refreshments by Women’s History Club, 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 14: Children Christmas Program

Sun. Dec. 14: All Church Fellowship at Hagerstown Elementary 5:00 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 19: Teen Overnighter

Sat. Dec. 20: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast

Wed. Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Family Communion

Thu. Dec. 25: Community Christmas Dinner, 12:30 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.

Watchnight Service, 11:30 p.m.

November Finances

MONTHLY

GIVING

Received last

Sunday the 9^th

Received so far

for the Month

Goal for

the Month

Tithes and Offering

834.30

2,233.28

7,000.00

Building Fund Loan

82.00

386.00

728.77

Missions

Thanksgiving

93.00

125.00

246.74

125.00

300.00

1,500.00