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June 2007:

Vacationing As Jesus Did

            Summer is vacation time---the two are synonymous with each other! Families are out on the highways, taking trips to faraway places.  Parks and resorts are filled with people who come to fish, to swim, to explore, or just to relax.  Summer camps are in full swing, as well as family camping.  Vacations are for fun, and they are good for us.  Everyone needs a change of scenery and a time to relax. “getting away from it all.”

            Jesus didn’t seem to get much time to rest during His 3 years of preaching, healing, and teaching.  Once He became so tiered from teaching the people all day, that He fell asleep and He and His disciples were crossing a lake.  On another occasion, so many people were crowded around Him and His friends that they weren’t able to eat.

            So Jesus purposely set aside some time for relaxation—He carved this precious time out of His intense activity.  He told His disciples. “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31-31)

            Sometimes Jesus went out all alone to spend intimate time in prayer with His heavenly Father.  The Bible tells us about one of those brief “vacations”: “…and in the morning, a great while before day, He rose and went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

            We can learn from Jesus to make our vacation a time for refreshing our spirit as well as our relationship with God and with our family.  A vacation is an opportunity to come closer to God! Like Jesus, we can spend some time alone, talking to our heavenly Father and thinking about His great love and incredible faithfulness toward us.  Perhaps a beautiful scene or an outdoor devotion gives us a clearer idea of God’s glory and majesty.  Wherever we go, let’s remember that we are still God’s children, and that He is always near us.  Let’s vacation with Him, and not away from Him.  Seek out a congregation ---even and outdoor chapel---and worship our one God with the folks there.

HAVE A GREAT, REALIZING, ENJOYABLE VACATION THIS SUMMER --- BUT DON’T TAKE A VACATION FROM GOD!!!

Pastor Doug Thompson

Newsletter Deadline…

The deadline for the July Newsletter will be Tuesday, June 26^th.  Items for the newsletter may be turned into the church office or given to Pastor Doug.

Nursery & Jr. Church…

We are still in need of helpers to sign up for Jr. Church and the Nursery during worship service.  The sign-up sheets are on the center table in the sanctuary; please consider volunteering for this important ministry.

Thanks…

The Junior Choir and Kim and Kathy would like to thank the Searchers in Christian Fellowship Class for providing pizza for our end of year party, and for providing the Polar Bar gift certificates.

Living Word Outdoor Drama…

Again, this summer we are planning to attend this live reenactment of Jesus’ life. Several folks went to this last year and enjoyed it thoroughly. Plan on going to this unforgettable experience.  This drama in Cambridge, Ohio runs each Friday and Saturday evening from June 15^th through September 22^nd.  A sign up sheet is on the center table of the sanctuary for all of these dates; please list your first, second, and third choice dates.  We will go with the dates that is the best for most folks.  Brochures are also available at the table.

Want to Help a Camper?

Several folks have asked if they could contribute money to send a child/youth to camp. So, we are setting up a little plastic bucket and the center table just for that purpose! If you want to donate money to a camper’s registration, drop it in the bucket. And know that you’ll make some child very happy this summer.

Mowing Volunteers…

We need volunteers to mow the church lawn.  If you are available to help out please se the sign up sheet on the back table.

Good Stewardship…

The Finance Committee hopes that everyone who travels this summer has a great vacation.  Please remember to catch up your tithing if you miss a Sunday or tow of giving due to your travels.  This will be a big help to your church.

Worship Service on CD…

The morning worship services are now being recorded on CD, and a copy of the service can be obtained by signing the sheet in the choir room.  I began this project as a way to distribute our worship service to our shut-ins, and it has evolved into a service that anyone in the church can take advantage of.  If you miss a Sunday or would just like to have an audio copy of the morning worship service to listen to, just let me know or sign the sheet.  If you know of anyone who would like to listen to any service I can make a copy for them also.  These CD’s should play on almost any CD player or even in your car.  The first service that I have available is February 25, 2007.  Thanks, Jeff Hively

Small Group Study…

Our Tuesday morning Bible Study is drawing to a close for the summer.  We are finishing today (May 29).  Beth Moore’s Study of “The Patriarchs – Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”.  It’s been an extraordinary time of learning, sharing, laughing and crying together.

            Small groups are about fellowship, and loving each other in spite of differences, disagreements and past history.

            Real fellowship requires time. Giving time requires commitment.  Making a commitment requires trust.  Trusting requires honesty.  Honesty requires confidentiality.  Real fellowship is hard work!           We strive for fellowship so they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

            We’ll be starting up again in the fall.  Please watch future newsletters and bulletins for details.

Manna Food Pantry…

Our local Manna Food Pantry needs several items.  Please bring the following to help support our community: pancake syrup, beef stew, tomato soup, chicken soup, and vegetable soup.  Place all donations in the box in the lobby. Monetary donations are also accepted; please see Jeri Severt.

Babies Honored…

Roses were placed on the altar during the worship services on Sunday, May 27^th, in honor of Quinn Thomas Ingling and Eli Warren Goodbar.  Quinn is the son of Jamie & Tara Ingling, grandson of Debbie Ingling, James Ingling of Beavercreek, and Tom & Barb Hannon.  He was born on May 14^th and weighed 8 pounds and was 20 inches long.  Eli is the son of Dustin & Holly Goodbar.  He was born on May 19^th and was 7 pounds, 9 ounces and 21 ½ inches long. Grandparents are Frank & Dorothy Fulton, Joe & Carol Goodbar, and Donna Mays.

Remember To Pray For…

Our Nation, Family of Connie Zirpola-Milligan, Milly Shaw, Max Miller, David Rice, Earl Heskett, Bill Patton, Thurmond Taylor Family, Tammy Sumpter, Hazel Toops, Frieda Barclay, Alta Mae Mattinson, Phillip Hufford, Charles Holbrook, Frank Malone, Betty Kiwaka, Karl Forster, Patrick Brown, Mrs. Slone, Joy Evans, Janice Streit, Fred Colliflower, Steven Lee, Todd, Masen, Zane, Emerson, & Raelyn Severt, Dana Thompson, Kellee Haggy, Paul Huggins, Laura Bern, Ryan Curtis and our shut-ins.

We Remembered…

On Sunday, May 27^th we remembered members of our congregation as well as family members of our congregation that we have lost over the past year by placing flowers on the altar during the 10:30 a.m. worship service.  Those who honored are: 

Members

Irma Fitzgerald

Ruth Grube

Robert Keehner, Sr.

Mildred Ray

Louise Stewart

 

Relatives of Our Church Family

Mary Blankenship

Helen Coleman

Seth Edmondson

Earl Ervin

Warren Horton

Bob Mendenhall

Orpha Queen

James Reeder

Angie Severt

Jon Simpson

Orin Slagle, Jr.

July 21, 2007