West Main

Changes in Church, Part I

Another study was released today, claiming that Christianity is dying. It cites historical patterns and cultural shifts as clear evidence. According to the author, our faith is on the brink of disaster! Most every study I read today agrees.  They show stats of churches with declining attendance. There is little denominational loyalty left. All polls point to massive shifts in thought. Culture, schools, businesses, etc. no longer respect church traditions.

These findings could be discouraging, but just opening our eyes and REALLY looking will bring a new view into focus! Signs of life are springing up everywhere. A new generation is rising up with a commitment to the Gospel and a vision for mending a broken world. A recent article I read gave four signs that show us that faith is NOT dead!  People are just changing and looking in different ways. I want to share those with you:

People still long for truth.

No matter what changes around us, people want to know the truth. Our teens are currently studying this in “The Truth Project.”  Folks will always believe in right and wrong. Here at West Main we are seeking weekly in classes, studies, and seminars,etc. for ways to find and share that truth!

People still long for grace.

There is no one who doesn’t want grace and love. We all know we need help and redemption. It doesn’t take much convincing for someone to acknowledge they’ve done wrong during their life. We all have guilt and regret.  We all want GRACE!  We try to be a body that lives daily in God’s grace and strive to share it with our community. 

---Pannell

(To be continued next week)

Does Church Attendance Mean Anything? (Part Three)

Is there any meaning just in the mere act of attendance? Do we “get any points” for just showing up? I have often heard the expression, “Half the battle is in just showing up.” I assume the previous expression means that even to think of achieving or experiencing something, you at least need to be present to begin achieving and experiencing. A similar expression that might highlight the meaning of attendance is, “Better to have tried and failed, than to have never tried at all.” In other words, there will be no potential benefit to attendance unless we at least attend. So in light of our discussion so far, what might be the benefits of attending church-related activities?

People attend church for a variety of motives and perceived benefits. For instance, broadly speaking, some attend church-related activities for the perceived benefit of enjoying eternal life. I often hear Christians say, “We want to attend church services, because we want to go to heaven.” For some, there is a perceived correspondence between attending church services and entering heaven—better attendance at church equals more assured access to heaven. While it is true that faithful people attend, it is false that attendance itself can make people faithful, or assure better access into heaven (sorry, no points for just showing up). We do not earn eternal salvation with the down payments of church attendance, but with the life Jesus Christ laid down for our sins and took up for our justification (Rom 4:25).

Others attend church-related activities for the benefits that accompany fellowship: friendships, social interaction, fun, emotional/psychological / moral and spiritual supports are just some of these benefits. Therefore, the fellowship benefit tends to focus often on the perceived rewards of personal consumption. In other words, “What do I (or my family, children, etc.) get out of attending church?” While such a consumption motive may come across as potentially selfish, there is benefit in personally enjoying the blessings of more brothers and sisters interacting with one another. Jesus himself assures us that, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-- and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life (Mark 10:29-30). Space constraints here demand we simply move on and leave untouched the Christian paradox that in giving, we receive, and in serving, we are served.

Ultimately, we attend church-related activities because Jesus draws us together to glorify God. Jesus declares, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). Why is Jesus pulling us all together through his sacrifice upon the cross? The Apostle Paul answers, “Then the end will come, when [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power” (1 Cor 15:24). Once Jesus draws us together in Christian unity, he will hand us over to God the Father, and we will sing together with all God’s chosen ones:

“Because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth . . . . In a loud voice [we will sing]: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! . . . To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Rev 5:8-13).

FIREPROOF YOUR MARRIAGE

West Main will be holding a series of seminars on how to Fire Proof Your Marriage.  Please contact Gerry Flock or call the church office at 541-772-9640  to sign up.

SESSION ONE -  HE SAID / SHE SAID

November 6, 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Objective  -  Recognize and appreciate the God-designed differences between men and women, as well as their roles in marriage.

Participants will learn to listen carefully as men share what respect means to them, and as women share what love means to them.  This session provides a good opportunity to gain insight into the opposite sex and understand how best to show love and respect.

SESSION TWO -  HE FIRST LOVED US

November 10, 6-8:00 p.m.

Objective -  Learn the importance of experiencing God’s love, and reflecting His love to others.

Members will be encouraged to consider where they are in their relationship with Christ.  Are we trying to show love using only our own abilities, or does our close relationship with God enable us to reflect His love?

SESSION THREE -  LOVE FOR A LIFETIME

November 17, 6-8:00 p.m.

Objective - Develop a full understanding of marriage as a lifelong covenant.

Participants will complete their Fireproofing Application section for a detailed discussion of their own personal marriage vows that they once expressed to one another.

SESSION FOUR -  BREAKING FREE

December 1, 6-8:00 p.m.

Objective  -  To confront and address any sin or temptation that might be threatening the marriage.

The trusting atmosphere and strong relationships among the class will enable all of us to share the elements that are attacking our marriages.  Sharing these struggles builds capacity to overcome the issues that threaten all of us.

SESSION FIVE -  FORGIVENESS

December 8, 6-8:00 p.m.

Objective  - To encourage each participant to forgive past hurts and to request forgiveness for any wrong they’ve done to their spouse.

Couples will prayerfully consider whether unforgiveness is affecting their treatment of their spouse.  We will also determine if we have hurt our spouse without apologizing and seeking forgiveness.

SESSION SIX -  A BETTER WAY OF LOVING

December 15, 6-8:00 p.m.

Objective -  To begin loving unconditionally and selflessly as we reflect God’s love for us.

We will thoroughly explore how God defines love, especially as we study 1^st Corinthians 13:4-7.  The conditional way we love others can be very different from God’s love.

Come Celebrate the Harvest

Come listen to the  sounds of the Old Time Fiddlers.  Please bring your favorite autumn potluck dish and wear something that’ll make you feel like ropin’ the nearest cow.   Kids, bring a carved pumpkin. There’ll be a candy giveaway.  Cost is $5.00 per family.

Date:   Saturday, October 23  Time: 4:30-9:30 p.m.

Place: At the home of John and Charlotte Winters

***P.S.   Please bring 1-2 cans of food for the food drive to get an early start on the Christmas Baskets.  Trade your cans in for some goodies .... Yeaaaa!!!

Prayer Requests and Thanks . . .

EvaLoy Knight as she recovers from lung surgery at home - thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for her healing ... Lillian Casebier as she recovers from knee surgery at her daughter’s home - she is doing well and thanks everyone for their prayers, cards, flowers and the sunshine box from the children ... Ernie Strawn as he recovers from surgery for his pacemaker.  Thank you all for your prayers, visits, calls and cards ... Cooper Albright now has nerve cancer and hearing aids as the chemotherapy changed his hearing.  Also, as he has his new body scan to check for more cancer ... Angelina Darland on the passing of her grandfather this week and prayers for her grandmother and family for strength and comfort ... Laura Drew's friend, Rachel's, bone marrow transplant has been successful so far and she thanks us for all of our prayers ... For Conrad Arvin, father of Connie Kennedy, as he recovers from blood clots following surgery ... For Diap, friend of David Mayes who was in a car accident ... For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

Our Sympathy is extended to Teresa Bostwick and family on the passing of her mother, Barbara Garlitz, on Tuesday, October 12.  No arrangements have been made yet.

Harvest Craft Fair: Calling all crafters –now is the time to get all of your craft creations together and ready to sell.  We will be holding a Craft Fair at West Main on November 19 & 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Booths will be available to rent.  Call a friend and share a booth if you don’t have enough items to sell.  Call Debra Burchett  for booth space or more info.

****This will be an ideal time to get in some holiday shopping for all of your gifts.   We will have a variety of items for sale from all of our crafters.

Anniversary Sunday and Potluck Luncheon is scheduled for November 14. Invite your friends and former members to come celebrate sixty years with us.

Trunk N Treat is coming up on Sunday, October 31, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. See Stephen or Diane Liles for more information and to sign up.

Website: Have you noticed our new website at  www.churchofchristmedford.org?  A huge thank you to all those folks who worked on it.  You can now read the bulletin on the website by Thursday morning.  Also, check out all the new information  about West Main and the calendar section.  We also have a link to our Facebook page on our website.

Roof Fund - Thank you West Main Family for your generous contributions for our Roof Fund.  We have nearly reached our goal!  We are still in need of a small amount of funds to reach our goal. Your generosity is amazing.  Thank you so much.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Oct 23: Harvest Party at the Winters’  Home; 4:30-9:30 p.m.

Nov 14: Anniversary Sunday and Potluck

Nov 19-20: Harvest Craft Fair; FSR