October 19, 2011
BEING HERE
Recently, my family got to take a weekend off and enjoy some nice time at the Oregon Coast. It was a much-needed reprieve. We decided to have our own church at the rental house. Our oldest asked if he could prepare the sermon and plan the day. What parent could say no to that? At the risk of sounding like a braggart, I am going to say this: HE DID AWESOME!
I was blown away by not only the work he put into his lesson, but how he arranged the service. Apparently, children REALLY pay attention to things! He planned the day in replication of how we worship here at West Main. He even had his little sisters lined up on a specific song to “pick up cards.” He had songs mixed with prayers and communion. All were in the order we are used to. He even included an assigned time for “Prayer for the Family.” It was just a really special event for Jessie and me as parents.
What I took away from it all (besides the fact that he will make a fabulous preacher one day :)) was that being at church has REALLY made an impression on my kids. They are picking up things, so many things in fact, even at times when they didn’t necessarily realize it.
It drives home the point just how important church attendance really is. It is no secret that modern life has done all it can to make it very easy to justify skipping church services here and there. We can easily make time for the “main worship” time, but it is just as easy to make excuses for not attending evening events, or Sunday school classes, or anything outside of that hour on Sunday morning.
I just want to encourage ALL of us to reassess that. It really does make a difference when we choose to be together and be involved in church life. And I don’t think that this “osmosis” effect works only on children. I think that the more we are involved, we are picking up MUCH more than we think we are.
May we all find new energies to come to classes, attend seminars and be a part of all the fun life here at West Main. I am pretty sure we would be blown away by the blessings we never even considered we’d gain.
– Pannell
May We Be One
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” (John 17:22-24).
The above words are Jesus’ prayer just prior to the unfolding events in the Garden of Gethsemane that lead to his arrest and eventual crucifixion. Jesus knew what was about to unfold on how each of his disciples were about to abandon him and be scattered to the four-winds. So what does Jesus do as he enters this night of ebon pinion? He prays. He prays not for himself, but for us and his immediate disciples.
Jesus prays with a long vision in mind. He is not just concerned about his immediate disciples (Jn 17:1-19), but for all who in the future were to come to saving faith. Jesus’ central concern as he prays is our oneness. There is a lot of oneness in Jesus’ prayer: the Father in Jesus, Jesus in the Father, each of us in one another, us in the Father and Jesus, and the Father and Jesus in us!
How one is our oneness to each other? Note how Jesus says, “that they may be one as we [the Father and Jesus] are one.” However, when we see such disunity today among the Lord’s congregations, Jesus’ prayer would seem to have gone unanswered. Jesus and the Father do not separate from each other to form new fellowships, so how can we? I realize all the objections and interjections that will pop up in our minds at our disunity in the face of Jesus prayer for our unity. Among other things, no doubt, we will say that we divide to protect the faith, guard sound doctrine, and keep us from sin.
The truth is, the Church of Christ will always have a justification for division, whether such division is truly justified or not. Here, I only would like to point out that Jesus claims that such extensive divisions among us presently and historically are a vile testimony to his call to unity. Vile is the appropriate word here even if such a word comes across as harsh. Our disunity as a fellowship of believers is vile because it is an insult to God’s glory. Note how Jesus prays, “I have given them the glory that you gave me.” The glory of God is what enables fallen and sinful human beings to become one body, the Church of Jesus Christ. Thus, to divide from one another is to insult the glory of God.
Furthermore, note how Jesus prays that our unity is supposed to be a sign of how the Father loves Jesus (Jn 17:22)! So is not our disunity a false sign to the world that God does not love Jesus? Brothers and sisters, we do not want to insult the glory of God or give the impression to the world that the Father does not love Jesus! Disunity is perhaps one of the most egregious sins the contemporary church could commit. Therefore, let us be ever diligent to avoid disunity with a flaming passion sparked by the glory of God and the love between the Father and Son.
– Terry
PROFILE OF A DEACON -- The seminar concludes on Wednesday, October 26, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room.
PARENTING SEMINAR -- Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Parenting Seminar on November 10, 12, and 13. We will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Child care will be available. Please watch for more details to come. Parents of all ages are welcome to attend.
PARENTS OF KIDS IN YOUTH GROUP -- Remember that this week our teens start our new series on Chaste Living, as previously discussed. We want you to be directly involved in this series, so please do not forget that each week, starting THIS SUNDAY, there will be a Parent handout from each class located in the hanging file at the bottom of the stairs. Thank you. – Pannell
HARVEST PARTY -- Get ready for a great time on October 22. Bill and Barb Viera will be hosting our Harvest Party this year at their home (weather permitting and if it is not raining). Festivities will start at noon and continue until 5:00 p.m. Lunch will be at 1:00 p.m. We will have fun games for the kids, too. Please bring your lawn chairs, etc. Please try to car-pool from the church building as parking space is limited. Anyone wanting to car-pool, please be at the church parking lot by 11:00 a.m. Any questions, please call Barb.
“NIGHT OF THE LIVING” -- The youth of West Main Church of Christ and Rogue Valley Christian Church will present “Night of the Living” on Wednesday, October 26, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. We will have a costume contest, prizes, food, games, music and more. This is for our Junior High and Senior High School students. Please come join us for a fun time at 1440 South Oakdale Ave., Medford, (Rogue Valley Christian Church).
This is meant ENTIRELY to be an outreach to kids outside of church. PLEASE bring some friends and let’s have some FUN!
ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY -- West Main will celebrate sixty-one years as a church family on Sunday, October 30th. Please invite your friends and former members to come celebrate our special day with us. We will have a potluck luncheon following services, so please bring lots of your favorite foods to share.
TRUNK OR TREAT -- On Monday, October 31, 2011 -- in the church parking lot -- 6:30-8:30 p.m. "Trunks" need to arrive at 6:00 p.m. in order to be ready for "Treaters" by 6:30 p.m. Contact Stephen or Diane Liles to sign up.
BLANKET TYING PARTY -- Please come join us for a Blanket Tying Party on Wednesday, November 2, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Please bring your scissors and straight pins. These blankets are given out to the pediatric unit at RVMC during the holiday season. Please contact Wyndee Thomas if you need more information.
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 our Craft Fair November 18-19 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Please contact Debra Burchett if you would like booth space.
THANKSGIVING DINNER -- If anyone would like to co-ordinate the Thanksgiving Dinner at the church building, please contact Lance Lake or the church office.
PRAYER REQUESTS . . . Remember Sharen Rose as she recovers from surgery. She is not feeling well ... For Cooper Albright who will have antibody treatments in NYC the week of October 23 ... For Jenny Way that she will continue progress for her brain injury and that her memory will improve ... For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Oct 22: Harvest Party at the home of the Viera’s, 12:00-5:00 p.m.
Oct 26: Profile of a Deacon Seminar; 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the FSR
Oct 26: “Night of the Living” Party at Rogue Valley Christian Church,
6:00-9:00 p.m. For Junior-Senior High students
Oct 30: Anniversary Sunday and Potluck Luncheon -- Please invite
your friends and our former members to join us for this special day!
Oct 31: Trunk or Treat, Church Parking Lot; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Nov 2: Blanket Tying Party; 6:30 p.m.; FSr
Nov 10, 12, 13: Parenting Seminar; 7:00 p.m.; Auditorium
