November 30, 2011
TIS THE SEASON
This is the time of the year when families draw together; spend time in each other’s presence, share stories, love, and gifts. Many families will find that a little harder this year. It has been a tough year. People have experienced loss. People have lost jobs. That is why our youth group’s “Christmas Basket Ministry” is SO important. It is just one way to share a little light and love to families who surely need it.
This year we are focused on many of our own families as well as families from our communities. The needs are in NO shortage! We are humbly asking you all for help! We have made it easy to be part of this wonderful effort. The gifts are separated into single items to make it easier to buy. You and your family may take one or as many items as you like from the “angel tree” posted on the back wall of the auditorium. There are MANY items still on the tree, and many more will be added. You can sign up on the food list for some simple grocery items you can bring to help with the food baskets. Or, you can donate cash to the project and the teens and I will shop for the families. Whichever choice you select, we need your help! We are off to a slow start this year, and it is time to kick it into full gear.
All items need to be at the church by Sunday, December 18. All gift items need not be wrapped, just labeled clearly with the family number and child number. If you have any questions, please find Brian or Jessie Pannell and they can answer them for you. I thank you in advance for all of your generous support. God Bless –
------Brian Pannell and the West Main Youth Group
Trinitarian Spiritual Formation
So what is spiritual formation? If you have been paying attention at all in the last several weeks to the sermons on Sunday morning, then you know we have been wrestling with what is and how we do spiritual formation.
During this sermon series basically two definitions have been offered for spiritual formation. The first definition stated, “A specific training of the heart by the Spirit to the general call of God in order to develop a habit of the heart to obey the specific call of God at all times.” The second definition defined spiritual formation as an, “Intentional communal process of growing in our relationship with God and becoming conformed to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The above two definitions are attempts at trying to succinctly summarize the complex process of transformation of the human personality into the image of God seen in the face of Christ. In short, spiritual formation is living the Christian life in obedience to God. I suppose no definition can capture in total all that it means to live as a child of God in a covenant relationship. All definitions seem to leave out some important aspect or another. Yet, despite the deficiencies of definitions, they do highlight what are often most important or necessary.
Given our two definitions of spiritual formation above, I would like to underscore and supplement what is most necessary or important when it comes to our spiritual formation. One element, or better one Person, not specifically articulated in the above definitions is God the Father. Both definitions have “God” in their statements, and so by inference or implication all three Persons of the God-Head (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are understood. However, by mentioning the specific roles of the Son and Holy Spirit, but not the Father specifically, appears to be a definitional gap that needs filling. In other words, a more defined Trinitarian definition of Spiritual formation is necessary.
The role of Jesus Christ in spiritual formation is often noted due to such clear calls to be branches rooted in Jesus (John 15:1ff) and to imitate Christ (1Cor 11:1; Phil 2:5). The image we are seeking to be transformed into is Jesus. The role of the Holy Spirit is often emphasized due to the fundamental truth that we cannot be transformed on our own, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16-25; Eph 1:19; 1 Thess 1:5).
So where does the Father “fit into” all this spiritual transformation into the image of the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit? I submit one role of the Father in spiritual formation is desire. The Apostle Paul says, “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Gal 4:6). In Romans (8:15-16), Paul declares, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” We longed to be loved and embraced by God. God is love (1 John 4:16). Scripture further testifies, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God ” (1 John 3:1).
The desire to love and be loved is fulfilled in God the Father. This necessary love of the Father is rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is instilled in us by the Holy Spirit. So all three Persons of the God-Head One have a role in our spiritual formation. One is not more important than the other, but each Person of the Trinity seeks as One our oneness in spiritual transformation into the image of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
-- Terry
CHRISTIAN RELIEF FUND -- Now is the time to be extra generous for our “adopted children.” This is the time of year that we need extra funds to send them a Christmas present. Please be extra generous this month as the donation can is passed around during our class time. Thank you for all your support of our kids.
DEACONS’ MEETING -- Our monthly Deacons’ meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. All deacons are encouraged to attend.
LADIES BIBLE CLASS -- We will have NO LADIES CLASS on December 20 and 27. We will resume class on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
JAMES II PANTRY NEEDS -- If you can help with any donations to our pantry, the following items are needed: pancake mix (5 pounds or smaller), any flavor jelly or jam, spaghetti (one or two pound size), macaroni and cheese, hot or cold cereals, five pound bags of sugar. Thank you for all of your donations to help our pantry.
SURPRISE CARD SHOWER -- Let’s SURPRISE Katherine Martin on her 92nd Birthday on December 10 with lots of cards from her West Main Family. Her address is in the directory.
ANGEL TREE -- Check out our Angel Tree at the back of the auditorium to see how you can help with Christmas presents for our Christmas Basket program. There is also a food list for you to sign up for items you would like to donate. All items need to be returned by December 18. If anyone would like to give a cash donation instead, please give it to Brian Pannell and the funds will be used to shop for food and gifts for the families. For more information or to suggest names for baskets, please contact Brian.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PLAY -- “The True Meaning of Christmas” is the theme of our Christmas Play this year. All children ages three years and up are invited to participate. Our play will be presented on December 18. We will have play practice each Sunday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. and some mid-week practices until the evening of the play. After our play on December 18, we will have a Fingerfood Fellowship in the Fireside Room following our evening service.
PRAYER REQUESTS . . . Donna York thanks you for your prayers, cards, and calls, since her daughter, Tammy, passed away on November 16. Please continue to pray for her husband, children, and their family...For the daughter of Mandy Breithaupt, Vicki, who has developed more cancer...Please continue to pray for Ed Shipley’s health to improve...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
DIRECTORY PHOTOS -- We are encouraging all families who would like their directory photo updated to contact Sandra Cummings ASAP. We want to encourage all of our members to have their photo taken by Sandra if you want an updated picture in the directory, instead of submitting your own photo. Thank you for your help.
DISHES -- We have lots of dishes that have been left in the kitchen from our previous dinners. If you are missing your dishes, please pick them up this Sunday.
October Financial Statement
INCOME:
|
General Fund Contributions |
|
$ 27,658.00
|
|
Non Budgeted Contributions |
|
$ 482.86
|
|
Development Funds & Rents |
|
$ 1,187.00
|
|
Interest/Other Income |
|
$ 0.07
|
|
Total Income for Month |
|
$ 29,327.93
|
EXPENSES:
|
Administration and Payroll |
|
$12,411.55
|
|
Youth on Fire |
|
$300.00
|
|
Vision Ministries |
|
$409.47
|
|
Office |
|
$493.88
|
|
Nurturing Brethren |
|
$500.00
|
|
Operational Ministries |
|
$3,356.01
|
|
Worship & Facilities |
|
$1,237.48
|
|
Non-Budgeted Mission |
|
$2,257.86
|
|
Development & Kings Hwy |
|
$3,537.47
|
|
Total Monthly Expenses |
|
$24,503.72
|
***************************************
DECEMBER SERVERS
Coffee Servers: Barbara Logsdon
Nursery: Dec 4, 11, 18: Help Needed; Dec 25: Laurie Morris
Greeters: Mike Eddy; Michele Cooper; Kent & Sandy Watson
NOVEMBER ATTENDANCE
1st Sunday - 261; 2nd Sunday - N/A; 3rd Sunday - 289; 4th Sunday - 247
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Dec 4, 11, 18: Play Rehearsal in the Auditorium; 4:30 p.m.
Dec 5: Deacons' Meeting; FSR; 7:00 p.m.
Dec 18: Children’s Christmas Play, Fingerfood Fellowship Following Services
