December 7, 2011
HOLIDAY BASKETS
This family never ceases to amaze me. You never cease to humble me. This body never ceases to make me proud to be part of it! This past Sunday I made a request for help with our Christmas Basket ministry. And boy did you answer! Food was signed up for, angel items were taken from the tree and donations were made. SO many donations in fact, that I now have the ability to add a few more families that were previously on our “waiting list.”
I cannot thank each and every one of you enough. This ministry is so important. Throughout God’s word we are commanded to reach out and help one another and help our neighbors. This time of year, it is especially important. It is unreal the number of families struggling these days. It is a pure joy to be able to go to them with love and aid with no strings attached. It is one of the most moving things that we do as a Youth Group every year. Thanks to all of you for reaching out and loving like you do. May the Lord bless each of you richly this Christmas.
– Pannell
ORPHANS AND THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
I just recently saw the movie, Hugo. The movie centers on the life of an orphan boy living on his own within the walls of a Paris train station in the 1930’s. The orphan boy, Hugo Cabret, fixes the clocks that keep the train station running on time. I will not spoil the movie for you by giving away the story, but from the previews you learn that Hugo is trying to fix an automaton—a mechanical machine left to him by his father. Furthermore, the clocks, machines, and trains in the movie serve as an analogy for life. Here is one quote from the movie worth considering:
“Sometimes I come up here at night, even when I'm not fixing the clocks, just to look at the city. I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too.”
Throughout the movie, various characters need to be “fixed” due to missing “parts” or roles in their life. So, we are not at peace until we know and are living out our purpose in this life is a major theme of the movie. Now here is a movie a theologian can love! Augustine (354-430 A.D.) said something similar to Hugo centuries earlier when he wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
The Apostle Paul speaking to philosophical types on Mars Hill put our purpose in life this way: “And he [God] made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are indeed his offspring'” (Acts 17:26-28).
The truth is we belong in relationship to God, but we all have been orphaned by our sin. We are like broken machines with a few parts missing. Apart from God, we function as though we have “jerry-rigged” our lives. In other words, we can seem to manage for awhile, but eventually nothing seems to work just right and our lives break down. We cannot live a purposeful life separate and apart from God. Paul says, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved” (Rom 8:22-24).
The world is not right and we are not right within the world. Sin has broken our created purpose. We cannot fix ourselves. Like Hugo Cabret, we need to find our purpose in this life. Like Hugo Cabret, we were not meant to be orphans. We were created to be children of God living the Kingdom life. While love in the movie “fixes” a lot of human brokenness, the biblical message is truer and larger than what Hugo imagines. Loving others and being loved is certainly necessary and beneficial. Yet, the Word of God teaches us that the ultimate purpose in life is being loved by God and loving God. The good news is that in Jesus Christ we come to know and experience our purpose in life. We no longer need live vainly attempting to jerry-rig our orphaned lives. Rather, in Jesus Christ we are adopted as God’s children. We find love and now can love due to the redeemed love of God (Eph 1:4-5). Now there is a purpose in life worth the living.
– Terry
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.
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.
ATTENTION YOUTH GROUP FAMILIES -- Please note an important change to the recent youth group letter that I mailed to you. We will be delivering Christmas Baskets on Wednesday, December 21. I apologize for any confusion and please make this change on your calendars. Pannell
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.
LADIES BIBLE CLASS -- We will have NO LADIES CLASS on December 20 and 27. We will resume class on Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
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.
PRAYER REQUESTS . . . Connie Kennedy requests prayers for her mother who recently broke her arm and she also thanks you for your kind words after the passing of her father...Laura Drew asks for your prayers for the families of two Albertson’s employees who recently passed away...For all of the families who are having rough economic times recently and for those who are looking for employment...Zach Kirk is giving praise for his aunt and uncle who were able to adopt a little girl...For Erma, the great-aunt of Diane Liles, for her peace and comfort in her last hours of life and for Diane’s mother as she cares for her...For Larry and Wydie as they struggle with health problems...Moe Miller asks your prayers for his neighbor, whose sister Orva Klopfer, is in a coma...For Cooper Albright as he has anti-cancer treatments these next four days - he will have one more treatment in February - please pray that cancer doesn’t return...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
PRAYER VIGIL AND FAST -- We will have a Prayer Vigil and Fast on January 7-8 beginning at 6:45 a.m. Please pick up the pamphlet on the tables at the back of the auditorium if you would like more information.
COFFEE SERVERS -- Coffee servers are needed for 2012. Please sign up on the sheet posted in the hallway by the stairs. All help is greatly appreciated.
DIRECTORY PHOTOS -- Please remember to contact Sandra Cummings to get your new photo taken for our 2012 directory. Call her to set up your appointment time.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Dec 11, 18: Play Rehearsal in the Auditorium
Dec 18: Children’s Play Presentation; Fingerfood Fellowship Following Services
Dec 20 & 27: NO Ladies Class
Jan 3: Ladies Class Resumes
Jan 7-8: Prayer Vigil and Fast at the Building
Jan 27-29: Men’s Retreat at Little River Christian Camp
