September 19, 2012
YOU MUST SUBMIT!
For a period of eight years I lived in a New England town called Quechee (kwee-chee), Vermont which is located almost in the middle of Vermont and on the New Hampshire border. While traveling often into New Hampshire I would see their state motto on license plates: “Live Free or Die.” The motto comes from a toast given after the Revolutionary War that more fully said, “Live free or die: death is not the worst of evils.”
Running strong in the psyche of the American spirit is political and religious freedom. “Let freedom ring,” is historically our rallying cry as a nation. I thank God for the political and religious freedoms I enjoy in this country. However, what is good politically and even religiously for our country is not necessarily beneficial for the Church of Jesus Christ. Freedom in Jesus Christ and freedom as our country understands freedom are not the same.
Almost three years ago, we did a series of studies on freedom in Christ on Wednesday nights in which we saw that the world defines freedom as freedom of choice, and God defines freedom as obedience in Christ. According to the Word of God in order to be free we must become slaves of Jesus. What the world virtually cannot understand is that as long as the fear of death reigns in their hearts, all their “free” choices are conditioned by that fear. Only those who have by faith died with Christ through baptism are truly free. Freedom in Jesus means to obey His will so as to be free from the power of the flesh that is enslaved to the power of death. Therefore, only in submission to Christ are we free. In other words, you must submit.
Now submission has become a dirty word in our society. Generally, to hear someone say today, “You must submit,” is a cause for fighting among most in our nation. The notion that commitment and obligation is expected of an individual seems to cut against the grain of the American spirit. On October 18th, 20th, and 21st, West Main Church of Christ is having our first seminar of the fall that will take up this issue of submission. The title of the Seminar is: Submission—Subordination or Freedom?
Our general topics for the seminar will include: (1) The Theology of Submission—What it is and is Not; (2) The Responsibility of Being Submitted To; (3) The Responsibility of Submitting; (4) Submitting to One Another in Matters of Faith and Disputable Matters; (5) The Power of Submission; and (6) Living with Submission—Challenges and Prospects.
The overall theme of our seminar will focus primarily on what it means to submit to one another in the local congregation. The Church of Jesus Christ is not a democracy. We submit to our Lord and we submit to one another. If we are submitting to our Lord and one another, then what does authority look like in a community of mutual submission? The eldership strongly urges you to attend our congregational seminar and join the conversation about why, what, and how we are to practice submission. The question I leave with you is: Will you submit?
– Terry
Fireside Room Furniture Needs – Our building is in constant use throughout the week. There are classes that meet during the day and there are groups that use the building in the evenings. There are very few church buildings that are as well used as our building. Because of the constant use, the chairs and tables in the Fireside Room are worn out!
There are about one hundred chairs and about fifteen tables that need to be replaced. The cost to replace this number of tables and chairs is about $6,000.00. We are planning on replacing the chairs with a Lifetime brand stackable chair that will cost approximately $36.00 each. We purchased several of these chairs several years ago for the teen classrooms and they have held up very well. They are not cloth covered or as cushy, but they are much easier to clean and set up. The tables will cost approximately $155.00 each to replace.
The Elders would like to ask you to consider helping with the purchase of new furniture for the Fireside Room. We will make an announcement reminding you of the need over the next three weeks. If you would like to contribute toward the purchase of the furniture please mark your gift so we know it is for the purchase of the furniture and put it in the regular collection (contribution envelopes are available on the information tables.) At the end of three weeks we will purchase as many tables and chairs as we can with the money you so richly provide. Your generosity is always appreciated.
Dan Beeks for the Elders
Women’s Retreat -- Our Annual Women’s Retreat will be held October 5-7 in Bend, Oregon, at The Riverhouse. Our guest speaker will be Katie Turner, a long time friend of the Zielke’s. Her theme is “His Story in Her Life: The Journey of Leah.” Registrations are available in the courtyard. Each attendee is responsible for booking and paying for their room at the hotel and arranging for their roommates. See registration form for details.
Please see the registration forms for complete details on what to bring, costs, and directions. If you need more information and to sign-up, please contact Jessie Pannell.
Our Deacon and Elders Leadership Retreat is this Saturday, Sept. 22, at Cantrall-Buckley Park at 10:30 a.m. All deacons, elders and their families are encouraged to come and stay through the afternoon.
Prayer Requests . . . . For Billie Kay Barnett who fell and broke her hip while bike riding on Monday evening - she had surgery on Tuesday and is RVMC Room 5373...For Velma Hahn who hasn’t been feeling well lately...For the father of Dave Thomas, Roger, who is suffering from kidney failure - please pray that he will yield to the direction of the doctors who are caring for him...For the mother of Lee Stapp, Shirley, who is having kidney problems...For the safety of Greg and Leslie Miller as they are on vacation for a few weeks...For Bud Sanderbrink who is in Medford Rehab, Wing 1 - he would appreciate visitors now...For Matthew York who is going to have brain surgery in a few weeks for an artery-vein malformation - please pray that it can be corrected by surgery...For Jenny Way that she has a clear mind and less confusion...Please pray for Meagan Gordon and her family...Prayers for the new minister, Victor Pelayo, and his family as they begin their ministry in San Felipe, Mexico, and for Juneway Cortez Dimas as she recovers from surgery...Bill and Nellie Kelton would like to give a special thank you to their grandsons, John and Chris Kelton, who surprised them with some interior painting of their home while they were on vacation...For the sister of Bill Kelton, Mary Gilley, who is doing very well after surgery and is now able to walk with her walker - she will be in a neck brace for the next six weeks. Thank you all who have prayed for her - what a blessing that God does hear our prayers...For friends of David Mayes, Cora, for her spiritual growth; Barbara, that she will accept Christ; for Brandi, as she continues her education; and for David to be more Christlike in his ways...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
Thank you so much for the flowers, visits and prayers. They were very much appreciated.
Bud & Nina Sanderbrink
Calendar of Events
Sept 22: Leadership Retreat; Cantrall-Buckley Park; 10:30 a.m.
Oct 5-7: Ladies Retreat in Bend, Oregon
Nov 4: Anniversary Sunday (Please note the change of date)
