West Main

Consider the following quote from a book on how central the body of Christ ought to be in our lives: “Christians have to earn a living, but we are not called to particular trades, careers, or jobs. So Christians should choose those jobs that will best let them serve the body of Christ (where the body of Christ is understood as local churches). Our actual employment is of limited importance” (Being Church: Reflections on How to Love as the People of God, pg., 70).

 

 

I imagine we would all have various reactions to the local congregation playing such a central role in our lives. Honestly, I have never personally heard someone decide on a means of employment based on how such work would serve the local congregation. After all, we might say, my life is my own and the local congregation has nothing to do with such a personal decision.

 

 

Yet the issue can be raised from Scripture that perhaps even how we choose to make a living is a concern for the local congregation. Consider the following familiar passage: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many” (1 Cor 12:12-14). The previous text demonstrates that we are to identify our individual selves in relation to others in the local congregation, the local body of Christ. If we identify who we are in relation to other members of the local body, then how can what we choose to do for a living not be a concern for the local body?

 

 

Take a moment and think about how especially young people are often asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The previous question reveals that within our society we often identify a person by what they do for a living. The apostle Paul says we are to be identified by the gifts Christ has given each of us and how those gifts serve the local body of Christ (1 Cor 12:11ff). Now you may object here and say, “But what I do for a living is a separate question from what I do for the local church. I can separate my identity in Christ from what I do to make a living.” True, Christ did not die on a cross and resurrect from the dead so he could give us good jobs in General Electric. Jesus died and rose again so that we can be and serve the local body of Christ for the salvation of the world (Ephesians 3:1-12).

 

 

Who we are and what we do begins in the body of Christ. Therefore, every decision we make must be grounded and conditioned by the calling, gifts, and the responsibilities Jesus places upon each man, woman, and child in the local church. The question then is not so much what we choose to do for a living, but how what we choose to do for a living effects our first priority: What we do for the local congregation to be a living body of Christ in the world.

 

 

For instance, imagine that Christ called you to be a hand in the local body. But what if you choose to make a living in the world with a job that takes up all your time and energy, so that you have no time and energy left to be and do what Christ calls you to be and do in the local body? Is it not possible to be faithful and successful in your career, but completely faithless and sinful in your calling to Christ’s local body? We must not imagine that we can justify our careers that take us away from the local congregation by saying, “I sacrifice time away from church so that I can financially support all that the local congregation needs to do.” Brothers and Sisters, Jesus accomplished at the Cross all the work that is necessary for the body of Christ to exist. Jesus has no need of your career. Jesus is calling you to serve the local body with the spiritual gifts he has given you. In other words, you are not called to a job, but to a body.

 

– Terry

 

 

 

Prayer Vigil and Fasting – November 17-18  -- Our prayer time will be from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Nov. 17. Our Fasting time will be from 9:00 a.m. on Saturday to 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18. We will break our fast with breakfast at the building at 8:15 a.m. on November 18. Please enter and exit by the West exit with the canopy. We will have prayer guardians watching the foyer and parking lot for the entire time to ensure your safety. Sign-up sheets for the Prayer Vigil are posted at the back of the auditorium. For complete info, please pick up the pamphlet this week.

 

Prayer Concert – December 1, 7:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room .

 

 

Christmas Program  --   (Please note the change of date and time.)

 

Our Annual Christmas Program this year is scheduled for Saturday, December 15 at 6:00 p.m.   Our theme this year is, “God’s Gift of Jesus to Us.” We will be presenting our program in the format of “West Main’s Got Talent” in which all members, young and old, are invited to participate. Please be thinking about how you can share and bless us with your talent. Some suggestions are singing, drama presentations, poems, scripture readings, memorization, prayer, skits, etc. Please come prepared to share your ideas or talents at our first meeting/try-out at 4:00 p.m. on November 18 in the auditorium. Posters and sign-up sheets will be available this Sunday. Please contact Christi Olson or Wyndee Thomas for further details. Our rehearsal dates are scheduled for December 2^nd and 9^th at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium.

 

**Please bring lots of your favorite finger foods to share at our party in the Fireside Room following the program. (We will have a special guest in attendance during our fellowship time.)**

 

 

Christian Relief Fund . . .  Now is the time that we need to start collecting extra funds for our “adopted children” for their Christmas presents.   Please be generous as the donation can is passed around during our class time OR you may write a check and place it in an envelope marked CRF. Thank you so much for all that you do for our children - it is greatly appreciated.   :)

 

 

Thanksgiving Day Dinner has been cancelled at the building this year, however, if you are a senior, Fountain Plaza has invited you to join them at their Thanksgiving Dinner from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at no charge. This is for seniors aged 55 years and older, available either for couples or singles. Please call for reservations at 541-772-6005 by November 20^th.   Their address is 1441 Morrow Road, Medford, 97504. For more information, please see the notice posted on the courtyard bulletin board.

 

 

Ladies Class  -- There will be No Ladies Class next week, Tuesday, November 20, due to the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. Class will resume on Tuesday, November 27.

 

 

Bulletin Schedule  --  NO BULLETIN will be published on November 21^st due to the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. Any news that needs to be published for the Sunday Bulletin on November 25^th needs to be submitted to the office by 10:00 a.m. on November 21^st.

 

 

Widows Luncheon  --  All widows are invited to a luncheon at Anna Maria Creekside at noon on December 5^th. Please check in at the front desk and they will tell you where to meet at. Their address is 822 Golf View Drive, Medford, 97504. If you need more information, please contact Bill Viera.

 

 

PRAYER REQUESTS . . .  For EEthel Flock who is in Hearthstone, Room 37...Lillian Casebier fell and is in Hearthstone Rehab facility recovering from some fractured bones...For Mike Eddy and his continued recovery from surgery...For Bud Sanderbrink that his back infection will clear up and that his sleep problems will be resolved...For Matthew York and his continued recovery from brain surgery...For the Kessler family as they have had to endure some trouble this season from being separated from their family...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

 

 

 

Thank You Note  --  Thank you all who prayed for the success of our move - it went flawlessly. A special thank you to the Dixons and the Walkers who helped us load and unload.   Sandra and Alex Cummings

 

Nov 18: Meeting/Try-Out for Christmas Program; 4:00 p.m.; Auditorium

Nov 17-18: Prayer Vigil and Fasting

Dec 1: Prayer Concert

Dec 15:  Christmas Program