News, 03/23/08

Our Gideon speaker, Bill Long, received the largest offering our church has given for the Gideon Ministry. All $270 will now go to purchase of Bibles throughout the world. Thank you for your generous giving.

Holiness Today is our primary church magazine printed every other month that helps people discover tools for everyday faith, for understanding the message of holiness in practical ways. Turn in $12 marked “Holiness Today.”

Women of Faith Retreat is August 1 & 2. The ladies of our church thoroughly enjoyed last year’s event. You don’t know how much you need this time of renewal until after you go. Those ladies who plan to go this year need to get their money to Nikki Merrill.

Recycle your computer printer cartridges Bring your used cartridges to the church and place them in the white box in the foyer for the daycare fundraiser.

Church membership is open for those who have experienced Christ as their personal savior. Pastor would appreciate talking to those who desire member in the Hagerstown Church of the Nazarene.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior living. If you know of anyone interested, call Floyd Sanders 489-4898. There are several vacancies.

New small group discipleship studies will begin this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

The men’s group will meet in the OutPost to study Tony Dungee’s Quiet Strength.

The women will meet at the parsonage to watch Beth Moore’s dvd, Jesus the One and Only.

Discipleship Summit is planned for next Saturday, March 29, at Indianapolis Westside Church. This is for all our Sunday School teachers and workers and anyone else interested in the spiritual lifeline of Christian living, that is, discipleship in the church. Please let pastor know if you can go. Discipleship is the spiritual success of our church.

Sunday School teacher ‘eat and meet’ is set for next Sunday following the morning service.

Rural Urban Banquet is Thursday, April 10, 6:30, at Hagerstown High School with special speaker and Hoosier author Lorene Burkart who wrote Home on the Farm: If Chickens Could Talk. The cost for an evening of chicken noodle dinner, entertainment by the school choir, and tons of doors prizes is $5.00. See Pastor Fannin for tickets.

Church Calendar at a Glance
Wed. Mar. 26: New discipleship study series begin
Sat. Mar. 29: Discipleship Summit in Indianapolis
Sun. Mar. 30: Sunday School Teacher ‘eat and meet’ luncheon
Mon. Mar. 31: Nettle Creek School Spring Break
Tue. Apr. 1: Pastor leaves for Atlanta for Belize ‘work and witness’
Sat. Apr. 5: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.
Thu. Apr. 10: Rural Urban Banquet, 6:30 p.m.
Sat. Apr. 19: Ladies’ Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

Our Easter Offering Goal is $2000
We believe that Jesus’ Great Commission to goand make disciples of all the nations includes supporting our missionaries whom God has called. Today’s offering will support taking the Good News of Christ around the world.

We are Easter People

 

Though the English word “Easter” comes from the name of a pagan feast in England, the celebration itself has no pagan roots. The Christian Easter is rooted in an actual datable event: the resurrection of Christ in the year 30 A.D.

The first celebration of Easter was not a yearly event but a weekly one. To the early Christians every Sunday was a mini-Easter. After Jesus’ death on the cross He first appeared to his fearful disciples on a Sunday. When Jesus reappeared to the disciples the following Sunday, doubting Thomas was there and fell to his knees exclaiming, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus told Thomas, “You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who haven't seen Me and believe anyway” (John 20:29). Christ died for us and was raised to new life! Believe and be saved, and become as blessed as an apostle.

The evidences of Jesus’ resurrection surround us. The early church thrived in the city where Jesus was put to death and now thrives around the world.

Jewish Christians began the Sunday worship. Though Saturday was the written-in-stone worship day for the Jews, the resurrection of Christ eventually caused Sunday to become the Christian worship day.

Changed lives are the greatest evidence. Any person can encounter the resurrected Christ by admitting they have a broken relationship with God, by believing Christ died to restore that relationship, and by confessing Jesus as Lord of their lives. Only believers know the reality of Christ. Receiving Christ brings hope and a new beginning that is out of this world.

 

Philippians 1:29“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

Prayer Petitions

Michael Stomm is recovering well from surgery. Karen Sitzler is home from the hospital. Margie Wynn, Carolyn Talbott’s sister. Ronnie and Velma Longsworth, friends of Joan Roblin. Joenita Walker. O.B. Whitted, Don Talbott’s uncle. Pat Lacey. Karen Owens. Charlotte Saunders. George and Helen York. Fred Favorite. Elsie Hall. Michael Stomm. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb. Marilyn Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Jody Carnes. Terry York. Wade Fletcher. Susan Combes. Moriah Stout. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Don Talbott. Henry Overbay. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Adam Pinnick. Olive Berkebile. Amazing Angels Child Care. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. Persecuted Christians.

Missionaries: Robert Pickle- Set Free Ministries. Dan & Sheri Miller. Dana Harding. Daniel Duke. Bob & Janet Miller. Dee Sudnig. Lindell & Kay Browning. Bill & Kay Swesay. Ken & Linda Walker. Greg & Amy Crofford. Wayne & Connie LaForce. Mark Ryan. Dan & Margaret Clark. Scott and Emily Armstrong. Kathy Matson.

Nursing Home: Bonnie McLain. Phyllis Lambert. Franklin White. Rev. R.C. Boynton. Earl Goodwin.

News, 03/09/08

Alabaster Offering so far is $501.65. This will help purchase materials for church buildings, parsonages, schools and health clinics on the mission field. You may still turn in any offering not yet given. Mark in ‘alabaster.’

Easter choir practice is set for this Wednesday 7:30 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 p.m.

Thanks to the many who expanded our sight & sound capabilities this past week: Frank, Rex, Bob, Don, Dave, Monty, John, Kerry, Seth Richard, Mike, and Michael. Our “sight and sound” folks are all grins. Please mark your contribution “sight & sound” to help buy more equipment.

Secret sisters’ sign-up sheets are available to anyone wanting to participate in this ministry. See Sharon Brothers for further information.

Women of Faith Retreat is set for August 1 & 2. The ladies of our church thoroughly enjoyed last year’s event. You don’t know how much you need this time of renewal until after you go. Those ladies who plan to go this year need to get their money to Nikki Merrill.

Holiness Today is our primary church magazine printed every other month that helps people discover tools for everyday faith, for understanding the message of holiness in practical ways. Turn in $12 marked “Holiness Today.”

Softball sign-up sheet is on the foyer bulletin board. The cost is $20 for fee and shirt. Softball “Eat and Meet” FYI luncheon is next Sunday, March 16^th following the worship service.

Gideon speaker will be our special guest next Sunday. The Gideon ministry is world wide.

Easter Offering Goal is $2000

We believe that Jesus’ Great Commission to go

and make disciples of all the nations includes supporting our missionaries to take the gospel around the world. Let us not fail those whom God has chosen to proclaim the Good News of Jesus redeeming grace.

Child Care will meet this Friday 6:00 p.m.

Testament Men’s Choir is in concert this evening at Southview Nazarene, 6:00 p.m. This is a zone event for our churches to attend. The church van will leave a little after 5:15 p.m. Let’s have a great turnout.

Church Board will meet today at 4:00 p.m. instead of 4:30 p.m. in the OutPost.

Recycle your computer printer cartridges Bring your used cartridges to the church and place them in the white box in the foyer for the daycare fundraiser.

Hagerstown Faith Housing is set up for senior living. If you know of anyone interested please call Floyd Sanders 489-4898. We have several vacancies.

Church Calendar at a Glance

Sun. Mar. 9^th: Church Board Meeting, 4:00 p.m.
Olivet Nazarene University Choir, 6:00 p.m.
Fri. Mar. 14^th: DayCare Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Sat. Mar. 15^th: Ladies Fellowship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.
Sun. Mar. 16^th: Gideon Sunday Speaker
Softball ‘eat and meet’ fyi luncheon
Sun. Mar. 23^rd: SonRise Service, 8:00 a.m.
Resurrection Sunday Service, 10:00 a.m.

March Finances
MONTHLY GIVING	Received last Sunday the 2nd	Received for the Month	Goal for the Month
Tithes and Offerings	1104.25	1,104.25	6,000.00
Building Fund Loan	99.00	99.00	728.77
Missions Alabaster Easter	17.00 83.42 5.00	17.00 501.65 5.00	300.00 501.65 2,000.00

2 Peter 1:4“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) NIV. All Rights Reserved.

Prayer Petitions

Ronnie and Velma Longsworth, friends of Joan Roblin. Joenita Walker. O.B. Whitted, Don Talbott’s uncle. Pat Lacey. Karen Owens. Charlotte Saunders. George and Helen York. Fred Favorite. Elsie Hall. Michael Stomm. Margaret Beeson. Mary Holcomb. Marilyn Burgess. Ernie and Faye Barnard. Jody Carnes. Terry York. Wade Fletcher. Susan Combes. Moriah Stout. Marie Wilson. Albert Pence. Joetta Wilkinson. Don Talbott. Henry Overbay. Nick Paul. Mark Ballenger. Olive Bruner. Adam Pinnick. Olive Berkebile. Amazing Angels Child Care. Hailey Blevins. Jan Townsend. Persecuted Christians.

Missionaries: Robert Pickle- Set Free Ministries. Dan & Sheri Miller. Dana Harding. Daniel Duke. Bob & Janet Miller. Dee Sudnig. Lindell & Kay Browning. Bill & Kay Swesay. Ken & Linda Walker. Greg & Amy Crofford. Wayne & Connie LaForce. Mark Ryan. Dan & Margaret Clark. Scott and Emily Armstrong. Kathy Matson.

Nursing Home: Bonnie McLain. Phyllis Lambert. Franklin White. Rev. R.C. Boynton. Earl Goodwin.

The dogwood tree

The legend of the dogwood says that this tree was once the size of the oak and other forest trees. It was so strong and firm that it was chosen as the timber for Christ’s cross. This greatly distressed the tree.

Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed the tree’s regret and told it: because of your sorrow for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood grow large enough to be used as a cross. It shall be slender, bent and twisted. Its blossoms shall form a cross – two long and two short petals. And at the outer edge of each petal will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red. In the center of the flower shall be a crown of thorns. And all who see it will remember.”

We remember the cross as necessary to reveal our sinfulness and God’s love. Indiana is known as the Crossroads of our nation joining the East, West, North, and South. In the same sense the cross is the intersection of the holy love of God and sinful man.

The cross of Christ reveals how bad we are and how good God is. Jesus’ life of perfect love gave hope, healing, and help to those in desperate need. But in return for all of God’s goodness, sinful humans stilled nailed Jesus to the cross. Why?

Why we would rather go with our way rather than with God. Though this leads to frustration, we still persist until we lost our perspective. But God never gives up on us. His persistent love paves the way for us to regain what we lost.

“Winter’s grip will eventually let go, but God’s grip of love will never let go. We welcome you in His unconditional love.”