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November 23, 2014

11/25/2014

       Laura Leatherwood brought her grandchildren, Ally and Silas to church. Laura gave the children’s lesson and had a picture of a cornucopia or horn of plenty in her bag of surprises. Laura asked the children what the horn of plenty meant to them. Well it meant Thanksgiving Day of course. But Laura said it also means we have plenty of good food and plenty of other wonderful things. The children named things they were thankful for; for God, for family, for their house and their mother and also for Jesus.

      It was reported certain people were thankful they got some of Kathy Logan’s baked goods at the Library bake sale.

      Neva Smith was in our prayers as she recovers from surgery and Alford Havens is recovering from a procedure. Travis Rasberry is back in the hospital. We pray these people are out and about and back with us soon.

      Our congregation extends sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Gracie Maikell and also for Dr. William Calhoun of Comanche.

      Mary Haley was our Worship Leader and Leta Sage our musician. Leta sang a beautiful rendition of “People Need the Lord” for the Offertory.

      Rev. Ken Lunsford took his lesson from Matthew 25: 31-46. These verses from the Bible tell us we should feed the hungry, give the thirsty something to drink, welcome a stranger, clothe the naked, take care of the sick, and visit those in prison. Jesus said, “I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.”

     We need to view those in need as our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Spirit of Jesus lives in our heart and we see others through His eyes. Saints of God have a heart for those at the bottom of society. This has always been so.

     I believe God calls each of us to do something to make life better for someone else. That is what the text in Matthew is saying to us, isn’t it? We see Christ in the poor and in the suffering of the world. But when we enter into their need and try to serve them, something extraordinary happens. They also see Christ in us!

     Pastor Ken Lunsford along with Judy and other members of our congregation attended the 2014 Community Thanksgiving evening Service at Double N Cowboy Church. We enjoyed the Double N Band’s toe tapping music.

     Dr. Cliff Sims, Pastor of First Baptist Church, brought the message. Dr. Sims told us we should praise God always, that our life circumstances are not a measurement for our praise.

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November 16, 2014

11/19/2014

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This past Sunday, 11-16, was a momentous one for our congregation. Laura Young Jones came and presented her testimony and it was awe inspiring!

     Laura’s ordeal started in October of 2010 while in New Mexico on vacation. She had a heart problem, a serious one that the local hospital couldn’t manage. Laura was flown to Lubbock, Texas for treatment.

     After surgery on her heart, the removal of a leg, kidney failure, and indeed almost dying from several causes, Laura rallied and got better. On 12-7 of 2010 she was released from the hospital to begin 11 months of rehabilitation.

      Laura said she shook the hand of the physician in charge of her care and thanked him for saving her. The doctor told her “It was God that saved you.”

      Laura said when she got home and was coming off the strong drugs she had been prescribed, she became mean, hateful, difficult, and drove away her friends. Laura was having a rough time adjusting to the changes in her body and health. Laura realized the old Laura was gone, never to return. She could not just put on a new, prosthetic leg and go back to her old life. And she was very bitter that her older brother, James Young, had died. James had been her confidant and sounding board.

      Laura said she had hit the “rock bottom” one day and began listening to a recording of “How Great Thou Art,” she played it over and over. Then she went to the cemetery to her brother’s grave and yelled at him for leaving her when she needed him most. Next Laura drove out to James Fritts’ farm and parked. She needed to talk to God, and she needed to vent her feelings. Laura said she screamed and cried and prayed. Then she screamed, cried, and prayed some more. And lo and behold the pain and frustration began to fade and she was filled up to overflowing with a peace and joy she had never experienced. God answered her and she was finally, truly, healed and remains so today.

      Laura said she drove home and listened to “How Great Thou Art,” some more.

      Thanks to the friends and former school mates who came Sunday to support Laura. Many family members were present also, Laura’s mother, Elizabeth Young, her brother Dale Young, her daughter, granddaughter and grandson and a nephew. James Fritts was present along with his older brother and sister-in-law from Gorman.

      Our bulletin said sing “I Need Thee Every Hour,” but of course we substituted “How Great Thou Art” and sang our hearts out.

     Lisa Leatherwood was Worship Leader and Pat Beaty our musician. Pat sang “Grace that is Greater Our Sin” for the Offertory.

      Pastor Ken Lunsford showed a short film about Operation Christmas Child. Juanita Duncan is encouraging everyone to put together some shoe box size gift boxes for children’s Christmas. Methodists, Baptists and Disciples of Christ are participating in this world-wide effort. Who says we can’t find something to agree on?

     Pastor Ken presided at the graveside service of Rita Arms Bratton on Saturday, 11-15. Our sympathy goes out to her family and friends.

     Don’t let someone be alone on Thanksgiving. Invite them over and feel good about it.

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November 9, 2014

11/12/2014

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     Please don’t forget the Community Table will be on Wednesday, Nov. 19 due to the Thanksgiving holidays. Jot it on the calendar, write yourself a note or tie a string around your finger, and come to eat with us.

     Laura Leatherwood was Worship Leader on 11-9 and she gave the children’s lesson.

     Laura explained what Veterans Day means and how Americans set aside that day to honor their soldiers who fought in our past wars. We have parades or put flags up in our yard

     The children gave out “Thank you” notes to the veterans present. Our veterans who were sick or home caring for a loved one will have their note mailed to them.

     Prayers were offered for Reggie Schexnider who is home recovering from extensive surgery. Reggie is married to the former Luanne Leatherwood, so he is a brother-in-law to several members of our congregation.

     Pat Leatherwood is recovering nicely from surgery. Joe Horn, another brother-in-law in this mix has recovered enough from his illness to "pitch in” and help where needed. We sincerely pray that this family has a healthy and robust new year.

     “Good Grief” was the theme of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon. He gleaned his lesson from I Thessalonians 4: 13-18 and from the tragedies suffered by members of our community.

     Pastor Ken told a story concerning a time when the firefighters in England went on strike so the British Army was called in to take over emergency firefighting.

     Some of these fellows were called out to South London to rescue an elderly lady’s cat. They did so with haste and the grateful lady invited them all in for tea. Then with a warm farewell and a wave good bye they backed out of the driveway and ran over the cat!

     Now the reason for this terrible story is; well-meaning people, while doing good, or intending to do good, have “run over the cat” of the person or family they mean to help.

    When a significant event of loss occurs, we need to grieve. But the problem is we live in a death-denying culture. Years ago people grieved more openly, men wore black arm bands and the women wore black clothes for six months to a year. One of the last public persons to wear a black arm band was President Franklin Roosevelt upon the death of his mother.

     In other parts of the world, people freely acknowledge death, but not here, we do everything possible to avoid the mention of death. But it is the one subject that affects us all and if we don’t talk about it here in God’s house, where will we talk about it?

     Some people interpret in I Thessalonians 4 that St. Paul is saying true Christians do not grieve. But Christians grieve and grieve deeply. We are the people committed to love others and maintain bonds with others.

     Paul said if we believe in Christ’s victory over sin and the grave, we do not grieve like the rest of humankind, who have no hope. We can trust in God’s love for us and lean on His loving arms.

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November 2, 2014

11/6/2014

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Community Table will be on Wednesday, Nov. 19 this month due to the Thanksgiving holidays. Please help us get the word out to hungry people and folks like me who hate to eat alone. Make a strong effort to come to Community Table on the 19th and enjoy a good dinner starting at 5:00 p.m.

     The Lord’s Acre Harvest Festival was a success. A big thanks goes to the Dublin community for coming out and supporting the fish fry. The fellowship hall was full of friends and family for two hours. A huge thank you goes to the workers for doing such a top notch job. I won’t mention everyone, but we must compliment Raymond Salinas on his fish cooking skills.

     We wish a “Happy Birthday” to Judy Lunsford on 11-2, Alford Havens on 11-6, Khristi Gordon on 11-6, Nancy Wooldridge on 11-18, Pastor Ken Lunsford 11-21, and Juanita Duncan on 11-22.

     Jack and Norma Parks celebrated an anniversary on 11-5. Best Wishes to Jack and Norma.

     Pastor Ken asks the congregation to pray for Carolyn Belew who was in a fender-bender near the Patrick St. and Clinton St. intersection. Only a couple of weeks ago Doris Morton had a major accident there. Neither lady was at fault nor seriously injured, but it is hard on their nerves and leaves them bruised.

     Prayers were given for Amy Cisneroz also.

     Judy Lunsford was Worship Leader on 11-2 and Laura Leatherwood brought the children’s lesson. Laura had photos of animal babies and their mothers to show the children. She showed a mother hippo with twins born at the Memphis, Tennessee Zoo. Laura showed kangaroos with babies in their pouch, Bald eagles in the nest and hens with chicks under their wings.

      Jesus once said He wanted to shelter Jerusalem under His wings and protect it. Jesus wants to protect us also with His love and care.

      “Ministry by Encouragement” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon and he took it from I Thessalonians 2: 1-16.

     Dr. Samuel Johnson said, “The applause of a single human is of great consequence.” And it is. St. Paul was an encourager. He applauded those who deserved it and he affirmed those who needed affirming. He was continually expressing his appreciation for the people who kept the churches going in Philippi, Thessalonica and elsewhere. Everyone needs to be encouraged, the world has enough critics.

      Have you ever thought of the church as a center for encouragement? Some of you grew up thinking of the church as a place of condemnation. How sad. “Sinners in the hands of an angry God.” How is that Good News?   God loves you and wants you to be all God created you to be. God is the ultimate loving parent seeking to help God’s children discover all the abundant life that is their birthright. That’s the Gospel. God created the church to be a light in a dark world. To represent love in a world of hate, hope in a world of despair and kindness instead of cruelty.

     “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” How much more encouragement can we receive than that?

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November 23, 2014

November 16, 2014

November 9, 2014

November 2, 2014

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