We soldier on and the building will soon be repaired.
Our Trustees will meet as the Citizen goes to print. The Administrative Council will meet on Wednesday, 5-13 at 6:00 p.m. in the annex and the Finance Committee will meet on 5-20 at 6:00 p.m.
Our congregation extends profound sympathy to the family and friends of Hilda Allen Swindle. Hilda fought the good fight, her race is run, and we will miss her.
Wish Amy Leatherwood Cisneroz a Happy Birthday today, 5-7 and then her brother, Lee Leatherwood on 5-10. Wanda Patterson’s birthday is 5-18. Send a card to Wanda at Three Oaks Assisted Living.
Doris Morton’s great-grandson Blu Ary, who is 18 mos. old, is suffering from digestive problems and needs our prayers. We are also praying for Mandy Horton, the daughter-in-law of Pastor Ronnie and Judy Horton.
Laura Leatherwood brought a great Children’s Lesson this past Sunday.
Laura showed the children an old dead stick. She asked, “Why is it dead?” The young ones said because it broke off the tree. Laura agreed, she said the stick has withered leaves and no roots because it broke from the tree. She told the children when we break from God we get in bad shape. God is the support for our soul and we need to stay connected to Him and ask Him to use us for His purpose.
“No Fruit without Him” was the title of Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon, it was taken from John 15: 1-8.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry he used parables to illustrate his lesson. They were tailored to suit his audience and he used things which were familiar to the people.
Vineyards were plentiful in Palestine, so Jesus tells the audience, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes (cleans) so that it will be even more fruitful.”
Jesus is the vine, God is the gardener and we are the branches! He says we are clean because of the word he has spoken to us. We are to bear fruit. Listen carefully, Jesus says, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
Prayer keeps the lines of communication open between us and God. It is allowing God in Christ to give us spiritual nourishment for the fruit we should bear. And what is this fruit? St. Paul gives us a partial list that he calls the fruit of the spirit. These are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Keep or make a connection with Christ.