March 4, 2007
We often close our communion Sunday services with the hymn mentioned below.
John Fawcett was preparing to move. At age 32, he was leaving the small Baptist church in Wainsgate, England, for the prestigious Carter’s Lane church in London.
Fawcett had worked hard. Orphaned at 12, he was forced to work fourteen hours a day in a sweat shop. He taught himself to read by candlelight and studied continuously. When he was ordained at age 25, he moved to Wainsgate. For seven years he served the tiny church of 100 members before receiving the invitation in London.
However, Fawcett never moved to London. He couldn’t break “the tie that binds.” The last possessions were loaded on the moving cart as Fawcett began his good-byes. Tearfully he bade farewell to those he had loved for the past seven years. They returned his tears … and his love. It was too much for the young preacher. London would have to wait. Unloading the cart, he decided to stay in Wainsgate a little longer. Fawcett never moved to London; he never even left Wainsgate. He died there 54 years later.
Fawcett was destined to become one of England’s greatest preachers. He wrote hymns, published books and opened a training school for young ministers. His “Essay on Anger” so impressed King George III that he offered Fawcett “any benefit a king could confer.” His love for the people and their love for him not only kept him in Wainsgate, but it also prompted the writing of a hymn we sing today:
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
SLIPIN’ & A SLIDEIN’ was a song many years back, but it was also what our congregation didn’t want to do last Sunday! So we canceled services as did many other churches in the area. Everything was a glaze of ice – even our gravel parking lot was very slippery with a film of ice over every stone. It’s unusual, but we had to cancel services on the first and last Sundays of this month.
BETH MARSH’S hip surgery took place last Monday about noon and she’s doing very well. She probably will have rehab in the hospital for 3 weeks or more. Keep her in your prayers.
THE SZEKELY’S are doing well in their winter retreat. Frank Roper talked to them this past week and they said they plan to head for Ohio at the end of March. So in the first week or two of April, they may land somewhere in our area. J God’s blessings.
A personal note from the author … Rex, An update on our book is that it went to print this week! We are a little behind schedule on our "book release date," but they said they would ship them as they print them, so I'm hoping I will receive them sooner rather than later. March 19th would probably be more accurate to state for a "book release date" but I'm hoping a shipment will trickle in BEFORE that. Casey [Angela’s illustrator] is leaving for Europe tomorrow with her husband to travel on business. She's "armed" with "Maggie" bookmarks to leave in planes and hotels, to begin evangelizing! Thought you might get a chuckle out of that! Angela Moore, 2-27-07 Get all the details at: www.angelahaysmoore.com
March Is Missions Month!
JOHN & AMY RAILTON BROWN are doing well following their surgeries. John might be dealing now with some sciatica pain but Amy has gone back to work. Even their dog, Heidi, has had to see the doctor (see article on Heidi in 2-11 bulletin). Alice is staying busy. Our love and prayers.
COMMUNION DEACONESSES for today are Pam Weaver and Nancy Koston.
PASTOR RAY HALL UPDATE: Marcia called to say her Dad got the results of his PET scan. There's no enlarged lymph nodes or abnormalities. His cancer is in remission. No radiation is needed. He will be getting injections every six months for two years and they will be keeping an eye on this. We praise God for his mercies and his care of Ray. He has been a shining example of faith throughout his cancer treatments. -Alice Railton, 2-27-07
THEY MADE A CHANGE: Because of the Energy Policy Act. Daylight Saving Time has been extended 4 weeks this year beginning March 11th – next Sunday – through Nov. 11th. Your calendar might say April 1st – that’s not accurate any more. Move your clocks forward one hour next Saturday night!
Jerusalem Experts Trash Jesus' Bones Claim
Claims in a new documentary that an ancient tomb discovered decades ago outside of Jerusalem contained the bones of Jesus and his family may be a great money-making gimmick - but scientifically, it is nonsense, according to leading archeologists and scholars in Jerusalem, CNSNews.com reports. "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," due to air on the Discovery Channel on March 4, claims that a 2,000-year-old tomb containing 10 boxes of bones belonged to the family of Jesus of Nazareth. The documentary claims that inscriptions on six of 10 ossuaries found in a single tomb indicate that there is a one in 600 chance that bones in the tomb were those of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and a son, along with other family members. What is in question is the interpretation of the facts and conclusions drawn by the documentary filmmakers. The Israel Antiquities Authority loaned the ossuaries to Cameron and his colleague for their press conference in the interest of "artistic freedom," said IAA representative Osnat Goaz. Unlike previous "discoveries," there is no doubt about the authenticity of the ossuaries, Goaz said. That does not mean that the IAA backs the film's assertions, she added, although the IAA has chosen not to comment on the film.
Religion Today Summaries / March 1, ‘07
PRAY FOR: Tom Cowper (surgery), Iris Horst (cancer, by Roper), Vicki Phillis (tests), Emory Macy, Beth Marsh (2-26 hip surgery), June Routson (stroke), Dave Cheatwood (clots), Rebekah Martin (broken wrist), Bob Knebl (heart, by R Cain),Amy Gunselman (cancer, 30, 2 children / by R Phillis), Evelyn Pennington, Katie Cramer (chemo), Ralph & Iona Childs, Ruby Korode, Penny Frederick, Lucinda (by Szekely), Gene & Gloria Faehnrich, Edith Speer, Grady Hudspeth*, Jacob Hinton*, Kathy & Destiny Reed*, (*by Skip), W.C. & Craig Blankenship, College students: Jackie Schuld, Dan Cain, Rachel Cunningham, Shut-ins: David Onderdonk Sr., Helen Matthews, Military: Rodger Schuld, Those serving in other countries: Lupe Badillo-Mexico, Tracy Zhykhovich-Russia, Beder Ucañay-Peru, Pastors in Malawi & Mozambique, Lesly Bertrand and the Pastors in Haiti. Colleges / Churches: RRCC, ABC, Golden Rule, Grace Brethren and for the peace of Jerusalem, Ps. 122:6; Isa. 62:6, 7
March 2007 (Missions Month)
11 Daylight Savings Time Begins
18 Annual All-Church Outing / Mongolia Buffet
23-24 Northeast Conference / Lawrenceville / Kent Ross, speaker
25 Andy & Barney movie for S.S. / Rachel Weaver to lead discussion
Future Dates: Apr 8, Easter / Jun 3, Grad Social & Bridal Shower for Dan & Rachel / Jun 10-15 State Camp / June 23, Dan’s wedding / July 15-20 National Camp / July 22, D. Onderdonk’s Sr. 100th B-day / Aug 26, Annual SS Picnic
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:45A.M.
WORSHIP 10:45A.M.
Musicians: (Doris Schuld and Frank Roper)
Dorothy Robertson, Prelude:
“Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord”
Welcome / Announcements
Worship Hymns / Mark Cain
316 I Am Thine, O Lord
252 Just As I Am
Prayer / Offering
Missions Devotional
Message: One Loaf, One Body
Communion: Elder Steve Weaver
Key Texts: 1 Cor 11:17-32; 10:14-17
219 Blest Be the Tie That Binds
(See hymn story at the top)
