A Joyful Note
The beauty of Your majesty awakes my heart to sing: “How marvelous, how wonderful You are!”
These words are from the song “Beautiful One”, by Tim Hughes. When we focus on the Creator of all things, and think about how awesome He is, it’s easy to sing out these beautiful words. I hope you’ll enjoy learning this song along with some others, including “He Reigns” and “Romans 12:1”, this month.
We welcome Alex Carpenter who has joined us recently with his acoustic guitar. Alex is a high school junior who is also busy with sports and his part time job. We’re so glad he’s able to keep most of his Thursday nights and Sundays free to be a part of this worship ministry.
We’re also glad to have Mark Perschel back from his camping and fishing trip to Minnesota. The heat wave in the Midwest was finally over, and he had beautiful weather, plus a few cold evenings - - 49 degrees!
I was blessed to attend a Creative Worship seminar in August, with over a hundred musicians, songwriters and worship leaders from Jacksonville and other southeastern cities. We worshiped, studied scripture and worked on musical and vocal skills. Over and over we were told ‘out of your head and into your heart’. Our hearts can be fountains of love, overflowing, bubbling over with enthusiasm, rejoicing and praising God. It’s a terrific image.
Let’s bubble over in worship together every Sunday.
Joyfully,
Brandy
C.W.F.
ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS are here and will be sold by our CWF for $25. We only purchased 40 books and will not re-order.
NUTS, NUTS, NUTS are also for sale from the CWF ladies. You may place your order during coffee hour in Turner Hall on Sundays.
SAFE DRIVING COURSE
AARP Driver Safety Course: This is a course offered to those over age 50.
Once completed AARP sends you a certificate you can provide most auto
insurance companies and they will grant 10% or more in premium discount.
Up until now this course was only offered locally several times a year which
required you to attend a 2 day class of 4 hours each day. Now AARP has
designed an online course for those with computers. The cost is $15.95.
You can do the course at your own schedule. In other words, you can do a
bit today, sign off, come back tomorrow or whenever to do some more, etc.
To access the course go to www.aarp.com and in the right hand side of the
home page click on driver safety course link to access the course and
information about taking it on line. The discount granted by insurance
companies is good for 3 years before you have to take it again. The savings
over a 3 year period are worth the effort.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
This year we will be collecting shoeboxes filled with toys and other presents suitable for boys and girls who may be refugees of civil war, survivors of a natural disaster, or victims of extreme poverty. These little ones need to know they are precious to God. Samaritan's Purse is the sponsor and request that a check be included for $7.00 or more to help cover shipping and other costs. Your check should be made payable to Samaritan's Purse. Note on the memo line that the gift is for Operation Christmas Child.
We ask that you bring your shoeboxes to church on Sunday, November 12 or Wednesday, November 15. Flyers with details of what to and not to include will be found in Fellowship Hall at the CWF Bulletin Board.
Questions: Call Connie Wendt, CWF Service Chair
A GOOD START
The Jacksonville Beaches’ Unit of Church Women United started its 2006-2007 year with an interesting program presented by Birthright speakers Judi and Tina at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church.
A special treat this year was a joint meeting with the Greater Jacksonville Unit at Southside Christian church in September. The guest speaker Bea Warner of JCCI really enlightened the group with a report on Jacksonville Crime Violence.
The next event will be on October 6 with the Area Meeting at Penny Farms. Guest speaker will be Geraldine McClellan, District Superintendent of NE Fl UMC. The luncheon coast is $8.50 with a choice of chicken or fish.
Car pooling will be from Palm Presbyterian Church at 9:15 a.m. Call Sara Brooks at 223-5294 to register for this special event.
These events offer us a wonderful opportunity to worship with other ladies in these ecumenical meetings.
God-Given TIME
All men complain that they haven't enough time. It's because they look at their lives from too human a point of view. There's always time to do what God wants us to do, but we must put ourselves completely into each moment they He offers us.
Be most careful then how you conduct yourselves: like sensible men, not
simpletons. Use the present opportunity to the full, for these are evil days.
So do not be fools, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.
(Eph. 5: 15-17)
I went out, Lord
Men were coming out.
They were coming and going.
Walking and running.
Everything was rushing, cars, lorries, the street, the whole town.
Men were rushing not to waste time.
They were rushing after time,
To catch up with time, to gain time.
Goodbye, sir, excuse me, I haven't time.
I'll come back, I can't wait,
I haven't time.
I must end this letter-I haven't time.
I'd love to help you but I haven't time.
I can't accept, having not time.
I can't think, I can't read, I'm swamped, I haven't time.
I'd like to pray, but I haven't time.
You understand, Lord, they simply haven't the time.
The child is playing, he hasn't the time..Later on.
The schoolboy has his homework to do, he hasn't time..Later on..
The student has his courses, and so much work, he hasn't time. Later on..
The young man is at his sports, he hasn't time. Later on.
The young married man has his new house, he has to fix it up, he hasn't time. Later on...
The grandparents have their grandchildren, they haven't time. Later on.
They are ill, they have their treatments, they haven't time. Later on.
They are dying, they have no..
Too late. They have no more time.
And so all men run after time, Lord.
They pass through life running-harried, jostled, overburdened,
frantic and they never get there. They haven't time.
In spite of all their efforts they're still short of time,
of a great deal of time.
Lord, you must have made a mistake in your calculations.
Peas is Gone!!
Here lies the body of Solomon Peas
Under the sod and under the trees.
Peas is not here, ‘tis only the pod.
Peas has shelled out and gone to God.
WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?
“All Scripture is God-breathed. – 2 Timothy 3:16
“Seek out the Book of the Lord and read.” – Isaiah 34:16
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” – Psalm 119:105
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” - Jesus, in Luke 11:28
The preceding Scriptures give solid reasons for Bible study:
- God is the Author.
- He wants us to read it.
- It guides our daily living.
- We are blessed when we obey it.
Developing a closer relationship to God and His Son Jesus should be the priority of every Christian. The Bible tells us of the heart and mind and will of God. The more we study it, the better we will know Him. Reading of God’s activity in the lives of people thousands of years ago can help us understand how to live our lives today. God hasn’t changed. (And human nature hasn’t changed much, either.) The Bible is still relevant.
Some people tend to avoid reading the Bible as they are under the mistaken impression that it is boring. Nothing could be farther from the truth! It is filled with fascinating historical and practical, as well as, spiritual information. For example:
A talking donkey (Numbers 22:28)
4,000 musicians playing instruments provided by one man (1 Chronicles 23:5)
The first color mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 1:30)
The ratio of length to width that God instructed for Noah’s Ark is the same that is used in modern shipbuilding today. (Genesis 6:15)
The Bible is the source of many popular sayings and catch-words used today: “skin of my teeth”; “wolf in sheep’s clothing”; “drop in a bucket”; “fat of the land”; blind leading the blind”.
If you haven’t made a practice of daily Bible reading, today is a good day to start. There are countless devotional books and commentaries that can aid our understanding. Many of us use the “The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide” that is provided by our church. This is a wonderful source for private study and meditation. We also are blessed in our church with several opportunities for small group study. Rev. Don Lynn leads a Bible study following the Wednesday night dinners. We currently are studying the Book of Luke. In CWF we are doing an in-depth study of the Ten Commandments. Our Adult Sunday School classes also provide the opportunity to study the Bible with others. If you are not participating in one or more of these groups, I pray that you will consider doing so. I can promise that it will bless your life.
Bible study takes time. We all live busy lives in today’s world and many of us think that we just can’t take on one more thing. A contributor to The “Upper Room” of August 21st addressed this:
“Mentally reviewing my daily schedule, I immediately concluded that I had no time for another activity. Just as quickly, the Holy Spirit whispered, ‘You do not lack time; the deficit comes from your heart.’”
Resolve to spend more time in Bible study. You’ll be glad you did!
Scripture references:
“skin of teeth” (Job 19:20)
“wolf in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15)
“drop in a bucket” (Isaiah 40:15)
“fat of the land” (Genesis 45:18)
“blind leading the blind” (Matthew 15:14)
NOTES FROM NANCY
Go in peace with God’s blessings and our love. This month we lose three musicians from our congregation: Dick McMeekin, Ina Smith, and Dick Sands. Our church will greatly miss all three of them and we all wish them only the best.
October 1st will be an evening of music with Dick McMeekin. Please mark your calendar and be with us Oct. 1 at 6:30 as Dick brings us his tribute in music. Dick has so blessed us through the years and he will be very much missed as he moves to South Carolina to make his home near his daughter, Robyn and family. We hope to have available a good recording of his live performance from that concert.
Our organist/accompanist, Mrs. Ina Smith, is no longer with our church. Ina has taken a much higher paying position at a Catholic church in town. We will especially miss her brilliant piano playing and the choir will miss her as an accompanist and friend. We wish her all God’s blessings and our love as she brings her music talent to another place of worship. We have faith God will help us find another person for our church. We have been so blessed through the years.
We also pray God’s blessings will be with Dick and Marilyn Sands as they move their home base to North Carolina. We have enjoyed Dick’s bagpipes in our worship service and Marilyn will be missed in the Sunday School class.
This month is the Regional Assembly, Oct. 19-22, and we are singing with choirs from around our region. It’s always thrilling to sing with 80 or more people. We hope to see our FCCB family in the auditorium.
The Gospelaires will be concert Nov. 5 in our sanctuary. Performing with our Gospelaires will be TAPESTREES. This is an outstanding group of women musicians from Kentucky. They are flying in for the concert and we are thrilled to have them with us. Bring your neighbors and your friends. Mark your calendar and be a part of our music worship at FCCB (DOC).
NIFTY FIFTIES PLUS
September 14 saw an excited crowd fo approximately 25 Nifty Fifty Plus gathered to recount the adventure of the Dale Hollon Lake Trip to plan new programs and adventurous trips and to share a delicious luncheon.
The program featured a special presentation by Phyllis Scott, poems written by Tim Jordan, Joe Bracewell’s Dale Hollow Song, a duet by Joe Bracewell and Barbara Bennett of “A Bowl of Butter-beans”; drawings of names for massages by Betty Mills, Phyllis Scott, and her daughter Marcia Cervone along with good fellowship and sharing.
Nifty Fifties Plus is a division of our Regional Senior Adult Ministry (SAM) program and FCCB is delighted to have two members – Joe Bracewell and Don Jordan – on this committee.;
This wonderful organization is for church members and friends over 55 years of age (plus our two honorary members – Joe Bracewell’s son Reese and Don Jordan’s son Tim.) Our only regret is that since Salty had his 80th birthday, he feels he is too old for the group. Age is 55 and over – no maximum. Join us the second Thursday of each month, 10:30 a.m.
Disciples Men News
The Men's breakfast meeting in August was well attended by fifteen of our men. We all enjoyed our excellent breakfast and afterwards Jimmy Nuckels gave a wonderful and moving testimony about the touch of God in his life.
In September, nine of our men attended the regional Men's Retreat at the Silver Springs Conference Center. Several of us played golf on Friday together before the retreat and had dinner together that evening. James Collins took advantage of a "Spiritual Canoe Trip" on Friday. The retreat was stimulating and we all enjoyed our visit. We made a pledge as a group to donate towards the maintenance and repairs in the Conference Center.
We're looking forward to our October breakfast meeting. Owen Harman and Bob Meador will be cooking breakfast for us and our speaker will be Ted Wallman who will be presenting a program about his career as a prison warden. In November Joe Bracewell will speak about his military experience. We are in the planning stages of two projects this year. One will be a service project for the church and the second will be a service project for some needy person in our community. In March we hope to have a "Pancake Dinner" to raise money for charity.
We hope all men of the church will consider attending our October meeting at 7:30 a.m. in the small fellowship hall on October 22, 2006 and get involved with the men of the church. See you then!
THANKS, CWF
The North Florida District Board of the CWF/Disciple Women met at FCCB in September to plan its year’s work for 2006-2007.
The north Florida District is the only Regional unit that meets regularly four times a year. The next General Meeting will be at Springfield Christian Church on October 14 at 10:00 a.m. The program will include a video of “Mix in ‘06” highlighting many from our region at the “Mix”.
October also brings a special treat with our Regional Assembly meeting in Jacksonville October 19-21 and a chance to meet with other Christian Church Women at the Luncheon.
November’s exciting event will be our annual Fall Retreat on November 11-12, at the Conference Center, Silver springs. Keynoter for this occasion will be Brenda Ethridge, Past President of ICWF.
CWF’ers – we have an exciting 3 months ahead. Mark your calendars. Plan now to join other ladies of our District and Region at these-challenging events with the opportunity of sharing with other DOC ladies.
Thanks to Jim and Rita Vernon for preparing the meal for the students involved in Campus Ministries.
We have a new shed behind the teen center and a good used one given by Vicki and Al Flanagan. Thanks to Bob Meador, of Bob’s Job Jar, for setting them in place.
Thanks to Vicki Flanagan for the beautiful fall wreaths and arrangement for the piano.
A True Story of Life and Death
“90 Minutes in heaven”
Author Don Piper
Will be a guest speaker
Here at FCCB on
Saturday, March 3, 6:00 pm
Sunday, March 4, 9:30 am Traditional
Sunday, March 4, 6:30 pm Praise
Mark your calendar
And tell your Friends
99th Regional Assembly
Christian Church in Florida
(Disciples of Christ)
October 19 – 22
Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk Hotel
POWER of the Living GOSPEL
“For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ,
for it is the power of God to salvation for
everyone who has faith…
Romans 1:16 (RSV)
The Saturday night speaker will be
the Reverend Dr. Stacy L. Spencer,
who is the founder of New Direction Christian Church in Memphis, Tn.
In 4 years his church has grown from
60 members to 6,500.
Sign-up Sunday in Turner Hall
Registrations are due by October 2
You may join the Gospel Chorale..
You may volunteer to greet, serve, usher, prepare communion..
Disciplesfest: Sat. Oct. 21 at Jacksonville Landing
With music, dance, drama, comedy.
MAHLON’S WAILIN’S
What is the relationship between the Church’s theology, its evangelistic ministry, and the statistical health of the denomination? Herb Miller wrote a five-session study for members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) titled: “Moving Toward A Biblical Theology of Evangelism”. I’ve shared eleven of the thirteen points he explaining his opinion: “God is not dead. Neither is Disciples theology. But it is ill. The theological message of the Disciples has eroded at several points. Among these are”
12. An eroded theology of Christian hope. Jesus proclaimed a hopefulness which was both present-oriented and future-oriented. As well as telling us to find the kingdom of God within ourselves (Luke 17:21), he told us we would meet it in a fuller way after death (John 3;16) and in a fuller way at some future time in history (Matthew 24:36). Reacting against the extremisms of “pie in the sky by and by” theology, we Disciples have centered in almost exclusively on what God wants us to do to bring in the kingdom here and now. This unbalanced concentration on “realized eschatology” has several negative consequences: A) It leads us to emphasize the teachings of the Old Testament prophets and neglect the numerous teachings of Jesus related to life after death (Matthew 25:46; John 3:15; 4:14; 5:24; 6:27,40,47, 54; 10:28; 12:25; and 17:2-3). B) It leads us to concentrate on the biblical teachings regarding what we can do and ought to do to help ourselves and others, while neglecting the biblical teachings regarding how God acts in history to help us and others—past, present, future. The kingdom of God is not realized solely through humankind’s effort but through God’s initiative as he shapes our future. C) It reduces our evangelistic motivation by replacing the hopefulness which stems from our personal relationship with God with hopefulness regarding the social betterment of our community and world.
13. An eroded theology of Christian faith. Personal Christian faith cannot be defined as giving mental assent to a list of doctrinal propositions (believing a set of beliefs). Faith is a personal trust relationship with and an obedient commitment to the God-Spirit revealed in Christ. Belief and faith are not synonymous words. People can believe in God without having faith in God. When we confuse faith with belief, we reduce evangelism to a teaching process in which we try to help people increase their rational understanding of Christian faith concepts. This produces an almost invisible contemporary form of what Martin Luther called “works righteousness.” If strong faith were a matter of rational understanding, the highly intelligent people would find it easier to relate to God, and children would have little chance at all.
Environmental impact statements have become important to industrial planning. Denominations should require “theological impact statements”—in order to help predict how an erosion of biblical Christianity may impact the vitality of future generations.
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