Bulletin for Sunday 02/25/2007
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AMONG FRIENDS
with Robert Prater
"Small" is a word that has fallen on tough times in recent years. In the business world, particularly, it seems as though it's an unpardonable offense to label anything as small. For example, if you examine the menus of several fast food franchises, you'll find no small cup of soft drink. The least voluminous cup size is labeled "medium," despite the fact that the word medium, by definition, requires degrees on either extreme - you can't really describe something as "medium sized" unless there are sizes both smaller and larger.The Bible has no such qualms about labeling things small while still finding goodness and worth in them. The inspired poet Agur writes, "There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise" (Proverbs 30:24), speaking of God's providential care for the ant, rock badger, locust and spider. A small cake baked for God's prophet Elijah represented an act of generosity so great that it rewarded the widow of Zarephath with two miracles, including the restoration of her son's life (1 Kings 17:8-24). Jesus considered the giving of two small copper coins by a poor widow a greater offering than the enormous sums given by the wealthy. (Mark 12:41-44)
God once asked Zerubbabel, the leader of Judah in the years following the Babylonian captivity, "Who has despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:10) At the time, Zerubbabel was spearheading the reconstruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Some of the Jews were mocking his work, because the new temple was far less elaborate than the glorious temple of Solomon it replaced. God wanted Zerubbabel to understand that though his work may have seemed small and insignificant to others, it had great value in the sight of the Lord.
There are many works of service a Christian can perform that may seem small - too small, perhaps, to be considered worthy of doing. We should understand, however, that God does not ascribe worth as we do, and that what seems small and unimportant to us is not always so to Him. The small cake of the widow of Zarephath and the small copper coins of the widow Jesus saw in the temple don't look like much on the surface. But God judged these gifts based on the size of the faith that inspired their giving, not on the size of the gifts themselves.
Jesus once fed a multitude of five thousand men, plus an untold number of women and children, using a boy's lunch of five barley loaves and two small fish. (John 6:1-14) Andrew the apostle asked, "What are they (the loaves and fish) among so many?" Jesus took that small portion and made it a feast so abundant that the leftovers filled twelve baskets, proving that in His mighty hands, even the smallest sacrifice can be made great.
Don't be fooled into thinking that small is inherently bad. Sometimes the smallest of things are the most precious treasures. Neglect no act of righteous service because it seems small. The "day of small things" is a fine day in God's eyes.
--Robert-- (robprater@sbcglobal.net)
CONGRATULATIONS
We extend our best wishes to Doris Phillips on becoming a great grandmother for the first time. Ella Meadow Barrett was born on February 8 weighing seven and a half pounds and was 19 ½ inches long. The parents are Jeremy and Erin Barrett.
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
01 Lola Duvall
02 Joe Scheidt
04 Megan Prater
06 Anita Sharp
07 Bob Allen
11 Vivian Cross
11 Amber Curtis
11 Nathan Kelly
11 Barbara Vanlandingham
13 Geoff Root
13 Lorine Watson
16 Janice Gardner
16 Brian Nipper
16 Makinzee Tucker
17 Joann Cheney
20 Mary Sorensen
20 Talhia Vanlandingham
21 Nona Carter
21 Nadine Magee
22 Linda Carpenter
22 Millie Riley
26 Don Wills
28 Tanner Nipper
29 Herman Guin
29 Frances Taylor
31 Clovie Dossey
MARCH ANNIVERSARIES
10 Bernard & June Sharp - 6th
21 Larry & Sarah Smith - 34th
30 Bob & Ann Bivins - 45th
30 James & Ellen Childers - 61st
30 Carl & Ruby Holt - 22nd
We express our best wishes to those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries in March. We especially congratulate James and Ellen Childers on their 61st Anniversary and Bob and Ann Bivins on their 45th.
MARCH
DAILY BIBLE READINGS
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Date O.T. Reading Date N.T. Reading 1 Num. 23,24,25 1 Mark 7:14-37 2 Num. 26,27 2 Mark 8:1-21 3 Num. 28,29,30 3 Mark 8:22-38 4 Num. 31,32,33 4 Mark 9:1-29 5 Num. 34,35,36 5 Mark 9:30-50 6 Deut. 1,2 6 Mark 10:1-31 7 Deut. 3,4 7 Mark 10:32-52 8 Deut. 5,6,7 8 Mark 11:1-18 9 Deut. 8,9,10 9 Mark 11:19-33 10 Deut. 11,12,13 10 Mark 12:1-27 11 Deut. 14,15,16 11 Mark 12:28-44 12 Deut. 17,18,19 12 Mark 13:1-20 13 Deut. 20,21,22 13 Mark 13:21-37 14 Deut. 23,24,25 14 Mark 14:1-26 15 Deut. 26,27 15 Mark 14:27-53 16 Deut. 28,29 16 Mark 14:54-72 17 Deut. 30,31 17 Mark 15:1-25 18 Deut. 32,33,34 18 Mark 15:26-47 19 Joshua 1,2,3 19 Mark 16 20 Joshua 4,5,6 20 Luke 1:1-20 21 Joshua 7,8,9 21 Luke 1:21-38 22 Joshua 10,11,12 22 Luke 1:39-56 23 Joshua 13,14,15 23 Luke 1:57-80 24 Joshua 16,17,18 24 Luke 2:1-24 25 Joshua 19,20,21 25 Luke 2:25-52 26 Joshua 22, 23,24 26 Luke 3 27 Judges 1,2,3 27 Luke 4:1-30 28 Judges 4,5,6 28 Luke 4:31-44 29 Judges 7,8 29 Luke 5:1-16 30 Judges 9,10 30 Luke 5:17-39 31 Judges 11,12 31 Luke 6:1-26
PRAYER CONCERNS
Joyce Kelly had a procedure at Baptist Medical Center on Monday. Lynn Harmon was scheduled for knee surgery on Thursday of this week. Remember Melba Boston in your prayers.
CENTENNIAL MOMENTS
Foy E. Wallace, Jr. held meetings at Central in April, 1945 and April 1963. Richard Black who preached at Central from 1966 to 1973 was a son-in-law of Foy Wallace, Jr. Hulen Jackson who preached here from 1940 to 1942 was a brother-in-law to Foy Wallace, Jr.
Youth News
Bob StephensCOMING YOUTH EVENTS
March 9 & 10, Friday & Saturday - Spring Visit at OC "Spring Sing is Saturday - $12.00
LOOKING AHEAD
February 23, Central hosts Shawnee Area-Wide Leadership Dinner, Gordon Cooper Technology Center at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $9.00 per person.
February 25, VBS Planning Meeting, 6 p.m.
March 7, Ladies Bible Class meets at 10:30 a.m.; monthly luncheon follows
March 7, New Wednesday night Ladies Class begins
March 11, Daylight Saving Time begins
March 14-17, Photography for new pictorial directory
April 15, Friends & Family Day with Bruce McLarty from Harding University
LAST WEEK'S RECORD
Bible School 143 Worship Service 202 Sunday Evening 121 Wednesday Evening 100 Contribution $5,207.40
SERVING THE CONGREGATION
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Announcements: Bob Perry Opening Prayer: George Mastick Song Director: Dale Beard Scripture: Chad Beard Sermon: Robert Prater Closing Prayer: Clavin Norwood SERVING AT THE LORD'S TABLE
NORTH SOUTH James Reeves Burl Vanlandingham Gerald Smith Mitch Harmon AT THE BACK OF AUDITORIUM
Frank Burton Howard Vanlandingham USHERS
Jim Pettyjohn Jim Cross GREETERS
Foyer: Jim & Cathy Pettyjohn Elevator: Jim & Vivian Cross NURSERY ATTENDANTS
Molly Gettle Cheryl Miller /TD> ASSISTING OUTSIDE ELEVATOR DOOR
Terry Lowe PROJECTION CONTROL
Ron Taffe Terry Lowe
EVENING WORSHIP SERVICE
Opening Prayer: Tim McGalliard Song Director: Austin Beard Scripture: Brandon Gober Sermon: Robert Prater Closing Prayer: Jim Walling AT THE LORD'S TABLE
SERVING AT THE LORD'S TABLE
NORTH SOUTH Jason Perry Robby Kinsey
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE
Classes for all ages
Song Leader: Steve Kelly Scripture: Bryce Beal VAN DRIVER
Howard Vanlandingham If unable to serve during the week, notify Frank Romberg - 273-1297