There was a wonderful smell coming from the kitchen at Red Bank Church last Friday evening. The members of the Red Bank C.I.A., their leaders and other members that came to help, gathered together and baked loads of cookies to sell at their scheduled bake sale that took place at the Ava Farmer’s Market last Saturday morning. The C.I.A leader, Jennifer Lakey, did a great job of coordinating the whole project. Everyone that planned to help at the bake sale met at the church at 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning in order to have the tables and sale items set up by 7:00 a.m. All those involved in the sale reported that they had a wonderful time selling their goods. We appreciate the leaders and parents that gave of their time and energy for this very worthy cause.
Everyone was in a great mood for worshiping the Lord together last Sunday. Jeane was back at the piano to accompany Brother Jake as he led the congregation in hymns. Brother Gary provided a warm welcome to members and guests and introduced the Sunday school lesson before dismissing everyone to their respective classes. The children were anxious to be seated in their chairs for Children’s Church where they were led in singing several of their favorite songs and taught a Bible lesson from the Book of John. They also enjoyed learning new Bible verses using a combination of sign language and music. Tattie Maggard leads that portion of the service. Jerry Maggard does a wonderful job of teaching a class for older youth after Children’s Church which is led by Alice Lirley.
Brother Les entitled the morning sermon, “Where Have Your Been?” The Scripture text for this message was taken from Luke 24 where we learn of a conversation that Jesus had with two men who were walking on the road to a village called Emmaus, a town about 7.5 miles from Jerusalem. As Jesus listened to the two men talking together and noticed sadness in their voices, he began to inquire the meaning of their sad conversation. Not yet recognizing who their traveling partner was, they proceeded to fill him in on how that Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, had been delivered by the chief priest and their rulers to be condemned to death and crucified. And, besides that, on the third day after Jesus’ burial, those that had visited His tomb found that his body was missing. Then he said unto them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?” (Vs. 25-26) Even after He spent all day with these two men and taught them all that the scriptures taught about Him, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, they did not recognize till much later that it was Jesus that had been abiding with them. Like the two travelers, how foolish and slow of heart are we still in not fully comprehending and recognizing the truths that are written in God’s Word. We need to not only read them, but also purpose it in our hearts to believe and obey God’s Word; happily applying them to every aspect of our lives.
Gary and I were in Springfield Monday and went to the Golden Corral for lunch. While in line, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see a friend and neighbor, Lynn Clayton and three of her daughters, Lisa, Shelly, and Becky standing in line also. It was good to visit with them for a few minutes.
I visited with Pam Shell one day last week. She had been busy cleaning out her garden and harvesting the pumpkins and squash she had planted. Bill is doing much better. His foot is healing nicely. He can stand up on it now.
That’s all the news I have for now. Take care and let God do great things in your life. He is the only one that can.
