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▪ MISSIONS MINISTRY▪ CHRISTIAN WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP▪ YOUNG AT HEART▪ CHILDREN AND YOUTH From The Pastor's Pen...FEBRUARY,2017 By: Rev. Dr. J. Keith
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By: Rev. Dr. J. Keith Brown
Dear Church Family,
Can you believe that it is already February, the month of love? Love is a beautiful noun, it is even more beautiful when it is used as a verb. Jesus calls us to be people of love, putting that love into action. There is no greater example of love in action than that displayed by Christ at Calvary. Let us never take that love for granted. Let us be thankful for his most precious of gift...himself.
There are many stories about love in action. I simply wanted to share one that I found in my research. I hope it speaks to you as it did to me. Here is an exert from Dave Simmons book:
Two weeks after the stolen steak deal, I took Helen (eight years old) and Brandon (five years old) to the Cloverleaf Mall in Hattiesburg to do a little shopping. As we drove up, we spotted a Peterbilt eighteen-wheeler parked with a big sign on it that said, "Petting Zoo." The kids jumped up in a rush and asked, "Daddy, Daddy. Can we go? Please. Please. Can we go?"
"Sure," I said, flipping them both a quarter before walking into Sears. They bolted away, and I felt free to take my time looking for a scroll saw. A petting zoo consists of a portable fence erected in the mall with about six inches of sawdust and a hundred little furry baby animals of all kinds. Kids pay their money and stay in the enclosure enraptured with the squirmy little critters while their moms and dads shop.
A few minutes later, I turned around and saw Helen walking along behind me. I was shocked to see she preferred the hardware department to the petting zoo. Recognizing my error, I bent down and asked her what was wrong.
She looked up at me with those giant limpid brown eyes and said sadly, "Well, Daddy, it cost fifty cents. So, I gave Brandon my quarter." Then she said the most beautiful thing I ever heard. She repeated the family motto. The family motto is in "Love is Action!"
She had given Brandon her quarter, and no one loves cuddly furry creatures more than Helen. She had watched Sandy take my steak and say, "Love is Action!" She had watched both of us do and say "Love is Action!" for years around the house and Kings Arrow Ranch. She had heard and seen "Love is Action," and now she had incorporated it into her little lifestyle. It had become part of her.
What do you think I did? Well, not what you might think. As soon as I finished my errands, I took Helen to the petting zoo. We stood by the fence and watched Brandon go crazy petting and feeding the animals. Helen stood with her hands and chin resting on the fence and just watched Brandon. I had fifty cents burning a hole in my pocket; I never offered it to Helen, and she never asked for it.
Because she knew the whole family motto. It's not "Love is Action." It's "Love is SACRIFICIAL Action!" Love always pays a price. Love always costs something. Love is expensive. When you love, benefits accrue to another's account. Love is for you, not for me. Love gives; it doesn't grab. Helen gave her quarter to Brandon and wanted to follow through with her lesson. She knew she had to taste the sacrifice. She wanted to
experience that total family motto. Love is sacrificial action.
Dave Simmons, Dad, The Family Coach, Victor Books, 1991, pp. 123-124.
Love one another as Christ Jesus has loved you....that is—Love in ACTION!
Blessings,
Pastor Keith |
THE WELL...
The Well is a casual coffee house worship experience that meets on Monday nights at 7pm (fellowship hall of St. Paul's Reformed Church).. Come as you are and prepare to be changed. The service lasts about 45 minutes and includes unplugged contemporary Christian music and practical messages. Come enjoy some coffee or hot chocolate and be prepared for a life-changing experience.
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We are looking for volunteers to help with management of our newest social media accounts including Instagram, snap chat, and Twitter. Please let Pastor Keith know if you want to help
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LIKE US ON FACEBOOK/FOLLOW US ON
TWITTER/INSTAGRAM/SNAPCHAT |
PRAYER CHAIN NEWS—
If you have not yet signed up,please check the box located on the communication sheet in your bulletin. (If you have already signed up there is no need to sign up again) Emails will go out via internet and for those of you who do not have a computer/email, we will notify you via the phone tree. Please be aware your prayer requests from the Sunday Bulletin will be shared on the prayer chain. If you have a prayer request of a personal nature, please come to the Pastor with your request; do not put it on the comment section of your bulletin. You MUST sign up to be included on the prayer chain. We will not automatically put you on without your permission because of legalities. If you would like to be included in this new Prayer Chain List, please check the box on the communication insert in your bulletin or you may email:stpaulsreformed@gmail.com, call: 828-465-0931, or contact us through our facebook page. |
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
▪ 4 GENE SKINNELL
▪ 6 ERIC DETTER
▪ 7 LINDA SHUGART
▪ 9 KEN BOLICK
▪ 10 KELSEY LITTLE
▪ 11 PEGGY DEWHURST
▪ 14 JEREMY SWANSON
▪ 16 LINDSEY (DAVIS) MINGUS
▪ 19 DIANE B. WATTS
▪ 22 CAROLYN BOLICK
▪ 22 PAULA HOOVER
▪ 27 ANITA DEAL
▪ 27 PRESTON RUTLEDGE
▪ 28 DAVID SHUGART
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FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES
▪ 4 BOBBY & TAMI ELMORE
▪ 7 HARRY & PAT HIGHT
▪ 14 MATT & TINA CAMPBELL
▪ 17 GERALD & CATHY FLOWERS
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HEAR AND SEE THE MESSAGE AGAIN!
If you would like a DVD copy of the
worship services at
St. Paul’s please contact
Donna Rudolph at stpaulsreformed@gmail.com or
please contact the church office at 465-0931
or you may watch the Worship Service on our You Tube channel stpaulsreformed or on our website St. Paul's Reformed Church |
Prayer Requests
may be sent to the Church Office:
stpaulsreformed@gmail.com or you may call 828-465-0931
You may also call Donna Rudolph at 828-638-8856
We now have a phone tree prayer chain for updates (for those of you who do not have a computer or receive email.) If you would like to be included in this, please contact Donna. Office hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs. 9 AM-3 PM and Fri. 9 AM-4 PM or you may leave a message. |
Consistory Notes…
By: Cristy Detter
January 16, 2017
Present: Bobby Stiles, Allen Arrowood, Gina Lutz, Sandy Stillwell, Cristy Detter, Robin Caldwell, Juanita Sigmon, Pastor Keith
Absent: Larry Kiziah, Harry Hight
Prayer requests were presented and the meeting was opened with prayer.
Minutes from December 19 meeting were read and approved.
The Pastor’s oral report was received.
Financial Report was received and currently under budget due to weather related cancellation.
Old business:
None presented at this meeting.
New business:
Motion passed to continue to not have special offerings collected in 2017.
Motion passed to not be listed in the Evangelical Association.
Motion passed to assign families to a consistory member to communicate needs.
Next scheduled meeting February 20, at 8:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Cristy Detter |
FEBRUARY 5TH, AT 8 AM
ALL MEN ARE INVITED TO ATTEND! |
JOIN THE BARNABAS TEAM
IS A CARD MINISTRY THAT WELCOMES EVERYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME. IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN NEED OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND WOULD LIKE THEM TO RECEIVE A CARD, PLEASE SEE MARTHA HEADRICK. THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE FEBRUARY 8TH, AT 9 AM. |
You are
Invited…
To our Annual
VALENTINE’S DINNER
At St. Paul’s Reformed Church
February 11th at 4:30 PM
Please sign up on the sign up
sheet in the Narthex
Sponsored by the Men’s
Brotherhood |
SIGN UP TO
PUT FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR!
If you would like to place flowers on the altar in honor or memory of someone, please sign-up outside the church office. Fill out an information sheet located in the hallway beside the calendar and place in the secretary’s box in the narthex or in the box on the office door. Please note: St. Paul’s uses ABC Florist at (828) 466-1234 or Lester Lane at (704) 462-2406. If you would like to contact them for your needs, we have made arrangements with them for delivery. You may call them or you may use a florist of your choice. If you are going to use your own florist, please call the church office to make arrangements for delivery. (PLEASE... Be sure to sign the flower chart/calendar in the hallway outside of the office to secure your date for flowers) |
Instant Church Directory Mobile App
NEW FEATURE!!!!!
All of our church members/visitors can now view our church directory from your iPhone, iPad, Android or Kindle Fire by downloading the free Instant Church Directory Members App. All members/visitors need to do is to search for "Instant Church Directory" in the Apple App Store, Google Play, or Amazon Appstore, or go directly to this link:
http://www.instantchurchdirectory.com/app
You will be able to access all of our church member/visitor information, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, birthdays and anniversaries.
(Please Note: you will be asked to make an account with your email and a password) |
The Corner Table Needs
for FEBRUARY...
Canned Sliced Apples, Individual Chips
Potted Meat or Vienna Sausages , Napkins
PLEASE PLACE ALL ITEMS IN THE CART IN THE NARTHEX. YOUR SUPPORT IS
ALWAYS APPRECIATED. |
MISSIONS MINISTRY REPORT
By: Nancy Long
January-February Meeting—January 29, 2017
Opening with prayer requests and prayer, the Missions Ministry held its first meeting of 2017, this session held in coverage of both January and February. Pastor Keith spoke at the beginning of the meeting in explanation of the tentative new missions program that will involve all missions’ programs of the church. In the early stages of development, this ministry was provided current information and will be kept abreast of plans as they unfold. UNFINISHED BUSINESS included clarification about the Samaritan’s Purse gift in December 2016. Plans for a visit from the parents of Jon Rider (newest missionary to the church team) were tabled until the March meeting.
NEW BUSINESS: Missionary budget for 2017 was established with a motion (Paul), a second (Doris), and group approval for implementing a 10% increase for each missionary (exclusion-Jon Rider, whose support was set as $1000/yr at the December 2016 meeting.) Sadly, Ken and Judy Hollingsworth, who have entered retirement, will no longer be financially supported by St. Paul’s. They will remain in our prayers as they continue to serve as “advisors” to the team in Cameroon. St. Paul’s has supported the Hollingsworths for nearly 20 years, and has been blessed with regular visits from this missionary team when out in the field. Ken and Judy were primary instruments in the translation of the New Testament into the Mofu language—requiring 28 years of concentrated dedication. The Pregnancy Care Center’s fundraiser, Broken and Beautiful, to be held on April 28 at Harvest Bible Church was mentioned and will be attended on an individual basis. Paul and Mary mentioned the request for support, perhaps one-time, for Felipe Vogel, son of missionaries Alan and Lucilia Vogel. Felipe is working toward service in the Rafiki Foundation.
For clarification, it was stated that, in the future, nonchurch items, although charities supported by the church, will be permitted advertisement on the bulletin board, in the monthly newsletter, and on the screen that provides info starting about 15 minutes prior to church worship each Sunday.
The meeting closed with prayer, with the March meeting scheduled for the 5th of March. |
FROM OUR MISSIONARIES...
By: Nancy Long
Mark and Rox Johnson, Indiana University campus ministers,
share the words “I’ll love you always…” as a special blessing in their ministry when a routine moment of discipline and correction in the lives of their children opened doors for the Gospel among university students. That brief experience of loving discipline between a parent and child showed a young non-believing student that God loves us regardless of what we do, and that the reason we obey is out of that love, not out of obligation or duty. Rox and Mark request prayer for their children’s spiritual journey at ages 2 and 4 and for success of their annual conference, with about 2000 students. |
NEW TO ST. PAUL’S...
Bible study on Wednesdays will now
Be referred to as bible talks
Intercessory prayer group will no longer meet on Mondays but Candace Childers will be available if there is a need.
Other small groups will be forming at later dates. Stay tuned… |
Serving God Through Serving Others
All ladies of the church are invited to attend the Christian Women's Fellowship as we develop a closer relationship with God, make Him known to others, and fellowship with each other. |
CWF NEWS:
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Prayer Partner Dinner-February 7 at 5:30 PM at Boxcar Grille in Claremont
Cook at Corner Table-February 13 at 9 AM
BINGO-February 22, 2:30 PM at Abernethy Laurels |
COMMUNION PREPARER
JANUARY...
LINDA CROTTS |
THANK YOU…
Dear St Paul’s Church Family,
Thank you all for the prayers and phone calls you gave me last week when I had my procedure. Each and everyone of you are so loved and appreciated by Gene and I. Your love and concern was over and above anything that either one of us expected. And the outpouring of love was over-whelming. I want to give a special thank you to Pastor Keith and Carla, Pastor Rick, sweet Martha and Linda and Jerry for their presence and prayers. Thanks, also to Doris for the plant that she brought me from all our loving church family. God bless all of you. I love you all. Libby Skinnell
Dear St. Paul’s Church Family,
Thank you for the lovely basket of flowers. It is so nice to have a little sunshine in my home. Thank you too for the many prayers, calls, cards I received recently in my medical procedure. St. Paul’s Family is the best! In Christ’s love, Ann Burgin |
“Today you are the oldest you have ever been, yet the youngest You will ever be, so enjoy this day which the Lord has made.”
St. Paul’s Young at Heart Group is open to anyone in the church age 50 or over. You do not have to be a member of the church to participate in any of the activities. So plan to join us this year as we share the love, joy, and fellowship of Christ. |
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Hearts to Homes
Wednesdays, 11:15 AM
BINGO-February 22, 2:30 PM at Abernethy Laurels
Monday, February 6, St. Paul’s ECCCM Volunteer Day. Anytime from 8:30-4:30.
St. Paul’s DAY at ECCCM
is Monday, February 6.
This year, churches are assigned a day of the month instead of a week at the Cooperative Ministry. Show your support of the ministry to those in need, our church, and our community. Hours of operation are 8:30-4:30. Any amount of time you can volunteer is deeply appreciated.
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FEBRUARY 5TH
Youth Super Bowl Party!!
Join us in the Youth Room at
6PM Bring your favorite snack and a friend!
If you have questions, please contact
Cindy Shugart at 828-850-1346 |
The “Souper” Bowl of Caring
An offering for The Corner Table, will take place for the next three weeks, through Super Bowl Sunday. St. Paul’s has been faithful in contributing to the Souper Bowl of Caring since the birth of The Corner Table in 2002. Giving a gift helps to keep the shelves of the soup kitchen filled! Please label gifts with the words THE CORNER TABLE or SOUP KITCHEN and place in the offering plate. Thank you for your consideration. This program will run through Sunday, February 5th. Offerings received after February 5th
will be received and credited to the above program. |
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