Green Letter - May 1, 2008

TO PREPARE FOR THE LORD'S DAY – SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2008

Sermon: “The Place of the Prophet” from I Samuel 3:1-4:1

Read Psalm 111 to prepare for our Call to Worship

Hymns for Worship: Stand Up and Bless the Lord – We Bow Down – Crown Him
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WORSHIP QUOTABLE!

“[Jesus] is strong...but He's also approachable. He is able to carry our load...but He'll never make us feel embarrassed or defeated for asking.”

- Joni Eareckson Tada
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WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM

Question 63: What are the special privileges of the visible church?

The visible church has the privilege of being under God's special care and government; of being protected and preserved in all ages, not withstanding the opposition of all enemies; and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation, and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved, and excluding none that will come unto him.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

We live in such an information age! We hear, we see, we organize, we distribute, and we have information pass by our minds. It is no wonder that many of the facts that cross the desk of our minds have no effect on us. We are information numb! Take for example the evening news – do we simply hear the telling of the loss of life, or do we take a moment to ponder that life has been lost, that a person with physical and personal connections to this life is no longer alive? On a spiritual note – do we pass over the Scriptures with our eyes or ears, or do we consider how they bear weight on our daily lives?
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MINISTRY NEWS

The Sr. Adult ministry held their April activity at the church building last Thursday, April 17. Boxed lunches were eaten in a packed Fellowship Hall. In addition to great fellowship, Wayne Brown and five musician friends from the Carolinas and Virginia played a wide selection of bluegrass music.
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VOLUNTEERS FOR WEEK OF MAY 4

Snack – Fellowship Class
SS Nursery – Chris Ferrell
Worship Nursery – Mary Margaret Winburne, Richard & Jeanne Weimer, and Hannah Shope
Children's Church –
Counters – Charles Blackmon (lead), Patti Snyder, Erland Stevens, Trent Gazzaway
Greeters –
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IMPORTANT CHURCH NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE & MINISTRY

The General Synod now has a new web site and a new address: http://www.arpchurch.org

Music Rehearsals: Handbell Quartet – 4:00 PM, Handbells – 5:00 PM, and Adult Choir – 6:00 PM

B.I.G. F.I.S.H. will meet Sunday, May 4 – 7 PM – at the home of Jerry and Linda Shope – 6032 Jim Kidd Road – Huntersville 28078 – 704-875-1413

Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study will meet for their last study on May 6 at 2:30 PM. Contact: Nancy Winburne

Men’s Lunch – “Bible & Bologna” will meet on Wednesday, May 7 at Noon – bring your own lunch

Dorcas Disciples will meet on Wednesday, May 7 at 4:00 PM. Contact: Marlene Van Farowe

Prayer & Preaching will be held on Wednesday, May 7 at 6:15 PM – Children’s Choirs will meet during P & P

Friendship Circle will meet on Monday, May 5 – 7 PM - at the home of Edie Dunn

There will be a Children’s Church team meeting at 6:45 PM on Wednesday, May 7. Contact: Pastor Crotts

Building & Grounds Workday will be held on Saturday, May 10. See Trent Gazzaway for more details or to offer your time and skills.

A Joint Officers Meeting will be held on Monday, May 12 at 7 PM

Please plan to join us for VBS, June 22nd –26th! This is a church-wide event at H.A.R.P., so come and enjoy some great fellowship as we show the love of Christ to the children. Would you prayerfully consider being a teacher for one of our age groups: Pre-K, K-1st, 2nd-3rd, or 4th-5th? We could also use help with set-up, clean-up, food preparation, crafts, and recreation. We welcome your involvement! If you have questions, please see Jill Gazzaway.

Mark your calendars! May Family Night will be May 14 – Vacation Bible School will be June 22-26 – 4th of July at the Whitby’s on June 29 - Church Pool Party at Wynfield Clubhouse on July 16
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THANKSGIVING & PRAYER

- Barbara Oxford gives thanks to God for the prayers of her church on her behalf and that she has had some relief from her pain

- Rickie McAuley’s brother-in-law, Michael Striden, is in need of surgery due to chest pains and refuses help; he is 63 years of age
- Chris Ferrell’s mother, Kathern Sloan, continues to recover from an aorta bleed and her family continues to seek God’s wisdom for her future care and living needs
- continue in prayer for Millie Brown, as she is seeking balance in her heart health and medicines
- pray for those who are in the midst of economic and job difficulties
- Our homebound members: Pauline Brown, Lizzie Mayberry, Drucilla McAulay, Dorothy Knox Underwood, Catherine Washam, and Millie Young; pray that they would know the Lord’s presence and have a sense of His grace though they cannot be in fellowship with the saints of their church
- for continued recovery for Millie Young; she is recovering from surgery to repair a broken femur
- pray that Mark Moyer will naturally heal from fluid in his brain and that he would develop normally into full manhood and service to the King
- continue to pray for Barbara Oxford’s recovery from surgery, her ability to eat normal foods, and that she would feel free to expect many days free of pain
- Shirley Brown is experiencing pain in her knees and is in therapy
- Charles Blackmon’s sister Marny is in daily radiation treatment with hopes that her cancer is gone
- continue to pray for Don Liebner as he suffers with pain in his feet and receives treatments; pray specifically that the length of time between pain would lengthen as he receives injections
- Pray for those with private health difficulties, that God would grant them peace and healing
- Pray for those in our midst who are caring for their aging parents
- Greg & Michelle Hart are expecting their second child this June – a boy!
- Pete Bridge asks for your prayers concerning John Barrett, for his faith in Christ primarily; but also as he grieves the loss of his wife Jennifer to lung and brain cancer
- Renee Maddox requests prayer for a neighbor, Susan Law, who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer; her husband is a local pastor. She has just completed her second chemotherapy treatment.

- 10 Things: That our church would develop a women’s ministry that invests in women in a way that equips them as disciples, for their own spiritual maturation, for the good of the marriages and families of the church, for the betterment of the total ministry of the church, and for their life in the world
- Personal Missions: for boldness, that we might clearly proclaim who God is, the sinfulness of man, and the provision of one Mediator – the man Christ Jesus
- Mission Churches: for our mission developers, the core groups, and those who the Lord might bring into the local ministries of our mission churches in their respective communities
- Local Missions: give thanks for a year of fellowship and service with the Dorcas Disciples group
- Homegrown Missions: that Anna Cameron would be well supported by her church in prayer and financial assistance; for her own preparations in body and spirit to serve the Lord in France
- Foreign Missions: Laura Romer (New Guinea) asks that we pray for problems in the neighboring Ukarumpa Village, where two clans are warring over a disputed piece of land and the people live in fear. Pray for Sivini's village and protection for his family. Pray against further loss of life and that some good will come from the attacks that are taking place there. Pray that Sivini and the other believers will not be afraid, but continue to make a bold stand for peace and truth.
- the Lockamy family was involved in a car accident last week; pray for their health, their car’s repair needs, and these things to be resolved before their move later this month
- Persecuted Christians: for the peace of Christ to dwell in the lives of those who suffer for their King
- Governing Authorities: Pray for this year's critical elections, from the White House to Congress, and in our State; pray that Godly men and women will be elected.
- Our friends, relatives, and A.R.P. Chaplains serving around the world in the U.S. Military