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In Touch -- July 2006 |
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A Note
from the Pastor NRSV EXODUS 17:1-7 17 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The LORD said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” The summer months are often hot and either plunge communities into bitter drought or inundate them with storm flooding. Many times communities find themselves crying out with the afflicted peoples of the scriptures: "Is the Lord among us or not?" The people of Israel in the mid-second millennium B.C. asked that question. They had recently been slaves in Egypt. Moses had worked wonders in the court of Pharaoh and the Lord had sent plagues upon the Egyptians until life was so unbearable that he released the people. He pursued them to the river's edge. The water, which seemed to be certain death, was turned back and the people were saved by water and the Spirit of the Lord. The sea, which seemed to be their undoing, became their salvation. The wilderness remained before them. Into it they ventured certain that God was their savior, their redeemer, their creator, and their constant companion worthy of their worship. Reality is harsh, sometimes stark, certainly dangerous, often unforgiving, and anything but friendly. Who do you call when the hurricane comes? In Exodus 17 the Hebrews came knocking on the tent of Moses. They demanded to know what was his contingency plan. They expected to be given an answer why they must suffer so, if freedom was so good for them. They were ready to stone Moses. They called upon Moses to solve their problem. They wanted Moses to approach their God. They wanted Moses to pray for a solution and make it happen. They wanted Moses to be their God! They were tempted, as we are sometimes tempted to believe that there is a human solution to every problem. We are tempted to believe that if we simply had better preparations, better leadership, and a better location in which to live, calamity would be avoided. Scripture makes it clear that these are but so many false idols that we chase. Calamity can often, but certainly not always, be avoided. This is not to say that we are devoid of responsibility to our brothers and sisters in peril. Quite the contrary, we must work tirelessly on their behalf. In Exodus, the elders who came with Moses to the rock at Horeb, not only experienced the Lord at work, but also worked for the Lord. The priceless water had to be distributed and these elders became the Lord's servants. We will face great challenges in the days ahead. I encourage the congregation to pray for each elder as they strive to serve Christ our Lord and His church. These are days that try our souls. Even so, we should call upon the name of the Lord our God nor weary in well doing. At the heart of scripture are the commandments to love God and neighbor. Let each of us strive to live life accordingly and to God be the glory! Amen! May God bless, David McDonald Minister
A Letter From Betty Keyes (in part)
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Flowers: 2: Roni Hackenburg 9: 16: 23: 30: Diana & Jeff Dillard Ushers Ed Burnett David Hayes Susan Barmer Ray Barmer Dee Landen |
Nursery 2-Debbie Powell 9-Judy Oglesby 16-Tanya Glasgow 23-Faye Brown 30-Sharon Clifton Greeter: Susan Gaylor A Thought For July Prayer is like a garden. Tend to it and it will be fruitful. |
July 2006
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4 Happy Birthday America! Office closed |
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9 CommunionSession 7:00pm |
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23 August NewsletterArticles Due |
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Special Need: Indonesia Earthquake We know that another powerful earthquake has struck Indonesia, killing more than 6,000 people on the densely populated island of Java. Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, immediately mobilized local church partners and within 24 hours had staff on the ground delivery emergency supplies. We are working in the Bantul province to help provide shelter, medicine, food, water, blankets, and cooking supplies to 18,000 people whose homes were destroyed or damaged. This was the forth major earthquake to strike Indonesia in 17 months, dating back to the 2004 tsunami. Please pray for those who are suffering, as we continue to meet their needs and show them the love of Jesus Christ. And we, First Presbyterian Church, have responded with our Health Kits.
***Attention Attention Attention*** Christian Education Committee invites you to
mark your calendars now for our annual Wet, Wild, Wonderful, Wednesday
Celebration, August 23,2006 at 7:00pm. WE will have plenty of wet and
wild games and a wonderful, Wednesday homemade ice cream supper. Stay
tuned for more details… You will not want to miss it!!! |
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July Birthdays 2 Woody Godwin 3 Linda Brewer Daniel Hayes 4 Bea Blackwell 7 Will Ricks 9 Bob Patterson 11 Bryson Johnson 12 Andrew King 13 Mike Knudson 14 Grace Fishel Faye Graham David McDonald 17 Mike Stainback 22 Jim Barden 23 LaNae Grimes 25 Matt Knudson Will Patterson 27 Kelly Conner |
August Newsletters
Due Sun July 23rd. |
Visitors
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Last Updated
July 07, 2007