Northwest Church of Christ
3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718
330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119
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| Northwest News On Line December 13, 2009 |
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NORTHWEST LIFE LINES
THE BRIDGE BUILDER
An old man, going down a lone highway
Came at the evening, lone and gray,
To a chasm vast and wide and steep,
With waters rolling cold and deep.
The old man crossed in twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him.
But he turned when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,
“You are wasting your strength with building here.
Your journey will end with the ending of day,
You never again will pass this way.
You’ve crossed the chasm deep and wide,
Why build you this bridge at eventide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head.
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
There followed after me today,
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
The chasm that was as naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;
He, too, must come in the twilight dim –
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him”
Will Allen Dromgoole
God wants us to build bridges, but there is a second option; we can also build barricades. As you know there is a vast difference between bridges and barricades. Bridges promote community and interaction; barricades are erected for division and are obstructive. How do we know which we are building? We’ll answer that question tonight in our lesson: “Bridges, Not Barricades”. I am looking forward to sharing this time with you. See you then;
Keith
FAMILY NEWS AND NOTES:
Church Family: Emma Tedrick will have knee replacement surgery at Aultman Hospital on Wednesday, December 16th. Wanda Kame is now home from Aultman-Woodlawn. Marjorie Whitley is now home from the hospital. Kathy Kruger had outpatient surgery at Mercy Medical Center on Monday, December 7th. Gilbert Plummer had hip replacement surgery and was moved to Hanover House. Floyd Kinney remains at Aultman-Woodlawn. Dolores Ladson remains at Aultman-Woodlawn in room #213 following hip replacement surgery. Hazel Decker (the mother of Marilyn Hopkins and Bev Lones) remains at St. Joseph’s Care Center in room 210. Cheyenne Newman is undergoing a series of chemotherapy shots that require hospitalization.
Remember, too, our Shut-In members, those in the Armed Forces, as well as the Leadership of the Lord’s church here at the Northwest church of Christ.
Friends And Family: Others to remember in prayer include: Carly Dumermuth (the 5 week old granddaughter of Sharon Stalnaker) was taken to Union Hospital with a high fever. Tess White (the daughter our missionaries in France, Charles and Pam White) may have potentially serious health issues. Brian Selby, age 20, (the brother of Amanda Cushman) fell off a roof and sustained broken ribs, broken pelvis and internal head injuries. He is at Huron Hospital in Cleveland. Lisa Wenzel (the daughter of Diane Gardiner) has been undergoing medical tests and received the results last week. The doctor said it was one of two things: multiple sclerosis or inoperable cancer at the base of her spine. She will have additional testing. Joe Kress (son-in-law of Victoria Walker) is at Hanover House. Logan Trizna (2 yr. old grandson of Brian Heid’s cousin) had reconstructive surgery following surgery to remove cancer. Jack Duty (leukemia).
Responses: This past Sunday evening, Brenda Garvin responded to the invitation, asking brethren to pray for her and her family.
Death: We extend our sympathy to Amelia Evans at the passing of her mother-in-law, Beatrice Cato, on Friday, December 4th. The funeral was Friday, December 11th.
Birth: Chrystal Tichenor (the granddaughter of Loretta Hartman) and her husband, Justin, have a new baby girl. Raffeala Marie was born late last week. She weighed 5lbs. 14ozs. and was 18 ins. long. Congratulations to the family.
Monica & Ryan Morton are the proud parents of a new baby boy, Luke Anderson Morton, born on Tuesday, December 1st. He weighed 9lbs 7ozs. and was 20 ½ ins. long. Ruth Watson and Jim & Jean Lemasters are the great-grandparents. Cameron & Alyvia are the new big brother and sister!
Note: Contribution envelopes for 2010 are now on the table in the foyer. Please remember to put your name beside the number of the box that you are taking.
Note: Over 40 people had a wonderful afternoon at Miss Molly’s Tea Room in Medina, Ohio, on Saturday, December 5. Those who attended enjoyed wonderful food, music, friendships both new and old, and shopping at the neighboring stores. A special thank you goes to John Oberlin and Ruth Smith for driving the vans and making a very special afternoon possible for many more ladies. Plan on joining us next year!
Youth Activities Meeting: There will be a meeting in the auditorium after morning bible class, Today, for those who would like to help and/ or host teen and preteen activities for the next year. If you are interested, please attend and we will try to be brief. John R. Oberlin
Children’s Bible Hour: We are in need of teachers and helpers for the children’s Sunday morning “Bible Time” for the month of December. Please see John R. Oberlin if you would be interested. Also, there is a sign-up sheet posted on the east-wing bulletin board for next year’s Children’s Bible Time (this is during the morning worship for ages two through second grade). Please sign your name next to the month you would like to take. Thank you. John R. Oberlin
Nursery Schedule: There is a new Nursery Schedule sheet posted on the east-wing bulletin board. Please write your name in for the month and secession you are willing to take.
Hat & Glove Giveaway: Much thanks to all those who have donated to the “Hat & Glove Giveaway”. With your help we hope to reach the goal we have set for ourselves this year. We will share the final results with you soon. If you have signed up to help with the giveaway on December 17th, please plan to be at the building by 8:30 AM. Thanks, Keith
Note: The Ladies’ Night Out schedules for 2010 are on the table in the foyer.
Ladies’ Meeting: The ladies will meet Today in the auditorium for their annual meeting to sign up for the many ministries that are available to them. This will be during the Bible class time, and the men will gather in the multi-purpose area for Bible study.
Ladies’ Retreat: Ladies please mark your calendars for March 19th and 20th, 2010 for our Ladies Retreat. The beautiful Carlisle Inn at Sugarcreek will be the setting with our theme being, A Time To…a look at Ecclesiastes 3. Check-in begins at 3:00 PM on Friday, March 19th, with the cost being $50 per person. The first deposit of $25 is due to Kathy Lindenberger by January 17th, (please make checks payable to Northwest Church of Christ), with final payment due March 7th. More information will follow, or see Kathy Lindenberger for further details.
Men’s Retreat: Men: Mark your calendars for the Annual Stark County Area Men’s Retreat on April 16th and 17th at the Elkhorn Valley Retreat Center in Bergholz, Ohio. This year’s theme is “Church Growth God’s Way”.
Note: Those who are interested in becoming involved in our “Greeter Ministry” are asked to sign the sheet posted on the east-wing bulletin board. If you have questions, please see Art Hopkins or Marilyn Hopkins.
Note: The membership bulletin board is now complete and located in the west wing of the building. If your picture is not on the board, or if your information needs to be corrected, please see Heather Lindenberger.
Golden Agers: On Tuesday, December 15th, the Golden Agers will have a Bible Study and a Prepared Meal at the building at 10:30.
Youth News:
Today, Dec. 13th: Lunch &“Destination Unknown” (Please bring $5.00) / Camarata
*Questions People Ask*
What are some lessons winter teaches us?
Living in different climate zones in one’s lifetime is very revealing. Winter in the north is so different from winter in south Florida. Last winter I watched the weather forecasts for Stark County and knew very well what you were experiencing though the temps were summer like where I was. The only way you know the seasons in south Florida is by looking at the calendar. December 22 marked the beginning of the winter season last year. While you were shoveling snow last winter I was cutting the grass. Grass does grow slower in the winter and only needs cut every 2 or 3 weeks rather than weekly during the summer. However, no matter where one lives, there are lessons winter teach us about God.
Winter reminds us that God is faithful to his word. Genesis 8:22 records, “while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” The change of seasons is proof of God faithfulness to His word. Though you can plant seeds the year round in south Florida, it is not possible in the majority of the country. God keeps his promises. If He keeps this promise so faithfully, what of the really important ones-like the resurrection, eternal life, and heaven? He will keep all of his promises both physical and spiritual.
Winter reminds us that life moves in cycles. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 11 Solomon says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck what is planted…He has make everything beautiful in its time.” There would be no autumn glory without the lush green foliage of summer, no summer leaves without the buds of spring; no springtime burst of life without the winter hiatus. We accept the contrasting threads of joy and sorrow, victory and defeat as being essential to the basic pattern of the fabric of life. As life moves through its changing cycles as Christians, we believe that if we love the Lord that all things will work together for our good (Romans 8:28).
Winter reminds us that we must “die” to live. Those who have never lived in the north cannot imagine how “dead” things become in the winter. Everything is gray and gloomy. There are few sunny days. (Can you believe that there are few days that the sun does not shine in south Florida?) But, there can be no spring until winter has pasted. Spiritually speaking, we are born into a world that is dying and we too must face our own mortality (Heb. 9:27). But when we die to self and sin, then and only then are we able to live in Christ. “Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). From God’s point of view, we have not really begun to live until we have learned what it means to die.
Wherever we live we should enjoy the changes in the seasons as provided by a loving God. We should let this remind us of God, his will, his promises and what he can make of us.
B.C.
TODAY’S SERMONS:
A.M. - “Anna: The Faithful Witness” – (Luke 2: 36-38)
P.M. – “Bridges, Not Barricades” (Colossians 3: 12-17)
Those reading for lessons during the worship service are asked to use the “New King James Version”, as it corresponds to the pew Bibles and the projections on the screen.
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PRIVILEGED TO SERVE
** (If you are unable to serve in the scheduled capacity, let Art Hopkins know) **
December 13, 2009 A.M. P.M.
Shepherd’s Prayer Dick Dimit Dick Dimit
Song Leader Ethan Ash Leo Howard
Prayer Chuck Camarata Brian Heid
Read Josh Heid Mark Daverio
Reading Luke 2: 36-38 Colossians 3: 12-17
Closing Prayer Cliff Schofield Ed McCullough
Communion John Oberlin Bernie McFadden
Offering Tom Walton Keith Kull
Serving Communion:
1. Charles Evans 5. John R. Oberlin 1. Allen Crawford 4. Cliff Schofield
2. Patrick Shepler 6. Don Hopkins 2. Al Rohr 5. John Simone
3. Jon Heid 7. Ken Gessel 3. Jerry Cain 6. Alex McMichael
4. Mike Moss 8. Clyde Burfield
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December 20, 2009 A.M. P.M.
Shepherd’s Prayer Frank Kruger, Jr. Frank Kruger, Jr.
Song Leader Stephan Lindenberger Bill Craddock
Prayer Emmanuel Bradley Keith Kull
Read Keith Hill Mark Dimitro
Reading John 1: 14-18 TBA (Charles White)
Closing Prayer Terry Pyles Bernie Mcfadden
Communion Dick Dimit Mike Moss
Offering Bill Dimit Patrick Shepler
Serving Communion:
1. Bill Hootman 5. Leonard Miller 1. Art Hopkins 4. Terry Bucher
2. Ryan Branch 6. Ethan Ash 2. Don Hopkins 5. Steve Moser
3. Michael Moffett 7. Devin Watson 3. Ken Gessel 6. Matt Moser
4. Larry Moffett 8. James Blackwell
For The Record (12/06/09)
A.M. Worship………..320 A.M. Bible Study.........120
P.M. Worship…….......227
Wed. BS (12/02/09)…...118
Contribution……9062.21
Worship Times
Sunday Worship……..9:00 A.M.
Sunday Bible Study...10:30 A.M.
Sunday Evening ……..6:00 P.M.
Wed. Evening...............7:00 P.M.
Contribution – $3575.34