TODAY

The all-church-meal is today and it would be good if everyone could stay. Immediately after the meal we will have a short devotional service in the small auditorium. There will be no service at 5:30 PM. May we use the afternoon not only to rest some, but also to visit, call, or write a note to someone. Recently it was called to my attention that we are not visiting certain ones who are not able to attend the assemblies each week. May we not forget any member who is old, middle age or young.

FIFTH SUNDAY

The fifth Sunday offering will be November 29th. Let me challenge all who can to give some in addition to your weekly offering. As I have mentioned before, church buildings, like your house, need things done over time in order to keep it in shape. Again thanks to Curtis Cozort who is coordinating these efforts. Be patient as work is done because it takes time to do the work.

HISTORY

Let me encourage every member (you) to be in Bible class every Sunday. We get out by 11:30 AM. Let me give you a little history. In his book, Preaching In A Changing World, Irven Lee tells about the church in certain parts during the 1930s. “The churches of Christ in the thirties were made up of poor people...As a whole the meeting houses in rural areas were poorly heated and poorly insulated. They had no classrooms but they had classes. One class would get in one corner of the building and other classes would be in other corners. Those in one class could hear everything said in all classes...There were some good teachers but most of the classes were brief and very poorly taught.”

MORE HISTORY

Also Lee further wrote, “Most of the churches met for one hour approximately each Sunday and not again until the next Sunday. They had no night services except during the meeting. Some had preaching each fifth Sunday, but the more common practice was to have ‘preaching Sunday’ once a month. On that day they might not have classes because they would run the services too long...Churches in the towns more often had classrooms and more services. Many of them met twice on Sunday and again on Wednesday night and had preaching every Sunday.” (PP. 27-28).

CONCLUSION

Let us appreciate the ones who have gone before us. In some sense we are building on their faith. We have good Bibles, good literature, good students and good teachers; therefore, we need to take every opportunity to be in Bible class and learn all we can. Be in your place every week. Come with a Bible in your hand and a spring in your step and a smile on your face. I’ll look for you in your place.

-Pat Casey