Urgent Prayer Requests
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Pete & Brenda, grieving over loss of her father; their health
* Brazel family
* Mueller family, especially Alicia
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Julie heading for Mizzou & Rachelle returning home
* Our church and need for revival
Upcoming Activities
1. Business Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. Ice Cream Social, Sunday, 12:15 p.m.
5. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.
Deacon Elections
Deacon nomination forms are now available. Write the name of your nominee(s) on a piece of paper (or nomination form), sign your paper, and give it to one of the deacons or the pastor. Nominations are open through Sunday, September 6. We will vote to fill the lone opening on the first Sunday in October.
“God’s will often involves times of delay and disappointment.”
Ray Pritchard
Statement of Faith
Bethesda’s statement of faith is “The 1963 Baptist Faith and Message” and may be read at http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfmcomparison.asp. Here is article 14:
XIV. Co-Operation
Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure co-operation for the great objects of the kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should co-operate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary co-operation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Co-operation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such co-operation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and his Word as revealed in the New Testament.
“Even though Satan exerts a powerful influence, God is still reigning. God’s plans, which includes Satan’s hindrances, are best and are always executed.”
Reminders
1. The “prayer stars” are available on the board in the foyer. Please take one home, attach it to your refrigerator, and pray for that family all week. Return the star next Sunday and take a different one.
2. Lacey Mueller is expecting her first child in September. If you wish to help, please place your diapers and/or baby wipes in the box on the table in the foyer.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL!
This Sunday, following our morning worship service, we will have an ice cream social fellowship in our fellowship hall.
Pizza will be provided for lunch. We ask each family to bring a favorite flavor of ice cream plus toppings, cones, shells, fruit, etc. After we have our pizza, we’ll share the ice cream and make our own ice cream treats!
Sermon Extras
1. The word translated “torn away” in verse 17 is “aporphanizo”. It is formed by taking the verb “orphanizo” and prefixing it with a preposition “apo” (means “from”). Note the English word “orphan” in the verb. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were “orphaned” from the Thessalonians.
2. As I said, the verb above contains the preposition “apo” as a prefix: “having been orphaned from”. But Paul added the preposition “apo” following that word. In a sense he was saying “having been orphaned from from you”, adding emphasis on the Thessalonians.
“But WE, brothers, having been orphaned from, actually, from you…”
As I read these words in the original, I sense Paul being quite emotional about how he had to leave Thessalonica. It was a very personal and difficult event in his life.
3. Greek verbs indicate the pronoun subject (I, you, he, we, you, they) in the form of the word. That means the writer does not need to actually write the pronoun as part of the text. Therefore, any time the subject pronoun is written along with the verb, the writer is emphasizing it. Paul does so with “we” in verse 17. Furthermore, this pronoun appears first in the sentence implying additional emphasis. “But WE … we endeavored”. Paul is emphasizing their strong desire and effort to come back to the Thessalonians.
Pastor’s Postscripts
Once again we were blessed with visitors and I am grateful to God for them. It is always good to have others join us for worship.
Business meeting is Wednesday and I encourage you to be there. The Trustees may have some input (perhaps a proposal) concerning a new church sign. If you haven’t noticed (and I can’t believe you haven’t!), our present sign is in very poor shape. The word “Welcome” is all we have posted because that’s about all we can put on it these days.
Also, take note of the Ice Cream Social, the diaper/wipe collection for Lacey Mueller, and the “Prayer Stars” noted elsewhere in this newsletter. Finally, don’t forget to submit your deacon nominations this month.
I look forward to seeing you with your Bible on Sunday (if not sooner)!