Monday Updates – June 18th, 2012

Good Morning Bethesda!

The Lord is so gracious in giving us a facility in which to meet and worship and brothers & sisters in Christ with whom we may share our sorrows, our joys, and our needs. Let us find ways to serve the Lordby serving one another in humility and in love!

Urgent Prayer Requests

  • Brida Lovett, recording at home from heart surgery
  • Lola Fleschute, Marilynn Norvell’s mother
  • The Thrower & Notgrass family in the loss of their 16 month old son/grandson.
  • The Bunch family, especially Elisabeth in Hannibal for another week
  • Marilynn Norvell & her mother
  • Pete & Brenda Koelling
  • Brenda Koelling’s father who is ill.
  • Cynthia Wordlaw, her mother and father suffering physically
  • Cynthia’s sister Lois facing surgery for fibroid tumors
  • Gene & Lois Schulze at home.
  • Caroline, Anne Overton’s sister-in-law, fight with cancer.
  • The Overtons as they search for a new church in Indiana.
  • Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

  1. Bible Study (Romans) & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7pm.
  2. Bethesda Night at the Ball Park, Saturday, 7:05 p.m., T. R. Hughes Field
  3. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
  4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. including the Lord’s Supper
  5. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5:00 p.m.
  6. Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, June 27, 7 p.m.
  7. Sunday School, Sunday, July 1, 9:15 a.m.
  8. Worship Service, Sunday, July 1, 10:30 a.m.
  9. Discipleship Training, Sunday, July 1, 5:00 p.m.

Bethesda Night at the Ball Park
THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 7:05 p.m.

Newsletter

There will be no newsletter next week. The pastor and Debbie are leaving Sunday afternoon for a week with family in Phoenix. The July calendar will be sent with the July 2 newsletter in two weeks.

Some Words on Worship

Article 22: Of religious worship and the sabbath day (continued from last week)

4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.

5. The reading of the Scriptures, preaching and hearing the Word of God, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner.

From the Second London Confession (also known as the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith).

“How welcome to the saints, when pressed
With six days’ noise, and care, and toil,
Is the returning day of rest,
Which hides them from the world awhile!”
– John Newton

Pastor’s Postscripts

I need your help, brothers and sisters! I have two appeals to make to you; the first is to everyone attending worship services while the second is specifically addressed to families with children. Please take them in a Christian spirit and not as a personal attack.

First, I ask everyone to use the time between Sunday School and worship to take care of any personal business which may require you to leave the auditorium once the service begins. The goal is to reduce the noise and distraction created every time someone enters and exits the doors at the back of the auditorium. I realize in the natural course of a 60-90 minute service some folks will need to leave and return. But I encourage everyone to avoid doing so if absolutely necessary in order to reduce the distraction which is occurring during the service.

Second, to the families with children in the auditorium, please do your best to teach your children to remain in their seats and to be quiet during the service. For some children, this will require you to take them on a weekly trip out of the auditorium for some “personal instruction” (your pastor has made this very “trip” numerous times; you may ask some of my children what the “lesson” was they received at the end of the “trip”!). Personally, I am very oblivious to most noise created by kids. I have grown use to it over the years. But I have received complaints from others of the distraction the noise is causing in worship and I have personally noticed it more in recent months.

Thank you for your assistance in these matters! May the Lord grant you a terrific week!

Pastor Bruce
636-233-0645
TheSaxonHus@hotmail.com