STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA
A Weekly Publication of
Bethesda Baptist Church
Pastor: Bruce D. Walker
Worship Leader: Steve Brook
Upcoming Activities
1. Operation Christmas Child Packing Party, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
2. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
3. Sunday School, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
4. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
5. Thanksgiving Dinner Fellowship, Sunday, 12:15 p.m.
6. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.
Operation Christmas Child
Tonight (Monday) is our Operation Christmas Child Packing Party beginning at 6:30 p.m. Bring some soup or salad to share and join us for dinner and then help us pack our boxes.
CONGRATULATIONS!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to SANDY BRANDEL who turns another year old today, Monday, November 17.
An heir doesn’t work for his inheritance; an heir simply believes in the promise of the one leaving the inheritance.
Church Phone Directory
If you have not picked up your new church directory, there is a copy for you on the table in the church foyer.
Thanksgiving Fellowship Dinner
Our annual Thanksgiving fellowship is scheduled for next Sunday, November 23 following the morning worship service. We really encourage every member to be present for a great time of fellowship.
The church is providing the meat for the dinner. Each family should bring 2 side dishes, a dessert, and a drink to share. Then plan on spending some time eating some delicious food and enjoying wonderful fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.
The covenant promise was for the ‘seed of Abraham’, which seed we, believing Gentiles, are, through faith in Christ (Gal. 3:26-29).
Sam Storms
Canaan
was but an emblem of the heavenly country, of which last only Abraham could have an everlasting possession; for he was a stranger on the earth, and Canaan was to him ‘a strange country’.
Robert Haldane
Pastor’s Postscript
In anticipation of Thanksgiving, my columns over the next two weeks will share some information on this great holiday.
The first Thanksgiving in our land occurred in the fall of 1621. The colonists of Plymouth Plantation celebrated their first harvest with feed and feasting. The Indian chiefs Massassoit, Samoset, and Squanto all joined the celebration along with ninety of their men. The party lasted three days.
The first recorded Thanksgiving was held on June 29, 1671 at Charlestown, Massachusetts. The town’s governing council issued a proclamation in conjunction with the celebration.
Such observances occurred in various states at different times during the ensuing years. The first national proclamation of Thanksgiving for our nation was issued by George Washington on October 3, 1789. Take some time to read it!
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and
Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplication to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, AD 1789 George Washington
Next week we share some more on this important holiday. Meanwhile, as Thanksgiving Day 2014 approaches, let us make certain we turn our thoughts to our great God who has provided all we have and blessed us infinitely more than we will ever deserve!
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless each of you this week in ways you never imagined!