November 25, 2013

Prayer Requests

* Pete Koelling, health concerns
* Brida’s daughter-in-law, Dawn
* Special prayer for Zachary
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Health of Cynthia’s father, mother, and mother-in-law
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours
* Dan, health concerns
* Marilynn Norvell
* Gene Schulze
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Our church and need for revival

“Every new act of mercy calls forth a new song of gratitude and praise.”
William Mounce

Upcoming Activities

1.  NO Prayer Meeting this Wednesday
2.  Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m. .
4. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m..

Ministry to Soldiers

The women’s ministry is doing a project involving sending items to American soldiers in Afghanistan.  The ladies will meet on Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. to pack the boxes.  If you would like to contribute in some way (e.g., bake cookies, letters, cards, financial gift), please contact Debbie Walker.

New Instruments

THANK YOU to Midwest Music and to Harry and Audrey Crosby for their generous gift to the church of an organ and piano!  Also, thank you to the men who helped in getting them here and removing the older instruments!

Bethesda Church Directory

Although it has no family pictures, we do have a new church directory containing names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses (plus birthdays and anniversaries).  Copies are located on the table in the foyer.

If you see any mistakes or some information changes, please contact the pastor.  We’ll send out a temporary update to everyone via the newsletter and then, from time to time, print updated directories.
Christmas Eve Service

Beginning at 6pm on Tuesday, December 24, we’ll join together for 30-45 minutes and reflect on Christmas Day with a time of worship.  Please plan on attending this brief but inspiring service.

Nominating Committee

Our Nominating Committee will bring their list of nominations to our church business meeting on December 11.  If you believe the Lord would have you serve Him through our church in 2014 through a specific position, please contact Sandy Brandel or Debbie Walker and let them know.

Christmas Party

Saturday, December 21 is our Christmas Party this year.  We’ll meet at 5 p.m., enjoy some snacks, play some games, and fellowship with one another.  We’ll round out the evening with some Christmas Caroling.  So, mark your calendars.

Harps and songs forever sounding,
Worthy the Lamb;
Mighty grace o’er sin abounding,
Worthy the Lamb.
By His blood He dearly bought us;
Wand’ring from the fold He sought us,
And to glory safely brought us;
Worthy the Lamb.

Sermon Extras

Spurgeon, examining verse 6, said “To have Christ standing between God and man is the joy of every believing heart.”  What a beautiful observation from this great preacher!

As I noted in the message, these two chapters have always grabbed me when I read them.  There is so much here that is hard to understand.  Yet there is also much for us to gain.

Verse 8 refers to the 24 elders holding a harp and a golden bowl.  The text explains the bowls full of incense represent the prayers of the saints.  This maintains the understanding we receive from the Old Testament on the subject of the priests burning incense (think of the Altar of Incense in the Tabernacle).  But what of the harp?

Actually, the Old Testament does have certain references to harps which are interesting.  “David and the chief of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Juduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals” (1 Chronicles 25:1).  Elisha, one of the great prophets in Israel, said, “But now bring me a musician.  And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him” (2 Kings 3:15).  So, the ministry of prophecy, preaching the word of God, was connected to music, including the harp.  Therefore, perhaps the vision of John reveals that believers are priests offering up the prayers of the saints as well as those who proclaim the very Word of God.

“If you spurn the atoning blood of Jesus Christ in this life, you will never sing about it over there.”

Pastor’s Postscripts

Praise the Lord for all of our visitors yesterday.  It was a joy having them as well as a blessing to our heart!

By the way, as you leave the auditorium following a worship service, please look around and make certain you have all of your belongings.  This includes any containers, scrap paper, bulletins, etc.  By taking these items with you, it makes the cleaning of the auditorium an easier task as well as demonstrates good stewardship on our part.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a blessed week!  See you Sunday.