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THE VOL. 78, NO. 7–JULY 2015
Office Hours:Monday–Wednesday9:00 am–12:00 [email protected]
Pastor’s Office Hours:Monday–Wednesday
9:30 am–12:00 pm309.644.0293
THE COST OF FREEDOM
DON'T SETTLE FOR A SMALL
DESTINY
The Greatest Purchace Ever Made
God's Plan Is Bigger Than We Know
POTHOLESThose Familiar Bumps
In The Road
FOCUSA family friendly publication of Memorial Christian Church
The Focus–2 July 2015 July 2015 3–The Focus
CRAFT CIRCLETuesdays at 9:30 am
At the Worship Center
PRAISE BAND PRACTICETuesdays at 6:00 pm
At the Worship Center
BIBLE STUDYSaturdays at 7:30 am
At the Worship Center
MIGSWednesday, July 1st at 6:30 pm
At the Worship Center
INDEPENDENCE DAYSaturday, July 4th
Have a Happy & Safe Day!
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETINGMonday, July 6th at 6:30 pm
At the Worship Center
UNITY CIRCLEWednesday, July 15th at 1:00 pm
At the Worship Center
WINGSWednesday, July 15th at 6:30 pm
At the Worship Center
ELDERS’ MEETINGMonday, July 20th at 6:30 pm
At the Worship Center
Chuck is MCC’s Senior Pastor. He has over 30 years of experience as a Pastor and Church Planter. His messages are always relevant and down-to-earth as they apply the Bible’s teachings to our lives today.
“YOU SEE, THE EMPTY TOMB
IS THE SIGN OF ULTIMATE FREEDOM.”
“GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD; HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.”
(PSALM 107:1)
MCC STAFF
JULYEVENTS
Chuck Dorsey Pastor & Focus Editor Bobby Pinkston Worship Leader Carol Burns Church Historian Rodney Millington Creative Director Jenny Beck Bookkeeper
THE COST OFFREEDOM
The Greatest Purchace Ever MadeLes came back from World War II without one arm and missing several fingers on the other hand. He has carried the price tag of freedom in his own body ever since. He is like so many who are among us who purchased and preserved our freedom at great cost.
It is a cost they can never forget because they bear on their bodies and their psyches the horrors of war But Les came back Tens of thousands of others never came back from World War II, or Korea, or Viet Nam The bombing in Saudi Arabia is just another reminder that the vigilance and cost of freedom is high The old Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young line is true: “Find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground ” On Independence Day, July 4th, let’s remember that cost!
There was a war for the entire human race in which freedom was purchased This freedom was purchased at great cost as well But unlike the freedom purchased for Americans, the symbol of that cost is not a hillside of white crosses or the Tomb of the Unknown or a black wall of names As precious as these symbols are, they do not compare to the symbol of the Empty Tomb This symbol transcends ethnic and national boundaries
The Empty Tomb is the symbol of the cost of true freedom for all people—the cost of Jesus leaving the security and power of heaven and becoming earthbound and mortal It is the symbol of the degradation of a crucifixion and mocking and agonizing death on a cross and three days in the ground But the words to this tune are different “Find the cost of freedom, no longer in the ground ”
You see, the Empty Tomb is the sign of ultimate freedom It is the reminder that we no longer have to fear death All of our mortal fears are conquered As the apostle Paul says, “Death has been swallowed up in victory: Oh Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?”
For the Christian, Independence Day doesn’t come once a year, but every week The early Christians met on the first day of the week, Sunday, to take of the Lord’s Supper This is their Independence Day By the end of the first century, Sunday had become the Lord’s Day On this day they remembered the Lord’s death and anticipated his return because freedom from death had been won Independence Day is the day of the Empty Tomb! So as each Sunday approaches, let’s remember the cost of our freedom and give thanks!
2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
“Now the Lord is the Spirit,
and where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is freedom.”
GET YOUR JESUS
AND JAVA
ONResuming InSeptember
The Focus–4 July 2015 July 2015 5–The Focus
MODERATOR’SMOMENT
While driving along the African road, I focus my attention about 100 yards ahead. This allows me to watch for major obstacles such as dead cars, cows, or fallen trees. However, it also causes me from time to time to hit some small potholes.
Those Familiar Bumps In The RoadA Youthful Future
"ON THOSE DAYS FILLED WITH POTHOLES, I
FIND IT ALL THE MORE NECESSARY TO START
WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE."
Our goal at MCC is to attract young families, and help them become disciples of Christ Young adults and children have grown up in a fast paced world Communication for them is via smart phones, iPads and computers
The Council saw a video this week that gave this example: Take a VBS (Vacation Bible School) program that would normally last five days, and deliver it to the Youth on Sunday in one hour This is the pace they are used to
As long as the subject is relevant to them in their everyday lives; speaking of young adults and children, and something that is deemed to be useful, they may or may not come back for more Young adults are looking for some meaningful instruction with problems of everyday life, and they like having the option of whether or not to take it
We have made many changes to try to appeal to young families and children, and we'll be doing more
So, where do we older adults fit into this picture? I think the majority of us have a positive nature We are awesome 'encouragers'! Many times we can say we've been there or done that It gives us the advantage of understanding and patience We already know "this too, shall pass" We are an incomparable asset to the Church Family We are mentors and friends Let's continue to keep ourselves open to change Most of all, be welcoming to all the new families we will be seeing
These young families are our future!
Love to you All, Linda
POTHOLES
As I discussed this with my traveling companion, she pointed out that different types of roads dictate how far into the future we can see The smoother the road, the farther down it we can look A rough road demands that we focus our attention immediately in front of the vehicle To be a good driver, I must train myself to be aware of both the near and the distant
So, too, in my life I am on a road whose surface changes with the circumstances around me Some days go along smoothly The road is wide, flat, and clear I am able to focus on both my earthly responsibilities as well as my time with the Lord
Other days are filled with the potential potholes of rough relationships, difficulties at the office, or overwhelming temptations I swerve around trying to avoid them I focus on the potholes and my eternal perspective suffers
I take encouragement and instruction from the writer of Proverbs: “Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you Watch the path of your feet, and
all your ways will be established Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil ” (Proverbs 4:25-27)
On those days filled with potholes, I find it all the more necessary to start with an eternal perspective How can I keep my foot from turning if I don’t know where I am going? ~ by Faithe Thomas[Faithe Finley Thomas lived as a missionary in Ghana, West Africa for six
years Her book "Staying in the Breeze" is a thoughtful reflection of some of
her experiences http://www fatsheep org/articles/devotionals/potholes php]
HAPPYINDEPENDENCE
DAYSaturday, July 4th
NOTICELOYAL CRUSADERS ANNUAL ICE CREAM SOCIAL
The Loyal Crusaders will not be hosting their Annual Ice Cream Social at Lincoln Park this Summer It has become too difficult to do without additional help Many of you are probably not aware of how much our Youth have benefited due to Loyal Crusaders fundraising efforts It has been ongoing over the years This Summer we are asking for donations of what you would have given; money for pies, supplies, ice cream Those of you in the Congregation who would like to donate towards this, please let one of us know Your help is much appreciated
The Focus–6 July 2015 July 2015 7–The Focus
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31 1
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
July
Bible Study7:30 am
Bible Study7:30 am
Bible Study7:30 am
Elders’ Meeting6:30 pm Worship Center
Craft Circle9:30 amPraise Band6:00 pm
Craft Circle9:30 amPraise Band6:00 pm
Craft Circle9:30 amPraise Band6:00 pm
Craft Circle9:30 amPraise Band6:00 pm
Church Council Meeting6:30 pm Worship Center
MIGS6:30 pm Worship Center
Unity Circle1:00 pm WinGS6:30 pm Worship Center
Independence Day7:30 am Bible Study7:30 am
The Focus–8 July 2015 July 2015 9–The Focus
"EVERY MAN SHALL GIVE AS HE IS ABLE, ACCORDING
TO THE BLESSING OF THE LORD YOUR GOD WHICH
HE HAS GIVEN YOU."DEUTERONOMY 16:17
CraftCircleMeeting Every Tuesday@ 9:30 am
DON'T SETTLE FORA SMALL DESTINY
God's Plan Is Bigger Than We KnowWe re-define ourselves according to our catastrophes. As a result, we settle for a small destiny!
Think you've lost it all? You haven't. The truth is that God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty — never canceled, never rescinded (Romans 11:29, MSG).
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS. Your boss calls you into the office As kind as it sounds, a layoff is a layoff
How will I pay the bills? Who's going to hire me?
Dread dominates your thoughts
But then you remember your destiny
What do I have that I cannot lose?
Wait a second — I am still God's child My life is more than this life God will make something good out of this I will work hard, stay faithful, and trust Him — no matter what
BINGO! You just trusted your destiny Another victory for God It begins with a yes to God's call on your life!
Joseph was stripped of his identity, thrown into a pit, and sold as a slave His was a story of apparent defeat and insurmountable challenges Yet as time passed, God worked through his circumstances to bring redemption and reconciliation for him and his family and deliverance for the people of God Although it may seem hard to believe, with God's help, you can get through your difficulties, too The story of Joseph's life didn't end in the pit and neither does yours ~ By Max Lucado
[http://www heartlight org/articles/201506/20150613_settlesmalldestiny html]
Monday, July 6thCouncil Mtg, 6:30 pm
Monday, July 20th6:30 pm
WATERTOWNFOOD PANTRYFOOD DRIVE
BRING YOUR NON-PERISHABLE
FOOD ITEMS TO DONATE
CHRISTIAN CARE
FOOD DRIVE
BRING YOUR NON-PERISHABLE
FOOD ITEMS TO DONATE
The Focus–10 July 2015 July 2015 11–The Focus
CELEBRATIONS SERVANTOF THE MONTH
SERVINGSCHEDULETHOUGHTS
ANDPRAYERS
Anniversaries & Birthdays
Donald& Donna Long July 6th - 57yrs
Gerald & Barbara Stinocher July 7th - 25yrs
Jesse & Melba Andereck July 10th - 60yrs
Don & Margaret Simmons July 25th - 62yrs
Marley Devoss July 10th
Bob Pinkston July 11th
Crystal Cutkomp July 18th
Pat Marksburry July 20th
Michelle Ricker July 21st
Amy Thomas July 22nd
Mary Lundy July 24th
Scott Clark July 29th
Anna Sayers , The Hall Family, Jerry & Barb Stinocher, Ava Hall, Carolyn Haskins, Noah Lue, Waine Yeater, Amelia Whitworth, Sylvia Larssen, Ella Williams, Nellie Porter, Janice Conover, Ginny Blake, Wanda Pike, Linda Roller, Bob Engelman, Darry & Colleen Kannenberg, Dan and Christine Koester, Joanne Kline, Lynette Cameron, Peggy Walker, Loretta Smith, Cyndee Browner, Wade Rogers, Cecil Dorsey, Matt, Ava, Andy Simmons, Jacque Brandom, Crystal Raun, Shirley Rudd, Joan Shewell, Earl & Charlene Dreon, Evelyn Day, Collin LeVan, Julie Rind, Charles York, Hazel Anderson, and to all of those that are not on our Prayer List that are in need of your prayers
We have recently updated our prayer list, if you or anyone you know would like to be added to our Prayer List or those who would like a “Home Visit”, please contact the Church office
Please remember these in your prayers:
MARGARET LAGEOur servant of the month is someone we all know! She's a hard worker; always there, and quietly working behind the scenes Personally, Linda Swartz is so pleased to say that she is her "Mom" (adopted)! Margaret Lage!! We love you!
TABLE ELDERLinda Swartz
MEDITATION ELDERLaurie Peters
COMMUNION PREPARERSCrystal CutkompPat Kuehl
HOME-BOUND COMMUNIONPat Kuehl
FIRST IMPRESSIONSMary MillingtonPlease Volunteer
CONNECTIONS CAFÉKim DorseyLinda Miller
VAN DRIVERJohn Allison
“A SPIRITUAL GIFT IS GIVEN TO EACH OF US SO WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER.”
(1 CORINTHIANS 12:7, NLT)
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