SPRINGFIELD

This Sunday, Shirley and I are with the Brookline Church in the Springfield, MO area.  I am scheduled to preach at all services.  This is the church where Alma and Hillard Story work and worship.  Hillard is one of the elders.  You know something about their preacher, Tony Gentry, because a few months ago he spent a Sunday with us and preached and did an outstanding job.  The Brookline Church is some five or six years old and it has grown since its beginning.  Also other churches of Christ have grown in the Springfield area. 

THANKS

We want to take this opportunity to thank R.A. Pendergrass for all the good work he has done and is doing in leading us (church) in the Family and Youth Ministry.  Also we appreciate the wonderful way that parents are helping and encouraging the work.  I am sure with all your work and a busy schedule that it is hard for you to find time for all you do, but you only have your young people at home for a few years so make the most of every opportunity to be a blessing to your children and others.  Few Churches of Christ in this part, if any, have more young people than we have at Central.  Lasting memories are being made that will be with our young people for a lifetime.  This church is blessed with so many great and good people.  Let’s give the Lord our praise.

LISA CHEZEM

Some weeks ago Lisa Chezem was looking for someone to give her a little “time off” from teaching on Sunday morning.  Lisa teaches the one and two year old children and I must say that she does a wonderful job.  The last account I had, she had not gotten anyone to help.  If you can help it would be greatly appreciated.  If you are interested then talk with Lisa or talk with Jim or Lee Laughary.  Central is blessed with many good teachers, but as needed, let’s all help in any way that we can.  There is something that you can do.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

In my files I found the following information about Sunday School:  In 1780, in Gloucester, England, Robert Raikes organized classes to be taught in homes on Sunday and in 1791, Sunday schools began in the United States.  The first teachers in Philadelphia were schoolteachers who were hired to teach on Sundays.  In addition to the Bible and reading, writing and arithmetic, they taught good manners and good behavior.  Records indicate that memorization of Bible verses was a popular activity.  The three R’s were taught in Sunday school because free public schools had not yet come into existence. Perhaps today Churches of Christ have some of the best Bible schools that can be found anywhere.  Let’s continue to do a good job in teaching the young and old.

FIFTY-TWO

There are only fifty-two Sundays each year and every First Day of the Week should be a special time for every Christian.  It is a time to sing, pray, preach, commune with the Lord at the Table and make an offering.  Also, if you can, then come on Sunday evening.  There are some classes for young people and in the main auditorium we have a Sunday-Evening-Bible-Time.  Bring your Bible as we study a topic of interest.  Be in your place every week.  Come with a Bible in your hand and a spring in your step and a smile on your face.