Pat's Notes

FAMILY LIFE

In my early life and as a small boy, I listened to my dad tell about a little boy who was always wanting something from his mom and dad.  One day they asked, “Why do you want something all the time?”  Time passed and the little fellow got sick and died and he never asked his mom and dad for another thing.  It is true that a church that is trying to do things is always in need of money and things. That is good because that is an indication that the church is alive and active.

57 PENNIES

 Based on what is supposed to be a true story, somebody has written the following:  “Hattie Wiatt, a little girl, came to a small Sunday School and asked to be taken in, but it was explained there was no room for her.  In less than two years, she became ill and slipped away in death and no one guessed her strange little secret until beneath her pillow was found a torn pocketbook with fifty-seven pennies in it, wrapped in a scrap of paper on which was written, ‘To help build the Temple bigger, so that more children can go to Sunday School.’  For two years she had saved her pennies for the cause which was nearest her heart. The minister of the small church told the incident to the congregation and the people began making donations for its enlargement.  The papers carried the story and within 5 years, those 57 pennies had grown to be $250,000 and today in Philadelphia can be seen a large church building seating 3300, a college with accommodations for more than 1400 students, a hospital and a Sunday School building large enough so that all who wish may come and be comfortable.  A little girl’s unselfishness motivated a church with her 57 pennies!”

MENNINGER

 A man by the name of Karl Menninger gave a speech and in part of the message he said, “Giving  money is a very good criterion, in a way, of a person’s mental health.  Generous people are rarely mentally ill people.  On the other hand, let’s not get critical of some of our stingy friends.  Remember that stinginess is an illness.  Stinginess is a symptom of some kind of fear, so that they don’t dare give of themselves even if they have money.  They might run out.  My dear friends, of course you are going to run out.  You can’t take it with you!  I don’t know how many hundreds of my patients are now asleep in the graveyard, leaving behind them far more money than they could handle.”

 CONCLUSION 

In some sense all that you give is giving to the Lord but never think of your giving as -just being your money.  Remember a part of what 2 Corinthians 8:5  says of some in the First Century is that they first gave themselves to the Lord.  Your life and my life are to be a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1).  We need to rejoice and be glad that we can do good to all men and especially to the ones of the church family.  In a special way, Christians can share their love and gratitude to and for the Lord as we gather to worship on the First Day of the Week.  Be here to be blessed and to be a blessing.  Come with a Bible in your hand and a spring in your step and a smile on your face.  I’ll look for you in your place.

-Pat Casey

From R.A. ……………….Opportunities

• One Sunday night each month the teenagers will have a devotional activity, followed by food and fellowship.  Our hope is that all of our teens will take advantage of these special nights and that they will invite a friend.  Teens from the other local congregations will be welcome guests.   The Cozorts, Kings and Czerwonkas are hosting the next three months respectively.  See any of them for more details. 
• October 24th will be the next area wide youth rally and it will be at Gainesville.  It is in the plans to have an area wide youth rally at least 4 times yearly.  I am learning that some congregations have only 1or 2 or maybe 0 teens.  All of us need to pray that more families will see the need to have Christ and church as a part of families.
• October 2nd will be the youth activity for grades 3 through 6.   Suggestions for how to make this a great activity event are welcome.
• Are you looking for a way to help a young person, just be friends with one, or share your faith or life experiences with them?  Here are some suggestions.
  1. Work with the Children’s Bible Class (Children’s Church) on Sunday morning. These 3 to 6 year olds need you and you might  need them.  See Dani Cozort.
  2. Teach a Sunday School Class one quarter (or more) per year. See Jim or Lee Laughary.
  3. Talk to two or three young people at each service.  Just a quick conversation could mean a lot to them.
  4. Bring a youngster to church with you.  Maybe a neighbor child, a relative, or a co-worker’s child needs an invite and a ride.  A hamburger afterwards is almost always appreciated.
• Keep praying and working toward the goal of having a full-time youth and family minister at Central.

-R.A. Pendergrass