365 Days of Thanking God_ Cultivating a Heart of Thanksgiving Everyday (Revis...
May 20, 2009
1. T H E MA N C H E S T ER C H U R C H O F C H R I S T, MA N C H E S T ER, N H M a y 2 7 , 2009
THE BULLETIN
Leave a hole Manchester Church of Christ
66 Mammoth Rd.
Manchester, NH 03109
Ever wonder why life doesn’t make needs prayer or backup. 603.623.5559
sense or seem fulfilling at times? Are you mht_church@comcast.net
lacking an inner peace that remains behind Kami and I built this into our
closed doors? Maybe we should try leaving a children at an early age. We would often end www.mhtcoc.org
hole. This article written by Patrick Mead the day with two questions: “Where did you
has influenced and increased my walk with see Jesus today” & “What did you do for Jesus
God in magnificent ways, I pray it will do the today?” Elder’s Link: May
same for you.
Let me rephrase this: Make your life Larry Glass – 887-1741
necessary. When you die, as we all will, you
“A couple was furious with our can either fill a hole or leave one. It’s your larrycalling@yahoo.com
church. We had gone to see what happened to choice. I have no interest in filling a hole. I Lee Davis – 547-8876
them after someone noticed they had been have a great interest in leaving one. Make
gone from our worship assemble for some your life something that gives, serves, and ladnlad@comcast.net
time. ‘We are not coming back,’ the husband leads in such a way that when you are gone, it
said. ‘That is an unloving, cold church that matters!!! I ask my family, and myself ‘What If you have any concerns that the
claims to care about people but doesn’t.’ I difference did it make that you lived today? In elders should be aware of, or need
asked on what basis he made that judgment what way did you do something that would to speak to with them, please
and he replied, ‘We were gone four weeks have remained undone without you? Did your contact Lee or Larry this month.
before anyone even noticed. What kind of life matter today? Did you pray for someone
church doesn’t notice something like that?’ fervently? Did you sacrifice some money or
pleasure for another’s benefit? Our Worship Services
I replied, ‘What kind of person are
you, that you could be gone for four weeks and Did you look for those who have Sunday AM: 8:30 & 11:00
no one could tell?’ They were shocked by this been robbed and beaten by life and offer them
“attack” so I pressed on. ‘What work suffered everything you had to help them as did the Bible Class: 10:00
because you stopped your ministry? What Samaritan? Sunday PM: 6:00
mission field dried up because you withdrew
your funding, prayers, and support? Could it People ask me how we raised our Small Groups:
be that you never really were a part of the daughter to be such a sweet, dedicated, serving West Side Small Group: 6:15PM at
church? Could that be why your departure Christian and how we raised our son to be a
Doug Paul’s
was unnoticed?’ noble, honorable, courageous man who is
headed towards the officers ranks in the Merrimack Small Group: 6:00PM at
I tell people, and I mean it, that the Marine Corps. We challenged them to make Stuart Peacock’s
Rochester Church is the warmest, friendliest, each day an opportunity to make their life
and most talented congregation I have ever count. The gist of it all is this, everyone lives, Nashua Small Group: 6:00PM at Paul
worked with, but we don’t make it easy to be a but not everyone matters. Everyone dies, but Mosier's
member here. All who come to be a part of us most never lived for something bigger than
are called into the ministry and work of this themselves first. Everybody fills a hole at Wednesday PM Devotional/Bible
body. They are expected to give and live as death, but not everybody leaves one.” Classes: 7:00
disciples, to be deeply involved in our work,
and to be available to any other member who Serving the Son, News Items? Please submit before
Ryan 11AM each Tuesday.
This Sunday is the monthly elders' including communion, and then switch gears
pulpit Sunday. Rumor has it that Larry Glass to a Bible class forum and we'll discuss some
will be sharing God's word with us. Larry of the Biblical teachings behind the lyrics of
always brings an engaging and challenging some of our favorite hymns. I think we'll find
message, so be sure to come with an open our singing more meaningful and our spiritual
Bible, an open heart, and maybe a notepad to lives lifted higher.
get the most out of it.
Consider this one, for example:
This Sunday evening at the church “Anywhere with Jesus” -- what am I
building we'll enjoy a brief devotional service, professing when I sing it?
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2. T H E MA N C H E S T ER C H U R C H O F C H R I S T, MA N C H E S T ER, N H M a y 2 7 , 2009
“So then you are no longer strangers and
Our Family
aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the
saints, and are of God’s household,”
Ephesians 2:19, NAS95.
Coming up in May... This and that...
Youth rally meeting There will be a Encouragement needed The This God Can Do...
teen/volunteer/parent meeting following brothers and sisters If God can hang the stars on high,
in the double classroom during would appreciate your prayers,
Can paint the clouds that drift on by,
Bible class tonight to discuss calls and cards : Duane & Darby
Can swing the sun across the sky,
what needs to be done before Coss, Doreen Lee, Raysa De los
the rally. Santos, Penny Ranger and Linda What can He do for you?
Paul. If He can send a storm through space,
Youth Rally The Manchester youth
rally is quickly approaching!! Gander Brook's work and w0rship And dot with trees the mountain's face,
Mark your calendars for May week is scheduled for June 27 If He the sparrow's course can trace,
29th-31st. See Linda Paul if you through July 4. There is much What can He do for you?
are willing and able to house work to be done to get the camp
some teens. ready for the summer so please
If God can send us sunny days,
consider helping out. And nature from her slumber raise,
Registration forms are in the Till song birds lift their notes of praise,
foyer. What can He do for you?
What else?
Announcing the 24th annual If God can do all these things,
Work day Peter Steffensen has Can count each little bird that sings,
Northeastern States Men's
scheduled a work day here at the Control the universe that swings,
Retreat. It will be held in Kent,
building for June 6th to clean up What can He do for you?
Connecticut on June 12th & 13th.
the yard/parking lot and other
Please the poster in the foyer for
miscellaneous tasks. He also If God can bring sweet peace to me,
more details.
states that the garage next door By Christ, Who hung upon a tree,
needs re-roofed. And to my soul bring liberty,
Wednesday Night Menu
This He can do for you!
Wednesday Night Supper The
Wednesday Night Supper has tuna noodle casserole
---Glenn E. Wagoner
started up again. Please chicken
remember to sign up on the
sheet in the back of the salad
auditorium if you plan to attend.
dessert
Worship Leaders Prayer Concerns
Sunday, May 24, 8:30AM Scripture ..................... Gary D. Health: Doreen Lee, Pat Arel, Bill
Songs ......................... Doug P. Lord’s Supper ............. Pete S. Waisnor, Deniza Chase’s niece, Marge
Prayers ....................Ken B. & Larry G. Coordinator ................ Pete S. Simon, Penny Ranger, Manley Jones,
Scripture .................... Mike M. Michael Anderson's brother
Lord’s Supper ............ Stuart P. Sunday, May 24, 6:00PM Leadership: Ministers, Elders,
Coordinator ............... Ken B. Songs............................Mark E. Deacons
Evangelism: Bible studies in
Sunday, May 24, 11:00AM Wednesday, May 27, 7:00PM
progress, our website, MNFM, food
Songs ........................ Gerry M. Songs.......................... Mark C.
pantry, Give Away Day
Prayers ....................David S. & Barry F.
Return to the Lord: Brethren who
have forsaken the assembly
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5. T H E MA N C H E S T ER C H U R C H O F C H R I S T, MA N C H E S T ER, N H M a y 2 7 , 2009
A B rief C riti q u e o f
An g e l s a n d De m o n s
I started reading Dan some) demand it. And sometimes and intellect. Neither God nor man
Brown's Angels & Demons recently even Christians buy it. Yet, the truth are served well by either extreme.
in anticipation of the public's is that all truth – scientific On the other hand, God and man,
probable interest due to his first historical, moral, technological, or faith and science, are served very
movie, The Da Vinci Code and the whatever – is God's truth – He well by a rational reading of and
numerous false teachings that he created every one of them: matter, obedience to the Lord's inspired
promoted and lent credance to energy, and the laws that govern word, the Bible.
through it. I wanted to be familiar them.
with this latest movie from a book, I confess I don't know
so I could be prepared with Don't misunderstand me, I enough about particle physics to
informed answers, when the do not believe in evolution (a theory know how plausible the idea is of
questions came. Now that I've only). As Dan Brown himself wrote: creating matter / anti-matter as
plowed through it, I'd like to offer a “Science and religion are not at found in Brown's book. But even
quick Christian critique. odds. Science is simply too young to here, I don't know that Brown is
understand.” And I think that when trying to claim that we can have the
As in The Da Vinci Code, science grows up, it will accept the creative power of God. As the joke
Brown emphasizes a religious mounting evidence against goes:
conspiracy theme to generate evolution. But the question for the
interest. One of my first criticisms of Christian should not be whether A thousand years from now,
Angels and Demons is the repetition scientific inquiry should be allowed, when scientists have solved all
of a familiar theme: “religious but whether (1) the means of inquiry the questions that plague
people are really some of the worst is proper and moral (e.g., Nazi humanity, they are finally ready
for the ultimate challenge. They
sinners” and “scientists are really experiments were patently
elect a representative to address
the good guys”, themes that have inhumane and immoral; not every God.
become common fare these days in experiment is noble and worthy of
the media. [Spoiler warning] The carte blanche permission to “God,” says the scientist in
bad guy in this movie/book turns proceed), and (2) the discoveries charge, “You are no longer
needed. You served a function in
out to be a misguided religious can be used morally and wisely. Just
Your day, but that day is gone.
zealot who mistakes his emotions as because something can be done, We can do everything that You
God's own voice – certainly a doesn't mean it should be done. And can do, so goodbye.”
warning to all who seek to follow the where the ragged edges of morality
Lord. But it does rankle me that this are approached, men need to There is a moment of silence.
Then a voice booms out of the
theme continues to be used by exercise moral caution.
sky: “Everything?”
Brown and others.
But one last observation on “Yes,” answers the scientist,
On the other hand, it did Angels and Demons: although “everything.”
raise a good point that I think is Brown likes to take his shots at the “Can you make a human being
worth making mention of, since we religious zealot who opposes science from dust?”
must face the world daily with regardless of the good it could do,
“Absolutely.”
answers for the hope that lies within there's little criticism of the scientific
us – science and religion don't need zealot who wouldn't believe in God, “OK,” says God, “let me see you
to be at such odds. if God were to come up and shake make a human being.”
hands with them. A criticism of The scientist reaches down and
There is a pervasive zealotry should go both ways. digs his hands into the earth.
perception in the world and among Scientific zealots empty the world of
“Oh, no,” says God. “Get your
Christians that God and science are God, of meaning, of morality, of own dust.”
simply incompatible, that religious salvation, of hope, of eternity.
people are anti-science, and that you Religious, anti-science zealots may Park Linscomb
cannot hold on to both. Political rob the world of the benefits of the
parties claim it, the media promotes ingenuity and progress God has
it, and a lot of teachers (I've had made possible by giving us curiosity
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6. T H E MA N C H E S T ER C H U R C H O F C H R I S T, MA N C H E S T ER, N H M a y 2 7 , 2009
Our Congregational Calendar
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Bible class 7PM
Happy Happy Birthday:
Anniversary: Karl Davies
Brandon &
Veronika Hombs
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Bible class 7PM
Happy Happy Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday:
Anniversary: Anniversary: Veronika Hombs Happy Birthday: Mandy Hazelton Faith Hazelton
Jim & Darlene Rick & Sharon Rick Gordon
Cordaro Gordon Happy
Dave & Lenore Anniversary:
MacKinnon Peter & Debbie
Lauzon
T ee n N e w s Y o u n g A d u l ts
Are you ready for the youth rally?!!
• Ask Ryan what you can do to help!!
Our Statistics
Sunday Morning Worship (combined) 137
Contribution $3,007.66
T h e M a n c h es te r c h u r c h o f C h rist
66 M a m m o t h R d.
M a n c h es te r, N H 03109
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