bulletin, 4-23-19

1. 4
Hugh
Vol. 44 April 23, 2019 Number 15
ELDERS
Mike Childers..............397-6453
Dennis Hallmark .........255-5557
Mark Hitt.....................322-0917
Bobby Lindley.............260-9193
DEACONS
Wade Bryan.................419-5552
William Harris.............416-8149
Ricky Lindsey .............255-8136
Jeff Mansel..................871-0357
Jimmy Spearman.........840-8957
Michael Wilson ...........891-0891
PREACHER
Barry Kennedy ... (931)787-7108
SECRETARY
Renee Childers
Office...........................842-6116
Fax...............................842-7091
E-MAIL
eastmaincoc38804@gmail.com
WEB PAGE
eastmaincoc.com
SUNDAY SERVICES
Worship....................... 9:00 a.m.
Bible Classes............. 10:15 a.m.
Worship..................... 11:15 a.m.
Singing or Devotional
Last Sunday of the Month
MID-WEEK
SERVICES
Wednesday Classes .....7:00 p.m.
EAST MAIN CHURCH OF CHRIST
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)

2. Do I Survey the
Wondrous Cross?
Barry Kennedy
The story is told of a father and his teenage
son having a conversation while coming home from
their worship services. The father informed his son
about how disappointed he was that his son was not
singing during the song service. The son responded
that the songs they used in worship were “boring
and out of date.” The father, trying to silence his
teen, encouraged his son to write his own songs if
he could do better. The father vowed, if he did then
they would use his sons’ songs in worship. With
this challenge leveled, the young man began to
write religious songs and continued to do so for
over two years. One of the songs he composed is
“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” The young
man’s name was Isaac Watts.
1
Look through your
song book sometime and consider how many songs
we sing which were written by Isaac Watts.
It has been said that the song “When I
Survey the Wondrous Cross” is the first time that
the personal pronoun “I” was ever used in worship
songs. True or not, the profound meaning of these
words should touch the heart of every Christian
both now and forever. Notice the first verse: “When
I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince
of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and
pour contempt on all my pride.” Can we actually
“survey” the cross, contemplating all that goes
along with that death, and come away proud of our
own accomplishments (Luke 17:10; Galatians 3:13;
1 Peter 2:24)? The cross was an instrument of death,
reserved for the vilest of criminals. “The
punishment was meted out for such crimes as
treason, desertion in the face of the enemy, robbery,
piracy, assassination, sedition, etc.”
2
This is the
death our Prince of glory chose to suffer.
“Therefore, doth the Father love me, because I lay
down my life, that I may take it again. No one taketh
it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it
again. This commandment received I from my
Father” (Luke 10:17, 18). This sacrifice is the
greatest expression of love that has ever been
displayed. It is impossible to show more love than
accepting death for another’s crime/sin (John
15:13).
We live in a nation where the “sky is the
limit” when it comes to opportunities for
advancement. However, when we truly survey the
death of Jesus, pride is turned into contempt.
Contempt is the result of realizing that our sins put
Jesus on that cross. Everything that we are and hope
to become revolves around God and His sacrifice.
“For in Him we live, and move, and have our
being” (Acts 17:28). The question is, do we count
our richest gains as a loss, when compared to all
that Christ has said and done? Where our treasures
are determines where our hearts are going to be
focused (Matthew 6:21).
Isaac Watts was having a hard time in his
teen years finding the heart and focus needed to
worship God acceptably (John 4:24). The changes
he made were not self-indulgent, but more of an
attempt to give heart to his worship and adoration to
the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It only takes a
few moments of serious contemplation of the lyrics
Mr. Watts penned to see that Christ and not Mr.
Watts, was his true focal point. When we choose to
survey that wondrous cross, on which our Lord
suffered for six long hours, endured
shame/humiliation, bled profusely, and eventually
died, we are left with no choice to say, “I count my
gain but loss.”
God chose this plan of redemption in order
that you and I might choose the right path and live
(Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus said, “I am THE way,
THE truth, and THE life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). On which path are
we? Survey the wondrous cross and see if it does
not change you and your attitude toward
worshipping the Almighty God.
References
1
“A Song is Born” by Robert Taylor, p. 213.
2
“ISBE” E-Sword electronic Bible program.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visitation Team #4
Visitation Team #4, Mike Ratliff’s team, will meet
briefly after services in Room 10 this Sunday, April
28. There will be no meal.
Community Outreach Item
for March:
Washing powders or liquid

3. Our Week at Maywood is
July 14-20.
Please go online today and register if
you have not already done so.
maywoodchristiancamp.com
Cost is $180
Daily Bible Reading
April 24...........................................2 Chronicles 10-12 2 Samuel 11-12
April 25...........................................2 Chronicles 13-16
April 26...........................................2 Chronicles 17-20
April 27...........................................2 Chronicles 21-25
April 28...........................................2 Chronicles 26-28
April 29...........................................2 Chronicles 29-32
April 30...........................................2 Chronicles 33-36
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Willie Topp (Apr. 24), Russell
Deaton (Apr. 26), Greg Hughes (Apr. 26), Sarah
Smith (Apr. 26), Shawn Mounce (Apr. 27),
McKenna Lindsey (Apr. 28).
Anniversaries: Bobby Joe & Brenda Lindley (Apr. 24).
Our Sick
Nancy Haywood continues in room 273 at NMMC.
Jean Mounce is in room 6608 at NMMC. Sarah
Grubbs, Mark Hitt & Lori Sheffield’s grandmother,
has been moved to Sanctuary Hospice House. Bobby
Goff, Patsy Nichols’ brother, is home from the
hospital for now. He’ll undergo bypass surgery soon.
Steve Kelly is healing slowly from his foot surgery.
Mike Bryan, Wade’s brother, had a heart cath last
week at Vanderbilt. Jill Rice, Debbie Vines’ mother,
continues at the Sanctuary Hospice House. Weston
Agnew, Lauren Long’s friend, had his prosthetic eye
put in Monday at Memphis. Dennis Smith is in
NMMC with a blood clot in his lung. Marlon & Gail
Geno’s great-granddaughters, Penny Lane & Lola
Geno, are very sick with strep throat, and blood work
revealed Penny Lane has diabetes.
On-Going Illnesses
Laverne Raper, Frankie Estes, Donny Dulaney, Adam
McCurley, Linda McCurley, Mary Jordan, Bretta
Robinson, James Goddard, Bill Goff, Tommy Goff,
James Nichols, Sheba Tuggers, Sherry Gregory, Nathan
Hale, Leroy Brown, Jadon Parish, Carol Nichols, Jerry
Smith, Mitch Maclean, Lee Graham, Randy Groover
Nursing Homes/Assisted
Living
Randy Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern,
Veona Harris
High School Graduates’
Luncheon
We will honor our High
School graduates on
Sunday, May 19 at noon
following worship services
in the multipurpose room
with a luncheon. Everyone is encouraged to bring
food and stay to congratulate these youth on this
milestone in their lives. This year’s high school
graduates at East Main are Tyler Barnette, Ethan
Benefield, Madi Harris, Josh Kennedy, John Mounce,
Bryce Roby, Britton Smith and Ian Willis.
Maywood Christian Camp
Bake Sale
The annual bake sale for
Maywood Christian Camp
will be held on Friday,
May 3 at the Walmart in
Hamilton, AL. Boxes will
soon be on the table in the
foyer for you to put your
cakes and cookies in. Hilda Ratliff will be carrying
them over that morning. You may also make a
monetary donation if you prefer.
Mark Your Calendar
East Main’s VBS
June 2-5

4. Go Into All the World
“IN CHRIST ALONE...”
June 7th-8th
Please register at eastmaincoc.com ASAP!
Speakers: Eric Owens, Joe Wells, Jonathan Bates & Harrison Moran
This camp is for ages 13-22 and is being hosted by the East Main Church of Christ, 1606 East
Main St., Tupelo, MS 38804. Please see Josh or Barry Kennedy for more information.
Men to Serve Sunday, Apr. 28, 2019 a.m.
Announcements..............................Dennis Hallmark
Bible Reading..............................Hunter Underwood
Opening Prayer .........................................Tim Davis
Lord’s Supper
Greg Hughes & Mike Childers
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Larry Presley, Sam Hood, Joe Smith
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Wesley Bass, Josh Kennedy, Jake Kennedy
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer.......................................Harold Roby
Ushers .....................Jason Dickinson & Lee DuBois
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer ................................Michael Wilson
Closing Prayer.....................................Scott Childers
Lead Singing...................................... Josh Kennedy
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Prayer..................................................Jake Kennedy
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Contact Ricky Lindsey (255-8136) if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters .................................Jeff & Natalie Mansel
.......................................Larry & Judy Bates
Prepare Lord’s Supper—April..........................Mark
& Carrie Hitt
Nursery................. Debbie Vines & Sherry Kingsley
Pantry.................................................... Canned fruit
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 4-17-19..............................................153
Sunday 1st
Worship, 4-21-19 ...............................238
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................209
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................194
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$7,525