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Vol. 46 August 24, 2021 Number 32
HOW BRIGHT IS YOUR LIGHT?
Barry Kennedy
Many people have a fascination with lighthouses. That is easily
proven by going to almost any home décor store. It will not take one long
to find either a figurine, painting, or such depicting the mighty lighthouse.
Lighthouses are far more than just a decorative fixture to be set upon some
coastline. For centuries lighthouses have helped direct sailors safely to the
shore. I personally love the lure of lighthouses. Their beauty coupled with
their usefulness, in my humble opinion, is a wonder to behold. Consider
some historical facts concerning lighthouses:
The design of the lighthouse light as we know it today,
originated at the beginning of the 18th Century. The French
inventor Augustin Fresnel had correctly deduced that light
was pure energy that traveled in waves, and he then spent
his life developing lenses and reflectors that could capture
and concentrate light. The first lighthouse optics that he
designed combined highly polished prisms with an array of
lenses that captured light and concentrated it back into a
main beam. The design was concentric in arrangement,
funneling the light into a beam that was many times brighter
than its source. This light could be seen for more than 20
miles. Fresnel’s design of concentric glass rings to
concentrate light is still used today in the production of
automobile headlights, traffic signals and projectors. Many
of today’s lighthouses have a system of rotating lenses, and
the newer ones flash off and on as a way of conserving
energy. https://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/lighthouse.html
Clearly, a lighthouse would be of very little benefit to any sailor if its
beam could scarcely be seen. In like manor, God expects His children to be
lighthouses, directing souls to the shores of salvation. Jesus said, “Ye are the
light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all
that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
--article continued page 2--
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
MINISTERS
Barry Kennedy....(931)787-7108
Alex Blackwelder (731)879-9196
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 class..................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.
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)

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--article continued from page 1—
Are we confident that our light is bright
enough to bring lost souls to salvation’s shore?
The only way to truly answer such a question
is to know what it means to let our light shine.
Surely, no one would think this means that we
are to get a flashlight, candle, or a lantern of
some sort and guide people around at night.
No, Jesus was speaking of our spiritual lights.
Spiritual light has to do with living one’s life
following the example of Jesus. “For even
hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered
for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow
his steps:” (1 Peter 2:21). Many people are
professing that they know Jesus and that they
are following Him, but sadly their lives seldom
correspond with the true Jesus of the Bible.
Many see Jesus as one who just overlooks sin,
loves so much that He would never punish
anyone, etc. Have they ever read John 2:15? It
is impossible to know the God of the Bible,
Jesus of the Bible, the Holy Spirit of the Bible,
or how to be the light of the world without His
Bible (Psalm 119:105).
Souls are drifting to and frow, lost on
the sea of life, and swiftly heading toward the
rocky shore called judgment. God’s light is
bright enough to direct us safely to that
Heavenly shore. If you are following that light,
how bright is it being reflected by you? How
bright is your light? The world desperately
needs us. To God be the glory!
~~~~~~~~~
New Movers’ Baskets
This month’s New
Movers’ Baskets are on the
table in the foyer. Please take
a name, a basket to deliver,
and an instruction sheet.
This is a wonderful way to
invite newcomers in the
community to East Main. There are only 4 baskets
left. Thanks to everyone for their help.
Wedding
Clayton Long & Savanna
Bell’s wedding ceremony
scheduled for this Saturday,
Aug. 28 has been canceled due
to Savanna’s parents, David and
April Bell, testing positive for
the Coronavirus. Please keep them in your prayers.
Thank You Note
Words cannot express how much the calls, texts,
cards, plant, drives to Florence, but especially the
prayers, meant to me and my family. It has been
overwhelming! What a wonderful family to be a
part of here at East Main. Please continue to keep
us, especially my dad, in your prayers.
Missy Nichols
& The Clara McClure family
Widowhood Workshop
The New Albany congregation is hosting a
Widowhood Workshop this Saturday & Sunday,
Aug. 28-29, at the church building. Dean Miller will
be the speaker. Session times are 10:00 a.m. until
3:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
on Sunday. A flyer is posted on the bulletin board
across from the library.
A House Is Not a Home
A house is not a home; it is many things.
It is a kitchen stove on which a kettle sings.
It is a table set with care and loving thought
Where conversations dear and fellowships are wrought.
It is a well-worn chair beneath shaded light
Or perhaps a cherished book by a log fire at night.
It is a quiet place for prayer or for rest,
Or just to be alone when aloneness is best.
A home is not a house, but it is several things
Within high walls of love where contentment clings.
—Anonymous
By House to House Heart to Heart, Archive 3548

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Daily Bible Reading
August 25............................................ Ezekiel 37-39
August 26............................................ Ezekiel 40-43
August 27............................................ Ezekiel 44-48
August 28..................................................Daniel 1-3
August 29..................................................Daniel 4-6
August 30..................................................Daniel 7-9
August 31..............................................Daniel 10-12
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Adaline Bates (Aug. 26), Easton
DuBois (Aug. 27), Connie Kingsley (Aug.
27), J. J. Reed (Aug. 27). Anniversaries:
Terry & Sherry Kingsley (Aug. 31).
Our Sick
James Simmons continues in room 384 at
NMMC. He is feeling better and will be moved to
The Meadows one day this week for therapy. Lee
DuBois is recuperating from foot surgery. Debbie
Hallmark is home having a lot of pain in her hip.
Star Ray is recuperating from knee replacement
surgery. Maggie Simineau is home with a broken
arm. Karen Bryan’s cousin, April Pounders, is
recovering from breast cancer surgery. Roger
Sanderson’s nephew’s wife’s mother, Michelle
Bellew, is very sick with Covid in the Oxford
hospital.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Evelyn Thompson, Steve
Kelly, Bettye Davis, Frankie Estes, Shirley Lyons,
Caroline Willis, Carol Hood, Bill Goff, Donny
Dulaney, Adam McCurley, James Goddard, Mitch
Maclean, Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers, Randy
Pearce, Steve Higginbotham, Shauna McMickin,
Stella Pittman, Olivia Pounders
Nursing Homes
Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway, Shirley
McCarthy, Bob McClure, Brenda Dawson
EMYG News
Hello!
I hope you’re doing well. Don’t forget
that the deadline to sign up and pay for TOP
GOLF in Birmingham is TOMORROW. $40 per
person. Meet at the building a little before
11:00am to ride the bus. We also have Brain
Freeze after Wednesday Bible class. If you
haven’t already, be sure to take the online
survey on our East Main’s Facebook page and
let me get some feedback.
Have you ever pocket dialed someone
and didn’t know it? A friend recently did this
to me and for five minutes, I listened to their
conversation with their fiancé. My friend has
no idea that I heard what was being said. My
guess would be that if my friend knew he was
being recorded, and I would be listening, he
would not have had that conversation with his
fiancé.
When you think about the presence of
God, what comes to mind? We believe that
God is everywhere and yet His Spirit indwells
within us. Both would be fair statements to
believe. In the Old Testament, people believed
that deity only dwelt in only one place. Before
we say that that belief is odd, I want to
challenge our thinking on that. In our
relationship with God, do we sometimes fail to
remember that Jesus hears all, sees all, and
knows all? What would our lives look like if
we were more conscious that God is
everywhere, hears all, and sees all?
The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians
5:10, “For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may
receive what is due for what he has done in the
body, whether good or evil.” It is so important
that we make our minds and hearts aware that
what we do and say is being recorded. And
each of us will be judged on those acts, good or
bad. I challenge us to realign our priorities that
way that on THAT final day, we can come
before the presence of God with confidence.
Remember, God loves you and so do I. Alex

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Men to Serve Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021 a.m.
Announcements...................................Mike Childers
Bible Reading...................................... Dale Dulaney
Opening Prayer ....................................... Perry Hand
Lord’s Supper
Tim Davis
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Closing Prayer.....................................Jake Kennedy
Ushers ...............................Rick Lindsey & Ian Reed
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer .......................................Jeff Mansel
Closing Prayer............................................Mark Hitt
Lead Singing.................................Alex Blackwelder
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Opening Prayer ......................................Mike Ratliff
Lead Singing.................................Alex Blackwelder
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact the Wade Bryan (419-5552) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 8-18-21 .................................................... 118
Sunday 1st
Worship, 8-22-21 .................................... 162*
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 162
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 139
Contribution (budget $7,900) ................................ $7,354
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................... Peanut butter
Our Gospel Meeting scheduled
Aug. 29th
-Sept. 1st
with Neal
Pollard has been postponed.