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Announcements Plus Devotional Aids

Let's Learn a Bible Verse!

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
--Matthew 28:5-7 (NIV)

 

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Contents

Announcements

Holy Week Services

Maundy Tuesday service report. We had 26 people to share the sample Passover meal as we commemorated the Last Supper or our Lord before his death on that cruel cross. We thank the people who helped prepare the meal and told us about the meaning of each item on the plate. We were blessed and touched by the meal and also by the symbolic foot washing service.

On Sunday, April 13th at 9:00 a.m., we will be waving palm leaves during the Palm Sunday service. On Holy or Maundy Thursday at 7:00 p.m., we remember the Last Supper of our Lord. The serving of Communion will include very small samples of the foods that Jesus and his disciples would have had at their Passover meal. The meaning of each item to the Jewish people will be explained as we sample the foods.

Then on Good Friday at 7:00 p.m. we go the Grace Chapel Global Methodist Church for a joint service of all the Global Methodist Churches in Caldwell County to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice that our Lord Jesus made for us on the cross. We express our sorrow for what Jesus had to do to save us from our sins.

Then joy comes in the morning on Sunday, April 20th at our Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m. We invite you and your family to help us celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, then stay for fellowship and a free breakfast after the service.

Christ has come. Christ is risen! Christ will come again! Happy Easter!

Easter Egg Hunt and Party Apr 12 - Report

2 straw baskets with colorful eggsWe entertained 23 children with their parents and grandparents, and told them the real story of Easter, as well as, playing games, singing, and having lots of fun. We thank all our workers and ask God to bless these efforts to witness for our Lord to the young and old.

All children of the community (with responsible adult) are invited to our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday April 12, 9-11:00 a.m. Breakfast biscuits will be served.There will be songs to sing and games to play with lots of free candy, prizes, stories, including the story of Jesus and his love for us, the egg hunt, and fun, fun, fun! Rain or shine! Everything is free!

 

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Quote to Ponder

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”  --G. K. Chesterton

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For Meditation

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent--the LORD detests them both. (Proverbs 17:15 NIV)

It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity. (Proverbs 17:26 NIV)

He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 17:5 NIV)

 

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Mini-Bible Lesson #95: Lack of Response

References: Acts 1:1-8; John 6:60; Galatians 6:9; John 4:35-36; NIV Application Commentary: Acts by Ajith Fernando, pp. 63-64.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  –Galatians 6:9 NIV

Some preachers have given up on the altar call, because of lack of response. Yet, lack of visible response does not mean lack of edification. Plant the good seed and God will see to it that it bears fruit eventually. God’s Word will not “return to [him] empty, but will accomplish what [he] desires and achieve the purpose for which [he] sent it.” (See Isaiah 55:11 NIV)

“A spiritual awakening always soars on the wings of the Word. No matter how long people neglect the truth of God, one day it will surface and accomplish its wonder work.” –Lewis Drummond

Pastors and church leaders do not give in to discouragement. As long as you are preaching the Word of God and teaching the Word of God, there is hope for revival of the Spirit of God in people attending your church and hope that the people inside and outside of the church to whom you minister will turn to Christ for salvation.

Also, we must not give in to the culture and begin to rely upon entertaining Christians and unbelievers with ‘feel good’ preaching and teaching.

“Let us remember that Jesus also had the crowds leave him because of what he taught after his initial success. ‘This is a hard teaching,’ they said. ‘Who can accept it?’ (John 6:60). (p. 62)

In Galatians, the Apostle Paul counseled his Christian followers to not grow weary in their work for the Lord. Jesus told the parable of the Sower in which seeds fell on different types of soil with many never coming to fruition, and only a few growing up and bearing fruit. But those that bear fruit bear much fruit! (See Matthew 13:1-9) Not being God, we cannot know what type of “soul” we are planting in, so keep on sowing and leave the growing up to God and his Holy Spirit.

The fields are white and ready for harvesting but the harvesting takes hard, constant work. It is not easy to call sinners to repentance but not telling them they are sinners in need of repentance makes the harvesting of their souls for God even less likely. So, preach the Word always, unvarnished, aggressively, not sugar-coated, but boldly and truthfully, and pray that the Holy Spirit will open their eyes and ears and they will hear and see and understand as we continue to witness, minister, and pray to them and for them and with them. Never give up the fight. Christ wins in the end, but we have many battles to be fought until the end is here, and Jesus makes all things right again.

 

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Special Resources

The picture below is our new Resource Room with books, dvds, videos, and a TV screen (not shown in photo). Individuals are encouraged to take resources home for Bible study or reading; and classes can use the room to show videos related to their studies. We would appreciate donations of books or dvds, especially for young children for this collection.

 

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Ongoing Collections - Updated - 10/09/2023

CCC & TI Food Pantry Collection - Yearly in April

Throughout the month of April, we will be collecting single serve, microwaveable or ready-to-eat items for students at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Suggested items: single serve Ramen Noodles, macaroni and cheese, crackers with cheese or peanut butter, cookies, single serve canned meats, etc.

Oakhill Backpack Ministry

We are beginning to collect single serve, easy to microwave or use food items to send home with needy children, such as, fruit cups, mac and cheese, snacks, noodles, etc. The children will receive a backpack of these items to take home on the weekends, and use for themselves and their families. Put the items in the old fellowship hall. We thank you for helping.

Local Schools Supply Closet

We continue to collect items for our local teachers.This ministry provides items for teachers and their students that they cannot obtain through the regular budget.

They include the following: Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, hand soap, paper towels, facial tissues, sharpies, dry board markers highlighters, black/blue/red ink pens, colored pencils, glue sticks, composition books and notebook paper (wide and college ruled), crayons, scissors (children's type), index cards, construction paper, pencil sharpeners, sheet protectors, file folders, large and small legal pads, white out, paper clips, staples, pencil pouches, markers, rulers, ring binders, card stock white/assorted, 3 ring note books, large and small pencil top erasers, and post it notes.

South Caldwell Christian Ministries

We are collecting non-perishable food and clean used clothing in good condition that will be taken to South Caldwell Christian Ministries. You may leave the items at the church on Sundays or during normal office hours (8:30 to 1:00 p.m., Monday-Friday).

We thank you for helping us to minister to the needs of our community.

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Contact Information: 828-396-2214 or emcdudleyshoals@yahoo.com;
4948 Burns Rd., Granite Falls NC 28630