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October 3, 2012 Volume XXXII - Number 40

“I Hope You Know”

In 2008, Julia Duin, The Washington Times religious

writer, in her book, “Quitting Church” people are leaving because “the church has stopped being the light, and has instead started blending into the world around it” (10-06-08). Believe it or not, many in the

world are looking for direction and something more than merely the trappings of the world around them.

That one truth demands we make every effort to grow the church. Do you want the church to grow or swell?

Of all the trends of the New Testament, (teaching,

preaching, and fellowship together), the trend most notably absent from the trends of growth, is the trend

of "swelling." Churches swell because of convenience and due to a lack of maturity in dealing with struggles.

When disagreements come, when disappointments are present, when discouragement persists, we leave, we

walk away, we choose to be elsewhere.

What if the Holy Spirit had written in the book of Acts about the members of the Jerusalem church in Acts 5,

unsatisfied with what happened to Ananias and Sapphira, moved their membership to another town?

What if the remedy for the problem in Acts 6 of the greek speaking widows overlooked in the daily

distribution had been to move their membership

outside of Jerusalem. What if in Acts 15, when one group wanted to preach salvation through water

baptism and another group wanted to preach salvation through circumcision then water baptism, the solution

was to agree to disagree - you do what you want and we’ll do what we want? What if their final solution

would be to start their own church?

None of these were even remotely acceptable. In fact, they would have been hindrances to the church

growing, not helps. What they did do was work through their differences, with God’s word at the center

of their debate. Acts 5, they responded with godly fear

to the holiness of God. Acts 6, they responded with

Unity, growth, is built on our commonality of

salvation, not on our concept of salvation. Unity is to be built on our conformity to the Savior, not our

comfortability with a lifestyle or practice. Unity is built on our dying to sin and self and not on deciding

to agree to disagree on matters of God’s revealed standard of truth. The pleas for unity throughout the

ages should not be distorted through a modern day lens of postmodernism. We don’t have to give up and look like the world in order to grow. To be

honest, that’s not what the world’s looking for. They want something different. Why not give them the

gospel? I hope you know, the numbers will come, and yes, God wants the church to grow: Acts 2:41,

47, 4:4, 5:14, 6:7, 8:6, 9:31, 11:24, 12:24!

cooperation, prayer, and attention to the problem.

Acts 15, they allowed God’s display of what He had done and what He had said to guide their decision.

His plan of salvation was not to be changed for any reason. Do you know what happened? After every

instance, the church grew! She not only grew, she multiplied (Acts 5:14, Acts 6:7, 15:35).

Hey Kids ! Children’s Bible

Hour Every Sunday Night at

6:00 P.M. Bible Stories, Songs,

Puppets

October Theme : “Obey God”

Jonah & Joshua “Hey kids ! Don’t forget :

Hungry Hound Pantry Item : Pork & Beans or Mac & Cheese

The Honor Of Your Presence Is Requested At The Marriage Ceremony Of

Alicia Michelle Breeden

To Justin Roy Blystad

On The 6th Day Of

October, 2012 At 2:00 In The Afternoon

Centerville Church Of Christ 138 N. Central Ave.

Centerville, TN 37033

Reception Following

Fall In Love

June Bowen is retiring

from the Department of Human Services after 57 years and 5 months of service ! We want to

wish her well in this

new phase of her life and thank her for the many ways she

has offered assistance to so many people in this area. Thank you June….

Don’t Forget

“For everything there is a

season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.” Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

WHAT A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON! We had a super time with a bunch of Sparks & Intermediates this past Sunday. We played several games and enjoyed the time together. My thanks to all who came, for the parents participation and a big thanks to Tori Hughes for all of her help.

A GREAT START TO OUR Junior High Prayer Breakfasts… We had a room full last Thursday as we had our first FCA Prayer Breakfast. Thanks to

Coach Horner, Coach Lawson, and Coach Smith for sponsoring that group and encouraging them to support one another in their Christian walk daily. Our next Prayer Breakfast will be October 25.

THIS WEEK WE HAVE A COUPLE EVENTS you don’t want to miss. We have the Lighthouse open on Wednesday night from 5:00-7:00 with Tori Hughes and her family hosting. Invite your friend and see what has been added this week. On Friday, we will have our final 5th Quarter of the football season. The next home game falls on the weekend of Spike’s Spooktacular at the middle school, so we will encourage everyone to attend that. With that said, this 5th Quarter will be a special one. We will have a cookout and a hayride. We will begin

immediately after the game in the front parking lot. Invite your friends and plan on an exciting night!

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS?... It’s back! Mark the dates of December 27-29 at Camp Meribah as Camp Snowball VII returns. “What is Camp Snowball?” you might ask. Well, it is summer camp rolled into 3 days and then some. We have a former director returning to help too. Just a hint, his last name starts with a Mc and ends in Cord and he used to Coach basketball. Applications will be available in November and space will be limited. I

hope you are excited because we can’t wait!

JOHN WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN A SWEAT because of the important meeting he was late for. When he realized he could not find a parking space he looked up to heaven and said, “Lord take pity on me. If you help me find a parking space I will give up my sinful ways.” Just then a car pulled out and opened up a parking spot at the front door. John looked up again and said, “Never mind. I found one!” Do we fulfill our part of the commitment we make to the Lord? Not for parking spaces, but a full commitment to serving Him. Or are we in it just long enough for our needs to be met? James 4:3 reads, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” The answer? Well it is as we continue reading in James 4 at versus 7 and 8, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” It is not a checklist to follow, a clock to punch, or a set period of good behavior that will deliver to us salvation. Instead it takes our desire and our dedication to be fully committed to Him and His Word to direct our every step. follow His path, Craig

-October 3 Lighthouse Hosted by

Tori Hughes

5:00-7:00

-October 5 5th Quarter

Hayride &

Cookout

After the game

until 11:30

-October 8-10 FALL BREAK

-October 15 Jr High

Fireside @ Lexi Hudgins’

6:30-8:30

-October 17 Lighthouse Hosted by

Griffin Elkins

5:00-7:00

CONTRIBUTION $ 11,662.00

BUDGET -$ 12,820.00 Sunday School - $ 213.75

The following are recovering from surgery or dealing with an illness: Pam Morgan, Leora Williams, Lois Sanders, Mary Helen Barber, Jeffrey Denton, Shawna Lea Smith, Doug

Burchard, Pam Morgan, Carolyn Stoltz, George Church, J.T. Moss, Jerry Shepard, Olgia Dotson, Joyce Carroll, Bobby Kelley, Mollie Orton, Noah Elliott, Janie Billions, Andrea Spears, Robert Pitts, Lisa Shepherd, Tina Johnson.

Nursing Home Residents: Life Care Center: Beverly Bruno, George Dotson, Francis Harris, Stephen Church, Ruth Stephenson, Nicus Loveless, Elsie Mathis, Thelma Chessor, Thelma Deitmen, Lillian Bradford, Ida Mable Gerard, Lois Masters. Hickman County Nursing Home: Brown Breece, Ruby Wells.

If you would like to have the Messenger e-mailed to you weekly or visit it on our website, please contact the church office to be removed from our mailing list . 931-729-4201 or e-mail:tammy@centervillechurchofchrist .org

Home: Lula Mae Gilliam, Curtis & Margaret McCord, Dorothy Easley, Jean Plemmons, J.W. & Sue Roder, Troy Parks, Edward Loveless, Belva Goins, James & Louise Westmoreland.

...Charlie Shelton is recovering at home from surgery. No visitors please due to Charlie’s weak immune system. ...Bobby Bates is at home after spending a couple of days in the local hospital for tests. …Sandra Anderson, mother of John Anderson, is recovering at home and doing well. ...Roy Anderson, the father of Ruth Alderson, had surgery Monday, October 1, at Williamson Medical Center. He is doing well. ...Charlotte Anderson, the mother of Ruth Alderson, will have a biopsy Friday, October 5, 2012.

...Ladies’ Day October 6, 2012, at the Linden Church of Christ. Speaker: Opal W. Johnson “The Journey of Life” Registration: 9:00 A.M.; Program: 9:30 A.M. Lunch at Noon ...Ladies’ Day at the Clearview Church of Christ, October 6, 2012. Speaker: Amanda Merideth Registration begins at 9:30 A.M.; Fellowship luncheon to follow services.

...to a Bridal Shower for Lauren Messick, bride elect of Patrick Brady, on October 14, 2012 at the Fairfield Church of Christ

Fellowship Hall at 2:00 P.M.

Coming in October…

…Oct. 10 Wednesday Night Dinner at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall.

...Oct. 11 Visitation Team 2 meets at the Outreach Center at 6:30. ...Oct. 14 Mission Committee Meeting at 4:30 in the conference room. ...Oct. 21 Visitation Team 3 meets at the Outreach Center following evening worship. ...Oct. 21 Men’s Monthly Business Meeting at 5:00 P.M. in the chapel.

...Oct. 28 Trunk-or-Treat in the parking lot following 5:00 P.M. worship service. Hot dogs, drinks, and lots of candy !

Power of Prayer

Bryan, Lori, Stevy & Cody Woods

write: “Thank you for all the expressions of kindness extended

toward our family during the time of Mrs. Woods’ passing. All of the

cards, calls, messages, visits,

food, and the beautiful wreath meant so much to all of us. In

Christian Love…”

We express our sympathy to the

family of Joan R. Brasher of Decaturville, Tennessee who

passed away. She was the mother of Vickie Wallace.

...A donation has been given to

Camp Meribah in memory of Mrs. Irene McCoy by Chug & Johnnie

Ruth Elrod.

.. .Jamie Stoltz has

requested prayers from his church family for

s t r e n g t h t o f a c e challenges in his life.

…James Aydelott requests your

prayers, as he goes forward with boldness in living the Christian

life, illuminating Christ daily in example.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

Congratulations to

Megan Loveless, Katie C o n d e r , E m m a

Nicholson, and coach Matthew Dotson, for winning the

M c E w e n J u n i o r V a r s i t y

I n v i t a t i o n a l V o l l e y b a l l Tournament. Great !

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Centerville Church of Christ

138 North Central Avenue

Centerville, Tennessee 37033

Periodicals

Postage Paid at

Centerville, TN

37033

Our Elders

Lonnie Gilliam Mike Goodpasture

Bill McDonald Wayne Qualls

GREETERS: Bobby & Mary Katherine Bates, Larry

& Donna Lawhon, Don Luther, Thomas & Cheryl Chessor

Bible Hour October : Jim & Lesley Hudgins

Draven Atkinson, Blake Warren, Brandy Hudgins, Alexis Hudgins

“Obey God” Jonah & Joshua

October Pantry Item: Pork & Beans/Macaroni & Cheese

Meals On Wheels 10/3 Joy McDonald 10/10 Jean Qualls 10/17 Judy Rogers 10/24 Roberta Anderson 10/31 Nancy Leathers PICK-UP MEALS AT 10:40

Lord’s Supper P.M. Mike Elkins

Griffin Elkins Served in the Chapel

RADIO ROOM: Patrick Allen, Brad Gilbert, Gaylon Cude

USHERS : Bobby Breece, Frank Atkinson, Monty Dunn, Calvin Hoover

NURSING HOME SERVICES LIFE CARE CENTER HICKMAN CO. NURSING HOME

10/7 Shane Willis 10/7 Robert Bowman 10/14 David Hudgins 10/14 James Aydelott 10/21 Daniel Dressler 10/21 Alan & Warren Potts 10/28 Larry Lawhon 10/28 Mike Brown

Tulipwood Service - John Bradley

To Drive Bus in October 10/3 Mike Goodpasture 10/7 Brandon McCauley A.M. Bill Cude P.M. 10/10 George Garland 10/14 John Bradley A.M. Mark Chessor P.M. 10/17 David Hudgins 10/21 Patrick Allen A.M. Phillip Allen P.M. 10/24 George Garland 10/28 Michael Bryant A.M. Lonnie Mayberry P.M. 10/31 Phillip Allen

BOYS TO PICK UP CARDS IN OCTOBER 1st SUNDAY - Riley Haithcoat, Bryce Hughes, Jared Brown, Jackson Thigpen 2nd SUNDAY –Major Qualls, Aiden Wallace, Lincoln Smith, Lake Bates 3rd SUNDAY—Elijah Mayberry, Case Martin, Gage Buchannan, Houston Hudgins 4th SUNDAY - Joseph McCauley, Wyatt Aydelott, Sam Brown, Luke Brown

Please be up front by 8:50

READ SCRIPTURE October 7 Keith Qualls October 14 John Smith

NURSERY Kim Taylor

Lily Durham BAPTISMAL CLOTHING

Kathy McDonald

Those to Serve in October...

Prayer Week of

October 7 S.M.W.

John Bradley S.M.D.

Randy James S.E.W.

Ward Mayberry S.E.D.

James Easley W.E.B.S.

Wayne Chessor W.E.D.

Griffin Elkins

Wait on Table

1st Sunday Guy Barber 2nd Sunday Brian Qualls 3rd Sunday Mike Brown 4th Sunday

Jimmy Copley Left

Eric Mayberry Thomas Chessor

Pat Sullivan David Brown

Right Philip Jacobs Andy Weber

Randy Wright Derek Newsom

Alternates Gary Gatewood John Bradley