November 6, 2011 Volume 42, Issue 96

The OBSERVER

Coming Soon

TODAY, November 6

Veteran’s Luncheon

November 20

Missons Day at Somers

Care Groups Meet

December 3

Ladies Annual Holiday Party

December 10

Holiday Party

Life Support Ministries

• Financial Peace University

Thursdays 6:30pm - 8:30pm

• Dynamic Marriage

Tuesdays 6:00pm - 8:00pm

For Our Guests:

Attended Nursery at back

of the Auditorium—infants Attended Training Room at back of the auditorium East side [for 1-3 Yr. olds] Wireless Hearing receivers

are available in the sound booth

at back of the auditorium.

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Somers Ave Church of Christ

4801 Somers Avenue

North Little Rock AR 72116

Phone: 501-758-5256 Fax: 501-758-1047

Office@somersavenue.org

Schedule of Services:

Bible Classes: 9:00 A.M.

Worship: 10:00 A.M.

Evening Service: 5:00 P.M. There’s A Royal Banner

In 1887, Daniel W. Whittle captured the sentiment of the armies of the

Living God, when he penned this poetic description of the Christian’s war-

fare between the flesh and spirit, our battle against the dark forces of this

world. As we honor our nation’s veterans, may we also think about how

much above and beyond the call to arms, is the call to spiritual victory in our

Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

There’s a royal banner given for display To the soldiers of the King;

As an ensign fair we lift it up today, While as ransomed ones we sing.

Over land and sea, wherever man may dwell,

Make the glorious tidings known; Of the crimson banner now the story tell,

While the Lord shall claim His own.

When the glory dawns—’tis drawing very near, It is hast’ning day by day—

Then before our King the foe shall disappear, And the cross the world shall sway.

Marching on! Marching on!

For Christ count everything but loss,

And to crown Him King, toil and sing,

‘Neath the banner of the cross.

Page 2 The OBSERVER

Page 2

The OBSERVER Family News

In Our Thoughts

Our Record October 30, 2011

Sunday Bible Classes

180

A. M. Worship

256

P.M. Worship

70 (At Burns Park)

Monday Night Men’s Class

October 31-No Count

Tuesday Night Ladies Class

November 1-3

Wed. Morning Ladies Class

November 2-15

Wed. Night Class

November 2-180

Budget $9,830.00

Contribution $9,134.04

Average $9,846.74

IN TODAY’S SERVICES

A.M. Song Leader

Jonathan Penrod

First Prayer

George McDonald

Scripture Reading

Tim Ashberry

John 13:1-20

Communion Leader

Mark Phillips

Closing Prayer

Jovan Hill

Nursery

Mary Hughes

Sue Myatt

Training Room

Mary Ann Klotz

Terri Nevins

P.M. Song Leader

Sing Devotional

Prayer

Steve Smith

Closing Prayer

Aaron Reedy

Nursery

Tammy Necessary

Chester Ingram is very weak right now, please pray for him. Wilma, Judy and Danny

also need our prayers, support and encouragement as they provide for Chester’s com-

fort and care.

Rubye Gerst had eye surgery last week.

Billy Ford has been diagnosed with colon cancer. Doctors will meet with him soon to

decide on a treatment plan.

Marie Necessary, mother of Chad fell recently, severely fracturing her wrist. She had

surgery on Friday. Doctors found some slight fractures in her hip & neck but they

should heal on their own.

Josiah Hall, 23 yr. old friend of the Simmons’ and Odell’s has lymphoma cancer. Josiah

is a single father of 2 small children.

Tom Ratteree, Stephen Moore’s grandfather has terminal cancer.

Davy Carter, father of Brittany Smith is waiting to be placed on the list for a kidney

transplant. Please pray that his health is stable until then.

Jerry Nelson of Ft. Worth, TX, friend of Don & Judy Huckeba had heart stints placed

last week.

Betty Sellers of Hurst, TX, friend of Don & Judy Huckeba was diagnosed with leukemia.

Sympathy is extended to the family of Shirley Johnson of England, AR. Shirley was the wife

of Joe Johnson, minister of the England Church of Christ. Shirley passed away on

October 31.

REMINDERS:

Family Game Night —every Friday night at 7:00 P.M. in the Activities Center!!! Meal begins

at 6:00 P.M. Games will follow until????? Come join in the fun and fellowship!

TODAY—LTC participant and coach sign-ups are due! Turn them in to Tammy or Chad Necessary.

TODAY—Veteran’s Banquet (potluck) in the Activities Center.

TODAY—Young men lead singing at 4:30 P.M.

TODAY—Teacher’s meeting tonight in the Activity Center after evening worship services for

2 year-6th grade teachers for the winter quarter. Supper will be served. Please let Tressa

Ashberry know if you plan to attend.

NOVEMBER 8— Fall Foliage Trip!! Bus will leave the church building at 9:30 A.M.

NOVEMBER 9— Wed. morning ladies class will go out to eat at Olive Garden after class.

NOVEMBER 13—Herald Care Group will meet in the Activity Center.

NOVEMBER 19—Serving lunch at Our House Shelter.

NOVEMBER 20—Care Groups will meet.

NOVEMBER 20—Missions Day at Somers Avenue!! Charles Voyles will make a presentation

during the Sunday morning worship period. A potluck is planned following morning services in

the Activities Center. A special table will be set up to show and tell about our various mission

efforts.

DECEMBER 3—Ladies Annual Holiday Party—5:30 P.M. at the home of Jan Medlock.

Holiday Party - Our annual holiday party will be Saturday, December 10th at 5pm

with a potluck dinner followed by our variety show featuring our members and friends.

If you would like to be part of the entertainment for the evening please let Sean

Ashberry know.

PLEASE NOTE:

Southern Christian Home Food Pick-up: December 1

Paragould Children’s Home Food Pick-up: December 5

A complete list is provided in today bulletin insert!

OCTOBER PANTRY ITEMS

Canned Vegetables

Canned Fruit

Canned Meat

Page 3 Volume 42, Issue 96— November 6, 2011

I love my job. In fact, I don’t

consider it a “job”. It truly is my

ministry. My week is filled with

thoughts and plans and actions

about you. I am always consid-

ering what I am going to write

“to you”, say “to you”, do “for

you”. However, in thinking

about the bulletin space this

week I realized I haven’t been

saying much “about you.” So

today I am taking time to inten-

tionally express my appreciation

to you and share with you some

observations.

Having been a part of this

congregation for 42 years I have

seen many seasons in the life-

cycle of Somers Avenue. Many

joyful and some very painful. I have had the blessing of knowing

some of the most godly men and

women. I have also witnessed

some of the most hateful acts

carried out by a brother or

sister. That’s what happens

sometimes when you have mor-

tal people using spiritual abilities

to fulfill an eternal purpose in a

temporal world. There is going

to be conflict from time to time.

I believe Somers Avenue is at

a wonderful place in time in it’s

existence. The sense of togeth-

erness, purpose, and the spirit

of cooperation is as high as I can

remember. I hear you pray for

each other. I see you reaching

out to one another. I watch you

with each other and how you

genuinely enjoy being together.

This is a great encouragement

not just to me but also to every-one else. It’s contagious.

We have a thriving group of

young professionals and young

families who are eager to get

involved and share their talents

to the glory of God.

We have so many mature

Christians who are stepping up

for their encore instead of play-

ing their finale. The encourage-

ment you give one another is

fueling more involvement in the

life of the congregation and

spurring us on to good works.

The interest and involvement

in mission work and sharing the

Gospel locally is really encourag-

ing and inspiring others to be-

come more outwardly focused.

All of this translates into a

growing congregation, one in

which the Lord may be glorified.

And that’s our purpose which we never want to forget.

I hope you consider it an

honor that two of your sons

who were raised in this family

have grown up desiring to enter

full-time ministry. And not only

that, but to serve with the very

people who have greatly con-

tributed to their spiritual devel-

opment.

In the words of Paul, “it is my

prayer that your love may abound

more and more, with knowledge

and all discernment, so that you

may approve what is excellent, and

so be pure and blameless for the

day of Christ, filled with the fruit of

righteousness that comes through

Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise

of God.” Philippians 1:9-11.

Let us always be watchful for

our adversary. And may God

continue to bless you as you follow His Word, seek His Way,

and do His Will.

Blessings Sean Ashberry

Good question! Thomas L. Friedman asks that question in his book, “The World Is Flat”. His context for the question is the place

of American society in world affairs. He mentions the business organization consultant Michael Hammer who once remarked,

“One thing that tells me a company is in trouble is when they tell me how good they were in the past. Same with countries. You

don’t want to forget your identity. I am glad you were great in the fourteenth century, but that was then and this is now.

When memories exceed dreams, the end is near.

Friedman says, “In societies that have more memories than dreams, too many people are spending too many days looking backward.

They see dignity, affirmation and self-worth not by mining the present but by chewing on the past.”

Yes, I know congregations are not countries. And I am cautious to no end when perusing this world’s goods & the vain philoso-

phies of men for advice. To put a balance to the idea of moving forward with the new and the fresh, David Rothkopf, a former Com-

merce Department official, enunciates,

“The answer for us lies not in what has changed, but in recognizing what has not changed.”

A reality check for one nanosecond reveals the rude truth that those who forget history are doomed to repeat its mistakes.

But there is another sense in which letting go and moving forward is exactly what God has in mind. Paul would say “forgetting what

lies behind, and reaching forward to what lies ahead” is the answer for us. He also said the history of Israel is our example and is writ-

ten so we could learn from it, and not have to repeat its mistakes.

Our challenge as modern day Christians who have our citizenship in heaven, yet remain in the world (with its own kind of citizen-

ship) must move ahead with the unchanged oracles of God, showing faith and a good conscience and making known the mystery of

God’s grace.

“I’m pressing on the upward way—new heights I’m gaining every day.” Those lyrics bring a memory of my childhood days in the

church, and how good everything seemed back then. But they also remind me to get with the program and grow—the future is at hand!

Do You Have More Memories Than Dreams? Oran Burt

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face to shine

upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift his countenance upon

you and give you peace.

OUR ELDERS Jim Akins

Tim Ashberry

Oran Burt

Mike Hughes

Mike Penrod

Danny Rye

ELDERS OF THE MONTH

Jim Akins

Available Sunday, November 13

6:00—6:30 P.M.

Wednesday, November 30

7:15—8:00 P.M.

We’re On the Web:

www.somersavenue.org

Upcoming Teen Events

This Week

Reminder: LTC Participant and Coach sign-ups need to be

completed and submitted to Chad or Tammy Necessary BY TODAY

Devo at the home of Brad & Staci Medlock.

Coming soon...

Somers Avenue - Seeking God, Sharing Life, Serving Our Community

NEED A RIDE TO

WORSHIP SERVICES??

CALL: CHURCH OFFICE

758-5256

(24 hr. notice requested)

Scenes from the guys retreat last weekend. Pictures by Chris Swasta.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17