The congregational potluck supper and game night scheduled for Friday, January 29, has been cancelled due to the threat of snow accumulation tonight. The teens’ lock-in is also, of course, cancelled. We hope to reschedule these events in the near future.
Stay warm and dry!!
We appreciate the interest our friends have taken in life at the Rugby Avenue Church of Christ. Our new website is under construction, and the news feature you have been using will no longer be available.
For the time being to stay in touch with our news, please email janet@rubgyavenuechurch.com with your mailing address and we will add you to our weekly mailing of the bulletin. In the future, once the new website is up and running, we will then distribute the bulletin directly to you each week via email. We will keep you posted.
Thanks again for your interest and support!
Karl Barth was a famous philosopher who spent many years studying the Scriptures. He was once asked, “What is the greatest theological discovery you have ever made?”
He thought and said simply, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Can you remember where you were the first time you heard those words? I can’t, because, quite honestly, I don’t remember not knowing it. The words are sung by children literally all over the world, and frankly, I do not know a message more needed by every child, and adult, than those simple words with the life-changing message, Jesus Loves Me This I Know, For The Bible Tells Me So.
Jesus Himself said, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13).
Can you imagine that? Jesus loves me!
— via House to House/Heart to Heart
“What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Matthew 16:26
Our Family:
· Margaret Ankers
· Barbara and Jim Brown
· Becky Cook
· Zillah Dellinger
· Lowell Milhoan
· Andrea Parrish
Our Friends:
· Betty Tarpley (mother of our sister Peggy Tarpley) in hospitalized in Farmville due to complications from congestive heart failure. Cards can be sent to Betty at 1403 Lee Drive, Farmville, VA 23901; or phone Peggy’s cell at (434) 960-5862.
· Bob Deeds (stepfather of Bobby Good) had surgery last Thursday at UVA to repair a blockage in his stomach
· Dolly Bradley
· Sam Bradley — abdominal aneurysm
· Becky Cook’s son Jay — rheumatoid arthritis
· Matt Rigsby (friend of Grant Goodwin) continues his physical therapy; and would greatly appreciate cards of encouragement:
Matt Rigsby
Shriners Children’s Hospital
3551 N. Broad Street
Room 526-A
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Expecting:
© Ashley Harris, due November 26.
© Tausha and Josh Grim, due January 10.
© Amy and Jason Morris, due March 15.
► Sunday, November 15 at 3:00 p.m.: Baby shower for Ashley Harris; she is registered at Babies R Us, and she is having a girl. (See Michelle, Tina, or Betty)
► Wednesday, November 18, 5:30—6:40 p.m.: Wednesday Supper — don’t forget to sign the list to attend so the chefs will know how much food to prepare.
► Sunday, November 22: The Thanksgiving food baskets will be assembled for distribution to some of our friends in need. See Julie H. to help coordinate this. Please share some of your blessings!
► Saturday, December 5 @ 6:00 p.m.: Baby shower for Tausha and Josh Grim. They are registered at Target and Babies R Us. (See Kelly Smith)
Remember to give special thought to the many ways the Lord has blessed your life, then express it: Take a card from the basket on the foyer’s large bulletin board to write down something you are thankful for and pin the card on the board. (Use a separate card for each blessing!) Can we completely cover this board with our gratitude before Thanksgiving Day?
In this spirit of giving thanks for our blessings, we continue to gather canned goods and non-perishable foods throughout this month in order to prepare food baskets for some families in need. There are 2 large bins in the foyer to receive any donations you wish to make.
Success in marriage is more than finding the right person. It’s becoming the right person.
“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” — 1 Timothy 6:11
It’s time to do a little shuffle and line up new volunteers for the fellowship committee for the upcoming year. The task would involve planning & organizing get-togethers for 2010 (potlucks, game nights, etc.). See Ralph Himelrick.
A teen had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father if they could discuss his use of the family car.
His father took him into his study and said, “I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study the Bible daily, get your hair cut, and then we’ll talk about it.”
After about a month, the boy came back and asked if they could discuss his use of the car. They again went into the father’s study where the father said, “Son, I’ve been very proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you’ve studied the Bible diligently, but you didn’t get your hair cut.”
The young man replied, “You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that. Samson had long hair, Moses and Noah may have had long hair, and even Jesus is pictured with long hair.”
“Yes,” his father said, “and everywhere they went, they walked.”
I am writing to clear the air in regards to an announcement that was placed in our bulletin last week about an effort that the mission group to Guatemala was working through a local pizzeria to collect funds to help cover their expenses for this trip. Admittedly this announcement caught a few of us by surprise. In fact, it was caused by a lack of good communication between the mission team and the elders and a misguided statement from the elders in a prior meeting that led to this error in judgment. Actually, we are impressed by the efforts and zeal for those involved to be so creative in trying to raise additional funds to help with this great cause. We also understand that they may not have had teaching on this subject. In any case, this type of fund raising effort flies in the face of this eldership’s belief and for that matter that of the Health Talent International’s method of soliciting funds to support this project.
HTI is a Church of Christ sponsored organization that plans the medical missions to Guatemala. It is solely supported by the Churches of Christ. Its funding comes from the free-willed gifts of church mission funds or direct contributions from church members. There are no corporate sponsors.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 — The Collection for God’s People
1Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Churches of Christ around the globe have adopted its policy and understanding for giving from the passage above. You can also look at and learn more from 1 Corinthians 9. Note that the collection is from God’s people and we are to give this important responsibility much thought and prayer. As we then come together on the first day of the week, we take up a collection.
Because of this passage, we do not take up collections from those that are not God’s people. We also do not ask visitors to make contributions. We do not engage in money-making activities, such as bazaars, raffles, bake sales, bingo, church suppers, or whatever else you want to add. We do not solicit money from corporations or local businesses. Our contributions are a free-will offering by each of us to the Lord.
We give “in keeping with his income” or in another version “as we may prosper” that the Lord’s work can continue in this area. As part of our worship service, we give “on the first day of the week”.
I would also like to mention that we make every effort to keep each individual’s contribution confidential. We have two men who are solely responsible for counting and depositing the contributions and both are honorable and trustworthy to safeguard this information. As the elder overseeing the church finances, I have asked these men to never provide this information to me. I see no value in ever knowing what an individual member may give.
In closing, I extend a heartfelt apology on behalf of the elders and those involved in the fund raising activities.
In His love,
Richard Bulissa
Elder, Rugby Avenue Church of Christ
