Teen News
AREAWIDE – At the Southside congregation in Shelbyville for Middle and High School teens. Vans will leave the building at 5:15 p.m. and return at 8:45 p.m.
church of Christ at Cedar Lane
News from the church of Christ at Cedar Lane in Tullahoma, Tennessee
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Medical Ministry Meeting
The ladies Medical Aid Ministry will meet Sunday evening, January 28 following Sunday evening service in the adult library for about 30 min. Those who have signed up for this ministry are:
Diane Adams Joyce Alexander Teena Anders Beth Baker Ellen Bills Laura Carter Ann Davis Leslie Davis Frances Davison Laine Eaves Glenda Gatto Donna Gilbert Alliyah Harden Barbara Gail Jett Barbara Jett Linda Ledford Emily Rutherford Kathleen Smoliga
New Children's Church
God has blessed the Children’s Ministry at Cedar Lane in many ways. After years of praying and planning, the Children’s Ministry plans to start a Children’s Church program beginning Sunday Feb 4th. This assembly is for young children (3, 4 & 5 year olds) and will be held during the regular Sunday morning worship time (9:00 a.m. until worship is dismissed). Children’s Church has been designed to allow young children to worship and honor God at their level through songs and memorable Bible learning. If your child is interested in attending, please bring him/her to Room 010 in the Nursery/Pre-School wing just before 9:00 a.m. worship and you may pick him/her up at the same location immediately after worship. As this young assembly begins, we ask for your prayers of blessing and that you praise God for this wonderful opportunity!
Still Room to Serve – God has blessed us with volunteers to assist teaching Children’s Church on a rotational basis and we are thankful for that. We do, however, still have opportunities available for you to serve and your help is welcomed. Contact Mark or Melissa Rigney for more information.
Riverside Christian Academy
Riverside Christian Academy in Fayetteville is seeking additional families who would like to send their children to a Christian school. The Riverside church of Christ sponsors the school. If there is interest, perhaps a shuttle could be arranged because of the distance (45 minutes). RCA started 7 years ago and now has 300 students. If there is any interest or questions about the school, please contact Katie Horrocks.
Benevolent Request
The congregation has been asked to aid the victims of a recent trailer fire in Summitville. Mike Williams and his seventeen-year-old son, Justin, lost all their possessions when their home burned on January 12. Their current request is for clothing, and both men wear these sizes: 32x32 pants, large shirt, and shoe size of 8 ½. For additional information talk to Steve Baker or Tommy Hancock.
Thankyou Note
Dear Cedar Lane family, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for my awesome care package. It means so much to have another family at home that cares so much about me. Thank you for your continued support and I pray that I will continue to make you proud. Thank you for your love and kindness! In Him Katy Bills
Three Rs for Church Leaders
Respect
Paul sends for the ‘presbuterous’ (in Latin: ‘presbyters’; in English; ‘elders’). He had previously appointed “elders in every church” in Asia (Acts 14:23), as Titus had in Crete (Titus 1:5). The term ‘elder’ was used in ancient cultures to denote an older man whose experience equipped him to serve as an advisor and arbiter in his community. One cannot be appointed wise or older; time and experience must supply these traits. The church may then officially recognize such men as ‘elders’.
Responsibility
Paul charges these elders to guard the flock over which they were made ‘espiskopous’ (in Latin: ‘bishops’; in English: ‘overseers’). Paul used the terms ‘elder’ and ‘overseer’ (or ‘bishop’) synonymously here and in Titus 1:5-7. (Contrary to traditional denominational usage, he addresses a plurality of “bishops” [overseers] in the congregation at Philippi [1:1].) The overseer was a “steward” (Titus 1:7) – a servant acting in behalf of heaven, exercising protective care for his spiritual charges, and bearing responsibility for their souls (Heb. 13:17). The importance of the overseer’s assignment is seen in I Peter 2:25, where Jesus Himself is described as both “the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
Relationship
The task of these elders/overseers is “to shepherd the church of God.” The noun form of this task appears as a title in Eph. 4:11; ‘poimen’ (in Latin: ‘pastor’; in English; ‘shepherd’). In I Pet. 5:2, when Peter exhorts “elders” to “shepherd the flock of God, exercising oversight….”, he uses variant forms of these three titles to describe a single group of local leaders. (Just as in the case of the hierarchical bishop, the New Testament knows nothing of the modern single pastor system.) As an elder, the leader is a policy maker; as an overseer, he is an administrator; but as a shepherd, he is a personal guide and guard. The shepherding relationship is one of intimate knowledge and mutual trust. The shepherd knows the names and needs of his sheep. He lays down his life for them (John 10:3-4; 11-15).
What, then, is an elder/overseer/shepherd? He is a man with great respect, great responsibility, and great relationships. A man whose family and friends willingly follow his lead, as he faithfully follows his Lord.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Bible Memory Challenge 2007
The 2007 Bible Memory Challenge needs volunteers. Bible Memory Challenge will get underway soon and we are looking for volunteers to listen to children say their memory work. We need individuals to be available in the Children’s Library after Sunday morning classes and before and after Wednesday night classes each week. If you can help, contact Melissa Rigney or Kathy Burnett.
Visioneering
Stephen Spielberg states, “I dream for a living.” He certainly has been successful at visioneering. Jesus gave all of us our vision as Christians “to make disciples who make disciples”. His mission is our vision. Or is it?
The Plan of Dedication, Action, and Budget should be read responsibly by every one of our members. It states our mission, our message, our ministries, and our measurements of growth. There are many areas of growth and there are many areas of concern and challenge. Some areas are flat; some areas are ahead of the curve. It is both a sobering assessment and a call to action.
This is a critical time for visioneering as we consider new elders and a New Year. We have unprecedented opportunities. 100’s of people come into our building every week right now because of Upward Basketball and the Homeschool Association. Yet, do we see ministry as terminal or relational?
Church growth cannot be quantified simply as personnel, methods, and facilities. Success in the spiritual realm is by the power of the Spirit of God, not in our wisdom or hard work (Zech 4:6). Our call is to be faithful to plant and water, but God is the one who gives the increase (I Cor. 3:6-7). We can and should be more efficient, more creative, more purposeful, and more organized, but that is not where the power is. If we do not have the anointing of the Spirit of God we will fail.
What empowers a church is not methodologies and analysis. It is prayer. The conversion ratios, the attendance ratios, the giving ratios, and the involvement ratios cannot be turned around by man made schemes. It is the power of God that must run the church. It is the Word and prayer. Always has been, always will be (Acts 6:4). It is not about what we can do, but what God can do through us.
Steve
Upward Basketball
Upward Basketball is a ministry designed to promote community outreach, develop volunteer leadership, and share the love of Christ with children and their families, using something as simple as a basketball. We currently have 185 children who are participating in this ministry, an amazing 110% increase from our first year in 2005.
Our coaches have already begun focusing on encouraging and ministering to these children and their families, and maximizing ministry opportunities by exposing players to Scripture-based devotions during each practice.
This ministry is a wonderful opportunity for us to reach out into the community and provide a special and unique way of presenting the gospel through the game of basketball. We need you to be a part. There are opportunities for all of us to serve and to see changed hearts and lives among children, family members, and volunteers who experience our Upward ministry.
We ask you to consider an hour a week commitment to give a short devotion/testimonial at a game, work concessions, referee, operate scoreboard, set up chairs, and encourage/greet our players and their families. Every child is a winner and we ask you to help make a difference in the life of a child. Sign-up sheets are available in the lobby.
In addition, there are some children that could benefit from a scholarship sponsor. If you would like to contribute $45 for a whole scholarship or any other amount, please let us know.
Please pray for the success of this ministry and that God will use you and your talents to be a part of this ministry. May God continue to bless this ministry and may we take advantage of this amazing opportunity to minister to these children and their families’ physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
Upward Basketball is where Christ is authentically present in loving fellowship, a sense of extended family, and valuing children.
church of Christ at Cedar Lane Upward Outreach Committee,
Andy Hazelwood,
Jimmy Blanks,
Gerald Burnett,
Steve Farmer,
Ken Keller
Children's Prayer Ministry
If you are interested in having your child prayer for in 2007 and/or you would like to pray for a child during 2007, please sign up for the Children’s Prayer Ministry. Forms are available on the table in the foyer. Please see or contact Andy & Christy Hazelwood for questions or additional information.
Elder Selection
Remember those 3 men who have been put before the congregation for consideration as elders. They are: Lance Askins, Mike Fitzgerald and Ken Smith. During the next month, the elders have made 2 requests of us. First, pray for and encourage these men in their service to God, and secondly, if any of you have any differences, concerns, or issues with any of these men serving as an elder, discuss it with them directly. If, after that discussion, you are not satisfied with the outcome, contact any of the elders for further discussion. Appointment of additional elders is scheduled for Sunday, January 28, 2007.