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Vol. 48, No.
7 SOUTHSIDE ORACLE April
15, 2005
The Bulletin Board
“Does God Exist?” Lectures - On April 29 & 30 Southside will host
a series of lectures by John Clayton on the theme, “Does God Exist?” The
series will be held at Greenfield High School, 4800 S. 60th
Street at W. Layton Avenue, just off Interstates 43 and 894. The series is
open to everyone and you are encouraged to invite friends and neighbors.
The lectures will be from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There will
also be a conference for youth on Saturday between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
Descriptive brochures are available at the church building for you to share
with your friends.
Men’s Retreat – This weekend, April 15 & 16, our annual men’s retreat
will be held at Camp Matawa near Campbellsport. The theme will be “The
Measure of a Man” and will be led by men of our congregation. It appears
that it will be well attended.
The Sick – Elfriede Wandsnider went home from the hospital last Saturday
following her surgery….Marilyn Moore, mother of Trevona Parker, had
successful surgery this week at St. Joseph’s Hospital and will be there a
few more days.
ATTENDANCE RECORD
Two
years ago Last year Last week Goal
Bible
classes 145 157
no count 170
Morning worship
232 247 *229 250
Evening worship
79 49 51 80
Contribution $3963.98
$4645.17 $3998.70 $4900.00
(*) first
service, 138; second service, 91
Address change – Susie Huff.
Contact us for details.
The Mother-Daughter Banquet will be
Friday, May 6th, at 6:30 p.m. at the church building. All the women and
girls are invited. Those who plan to attend should sign up on the bulletin
board no later than April 20th.
Grounds Clean-up – Saturday, April 23rd,
is the time for our clean-up around the church building. If you would like
to help, come any time after 9:30 a.m.
Calendar of Events
April 15,
16 – Southside men’s retreat, Camp Matawa
April 19 –
Christian Workers’ Meeting, 9:00 a.m.
April 23 –
Grounds clean-up, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
April 23,
24 – W.C.Y.C. youth rally with Soul Concern at Fallhall Glen
April 29,
30 –“Does God Exist?” seminar, Greenfield High School, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
April 30 –
Spring work day at Fallhall Glen
May 6 –
Mother/daughter banquet, 6:30 p.m.
May 8 –
Elders/ deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.
May 8 –
Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.
Why Am I Here?
Has
your child ever tossed a “Mickey Mouse” back two rows during church services
while you stared ahead, wishing your were invisible?
I
remember, though I have tried to forget it, the time we attended services
for the first time in a new town. We all dressed carefully and arrived to
find a very large crowd. We sat next to a very dignified gentleman in a
blue suit. The baby twisted and sat up and down. I was frustrated as we
were near the front in the middle of the seat. I was proud of the baby
playing quietly with his bottle, until he carefully pushed down the nipple
and squirted the gentleman next to us. What could I do? Head for the
nursery where I should have gone sooner?
You
have probably heard the voice of your own young one in the pause of “Rock of
Ages” sing out in off-key, “Jesus Loves Me.” Surely you’ve heard in the
interlude of announcements a little prayer in the loudest voice praying for
dog, cat, beloved turtle, etc.
Incidents such as this make one wonder, “Why am I here?” No sooner do you
sit down than you go out to the nursery for the baby is cross. “Kent, take
the penny out of your mouth.” Take Joey out for a spanking, pick up baby’s
toy ten times before you decide “that’s all.” You want so much to keep your
children quiet and not to disturb others.
Everywhere there are Sharons with twins regular as clocks at every service.
There are Bonnies and Peggys and Kays and Wylmas. They pick up toys, dry
eyes, wipe noses, and bow heads. They swat, spank, scold, and wonder, “Oh,
why am I here?” But they come. There is little they hear of many
services. They creep in feeling conspicuous. They sometimes go home
wondering how the sermon ended. But they partake of the Lord’s supper.
They may no have sung with a songbook, as Bobby would reach for it, but they
sang and made melody in their hearts. They knew that the same hand that
threw “Mickey Mouse” so far may some day sow the seed of salvation.
Many times we wonder; we sit embarrassed, but
always we are there. We have our moments of discouragement, hushing and
corralling. Please pray for us. And next time you see a flying toy, catch
it, and return it with a smile. Next time a young mother has to walk over
you getting out, don’t let it distract you. Let it encourage you, for there
goes tomorrow’s church. When you see a young mother, tell her you are glad
she and her family were there. __Selected
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