Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 49, No. 43              SOUTHSIDE ORACLE              December 29, 2006

The Bulletin Board

            Thank you, Bobby and Pamela! Four years ago Bobby and Pamela Valentine and their children moved here as Bobby began his work with us as minister of the gospel in October, 2002. During that time we have grown to love them and greatly appreciate the service they have rendered to us and to the Lord. We have appreciated Bobby's in-depth teaching from the word of God. Bobby will present his final sermon Sunday morning. The Valentines take their leave next week as they move to Tucson, AZ where Bobby will be preaching for the Palo Verde congregation and will be studying for a Ph.D. degree at the University of Arizona. Their new address will be 7498 E. Pewter Place, Tucson, AZ 85715. We wish them God's blessings in His service in Tucson and wherever God may lead them.

            New Sunday Classes - Beginning January 7th we will offer three new adult Sunday Bible classes that will continue for the next four months. There will be a special ladies' class taught by Judy Nowlin entitled Boundaries. Bruce Williams will direct a study of The Gospel of John that will be extended to the second trimester. Monroe Hawley will teach a class on The Church After the Apostles. This study will explain what happened in the two centuries after the last of the apostles, primarily examining how doctrinal changes were made in such areas as the Lord's Supper, baptism, and church organization.

            New Year's Eve Schedule - Because this Sunday is New Year's Eve we have a different schedule beginning at 6:00 p.m. including a variety of activities. Instead of our usual 6:00 p.m. worship, we will have a devotional service at 7:30 o'clock including a presentation from the video series, "Faith Lessons in the Dust of the Rabbi." Afterwards there will be activities until the new year for those who choose to remain to see the new year in.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

{*) first service, 149: second service, 85

          New attendance directories are now available. Our thanks to Cliff Copass who coordinates the editing and printing of the directories.

          Mark your calendar for Sunday night, January 21st when we will have a Bible Bowl centering an the life of Elijah that will be hosted by our Tweens, our pre-teenagers.

          The sick - Martha Sepulveda was in St. Francis Hospital over the weekend, but is now home and doing satisfactorily.

          Our Spanish-speaking congregation is in need of baby boy clothing for six months and up. If you have something to donate, please bring the items to the church building and see Julia Hawley

Little Annie

          A number of years ago there was a mental institution outside of Boston that had a little girl locked in the dungeon known as "Little Annie." She was considered "helplessly insane." They placed her in a cage. However, serving in the institution was an elderly nurse who felt that no one was beyond the love of God. She wanted to communicate that love.

            Little Annie was like a wild animal. Sometimes she would attack those who came into her cage. At other times she would act as if they did not exist. The elderly nurse decided to start eating her lunch by her cage in the dungeon. She offered her a brownie, but was ignored. So, she left some by the cage. The next morning they were gone. So every Thursday her practice was to bring her brownies. After a period of time little Annie moved "upstairs." Eventually she was told she could leave and go out into the world. But little Annie refused. She wanted to stay on and help someone else who like the nurse had helped her.

            The story now shifts to England. Queen Victoria is pinning England's highest honor on Helen Keller. She asks her, "How do you account for the fact that even though you were bath deaf and blind, you were able to accomplish so much? Without hesitating a moment Helen Keller said that if it had not been for Anne Sullivan the world would never have known about Helen Keller.

            Probably you've guessed, Anne Sullivan was "Little Annie." She saw Helen Keller as one who needed God's love, too. She loved her, played with her, disciplined her, pushed her, until she became a blessing to the world. Helen Keller influenced millions after her own life was touched by "Little Annie."

            Is there someone around you to whom you could give God's love? People can be changed when God's love is demonstrated through care and concern.

                                                                                                          Dick Marcear

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