Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 50, No. 10__________SOUTHSIDE ORACLE__________May 11, 2007

Guest Speaker

            Our guest speaker this Sunday morning will be Jim Holston of Vineland, Ontario. He is the second of three men who are considering moving here to work with Southside in a ministerial capacity. Jim has worked with the Vineland church for ten years. Prior to that he was with the church in Ames, IA for seven years, in East Syracuse, NY for six years, and with the Four Seasons Church in Bloomington, IL four years. Jim and his wife Kathy have two children, James and Marianne, who no longer live at home. Jim graduated from Freed-Hardeman University, Harding University with a B.A., and Harding Graduate School with an M.A. He is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry from Trinity. He has been a part-time faculty member at Great Lakes Christian College. We welcome Jim and Kathy to Southside.

The Bulletin Board

            The annual Mother/Daughter Banquet is this Friday, May 11th at 6:30 p.m.

            New Adult Classes - Three Sunday morning classes for adults will be offered for the next four months beginning Sunday. They are: The Gospel of John taught by Bruce Williams (a continuation of his present class); The Minor Prophets, Wayne Alexander, teacher; and The Epistles of John, Daryl Miller, teacher. Adults will meet in the auditorium prior to the classes to explain the options.

            The last Christian Workers' Meeting until fall will be Tuesday, May 15th, at 9:00 a.m. at Southside. Gary Cleveland of Oshkosh will speak on "Kingdom Issues" and Troy Moore of the Hawthorn Church in Chicago will address "Living In the Kingdom." Everyone is invited

            Our speaker Sunday evening will be Monroe Hawley. Praise and Palate is postponed until the third Sunday.

            Picture Taking - We have a picture board of the families attending Southside that is very helpful in our getting to know one another. On Sunday, May 20th, Cliff Copass will be taking pictures in room 9. If your picture is not on the board or if you would like a new one, come prepared to have your picture taken that day.

            No Oracle was published last week.

            Baptized - Rick Paikawski was baptized at Southside by Ernie Lowry of Janesville on April 2e after taking Bible correspondence courses from the Janesville Church. Contact us for his address. We wish Rick God's blessings in his Christian walk.

            The Sick - Ann Tevik remains in rehabilitation at Elmbrook Hospital.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 142; second service 63

            The new projector in the auditorium has now been installed. It will project much sharper images than what we have previously had and should be a real asset.

            Camp Notes - The start of the camping sessions of the Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp at Fallhall Glen is just a month away. We have a scholarship fund for young people who do not have the financial means of going to camp. If you would like to help send a child to camp, give your donation to Wayne Alexander or Tim Shilts. If help is needed for financial assistance in going to camp see either of these. Joe Roerkohl represents Southside on the camp board.

Calendar of Events

May 11 - Mother/Daughter Banquet, 6:30 p.m.

May 12, 13 - Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp youth rally

May 15 - Christian Workers' Meeting, 9:00 a.m.

May 20 - Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

May 25 - 28 -Memorial Day Southside Retreat, Fallhall Glen

June 17 - 30 - Junior Camp, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

June 26 - July 1- Youth/adult service trip, Fallhall Glen

July 1- 14 - Middle Camp, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

July 15 - 28 - Intermediate Camp, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

That Unusual Tree

            The story is told about an unusual tree that grew just outside the gates of a desert city in the Middle East. It was an old tree, a landmark. But more than this it seemed to have been touched with the finger of God - it bore fruit perpetually. Despite its old age, its limbs were constantly laden with fruit. Although hundreds of passers-by refreshed and nourished themselves from the tree, it never failed to give freely to a tired, dusty traveler.

            Then one day a greedy merchant purchased the property on which the tree grew. Once he saw hundreds of travelers "robbing" his tree, he built a hip fence around it. Stunned, the travelers pleaded, “Share with us.” Growled the merchant, “This is my fruit, bought with my money.” Then early one morning as the first of the travelers passed the old tree, they were shocked to find that, after all its years of helping others, the tree had died.

            What had happened? The law of giving, as predictable as the law of gravity, had expressed its immutable principle: when the tree stopped giving, it stopped bearing. When it stopped bearing, it died. This law, God's universal law of giving, it is as much a part of our lives as the physical laws that guide our steps day after day. It's the law of give-and-receive. And when I think how much I take from God's world, I bow in guilt at how little I give to his work.

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