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Vol. 46, No.
26 SOUTHSIDE ORACLE September 5,
2003
The Bond That
Unites
They came to Milwaukee from around the world –
to a birthday party! Two hundred fifty thousand people from Japan, Sweden,
New Zealand and from across the United States for the one hundredth
anniversary of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. They leave, making local
residents wonder if things will ever be the same again.
The
bikers who rode into our city were a mixed lot. Men and women, factory
workers and professionals, people of all races and nationalities. They
acquitted themselves well and were a credit to the local company that
manufactures the cycles.
How can we explain the phenomena of this huge
homecoming? It wasn’t that they all rode motorcycles. It was that they all
rode Harleys! A Suzuki was out of place. The mystique that brought them
all together was their loyalty to a particular brand of machine. There was
no other common denominator.
Bonds are often formed in society by those with
common interests. Parent-teacher organizations, medical associations,
service clubs, veterans’ groups are united by a dedication to a shared
cause.
This
brings us to the church, the premier example of people from disparate
backgrounds united under a single banner. It is composed of those of all
races and nationalities with different educational achievements from diverse
economic strata. Though its members comprise a fraternity stronger than any
other, that which unites them is not a machine or a shared experience. It
is a person! It is Jesus who has revealed the Father to us and has given us
a philosophy that does not tell us what vehicle to ride, but how to live.
We assemble to remember him, not once a century or annually, but every week
to share a meal that reminds us of the divine blessing God has bestowed on
us in Christ.
The relationship we share as Christians
transcends all other humanly formed bonds. It is not based on loyalty to a
machine or dedication to a cause, but on a common love. We are joined at
the deepest level by our common faith and shared view of life. As proud as
our local citizens are of Harleys, the motorcycle is not designed to help
those who ride them to be better people. But in Jesus Christ we have a
common denominator that transforms our lives on this earth and prepares us
for a better life to come.
__Monroe
E. Hawley
The Bulletin Board
Promotion Day – This Sunday children in
our Bible classes will be promoted. Also, we will begin new adult classes.
Daryl Miller will teach a four-week study for youth and parents on
“Instilling Faith.” This will be followed in October by a class on
“Galatians” taught by Wayne Alexander. Bobby Valentine will teach “A Study
of Christian Ethics,” and Monroe Hawley will teach a class on “Discovering
Our Spiritual Roots.”
The Ladies’ Bible Class that meets
Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. will resume next Thursday, September 11th.
The Sick – Martha Sepulveda is in St.
Luke’s Hospital and had angioplasty Sunday. She expects to have a further
procedure this week.
ATTENDANCE
RECORD
Two years ago Last
year Last week Goal
Bible
classes 119 101
131 170
Morning worship
195 183 *254 250
Evening worship
51 29 62 80
Contribution $3412.58 $4115.10 $5272.66 $4200.00
We appreciated the sermon by our guest speaker
last Sunday, Nathan Slaughter of Atlanta GA. He is the son of Rocky and
Debbie Slaughter.
Calendar of Events
September 5, 6 – Men’s activity weekend, 6:00 p.m.,
Romines
September 5 – 7 – York College, Fallhall Days for high
school students
September 13 – Teen/Tween Fall Kickoff
September 13 – Annual prayer breakfast, Hampton Avenue
Church, 8:30 a.m.
September 14 – Elders & deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.
September 14 – Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.
September 20 – Family Bible Day, 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
September 22 – 24 – 40th annual Midwest
Preachers’ Retreat, Fallhall Glen
September 26, 27 – Southside Ladies Retreat, Camp
Matawa
September 26, 27 – Unity Family Encampment, Camp Y-Koda,
Sheboygan
October 11 – Annual Southside Give-Away, 9:00 a.m.
October 18 - Annual meeting, Wisconsin Christian Youth
Camp
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