Vol. 46, No. 28                         SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                September 19, 2003

Family Bible Day

      The family is the basic unit of every society.  Similarly, the Christian family is at the heart of the Christian community.  When parents and children learn together about God and his will for us, everyone is blessed.  At Southside we place much emphasis on family as illustrated by the Parent to Parent 2000 program that is coming up in October and November.  Right now, though, we have another event that will contribute to the welfare of the family.  It is Family Bible Day that will be this Saturday, September 20^th, at the church building.  It will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  A large number will be involved.  Come if you can and bring your friends and neighbors.  The program will be directed by Dan Giombi.  Contact him for further information.

The Bulletin Board

            The 40^th Annual Midwest Preachers’ Retreat will be Monday through Wednesday at Fallhall Glen.  Dr. Michael Armour of Dallas, TX will be the featured speaker.  Several from Southside will be attending.

            The Ladies’ Retreat at Camp Matawa near Campbellsport will be September 26 & 27.  Debbie Cleveland of Oshkosh is the featured speaker.  There is a descriptive brochure available in the church foyer.

            The Sick – Laurie Ehlenbach, mother of Vicki Hanyard, had a malignant tumor removed last week.  She will be undergoing chemotherapy treatment….Roy Webb, father of Sandy Ondrejka, has a brain tumor and is confined at home.  His condition is worsening….Mary Price is having a hip replacement in Kenosha this Wednesday.

            Our new sign is now up.  Our thanks to those who helped, especially John Giemza who spent many hours in planning and installing the sign.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

                                                  Two years ago         Last year      Last week          Goal

  Bible classes                                             165                  114                   154            170   

  Morning worship                                        279                  209                  *214            250

Evening worship                                           49                    75                      84              80

Contribution                                   $4051.48         $3419.08          $3805.66   $4200.00

                                                              (*) first service, 146; second service, 68

      No Oracle will be published next week.

      Wedding Bells – Cliff Copass and Sandra White will be married September 27 at the church of Christ in Portage, MI.  Several from Southside plan to attend.

Moving – Mary Montgomery, a member of Southside for thirty-nine years, is moving to Adams, WI.  Mary has been unable to attend services for several years because of health conditions…Linda Hall moved last week to Arkansas.            

      Parent to Parent 2000.  Bruce Williams is organizing a group to hand deliver another 500 brochures this Sunday, September 22, from noon to 2:00 p.m.  They will meet for lunch and instructions at 11:30 a.m. at McDonalds, 27^th St. and Ramsey.  

      Congratulations to David and Bethany Cook on the birth of Eden Grace, on September 2 in Searcy, AR.  Dana and Debbie McMillion are the grandparents.

      There is a tentative directory of those attending Southside in the hall across from the church office.  Please check it for corrections.

      Congregational Meeting – There will be a congregational meeting on October 5^th at about 12:45 p.m. after a sandwich lunch following the second worship.

Calendar of Events

September 20 – Family Bible Day, 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

September 22 – 24 – 40^th annual Midwest Preachers’ Retreat, Fallhall Glen

September 26, 27 – Southside Ladies Retreat, Camp Matawa

September 26, 27 – Unity Family Encampment, Camp Y-Koda, Sheboygan

September 28 – Elders’ Forum, 6:00 p.m.

October 5 – Congregational meeting, 12:45 p.m.

October 11 – Annual Southside Give-Away, 9:00 a.m.

October 12 – Elders and deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.

October 12 – Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

October 18 - Annual W.C.Y.C. meeting, Mandrake Road Church, Madison, 10:00 a.m.

“And Be Thankful”

      “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And be thankful”  (Colossians 3:15).

      Just ten years ago I directed a tour of Israel and Egypt.  Several from Southside were part of that tour.  We saw first hand how people live in another part of the world.  In Egypt we used bottled water because drinking tap water is a sure way for Americans to get sick.  We saw small children going to a weaving school.  That is the only schooling they will ever get.  We saw people living in shacks made of reeds from the river.  We were confronted by countless children begging because “the Americans are rich.”

      By our standards we aren’t rich.  By their standards we are.  We live in a wealthy nation in which even the poor would be counted rich in the third world.

      How often do we stop to count our blessings?  The things we take for granted – good water, modern plumbing, automobiles, enough food to eat, electricity – are only dreams to people in some nations.  Let us thank God for what he has given us as we enjoy “the peace of God in our hearts.”                                        __Monroe E. Hawley

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