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Looking Beyond Southern Heights Christian Church (USPS 386-500) Published monthly by Southern Heights Christian Church Periodical Postage paid at Lebanon, MO 65536 POSTMASTER: Address Service Requested Southern Heights Christian Church 2080 South Jefferson Lebanon, MO 65536
Periodicals
LOOKING BEYOND from
Southern Heights Christian Church October 23, 2013
2080 S Jefferson, Lebanon, MO 65536, Phone (417) 532-2341, email: [email protected]; website:southernheightscc.com
Christians In The Mix One can’t help but notice in recent weeks the rancor and vitriol being espoused from both the legislative and executive halls of our nation’s leaders. It seems our nation’s leaders are so divided that instead of statesmanship and civil discussion, we see serious threats being bandied about by both sides of divisive issues to the point where many federal employees were without paychecks recently and fears were fostered that if one side or the other did not soon capitulate, then we are all on the brink of economic and social collapse. But such fears should find no quarter in the hearts of men and women of faith. Have you noticed how most people fall into one of two camps when it comes to the issue of the Christian’s role in our political system? It seems to me that people either strongly believe that the Church should rise up and be a powerful political force within the system, or that the Church should not be about politics in any way, shape, or form. I’ve heard good arguments from both camps. Can God’s will be thwarted by elections and the machinations of our political process?...If not, then what’s the point of lobbying for a cause or registering to vote?..... If so, then is our God truly sovereign in the political affairs of men as implied by such passages as Romans 13:1-2? Now while such a question may be best left to the intelligentsia to debate, (and quite honestly just makes my brain hurt) perhaps those of us who simply want to know how much effort to put forth in studying the issues and candidates before we vote or contact our representative, can find insight in the simple parables told by our Lord concerning salt and yeast. Jesus metaphorically designated His followers, “salt” in Mt. 5:13...Saying however, that unless we avoid losing our saltiness, we will become useless...”thrown out and trampled by men.” Now to me this says that I have a responsibility as a disciple of Jesus Christ to bring a certain “flavor” to the mix of humanity...And while I may or may not understand the dynamics of God’s will in the milieu of national politics, I nonetheless have a duty to bring my Christian distinctiveness to bear on God’s behalf. And in so doing, we become a very small part of the answer to our Lord’s prayer where He prayed, “Thy Kingdom come...” By being the salt of the earth, God uses us to answers our own prayer for His kingdom to come and His will to be done. In another place (Mt. 13:33) Jesus used the simile of yeast to describe the role that His followers would play in ushering in the kingdom of God. So not only are we to flavor, but we are also to permeate...two things for which our own political process lends itself quite well. So for me, this whole discussion of how involved the Christian should be in politics comes down to simply being Christians in the mix. As salt and yeast, I think we have a responsibility to vote and be represented in Congress, and by extension to study the issues, grasp what’s at stake, and know the candidates. But at the same time I would caution against allowing politics to become the religious pursuit that it has become for many well-intentioned Christians. It is God, whom we must pursue religiously and Him alone. The point is to simply be salt and yeast...not garlic and LimJust Thinking Out Loud, -terry burger cheese. MOOOOO
MOOOOO is a phrase Annah & I will say to each other as we moved along a line that is long & blocked in. You can’t get out of line, you have no choice but to keep moving forward or you get heckled by those behind you. None of us really like feeling that way but there are so many things in life that make us feel that way. Waiting in line at amusement parks, for food, at the license bureau, at a concert, as long as you do what everyone else does & what’s expected, you are good. If we are not careful, sometimes we may view our spiritual walk like that. Do what everyone else does, pray, read our bible, be a good Christian, repeat… sometimes we might only get best 2 out of 3 on that list. But is that really what God wanted? God never wanted robots, he wanted the love of his children. And yet, how often are we just robotic about it all. In our daily lives the joy of something can be multiplied or stripped by the emotion displayed. In fact as a parent, we can find even more joy in something by the reaction of our kids. That moment when you know you have hit a homerun! As we go through our daily lives, don’t just take your Christian walk for granted. Don’t go through the motions saying Mooooo. Bring your emotion to it. Search the scriptures as a treasure hunter looking for the ultimate find. Rejoice with God as you recognize answered prayers. Look for the Joy God has so immensely planned for you! -Stacey
The Barn Party is this Sunday evening, October 27th, at Adam & Sandi Hoffman’s at 5:30 pm. Bring your family, friends, sides of food, lawn chairs, and enjoy singing and lots of fun activities! See you there! Don’t forget to recycle: donating to various areas of ministry: pill bottles (all sizes); bikes; sewing machines & notions; all season clothing; crushed pop cans; shopping bags (e.g. Wal-Mart, Smitty’s) to be made into sleeping mats for the homeless. Where the Son Always Shines
We are into the full swing of our fall fun as you may have seen on our bulletin boards. The children really enjoyed the field trip we took to Gunther’s Pumpkin Patch this month. Our Wheel-A-Thon was a great success, in spite of the windy weather. We raised $1,700 toward classroom supplies that will help tremendously throughout the school year. Thank you to Pastor Terry who came out and shared the candy launch with the Bright Beginnings kids and families. It was great fun! Our Grandparents’ Night was also great fun! So many of our families came to enjoy a presentation from the kids letting their grandparents know how much they are loved and appreciated! Bright Beginnings also enjoyed earning new Usborne books for the classrooms that night. In Bible Time this month, we’ve been focusing on the Ten Commandments. The kids have really enjoyed the Go Fish Guys song, “The Ten Commandment Boogie.” It’s such a fun way to learn about God’s laws that help us make good choices! Our enrollment in preschool is now 78 children, many of who are also cared for in our daycare. We are currently caring for 67 children in the daycare. Upcoming Events: November is a special time to remind ourselves to focus on all that we have to be thankful for. As part of that, we will be making “Thanks Banks” with the children during Bible Time. The children will spend the month thinking of things they are thankful for. We will help them write them on paper to put in their banks. Then on Thanksgiving, they can share their banks with their families. We are seeking donations of empty, regular-sized Pringles cans. Any would be appreciated! We would all put being a part of this ministry, and your continued support, in our Thanks Banks!
Elders will meet Monday, November 11th @ 6:30 pm Financial Report September 24 to October 21, 2013 Total Designated (with $873 to Mission Trip) $ 923 Total General Fund Offering: $22,914 Total General Fund Budget Needs: $24,840 Year-to-Date Gen. Fund Off. Below Budget Needs: $27,230 Average Attendance 216
The Lap Robe Ministry will meet November 7th. We start at 9 am and end at 3:00 pm. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy the fellowship! MASTER Provisions has established the Monday after Thanksgiving as an annual day of fasting, prayer, and sacrifice in support of the ministry of MASTER Provisions to feed and clothe those in need and to care for orphans. Please join in and pray for the mission of MASTER Provisions and donate money that would normally be used for food on that day. Make "MASTER Monday", December 2, 2013, a day to help make an impact on poverty world wide. Your can place your donation in the offering and mark it "MASTER Monday" or make a designation on your check for this purpose.
Iron Sharpens Iron - Men’s group will meet Monday night, November 4th from 7:00 to 8:00 pm for a great time of worship and testimony. We will have an opportunity for small group prayer time to celebrate answered prayer as well a lift up and encourage each other. Plan to bring a friend. Our Annual Thanksgiving Meal as a church family will be Sunday, November 24th at 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please come with a thankful heart and sides to complement the meat and trimmings!
Upcoming Events Live Nativity - Friday and Saturday, December 6th & 7th Children’s Christmas Program - Sunday AM worship, December 15th Caroling - Sunday evening, December 15th Primetimers On November 21st at 6:00 pm the Primetimers will have a Special ‘Thankful’ Gathering at the church. Bring a dessert only (no meal) and be prepared to share something you are thankful for. You may wish to share a Scripture, poem or bring the item. Looking forward to our time together!
Operation Christmas Child Operation Christmas Child is a mission project for everyone - children, entire families and churches. Filling GO (Gospel Opportunity) boxes began in 1993 for the children of war torn Bosnia, with 28,000 shoe boxes delivered. Since then God has multiplied one empty shoe box into over 100 million gift filled boxes handed out to children in Jesus’ Name. Many of these children have been traumatized by war, natural disasters, loss of family and poverty. The gifts serve as a reminder to these children that God’s presence and love is real and available to them. Doors are opened to introduce boys and girls to the real meaning of Christmas through Gospel booklets and follow-up discipleship programs, called the Greatest Journey. Many children have become faithful followers of Jesus through these teachings. For 3 weeks, beginning Sunday, November 3rd, GO boxes will be available in the foyer after the morning service. A form is also available to help you in writing letters to the children receiving your box. If you are not able to shop and want to be a part of this program, Judy Vest and Bertha Shugar will shop for you. If you want to consider a special donation to help cover cost of shipping, money may be left in the office, clearly marked for shoe box ministry. Boxes will need to be filled and returned to the church by NOON, Sunday, November 24th.
2013
SERVING SCHEDULE FOR Comm Prep: Darlene Doan
SERVERS:
SERVERS:
USHERS:
Greeters: Rick & Rexanne Willis
*Randy Gilby
Jim Grady
*Terry Milton
Sunday School 3, 4, & 5’s Phil & Meredith Brown
*Mark Shoemaker
Anthony Windsor
Richard Archer
Children’s Church 3, 4, & 5’s Paula Burgess & Candice Reeves
Jason Riggs
Ron Place
Phil Brown
Sam Dane
Darin Gilby
Dakota Nichols
November 3rd
November 10th
November 17th
November 24th
Instrumentalist: Danielle Shoemaker Comm. to Shut-Ins: Melvin Hoffman Jay Webb-Alt. Nursery: 9:00 a.m. Annah Smith Madison Smith 10:00 a.m. Mary Beth Gilby Jodie Fox Toddlers: 10:00 a.m. Arlene Hoffman Nate Mathis
Instrumentalist: Janice Shoemaker Comm. to Shut-Ins: Fred McCarter Sam Dane-Alt. Nursery: 9:00 a.m. Denise Shoemaker Erika Fox 10:00 a.m. Cheri Wilson Deidra Rodgers Toddlers: 10:00 a.m. Debbie Fincher Bailey Riggs
Instrumentalist: Arlene Hoffman Comm. to Shut-Ins: Terry Milton Daniel Peregoy-Alt. Nursery: 9:00 a.m. Brooke McElvaney Carol Smith 10:00 a.m. Michelle Evans Tori Lefler Toddlers: 10:00 a.m. Barbara McCullough Jaeden Jackson
Instrumentalist: Denise Shoemaker Comm. to Shut-Ins: Mark Shoemaker Randy Gilby-Alt. Nursery: 9:00 a.m. Lisa Addis Faith Alwardt 10:00 a.m. Becky Rodgers Tamra Rodgers Toddlers: 10:00 a.m. Deb Milton Madalyn Franks
No vemb er 20 13 Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
3 THIRST - lunch 4 Iron Sharpens 5 MOPS @ 6 pm 6 after worship
10 AYN @
11Elders Mtg
SHCC 5:30 pm
6:30 pm
Jerry Chambers
Jim Hicks Davis Meckem Jodi Shoemaker Jay Webb
12
13
Robin Johnson
18
19MOPS @ 6 pm 20 Jr & Sr Hi
Youth Home-9 am
Progressive Dinner 6:00 pm
Good Twins 6 pm
Mike Alwardt Jadon Windsor
Doug Stoll
24 Annual Mtg
25
31
1
Trunk or Treat at 6:30 pm
Sr Hi “The Event” at OCC
7 Sewing
Ed Peregoy Micah Smith
2
John & Mary Fox (1968) George & Robin Johnson (1980)
8
9
Codi Gilby Terry Milton
14
15
Olan Hoffman Jeff Pruitt Dave Shoemaker
21Primetimers
16 THIRST in
Gail Green Charles Willadsen
22
23
6 pm at SHCC
Chris & Jodi Shoemaker (1991)
26
27
28
after worship Thanksgiving Meal at 5:00 pm Steve Mathis Richard & Donna Archer (1962)
Sat
Teen Room 6 pm
Stephanie Pollock
17 Show-Me
Fri
Ministry 9:00—3:30
Iron 7:00 pm
Betsy Armstrong Phyllis Gilby Roger Gilby
Thu
Judy Vest Mark & Peggy Bennett (1979)
29
30
Periodicals
LOOKING BEYOND from
Southern Heights Christian Church October 23, 2013
2080 S Jefferson, Lebanon, MO 65536, Phone (417) 532-2341, email: [email protected]; website:southernheightscc.com
Christians In The Mix One can’t help but notice in recent weeks the rancor and vitriol being espoused from both the legislative and executive halls of our nation’s leaders. It seems our nation’s leaders are so divided that instead of statesmanship and civil discussion, we see serious threats being bandied about by both sides of divisive issues to the point where many federal employees were without paychecks recently and fears were fostered that if one side or the other did not soon capitulate, then we are all on the brink of economic and social collapse. But such fears should find no quarter in the hearts of men and women of faith. Have you noticed how most people fall into one of two camps when it comes to the issue of the Christian’s role in our political system? It seems to me that people either strongly believe that the Church should rise up and be a powerful political force within the system, or that the Church should not be about politics in any way, shape, or form. I’ve heard good arguments from both camps. Can God’s will be thwarted by elections and the machinations of our political process?...If not, then what’s the point of lobbying for a cause or registering to vote?..... If so, then is our God truly sovereign in the political affairs of men as implied by such passages as Romans 13:1-2? Now while such a question may be best left to the intelligentsia to debate, (and quite honestly just makes my brain hurt) perhaps those of us who simply want to know how much effort to put forth in studying the issues and candidates before we vote or contact our representative, can find insight in the simple parables told by our Lord concerning salt and yeast. Jesus metaphorically designated His followers, “salt” in Mt. 5:13...Saying however, that unless we avoid losing our saltiness, we will become useless...”thrown out and trampled by men.” Now to me this says that I have a responsibility as a disciple of Jesus Christ to bring a certain “flavor” to the mix of humanity...And while I may or may not understand the dynamics of God’s will in the milieu of national politics, I nonetheless have a duty to bring my Christian distinctiveness to bear on God’s behalf. And in so doing, we become a very small part of the answer to our Lord’s prayer where He prayed, “Thy Kingdom come...” By being the salt of the earth, God uses us to answers our own prayer for His kingdom to come and His will to be done. In another place (Mt. 13:33) Jesus used the simile of yeast to describe the role that His followers would play in ushering in the kingdom of God. So not only are we to flavor, but we are also to permeate...two things for which our own political process lends itself quite well. So for me, this whole discussion of how involved the Christian should be in politics comes down to simply being Christians in the mix. As salt and yeast, I think we have a responsibility to vote and be represented in Congress, and by extension to study the issues, grasp what’s at stake, and know the candidates. But at the same time I would caution against allowing politics to become the religious pursuit that it has become for many well-intentioned Christians. It is God, whom we must pursue religiously and Him alone. The point is to simply be salt and yeast...not garlic and LimJust Thinking Out Loud, -terry burger cheese. MOOOOO
MOOOOO is a phrase Annah & I will say to each other as we moved along a line that is long & blocked in. You can’t get out of line, you have no choice but to keep moving forward or you get heckled by those behind you. None of us really like feeling that way but there are so many things in life that make us feel that way. Waiting in line at amusement parks, for food, at the license bureau, at a concert, as long as you do what everyone else does & what’s expected, you are good. If we are not careful, sometimes we may view our spiritual walk like that. Do what everyone else does, pray, read our bible, be a good Christian, repeat… sometimes we might only get best 2 out of 3 on that list. But is that really what God wanted? God never wanted robots, he wanted the love of his children. And yet, how often are we just robotic about it all. In our daily lives the joy of something can be multiplied or stripped by the emotion displayed. In fact as a parent, we can find even more joy in something by the reaction of our kids. That moment when you know you have hit a homerun! As we go through our daily lives, don’t just take your Christian walk for granted. Don’t go through the motions saying Mooooo. Bring your emotion to it. Search the scriptures as a treasure hunter looking for the ultimate find. Rejoice with God as you recognize answered prayers. Look for the Joy God has so immensely planned for you! -Stacey
The Barn Party is this Sunday evening, October 27th, at Adam & Sandi Hoffman’s at 5:30 pm. Bring your family, friends, sides of food, lawn chairs, and enjoy singing and lots of fun activities! See you there! Don’t forget to recycle: donating to various areas of ministry: pill bottles (all sizes); bikes; sewing machines & notions; all season clothing; crushed pop cans; shopping bags (e.g. Wal-Mart, Smitty’s) to be made into sleeping mats for the homeless. Where the Son Always Shines
We are into the full swing of our fall fun as you may have seen on our bulletin boards. The children really enjoyed the field trip we took to Gunther’s Pumpkin Patch this month. Our Wheel-A-Thon was a great success, in spite of the windy weather. We raised $1,700 toward classroom supplies that will help tremendously throughout the school year. Thank you to Pastor Terry who came out and shared the candy launch with the Bright Beginnings kids and families. It was great fun! Our Grandparents’ Night was also great fun! So many of our families came to enjoy a presentation from the kids letting their grandparents know how much they are loved and appreciated! Bright Beginnings also enjoyed earning new Usborne books for the classrooms that night. In Bible Time this month, we’ve been focusing on the Ten Commandments. The kids have really enjoyed the Go Fish Guys song, “The Ten Commandment Boogie.” It’s such a fun way to learn about God’s laws that help us make good choices! Our enrollment in preschool is now 78 children, many of who are also cared for in our daycare. We are currently caring for 67 children in the daycare. Upcoming Events: November is a special time to remind ourselves to focus on all that we have to be thankful for. As part of that, we will be making “Thanks Banks” with the children during Bible Time. The children will spend the month thinking of things they are thankful for. We will help them write them on paper to put in their banks. Then on Thanksgiving, they can share their banks with their families. We are seeking donations of empty, regular-sized Pringles cans. Any would be appreciated! We would all put being a part of this ministry, and your continued support, in our Thanks Banks!
Elders will meet Monday, November 11th @ 6:30 pm Financial Report September 24 to October 21, 2013 Total Designated (with $873 to Mission Trip) $ 923 Total General Fund Offering: $22,914 Total General Fund Budget Needs: $24,840 Year-to-Date Gen. Fund Off. Below Budget Needs: $27,230 Average Attendance 216
The Lap Robe Ministry will meet November 7th. We start at 9 am and end at 3:00 pm. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy the fellowship! MASTER Provisions has established the Monday after Thanksgiving as an annual day of fasting, prayer, and sacrifice in support of the ministry of MASTER Provisions to feed and clothe those in need and to care for orphans. Please join in and pray for the mission of MASTER Provisions and donate money that would normally be used for food on that day. Make "MASTER Monday", December 2, 2013, a day to help make an impact on poverty world wide. Your can place your donation in the offering and mark it "MASTER Monday" or make a designation on your check for this purpose.
Iron Sharpens Iron - Men’s group will meet Monday night, November 4th from 7:00 to 8:00 pm for a great time of worship and testimony. We will have an opportunity for small group prayer time to celebrate answered prayer as well a lift up and encourage each other. Plan to bring a friend. Our Annual Thanksgiving Meal as a church family will be Sunday, November 24th at 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please come with a thankful heart and sides to complement the meat and trimmings!
Upcoming Events Live Nativity - Friday and Saturday, December 6th & 7th Children’s Christmas Program - Sunday AM worship, December 15th Caroling - Sunday evening, December 15th Primetimers On November 21st at 6:00 pm the Primetimers will have a Special ‘Thankful’ Gathering at the church. Bring a dessert only (no meal) and be prepared to share something you are thankful for. You may wish to share a Scripture, poem or bring the item. Looking forward to our time together!
Operation Christmas Child Operation Christmas Child is a mission project for everyone - children, entire families and churches. Filling GO (Gospel Opportunity) boxes began in 1993 for the children of war torn Bosnia, with 28,000 shoe boxes delivered. Since then God has multiplied one empty shoe box into over 100 million gift filled boxes handed out to children in Jesus’ Name. Many of these children have been traumatized by war, natural disasters, loss of family and poverty. The gifts serve as a reminder to these children that God’s presence and love is real and available to them. Doors are opened to introduce boys and girls to the real meaning of Christmas through Gospel booklets and follow-up discipleship programs, called the Greatest Journey. Many children have become faithful followers of Jesus through these teachings. For 3 weeks, beginning Sunday, November 3rd, GO boxes will be available in the foyer after the morning service. A form is also available to help you in writing letters to the children receiving your box. If you are not able to shop and want to be a part of this program, Judy Vest and Bertha Shugar will shop for you. If you want to consider a special donation to help cover cost of shipping, money may be left in the office, clearly marked for shoe box ministry. Boxes will need to be filled and returned to the church by NOON, Sunday, November 24th.
2013
SERVING SCHEDULE FOR Comm Prep: Darlene Doan
SERVERS:
SERVERS:
USHERS:
Greeters: Rick & Rexanne Willis
*Randy Gilby
Jim Grady
*Terry Milton
Sunday School 3, 4, & 5’s Phil & Meredith Brown
*Mark Shoemaker
Anthony Windsor
Richard Archer
Children’s Church 3, 4, & 5’s Paula Burgess & Candice Reeves
Jason Riggs
Ron Place
Phil Brown
Sam Dane
Darin Gilby
Dakota Nichols
November 3rd
November 10th
November 17th
November 24th
Instrumentalist: Danielle Shoemaker Comm. to Shut-Ins: Melvin Hoffman Jay Webb-Alt. Nursery: 9:00 a.m. Annah Smith Madison Smith 10:00 a.m. Mary Beth Gilby Jodie Fox Toddlers: 10:00 a.m. Arlene Hoffman Nate Mathis
Instrumentalist: Janice Shoemaker Comm. to Shut-Ins: Fred McCarter Sam Dane-Alt. Nursery: 9:00 a.m. Denise Shoemaker Erika Fox 10:00 a.m. Cheri Wilson Deidra Rodgers Toddlers: 10:00 a.m. Debbie Fincher Bailey Riggs
Instrumentalist: Arlene Hoffman Comm. to Shut-Ins: Terry Milton Daniel Peregoy-Alt. Nursery: 9:00 a.m. Brooke McElvaney Carol Smith 10:00 a.m. Michelle Evans Tori Lefler Toddlers: 10:00 a.m. Barbara McCullough Jaeden Jackson
Instrumentalist: Denise Shoemaker Comm. to Shut-Ins: Mark Shoemaker Randy Gilby-Alt. Nursery: 9:00 a.m. Lisa Addis Faith Alwardt 10:00 a.m. Becky Rodgers Tamra Rodgers Toddlers: 10:00 a.m. Deb Milton Madalyn Franks
No vemb er 20 13 Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
3 THIRST - lunch 4 Iron Sharpens 5 MOPS @ 6 pm 6 after worship
10 AYN @
11Elders Mtg
SHCC 5:30 pm
6:30 pm
Jerry Chambers
Jim Hicks Davis Meckem Jodi Shoemaker Jay Webb
12
13
Robin Johnson
18
19MOPS @ 6 pm 20 Jr & Sr Hi
Youth Home-9 am
Progressive Dinner 6:00 pm
Good Twins 6 pm
Mike Alwardt Jadon Windsor
Doug Stoll
24 Annual Mtg
25
31
1
Trunk or Treat at 6:30 pm
Sr Hi “The Event” at OCC
7 Sewing
Ed Peregoy Micah Smith
2
John & Mary Fox (1968) George & Robin Johnson (1980)
8
9
Codi Gilby Terry Milton
14
15
Olan Hoffman Jeff Pruitt Dave Shoemaker
21Primetimers
16 THIRST in
Gail Green Charles Willadsen
22
23
6 pm at SHCC
Chris & Jodi Shoemaker (1991)
26
27
28
after worship Thanksgiving Meal at 5:00 pm Steve Mathis Richard & Donna Archer (1962)
Sat
Teen Room 6 pm
Stephanie Pollock
17 Show-Me
Fri
Ministry 9:00—3:30
Iron 7:00 pm
Betsy Armstrong Phyllis Gilby Roger Gilby
Thu
Judy Vest Mark & Peggy Bennett (1979)
29
30
