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Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins
Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard
Faith
April 19, 2022 - Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church will be having their 83rd annual homecoming service, commemorating 183 years of continuous service to the community on Sunday, April 24th. Program begins at 10:30 in the new building at 2271 FM 2787 in Joaquin. Come enjoy some great singing, preaching, and lunch following the service at the fellowship hall located at the old location. All are welcome, but some hungry for the Word of God and hungry for some great food!
April 19, 2022 - The Smith Cemetery Association will have their annual Dinner on the Ground - Fundraiser on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 12:30. Members will bring food and be prepared for giving to support the upkeep of the grounds. There will be a short business to elect a committee to serve the following year. The Smith Cemetery is located just off HWY 7 E about 6 miles from Center.
April 18, 2022 - Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Sunday was Easter and the most important holy day on the Christian calendar. Unfortunately, the church universal has split east and west: The eastern, or Orthodox Church, celebrates Easter next Sunday. Whichever date one celebrates, we all can agree that Easter came late this year. Everything is turning green or blooming. Nature is such a wonderful gift from God! As we ponder what resurrection means, we can enjoy Easter by being with friends and family—at home, in church, and in glorious nature.
Nature is a wonderful gift, but sometimes Mother Nature can bring storms. There were certainly many trees down last week, and I imagine everyone has been picking up limbs and sticks even if they didn’t lose a whole tree. I haven’t heard of anyone being hurt, and we can be thankful for that. All month long Paxton Methodists have been collecting toothpaste and toothbrushes for Community Christian Services. Next month we’ll bring cans of fruit.
Our Sunday School lesson was from the Mark Gospel, specifically what Mark had to say about Easter morning. As in Luke, three women disciples start out early to prepare Jesus’ body for proper burial. In Mark’s telling, when they get to the empty tomb, a man tells them that Jesus is not there, that he will meet them in Galilee. But the three are so frightened by all that has happened before that morning plus the strange events at the tomb, that they returned to the other disciples and said nothing. Nothing! They were afraid.
Our two songs this morning were “He Lives” and “Lord of the Dance.” The first one is, of course, the most “Easter” of hymns; “Lord of the Dance,” one of my favorite hymns, summarizes the whole story of Jesus’ ministry. We had two bulletin quotes this week. On the front, to go with a sunrise photo proclaiming “He is risen,” was a statement from Kate McGahan: “The very first Easter taught us this: that life never ends and love never dies.” Later this week comes Earth Day, so we also had a quote from Chief Seattle: “The Earth does not belong to us. We belong to the Earth.”
Sue read the Gospel story about Easter morning from the Luke Gospel. All of the gospel writers have different elements in their narrations. I think it would be like four artists painting the same thing—each painting would be unique and different from the others, even though all were painting the same thing. In Luke’s story three women go to properly prepare Jesus’ body for burial. This wasn’t usually the work of women, but these were unusual times. When they got to the grave, the stone had been moved and two men asked why the women were looking for the Christ among the dead. He is alive. He is alive indeed. They run back to tell the others but aren’t at first believed.
Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here. Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.” Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist, you can send your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
April 18, 2022 - Mr. Deshmond Johnson will be delivering his first official sermon April 24, 2022, 3pm at Bright Morning Star Baptist 628 Martin Luther King Drive in Center.
"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" - Psalm 118:24
April 18, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, April 18.
I hope you had a wonderful, blessed, and encouraging Easter weekend. Here at First Baptist Church of Center, Texas, on Saturday, we welcomed our community to a “Party in the Park”. Several hundred children and young families joined us for fun, food, and Easter eggs. Lots of smiles and laughter. It was encouraging.
On Sunday morning, our Worship Center was filled with more faces than we had seen since the pandemic hit two long years ago. We felt the presence of God and voices were raised to give Him glory and honor and praise. It was encouraging.
We don't know what the future will bring, but we know who holds the future. And we know that He is faithful to give us strength and peace . . . and encouragement.
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
April 15, 2022 - Wouldn’t it have been a wonderful opportunity to be one of the first ones to visit the empty tomb of the risen Lord? I have tried to imagine how Mary Magdalene and the others must have felt early on that Sunday morning. They were undoubtedly weary and dreary due to their lack of sleep. Their hearts had been crushed by the tragedy of Calvary. Fresh in their mind was the great suffering of their Teacher, Deliverer, Healer and Friend. The horrific scenes of Friday were emblazoned on their hearts.
Can you buy an eye of faith see them as they rose early on that Sunday morning and as they approached the tomb Jesus’ brutal treatment at the hand of the Romans was fresh on their mind. They could still hear the cracking of the whip, they could see the flowing of His blood, they could feel the damp, foreboding darkness that covered the earth as it convulsed at the sight of God’s Son being crucified.
Yet, when they came to the tomb, it was empty. An angel said to them, “He is not here, for he is risen as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:6)
Because that tomb was empty that Sunday morning, we have hope beyond this life. Paul would write, “thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:57)
It’s something to think about... tbp
Join Us for Worship this coming Lord’s Day at Center Church of Christ or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
April 15, 2022 - Jackson Cemetery Homecoming will be Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 11:00am. Those who cannot attend and wish to make a donation for cemetery upkeep may mail donation to: Jackson Cemetery Committee, P.O. Box 15, Joaquin, Texas 75954.
April 14, 2022 - Jackson Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a BBQ Sandwich Fundraiser on the downtown Center square on Monday, April 18, 2022 from 11am until 2pm or until sold out.
Plates are $10 and includes pulled pork sandwich, chips, pickle, cookie, and water.
Pre-orders will be taken until April 15th. Delivery is available. Please contact Michelle Rhame ar 936-591-7917. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to funding youth church camp.
April 12, 2022 - Easter Eggstravaganza Saturday, April 16, 2022, 11am to 2pm at Bright Morning Star Church and Hicks Funeral Home lot in Center.
Egg hunting, face painting, games, basketball, bounce house, swings, kickball, family fun day.
April 12, 2022 - NLC Kidz invite you to come join us for our Annual Easter Celebration. This year it is a “Journey to Jerusalem Event!” Friday, April 15, 6:30pm – 8:30pm; Ages: 3-11.
In John 16:33, Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” At Easter, we celebrate the life that Jesus brings through his death and resurrection, and kids can learn more about the Journey Jesus took to show us how much he loves us!
We will Journey back in time to Jerusalem for glimpses of the most important events in history with stations that will highlight the real meaning we celebrate Easter. A night filled with Activities, Crafts, Music, Ministry, Food, a GIiant Obstacle course and of course Eggs!
Guaranteed to be a night to remember and best of all it’s for the whole Family! Please share with all your friends and we sure hope to see you there!! Friday, April 15.
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