Bishop Iobst’s funeral service conducted on Thursday, January 5 was recorded and is available for watching by following the link below.
Click HERE to watch the service for Bishop Iobst.
Click here to view a gallery of Pictures from Christmas Eve. Use the small arrows on the top line (above the picture) to navigate the gallery. A tip of the hat goes to Bill Ray III for making these available.
Bells of Joy will play at the following services from January through May:
Jan. 22 – 11:10 service: You Are My All In All – arr by Ingram and Eternal God – Ingram
Feb. 26 – 9:00 service: Deep River with Flute – arr by Morris and You Alone Are Holy – arr by Sylvester
Mar. 25 – 9:00 service: Before the Throne of God Above with vocal trio and guitars – arr by Raney
Apr. 8 – 10:00 service: Beautiful Savior arr by Stephenson (Easter)
Apr. 22 – 11:00 service: My Spirit’s Gonna Shine arr by Edwards and For the Beauty – arr by Frizzell
May 27 – 9:00 service: An American Medley – arr by Page and Battle Hymn of the Republic – arr by Wagner
Worth Green, Th.M., D.Min.
I went to a Christmas Party the other night and heard a great story about a man with a new truck. This is supposed to be a true story—though it did happen back in the 1990’s.
Well, this man was really proud of his new truck. He pulled in to the parking lot at the Clemmons Mill and parked as close as he could to the ramp. He stepped out of the truck climbed the steps, walked across the loading dock, and then looked back at his truck, admiringly, as men are prone to do. For the first time he saw a little boy, perhaps five or six, standing there all alone.
The little boy looked up at him and said, “Say, minster, that sure is a pretty truck.”
The man was suddenly very self conscious. When we get caught looking into a mirror, or looking back at our vehicles we get self-conscious. And the man was very nervous, and he started talking, as nervous people do. He said, “Thank-you, son. I have had it about a week. It has less than 100 miles on the odometer.”
Having said that, he turned around, went into the mill, purchased 25 lbs. of grass seed, which was already bagged, carried it back out of the store, and placed it gingerly into the bed of his truck which was lined in a plastic so tuff it has been compared to the hide of a rhinoceros.
He then got into this truck, buckled his seat belt, placed the key in the switch and turned it. Nothing happened. He did not panic. He waited 5 seconds, and turned it again. Nothing happened. He did not panic. He waited another 5 seconds, and turned it again. Nothing happened, and he knew nothing was going to happen. About that time he looked up to see that the little boy had stooped down on the porch of the mill so that he was just at his eye level. He saw the boy wanted to say something, so he reached over and rolled down the passenger window of the truck. The little boy said, “Say, mister, that sure is a pretty truck. It is a shame they don’t last any longer than they do.”
The same can be said of many Christmas gifts. It is a shame they don’t last any longer than they do.
We wish to thank all the dozens and dozens of volunteers who made last night’s two lovefeasts possible. We hope that you—and all our members and guests are enjoying Christmas Morning with your families and friends. Our congregation will gather for one service of worship at 11:00 AM. There will be no Sunday School.
The Christmas Story from Luke’s Gospel
Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirini-us was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Lovefeast & Candlelight Service 4:30PM & 8:00PM**
**Band prelude 45 minutes prior to each service
Make plans to join us!
Dr. Worth Green, Th.M., D.Min.
In 2nd Corinthians 9:15 St. Paul says that Jesus is the “inexpressible gift.” That means words aren’t enough to describe this gift. To fully appreciate it, one has to have been “without God and without hope in the world.” To fully appreciate it one has to know the height, and depth, and length and breath of God’s love, and that is something that only Eternity can reveal.
Some people think that what God gives us in Jesus Christ is enough, that all other gifts given and received at Christmas merely muddy the waters.
I disagree.
