As I write, we’re just past mid-September, but it’s starting to look like Fall. The leaves are falling, it’s dark by the time evening services end, & we’ve even seen rain. Here’s some of what October means for our church calendar: 1. Missouri Missions Offering emphasis is ending - I want to thank you, & praise God that we’ve met our MMO goal! 2. Our Mineral Area Baptist Association’s annual meeting is coming up – Oct. 5, Iron Mountain. 3. Our Missouri Baptist Convention will be the last week of this month – Oct. 27-28, Branson. 4. All-Saints’ is coming. What is All-Saints’? This is always a special time of year, because we get to “treat” our neighbors to a safe, fun-filled, learning experience, when they are already looking for something to do. We create a museum-like experience with festive decorations, fellowship, activities, food, movies, & a serious look at saints, present & past, who have stood for Christ through the centuries. Many of ...
@ From the Pastor ? This Memorial Day weekend , I want to take a few minutes to think about Christian memorials. We don’t participate in ancestor worship or any of the similar elements of some cultures, but we do believe in memorials. Though memorials are often be times of mourning, we are told (1Thes. 4) that we are not to “mourn as those who have no hope.” The most significant memorial services that we hold each year are when we participate in what we call the Lord’s Supper, or communion (that latter word comes directly from our English translation of 1 Cor. 10:16-17). Jesus tells us (1 Cor. 11:24-26) that this ordinance is meant to remind us of His death until His return. Of course, there are other things to remember. The “Therefore” of Romans 12:1 is meant to take us back and remind us of all the mercies of God. Let’s refresh our ‘memory’ of our past, present, and future life as God's children. A. Past – Before we were saved, we were slaves to sin, children of the devi...