Vol. III, # 8, October 1, 2004

Who Won the Debate?

As you read this PHA, the first of three debates between George Bush and John Kerry is over. No doubt Bush supporters will claim that Bush won and Kerry supporters will claim that Kerry won. Those voters who have already made up their minds and wanted to watch college football probably watched Pittsburgh vs. Connecticut or Navy vs. Air Force.. During a time of sometimes hostile political confrontation, it may be wise to remember Jesus' words in Matthew 5. We did study Matthew about a decade ago.

Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Happy are those who mourn; God will comfort them.
Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised.
Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully.
Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them.
Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God.
Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children
Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Prayer Rounds

Remember in your prayers Retta Gray and Alex Sherman, Jacqueline Elizabeth Butcher (Anne and Rob James' newborn granddaughter), Donald and Barbara Deer, Carolyn and Ransone Hartz, Audrey Thomson's sister Sharon Ruben and Sharon's family, Jared Oliver, Rick and Linda Mears, Julia Tyler and her parents, Mary and Julian Pentecost, Kay and Bob Culpepper, John and Margaret Oliver, Mike and Vivian Clingenpeel, the Church staff, our military and civilians in harm's way, and those only known to you.

Also special prayers for the Reverend Henry Langford, the Happy Warrior among Baptist preachers. Fred Anderson's tribute to Henry in last week's Religious Herald is a good read. Henry was ahead of his time regarding civil rights, even from his teen years.

Second Plug for Stewardship Campaign

These are the main points:

The Stewardship Committee hopes every member will attend the 11:00 AM worship service on Commitment Sunday, Oct. 24, and will make their pledge for 2005 during the commitment ceremony that is part of the service.

The Stewardship Committee also invites every member to stay for lunch in the Fellowship Hall. At the conclusion of lunch, the total of our pledges will be announced. Food and activities for young children and nursery care will be provided. Members planning to stay for the luncheon should call the church office and make a reservation.

Plug Number Two

"A Jewish leader asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to receive eternity?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him, "No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery; do not commit murder; do not steal; do not accuse any one falsely; respect your father and your mother.' "

The man replied, "Ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments." When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me." But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich." (Luke 18: 18 - 23)

Teacher Bob May Talk More About Hannah's Prayer

Hannah's prayer is one of those prayer's in the Bible attributed to a grateful woman who finally bore children after being infertile for some time. Her prayer contains a lot of reversal statements such as:

"The bows of strong soldiers are broken, but the weak grow strong.

The people who once were well fed now hire themselves out to get food, but the hungry are hungry no more.

The childless wife has borne seven children, but the mother of many is left with none.

The Lord makes some people poor and others rich; he humbles some and makes others great. He lifts the poor from the dust and raises the needy from their misery. He makes them companions of princes and puts them in places of honor."

Bring your favorite translation of the Bible, read your lesson, get to class on time, bring your offering and remember your memory verse (you choose).

The October ISH Mission Project Begins Today

The mission emphasis for this month is:

Warm winter coats for children ages infant to seventeen
Diapers for infants and adults
October 1 to October 31
Questions to: Charlotte and Bill Simpson (285-3185)

Fall Social Is Only Two Weeks Away

On Saturday evening, October 16, the SSBSC Fall Social will be held at the home of Carolyn and George Thomas. The social and drinking hour is 6 to 7 PM and dinner is at 7 PM. Directions to the Thomas home will be printed in next week's PHA. Those signing up to bring food or beverages are encouraged to bring adequate amounts for all to indulge.

On Next Tuesday Shepsons Rob James and George Werner Finally Reach Twenty-nine Years

Words from Pastor Mike

PH began this PHA with some words of Jesus. In Pastor Mike's sermon of September 19, Pastor Mike included the following in his sermon:

"Our society, sadly, is largely ignorant of the truths and the practices of the Christian life. Three years ago David Buttrick, a teacher of preaching, gave a lecture at the College of Preachers in the Washington Cathedral, in which he recounted the following story. In a small town in Michigan the week following 9/11, people across the town began to notice sheets of purple paper appearing in the stores. These purple leaflets were in the gas station, the restaurant, the tavern, the cleaners, everywhere. On the purple sheets, beginning at the top and going all the way to the bottom, was a list of phrases. Here’s what the phrases were: "Blessed are the peacemakers, Love your enemies, Do not oppose evil, If you forgive, your heavenly Father will forgive you." They are the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Buttrick said as he sat there in Suzi’s Restaurant with the purple piece of paper in his hand reading the words, a man seated next to him looked over and said, "I don’t know what them words are, but they don’t sound right to me." In our world, the words of Jesus are unfamiliar. They don’t sound right to our ears."

Final word from PH

Connecticut 29
Pittsburgh 17

Navy 24
Air Force 21

There was a young lady of Niger
Who smiled as she rode on a Tiger;
They came back from the ride
With the lady inside,
And the smile on the face of the Tiger.
ATTRIBUTION: Cosmo Monkhouse (1840–1901),

Poor Henry's Archives

September 24, 2004
September 17, 2004
September 10, 2004
September 3, 2004
August 27, 2004
August 20, 2004
August 13, 2004
August 6, 2004
July 23, 2004
July 16, 2004
June 25, 2004
June 18, 2004
June 4, 2004
May 14, 2004
May 7, 2004
April 30, 2004
April 23, 2004
April 16, 2004
April 9, 2004
April 2, 2004
March 26, 2004
March 19, 2004
March 12, 2004
March 5, 2004
February 27, 2004
February 20, 2004
February 13, 2004
February 6, 2004
January 30, 2004
January 23, 2004
January 16, 2004
January 9, 2004
January 2, 2004

2003 Archive

2002 Archive