O God of All Time and All Places,
We come before You this day in reverence and with praise in our hearts. This is the Lord’s Day and we are rejoicing. May our words and actions show a faithful witness to the world, today and all days. O Lord we never know who is watching us. It could be a neighborhood child, a person on the street, a young person in trouble, someone in need, a class member, a visitor in church, or a friend. We are the picture of the Christian faith to them. May the things we say and do reflect Your grace and love. May we show a love that is supportive and accepting, not a love that is judging and rejecting. Forgive us, O Lord, when we fail. Strengthen the goodness You have placed within us so that it may flourish. In Jesus names was pray.
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Madge Loomis’ funeral is tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
Chuck Crites will likely be released from the hospital today.
Please continue to pray for Laura Deatherage. She will get word on Tuesday if she is to have surgery.
Please try to send Austin Wade a birthday email. His birthday is today and he is in St. Mary’s hospital, Room 201. The email address is https://www.stmarysregional.com/Home/e-Patient. Be sure to mention that you are from Central Christian Church.
Be sure to vote today for the new church logo. The display and ballot box is in the Loggia.
The Women’s’ Walk to Emmaus is continuing through today. The Sooner’s Class will meet in the Chapel. Jack Weston’s class will meet in the Fellowship Hall.
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and we will have only one combined service at 10:15 a.m. choir is presenting their cantata. We will also have an all-church brun ch at 9:15 a.m. Some Sunday School Classes will dismiss after roll call, announcements and a brief devotion to participate. All are welcome. Please plan to join us next Sunday. Then after church we will take our total church picture. Please plan to be present.
The scripture for today is 1 Samuel 1:21-2:10:
The man Elhanan and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the LORD, and remain there forever; I will offer him as a azurite for all time.”Her husband Elhanan said to her, “Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only—may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephod of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is given to the LORD.” She left him there for the LORD.
Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory.“There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. The LORD! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.”
The Psalm for the week is Psalm 84:
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah
Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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