Eternal Keeper,
We give You thanks for eyes to see and hearts to respond to the needs of others. Sometimes we are stiff necked and hard-hearted, being concerned only about ourselves and those like us. Please forgive us, O Lord. The message and ministry of Jesus moves us to a different understanding. His presence in our lives allows us a different perspective than that which is thrust upon us by the culture and we are grateful. Life lived in the warmth and grace of Your love moves us to help and care for others, even the stranger in our midst. May we be ready to receive those in need who come our way and may our response always be one of extravagant generosity. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
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Today is the first of two Mission Sunday’s at Central Christian Church. Please take the time to peruse the tables where various missions are highlighted. Check out the Kids Central Silent Auction. Also add some extra time to assemble a few meal packets for Food For Kids. It will be fun and beneficial to others.
Today we also begin to receive our Thanksgiving Outreach Offering which benefits Disciples’ colleges, universities and seminaries.
The Extravagant Generosity Pony Express Run is half through today. If you have a saddlebag, then move it on quickly. When yours arrives, then prayerfully consider your estimate of giving and pass on to the next person on the list. All runs need to be completed by next Sunday which is, of course, Thanksgiving Sunday.
Our 16 youth and adults will return from Fall Fest today. We had 8 of our women return from a Women of Faith event yesterday.
Please pray for our church. The fields are ripe for the harvest. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send workers for the harvest.
The scripture for today is Philippians 1:3-11:
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 31:9-16:
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.
For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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