Weekly connections


November 22, 2022

 

Weekly Bible Reading

Week of November 20: 1 John 3-5; 2 John 1; 3 John 1; Psalm 113


Upcoming Events:       

        

  •         November 22 Thanksgiving Service 7 p.m.
  •         November 23 No Bible Classes
  •         November 24 Happy Thanksgiving! (Office Closed)
  •         November 26 Workday for the Christmas Parade float at 1 p.m.
  •         November 27 Workday for the Christmas Parade float at 2 p.m.
  •         November 30 Youth-led service in the auditorium 7 p.m. (no Bible Classes)
  •         December 2 Whistle Stop Lighted Christmas Parade
  •         December 8 Ladies Christmas Party, FLC, 6:30 p.m.

 

CHRISTMAS PARADE FLOAT

See Camille Shaw, Melissa Reaves, or Michelle Glover for more info about the float and if you have a child who wants to walk in the parade or ride in the truck! The workdays will take place at Camille’s home.

 

SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE CLASSES

Beginning Sunday, December 4, a new discussion-based adult Bible class will be offered in the Parlor. The topics will be targeted to adults with children still living at home, but adults of any age are welcome. The class in FLC 2 will continue, taught by Dallas Dill and Jeff Giles, as well as the class in the auditorium, which will be taught by Russell Cashion beginning December 4.

 

SYMPATHY

Betty Lehrmann (mother of Mike and Steve Lehrmann) passed away Monday evening, November 21. Visitation will be at Rosser Funeral Home on Sunday, November 27 from 2-4 p.m. The funeral will be at Westhill Church of Christ on Monday, November 28 at 10 a.m.



NOVEMBER PRAYER FOCUS: SAFE TRAVELS AND FAMILY



Devotional Thought for the Week


Stand Guard

By Brent Easdon

 

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.


When I read this passage, I think of both a child and a soldier.  The Queen’s Royal Guard to be exact.  Standing at attention wearing their bearskin hats, and a child playing hide and seek.  


When playing hide and seek with a small child the child seeking often runs while searching and will run right past the person hiding.  A child will also return first to the last place they found you hiding.  That same child will look a little confused when no one is found.  Why?  Because a child is slow to change their tactics. 


The Royal Guard, until recently, came from the Royal Marines.  They’ve captivated visitors from across the world to become a tourist attraction in their own right.  The Royal Guards are not ceremonial guards but belong to a battle tested regiment.  Guards are not chosen individually; the honor goes to the regiment chosen.  Watching over the Royal family is a task that is taken very seriously.  It is not unusual for a guard to faint due to heat exhaustion because the job of stand guard comes first even over their own health and safety.  The rules are taken very seriously if a guard fails to do his job or becomes distracted the guard can face jail time as punishment.  On YouTube you can find videos of tourists trying to provoke a smile or reaction, but the guards know breaking character, or a smile can result in a harsh punishment.


Peter reminds us how crafty evil is.  Satan is always changing tactics to catch us, unlike the child playing a game of hide and seek.  Satan is more like the tourist, always tempting, willing to cross the line and cause us to break character.  We are the children of God.  Jesus has trained us, and we say we are Christians.  


Don’t break character, be on guard against evil.