Church Bulletin for Father's Day, June 16th, 2013

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK:

Today is “Father’s Day”, a day set aside to remind us to honor our earthly father’s. So, each year we have a day that is meant to remind us to keep number five of the Ten Commandments!

The first national celebration of Father’s Day was on June 19, 1924, by proclamation of President Calvin Coolidge. But it all started because of a lady named Sonora Smart Dodd. Sonora was sitting in church in 1909 listening to a Mother’s Day sermon when she began to think about her father. Sonora’s mother had died and her father had raised Sonora, taking her to church and doing his best to train up his daughter in the way she should go. Sonora wanted him to know how special he was to her for all his parental sacrifices and for being, in her eyes, so courageous, selfless, and loving. Twenty-five years later, through Sonora’s efforts, President Coolidge designated the 3rd Sunday of June as “Father’s Day”.

God did say, “Honor thy father” (Exodus 20:12/ Deut. 5:16), The word “honorable” means “praiseworthy”; “admirable”; “morally principled”. What are we to do if our father has missed the mark? We look to Matthew 6:14-15 and Matthew 11:25-26.

I have faced that in my own life and God allowed me to see that my own Dad was just a guy, struggling to get through life. All he needed was my forgiveness. That’s when Philippians 4:7 took on real meaning for me and caused me to have a “Happy Father’s Day”

_______________________________________________

DEVOTIONAL FROM THE PASTOR’S WIFE:

The 14^th chapter of Luke tells of a man who planned a “great supper”. When everything was ready, he sent his servants to tell the invited guests, “Come; for all things are now ready.”

But, like a lot of people today, the invited guests began to make excuses for not coming. The man then told his servants, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.”

When that was done, there was still room for more, so the man told his servants, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” What a tragic thought! Invited, everything prepared but refusing to go! In John 14:2, Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” Revelation19:9: Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

 ____________________________________________________________

Here is something that you might find interesting.

In a recent survey, The Institute for American Church Growth asked 10,000 people the following question:

"What was responsible for your coming to

this church the first time?"

This is how they answered that question:

“I had a special need at the time”.............2%
“I thought I would try this church”.................3%
“I like the Pastor”...............6%
“I had visited here before”..................1%
“I like the Sunday School”........1%
“I like the social programs they have”.............3%
“Other”............................5%
“Someone invited me to come”……79%

Think about it! 79% of church visitors came because someone invited them! Someone listened to what Jesus said in, Luke 14:21-23, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

            He was saying to us, “Go out and invite people to come to God’s house, no matter their situation in life!

Now, answer these questions for yourself:

1 - If you knew that the world, as we know it, would end one month from now, how many people would you invite to church this month?

2 - How compelling would your efforts be?

3 - Would God be pleased with your efforts? (Matthew 25:21)

Invite someone to Church today!