AWANA 2010

Tuesday was the last night of AWANA.  Awards were handed out; teachers/helpers were publicly appreciated; and then  we had the Awana Fair.
We wish everyone a safe Spring/Summer Season.
See you in the Fall, Lord willing.

Jared is creamed!

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Katie is creamed!
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Mark is creamed!
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Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Mark Stevenson of Emmaus Bible College.  It's always a pleasure to have him visit our congregation.  He is shown with Mr Coyle in the picture.

Mr Stevenson's message was based on the epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.  The passage shows the excellency and sufficiency of God's grace for all of the seasons of our lives, and especially during the worst of times.  It is available on DVD, and worth seeing again, or for the first time.  Please see Romy.

...For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:  for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ, may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christs's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong (verses 8-10)

We had very special guests today:
Introducing, Miss Haley Anne, newly-born daughter of Julie and Bob.  What a beauty!  Grandpa Don of Arkansas  was also along for Haley's debut.

Mindy & Baby Gabby of Georgia were here for a visit.

Mr Bob wants to let us know that he misses his vacationing wife Sherin, and  baby Riya dearly, but he is doing well by God's grace.

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Mark Stevenson. Mr Stevenson is happily married to Tanya, and they have four children:  Jonathan, 8; Emma, 5; Katelyn, 4; and Baby Sophia, 3.5 months.  Welcome back, Mr Stevenson!  Mr Stevenson is pictured with Mr Adam Mostert, student at Emmaus Bible College.  

Mr Stevenson spoke from the epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, 

2 Corinthians 3: 1-6 --- 

Do we begin again to commend ourselves?  or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you?  Ye are our epistles written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of our selves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 

Christ's work in our lives produces "letters" in our hearts that are read and judged by all men.  Do they see Christ in us, even without reading the Bible?  Do others see that our sufficiency or strength is in Christ alone ?  Is God glorified in our lives?

Mr Stevenson's full message, in context, is available on DVD.  Please see Romy.


Below is a picture of the good-looking Sauseda Family,
(L to Right, back row)  Cortez (Nyia's brother), Sylas, Nyia, & Joshua.   (Front row, L to R) Josue  & Taishon

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Jim Stahr.  Jim is shown in the picture with Mr and Mrs Lim.  Jim Stahr  and his wife Betty reside in Wheaton, Illinois.  Jim recently hurt his leg when he stepped on a piece of ice.  Tomorrow, he will be seeing his doctor for his atrial fibrillation.  Please keep Jim Stahr in your prayers before the Lord.

Jim spoke from Luke 11: 1-13.  The passage covers the subjects of:  the Lord's Prayer; the Parable of a reluctant friend; and God as our Father (or Pater):

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  Give us day by by our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.  And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil... 

From the Lord's Prayer, above, we see an example, spoken by Jesus Himself, of how to pray. It's organized, and structured.  Note that of the 7 requests in the prayer, the first 3 indicate God as priority.
The Parable, verses 3 to 8,  remind us to "pound" on God's door for our urgent needs.
God as our Father (or Pater), verses 9 to 13, will give us good things,  Let us wholly rely on Him and trust Him for our needs. One of the good things that God gives is the Holy Spirit to Believers.

The full message by Jim, in context, is available on DVD.
Please see Romy.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Our Speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Bill Coyle.  Easter is not about colored eggs, the Easter bunny, or a new dress.  It's about a risen Saviour by whom all of scripture rests.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is important as it gives us an understanding of our salvation.  Here's the Gospel, the Good News, as written by Paul:

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto your first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures:  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. (1 Cor 15: 1-4)

We get to heaven by the grace of God, as we call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to save us:

...The word is nigh thee, even in they mouth, and in thy heart:  that is the word of faith which we preach;  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10: 8-10, 13).

The full message, in context, is available on DVD.
Please see Romy.

Easter Brunch was served after Breaking of Bread and before the Family Bible Hour.  Here are pictures of the event.  Thank You to all who made this possible.

Below, are pictures of the Easter Egg Hunt held outside for the Sunday School students: