Free Our Church of God Women to Serve

I invite all members and friends of the Church of God to join a group on Facebook. The name of the group is Free Our Church of God Women to Serve. The group description reads as follows:

This group exists to encourage the removal of restrictions that prevent women from serving in some ministry offices in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee).

By joining this group you publicly affirm the following statement: "I have studied the role of women in the church as presented in the Scriptures and I have concluded there is no Biblical justification for restricting women from full participation in any office or rank of ministry within the Church of God."

You also affirm that you are a member or friend of the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee). Upon joining this group, if you are a current member of the Church of God, please indicate your local church membership.

I started this group last Wednesday morning and it is growing rapidly. In a few days, look for posts on Jackie Speaks that will clarify why I started the group and what I hope will be accomplished.


http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51567096534

When I Was Young We Went To Church Often

(Another Story for Charlie and Camdyn)

When I was young we went to church often. We went two times on Sunday. On Sunday morning we went to Sunday school at 9:45 A.M. and stayed for morning worship at 11:00 A.M. Worship usually ended between 12:30 and 1:00 P.M. The Sunday evening “Evangelistic” service began at 7:00 P.M. and never ended before 9:00 P.M. Wednesday evening was the Mid-week Prayer Meeting from 7 to 9, and Friday night was the Young People’s Endeavor (YPE) service at 7:00 P.M.

I liked going to church. I especially liked Y.P.E. The youth were in charge of those services. They seemed old to me, but they were mostly teenagers. They sang, read poems, and performed skits. It was different. The adults mostly watched except they helped with the singing. Each week after church the Ladies Willing Worker Band (LWWB) sold refreshments in the Fellowship Hall to raise money for special projects. Everyone seemed to enjoy this time together. There was a lot of talking and laughing while we ate cake or pie and drank soft drinks.

Sunday and Wednesday evenings were special, too. Many people came early to pray and to share fellowship. Before church began many adults moved around the sanctuary shaking hands, hugging necks, and kissing each other in a way that made everyone feel welcomed. It was kind of like going to a big family reunion several times a week. In fact, all of the adults were called Brother or Sister: “Brother Newman”, “Sister Newman”, etc.

Momma made Shirley and me sit down and be still. She sat with us to insure we did not wonder off. Jimmy was older and he got to talk with his friends before church started. I carefully watched the adults move around the sanctuary shaking everybody’s hand, and greeting them with a smile. I waited with excitement to see if they would shake my hand. Some would, but others would skip Shirley and me talking only to my mother.

Brother Murray would always shake my hand with a firm, gentle jerk and say, “Good evening young man; I’m happy to see you tonight.” During winter Brother Murray came to our house to deliver fuel oil. He drove a truck with a big tank. At our house he pulled a long hose out of the back of the truck and attached to the fuel drum behind our house.

Several times a year we had a “Revival.” A special preacher would come. He or she was called an “Evangelist.” During revivals we had church every night of the week and the services were longer than usual. Revivals lasted for two weeks or longer. Evangelists seemed to preach longer and louder than our pastor, and people prayed much longer after the sermon. I often went to sleep before church was over.

When I was young I spent a lot of time in church.

Thanksgiving in South Carolina

We spent Thanksgiving in South Carolina. I didn't get a picture of Thelma; she said no and I obliged. Cheryl’s cousins Wayne and Timmy Turner (her Aunt Dot’s sons) were there. Glenda, April and Zachary came. Cheryl’s cousin Becky Merritt also came (pictured here between Cheryl and Glenda).

More Pictures

Special Visit

Alethea, Camdyn, and Charlie stopped over tonight on their way to Washington, D.C.. Justin is coming later tonight. They will leave tomorrow. Doug and Joyce Slocumb came over to show the children their new teacup chihuahua, Peanut. Charlie learned how to jump tonight.

A Story for Camdyn and Charlie

When I was Young My Mother Sang Me to Sleep
Jackie David Johns
(Papa)

For
Camdyn and Charlie


Every night just as the sun went down we took our bath. I was three and Shirley was four. We played together in the water as momma scrubbed us clean.

After our bath she took us to the front porch and we sat on the swing. Shirley was on my mother’s right side and I was on her left side.

“Look for the first star you see tonight,” my mother would say.

Gently we moved back and forth listening to the squeak of the chains and listening to our mother tell stories of her childhood.

“Are you looking for the first star?” she would ask as we sunk our heads into her lap and she began to hum.

Then with excitement she would squeal, “I see it, I see it. Do you see the star?”

“Where? Where? Where?” We asked.

“I see it. I see it. I see it.” One of us would shout.

Where? Where? Where? The other asked.

“Oh, there! I see it, too.”

Star Light
Star Bright
First Star I See Tonight
I Wish I May
I Wish I Might
I Have A Wish
I Wish Tonight

“Did you make your wish?” Momma asked. “Don’t tell anyone or it won’t come true.”

Then she began to sing.

Jesus loves me! this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
they are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

***
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

She would shift in and out of words, humming a while and singing a while, slowly, getting softer until we were asleep.

Sometimes, I would wake up ever so slightly when I felt my father lifting me up into his arms to carry me to my bed.

I felt good. I felt safe. My mother loved me. My father loved me. God loved me. And the world was a magical place.

Sunday at New Covenant

We had a good day at church. Cheryl preached this morning on the healing of the 10 lepers, with emphasis on the one (a Samaritan) who returned to give thanks. We had our annual Thanksgiving love feast this evening. I didn't count but there was clearly over one hundred present. New Covenant is a wonderful fellowship of saints who are "walking together in the way of Christ."

Youth Bon Fire

We had the youth, their families, and the youth workers over for a bon fire this evening. It was a great time for us.

New Covenant Web Site

Our church has had a web site for quite some time. In recent months Michael Pogue, our web master, has completely redesigned it. The revisions are still in progress, but I wanted to say thanks to Michael for all of his hard work. Michael volunteers his time and allows us to piggy back on his server.

You may find the site interesting. It includes a number of resources, including recent sermons at New Covenant. [Cheryl will be preaching this coming Sunday.] Pages for Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, and the Worship Team are being added.

If you have ever been a member of our congregation, please sign up as a member of the site. This will provide you a number of additional resources and allow you to participate in threaded discussions. Our hopes are that this will replace our Facebook Group page which hasn't gotten a lot of traffic, but thanks to everyone who has participated. Facebook will remain up for the foreseeable future.

www.newcovenantchurchofgod.net

We were pleased to have Frank and Renae Bowman and Lisa St. Marie for Sunday lunch. Frank is currently a student at the Seminary. He and Renae have served for many years as pastors. About four years ago Frank became blind and Renae attends most of his classes with him. Lisa is a graduate of the Seminary. She is an Ordained Church of God Minister and a registered nurse. She directs our parish nurse program. We enjoy having all three at New Covenant.

For Camdyn & Charlie

New Natural Color

Advent Planning in the Fall

It is fall at our house and so I include a couple of scenic pictures from here.

We had some of our worship leaders over for lunch today to help plan for Advent. Cheryl directs all of our special services. Vernice Blackaby is our children's pastor; Carrie Walls leads our worship and drama team (Karusso - Greek for "proclaiming" or "preaching"); Kemuel Gardner is our Worship Pastor and his wife, Jolanda, serves on the dance/drama team.

Bipartisan Couple

There is not much to report on election night.

Cheryl did speak in chapel at Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee today.