Announcements
IN MEMORY: The flower on the organ is given by Joyce Smith in memory of her husband, Richard H. “Dick” Smith, who went to be with the Lord July 13, 2018.
CONGRATULATIONS: to Will and Anne-Marie Albaugh and Mary Ann Albaugh at the birth of their grandson/great grandson, Jaiden Ryan Green, on Monday, June 28, weighing 8 lbs 12 oz and 21” long. The proud parents are Ryan and Anna (Albaugh) Green.
THANK YOU: I’d like to thank you all for praying for me, the cards and visit from Pastor Holbrook. The surgeries went great and my recovery has been a big blessing. Thank you, Gretta Keel
THANK YOU: to all the fans who came out to support the Ladies Softball game on Monday evening. Despite the heat, we had a great game. A special thanks goes to Gavin Jennings for preparing the field and gathering equipment, Pastor for pitching, Paul Albaugh for umpiring, and Caleb Muller for catching. Let’s play ball again soon! Thanks again, Kellie Muller
GOOD SHEPHERDS MINISTRY: We are making preparations to restart our church’s ministry to the special needs community. If you would like more information on how you can help, please contact Steve Clemons at: 410-259-1228.
USHERS & GREETERS: needed for all church services. If you are interested in this ministry and would be willing to help, please see or call/text David Brown at (410) 458-8360. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. – Psalm 84:10b
NURSERY WORKERS: are needed for Sunday School hour. Please contact Anne-Marie Albaugh at 443-375-2078 amagoingforth@gmail.com if you can help. If you are in another ministry and currently signed up in the nursery during service time and would like to switch to Sunday School hour or have any conflicts to adjust, please let Anne-Marie know. If you can work more than one time during the month for either service time or Sunday School, that would be wonderful. If you are a parent with young ones in the nurseries, we would love for you to join our team once or twice per month. Please fill out a Contact Card and a Safe & Secure form at the welcome desk. Thank you all!
From My Heart
Next Sunday, July 18, I will be back in the pulpit, and we are going to have for the first time since early March of 2020, the Lord’s Supper. I have certainly missed the Lord’s Table so it will be a refreshing change for us to be able to fellowship together as a Church family around the Lord’s Table. I asked the girls in the office to see if they could find a way for us to have communion, and still be able to safeguard against COVID. They found a unique little single unit cup with juice in it, and a little piece of unleavened bread. Each unit is sealed, and you will simply peel it open and then use it.
Then after church the next Sunday evening, we will be having our ice cream social just behind the church, weather permitting. If it rains, we will simply move everything inside. We will be getting the ice cream from Hoffman’s and will have many flavors available. Our servers will be wearing protective gloves and will be extra cautious as they serve. I sure hope you will plan to be here for the special service and fellowship.
Recently, I had a lengthy phone call with a pastor friend from the Middle East. He said, “Is your media telling you in America what is going on here in the Middle East?” I laughed and said, “They don’t even tell us what is going here in America, so I certainly do not expect them to tell us what is happening over in the Middle East.”
He proceeded to tell me how in Lebanon they are facing serious power outages, with most folks only having their power turned on for only one hour a day. People are losing the food in their refrigerators, there is no gasoline, grocery stores cannot get deliveries of fresh products. He went on to say the newly-elected President of Iran is a known Islamic radical who is spewing complete foolishness about attacking Israel and destroying them!
He then told me about Saudi Arabia dealing with a locust invasion this spring, which was one of the worst infestations they have ever had to face. And then they had to deal with huge storms causing flash floods and destroying houses and cars and human life. He said the newspapers were all saying something “Biblical” was happening in the region. He told me the Christian folks everywhere in the Middle East are speaking about how these things are a sure sign of our Lord’s soon return!
I seriously do not know how much more the world can handle of this terrible chaos. Remember, the Lord Jesus said in the last days, we would see these things, and when we did, we should lift up our heads towards Heaven, for our redemption draweth nigh! I pray our Savior comes back today!
Have a great day and enjoy Dr. Mathews as he preaches the Word of God.
Pastor Norris