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October 19, 2014

WELCOME!
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE

We are a group of believers who simply try to follow the Bible as a guide for all we do. Everything done in our worship service is something for which we have a Bible basis. You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you wish. We will sing hymns together and we will observe the Lord's Supper or Communion together. We will also have an opportunity to give to the work of God in this area. This collection is for the members here, and if you are visiting you should not feel and pressure to give. Our lesson time will be divided into two groups. The young children will go to our classroom area in the basement where they will be taught the Bible at a level they can understand. The adults will stay in the auditorium for a lesson at an adult level. We do try to serve the community, and if you have some needs that we can help you with, mention it to one of the members. Thank you for worshipping with us.


THANKS TO BILL AND PATTY: I am writing this before Saturday the 18th, so I do not know what the weather was like or how many went to Bill and Patty's and enjoyed the “Fun Day” that they put on for the young people of the congregation. (We had it on Sunday, due to rain on Saturday.) The event is fun, but what is important is the love and sacrifice that Bill and Patty make to have this activity. If every member of this congregation would follow the example of this couple in some way, from sending notes and letters, helping people and making phone calls to people in the community, to doing Bible studies, the work here would bear incredible fruit. Thanks Bill and Patty for showing all of us what Christian love is all about.

CHRISTMAS FLOAT — SAVE DECEMBER 5 is when we will have a float in the city holiday parade. We need everyone there for this event, so please mark it on your calendar. All you need to do is sit on a hay bale on a wagon and wish people in Dowagiac a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and join all of us in singing “Jingle Bells” and a few Christmas carols.

BIBLE CLASS AT CLAYTONS' TUESDAY: This coming Tuesday we have our monthly senior devotional at Clayton s. Join us at 7:00.

TODAY'S LESSON

MELCHIZEDEK

Sound on icon

John Clayton

INTRODUCTION
A. From our Wednesday night Bible class
B. Hebrews — A book of encouragement and hope
C. Hebrews 2:1 — Do not let what you know slip
D. Hebrews 2:13 — Put your trust in Jesus
E. Hebrews 3:13 — Exhort, because sin hardens
F. Hebrews 4:11 — Unbelief is contagious
I. HEBREWS BEGINS BY TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF REDEMPTION.
A. God gave the best — not a ranking angel.
1. 10 qualities of Jesus are given.
B. God provided a “forever priest,” an intercessor.
II. THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD
A. Established by Moses at God's command.
1. Exodus 40:12 – 15
2. Became corrupted — humans modified it.
3. Judges 17:5 – 6 and 8 – 13
B. Levitical priesthood offered security, acceptance.
1. Was temporary — priests died.
2. Was easily corrupted by weak humans.
3. Frequently told people what they wanted to hear.
C. Pastoral systems in today's churches have the same problems. That is why you do not have a “Pastor.”
III. ENTER THE PRIESTHOOD OF MELCHIZEDEK — Gen 14:18 ff .
A. Different kind of priest — based on his faithfulness, not on his inheritance. Action not just talk.
1. Psalm110:4; Hebrews7:1 – 6
B. Gave a system of life that works — no human agencies.
1. Eternal — never dies — Hebrews 5:5 – 10
IV. SO WHAT DO YOU LEAVE HERE WITH TODAY?


THE BACK PAGE

GRASPING THE WISDOM OF COLOR

This is my favorite time of year. The fresh air, the reduction of the bug population, the improvement in fishing, and especially the color that is all around me moves me to thank God for life and for the things he has done to make our lives beautiful and meaningful. Proverbs 8 talks about the wisdom in the design of all we see, and indeed the understanding of why all of this happens IS a demonstration of God's wisdom.

When you look at a green leaf, the color you see comes from the chlorophyll which contains a green pigment. When sunlight strikes the leaf the chlorophyll breaks down, and that means that plants would not stay green if it was not for the fact that the tree continually produces chlorophyll during the growing season. Leaves have other compounds in them that contribute to the growth of the plant. Each of these compounds has a color; and in aspens and birches that compound is yellow. When nights start growing long, the birches and aspens stop making chlorophyll, and when the chlorophyll is burned out of the leaves the remaining compound is all that can be seen and it is yellow.

Other trees like maple trees have an energy storing compound called anthocyanin which trees make from sugar. Anthocyanin is red in color or purple depending on what is in the soil to affect the color. When the green chlorophyll is burned out of the maples, what is left behind is the beautiful red and purple colors we see in so many areas of Michiana.

There are still other chemical tricks that have been built into plants to provide the incredible range of color we see, and none of this is necessary for the survival of trees in general. We sing a song titled “For the Beauty of the Earth”) and in that song we reflect on God's attention to what is beautiful in life. At this time of year we thank God for the beauty we see in the created things around us; but, the song goes on to remind us to be thankful for “the joy of human love” and for the church. Pause and thank God for all he has done to bless you with color, love and spiritual peace.

— John Clayton

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth, / For the beauty of the skies, / Fort the love which from our birth / Over and around us lies.

Chorus

For the beauty of each hour / Of the day and of the night,/ Hill and vale, and tree, and flow'r, / Sun and moon, and stars of light.

Chorus

For the joy of human love, / Brother, sister, parent, child,/ Friends on earth, and friends above, / For all gentle tho'ts and mild.

Chorus

For Thy church that evermore / Lifteth holy hands above, / Off'ring up on ev'ry shore / Her pure sacrifice of love.

[Chorus] Lord of all, to Thee we raise / This our sacrifice of praise.

Song 157 from Praise for the Lord songbook, published by Praise Press, Nashville, TN, 1997


Our sign by the street!

Our sign on the street

Sign saying from http://www.net-burst.net/quips/church-signs.htm