CENTERVILLE MESSENGER (096380) Free Upon Request-Published Weekly by Centerville Church of Christ, 138 N. Central Ave., Centerville, TN 37033-1427 June 17, 2020 Volume XXXX –Number 24

Todd Parsley

“From Where I Sit”

It was good once again to meet together to worship our great and loving God. The two worship services have served their purpose and our elders now feel that it is time for us to go back to one assembly on Sunday mornings (no Bible classes) and again resume our Sunday evening service as well. Wednesday will continue to be online only for the remainder of June and July 1st. July 5th will see us resume our regular bible classes on Sunday's and Wednesday's. For 12 weeks we worshipped together online. I am thankful for the technology that allowed us to do that but something was missing. What was missing was the fellowship of my Christian family. The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that coming together is necessary and that our participation in the church is essential. Coming together is specifically commanded by God. In the early days of New Testament times there were those who gave into the temptation of missing the worship services of the church. The writer of Hebrews points out that members of the church have an obligation to one another to be present on the Lord's day. That by coming together he states that we provoke one another to good works and that we encourage each other to live faithful lives worthy of God's children. This is best done within the context of coming together as the Lord's church, so believers are commanded not to forsake the assembling of themselves together (Hebrews 10:25). Worshipping our great God is important, and is our main purpose of coming together, but so to is the encouragement and fellowship and uplifting of each other that coming together brings. My week just isn't the same if I have to miss a service. I am sure the appeal to continue to stay home sitting on the couch, drinking coffee and watch our services online in your pj's may be tempting to some. But, please know that God's desire is for His people to come together to worship Him and to edify each other in our worship to Him. We read in Acts 2:42; "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers." Yes! the benefits of coming together as the family of God are very clear in the Bible. Participation in the church is not optional for the children of God. It is imperative and yields eternal benefits. Please, as we have clearly expressed in these pandemic times, if you feel uncomfortable about being here because of COVID-19, or you fall into the high risk category or you are sick, continue to join us online or on our Facebook live. These avenues have been and will continue to be made available. We love you all and look forward to seeing you at all the services of the Centerville Church of Christ! God Bless -Todd

Carter’s Corner

The Shepherd’s Pen

From The Heart Of The Matter

We are looking forward to Sunday! Assembling in one worship service has been long coming! Plan on being back with us! On Sunday across this nation, many people are recognizing this day as “Father Day”. A day in which fathers everywhere are honored by their family through gifts, cards, or dinners. Every man that is a father usually feels good about himself because of the recognition he receives. What greater privilege is there than to join hands with God, the divine creator of life, in bringing a soul into this world and then to be entrusted with the responsibility of preparing that soul for eternal existence with God. One of man’s greatest privileges is being a father, but to be a worthy father, one that is pleasing to God, a man must meet his responsibilities to the very best of his ability. God’s word gives guidance and direction in meeting these responsibilities. A worthy father is to love and honor his wife. (Ephesians 5:25, I Peter 3:7) A worthy father is a provider for his family. A physical provider (I Timothy 5:8), A provider of training and discipline (Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 29;15), A provider of attention and companionship. A father makes an error in judgement when he considers the babbling of his baby to be insignificant. The rock throwing, kite flying, bike riding, ball catching, basketball shooting, fishing, or any activity are what builds the bridge over which your child will let you pass into their world in the future. A worthy father is “The Spiritual Leader” in the home. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). No more important task is committed to any father than to teach the word of God to their children. As fathers, God has entrusted the souls of our children in our care and we are under every obligation to bring them up in the admonition of the Lord. Before our teaching can be effective, it must be supported and enforced by our example. John Waddey wrote these words at the close of an article entitled, A Worthy Father: “America’s greatest need is a strong Christian father in every family who will gladly accept his sacred duty to train up his child in the way he or she should go.” We again want to thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. We are excited about this Sunday and looking forward to seeing you. “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) Let us all be an encouragement, enthusiastic, and engaged! Your Elders

Finally, we are beginning to see things return to some semblance of normalcy around the church. This past week, both the youth group and the young adults were able to meet for bible class, and we all had a blast doing so. I know I speak for the rest of the youth at CCOC when I say we are ready to get out of the house and are looking forward to several upcoming events as we continue in our transition back to full worship. My first week as part of the staff has been filled with plenty of pressure washing, cleaning, and phone calls, but I have had a great experience so far. “One night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be.” No one knows who originally said these words, but I believe they resonate in all of us. With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, it is the perfect time for each of us to show appreciation to all the great, Christian fathers in this world, and to remember those who have passed on to the next. A good father or father-figure has as much of an impact on our lives as anything in this world, and I am incredibly grateful to have one of my own. But, regardless of our situation on this earth, we all have a Father who loves us more than we can comprehend. And, just like the little boy who prays to be like his dad, we should strive to be the kind of people our Heavenly Father would have us to be. Harrison

IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH EACH OTHER on the Lord’s Day. I know I said it in my article last week, but I am grateful that we have the opportunity once again to gather together for worship on the Lord’s day. The past two weeks of being involved with three worship services and teaching the Sr. High Bible class in one day has made Sundays exhausting, but also very rewarding and good for the soul. I am thankful to hear that our eldership has made the decision to move on to the next stage in returning our worship services to normal, as this Sunday we will worship together in once service for both Sunday morning and evening worship. It is a blessing to come

together as a church to praise and worship our Heavenly Father. SENIOR SUNDAY IS COMING UP ON SUNDAY, JUNE 28TH. This will be a great time to honor the students from our youth program that are a part of the Class of 2020. These students have experienced many changes over the course of their final year in school, and it is my goal to help our students enjoy a normal Senior Sunday. Students will have tables set up in the lobby displaying their accomplishments in high school, there will be a special Senior Sunday editions of both the Messenger and our worship program, and we will recognize our students at the end of worship services that Sunday. There are 15 students in the class of 2020 from our congregation--most you have known their entire lives, and others that have joined our congregation and youth program in the past years. I hope that you are making plans to join us on June 28th to celebrate the accomplishments of our students. I AM THANKFUL FOR GODLY FATHERS. Becoming a father has taught me that fatherhood is the most challenging, yet rewarding jobs that has been bestowed on men by our creator. I hope that you are looking forward to a great Father’s Day weekend, and that you plan to celebrate the earthly fathers in your life, as well as honoring our Heavenly Father this Lord’s Day. In Him, Carter

CONTRIBUTION June 14 : $ 11,433.07

Camp: $ 122.00

Budget: $12,976.00

Home: Floy Gatewood, Claudine Morrison, Robert & Marge Gilmer, Mildred Bridges, Dorris & Margie Claud, Floy Gatewood, Floy Lyell, A.J. & Willie B. Coates, J.W. & Sue Roder, Troy Parks

...Garry Greer has been diagnosed with colon cancer. He had surgery Tuesday, June 16th at St. Thomas West. ...John Plemmons, Jr. will be undergoing tests on Wednesday, June 17th at St. Thomas West. ...Sandy McFarlin has been in Centennial Hospital the last few days struggling with pneumonia. ...Chug Elrod is recovering at home. ...Bryson Chessor, son of Clay & Tara, is in Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital recovering from an appendectomy. ...Tony & Wanda Dotson, brother & sister-in-law of Faye Dotson, are both suffering with health problems. ...Kitty Pharris has been in a lot of pain in recent days. ...Nannette Simmons will have a procedure on June 22 at Vanderbilt Hospital. ...Shirley DeVore has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis and will have a procedure on June 19th. ...Floy Gatewood, mother of Gary (Becky) is struggling with Parkinsons’ Disease.

Sympathy

Nursing Home: Life Care Center: Sue McNabb, Bobby Breece, Jimmy King, Pearl Gordon, Betty Claud, Addie Bell Nash, Georgia Moss, Larry Talley St. Thomas Hickman Nursing Home: Winnie Aydelott, Martha Bates, Francis McClanahan, Sybil Jenkins

Please Pray For Those Who Are Dealing With Cancer: Thomas Gaines, Colleen Polk, Michael McCarley, Allan Newton, Charles Cantrell, George Peterson, Cletus Carroll, Lonnie Gilliam, Elizabeth Givens, Phil Shelton, Ann Lauran Plunkett, Jimmy Jenkins, Susan Hardy, Jimmy Copley, Gwen Rogers, David Talley, Beverly Grimes, Henrietta Rochelle, Jerry Shepard, Jimmy Mathis

Memorial

...a Memorial has been given to the Camp Meribah Scholarship Fund in memory of Jane Luckett and Roy Shannon by Doug & Maxine Shepard. ...a Memorial has been given to the church from the estate of Robert Mitchell in memory of Michael Earl Mitchell and Mary Mitchell. ...a Memorial has been given to Day School in memory of Seth Armstrong by Doug & Maxine Shepherd.

Thank You

Drop- Off Shower

There will be a drop-off shower for Tabitha & Gaylon Cude on June 14th & 21st. It’s a boy!

You Are Invited To The

Wedding of

Tori Renee Hughes

And Carter Eli McClanahan

June 20, 2020 Two O’Clock In The Afternoon

Dotson Alumni Lodge Centerville, Tennessee 37033

Finger Foods And Cake To Follow

At The Centerville Church of Christ

Fellowship Hall RSVP to www.theknot.com/

toriandcarter

Wedding

Recovering from surgery or other illness: Waverly Cannon, Kathy McDonald, Claud Teet, Jimmy Jenkins, Hope Ouhl, Sylvia Gibson, Will Terry, Reba Horner, Stephen Dotson, Charlie Shelton, Glenna Hill, Bobby & Joyce Mayberry, Barbara Dawes, Dan Elkins, Kitty Pharris, Alden Chilton, Ann & J.C. Wells, Ruth Reece, Ann Spencer

...We express our sympathy to the family of Grace Pinkerton who passed away. She was the mother of Shirley (Michael) Bryant. ...We express our sympathy to the family of John Beard who passed away in Germantown.

Stephen Dotson writes: “ I want to thank our church family for all the prayers, calls, cards and food prior to my surgery and post surgery. I am overwhelmed by all the love and kindness.” Winnie Aydelott writes: “ Thank you all for the calls, prayers and acts of kindness shown me during my hospital stay and move into St. Thomas Hickman Nursing Home.”

Please Pray For:

Read Scripture

June 21st:

Don Roder

Elder’s Prayer

June 21, 2020

Mike Goodpasture

Prayer Week Of June 21st:

S.M.W. S.M.D.

Randy Wright Brett Martin S.E.W. S.E.D.

Robert Bowman Calvin Hoover W.E.B.S. W.E.D. ONLINE ONLINE

4th of July Celebration Sunday, June 28, 2020

Following 7:30 P.M. Worship Service

Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Cookies,

Snowcones and Drinks

Fantastic Fireworks Show! Join Us For Food, Fellowship and Fireworks

Bring Bagged Cookies/Brownies

(2 Per Ziplock Bag)

Congratulations to these college graduates! Please inform the office of others.

Griffin Elkins Freed Hardeman University

Kailey Cannon Freed Hardeman University

Abigail Loveless UT Martin

College Graduate