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Elders: John Cox, Richard Pryor News & Notes from the Gallatin Church of Christ Volume 40 Issue 2 February 2013 News Reporters By Daniel Gordon As Rachel will attest, I frequently get mad at, and tired of, the evening news. So much bad news. I get tired of it. I do appreciate Brian Williams, ending each NBC Nightly News episode with the series “Making a Difference.” These reports are glimpses of good news in the midst of much bad news. In general, though, haven’t we come to equate “news” with “bad”? Why else would we say, “No news is good news”? To hear nothing at all is a good thing? If we hear something, it’s bound to be bad. In our kind of world, I do believe that people want some good news. We Christians have a word for good news: “gospel.” We also have a word for reporting good news: “evangelism.” Is our faith good news to others? Is it good news to us?—do we live each moment convinced that our lives are lived in good news? Or is our faith drab and boring—something we’d hardly, and honestly, call “good news”? Is our faith an obligation? a must? simply life insurance for when we die? How would you define our “good news,” our “gospel”? Imagine that you had to write your definition of gospel right here: . What would your definition of “gospel” say? And how would you report this gospel? Recently, I challenged the congregation to consider: What if—instead of our church having an evangelism strategy—what if our church was the evangelism strategy? What if a group of Christians is designed by God to be the very way that good news is reported to the community around us? We ponder ways of effectively evangelizing, reporting our good news, to others. What if our greatest asset in evangelism is the very people with whom we share our worship and our work? What if our worship and work together were so filled with good news, that our very existence together, our very time spent together, had a way of reporting that news to others, inviting them to accept the good news that Jesus and his people offer? As we focus on our church, our relationships, and our involvement these days, let us see this focus not as an attempt to become a well-ordered religious machine—but a living, organic body of believers whose shared worship and work are good news to those around us. May our gospel be a gospel worth believing—may our gospel be Jesus’ gospel. And may our church report that news by our very life together. Minister: Daniel Gordon Associate Minister: Byron Gibbs

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Page 1: News & Notes from the Gallatin Church of Christ Elders ...gallatinchurchofchrist.com › wp-content › uploads › 2011 › 12 › Februa… · Elders: John Cox, Richard Pryor News

Elders: John Cox, Richard Pryor

News & Notes from the Gallatin Church of Christ

Volume 40 Issue 2 February 2013

News Reporters By Daniel Gordon

As Rachel will attest, I frequently get mad at, and tired of, the evening news. So much bad news. I get tired of it. I do appreciate Brian Williams, ending each NBC Nightly News episode with the series “Making a Difference.” These reports are glimpses of good news in the midst of much bad news. In general, though, haven’t we come to equate “news” with “bad”? Why else would we say, “No news is good news”? To hear nothing at all is a good thing? If we hear something, it’s bound to be bad. In our kind of world, I do believe that people want some good news. We Christians have a word for good news: “gospel.” We also have a word for reporting good news: “evangelism.” Is our faith good news to others? Is it good news to us?—do we live each moment convinced that our lives are lived in good news? Or is our faith drab and boring—something we’d hardly, and honestly, call “good news”? Is our faith an obligation? a must? simply life insurance for when we die? How would you define our “good news,” our “gospel”? Imagine that you had to write your definition of gospel right here: . What would your definition of “gospel” say? And how would you report this gospel? Recently, I challenged the congregation to consider: What if—instead of our church having an evangelism strategy—what if our church was the evangelism strategy? What if a group of Christians is designed by God to be the very way that good news is reported to the community around us? We ponder ways of effectively evangelizing, reporting our good news, to others. What if our greatest asset in evangelism is the very people with whom we share our worship and our work? What if our worship and work together were so filled with good news, that our very existence together, our very time spent together, had a way of reporting that news to others, inviting them to accept the good news that Jesus and his people offer? As we focus on our church, our relationships, and our involvement these days, let us see this focus not as an attempt to become a well-ordered religious machine—but a living, organic body of believers whose shared worship and work are good news to those around us. May our gospel be a gospel worth believing—may our gospel be Jesus’ gospel. And may our church report that news by our very life together.

Minister: Daniel Gordon Associate Minister: Byron Gibbs

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TO THE BENEVOLENT FUND

In Memory of Bill Logue

by Jim & Mary Bright Young

Renee Held

Sandra Wong

Susie Ng

Jen Gau

Rob Kovach

Jason Miller

Andrea Desiderio

In Memory of Sheila McNerney

by Zane & Linda Kittrell

Sheryl Jetton

In Memory of Margaret Shults

by Zane & Linda Kittrell

In Memory of Damon Sims

by Martha Nicholls

Curtis & Ada Key

In Memory of Elaine Stewart

by Gallatin Church of Christ

In Memory of Joe Higgins

by Gallatin Church of Christ

TO THE CHURCH

In Memory of Bill Logue

by John B. Garrott

Maxwell Systems

John & Robbie Triplett

In Memory of Alice Crowder

by John & Robbie Triplett

TO THE MAYBERRY MISSION FUND

In Memory of Bill Logue

by Hack & Sue Gilliam

TO THE RUTH FIELDS SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In Memory of Bill Logue

by Myra Hayes

In Memory of Jim Siever

by Bea Scott

Myra Hayes

In Memory of Jeff Trisdale

by Myra Hayes

TO THE EDUCATION FUND

In Memory of Faye Cox

by Tom & Tammy Jones

TO THE YOUTH FUND

In Memory of Bill Logue

Faye Cox by Mike & Janice Dorris

In HONOR of Martha Nicholls

TO THE VENA STUART FOOD BAG PROGRAM

In HONOR of Joel Harrison

by Charles & Margie Yancey

Our Sympathy to the families of these who have recently passed away.

Shelley Williams (Kendra Burton’s friend)

Bill Carlisle (Bill & Teddie Hunter’s friend) David Ryder (Kyle & Zach Joyner’s grandfather)

Janet Bautista (James Rogers’ grandmother)

William “Bubba Dunn” Sheila McNerney

Damon Sims Roy Eden (Brenda Davis’ brother)

Ruby Walker (Damien & Urian Walker’s grandmother) Joyce Brown (Melanie Webster’s grandmother)

Liz Miller (Tammy Elwess’ friend) Jeff Trisdale

Jim Siever (Myra Hayes’ brother-in-law) Troy Harp (friend of the Harrisons)

Joe Higgins (Kathryn Smith-Gaines father) Elaine Stewart (Linda Wiggins’ mother)

Kenneth “Chico” Stiles Lou Elwess (Dan Elwess’ father)

Sunday February 3 Our Teens will be at the doors with

Soup pots to collect donations for “Souper” Bowl Sunday.

All funds collected will go to The Good Neighbor Mission.

Congratulations to Kelley & Cody Ballentine

on the birth of son, Parker Reese born January 15. He weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz.

and was 20 in. long. He joins big brother Trystan.

Proud grandparents: Steve & Barrie Hollins Great Grandmother: Joan Hollins

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February 15-17, 2013

What is Winterfest: A weekend Christian rally for students in grades 6-12 Purpose of trip: Christian fellowship and faith development Trip Leader: Byron Gibbs, Associate Minister, Gallatin Church of Christ

Chaperoned by responsible adults Lodging in hotel rooms (1 adult, 3 students per room) All rally activities held in Gatlinburg Convention Center

Dates: Friday, February 15 – Sunday, February 17 Departure: Gallatin Church of Christ parking lot, 3:30 p.m. on Friday

(Subway sub and bottled water pre-ordered and ready to eat upon arrival) Transportation: church bus, church van, and personal vehicle(s) Students arrive packed

(Students encouraged to pack and leave bags at building on Wednesday or Thursday before)

Route: I-40 east to exit #407 through Sevierville and Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg Return: Gallatin Church of Christ parking lot, 5:30 p.m. on Sunday

Location: Gatlinburg, TN Rally activities: Gatlinburg Convention Center (Light #8)

Cost to Go: $75.00 for 1, $130.00 for 2, $170.00 for 3 Sponsorships available for students in need (notify Byron) Bring money for 6 meals and any souvenirs desired

2013 Liability Release Form required Protects church and church leaders, and allows medical attention to students

Byron

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Feb. 2 Groundhog Day Feb. 3 “Souper” Bowl Sunday Feb. 6 Prepared Meal ~ 6-6:45; Classes begin at 7:00 Feb. 10 BENEVOLENCE SUNDAY Feb. 10 Involvement Day Follow-up Meeting (elders, deacons, ministry leaders, ministers & staff) ~ 4:30 pm Feb. 13 Prepared Meal ~ 6-6:45; Classes begin at 7:00 Feb. 15-17 Winterfest ~ Gatlinburg ~ Teens Feb. 18 Presidents Day Feb. 20 Prepared meal ~ 6-6:45; Classes begin at 7:00 Feb. 27 POTLUCK ~ 6:30

Wednesday Morning Bible Class ~ 10:00 a.m. in the Ladies Precept Classroom Men’s Ministry - Thursdays at 12:00 Noon in the CEC. Bring a sack lunch and join us

Church Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Gallatin Church of Christ 150 East Main Street Gallatin, Tennessee 37066

Office: (615) 452-0271 ● Fax: (615) 452-7787 Prayer Line: (615) 664-1322

Email: [email protected] Web: www.gallatinchurchofchrist.com

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

GALLATIN, TENN

PERMIT NO. 17

The cost to sponsor the Prayer Line is $25.00. See Sheryl or Kathy.

Love Demonstrated

He loved us and sent His Son to be the

propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:10

The word love is used to mean many different things. We say that we “love” the house that we have just bought or that we “love” a particular vacation spot or that we “love” a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We also “love” a certain television program, and we “love” our husband or wife. Hopefully we don’t love our spouse the same way we love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The greatest love of all, however, is God’s love for us — a love that showed itself in action. A friend once observed, “Love talked about is easily ignored, but love demonstrated is irresistible.” The Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. (Romans 5:8) Now that is real love! How will you respond to His love today? HOPE for Each Day

Involvement Day 2013 We had a great turnout - Thank you to everyone who came and signed up to be involved with our church

fellowship. Thank you to all who filled out their profile forms and returned them. If you did not fill one out,

please see Sheryl or Kathy to get yours so we can have your updated information and you can get involved!