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| June 2008 |
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Exodus 3:16-4:5 Moses, as are many Bible personalities, is an unexpected servant of God. With all of the privileges awarded him as a “son” to the Royal Family of Egypt, at the age of 40 he committed murder and then was forced to flee for his life to a remote desert place where he spent another 40 years as a sheep herder. Not until age 80 did the Lord appear to him in the burning bush, and now with a difficult and troubled past the elderly shepherd is called on to learn and do many new things with which he had little or no experience. He seems to have a lot working against him. Add to all of this Moses’ other limitations such as difficulty speaking, ineloquence, anger, impatience, weak self-esteem, fear of Pharaoh, doubt, argumentativeness, and unwillingness and we wonder why God chose Moses at all. But God’s ways are not our ways, and one powerful lesson to learn from this encounter is that God chooses to use the weak things of the world to astound even the wise and to make us more aware of the fact that what victories come are a result not of our ability but God’s grace. God instructs Moses to gather the leaders together to tell them that he has appeared to Moses. And His message is simple. “I care about you, I’ve seen what has happened in Egypt, and I promise to deliver you into the Promised Land.” What a wonderful message! “I care about you.” It is easy to imagine the Israelites sense of abandonment. They have been enslaved for some 280 years. The glory days of Joseph are long passed, and no Egyptian even remembers that there was a time when the Hebrews were honored and welcomed in the land. Thinking they are confined to an unending imprisonment, God reminds His children that He cares about them.
The New Testament is but a long account of God’s care, or in the New Testament language, His agape for us. “No greater love has a man for another than to lay down his life.” Jesus became a ransom for us. This is care lived out in the flesh. It is the care shown the Israelites and it is the same merciful care expressed in a deep abiding love for us today. God cares for us. He cares for us individually, and He cares for His body the Church.
Mrs. Lois Stevens, WMU Director 1118 Roundtree Dr., Bedford 24523 Phone: 540-586-7409 email: LStevens44@netzero.com Women on Mission: Palestine is leading devotionals at Oakwood Manor in June; Radford will lead them in July. Beaverdam will host the June birthday party for residents of Bedford County Nursing Home; Radford will host it in July.
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Auditions for Jonah Sunday, June 22, 2008, 2 p.m. The role of Jonah is a demanding one for acting as well as solo singing. Since Jonah should be older we are opening the auditions to those who have completed 4th-8th grades.
Who: Guys (or girls willing to play a guy role)
Beaverdam will host a Beth Moore Live Simulcast on Friday, August 1, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday, August 2, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tickets are now available at $25.00 per person (non-refundable). To purchase tickets, please call Ellen Karnes at 540.890.5648.
Shady Grove will be hosting a Community Fun Day on June 21 at 4:00 p.m. Activities include a bake sale, moonwalk, climbing wall, face painting, horse shoes, and a silent auction with many items including a handmade quilt. Hot Dogs with all the trimmings will be served, and the band “Revelation” will be performing Gospel Songs and “Oldies but Goodies.” Everyone is invited to attend!
You are invited to share in Staunton's homecoming celebration at Saunder’s Point Marina on Saturday, June 8, at 10:30 a.m. There will be praise music, a message from Pastor Chris Smith, and LOTS of food and carousel rides. Please RSVP at 434.610.2708.
Rick Foster will become pastor at Timber Ridge on June 1, 2008. He is originally from New Albany, Indiana, and served in the United States Army for five years immediately following high school. Rick and his wife Tracy have been married almost 13 years and have three children—Lauryn (9), Kathryn (6), and Samuel (almost 2). Ordained in 1996, Pastor Foster has ministered in churches in Kentucky and Virginia. He earned his Doctor of Ministry at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007. Timber Ridge will have Vacation Bible School June 22-27, 6:00-8:45 each evening. Using LifeWay’s “Outrigger Island” curriculum, they will explore ways to Live God’s Unshakeable Truth.
July 8 Ed Greer (Retired) July 11 Bryon LePere (Big Island) July 23 Harry Leland (Shady Grove) July 31 Esther Woodford (SBA)
July 1 Michael Cox (Pastor/Suck Spring/1 year)
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Music Camp
(For children who have completed grades K-6)
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bedford Baptist Church Registration fee: $25 per child Director, Susan Batten-Bell
Tentative Classes: Musical Program, Friday, 7:00 p.m. Based on the Old Testament book, Oh, Jonah! is a frolicking, fun-filled children's musical that carries a serious message about responsibility. Diverse in musical styles, it is immediately appealing—especially the whale's song!
Conference Center Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center has a service opportunity for you. We are starting a program of renovating some of our lodges and would like to put valances on all of our lodge windows. If you have a box of material pieces suitable for curtains that are larger than 1 yard we would be happy to use them for this project. Most of the bedrooms are dreary with just brown carpet and metal brown bunk beds. The valances have really brightened the rooms. We also could use seamstresses to make the valances. We would appreciate any donations of material or time. I would also like to explain our volunteer program. If your group wants to get away and volunteer during the day working here, we would be happy to provide your accommodations and meals during your stay. There are many chores available such as: painting, spring cleaning, washing windows, carpet cleaning, landscaping, and raking. You would be able to have group study time in the evenings and service and fellowship during the day. I would be happy to speak with you about these opportunities. Please call me at 434.384.2211 or email stephanie.harrison@eagleeyrie.org. I look forward to having you here.
Stephanie Harrison
July 1 Ken & Evelyn Butterworth (Diamond Hill) |
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Updated 6/3/2008
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