themainline OCTOBER 2017 A Monthly Publication of Main Street Baptist Church THE MISSION

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1 OCTOBER 2017 themainline A Monthly Publication of Main Street Baptist Church SUNDAY 9:40am Bible Fellowship Groups 10:50am Worship Celebration WEDNESDAY 5:45pm Kingdom Kidz 6:00pm The Following (Student Ministry) 6:00pm Bible Study Group CHURCH STAFF Dr. Bruce Smilie Senior Pastor Don Johnson Associate Pastor Heather Good Director of Children s Ministry Nancee Reddick Ministry Assistant Curtis Good Maintenance Director Physical Location: 313 N. Main St. Grand Saline, TX Office Phone: info@churchonmainstreet.com THE MISSION To become completely committed Christ-followers (3Cs) who: Touch God through expressing and demonstrating love to Him, to Christ-followers, & to the unbelieving (worship). Transform lives through connecting in small groups, growing together in unity, maturity & Christ-likeness, and reaching out to serve others (fellowship, discipleship, and ministry). Take risks through relationally and compassionately sharing Jesus Christ locally, nationally, and internationally (evangelism/missions). THE VISION To be a disciple-making, multiplying, missional church community, where imperfect, irreligious, and inquiring people are encouraged and equipped, to become life transformational, servant leaders for the Kingdom of God.

2 Dear MSBC, Jill Carattini's article Transfigured, found on the website of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, tells the story of a priceless discovery. A lady named Barbara Krensavage insisted that clams are not a regular part of her diet. Yet on one snowy evening in December she found herself craving an old recipe and thus brought home four dozen quahogs a clam particularly abundant along the Eastern shores of the United States, between Cape Cod and New Jersey. Mr. Krensavage was amid shucking the shellfish for dinner when he discovered one that looked dead. It had a different color to it, and he thought it was diseased. As he was about to discard it, Mrs. Krensavage took a closer look. It wasn't dead after all. In fact, inside the live clam was a rare, possibly priceless, purple pearl. Experts estimate that roughly one in two million quahog clams contains a gem-quality pearl like the one found by the Krensavages. Due to the great rarity of the find, it has been difficult to place a value on it, though some have estimated the pearl to be worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Jesus spoke of a kingdom in Matt , where, like the discovery of the Krensavages, all is not as it may appear on the surface. In a world primarily marked more by disease and death than promise, Jesus spoke of a treasure that is hidden, a mystery that is revealed in this life, worth selling all we have to possess it. He spoke of His Kingdom as both present and real. He called it a pearl of great price: For the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Just as some shellfish and particularly the kingdom of heaven possess pearls whose priceless value are not immediately apparent, so also are three great events involving MSBC this month that I heartily encourage you to check out! First, National Night Out is on Tuesday night, Oct. 3 rd (5 pm) at Depot Park Plaza in downtown Grand Saline. Among many others, we will have a booth to represent MSBC and a bounce house for children to enjoy. We will give away frisbees with our church name & website imprinted on each frisbee. There will also be free popcorn and water bottles. Additionally, we will give away both English and Spanish Bibles. I also understand there will be a dunking booth in which a certain pastor in the community (which will remain nameless!) is scheduled to be dunked as a part of the evening event. Please keep this event in prayer and come out and enjoy a good time, support your church, and meet and greet your neighbors. There are some real pearls here to be discovered if you plan now to participate in this event. Second, Oct. 8 th is Mission Sunday at MSBC. Daniel & Tiffany Kilcoyne, missionaries to France, will speak in the morning worship service and make a presentation at the mission lunch immediately following the morning service. All are invited! Meat and drinks will be supplied; please bring a covered side dish or dessert for all to enjoy. Plan to be at both the worship service and luncheon to hear about how you and our church can discover some pearls in expanding our mission horizons together in France. Third, the Grand Saline Trunk or Treat event is on Oct. 28 th. We will need approximately 30 cars to provide trunks for candy treats for children. We will have a large outside slide, bounce houses, and carnival-like games at each trunk. There will be prizes for the best decorated trunks. This is another great opportunity to make the most of your time for Christ by volunteering to help, and I suspect you will find some hidden pearls as well in this outreach event to the children and families of our community. For more information, contact the church office or see our Children s Minister, Heather Good, about how you can be involved. So, while you re out there discovering priceless pearls for Christ this month, have a great October! Your friend and pastor, Bruce

3 TRADING PLACES It s not about the 1980 s sit-com with Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) and Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) who are the subjects of a bet by successful brokers Mortimer (Don Ameche) and Randolph Duke (Ralph Bellamy). In this sit-com, Winthorpe was framed by the brothers for a crime he didn't commit. In some respects, it would be nice if that was the case but it is not. When it comes to you and me, we are guilty of a crime we and our first father committed. The crime: breaking God s law. The penalty: death. In the Trading Places sit-com, when Winthorpe and Valentine uncover the scheme, they set out to turn the tables on the Duke brothers, thus reclaiming Winthorpe s innocence and penalizing the right offenders. Winthorpe came out the winner after almost suffering the penalty of the crime. Back to you and me. Mankind has tried many ways to get out of the crosshairs of the charge of the crime against The Judge. Man has come up with his own sentence; his own redemptive plan, but nothing will satisfy the penalty for the crime. Nothing man can do that is. Mankind sinned early on - in the Garden of Eden - when he ignored the commandment of God when He said, Do not eat of the fruit of the tree. From that point on, it was the sin of man that put separation between him and God. And came with that was the power of sin that perpetuates itself throughout the generations. God saw that man sinned and God pronounced a judgement on mans offense. One that would transfer from person to person regardless of race, color, creed, gender, denomination, etc. Romans 6:23 says, the wages of sin is death. Man sinned against God and deserved to die and forever be separated from God. The game changer is that God loved mankind so much that He gave His Son as our substitute. He ended up trading places with each of us. We were all doomed and had a place on death row because of our sin. But Jesus Christ entered the divine courtroom and pleaded with The Judge to take our place and set us free, clearing our name, reputation - everything - in order to experience abundant life. If we truly understand what it means that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer, we would worship Him with our lives so much that everyone around us would know, not that we are democrat or republican, Baptist or Methodist, black or white, a Dallas Cowboys fan or not, but that we belong to Jesus because He set us free from the penalty of our sin. He traded places. I encourage you to read the account of the life of Jesus Christ from Luke s perspective in his gospel book. Observe how Jesus came to us. Observe His heart toward others. Observes His heart for you. Observe the fact that He traded places with you. Then, start to praise Him and rejoice in the salvation He has brought to you! The rest of Romans 6:23 says, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Because of Jesus, Don

4 ... MEAL Wednesdays from 5:45 7:15pm All Pre-K 6th Grade are welcome!! -Single Ladies- October 8th Mission Banquet Lunch - Gym There will not be a session during the Fall season. We will announce later when the next session will begin.

5 OCTOBER 2017 We recently went to a bluegrass music festival in Sherman and we heard the old song, Keep on the Sunny Side of Life. It was originally sung by Mother Maybelle Carter & The Carter Sisters a long time ago. Now it has been recorded by several singers. It reminded me of how much happier and content we would be in life if we looked on the sunny side of things that we go through in life. As Christians we all need to shine a sunny and peaceful light to everyone around us. People are always watching us. Well there s a dark and a troubled side of life, There s a bright and a sunny side too. But if you meet with the darkness and strife, The sunny side we also will view. Let us greet with a song of hope each day, Though the moments be cloudy or fair. Let us trust in our Saviour always, To keep us everyone in His care. Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, Keep on the sunny side of life. It will help us everyday, it will brighten all our way, If we ll keep on the sunny side of life. It seems we are in a worrisome and contentious time in America and the idea of a completely peaceful time for people in this world seems impossible. James 3:17 says: But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full or mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. Sometimes contentions spill over in every phase of our life politics, community activities, family life, friendships, church, etc. We have to continually strive for peace and harmony in life. Matthew 5:9 says: God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Always we need to treat others with love, respect and kindness. If we follow the Golden Rule we will be a peaceful person. Matthew 7:12 says: Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. James 3:18 tells us that we will reap what we sow. Those who are peacemakers will plants seeds of peace and will reap a harvest of righteousness. Christians are called to be different from the world because the way of Jesus is different and we are his chosen people. Again, I say that people are always watching us. The following is an excerpt taken from the Stand Firm devotional book published by Lifeway. A peaceful loving person shines like a star in the world because he has an active trust in God. He isn t striving or demanding his own way. His peace is not the result of a mellow personality or the fear of conflict but the grace of God. He helps resolve conflict without becoming a meddler, and his desire is for unity among God s people. It is this wisdom that the Christians and the church needs to be a light to the world. God please help us to look on the sunny side of life and circumstances that we go through. It will help us everyday, it will brighten all our way, If we look on the sunny side of life. May we always depend on and look to You for wisdom because people are watching us. We still need some people to join our Christmas choir. Mr. Mark Beatty is doing a good job of directing us and Mr. Don Johnson is planning a good Christmas program. Please consider joining us at least for the Christmas program. We have several new members and we always welcome and appreciate all who join us. The Sanctuary choir meets each Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. in the choir room. The Sr. Adult Choir meets each 1 st and 3 rd Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the choir room and we go to the nursing homes. Shirley Bailey

6 Fun Fifty-five October 6p.m. Fun After Fifty-Five A night of Fun, Fellowship & lots of GOOD FOOD. Please bring a casserole, salad or dessert. Our entertainment will be provided by Bro. Jerry Truett, a local pastor. CRUISE TIME Sunday, February 4, 2018 Western Caribbean on Carnival Breeze More information on bulletin board or call Bobbie Peden. SIGN - UP TODAY... It is time for our annual trip to the Dallas Music Hall for a Christmas matinee. This year we will see Irving Berlin s White Christmas. The cost for the show and lunch will be $ per person. Deadline and deposit of $50.00 due Monday, October 30th. Sign-up Sheet On The Senior Adult Bulletin Board in back hallway.

7 OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS Brandon Nations 1 Gerald Heddins 4 Celeste Tolar 6 Lyndsey Gillentine 6 John Janes 7 Judy Kelley 7 David Crain 9 Gene Lockhart 10 Randle Hall 10 Jill Tanner 17 Sherry Fisher 18 Alison Lanham 20 Jessica Means 21 Barbara Hogue 21 Bobbie Peden 21 Michael McCown 22 Gabriel Miguel 23 Jon Montano 29 Glenda Flores 29 Marvin Peel 30 Amanda Hazel 31 Tithes/Offerings Analysis January - December 2017 Month Month To Date Year To Date January $38,192 $38,192 February $34,940 $73,132 March $36,215 $109,348 April $37,882 $147,230 May $36,017 $183,247 June $42,838 $226,085 July $38,309 $264,344 August $38,793 $303,137 September $38,964 $342,101 October November December S.S. Mission Giving For T Unidentified Cash Pre K-K 1st-2nd 3rd-4th 5th-6th Charity Friendship Gleaners Hispanic Jubilee Koinonea Maranatha Rejoicers Young Adults Youth , Weekly Offerings 3rd - $ 11, th - $ 9, th - $ 4, th - $ 10, Weekly Worship Attendance 3rd th th th Sunday School Attendance 3rd th th th - 179

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