Carter Christian church T HE C OURIE R March - April, 2019 Our hearts were filled with so much joy when Steve Pierce made the great confession that JESUS BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST was the LORD and are so grateful to him. SAVIOR of his life He had over 20 additional friends and and was baptized into CHRIST on Sunday, family members besides our church fami- February 10. Steve has been coming to ly come to witness his our church with his great confession. wonderful wife, What a wonderful Genia, for many years witness of the love on special occasions. Steve has for CHRIST He has shared his talent of music with us many for him. Ro- and the love of so many times, and we mans 6:3-4 says, Or don t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE As we turn the focus of your friends and family as we remember our hearts and minds on the cross and the the death of our resurrection during the LORD and SAVIOR Easter season, please and prepare to celebrate Resurrection make plans to join us on Friday, April 19, at Sunday. For Christ 6 PM for our community-wide Good Friday sins, the righteous for also suffered once for Service. Please invite the unrighteous, to FLOWER FOR EASTER One of the things we notice when Spring comes is the beautiful flowers that bloom. We want to bring that springtime beauty into our Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 21. If you would like to participate, bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the please bring your flower or flowers a few minutes early before the Easter Sunday service. Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18, NIV
PAGE 2 All my life I have lead worship services and preached sermons. Honestly, I can t think of a better job. That you would let me share this with you at Carter Christian Church just honors me greatly. Hope you can tell, I m giving my very best efforts to prepare the finest music and messages each Sunday for my church family and for my Lord. But worship and preaching are a two-way street. I need your help to do both well. So, I d like to give you a heads up for where we are headed in 2019 in our times together each Sunday. Plans often change, but I believe we do better if we have a basic roadmap to offer God to bless. So here goes. January through February, we will complete our Beautiful Attitudes series studying the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ. Thanks for all the encouragement you have been sending about these sermons. Beginning in March and running up to Easter (April 21 this year), let s consider the amazing Seven Last Words Jesus spoke from the cross. They are incredible and will change our hearts. Do you remember our series a couple years back about the twelve disciples? There was so much good feedback from that. In May, June, and July, let s visit with The Other Twelve, 12 other followers of Christ who were so important in our early church. During August, our sermons will address four more Weird Passages in our Bibles. You all suggested some real humdingers last year. Start looking for some new weird candidates. There s something new in store for the month of September you won t want to miss. During this series, My Favorite Preachers, four of my absolute best preacher friends will visit Carter and preach in our pulpit. There is not a loser in the group. After hearing from them, you may never let me preach again. Homecoming 2019 is September 29. This is always a wonderful Sunday. Now my favorite series of the year begins in October. Like last year, everyone will receive a free book. Last year, we read through God s New Testament together. This year, we will read a little book with a big message called, A Life God Rewards. I believe God will use October to change the way all of us think in some wonderful ways. Heritage Month will be November, a THE COURIER time we will explore our unique history at Carter Christian Church, in our East Tennessee Christian Churches, and in our wonderful Restoration Movement. Our past can tell us much about our future. Finally, December will be dedicated, not surprisingly, to the birth and life of Jesus Christ. It is not a common custom in our congregation to give special attention to Advent or even to have an Advent Candle. But this year, we will be sharing together An Advent Christmas as a structure around which to approach the manger. There you have it. It s going to be a great year and I hope you will join me all the way through as we study together God s Word and His Son, our wonderful Jesus Christ.
MARCH - APRIL, 2019 PAGE 3 EASTER EGG HUNT We re calling all church. The time will Carter Kids and kids be announced as the in the community to event gets closer. The get your Easter baskets picture shown is from ready! The annual last year. There will Easter Egg Hunt is be lots of FUN, scheduled for Saturday, April 20, in the Please bring a friend FOOD and EGGS! field beside the and join us! The ladies Spring Bible Study will be from March 21 to May 9 on Thursdays in the Fellowship Hall from 10 AM to noon. The study will be led by Phyllis Todd, and refreshments will be guide her when she s not sure of her next steps, to provide rest when she s worn out, to walk with her when the valley is dark. God is the Good Shepherd whose companionship provides the comfort and confidence every woman needs. No matter what season a woman finds herself in, she is safe with her shep- WOMEN S SPRING BIBLE STUDY served. The ladies usually have several different women from various congregations in the community join them. This new study is called Psalm 23 The Shepherd with Me and was written by Jennifer Rothschild. Every woman longs for someone to protect and care for her someone to herd. Many women know Psalm 23 by heart but haven t experienced its power in their lives. It is more than a psalm that comforts in death; it gives confidence in life! This study is for women of all ages. Please make plans now to attend and invite a friend! NEW ARRIVAL Congratulations to Virginia Hardin, Great-Grandmother, on the birth of Claire Ann Hardin. She was born to Steven and Tanika Hardin on Monday, January 28, at 3:32 PM. Claire weighed 7 pounds and 2 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. She has a sister, Lyla, and brother, Camp- bell. Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Psalm 127:3, NIV
MARCH - APRIL, 2019 THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER Thirty pieces of silver was the amount of money Judas was given to betray Jesus. It has been a tradition at Carter for many years to collect a special offering on Easter Sunday that we call our Thirty Pieces of Silver Offering. Many of us have memories of placing a container on the kitchen table and saving our coins for this I send sincere thanks to all of my church family for your prayers, support, phone calls, emails, text messages, pre-surgery visit to the hospital and coming to me in the parking lot post-surgery to ask how I was doing! You are ALL such a precious group of friends and family. We are so blessed offering. This year our offering will go to Outreach and Benevolence. We want to take our 30 pieces of silver and turn what was meant for evil into good! THANKS to know each of you! To my Secret Pal...you totally ROCK! Thanks for all you've done all year and for your most recent gift to me, the spoon "REST! It really is exactly what I need! (Rest and a spoon rest)! I feel really good after surgery and am just waiting for results of the test they will be doing. We love you all! Kathy & Gene EVERY PAGE 4 Every day CHRIST lived on earth HIS message was very clear. HE showed the power and love of GOD And gave hope to those who feared. Every mocking word CHRIST heard As HE was beaten and was scorned, Was never met with angry words Though CHRIST should ve been adorned. Every step our SAVIOR took. HE knew where it would lead - Down a long and lonely road To be crucified on a tree. Every thorn in that awful crown Pierced the head of CHRIST. Nails driven in his hands and feet With all the soldiers' might. Every word HE spoke in love, As HE died upon the cross; Knowing deep within HIS heart They considered HIS life no loss. Every follower was overjoyed When HE rose in three long days. They saw the nail prints in HIS hands. They knew the price HE paid. Every bit of suffering That our SAVIOR chose to bear. HE did so for us To show how much HE cares. Every sin of ours HE bore. HE paid our debt - we're free. The sinless HOLY LAMB OF GOD Conquered death for you and me. Lisa
PAGE 5 Birthdays & Anniversaries March 3 Larry Estep 4 Tommy Scalf 19 Ron Picard 20 Sam & Hollie Shah 22 Campbell Hardin 30 Hope Adkins Shelly Hardin April 2 Kathy Pierce 3 Sheila Buckles 10 Juanita Nidiffer 11 Isaac White 13 Eliza Wright 20 Gene & Kathy Pierce 22 Steve & Genia Pierce THANK YOU A big Thank You goes to everyone who helped to make the Valentine s Social a success. The food was delicious, and the Fellowship Hall looked great! The Ladies Aide met on Monday, January 14, with 11 ladies present and on Monday, February 11, with 8 ladies present. Each meeting was opened with prayer. NOTE FROM THE LADIES The Programs for both meetings were presented by Carolyn Buckles. January s was titled Loaves and Fish and was taken from John 6:9. She emphasized that we all experience hard times. Jesus said let nothing be wasted as he broke the bread and the fish - multiplied he fed thousands. We are a blessing to each other as Christians as we all go through difficult times. Pray! Encourage one another. God will bless us. February s was titled Is Your Life Working? It asked the question do we at times take on too much not being present for the ones that need us? It s okay at times to say No. Seek God First. Have an attitude of peace. Love. Joy, and Peace are contagious. In Business the Ladies discussed the upcoming Bible Study which will be March 21 - May 9 from 10 AM to 12 noon. The subject will be Psalm 23 The Shepherd with Me by Jennifer Rothschild. All Ladies are invited and encouraged to bring a friend. They also discussed the Mother, THE COURIER Daughter, Friend Dinner which is on May 10 at 6 PM. This will be a catered event, and the cost and the speaker will be announced. A sign -up sheet will be provided in April. The Senior Shut- In Meal menus were planned. They discussed ALM (Associated Ladies of Milligan) Conference to be held Saturday, April 6, at 11 AM. The information is posted on the bulletin board. Each meeting was closed with prayer and delicious refreshments. Judy Congratulations to Kendall Bare along with some other students who participated in the HOSA Upper East Tennessee Regional Competition. HOSA is an international student organization whose two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.
CARTER CHRISTIAN CHURCH 1765 Hwy. 91 Stoney Creek Elizabethton, TN 37643 Phone: 423-474-2488 One of Our Ministers: Don Brandon Cell Phone: 943-6910 Email: donbdon@yahoo.com Sun Wed Devotion & Prayer - 9:50 AM Sunday School - 10 AM Children's Church - 11 AM Morning Worship - 11 AM Adult Classes - 6 PM Youth Activities - 6 PM We r e o n th e Web www.carterchr ist ianchur ch.com TCTC UPDATE The Youth and their Leaders had a great experience attending the Tennessee Christian Teen Convention (TCTC) in Gatlinburg in January. They heard inspiring speakers and great music which put their focus on God. Thanks to their leaders (Bryan and Emily White), the church and to everyone who prayed for them. We are very proud of our Carter Youth! If you would like to see more photos, they are available on our Facebook Group Page and on our church website at www.carterchristianchurch. com/tctc2019.html. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE FOR MARCH - APRIL, 2019