Monthly Newsletter of Williamstown Christian Church The OCTOBER 2011 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 8 FALL FESTIVAL There is a definite crispness in the air! The Fall Season of 2011 has enveloped our lives with beautiful fall colors and pumpkins in the fields. Williamstown Christian Church is preparing for our annual Fall Festival. WCC s celebration will be on Sunday, October 23, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the home of Darrell and Brenda Caldwell (please call church office for directions). The evening s events will include face painting, pumpkin decorating, hay rides, plus many more games. We will close out the evening with devotion time and songs around a bonfire. Of course, there will be a special time of fellowship including food. WCC will need sandwich-makers, drink-fixers and dessert gurus to help make it the most successful evening. To help, simply sign-up on the appropriate sheets in the foyers. There is also a sign-up sheet for families, and we specifically need to know how many children will attend the event. Don t forget to mark your calendar and join in for an evening of fun for the whole family! TRUNK OR TREAT Williamstown Christian Church will have an outreach ministry for the end of October. This will be a Trunk or Treat on Monday, October 31, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This will coincide with Grant County s trick or treat schedule. We are in need of volunteers to set up their automobiles (decorations are optional) during this time to pass out candy to neighborhood children. Card invites to WCC will also be included. If passing candy out from your car trunk isn t your gig, we still need folks to donate candy to be passed out from our reserve stash. Don t like to shop? We will do it for you! A sign-up sheet is posted in foyer for all who can participate. October 23 4-8 pm Fun for the Whole Family!
From the Minister s Desk It is so important for each of us to realize that God has put us here for a purpose, and the greatest accomplishment in life is to use our gifts and abilities to accomplish what God has put us here to do. Paul writes to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 12:27 and tells them, Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it. This is why it is so important that each member of the church is doing his/her part for the good of the whole body. I once heard a story of a little Swiss watch; it had been made with the smallest parts and the greatest skill. To its owner s delight it ran with the greatest precision, but still the watch was never satisfied. Each time it saw the great clock atop the tower in city hall it envied its lofty position and thought, I can keep time as well as it can. One day as the watch and its owner passed City Hall the little watch exclaimed, I sure wish I was way up there where I could serve the whole town instead of just one person. The wise owned looked down and said, I know someone who has a key to the clock tower; little watch, you shall have your wish. clock. Looking down it could see the people walking below but soon came to realize that while he could see them, no one could see him. For he had not been made to be a clock on a tower, he had been made to be a watch upon one man s wrist. Oh my, the little watch exclaimed. My elevation has become my annihilation! When you desire to trade your current sphere of influence for a larger more prominent one be wary. Instead trust the Lord to elevate you in His time. A wise man once said, Often the hardest secret for a man to keep is his opinion of himself. Paul tells us again in Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. We would do well to heed these words. See you on Sunday! The next day the little watch was taken to the clock tower and placed on a ledge beside the giant Gary Swick Senior Minister Where Else? A mother was purchasing two new suits for her sons, Charles and Arthur. As she was completing her purchase, Charles looked at Arthur and said, I ll sure look nice in Sunday school, won t I? A lady standing nearby overheard the conversation of the two brothers and asked, Do you go to Bible school? Arthur, only five, gave her a withering glace and replied, Where else would I go on Sunday morning? The lady remarked, That s the best sermon I ve ever heard. And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15 2
Community Food Drive WCC will join in a community outreach project along with other local churches during the month of November for our Community Food Drive. Please mark your calendar for November 12 and 19 to help with this important project. More information will be available in the coming weeks. Fusion NOW September has been a busy month with lots of great memories! The Men s Houseboat Trip was an excellent bonding experience that I encourage any man to attend if possible next year! The trip to Gatlinburg with the Senior Saints was a lot of fun! This group is more trouble than the teenagers! The new Young Adult class has been a success thus far and there is a lot of excitement building within our small group about the potential for our class. If you are interested in checking us out we are meeting in Gary s office during the 10 a.m. Sunday-school hour. But as September passes, there is still a lot to look forward to in the near future. The teenagers will be leading BINGO! at Grant Manor on Saturday, October 22, at 2 p.m. This is a monthly service the youth group does. Please contact me if you wish to help with this service to others. Also, the Fall Festival will take place October 23. Look for information about that as it approaches. And lastly, the high school group has been invited to the Fall Retreat with other youth groups from the area. We will be headed to Woodland Lakes Camp in Ohio with three other churches, including Sherman Church of Christ, for a weekend of fellowship and discipleship. The dates for the retreat are November 18-20. Cost is $65 per person which includes lodging, food, and a souvenir shirt. Money is due by November 6. In His Grip, Micah Montecalvo, Associate Minister Join us for the Senior Saints Mystery Tour Thursday, October 20 Departure time - 8:59 a.m. MYSTERY TOUR There aren t too many things I can say, That will help and not give it away. But this I am most sure, You ll like the food and tour. The splendor of the hillsides for one and all, And may stir memories, if you do recall. Come whatever weather, in the by and by, Oh my! Is that a happy tear in your eye? Sign-up in foyer or contact the office to save your seat today! The only cost will be for food; the tour is free. That will make everyone shout with glee. The ride there is easy; we ll be there fore you know, With Gary driving the bus; he is most familiar with the way to go. 3
From Our Children s Minister Well fall is officially here as of September, and the temperatures and weather agree. So of course with fall comes our Fall Festival. We decided last year to do something a little different and hold our own Fall Festival instead of going to another location with the kids. We also decided to include the adults of our Church family. So Darrell and Brenda Caldwell were our hosts, and have agreed to do it again this year. So the date is set for October 23 during the afternoon. We will plan on having games at the beginning for all the children. Then some food for all to enjoy. Followed by a hay ride, and finishing the evening with song and devotion around a camp fire. Should be a great afternoon with lots of fellowship and fun. So please make sure you sign up today in the foyer so we will have an idea of the expected attendance. And of course with fall comes the upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving is right around the corner with Christmas to follow. So please keep your eyes and ears open to any upcoming events that we will have in store for the children. Special thanks go out to John and Jeannie Broyles for hosting our Sunday-school teacher s appreciation picnic. It was a cool evening, but John s fire was warming for all. We had a good turnout and a lot of good conversation. Thanks to all of our teachers, you all are much appreciated for what you do with our children, as well as adults. It is very hard to find individuals who are willing to commit and volunteer their time to teach, and for that alone I thank you. Our Sunday-school programs are key to the teaching of God s Word, and much needed. So thanks for your hard work and time spent. So with that I will talk with you next month; until then C ya in Church! Shawn West, Children s Minister A Basket of Water The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old wornout Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson asked, Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do? The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, Take this old wicker coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water. The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, You will have to move a little faster next time, and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the old wicker basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 4 I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough, and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, See Papa, it's useless! So you think it is useless? the old man said. Look at the basket. The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was clean. Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out. Moral of the basket story: Take time to read a portion of God's Word each day; it will affect you for good even if you don't retain a word.
Senior Saints Trip - Tennessee 5
Just for Laughs 6 What We Believe That the Bible is the inspired and totally reliable Word of God: II Timothy 3:16-17. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God: John 3:16. That Jesus was crucified for our sins, died, was buried and arose physically from the dead on the third day: Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-4. That to be saved a person must: 1. Recognize that you have sinned and cannot save yourself: Romans 3:23. 2. Believe that Jesus paid a death penalty for your sin through His death on the cross and rose on the third day victorious over death: Romans 6:23. 3. Confess your belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and your personal Savior: Luke 12:8. 4. Repent of your sins and turn back to God: Acts 2:38. 5. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:38. 6. Live your life following all that Jesus has commanded us: Matthew 28:20. We believe that Jesus will return again to take His church to live in His Heavenly home for all eternity: John 14:1-4. 318 North Main Street P.O. Box 7 Williamstown, KY 41097 Phone: (859) 823-2041 Fax: (859) 823-2181 www.williamstownchristian.com