Worship News

"Globe-Miami Church Women United" Holds Yearly Potluck

From different churches, still friends: (L - R): Angie Tewksbury of Divine Grace Presbyterian, host Marilyn Chase of St. Paul's Methodist, and Esther Miller of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be at "Friendship Day," Friday, May 1.

Church Women United of Globe-Miami will celebrate "May Friendship Day," May 1, at St. Paul's Methodist Church, 141 N. Hill St. in Globe. Registration is at 10 and a worship program begins at 10:30 in the sanctuary. Afterwards, a salad potluck will be served in the Upper Room. There is no charge, but an offering will be taken for the Boys and Girls Club. "Everyone is welcome!"

National Day of Prayer is May 7

The National Day of Prayer, May 7, will be observed with six Christ-centered events in Rim Country, two in Globe-Miami, and others in the Valley and in places nationwide. Payson: Crossroads Church, 114 East Cedar, and Mountain Bible Church, 302 East Rancho, will each be having a time of special prayer in Payson from 7 to 8 a.m., along with a light continental breakfast. Payson’s Rumsey Park Ramada #5 will be the site of the noon until 1 p.m. patriotic emphasis event, along with music led by Payson Community Christian School. An evening event will begin at 7 at the- Church of the Nazarene, 200 East Tyler Parkway. Pine: Pine will be having two special observances, from 7:30 to 8 a.m. at the Pine Elementary School Flagpole and from 11 until noon at the Pine Community Center Ramada. Globe-Miami: Please pray wherever you are on Thursday morning as members of the Gila County Miinsterial Association do a Prayer Drive through the neighborhoods. You can e-mail prayer requests to calvaryshadowsag@yahoo.com. From noon to 12:45, gather at the County Courthouse flagpole just east of Jack in the Box in Globe. Mesa: A Mesa service will be at Central Christian Church, 933 N. Lindsay Rd., from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Phoenix: Mayor Gordon will lead a Noon Rally for Kids, joined by KFLR's Chris and Emilee, at the City Hall Atrium, 200 W. Washington Street,.

It Seems to Me ...Strangers in the Church, By Ed Kuehneman

Once a big, strong, goodhearted man admitted to me that he’d walk into any bar, but he was afraid to walk through the door of a new church! He had seen lives change for the better in ours, and he was curious, but he was afraid to go in. He’d be a “stranger”! Actually, we might make wonderful friends, if we’d only give each other a chance, and a little time. I remember moving to Globe, nervously checking a church’s “hours of service.” The door wouldn’t open. I never went back. I had no car, so I walked clear across town to another church, and walked right past it, too scared to go in! (I finally went in and it was fine!) A visitor may be nervous, judging and rating everything madly (building, people, etc.) and terrified that others may be judging him. It’s important for “oldtimers” to smile and greet visitors. The church will dwindle away as old folks die and precious church kids move away, unless you ......1) invite folks, 2) bring guests and 3) make visitors welcome. Later, they can concentrate on life and death, heaven or hell. Right now they just want to know if there's a place for them. Old-timers can be shy, too, and make excuses for not saying hello: "Someone else will do it," "They’re not like me; they wouldn’t like me," "I think they’re with the Wilsons." Force yourself! When Cheppe Casillas came from Superior, he was amazed: everyone was so friendly! It made him want to come back. In the Billy Graham film, "For Pete’s Sake," Pete says you should go to a service station or a church three times before you judge it. The first nervous impressions may be false, on both sides. Give it time. Newcomers, realize that churches are magnets for panhandlers and demented "religious experts" who show up just to "fleece the sheep" or steal them! If recent visitors were "predators," the folks may be shy about you. But if you sit quietly a few times, and you don’t ask anyone for money, don’t tell everybody how the pastor should run the church, and don’t bite anyone in the ankle, well, you will be amazed at how warm and friendly the folks are! Visitor, don’t "freak out" if the church is "different" from the one you grew up in. That one bored you to death, remember? The third time, past the distractions, you may hear God speaking to your heart. Or, frankly, you may find that the members are only going from habit, old friends or loyalty. God may not be moving at all, at least not for you. But don’t criticize. God hates those who gossip and cause division among brothers. (Prov. 6:16 -19) Just quietly go somewhere else. You may find great joy in that church that you said you'd never go to. In the big church I grew up in, a pastor confided in me: He didn't really believe in God, the Bible, heaven or hell. Boy, did we get some boring lectures on "niceness"! Yet, until I went to college, I didn’t go anywhere else (I probably should have) because I knew all the people at my old church. Friends make a difference! So, be brave! Force yourself: Go. If you see a stranger, say hi. A drug dealer in my home town "got saved," and went to a Biblepreaching church. He'd grown up in a church with lots of rituals and was convinced that everyone was fake, and went daring someone to throw him out. The pastor arrived to find him sitting on the floor in his long-underwear top (strange) and the pastor shook his hand warmly. That church grew, and that "pusher," in time, quit getting loaded, got a job, raised a family, and became an eloquent preacher. Deut. 10:19 "Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt."

Rest Upon His Promise, Co-Pastor, First Christian Church(Disciples of Christ

This past week Christians have celebrated the Easter Resurrection of Christ. Jesus kept His promise that three days later (after the crucifixion), He will rise to life; and He did! Then, Jesus gave His Word to return again (after His ascension), also known as the Second Coming. This is a divine promise; we are to put our trust and faith in God's promising words and wait upon it with expectancy. Jesus' death and Resurrection on the cross is sufficient for the forgiveness of the world's sins. His victory of the Resurrection has been accomplished, provided and paid for. We only need to accept and receive it with His grace. However, this promise rests upon your degree of faith and trust in Him. God is indeed a promise keeper. The question is, can God trust in you?

Healing Services at Living Waters, By Chiryl Cole

God is a miraculous healing God. On the last Sunday night of each month, at 6 p.m., the Living Waters Church is open to all for healing. Exodus 15:26 "For I am the LORD that healeth thee." Our Heavenly Father healed us through the stripes Jesus took for us. Healing was part of God's atonement in the Old Covenant, and it is a part of the New Covenant of grace we're living under today. We receive our healing in the name of Jesus. Almost 2,000 years ago when they laid those 39 stripes on the body of Jesus, we were healed. Isaiah 53: 4-5, "Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities ; and chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." Come and be prayed for; come and be prayed for, come and pray with us, at the Living Waters Community Church at 125 Haskins Road, in Globe

Mexican Food Benefit Dinner Will Help Send Youth Volunteers to Guatemala, By Ed Kuehneman

Christian Volunteers for LifeWind must pay their own way to a needy country.

What a deal! This Saturday, April 25, you can have a great Mexican food dinner for $6 ($3 for 12 and under), and the money will go to sending church youth on a service mission to the needy Central American country of Guatemala. The dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Living Waters Community Church, 125 Haskins in Globe. Call 928-425-9462 for more information. The Salvaged Youth Group at the church wants to go on a medical/construction/childrens' ministry with LifeWind International, the last week in July. Team leader is Pastor Mike Ward of the First Baptist Church in Pine, AZ, a certified paramedic who has been on previous teams helping the people of Guatemala. The Guatemalan host is the bilingual Hugo Mendez, M.D. They are guiding American volunteers who show the love of Christ and make a difference in the lives of the people in a land where 35 years of civil war has been followed by ten years of peace, but little improvement. Poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, malnutrition, and lack of medical facilities plague the people of Guatemala. Volunteers help them, build good will and come back changed by their experience. The cost is high -- $2,000 a volunteer - but it's an investment in our youth and theirs. The Living Waters Church has taken the challenge of raising the large sum needed; let's support their fundraisers!