Announcements – April 19, 2024

By AdministratorUncategorized
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
“If everything was true, all I got to do is repent sincerely from my heart.”
The words quoted above were spoken recently by a wildly popular TV preacher and self-anointed mega-church ‘bishop.’  He uttered them publically before his congregation of loyal followers in response to rumors that he had participated in the most grievous forms of sexual debauchery in the home of an equally popular music mogul and rapper (who himself has recently come under serious scrutiny for alleged sexual crimes). The ‘bishop’ simply dismissed the allegations and innuendos by making this cavalier and thoroughly unbiblical claim regarding sin, repentance, and forgiveness.
Reading between the lines, one can discern the deadly assumptions in his statement.  1) Sins, even the most heinous and dehumanizing, aren’t that big of a deal, even for an allegedly Christian minister. 2) Repentance is merely a matter of saying a few words.  3) Sin comes without corresponding consequences, such as discipline and disqualification from ministry.  And 4), grace and forgiveness are cheap.
I bring up this unpleasant and tragic illustration because it helps us to understand the spiritual condition of the Israelites during the days of Ezekiel long ago.  Had we been among them there in exile in Babylon, we may have heard the covenant people asking, ‘What’s the big deal?  So we didn’t keep God’s Law. So we didn’t abstain from idolatry. So we didn’t keep the sacrifices.  So we didn’t remain morally pure.  All we have to do is repent and everything will be just fine!’
Into such a situation as this, the Lord called the prophet to confront His own people with their spiritual blindness as to the nature of sin and true repentance.
In Ezekiel 2:1-10, God will give the prophet the language of sin and confession so that he might confront the nation with their high crimes and ultimately point them to the way back home.  As we will learn, there is nothing trivial about sin, particularly the sins of those who claim to belong to the Sovereign Lord.  These verses speak with a jackhammer-like rhythm as they expose the true weight of our transgressions and show us that no sin can be easily swept aside by the mere utterance of few words.   Before revival and restoration can come to a wayward people, their sins must be revealed for what they are.  Then and only then will the sweet sounds of ‘Amazing Grace’ be heard.
I love you all, and can’t wait to see you on Sunday!
Mike

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Children’s Ministry
• Mark your calendars for VBS on June 10-13, 2024. Please contact Anne Swanner if you are interested in serving at VBS this year.
• A big thank you to those who have helped in the nursery this quarter! The new nursery sign up is out for the spring quarter. Please see the link in your email or sign up on the paper sheet in the narthex. Contact Amanda Dean if you have any questions.

Women’s Ministry
• Tuesday morning study meets 9:30-11am at the church. Childcare provided. We meet until May 14th and are studying the book ‘Five Lies of our Anti Christian Age’ by Rosaria Butterfield.
• Senior Sisters meet monthly on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
• Senior Sisters exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.
• Monthly luncheon held the first Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am.

Men’s Ministry
• Senior Fellows – Our next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, May 7th.
• Men’s Lunchtime Book/Bible Study every Friday at 11:30am in the Church Fellowship Hall.

Youth Ministry – We will have youth group this evening from 4:30 to 6:30 at the church house.

Career Ministry – Bible study & fellowship meets at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, Sundays at 5:30 pm.

Church Spring Picnic – Please join us for our annual spring picnic on Sunday, April 28th starting at 4pm on the church house grounds. We encourage everyone to bring their own lawn chair for the event.

Bridal Shower – A bridal shower honoring Katy Yonkee will be held at the home of Mrs. Debi Walker on Sunday, May 19th from 2-4 pm.

Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center – Dinner for the parenting class will be on April 25th. There is a collection box in the narthex for donations. Contact Tina Alhorn for more details.

Video Team – The video team is working on a project to show how God has worked through the church in the past 19 years. If you would like to be interviewed, please see Timothy Alhorn. 

PRAYER REQUESTS

Care and Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Maurice Belrose, Marilyn Calvert, Bill Cowley, Amy Fortenberry, Sonny Henry, Elizabeth Holton, Steve Terry and Kristy York

Expecting – Please pray for the Beams due in April, the Thornhills due in September, and the Kings due in October

Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries:
• Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland)
• Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand)
• Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand)
• Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH)
• Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M)
• Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA)
• Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada) • Dieter and Marty Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL)
• The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center
• Southside Presbyterian Church