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The Love of God A few days ago, I was in the midst of a pity party. It was a great one-person party that I planned, organized, and produced for the guest of honor – ME! You see, things weren’t going very well that day. You can translate “things weren’t going very well” as “things weren’t going the way I wanted them to go.” Anyway, right in the middle of my really fine personal pity party a song came to my mind. No, it wasn’t a soaring, inspiring, hymn of faith. It wasn’t even a good old country song to help me wallow in my misery. The song was one my daughters learned, most likely from Marilyn, and sang when they were little. Nobody loves me everybody
hates me, Trust me; if you don’t know the rest of it, you don’t want to. My point is, life’s tough! Sometimes it seems like the whole world is working against us and it’s really easy to fall into a trap of self pity. Sometimes we need to be reminded that God loves us – unconditionally. Through the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah, God said to a broken Israel, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” That’s the story of God's immeasurable heart and incomparable love; a love offered without strings and paid in full to an undeserving and resistant people. No one could have devised such a plan...no one except God. It's so...like him! That same God makes that same promise of unconditional love to you and me today. “For God so loved the world…” Songwriter Frederick Lehman was moved by the truth and the reality of God’s unconditional love. After hearing a sermon on the text from Jeremiah "I have loved you…with an everlasting love," Lehman penned the words to what may well be my favorite hymn (at least top 5): The love of God is
greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell, Oddly, my favorite stanza of that wonderful hymn wasn’t written by Frederick Lehman. Those words were found on the wall of a German mental institution in 1050, 867 years before Lehman composed his two stanzas. They were included in a Jewish poem called Haddanut written by Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai, a cantor in Worms, Germany. Lehman first heard the poem at a camp meeting and was so moved by the profound depth of the message he kept the words in his personal file. Those words, scribbled on the wall of a mental institution by an unnamed patient in the depths of depression became the third stanza of The Love of God. Could we with ink
the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made, Do you ever stop for a moment in your busy life to allow yourself to be confronted with and healed by the undeserved gift of God’s immeasurable, unconditional love? If not, try it. Carve out a niche of “alone time,” sit in the quietness of the moment, open your heart and mind –and just let God love you. Once you try it, you’ll go there often. And I know that when you practice being loved by God, your attitude, your choices, your relationships, your heart, your life will never be the same again. Celebrate the journey!
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by Associate Pastor Keith Vaughn |
A big thank you to the WMU circles for providing 8 comforters for the emergency cottage for boys at the Baptist Children’s Home in Kinston. The comforters have been delivered and were much needed and appreciated. The Missions Committee
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Dates To Remember For The Easter Season February 17– April 3
You’ve Got the Time Listening to God’s Word during the
Lenten Season. MP3 discs are still available. Call the church office
for more information. When you are through with the MP3 disc, please
Thursday, April 1
Maundy Thursday Music, Drama & The Lord’s Supper Saturday, April 3
Easter Egg Hunt Meet in the Fellowship Hall for an Easter Saturday, April 3
Easter Drive-Thru The Easter Drive Thru is located in the 8:00 pm
~ 9:30 pm church parking lot and depicts scenes from Sunday, April 4
Sunrise Service Celebrate the Risen Lord! Sunday, April 4
Covered Dish Breakfast Fellowship together and bring your favorite
Sunday, April 4
Sunday School & Worship |
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| Wednesday Evenings Pastor's Bible Study During the month
of March, we are “listening” through the New Testament as
a church family as part of our “You’ve Got The Time”
emphasis during the 40 days of Lent leading up to Easter. To support
that emphasis, each Wednesday in March I’ll chose a passage from
that day’s listening to be the focus of our Bible study time that
evening. I hope you’ll join us in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30
PM for this time of prayer and study of God’s word. March
3 March 10 March 17 March 24
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Weekly Activities
Monday Tuesday Wednesday |
Mission Statement A
community of believers Mike Eddinger,
Pastor |
March Ministers on Call 6th & 7th Mike
Eddinger 13th & 14th Michelle
Anderson 20th & 21st Keith
Vaughn 27th & 28th Caroline
Allen |
March Sermon Topics March
7 March
14 March
21 (Children's Sunday) |
Tree of Love & Giving March
7th - March 28th Show your support for the foster
children of Wake County by selecting an egg from the Tree of Love and
Giving located in the foyer. Information on each egg will
include a child’s name, age, and gender. Prepare an Easter
basket for this specific child using the guidelines in the brochure
by the tree. Please return the filled basket along with the egg
tag to the area around the tree no later than Sunday March 28th.
Thank you for expressing your love for these children.
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Churchwide BarBQue Fundraiser Proceeds will go to help neighborhood
ministries and missions.
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| Chrismon Workshop & Bible Study March 13
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Dental
Bus
March 13 from 8:00 am-12:00 pm
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Baptist Men Disaster Relief Training Region 4 March 19-20 This training is for those who would like to become certified in one of several areas of Disaster Relief and for those who need to be re-certified. Classes will be offered in the following areas: Feeding, Communications, Childcare, Recovery and Shower/Laundry. This is an overnight training experience. Check in and registration begins at 2:30pm Friday, March 19, and classes are from 4:30pm to10:00pm with supper provided. Training is completed by 2:00pm on Saturday, breakfast and lunch provided. Housing is in church facilities, dormitory style. Registered volunteers will be contacted one week before the event with exact location information in order to simulate a disaster situation. You must pre-register. Go on line
www.baptistonmission.org and click on Disaster Relief on the right
side of the screen. When this page comes up, look under training and
select the training of your choice. Cost is $35.00 for basic training
and $20.00 for recertification. For basic training, the cost includes
three meals, a training manual, shirt, cap, badge, and mirror hanger.
Contact Jim Canterberry for more information. Jim Bridges is the team leader for this project. If you can help, please call Jim (388-3855). A sign up sheet is located in Hallway A. Wilda and Frank Prince and their crew will prepare breakfast. Breakfast is free but it helps the cooks if you sign up. |
Saturday Night Praise
www.myspace.com/saturdayworship |
| GriefShare
The next session of GriefShare will
be Tuesday, April 6 thru June 29th. Childcare will be provided by
Glynda Rich. Please notify the church office if you will need childcare.
If you have questions about GriefShare, please contact Jeanne Erwin
or Jackie Woodcock.
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Kentucky Mission Trip July 31-August 7
Westwood has a mission team going
to the Appalachia area of Kentucky July 31-August 7. We will be staying
at the Nada Mission (Church), Nada, KY. Our job will be to repair
homes in Owsley County, which is the poorest county in Kentucky. Cost
of this trip will be about $175.00. Details for the trip will be provided
later. Contact Jim Canterberry for more information.
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Sun., Mar. 7 6:30 pm YAC Fri., Mar. 12 11am-7pm Church-wide BBQ Fundraiser Sat., Mar. 20 7:00 pm Saturday Night Praise Sun. Mar. 21 6:30 pm YAC Sat. Mar. 27 6:00 pm HS Hockey Game Sun.
Mar. 28 1pm-5pm YAC ATTACK!! Bowling & YAC
Wednesday Schedule
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