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Announcements Plus Devotional Aids

Let's Learn a Bible Verse!

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
--Hebrews 13:15-16 (NIV)

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Contents

Announcements

Evangelist Andy Lambert Coming

We invite you to join us for a special First Sunday of Advent this year with guest speaker Evangelist Any Lambert of Isaac Ministries. On November 30th our service will begin at 10:00 a.m. (please note time change) and we will do the "Hanging of the Greens" (decorating the church for the Advent season) at the beginning of the service. Along with our regular offering and Thank Bank offerings, we are asking for a special offering that will go towards our disaffiliation loan debt.

"Andy...is dedicated to helping communities of faith discover and deepen the joy of living for Jesus. Andy has had a long and varied ministry, which has included writing, traveling evangelism, pastoring, teaching college and seminary courses. He has pastored United Methodist and Quaker Churches and developed Youth ministries in both and is a past recipient of the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism. He is on the North Carolina Global Methodist Church's Leadership team serving as the chair of the task force on evangelism."

Andy Lambert is the founder of Isaac Ministries, named after Abraham and Sarah's son, Isaac, whose name means "laughter." Andy has used "comedy, storytelling, and drama to offer Christ and to help people grow in Christ." He emphasizes helping Christians and churches "rediscover a passion to reach young adults" for Christ. Come and be blessed. Bring a young adult or two with you. They will be blessed also.

Soup and sandwiches, provided by our members, will be served after the service in the Christian Life Center. (Sunday school classes will not meet this Sunday.)

Butts and Birds Fundraiser

Don't slave over a hot stove or deep fryer this coming holiday. Let us cook a Boston Butt or turkey for you. The turkey can be smoked or deep fried, the pork will be smoked. The cost is $40 each. See one our members for an order form or call our office at (828) 396-2214, Monday-Friday, 8:30 - 12:30 p.m. Payment can be mailed to Ebenezer Methodist Church, 4948 Burns Rd., Granite Falls, NC 28630. The pick date and time is Wednesday, November 26, 4-8:00 p.m. Meat will be cooked on our premises by our renowned cooks! Please place your order by November 23rd.

Proceeds will be used to pay down our disaffiliation loan debt. We are closing in on getting it paid off this year with your help. Thank you!

 

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Quote to Ponder

"compassion without courage is not maturity—it is compliance. A culture that demands silence in the name of kindness does not become gentler; it becomes dishonest."

from www.americanthinker.com article "The War on Men Is a War on Truth."

 

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For Meditation

O TO BE UP AND DOING

O to be up and doing, O
Unfearing and unshamed to go
In all the uproar and the press
About my human business! ...
For still the Lord is Lord of might:
In deeds, in deeds he takes delight;
The plough, the spear, the laden barks,
The field, the founded city, marks;
He marks the smiler of the streets,
The singers upon garden seats; ...
Those he approves that ply the trade,
That rock the child, that wed the maid,
That with weak virtues, weaker hands,
Sow gladness on the peopled lands,
And still with laughter, song and shout,
Spin the great wheel of earth about.

--Robert Louis Stevenson

 

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Mini-Bible Lesson #101: Making Decisions

References: Acts 1:15-26; NIV Luke Commentary by Ajith Fernando.

“Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us…”  …Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”  Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.  --Acts 1:21, 24-26

We no longer cast lots to make decisions in the church, but this was not a “gamble” per se. First, they noticed a need (the replacement of Judas); second, they listed the necessary qualifications; third, they nominated two equally qualified men. At that point (note that the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out on the people), they had no good way to choose between the two because only God knows a person’s heart (or true faith, character and abilities); so they prayed for God to determine how the cast lots fell to help them make their final choice. (Fernando, pp.78-80)

Looking at other aspects of this decision-making event, we find 1) there was theological reflection and the use of Scripture, 2) the whole community helped choose the two applicants with Peter as leader, 3) Peter directed the people to God’s Word to help with the decision because “God is the real leader of the church, the human leader’s task is to direct people to God’s will, which is most clearly recorded in the Scriptures” (Fernando, p. 79), and 4) “shows that prayer should play a critical part in our strategy of appointing leaders.” (Fernando, p. 79) “[P]rayer preceded every major decision or crisis in the life of Jesus and the early church” (Robert Stein); 5) “the prayer in verse 24 implies that the disciples needed to have confirmed for them the inner nature of the person’s heart, which only God knows. Christian ministry is essentially spiritual in nature, and external qualifications are useless if a person’s heart is not right with God.” (Fernando, p. 80)

Have we become too complacent about how we choose people to serve in the church, not just as the pastor or lay leader, but in such positions as Sunday School teacher, administrative assistant, janitor, or heads of committees and the church council? Do we just accept the first one who volunteers or is volunteered by someone (easy to do in such a small church with limited choices)? Even if we feel that we must take what we can get, shouldn’t we spend some time praying that God will support and strengthen each person for the task they have been assigned to do? How about a prayer over each person (individually and by name) who chairs a committee, teaches or leads a Bible study class and other workers/volunteers at the beginning of each year asking God to accept their service and guide them, strengthen them, and provide them with all they need to be successful in their service to our church and to the work of God’s kingdom here on earth? Then, we can also pray that all the members of our church will be open to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit to help each person perform their service, and that we will be able to provide whatever they need to do the job well. (Suggestion: This could be done during a special worship service as a way of commissioning them for their service in the year to come.) I believe this could be empowering to these servants of the Lord and our church and lead us to more powerful and passionate service and outcomes. Lord, teach us to pray!

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Special Resources

The picture below is our new Resource Room with books, dvds, videos, and a TV screen (not shown in photo). Individuals are encouraged to take resources home for Bible study or reading; and classes can use the room to show videos related to their studies. We would appreciate donations of books or dvds, especially for young children for this collection.

 

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Ongoing Collections - Updated - 8/5/2025

CCC & TI Food Pantry Collection - Yearly in April

Throughout the month of April, we will be collecting single serve, microwaveable or ready-to-eat items for students at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Suggested items: single serve Ramen Noodles, macaroni and cheese, crackers with cheese or peanut butter, cookies, single serve canned meats, etc.

Oakhill Backpack Ministry

We are beginning to collect single serve, easy to microwave or use food items to send home with needy children, such as, fruit cups, mac and cheese, snacks, noodles, etc. The children will receive a backpack of these items to take home on the weekends, and use for themselves and their families. Put the items in the old fellowship hall. We thank you for helping.

Local Schools Supply Closet

We continue to collect items for our local teachers.This ministry provides items for teachers and their students that they cannot obtain through the regular budget.

They include the following: Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, hand soap, paper towels, facial tissues, sharpies, dry board markers highlighters, black/blue/red ink pens, colored pencils, glue sticks, composition books and notebook paper (wide and college ruled), crayons, scissors (children's type), index cards, construction paper, pencil sharpeners, sheet protectors, file folders, large and small legal pads, white out, paper clips, staples, pencil pouches, markers, rulers, ring binders, card stock white/assorted, 3 ring note books, large and small pencil top erasers, and post it notes.

South Caldwell Christian Ministries

August is our month to help resupply the SCCM Food Pantry. Canned meats and vegetables, rice and cereral, canned beans, soups, canned fruits, Instant Variety Packs of oatmeal or grits, peanut butter, crackers, and other non-perishable items.

We are collecting non-perishable food and clean used clothing in good condition that will be taken to South Caldwell Christian Ministries. You may leave the items at the church on Sundays or during normal office hours (8:30 to 1:00 p.m., Monday-Friday).

We thank you for helping us to minister to the needs of our community.

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Contact Information: 828-396-2214 or emcdudleyshoals@yahoo.com;
4948 Burns Rd., Granite Falls NC 28630