Coe Church of Christ July 2018 Newsletter

Staying in the Loop

“MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES”

“A wise youth makes hay while the sun shines, but what a shame to see a lad who sleeps away his hour of
opportunity.”

(Proverbs 10:5 LVB)

The phrase “summertime...and the liv-
ing is easy” may resonate with some
fortunate people this time of year, but
for the hardworking farmers who will
have hungry cattle to feed when the
meadows are barren and snow cov-
ered, summertime is anything but living
easy. It is instead a time of diligence
and preparedness for what lies ahead
at the changing of the seasons. Every-
where you look, the land comes alive
with activity as the fragrant alfalfa, clo-
ver, and timothy fields are cut, dried,
and stored. The farmer knows each bale of hay stowed safely away in the loft is a promise of
nourishment and strength that can be relied on during the cold winter months when the living
isn’t quite so “easy.”

Growing up on the family farm, Dad always had words of advice and direction for me. “Let’s
get going, we gotta make hay while the sun shines” is an expression that still rings loud in my
ears. No matter our other tasks, plans, or desires, when the call was made that there was hay
ready to bale the family rolled out and got to work. Everyone—brothers, sisters, Mom, even
friends and neighbors—all pitched in to help. For me, baling hay is a cherished memory of farm
life because it is a great example of the entire family working hard together and having a com-
mon goal. So is the work and mission of Christ’s church.

Summer is here. There are numerous reunions, vacations, and lots of fun to be enjoyed. But
along with the easy living of summer accompanies a loss of CCC worshipers and workers! This
may not bother you, but it kills me! In this season of bounty, there is much to praise God for
and so much to be accomplished. Even though the sanctuary is emptier, that doesn’t mean we
are sitting back and putting our feet up. We are busy preparing for the season ahead.

There’s lots going on, and even more to do. We need everyone to pitch in and help. Jesus told his
disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,
to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38) In farmer speak, or in the words of
this former farmer now a minister, that translates to “Let’s get going, we gotta make hay while the
sun shines.”

Growing up and being a part of a family farm was great despite the hard work. It belied sort of an
“ingrained responsibility” to do one’s part for the benefit of all. I never wanted to disappoint my
father by shirking my role. You can’t pile hay bales in the loft if there is no one down below unload-
ing them from the wagon. I am sure you will agree that we don’t want to let down our
Holy Father either. We need to all be involved in the work and goal of the church.
There are roles to fill. God is counting on you. Don’t let Him down.

Ready to make some hay... Denny

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...All of us, then, who are
mature should take such a view of things. And if you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

(Philippians 3:13-15)

Here
we are!

What’s wrong with today’s younger gener-
ation? I hear that question a lot, especially
from my generation and the generations
before me.

ANSWER…. NOTHING.

There is nothing wrong with the current
and younger generations that hasn’t been
wrong with every previous genera-
tion...including your own. There is one ex-
ception however. The younger generations
don’t have the mentors that we had. And
despite my hating to say this, we have
failed them.

If you, like me, are Christian and of an earlier generation (I’m a Boomer), we need to know and understand
that our primary mission and church role at this stage of our lives is to become the elders, mentors, and
equippers that every generation of the church always needs.

Instead, too many of us stand back, cross our arms and complain that the younger generation is entitled,
lazy, loud, and (you insert your complaint here...but on second thought, don’t). I am convinced that the big-
gest sin the younger generation have committed in the eyes of many of us is that they simply don’t want to
do church the way we did. But no generation should do church the way anyone else did it, because they’re
not like anyone else. Each generation needs to honor God, worship Jesus, evangelize, serve, and teach the
truth of Scripture in the way God leads them to do it. Not necessarily in the way we are comfortable with.

Kathy and I have just returned from the North American Christian Convention. At the NACC, the speakers
didn’t have on suits and ties, in fact, all of them had their shirt tails hanging out.

At the NACC, the worship music was loud and contemporary. Some of the worship songs I didn’t know, but
the lyrics were strong, meaningful, and biblical. At the NACC, the generations all came together as one uni-
fied body to lift up praises to God regardless of age. At the NACC, all the seminars were discipleship fo-
cused and applicable, and taught by experienced and wise biblical scholars and preachers.

I loved it, but couldn’t help but look back on my first NACC years ago when I complained about the music,

the dress, the young people’s apparent disregard for hymns, proper dress, and “Worshipping
Christian protocol that I considered sacred.

I’ve changed...better yet, I’ve grown in my understanding of what Christ ex- only with people
pects from me as I mature in the faith... who look and act

I’VE LEARNED... like us is not
healthy or
We need to stop isolating, and start engaging… biblical.”

We need to show up, help out, and worship with all our heart and passion, Karl Vaters
whether we like the music or not. (Please reread Kathy’s article on page 6)

We need to stop complaining, and start encouraging…

No one is open to learn from a person who complains about everything...or most things. Complainers have
very little influence (do they influence you?). Encouragers have a lot. I’m pretty sure no one’s life was ever
made worse by receiving too much encouragement.

We need to stop demanding and start equipping…

This is where I’m bold enough to be frank. If you consider yourself a mature believer, you need to act like
one. Show up at church to serve, not to be served. Put yourself in a position of positive influence by be-
coming the model of Jesus. He accepted, loved, and openly fellowshipped with everyone. Stop expecting
that I, Eric, the worship leader, and our younger generations do church your way and start asking how you
can help the next generations serve Jesus with even greater passion and wisdom than previous generations.

Yes, we have the maturity, now we just have to add the willingness to engage, encourage, and equip. Who
knows, maybe we may just learn something new along the way.

This was taken in part from a blog written by Karl Vaters and published in Christianity Today.

SUNDAY SCHOOL/WORSHIP And the Lord Added!
10:00 AM/ 11:00AM
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”
MID-WEEK MEAL/STUDY (Mark 16:16)
5:30 (meal) 6:30 (study)
Lisa McCaul came forward for baptism on
MINISTER Tuesday, May 22nd.
Donald (Denny) Dennis
Becky Lanning came forward Sunday, May
YOUTH MINISTER 27th, gave her life to Christ and was baptized.
Eric Sheldon
ELDERS Praise God for each of these new lives in
Christ, and let us as a body of believers come
Phil Leonard (chairman) together in support and love for our new sisters!
Dennis Fowler
Dick Colbry If you would like to know more about Christ’s call on
DEACONS your life and the role of baptism in salvation, please
Clyde Thatcher speak to ministers Denny, Eric, or one of our elders
Zack Rulapaugh listed to the left on this page. You can also find an
abundance of literature on our welcome table to help
(Building & Grounds) you in this life changing decision.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Kathy and I would like to thank everyone for the cards, prayers and words
Janet Fowler of sympathy at the unexpected death of my mother Linda.

“Coe Church of Christ exists to
reach out to the lost, and to train

people to maturity in Christ
through discipleship, worship, and
fellowship, completely following

God’s Word.”

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord...they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow
them.” (Rev. 14:13)

It is with heavy hearts we say goodbye to long-time CCC member, elder, servant and friend Bob McCaul.
Bob passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on May 30th.

Save the Date!

It’s time to bring Vacation Bible
School back to Coe! The dates are
Friday, August 17th and Saturday,
August 18th from 6:00PM– 8:30PM.
Then, after exploring Jesus’ amaz-
ing love for us, the kids will be shar-
ing what they’ve learned in a powerful
“Sunday Celebration.”

Please mark your calendars, pray for
this exciting outreach event, and think
about helping out.

As more and more new faces appear around here, a pictorial church
directory has been requested and is in the works. But we can use
some help! If you are handy with a camera, we can use you. The plan
is to take “casual” photos over the course of a few Sundays until we get
everyone that desires to be a part of it. Names (including our children),
and contact information will be included. See Denny with any ques-
tions.

ONE CALL NOW PRAYING SPECIFICALLY

Notice: To listen to One Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What do you want?’” -Mark 10:51
Call Now church related
messages, please call 866 Too often we offer to God very generic prayers, almost as if we
-321-4255 and follow the don’t expect them to be answered. Let that never be true here!
prompts. See Jan Fowler We need specific things, both personally and as a church body.
or Phil Leonard with any Here are a few you can begin with.

questions. Lord, we need someone to help Barb Leonard with our technology
ministry.

Lord, we need more musicians for our worship praise team. Specifi-
cally a drummer, guitarist, and a bass player to fill in for Phil as he
recovers.

Lord, we need volunteers to help out with our children and youth.

“More than Just a
Song”

I recently purchased an excellent book called “Worship Matters” by Bob Kauflin. The information is just too
good to keep to myself, so I am going to share some of my favorite parts with my church family!
Worshiping God is the reason for which we were created! In Psalm 145:3, David said, “Great is the Lord,
and greatly to be praised.” He shows the appropriate starting point for worship. It involves thinking about,
magnifying, and responding to the glory and splendor of God. In Psalm 34:3, we read, “Oh, magnify the
Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!”
The first priority of our time together on Sunday mornings should be to magnify the Lord! We need to re-
member that God is bigger than our problems and joys, greater than our sorrows and successes, more sig-
nificant than our tests and triumphs. And what are some of the ways we can magnify our Lord? Psalm
105:2 says, “Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!” We magnify him when we
sing praises, when we remember that he ‘gave his only son’, who then sacrificed his life on the cross for us.
We magnify him when we share with our church family the answered prayers, the comfort he gives when
we are suffering, and the many blessings he sends us.
God wants us to delight in him. (Psalm 37:4) Scripture repeatedly teaches and models the fact that truth
about God invites a response. In fact, we’re commanded to respond. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I
will say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4) “Serve the Lord with gladness!” (Psalm 100:2)
Yearning to know more of God also brings him glory. “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my
soul thirsts for you.” (Psalm 63:1) Modern worship songs have made a significant contribution in this area.
Some fault them for this very reason, deriding lyrics about wanting, desiring, needing, and being thirsty or
desperate for God. Yet those phrases reflect the attitude of many Psalms, drawing attention to our need for
God. We do need him! And saying so magnifies his greatness.
Magnifying God’s greatness, then, involves proclamation and passion. It is the responsibility of the worship
leaders to make sure that in both ways – biblical truth and strong affections – people in the congregation
have every opportunity to magnify and encounter our great and awesome God.

Kathy

African Children in New Dresses

Coe Missions for Christ’s purpose is to support mission work, and to complete service projects
that provide others with needed items that help with daily living or just
brighten their day. In Hebrews 13:16, we are told … “do not forget to do
good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Several times throughout the year, Coe Missions for Christ participates in
service projects. In March the ladies made pillowcase dresses and sundress-
es for the Pamoja Leo school for most vulnerable children. This is a school in
Tanzania, Africa that our missionaries Bill and Leah DeLaughter work with.
There are eighteen girls and eight boys all between 3 and 5 years.

To minimize the cost of shipping, we learned that Erin Morissey from Ar-
lington, Virginia would be traveling to Tanzania to work as a volunteer at Pamoja Leo school dur-
ing the month of May and would be willing to put them in with her luggage. The dresses were

shipped to her with an appreciation note.

Twenty-three dresses along with undergarments were sent for the
girls and 8 sets of shorts and tops were sent for the boys. From the
smiling faces in these pictures, you can readily see that the children
were very happy to receive their new dresses! You can view more
pictures of the children on our Coe Missions for Christ bulletin
board.

In Luke 3:11, John replies to the
crowd, “Anyone who has two shirts
should share with the one who has
none, and anyone who has food
should do the same.” Our prayer is
to follow the scriptures and to com-
plete new service projects that are
pleasing to God.

Coe Missions Member: Barb Leonard

I would like to thank Coe for the grace you all have
shown me as I have learned names, connections,
and your culture as a unique part of God’s King-
dom. Due to previously made commitments and
getting lost in the chaos of my final semester of
school, it’s been a very busy year!

Two of our teens were able to attend a week of
summer camp called CIY MOVE. It is a week-long
camp that takes place in Holland, MI, where students are immersed in biblical teaching,
group discussion, and self-reflection. I’m excited to see what God does and moves in these
students and can’t wait to see the leaders that they will become.

While not at camp, TORCH, the youth group, will be working our way through a new series
that tackles a lot of the hard questions that teenagers typically have about the church. We
will cover subjects ranging from suicide and self-harm to technology. It’s all about clearing
up misconceptions about what the Bible actually says about these subjects and how to talk
about them with their peers, whether they are Christians or not. This series will take us up
to the start of the new school year. Also, with the start of the school year, TORCH should
have our own space in the gym building to call our own. I am so excited for the year that
God has planned for us with this new space and teaching.

Since we are on the subject of TORCH, I need your help. Influencing students for Christ is
not a one or two-person job. It takes a community of caring adults to influence a teenager
in these hectic years of development. Teens need deep and personal conversation that
you can’t always get in a large group. This fall, TORCH would like to introduce small
groups into the youth ministry formula and we need more adults to invest in students on a
weekly basis. If you know anyone who would be a good fit for this kind of service, or you,
yourself, are called to this ministry, let me know! Pray for us as we seek out caring adults
that can help our student to grow their faith and become leaders of the future church.

Grace and peace, Eric

Comments, suggestions and contributions to CCC’s “Staying in the Loop”
newsletter are always welcome. The church office, Denny, and overseeing
elder do however reserve the right to edit, omit, or enhance any contribu-
tions or pictures to be published.