Publication2

Staying in the Loop

“SHARING YOUR BLESSINGS”

“Our talents are the gift that God gives to us...What we make of our talents is our
gift back to God.” (Leo Buscaglia)

Around the year SUNDAY SCHOOL
1655, in the Italian 10:00 AM
city of Cremona, a WORSHIP
young boy was listen- 11:00AM
ing to his friends sing
on the street for MID-WEEK MEAL/STUDY
whatever tips they 5:30 (meal) 6:30 (study)
would receive. This
boy had a passion for MINISTER
music, but a squeaky Donald (Denny) Dennis
voice, so he was nev-
er included in this ELDERS
little ensemble. Phil Leonard (chairman)

Cremona was known Dennis Fowler
as a musical center, Bob McCaul
and this young boy
didn’t have any musi- OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
cal talent and it trou- Janet Fowler
bled him deeply. One day a man asked to hear the boys sing,
and upon hearing their music rewarded them with a gold coin. “Coe Church of Christ exists to
That was a lot of money, so the squeaky voiced boy wanted to reach out to the lost, and to
find out who the benefactor was. train people to maturity in

His name was Nicolo Amati...a violin maker… The next day, Christ through discipleship, wor-
acutely aware he would never be a singer, the boy boldly asked ship, and fellowship, completely
the man if he could become his apprentice in his violin shop
and Nicolo accepted the offer. I’m sure few of us recognize the following God’s Word.”
name Nicolo Amati, but many of us have heard of Antonio Stra-
divari; the young boy who couldn’t sing but found his calling in
what he could do—create beautiful violins. Today, Stradivari
violins are the standard of excellence throughout the world
and are priceless in value. As Stradivari began to age, he
worked countless hours on his craft.

His friends became concerned with his welfare and begged him to slow down, but his response was
always, “God cannot make Stradivari violins without Stradivari.” I believe he was mostly right. But
perhaps he should have said, “God will not make Stradivari violins without Stradivari.”

Have you ever thought how God has chosen to accomplish His plan through our talents and abili-
ties? You should. Scripture tells us in 1st Peter 4:10: “Each one should use whatever gift he has
received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” In Ephesians
2:10 we read, “for we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.” Look at the verses again...break them down. Like Stradivari, we
would do well not to dwell on our weaknesses, but seek to use that which God has given us (mercy
and the power of the Holy Spirit)...to serve others (Everyone! Not just those you want to
serve.)...administering His grace (love, mercy, charity, service)...utilizing various forms (your individu-
al talents and abilities)...for which we were created in advance (why God made you—you).

That was His plan from the very beginning and has always been His intent for the health and
growth of His Church. God has called us to partner with Him in His work. He intended it to be a
blessing and not a curse, a gift and not a burden. The gift God gave you is unique to you—and nec-
essary for everyone.

Here is a test to see if you qualify:

Hold your left hand in front of you palm up. Put your right hand around When I stand before
your left wrist and gently squeeze. If you feel a pulse, you’ve been gifted. God at the end of my

You are alive. See, you do have a gift and God expects you to be his partner life, I would hope
in ministry and share your gift with others! In fact, to assume you don’t that I would not have
have a gift is to say that you aren’t a Christian. They go hand in hand. Don’t a single bit of talent
left, but could say: “’I
believe me? Open your Bible to James and read chapter 2 verse 14.
used everything you
Here at CCC, there are many needs and ministries just waiting for some-
gave me.”’
one alive with God’s grace and blessed with gifts (that’s you) to be filled and

implemented that we might complete what we are called to do, administer God’s grace in its various

forms.

ONE LAST THING… What you do for and with the Lord won’t go unnoticed. Hebrews 6:10 says “God
is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his
people and continue to help them.”

To me, just that alone is worth the effort. Denny

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 contributions or pictures to be published.

WELCOME!

“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:47

On February 26th during our morning service, Pat Frost, and Fred, Amber, and Jerad Galehouse came for-

“CABIN FEVER & SPRING MADNESS” the madness begins!. There will be
games and fun for all ages; includ-
Cabin fever: def. An idiomatic term for a claustro- ing… (try to keep your enthusiasm in
phobic reaction that takes place when a person or check here) “Minute to Win It” con-
group is isolated and/or shut in, with nothing to do. tests of “Cookie face,” Kleenex Box
Symptoms include unrestrained restlessness, irri- Ping Pong, Penny Toss, Limbo,
tability, paranoia, irrational frustration, forgetful- “Basketball Free Throw, and so much
ness, excessive sleeping, insomnia, and an urge more!
to go outside and do something...anything.
So, unless you hazard the precari-
Let’s face it, it’s been a long winter, and you have ousness of seeing Clyde chase Elaine
already baked every recipe in your cookbook, or- around the sanctuary, or Bim dressed
ganized all the loose nails and screws in your gar- as an adolescent groupie, you will
age, and have read through every volume of the want to attend this fun event to cure
Encyclopedia Britannica. Cabin fever has set in. your cabin fever! Roundup your fami-
Rumor has it that there is nothing more dangerous ly...bring your friends, and invite your
than a cabin fever infected church member. Imag- neighbors to this great night of fun, fel-
ine the consequences if Clyde had an episode of lowship, and food!
unrestrained restlessness and begins to chase
Elaine around the house! Or...eager to fit in with
our younger members, Bim begins wearing his
pants low, baseball cap backwards, and hanging
out at the mall! We can’t have that! Cabin fever
infected people run the risk of falling in with the
wrong crowd and getting themselves in a world of
trouble.

So, if you have found yourself starting to feel like YOUTH GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT
the Donner Party stuck in the Sierra Nevadas, The
Coe Fellowship Ministry has come up with a There will be no youth group meeting until
cure… “Spring Madness!” March 25th, the night of “Spring Mad-
ness” Also. There will be a meeting to
On March 25, at 5:PM, in the church gym, there plan summer youth program events
will be a “pitch in” (Potluck) meal with hotdogs, March 19th immediately after morning
drinks, and ice cream floats provided by the worship. Pizza will be provided. All par-
church. And after your stomach is full ents of Coe children are encouraged to at-

tend and get involved in the lives of our

This Easter Season, there will be
three special services to celebrate
the resurrection of our Lord and Sav-
ior Jesus Christ. On Friday evening,
April 14th we are having a Good Fri-
day Service, which will be a time to
remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the
cross. On Easter morning, which we
like to call “Resurrection Sunday”
there will be a sunrise service, and a
fellowship breakfast followed by
Sunday School and morning worship service at the regular times.

Each service will have special music, inspirational readings, and the truth of Scripture
marking this most special time of year.

The children of Coe are already rehearsing some songs, and an adult choir is beginning
rehearsals as well. Choir rehearsals will be on Sunday evenings at 5:00PM, and all are
welcome to join us as we learn some new songs of praise and worship! There will be
more information coming in the April newsletter.

The Sweetheart
Banquet was a
great success!
Congratulation

to

Evangelism is as easy as handing out a card!

Be part of CCC’s outreach efforts! All you have to
do is have “I love my church” cards on hand, and

then give them away! EASY!