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Are we confident that our light is bright
Vol. 46 November 30, 2021 Number 46
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Steve Higginbotham
One of the most humbling thoughts one may ever entertain is the fact
that our omnipotent God has chosen to depend upon us. The very thought
that our God, who spoke the universe into existence, formed man from the
dust of the ground and holds the cosmos and our lives together, would
allow me to partner with Him in His good purposes. For those who may say,
"Maybe God would use you or someone else, but He would never use me.
You see, I’m just an ordinary person," let me remind you that...
• Moses was just a shepherd, yet God used him to deliver His people
(Ex. 3:1).
• Gideon was just a thresher of wheat, yet God used him to defeat an
enormous army with just 300 men (Judges 6:11).
• Daniel was a young refugee in a foreign land, yet God used him to
demonstrate his power to stop the mouths of lions (Daniel 6:22).
• Rahab was a harlot, yet God used her to be in the ancestry of Jesus
(Matthew 1:5).
• Paul was a tentmaker, yet God used him to be one of the greatest
missionaries the world has ever known (Acts 26:16-18).
• Peter was a fisherman, yet God used him as one of the great
apostles (Matthew 10:1-4).
• Esther was an Israelite orphan, yet God used her to become a queen
and save His people (Esther 2-4).
...And then there's your story. You don't think you could ever have a story?
My question is, "Why not?" Has God stopped working in the affairs of men?
Does He no longer use people to accomplish His purposes? If you are
willing, why would God not use you as an instrument of His providence?
Just take it in for a moment. Consider the thought. Imagine your life
being used as a tool in the hands of God to accomplish His good purposes!
Just what do you think an all-knowing, all-powerful God could do
with an ordinary life like yours and mine? I know what He's done in the
past, and I know what He can do in the future if we will make our lives
available to Him.
As we begin the New Year, let us ask God to use us as tools in His
providence. Who knows, you may have been brought to this very place "for
such a time as this!"
ELDERS
Mike Childers ............. 397-6453
Dennis Hallmark......... 255-5557
Mark Hitt .................... 322-0917
Bobby Lindley ............ 260-9193
DEACONS
Wade Bryan ................ 419-5552
William Harris ............ 416-8149
Ricky Lindsey............. 255-8136
Jeff Mansel.................. 871-0357
Jimmy Spearman ........ 840-8957
Michael Wilson........... 891-0891
MINISTERS
Barry Kennedy....(931)787-7108
Alex Blackwelder (731)879-9196
SECRETARY
Renee Childers
Office.......................... 842-6116
Fax .............................. 842-7091
E-MAIL
eastmaincoc38804@gmail.com
WEB PAGE
eastmaincoc.com
SUNDAY SERVICES
Worship........................9:00 a.m.
Bible class..................10:15 a.m.
Worship......................11:15 a.m.
Singing or Devotional
Last Sunday of the Month
MID-WEEK
SERVICES
Wednesday Classes......7:00 p.m.
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)

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It is true that the world is ours if we are in Christ
(Ephesians 1:3). We have all that we need for life and
godliness (2 Peter 1:3). We have the hope of eternal
life (John 3:16; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). We even have the
promise of an abundant life (John10:10). Why would
we not be thankful to God always?
Some are not thankful because they do not
realize what was given for them. Jesus is the “lamb of
God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John
1:29). We all need the Great Physician (Matthew
9:12) to heal us of our sin sickness (Ecclesiastes 7:20;
Romans 3:23). How is it that everyone sins, but some
do not realize their need for Christ? That’s simple, sin
is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4) and God’s
law is found in God’s Word (Matthew 7:24-27; John
12:48; James 1:25). Therefore, if one will not read and
study God’s word they will not see their true need
until it is too late. How sad it is to think that so many
are not able to express the joy of true thanksgiving, by
knowing their sins are taken away and that Heaven is
awaiting them on the other side of death.
May we all take the time to remember that
God has said, “be still and know that I am God, I will
be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the
earth” (Psalm 46:10). May this holiday season cause
us to realize the need for thanksgiving year-round.
God has blessed man so and He will continue to bless
all those who will accept His gift. “The wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). For that we should
Give Thanks to God Always.
~~~~~~~~~
Community Outreach Program
Christmas Angels Project
The Community Outreach
Program would like to invite you to
adopt a child in need for the
Christmas Holidays. There are
ziplock bags in the foyer with the
child’s name, wish list, and
instructions. Once you have chosen a Christmas angel,
it is IMPERATIVE that you register the angel with a
C.O.P. representative. Thank you for your help. GIFTS
MUST BE RETURNED BY DECEMBER 6, 2021.
Sr. Youth Devotional
The monthly Sr. Youth
Devo. will be held at Kent &
Missy Nichols’ home this
Sunday, Nov. 28 at 5:00 pm.
See Missy for what to bring.
Sympathy
Our sympathy is extended to David Ramseyer in
the loss of his mother, Nancy Haywood, on Nov. 18.
Funeral services were held Nov. 22 at Pegues in
Tupelo. We will miss sister Nancy here at East Main.
Sr. Saints’ Fellowship
The Senior Saints are invited to the multipurpose room
this Thursday, Dec. 2 at 6:00 pm for a meal. Doug
Wallace is providing the turnip greens. There is a food
sign-up list posted on the bulletin board across from the
library for other items needed for the meal.
Parents of the Youth
Parents, we are hosting the
annual holiday luncheon for our
senior saints in the multipurpose
room this Sun., Dec. 5 at noon
following worship services. Please
sign the list posted in the foyer
under the TV screen on the wall for what you can bring
for the luncheon. Please sign up for two items. Thanks!
Thank You Note
Thank you all for all the prayers, phone calls, and
all your support! If it was not for good Christians like
you, we couldn’t have gone this far. Please continue to
pray for Willie Bob Gates and family!
With love,
The Gates family
December 2021
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Katherine
Mansel
Trish Scribner
Brain Freeze
2 Cor. 1-4
2
Sr. Adults—
fellowship meal at
building @ 6 pm
2 Cor. 5-9
3
Brenda Beckner
Laura Bennett
Laney McMillen
Grady & Debbie
Vines
2 Cor. 10-13
4
Doug & Mary
Ann Wallace
Galatians 1-3
5
Sr. Saints Holiday
Luncheon
Area Wide Youth
Meeting @ West
Main 5:00 p.m.
Galatians 4-6
6
Amanda
Dickinson
Linda Parker
Michael Wilson
John & Hollie
Bowlin
Ephesians 1-3
7
Austin McMillen
Ephesians 4-6
8
Brain Freeze
Philippians 1-4
9
Hilda Ratliff
Ladies’ fellowship
Colossians 1-4
10
Wanda Bishop
1 Thess. 1-5
11
Michelle Clifton
Mikki Gilliland
Donny McKay
2 Thess. 1-3
12
1 Timothy 1-6
13
Larry Long
Nic Nichols
2 Timothy 1-4
14
Ladies’ Ornament
Swap & finger
foods @ 6 pm
Titus-Philemon
15
Lynn
Sanderson
Brain Freeze
Hebrews 1-5
16
Twinette
Wallace
Men’s Tool Swap
& chili supper @
6 pm
Hebrews 6-9
17
Wesley &
Raleigh Bass
Sr. Youth—TGIF
“Dirty Santa”
Hebrews 10-11
18
Hebrews 12-13
19
Youth—Christmas
Caroling @ 5:30
pm
James 1-5
20
Rommie
Dilworth
Ian Willis
1 Peter 1-5
21
Greg Lyle
2 Peter 1-3
22
Suzanne Long
Brain Freeze
1 John 1-5
23
2 John-Jude
24
Revelation 1-3
25
Revelation 4-5
26
Rev. 6-7
27
Kyle Smith
Hayden Tindall
Rev. 8-11
28
Marla Harris
Rev. 12-14
29
Ander Bass
Brain Freeze
Rev. 15-17
30
Asher Bass
Shauna
McMickin
Kent & Missy
Nichols
Rev. 18-20
31
Terry Kingsley
New Year’s Eve
Fellowship-whole
congregation
Rev. 21-22

Daily Bible Reading
December 1........................................2 Corinthians 1-4
December 2........................................2 Corinthians 5-9
December 3....................................2 Corinthians 10-13
December 4..............................................Galatians 1-3
December 5..............................................Galatians 4-6
December 6.............................................Ephesians 1-3
December 7.............................................Ephesians 4-6
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Katherine Mansel (Dec. 1), Trish
Scribner (Dec. 1), Brenda Beckner (Dec. 3),
Laura Bennett (Dec. 3), Laney McMillen (Dec.
3), Amanda Dickinson (Dec. 6), Linda Parker (Dec.
6), Michael Wilson (Dec. 6), Austin McMillen (Dec.
7). Anniversaries: Grady & Debbie Vines (Dec. 3),
Doug & Mary Ann Wallace (Dec. 4), John & Hollie
Bowlin (Dec. 6).
Our Sick
Carester Hallmark is in NMMC with breathing
issues. Patricia Dillingham, Mary Ann Wallace’s
cousin’s wife, is in NMMC. Susan Reed’s husband,
Jerry, continues in the Columbus hospital. Continue to
remember Brenda Lindley, Stephanie & Andy Bald-
wyn, and Susan Reed’s mother-in-law who are
recuperating from Covid. Hugh Scribner is recovering
from the flu. Lori Blansett’s father, Larry Cobb, has
been moved to NMMC’s hospice floor, room 5534.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Evelyn Thompson, Annie
Martin, Steve Kelly, Bettye Davis, Frankie Estes,
Shirley Lyons, Barbara Bishop, Caroline Willis, Carol
Hood, Bill Goff, Donny Dulaney, Adam McCurley,
Mitch Maclean, Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers, Steve
Higginbotham, Stella Pittman, April & Olivia
Pounders, Glenda Barnette, Debbie McCoy, Michelle
Bellew, Larry Kennedy, Brian Carver, Duke Loden,
Mary Puckett, Marvin Chamblee, Brent Norris
Nursing Homes
Randy Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Bob McClure
EMYG News
Righteous Desires
Alex Blackwelder
Above is our youth calendar for December. Please make
every effort to be part of what you can this holiday
season!
We’ve just moved from a period of thanksgiving to
the hope of Christmas presents (only if we’ve been nice
☺). Desires are an interesting thing, aren’t they? What
might seem desirable to me may not seem desirable to
you. Some desires can be good. New Year’s resolutions
are founded on the desire to improve ourselves
somehow. But sometimes, we can desire things that are
not good for us. James 4:14-15 say, “But each person is
tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and
sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
Sinful desires conceive the act of sin. If you think
about something long enough, you’ll end up doing it. It
says we’re lured by our own desires. Does that mean that
I am the one who sabotages my relationship with God?
Absolutely! The only person that will keep you out of
Heaven is you. We need to make sure our decisions and
desires are God honoring!
I love you all! Please let me know if I can help you!

Men to Serve Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 a.m.
Announcements..........................................Mark Hitt
Bible Reading.......................................Britton Smith
Opening Prayer ...................................Mike Childers
Lord’s Supper
Roger Sanderson
Lead Singing.................................Alex Blackwelder
Closing Prayer................................Jimmy Spearman
Ushers ..................Terry Kingsley & Andy Baldwyn
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer ....................................Larry Presley
Closing Prayer..................................... Dale Dulaney
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Sr. Saints’ Fellowship
The Senior Saints are invited to the multipurpose room
this Thursday, Dec. 2 at 6:00 pm for a meal. Doug
Wallace is providing the turnip greens. There is a food
sign-up list posted on the bulletin board across from the
library for other items needed for the meal.
Parents of the Youth
Parents, we are hosting the
annual holiday luncheon for our
senior saints in the multipurpose
room this Sun., Dec. 5 at noon
following worship services. Please
sign the list posted in the foyer under the TV screen on
the wall for what you can bring for the luncheon. Please
sign up for two items. Thanks!
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Opening Prayer ......................................... Joe Minor
Lead Singing........................................ Greg Hughes
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact Michael Wilson (891-0891) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 11-24-21 .................................................. 125
Sunday 1st
Worship, 11-28-21 .................................. 173*
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 172
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 108
Contribution (budget $7,900) ................................ $9,941
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................... Peanut butter
The youth of East Main invite our
Senior Saints
(age 65 and above)
to a holiday luncheon prepared in your
honor
Sunday, Dec. 5th
Immediately following worship services
at noon in the multipurpose room.
Please sign the list posted on the bulletin board
across from the library if you plan to attend.