bulletin 3-22-22

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Are we confident that our light is bright
Vol. 47 March 22, 2022 Number 12
Faith of Our Fathers, or Our Father’s Faith?
Barry Kennedy
Faith of our fathers is a beautiful old hymn written by Frederick
William Faber. “Faber's hymn "Faith of Our Fathers" was written to remind
Catholic parishioners of the suffering and martyrdom their forefathers
endured during the reign of King Henry VIII and the protestant Queen
Elizabeth.”1 While that may be the author’s original message, many true
New Testament Christians (including this author) are reminded of how
Jesus’ disciples in the first century stood firm in the faith (Jude 3; Hebrews
11), even amid very harsh trials. It is hard to know just what one would do
when Satan’s minions come to tempt or torment. Encouragement and
preparation are needed for anyone to stand against the wiles of the Devil.
The difference is made based upon one’s faith. “Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). True faith can
only come through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). However,
seeing the faith put into action by those in history, i.e., parents,
grandparents, elders, and those great examples we read about in the Bible,
can help to motivate and to encourage steadfastness. Paul told the brethren
in Corinth to be “followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians
11:1). The implication behind Paul’s statement is, follow me, but only if I
am following Christ. Consider briefly if we have the faith of our fathers, or
the Father’s faith?
It is biblical to follow the faith of faithful fathers. God chose
Abraham, the father of the faithful, to be the one through whom the
Messiah would come (Genesis 12; Romans 4:11). With all the people on the
earth God could have chosen anyone, but He chose Abraham. Why? Listen
to what God said about Abraham:
For I know him, that he will command his children and his
household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to
do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham
that which he hath spoken of him (Genesis 18:19).
Note how it starts with commanding authority. No, this is not leading by
strength, loud voice, or totalitarian tactics, but a leading by following God.
That is exactly what Abraham did. Abraham followed God and Abraham’s
family followed him. What was it that they followed? It was his faith.
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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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Find the faith that comes from The
Father. Life is filled with choices. We make so
many decisions on a daily basis, that we don’t
even realize we are making decisions. Looking
into the Word of God not only builds faith
(Romans 10:17), but it also teaches one how to
stand in the face of adversity. When one takes
up the shield of faith, he then has the ability to
defend against Devil’s darts (Ephesians 6:16).
God is the true author of the Scriptures. “All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Have you dear reader found the faith that
comes from God the Father? Will you follow
that faith and be one worth following yourself?
Faith of our earthly fathers can lead one
astray, but the faith that comes from the
Heavenly Father leads to life eternal. Is our
faith the faith of our fathers, or the Father’s
faith?
______________________________________________________
1
http://www.historicist.com/rome/faith-of-our-
fathers-a-roman-catholic-hymn
~~~~~~~~
Family Breakfast
We will resume our
monthly family breakfast in
the multipurpose room this
Sunday, March 27 from 8:15-
8:45 am before worship
service. There will be biscuits
and sausage, donuts, juice, and coffee.
Everyone in the congregation is invited to
come and enjoy this short period of fellowship
before we begin our worship service.
Sympathy
Just to say thank you for your thoughts, prayers,
and beautiful flowers during our time of sadness
and laying our sweet momma to rest. God bless
each of you.
The family of Nita Weaver Thomason
(Sandra Simmons’ sister)
Tuesday Mornings with
the Master
Don’t forget Tuesday Mornings with the Master
every Tuesday in the multipurpose room from 10-11
am. Anyone who can come & sign cards is welcomed.
Memphis School of
Preaching Lectureship
The Memphis School of Preaching
will host their 55th
Annual Lectureship
March 27-31 on the theme “Timeless
Truth.” A schedule of times and
speakers is posted on the bulletin
board across from the library. (Barry & Berta will
be speaking on Wednesday.)
Men’s Breakfast &
Work Day
A men’s breakfast has been scheduled for
Saturday, April 2 at 8:00 am in the multipurpose
room. Following breakfast, there will be a workday
in and around the building. Some of the things
needing to be done are cleaning out gutters,
replacing a toilet seat in the upstairs boys’
bathroom, replacing ceiling tiles, cutting two dead
pine trees on the property, and cleaning out under
the west stairwell. Please come and help if you are
able.
Alex will be ordering some t-shirts he has
designed with the summer 2022 youth group
logo on it. If you would like to order one,
please sign the list posted on the youth bulletin
board across from the ladies’ bathroom.

3. Daily Bible Reading
March 23.......................................... 1 Samuel 27-31
March 24.............................................. 2 Samuel 1-4
March 25.............................................. 2 Samuel 5-7
March 26............................................ 2 Samuel 8-10
March 27.......................................... 2 Samuel 11-12
March 28.......................................... 2 Samuel 13-14
March 29.......................................... 2 Samuel 15-18
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Charles Barber (Mar. 24),
David Bates (Mar. 26), Erin Moore (Mar.
28), Kristie Webb (Mar. 29).
Anniversaries: Mark & Mikki Gilliland
(Mar. 28).
Our Sick
Barry Kennedy was sick at home Sunday with a
virus. Stella Pittman, Star Ray’s mom & Barbara
Wright’s sister, continues at The Meadows in
Fulton for therapy. Barbara Bishop has finished her
therapy and is home. Crafton Laney is home
recuperating from neck surgery. Twinette Wallace’s
brother, Donny Dulaney, is home from the hospital.
Berta Kennedy’s cousin, Gerald Cheater, is under-
going physical therapy at NMMC following a car
accident.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Evelyn Thompson, Annie
Martin, Bettye Davis, Steve Kelly, Bob Smith,
Doug Wallace, Frankie Estes, Shirley Lyons,
Caroline Willis, Carol Hood, Bill Goff, Adam
McCurley, Sheba Tuggers, Larry Kennedy, Brian
Carver, Lacy Plaxico, Roy & Daisy King, Michelle
Maclean, Freida Gardner, Linda Butler, Pam
Gassaway
Nursing Homes
Randy Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Bob McClure
EMYG News
My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my
salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my
stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
Psalm 62:1, 2
Sometimes it’s hard to wait in silence, isn’t it?
When the charging bull gets closer and closer, it’s hard
to stay still. And yet, that’s exactly what God expects
us to do. The things in this life that afflict us are real
and serious. Now, you may not think what’s serious to
me is very serious and somebody may think you’re all
excited over nothing, but it’s real to you, isn’t it? And
no amount of explaining or qualifying is going to make
you think it’s not serious. It’s serious and it hurts!
There’s only one way you can truly find relief and
that’s to wait patiently on the Lord. Isaiah talked about
those who wait on the Lord in Isaiah 40:28-31. If you
will wait patiently (in silence) on the Lord, He will give
you thestrength you need to get through thistough time.
The psalmist says that only God is his rock and
salvation. Here’s the encouraging part. He can be your
Rock and Salvation, too! He is the Only One who can
solve, really solve, the problems you have in life. No,
He may not make the bill collectors suddenly go away
and He might not keep you from losing your job, but
He can make even those things work out for good
according to His purpose if you’ll trust Him (Romans
8:28). I promise you this, if you submit your life to His
will, His purpose will result in your good more than
you can ever imagine, even if it doesn’t feel very good
at the time.
Wouldn’t you like to have a stronghold into which
you could retreat at the first sign of trouble, where
nothing or no one could get to you? Well, you have
one if you will let God be your Stronghold. Think
about that, for a moment. Not even the most powerful
enemy any of us has (the god of this world; the devil, 2
Corinthians 4:4) can get to you. He can hurt you and
can distract you, but he cannot breach your Stronghold.
God wants to be your stronghold. He wants to make it
so that no one can hurt you enough to destroy you.
When you stop and think about the kind of
relationship you can have with God, it becomes a little
easier to say, “I will not be greatly shaken.” You don’t
have to be shaken. You may shake a little bit when you
look out the window this morning or think about what
awaits you today, but you don’t have to be shaken. You
can walk out that door today with your head held high,
with confidence that there is nothing that can happen to
you that will come between you and your salvation if
you do not let it. I know I’m weak sometimes and may
let something come between me and my heavenly
Father, but it’s an encouragement to me to know that
my heavenly Father is not weak and if I will repent and
come back to Him, He will welcome me and take care
of me.
Take these words of advice and comfort with you
today and the rest of the week: 5 My soul, wait in
silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only
is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not
be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; the
rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him
at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us (Psalm 62:5-8). Alex

4. Men to Serve Sunday, Mar. 27, 2022 a.m.
Announcements..............................Dennis Hallmark
Bible Reading...........................................Will Davis
Opening Prayer ...................................Mike Childers
Lord’s Supper
Jeff Mansel
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Closing Prayer....................................Ricky Johnson
Ushers ..................Terry Kingsley & Andy Baldwyn
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer ......................................Mike Ratliff
Closing Prayer........................................... Joe Minor
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Opening Prayer .........................................Tim Davis
Lead Singing....................................Michael Wilson
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact Jimmy Spearman (840-8957) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 3-16-22 .................................................... 122
Sunday 1st
Worship, 3-20-22 .................................... 190*
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 178
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 143
Contribution (budget $7,900) ................................ $8,272
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................... Peanut butter
Our Vacation Bible School
is scheduled for
June 12th
-15th
from 6:30-8:00 pm!
There will be classes for all ages including adults.
Make plans now to attend!