0………. 4
--article continued from page 1—
Vol. 47 September 6, 2022 Number 35
I DON’T WANT TO GROW UP
Barry Kennedy
“I don’t want to grow up” is an old advertisement line for a
popular toy store. It emphasizes the desire of children to want to stay
young and continue playing with toys. That, of course, is great for a toy
store wanting to sell toys, but is it an acceptable disposition for God’s
children? I must admit, I enjoy trying to hold on to youth in many ways.
It comes in handy for fathers rearing children. Holding on to youth
helps one enjoy life and bounce back from many of the hardship’s life
tends to throw at us. It can also hold us back from becoming the mature
servants God is calling us to be (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:12). The
question comes however, is it ok for a Christian to say, “I don’t want to
grow up?” The biblical answer is, yes and no.
Yes, it is ok to say, “I don’t want to grow up” if we are talking
about having the disposition of a child. Children are very honest,
forgiving, and often show what true humility looks like. In fact, Jesus
said to His disciples, “...except ye be converted and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble
himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven”
(Matthew 18:3-5). Humility is a fundamental aspect of Christianity
(Matthew 23:12; 1 Peter 5:5). Until we are willing to humble ourselves
God will not lift us up (James 4:10).
No, it is not ok to say “I don’t want to grow up” if we are going
to be so immature that we are swayed by the ways of the world. God’s
children, though childlike in disposition and trust, must also go on to
maturity and unity of the faith. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight
of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
(Ephesians 4:13-14). The maturing process comes through studying
God’s Word and having our “senses exercised to discern both good and evil”
--article continued page 2--
ELDERS
Mike Childers ............. 397-6453
Dennis Hallmark......... 255-5557
Mark Hitt .................... 322-0917
Bobby Lindley ............ 260-9193
DEACONS
Wade Bryan ................ 419-5552
Ricky Lindsey............. 255-8136
Jeff Mansel.................. 871-0357
Jimmy Spearman ........ 840-8957
Michael Wilson........... 891-0891
MINISTERS
Barry Kennedy....(931)787-7108
Alex Blackwelder ....... 706-1888
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)

--article continued from page 1—
(Hebrews 5:14). Peter gave this admonition in
the last verse of his second epistle: “But grow in
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever.
Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
We must hold on to the childlike nature
of humility, forgiveness, and trust, but we
must never allow Satan to influence us into
becoming idle, or gullible. Let’s always try to
simply be God’s children.
~~~~~~
Church Directory Update
Plans are to update our church directory! If you
have started coming to East Main since our last
directory, would like and updated picture, or have
had an address change, phone number change, new
births or weddings, please text or email this new
information to Jean Mounce at 662-491-0362 or
njm563@bellsouth.net OR Renee Childers at 662-
401-7328 or renchilders@yahoo.com. If you do not
have access to either of these and would like a new
picture, we will set aside a time within the next few
weeks to have your picture made. Please see Jean
Mounce for that. Thanks.
Ladies’ Fellowship
The ladies’ fellowship will be held this Thurs.,
Sept. 8 at 6 pm in the multipurpose room. Tanya
Cox will be our guest speaker. We will eat at 6 pm
and begin the devotional about 6:30 pm. All the
ladies are invited to come.
Ladies’ Day
A ladies’ day will be held this Sat., Sept. 10 from
9:30 am until 1:00 pm at the Pine Grove
congregation in Fulton with Berta Kennedy
speaking on “Sisters in Service.”
Any lady who would like to participate in
“Secret Sisters” should see Heather
DuBois ASAP.
Sunday, September 11th
This Sunday, September 11 we will have a group
from Freed-Hardeman University here to worship
with us. David Shannon, president of FHU, will
preach during the 9:00 am worship service and we
will have a potluck meal at noon following our
services. Please plan to stay and bring extra food for
our guests.
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
and help is welcomed.
Area Youth Meeting
The area youth meeting will be held this Sunday,
Sept. 11 at the Mayfield congregation beginning at 5
pm. The bus will leave the building at 4:40 pm.
Enrichment Workshop
You are invited to participate in a series of eight
classes that will be held on the second Monday of
each month, beginning September 12, 2022, and
ending April 10, 2023.
This workshop is for all who wish to attend, both
men and women. It is designed to encourage gospel
preachers, class teachers, elders, deacons, and all other
Christians who desire to be more effective in the
service of our Lord. There is no tuition charge.
PLACE:Gloster St. Church of Christ, 307 N.Gloster St.,
Tupelo, MS 38804
PHONE:662-842-6082
DATES:Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 14, & Dec. 12, 2022;
Jan. 9, Feb. 13, Mar. 13, & Apr. 10, 2023
TIME:6:30-8:00 pm
AGENDA:6:30-7:00 – 30-minute training session
7:00-7:30 – Break / Refreshments / Fellowship
7:30-8:00 – 30-minute training session
SPEAKER: Sam E. Hester
Our Fall Gospel Meeting
Our fall Gospel Meeting will be held Oct. 2-5 with
Allen Webster speaking. Mark your calendars!

Daily Bible Reading
September 7 .......................................... Hosea 13-14
September 8 ........................................................Joel
September 9 ...............................................Amos 1-2
September 10 .............................................Amos 3-5
September 11 .............................................Amos 6-7
September 12 .............................................Amos 8-9
September 13 ...............................................Obadiah
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Robert Kingsley (Sept. 8), Haden
Bland (Sept. 9), Evelyn Thompson (Sept.
11). Anniversaries: None this week.
Our Sick
Debbie Duke continues her chemo treatments.
Russell Deaton’s great-niece, Jacy Raburn, is
undergoing chemo to try to shrink her leg tumor so
it can be surgically removed. Mark Hitt and Lori
Sheffield’s aunt, Mary Ann Hitt, will begin chemo
soon for her lymphoma. Earline Dickerson, Diane
Dickerson’s mother-in-law and Pat Putt’s sister, is
in Room 7 at Sanctuary Hospice House.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Bettye Davis, Betty Long,
Evelyn Thompson, Steve Kelly, Barbara Bishop,
Bob Smith, Doug Wallace, Frankie Estes, Shirley
Lyons, Stella Pittman, Caroline Willis, Carol Hood,
Bill Goff, Sheba Tuggers, Michelle Maclean, Ricky
Britt, Nathan Hale, Dawn Brown, Freida Gardner,
Willie Bob Gates, Brian Carver, Larry Kennedy
Nursing Homes
Randy Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Bob McClure
Don’t forget to check
your mailbox in the foyer!
EMYG News
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
[24] Do you not know that in a race all the runners
run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you
may obtain it. [25] Every athlete exercises self-
control in all things. They do it to receive a
perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
I am so proud of all our kids for the work and
dedication they put in at school related things. I’m
even more proud of them for their desire to run
Gods race. I love you all. Alex
BEFORE PRAYING ... FORGIVE
BEFORE SPEAKING ... LISTEN
BEFORE SPENDING ... EARN
BEFORE CRITICIZING ... WAIT
BEFORE QUITTING ... TRY
BEFORE COMPLAINING ...
APPRECIATE
That is the way to live life!!
(1 Peter 3:10-12)

Men to Serve Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 a.m.
Announcements...................................Mike Childers
Bible Reading....................................... Kent Nichols
Opening Prayer ......................................Mike Ratliff
Lord’s Supper
Greg Hughes
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Closing Prayer...................................... Jalon Mansel
Ushers ..................Terry Kingsley & Andy Baldwyn
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer ...........................Bobby Joe Lindley
Closing Prayer....................................Hugh Scribner
Lead Singing........................................ Kent Nichols
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Opening Prayer ....................................... Asher Bass
Lead Singing........................................ Greg Hughes
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact Jeff Mansel (871-0357) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 8-31-22 .................................................... 152
Sunday 1st
Worship, 9-4-22 ........................................ 149
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 139
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 112
Contribution (budget $9,334) ................................ $7,546
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................... Peanut butter