This document is the bulletin from the Manchester Church of Christ in Manchester, NH for May 13, 2009. It includes announcements about upcoming events, a sermon titled "Lessons on Obedience", the weekly menu for Wednesday night supper, the worship schedule, and prayer concerns. It provides information about church activities and teachings to the congregation.

1. T HE MA N C HESTER C H URC H OF C HRIST, MA N C HESTER, N H M ay 13, 2 0 0 9
THE BULLETIN
WHEN YOU THOUGHT I Manchester Church of Christ
66 Mammoth Rd.
WASN'T LOOKING Manchester, NH 03109
603.623.5559
When you thought I wasn't looking, I When you thought I wasn't looking, I mht_church@comcast.net
saw you hang my first painting on saw you take care of our house and www.mhtcoc.org
the refrigerator, and I immediately everyone in it, and I learned we have
wanted to paint another one. to take care of what we are given.
Elder’s Link: May
When you thought I wasn't looking, I When you thought I wasn't looking, I Larry Glass – 887-1741
saw you feed a stray cat, and I saw how you handled your
learned that it was good to be kind to responsibilities, even when you larrycalling@yahoo.com
animals. didn't feel good, and I learned that I Lee Davis – 547-8876
would have to be responsible when I ladnlad@comcast.net
When you thought I wasn't looking, I grow up.
If you have any concerns that the
saw you make my favorite cake for
elders should be aware of, or need
me, and I learned that the little When you thought I wasn't looking, I
to speak to with them, please
things can be the special things in saw tears come from your eyes, and I contact Lee or Larry this month.
life. learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I Our Worship Services
heard you say a prayer, and I knew When you thought I wasn't looking, I Sunday AM: 8:30 & 11:00
that there is a God I could always talk saw that you cared, and I wanted to
Bible Class: 10:00
to, and I learned to trust in Him. be everything that I could be.
Sunday PM: 6:00
When you thought I wasn't looking, I When you thought I wasn't looking, I Small Groups:
saw you make a meal and take it to a learned most of life's lessons that I West Side Small Group: 6:15PM at
friend who was sick, and I learned need to know to be a good and Doug Paul’s
that we all have to help take care of productive person when I grow up.
Merrimack Small Group: 6:00PM at
each other.
Stuart Peacock’s
When you thought I wasn't looking, I
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, Nashua Small Group: 6:00PM at Paul
saw you give of your time and money "Thanks for all the things I saw when Mosier's
to help people who had nothing, and you thought I wasn't looking." Wednesday PM Devotional/Bible
I learned that those who have Classes: 7:00
something should give to those who News Items? Please submit before
don't. 11AM each Tuesday.
The world around us provides therefore we’ll not meet at the church
plenty of challenges to anyone who building on Sunday evening. But that
wears the name Christian; and in view of doesn’t mean that there’s nothing going
that this Sunday we’ll be studying on. Check out a small group and get to
“Tough Discipleship for Tough Times”. know your brothers and sisters better.
Don’t forget that this Sunday is
the third Sunday of the month and
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2. T HE MA N C HESTER C H URC H OF C HRIST, MA N C HESTER, N H M ay 13, 2 0 0 9
“So then you are no longer strangers and
Our Family
aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the
saints, and are of God’s household,”
Ephesians 2:19, NAS95.
Coming up in May... Wednesday Night Supper The Sentence Sermons
Wednesday Night Supper has
Remember This coming Sunday is started up again. Please • Give your time to improving
the third Sunday of the month remember to sign up on the yourself, and you'll have little
so there will be no evening sheet in the back of the time left for criticizing others.
services at the building. Please auditorium if you plan to attend.
consider joining one of the small • People are lonely because
groups listed on the front of the This and that... they build walls instead of
bulletin. bridges.
Gander Brook's work and w0rship
Attention teens Please plan to stay week is scheduled for June 27
• Worry always gives a little
after second service this coming through July 4. There is much
Sunday the 17th to work on work to be done to get the camp thing a big shadow.
filming commercials. The rally is ready for the summer so please
• If we learn to laugh at
a little over two weeks away and consider helping out.
there is much work to be done! Registration forms are in the ourselves, we will always
foyer. have something to make us
Work day Peter Steffensen has happy.
scheduled a work day here at the Ladies Day The Northern Valley
building for June 6th to clean up church in Lancaster, NH will be • Learn from the mistakes of
the yard/parking lot and other hosting a ladies day this others. You won't live long
miscellaneous tasks. He also Saturday, May 16th. More enough to make them all
states that the garage next door details can be found on the yourself.
needs re-roofed. bulletin board in the foyer.
What else? Announcing the 24th annual Wednesday Night Menu
Northeastern States Men's
Youth Rally The Manchester youth Retreat. It will be held in Kent,
rally is quickly approaching!! Connecticut on June 12th & 13th.
Mark your calendars for May
chicken fajitas
Please the poster in the foyer for
29th-31st. See Linda Paul if you more details. Mexican rice
are willing and able to house
some teens. vegetables
flan (Mexican custard)
Worship Leaders Prayer Concerns
Sunday, May 17, 8:30AM Scripture ..................... Paul M. Health: Doreen Lee, Pat Arel, Bill
Songs ......................... Mark E. Lord’s Supper ............. Rick G. Waisnor, Deniza Chase’s niece, Marge
Prayers ....................Brandon H. & Coordinator ................ Rick G. Simon, Penny Ranger, Manley Jones,
Duane C. Michael Anderson's brother
Scripture .................... Mark C. Sunday, May 17, 6:00PM Leadership: Ministers, Elders,
Lord’s Supper ............ Ken B. Third Sunday.....no services Deacons
Coordinator ............... Doug P.
Evangelism: Bible studies in
Wednesday, May 20, 7:00PM
progress, our website, MNFM, food
Sunday, May 17, 11:00AM Songs.......................... Mark E.
pantry, Give Away Day
Songs ........................ Gary D.
Return to the Lord: Brethren who
Prayers ....................Gerry M. & Lee D.
have forsaken the assembly
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3. T HE MA N C HESTER C H URC H OF C HRIST, MA N C HESTER, N H M ay 13, 2 0 0 9
Les s o n s o n O b e d i e n c e
P a r k Li n s c o m b
There’s just something God’s specific command, but he unacceptable. How many times do
about the word that sets our teeth was clearly wrong: "Samuel said, we make the same mistake as Saul,
on edge — obedience. When we’re "Has the LORD as much delight in justifying ourselves in the same
in charge (or think we are), we burnt offerings and sacrifices as in way — that we indeed were
want it from others and can’t obeying the voice of the LORD? obedient to God, until the going got
understand why they can’t just Behold, to obey is better than tough or unpopular, then we
cooperate. But when we’re being sacrifice, And to heed than the fat disobeyed? Real obedience is
asked for our obedience, it is of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22, NAS95. complete obedience.
usually a different story — it limits Get that? To obey is better than How many religious folks
our “freedom”, cramps our style, sacrifice (worship)! And it is easy to stumble over this one? They believe
and is the key duty of slaves and think (wish) that worship will cover in Jesus, repent of sin, live good
servants. Since the day we all up deliberate disobedience, because moral lives, teach others about
learned the word and the power of worship is easier than saying no to Jesus; but they fall short of baptism
“no”, we have been attempting to my own will. in both their own obedience and in
shrug off obedience. And that has We’ve all seen things like their teachings to others. Like Saul,
brought trouble for us all in our this before, maybe you’ve been in many might even approach the
families, in our relationships, in this situation before, a child judgment seat of the Lord saying
our work lives, and most misbehaving and deliberately something like, “…Blessed are you
importantly in our spiritual lives — disobeying a parent, until the of the LORD! I have carried out the
which effects everything else. parent has had enough and scoops command of the LORD.” 1 Samuel
Obedience was the central the child up to exercise a bit of 15:13, NAS95. But Jesus tells of a
issue, when God decided to replace discipline. But as the parent is moment in the judgment in which
King Saul with the shepherd boy, walking to a more private venue (so He will tragically say to some,
David. David was “the man after other adults won’t be subjected to “Many will say to Me on that day,
[God’s] own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14 the child’s date with “justice”), the ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
and 1 Sam. 15 & 16), while Saul child, knowing what’s about to Your name, and in Your name cast
found following God inconvenient, happen, begins hugging and kissing out demons, and in Your name
insecure, and unpopular. the parent — in a vain attempt to perform many miracles?’ And then
Disobedience toppled Saul’s trump the earlier disobedience with I will declare to them, ‘I never knew
potential dynasty, while obedience a little bit of “worship”. It doesn’t you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU
established David’s. But if you were work with a good parent, and it WHO PRACTICE
to have asked Saul, if he thought he doesn’t work with God either. Both LAWLESSNESS.’” Matthew 7:22,
was disobedient, he would have parent and God would view earlier 23, NAS95. This is where partial
given you a surprising answer, “No, obedience as preferable to a last obedience will bring us.
of course not!” (see 1 Sam. 15:13). It second kiss to avert discipline. Thankfully, our sins are
is for this reason and from this Second, Saul’s disobedience forgivable, when we repent; and
story, then, that we can learn two teaches us that obedience is not God’s grace is generous. But
important things about obedience. really obedience unless it is obedience is critical for discipleship
First, although humans complete. Although Saul followed to Jesus. Let’s not fool ourselves
tend to elevate the importance of God some of the way, he didn’t like Saul did and lose our throne
worship over daily obedience follow Him all the way. It was this (as heirs of God and co-heirs with
(morality; fruit bearing; fulfilling partial disobedience that cost Saul Christ) through our disobedience
our Christian obligations to our and his family the kingship. What a and willfulness.
families, employer, country, and shame, following God most of the
church), God doesn’t prioritize way, but as the saying goes, “close
them that way. Saul thought that but no cigar.” The lesson we should
offering a sacrifice of the best of the gather here is that partial
animals from Amalek would trump obedience to God is also partial
any “minor” noncompliance to disobedience to God, and this is
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4. T HE MA N C HESTER C H URC H OF C HRIST, MA N C HESTER, N H M ay 13, 2 0 0 9
Our Congregational Calendar
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Bible class 7PM
Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday:
Nicole Cordaro Karley Cobb &
Happy Birthday: Marge Simon
Nolelani
Hillhouse &
Casey Peacock
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Bible class 7PM
Happy Happy Birthday:
Anniversary: Karl Davies
Brandon &
Veronika Hombs
Te e n N e w s Yo u n g A d u l t s
• Please plan to stay Sunday morning after 2nd
service to work on commercials.
Our Statistics
Sunday Morning Worship (combined) 162
Contribution $3,334.15
T he Ma n c h es te r c h u r c h o f C h r is t
66 M a m m o t h R d.
M a n c h e s t e r , N H 03109
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