Sarah Bailey will be leaving us again to answer God’s call.  On Wednesday morning, she and her family will be traveling to Dallas to put her on a plane to Italy.  Sarah is actively involved in the Florence Church of Christ.  Sarah sets an example to all of us by leaving the comforts of home and family to fulfill God’s mission in spreading His word throughout the land.

Numbers 6:24-26
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Sarah
Your church family loves you with the love of the Lord.  May your calling in Italy be fruitful in the expanse of the kingdom.  Know that our prayers are with you as God’s presence blesses the many lives that you touch in the name of Christ.

Oscar Wilde’s Aunt Jane once have a grand party.  She died of embarrassment when nobody came.  It was only at her funeral that it was revealed that she had never mailed the invitations.  People come to church because they are invited.  But, inviting somebody to church, quite frankly, makes us uncomfortable.

Yet we do other things that are not comfortable.  We paint the house in 90 degree weather because we know we’ll have more problem if we don’t.  We squirm all day before we ask the boss for a raise, but we do it because we need the extra money.  We dread the eight hour drive to Grandma’s but we go because she enjoys the children so much.  Our culture tells us, "don’t bug others," "live and let live," "don’t get involved," and "nobody’s got the corner on truth."

The contrast between what society demands and what our Savior expects is clear.  We invite not because it is easy or comfortable or acceptable, but because it is a part of our role as Christians.  A 19th century philosopher told a story about a man seeing a sign in a store window in a small European town.  The sign said: "Pants Pressed Here."  He went in and started to remove his trousers.  The clerk asked what he was doing.  The man said, "I saw your sign and want my pants pressed."  The clerk responded, "Oh, we don’t press pants here.  We just paint signs."  It says "Church if Christ" out in front of our building.  Do we serve Him and seek others for Him, or do we just paint signs?

Harold Shank
Marshall, TX

This is Sarah Bailey’s last Sunday!  There will be a basket set up for her at the potluck lunch today for you to leave her words of encouragement and/or money.

HELP!  Teachers are needed for the Sunday morning nursery.  See Karen or Kathy!

Monday Night for the Master will begin meeting again tomorrow night.

Ladies’ Bible Class will begin meeting again Wednesday morning.

There will be a Mission Committee meeting Wednesday after church services.

New phone numbers!  Mike Northrop's is 864-9867 and for Cathy Northrup, it is 829-9427.

Viva Littlefield is moving to 1541 Orange St., and her new phone number will be 676-7667.

We now have a mailing address for William Mather: P.O. Box 261, Alpine, TX 79831

Attention All Ladies!!
Spring session of the Wednesday morning Ladies Bible Class will begin next week, January 12 at 10 a.m. in Room 19.  Various teachers will conduct weekly lessons until the beginning of summer interspersed with projects and lunch out together on the second Wednesday of each month.  The study book chosen for this series is Spiritual Aerobics by Linda Schott.  All ladies are invited to come, bring friends and learn from each other as well as be an encouragement to others as we strive together to become better servants of God.  Put it on your weekly calendar!

STATISTICS FOR JANUARY 2, 2004