Growing churches entrust themselves to God through members who surrender themselves to the ministry of Jesus.  Surrendering is seemingly difficult in any culture or time, because it means letting go of something else that makes us feel secure.  God blesses us in our depravations as Jesus speaks to us in terms of those poor in spirit, mourning, merciful, persecuted, and thirsting for righteousness.  Matthew 5.  God will give us the most important blessings in life when we confess our need in the midst of God’s riches in Christ Jesus.  We surrender and let go of the ties that falsely bind us to the facades of worldly living.  We invest the entirety of ourselves as living sacrifices, because we belong to God through Christ.  Romans 12.  We give and do, because Jesus allowed us to be "Christian" on the cross.  Our identity in Jesus is His way of life as our actions are lived out in the church.

The needs of the church are opportunities for us to acquire the gift of giving and be filled in our depravations by God.  The Kingdom of God bears fruits of Heavenly occupancy as we work and invest the substance of our faith.  Each of you are facilitators of God’s work representing salvation, hope, and the Way of God through obedient living.  Live your faith by seeing its work in the life of the Church.  God knows of your work and potential as you live your days in full service and sacrifice to Him.  Allow us to tell you about Jesus.  Give us a chance to explain what Woodlawn Church of Christ has meant to us.  Listen to our weaknesses and hear us tell you about God transforming us as a weak people into strong believers of Jesus.  Allow us to give to you what has been freely given to us.  Matthew 10:8.

Mike Bailey

We had a team journey to New Mexico this weekend bound for another Bible Bowl trophy.  They are due to arrive back home today.

Medina Children’s Home will send their truck for our winter collection during the week of March 28.  They have asked us to collect toilet paper.  There will be boxes in the foyer for your donations.

Today, there will be a potluck lunch in the Fellowship Hall followed by a brief devotional.  We will not be having 5pm services tonight.

Ladies Bible Class Valentine Project - remember to bring your signed valentines(41) Wednesday morning so we can get them delivered.

There is a correction that needs to be made, Bob Proctor has moved to 624 EN 16th.  He still has the same phone number- 677-6494.

Martin & Ruth Cooke have moved to Covent Place Apt. 201.  Phone number 690-9959.

Today, there will be a Super Bowl Party at Brad’s house (1741 Walnut) starting at 5:00pm.  If you need directions or a ride, please let him know.  All are welcome to be there.

Attention! The youth group is putting together a game room.  They would be happy to accept any donations of televisions, VCRs, DVD players, a pool table, a foosball table, air hockey, cards and board games.

Karen and Kathy would like everyone to be on the watch for pictures of animals that they could cut out of magazines, post cards, etcetera.  The children will be making an animal collage for a take-home project during VBS.  They hope to have a big turn out and need everyone to help them out with this.

There will be a Children’s Steering Committee meeting next Sunday at 4:00.

STATISTICS FOR JANUARY 30, 2004