January 1, 2023

PRAYER REQUESTS

•  Mothers-In-Waiting: Marjie Nance (1/2/23), Kat Nambo (2/2023), and Allison Ledford (6/2023).

•  Our Shut-ins: Amelia Biser, Randall Biser, Jamie Cole, Fritz Nelson, Sheril Townsley, and Doug Wingard

•  Our Missionaries: Denisovs & Rahimovs (Tomsk, Russia), Kishore Etwaroo Family (Port Kaituma, Guyana), Carlos & Linda Eguizabal (Juayua & Salcoatitan, El Salvador) & YOU (Huntsville Area)

SYMPATHY

Our sympathy is extended to The Hopkins Family in the passing of Charlie’s brother, Thomas L. Hopkins, Thursday, December 29^th, in Georgia.

PLEASE JOIN US

We can bearly wait!

Join us for a baby boy shower honoring

Kat and Tonino Nambo

Sunday, January 8^th – 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Central Church of Christ

Registered at Amazon and Target.

YOU ARE INVITED

Join us for a come and go Wedding Shower

honoring

Michael and Brittany Hammond

January 29, 2023 / 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Central church of Christ

Registered at Amazon.

2023 Marriage Retreat

Mutations of Marriage

February 10 - 11, 2022

Speakers: Bennie and Tonya Wilkerson (of Simpson Street Church of Christ, Atlanta, GA)

Registration: Now – January 29^th Sundays in Fellowship Hall

Register online: https://forms.gle/TDLpeJJfcJVMqnxF9

Suggested donation: $65 per couple

Payments can be made online here:

 

PRAISE AND HARMONY WORKSHOP

Wednesday, January 4^th, in the Old Auditorium from 5:45 – 7:00 p.m. we will be practicing the songs we have learned over the past weeks for the Praise and Harmony Workshop, which is scheduled for January 13-15. Please come and learn with us.

SERVANTS NEEDED!

The list for signing up for 2023 is posted in the kitchen. This is one of those behind the scenes acts of service that is appreciated by everyone. Questions – contact Jim Phillips 256-417-8202.

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

The church office is closed for the holidays. It will reopen Tuesday, January 3^rd. As always, if you need any of the staff, they may be reached on their cell phone.

Winter and Spring Terms: January 1 through May 21

1.   Paul’s Guidance to the Corinthian Church (Family Life Center)

Paul often wrote letters to churches he knew. Usually, he had several pleasant things to say about the people to whom he was writing. Sometimes, however, the people were so immature that he struggled for words of commendation. Such it was with Corinth. A significant port city in Greece during the Roman Empire, Corinth was known for its worldly lifestyle. And the Corinthian church, in many respects, resembled the culture in which they lived. How can God’s people live godly lives in a pagan culture? This textual study of 1 Corinthians walks through the cultural challenges of the church in Corinth and looks for points of application for Christians in today’s culture.

The first session on January 1 will be an introduction and overview taught by Daniel Alavi in the Family Life Center. For those unable to participate in person, participants can access the LiveStream YouTube link from Central’s website.

The series will pause on January 15 for a session of the Praise and Harmony Workshop in the Family Life Center. The remaining weeks will be circle-up discussion groups.

2.   Women’s Ministry (Library; Coordinators: Sue Underwood and Kim Story)

This class provides Bible-based content in a LIFE Talk setting and is set up to minister to women who are the head of their household and women whose husbands are not Christians. Women of all ages and situations are welcome who wish to participate in this ministry. The class is generally organized to alternate between Old Testament and New Testament books, topics, and ideas. However, prayer and sharing are also integral parts of the class. As participants begin to apply the teaching to their own lives, they are invited to openly share burdens with one another. This is so that others who have walked that path previously can share their own experience and wisdom in how to face that situation faithfully. While two ladies provide the principal oversight for the class, a number of ladies from within the class will be encouraged to lead individual sessions, usually a week or two at a time.

January 1

At 10:15 a.m. in the Family Life Center, Central’s elders will lead our assembly.

January 8 through February 12 – “Looking in the Wrong Place”

Where do you look for answers to life’s questions? Do you watch a how-to video? Do you phone a friend? Do you follow a celebrity on their social media feed? For routine matters in life, there may well be “an app for that.” But when it comes to making life decisions, navigating relationships, and seeking security, where do you look? Where should you look?

It’s easy to look in the wrong places for such guidance. Even in the early church, we find examples of Christians who looked to themselves and the world around them for guidance. They fit very agreeably within the culture around them. In a word, they were worldly.

This series examines what it means to be worldly and provides practical ways of living rightly focused on God and the cross.

Week	Date	Scripture	Lesson	Speakers
1	Jan. 8	1 Corinthians	Introduction: Why These Lessons?	Rodney Keeton & Jamie Burns
2	Jan. 15	1 Cor. 1:1-17	Losing Sight of the Cross	Daniel Alavi
3	Jan. 22	1 Cor. 1:18-2:5	Relying on Our Wisdom	Bill Neiland
4	Jan. 29	1 Cor. 3:1-23	Who Do You Follow?	Steve Lowery
5	Feb. 5	1 Cor. 3:11; 4:1-21	We. Are. Immature.	Jackson Ledford
6	Feb. 12	1 Cor. 5:1-13	Dealing with It	James Ryans

CENTRAL ADULT WEDNESDAY NIGHT CLASS OPTIONS

Winter Term: January 4 through March 1

1.   Praying Jesus’s Model Prayer in Everyday Life (Family Life Center)

When Jesus’s disciples asked him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1-4), they implied something we don’t always recognize: how to pray to God isn’t completely obvious. In this series, we will examine aspects of the Lord’s model prayer and then spend time praying for specific areas of our everyday lives that relate to that model prayer.

Week / Date	Lesson / Scripture	Topics About Which to Pray
1 – Jan. 4	Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name (Matt. 6:9)	Seeking God with all we are and have; being God focused and selfless
2 – Jan. 11	Your Kingdom Come (Matt. 6:10)	Gospel/outreach efforts; opportunity and boldness in testifying about Jesus; salvation for loved ones; developing personal ministry
3 – Jan. 18	Your Will Be Done on Earth (Matt. 6:10)	Help to widows, the fatherless, the war ravaged, the oppressed
4 – Jan. 25	As It Is in Heaven (Matt. 6:10)	Praise for God’s perfection and his perfect reign over all things
5 – Feb. 1	Give Us Today Our Daily Bread (Matt. 6:11)	Meeting physical needs such as food, job, money, housing, and maintenance; chronic health issues and physical pain
6 – Feb. 8	Forgive Us Our Debts (Matt. 6:12)	Forgiveness for relationship strife at home, work, school, and church; country strife pertaining to politics, race, and media
7 – Feb. 15	As We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtors (Matt. 6:12)	Forgiving those who have wronged us
8 – Feb. 22	Lead Us Not Into Temptation (Matt. 6:13)	Rescue from trials, growth in personal maturity during trials, freedom over besetting sin
9 – Mar. 1	Deliver Us from the Evil One (Matt. 6:13)	Relief from anxiety and other inner turmoil; refreshed spirit over weariness; spiritual protection for physical and spiritual children

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86363371603?pwd=cjM1bmFxZ0kyTU5SR1VQUlN2QlpOZz09

2.   Romans, Part 2 (Women Only; Library and Online; Facilitator: Melinda Goad)

It has been said, “If you get Romans, God will get you!”  Join us this winter as we continue an in-depth look at the book of Romans in order to grow in our understanding of the profound truths Paul relays in this text. Each week class participants will study the assigned reading independently and join together on Wednesday evenings to discuss their insights. To allow for a more in-depth look at the text, we will only cover ½ chapter per week. You can attend the class in person at the building or from home on Zoom. If you have questions, please contact Melinda Goad. Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86546256824?pwd=ZndPSUdCUm02ZVJ1THdZVG5KWEk2QT09

MEN TO SERVE – JANUARY

Chair Set-Up – Garrett Bell’s Team

Counting – Yocus Jones’ Team

Ushering – James Ryans’ Team

DIRECTORY UPDATE

The Lucas Family’s new address is 111 Kelso-Smithland Rd, Kelso, TN 37348

ACTIVITIES

Dec	23-1/2	Church Office Closed
Jan	4	Singing Group (6:00-7:00 pm – old auditorium)
	8	Baby Boy Shower Honoring Kat and Tonino Nambo (2:00-3:30 pm See invitation)
		Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
	11	Singing Group (6:00-7:00 pm – old auditorium)
	13-15	Praise and Harmony Workshop
	15	Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
	22	Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
	29	Wedding Shower Honoring Michael and Brittany Hammonds (2:00-3:30 pm See invitation.)
		Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
Feb	5	Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
	10-11	Marrieds’ Retreat (See article.)