JANUARY 11, 2023

REJOICE

We rejoice with the angels over the birth of a new brother. Andrew Hard, son of Tony and Sarah Parker/grandson of Chip and Laura Jones, was baptized Wednesday, January 4^th.

WELCOME

The Mann Family meet with the elders saying that they wish to work and fellowship with us at Central. Please get to know Gary and Jessica and their three daughters, Julianna, Adeline, and Lucy, and encourage them.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Ø The Crittendens ask prayer for Cameron leaving as he starts a new job in Wisconsin beginning Tuesday. We also are thankful for Brandon’s work promotion. We ask God’s protection over our family. Amen.” (Update: Cameron safely arrived in Wisconsin.)

Ø Dittos: “Look around. If you miss someone who is usually here, check up on them this week. Love one another.”

Ø Melanie Gipson: “I got frostbite the day before the snow. My fingers are still numb – have not got the feeling back. It was painful at first where I could not move my hand. Pray for me.”

Ø Guthries: “Please pray for complete healing for Catherine and Bryce Kuykendall as they have both been diagnosed with lung infections and will be receiving treatment.”

Ø Mike Hammond: “Prayers for the guys graduating His Way tonight (Sunday, January 8^th). Pray they keep their focus on God.”

Ø Carol Kuhn: “Carol’s sister, Barbara, and her husband, Bill, are struggling with the effects of Alzheimer’s on Bill. Please pray for peace and wisdom for Barbara.”

Ø Jared McCall: “Trinity and I are engaged. Pray that we continue to put Jesus first and pray that the engagement process goes well.”

Ø Celia Moore: “Pray for Alan who will be having gallbladder surgery soon.”

Ø David Nance: “Grant Ralph was laid off from his job and is seeking another job.”

Ø Loran Porter: “My mom (Lora) is sick at home.” (Update: Lora is feeling better. She will be going to Indiana Friday to take care of her mother.)

Ø Doug Turbyfill: “Thanks for your support.”

Ø Kenny Wingard requested our prayers.

Ø Mothers-In-Waiting: Kat Nambo (2/2023), Allison Ledford (6/2023), and Samantha Strachan Ajayi (6/2023).

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

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

THANK YOU

Thank you so much for the beautiful plant. It made us feel loved and comforted us in the loss of Charlie’s brother. Your cards have also been very encouraging to us.

Charlie and Barbara Hopkins

Thank you so much for praying for my dad. Even though he had all the symptoms of a heart attack, his tests came back normal, and he is doing great now.

Allison Ledford

A NOTE TO THE BODY OF CHRIST AT CENTRAL FROM THE ELDERS WHO SERVE WITH YOU

Barrion Palmer has served as deacon of the Preschool Ministry as well as that of benevolence for many years here at Central. His work and leadership have been a critical part of our body, and his work for the Lord is most appreciated. Barrion has asked to step aside from these roles. The elders and the body at large are very appreciative of the many good works he has done, so many of which have borne good fruit. The elders would like to encourage Central to reach out to Barrion and thank him for the good work he has done.

The roles filled by Barrion are very important at Central, and it would not be good to leave them unfilled. For this reason, the elders are asking everyone at Central to be in prayer and discussion about this. If you have recommendations for those to serve in either of these roles, or if you yourself would like to step up to one of these good works; please let one of the elders know.

In prayerful service to the Lord with you all,

The elders

CHILDCARE WORKERS NEEDED

There is a new sign-up link for those willing to be a childcare worker during Sunday assembly. We have 3 classrooms and 2 workers per classroom so we could use 6 people every week. Please contact Suzie Nance at drnance@hiwaay.net or 256-653-2508 to receive the link. Also, let her know if you are willing to fill in as needed. Thanks!

PRAISE AND HARMONY WORKSHOP

Wednesday, January 11^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.

AGENDA FOR PRAISE AND HARMONY WORKSHOP

Friday, January 14 7-8:30 p.m.

ReGenHarmony Activity – This activity is targeted to teens and college ages but is open to anyone who wants to attend. They will be learning new songs in our Family Life Center.

Saturday, January 15 2-4 p.m.

Area Wide Praise and Harmony Singing

Sunday, January 16 9-10 a.m. – Teens and Up in FLC

10:15 a.m. – Assembly

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

Suggested donation: $65 per couple

Payments can be made online here:

TUESDAY MORNING WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study will restart January 17. We will continue our study of The Sermon on the Mount (a Jen Wilkin Bible study), picking up with Secret Righteousness Mt. 6:1-18. Sisters, come join us when you can, even if you missed part 1! We gather at 10:00 AM in Room 113, begin our study at 10:15, and wrap up around 11:20/30. Childcare for 0-PreK4 is provided.

COLLEGE – FNLs

There is a sign-up list posted in the kitchen for those who would like to prepare food for our Campus Ministry’s FNL. If your family or LIFE Talk is preparing the meal for any of the weeks, they invite you to join them for the entire evening if you can and get to know our college students.

SERVANTS NEEDED!

The sign-up list for preparing the communion is posted in the kitchen. Questions – contact Jim Phillips 256-417-8202.

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 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
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
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

* Note: Only Zooming on Wednesday, January 18. No class in the library that night.

UPDATE FROM SOPOT, POLAND

Relief Effort of the Sopot Church of Christ Continues in the Spirit of I Corinthians 12

“But God has combined the members of the body… so that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” I Corinthians 12 24b-26

Since February 24, 2022 Central church has partnered with the church of Christ in Sopot, Poland to relieve the suffering of the church members in Ukraine. You have heard regular reports of this work that has provided prayers and physical help for Ukrainians escaping from the hostilities. Central has been generous in donating funds to provide shelter, food, medicine, emotional support, and spiritual guidance. Lives and souls have been saved.

The Sopot church has been honored. In October, Harding University awarded Molly Dawidow and her daughter Annabelle for their cooperative effort with the elders of the Sopot Church in administering the Relief Effort. Both Mrs. Dawidow and Annabelle are alumni of Harding University (1970 and 2004 respectively). They received the Botham Jean Inspiration Award at the Black and Gold Banquet held on Homecoming weekend. It honors alumni selected from a community of more than 60,000 former students who have rendered recent important Christian service. The Botham Jean Inspiration Award is given annually to a member of the Harding community for demonstrating exceptional faith and perseverance, and serving as a role model for all. Surely this Polish mother and daughter fit these criteria. Let us rejoice with them and about our part in this worthy work. Here is a live example of showing the “equal concern for each other.” “Let us not become weary in doing good.” (Galatians 6:9) There is more to do so Paul continues in verse 10, “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Below is a list of opportunities to consider as you are able.

Opportunities to contribute to the relief of Ukrainian Christians through the Sopot Work:

1. Be in continual prayer for Ukrainian Christians and stewardship of Sopot Church

2. The Sunset Church of Christ finances transports into Ukraine to relieve those still there.

(Support this with a donation through the College Church of Christ in Searcy and mark check for Transports) Donations to College Church marked Dawidow/Ukraine can still be done as before.

3. There is a very present need for Cold Weather Accessories as Russia cuts gas availability in Europe. Blanket/comforters, Sleeping Bags and flashlights are needed. A friend of the Davidow’s in Mississippi has connections with Amazon Europe and can get these items delivered to Molly from Amazon in Poland for distribution to Ukrainians in Sopot and in Ukraine. The blankets are $46; the sleeping bags are $50. Contact Roger King by email at rking2115@gmail.com and ask for his mailing address. You can then send him a check made to the Starkville church of Christ and he will see that your item is delivered to the Dawidows.

MEN TO SERVE – JANUARY

Chair Set-Up – Jackson Ledford’s Team

Counting – Yocus Jones’ Team

Ushering – James Ryans’ Team

ACTIVITIES

Jan	11	Singing Group (5:45-7:00 pm – old auditorium)
	13-15	Praise and Harmony Workshop (See Agenda.)
	15	Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
	20	College – FNL (6:30 pm)
	17	Women’s Bible Study (10:00 am)
	22	Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
	24	Women’s Bible Study (10:00 am)
	27	College – FNL (6:30 pm)
	29	Wedding Shower Honoring Michael and Brittany Hammonds (2-3:30 pm See invitation.)
		Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
	31	Women’s Bible Study (10:00 am)
Feb	3	College – FNL (6:30 pm)
	5	Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
	7	Women’s Bible Study (10:00 am)
	10-11	Marrieds’ Retreat (See article.)
	12	Teen Time (5:30 pm – Teen House)
	14	Women’s Bible Study (10:00 am)
	17	College – FNL (6:30 pm)