Newspaper Page Text
Page 4B
The Braselton News
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Church N e ws
In the Eyes of
the Father
Parrish Myers
eotf@comcast.net
*
(1W >
VS -
Don’t hold back, run
into your Father’s arms
I love Sunday mornings
after church. Amy brings
Chloe up from the nursery,
and I see her looking for me.
Once she sees me, her eyes
light up. She breaks out into
a huge grin. She runs toward
me at full speed screaming,
"Daddy! Daddy!"
Sometimes I stand, sometimes I squat, but I open my arms wide to
receive her.
Now, here’s the best part. She’s built up a pretty good head of steam as
she’s been running toward me. Just before she reaches me, does she slow
down? Does she pull up short, then calmly step into my embrace? No.
Chloe runs toward me — and into me — at full speed. Sometimes when
I’m squatting down, the impact is enough to knock me on my . . . ahem,
posterior. We collapse onto the floor in a mound of giggles. She loves it,
and so do I.
But sometimes I’m afraid she’s going to hurt herself. I’m afraid she’s
going to trip and fall as she runs toward me. I fear her hitting my kneecap,
my shoulder, my head or some other unyielding part of my body and bust
ing her lip or nose.
Chloe, however, has no such concerns. All she cares about is getting into
her daddy’s arms.
I wonder, are we as excited about being in our heavenly Father’s pres
ence? Do we run headlong into His open arms? Do we crash into His
embrace, with no regard for anything else but just being close to Him?
Or, do we pull up short? Do we stop just as we get near him, because
to be too close to God might make us uncomfortable? Because to be so
close to His holiness and perfection might convict us of our sinfulness and
imperfection?
I can assure you, Chloe has no such reservations when it comes to me.
There are plenty of things I can do, which she cannot. There are many areas
in which I’m superior to her. Does she feel ashamed of that difference?
Not to my knowledge. Do I constantly make her aware of the discrepancy
between us? Absolutely not.
To be sure, there are areas of Chloe’s life in which I want her to do better.
I instruct her concerning those areas, and I expect her to change. But, I do
it because I love her. And I never shame or berate her.
This is what God does to us, too.
There are areas of my life in which I miss the mark. There are times that
I fall short of God’s perfect will for my life. And when I do, God lovingly
corrects me. He never belittles me, berates me, or makes me feel less than
who lam — a child dearly loved by his heavenly Father.
Sure, sometimes I feel uncomfortable when I’m in his presence. But that
discomfort comes from my own imperfection, not anything that He does.
And, God provides the forgiveness I need, so that I can enjoy the time I
spend with Him, without being distracted by my sin.
So I run. I run toward my heavenly Father, never stopping, never slowing
down, crashing headlong into His strong, capable arms, knowing that He
will catch me and hold me in His loving embrace.
We may even share a few giggles over the experience, too.
Parrish Myers is a resident of Braselton, and is pastor of Pine Crest
Baptist Church. You can e-mail him at eotf@comcast.net. His website
is www. eyesofthefather. com.
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Christmas drama
set Sunday at
Hoschton Baptist
Hoschton First Baptist Church
youth will perform “Yo! Christmas
Tree” on Sunday, December 9,
beginning at 6 p.m.
The Hope for the Hungry food
distribution team will be at the
church on Tuesday, December 11, to
distribute food to anyone in need.
The church choir will perform
“The Gift Goes On” a Christmas
program on Friday, December 14, at
7 p.m. and again on Sunday morn
ing, December 16 at 11 a.m.
For more information on any of
these events, call the church office
Monday through Thursday from 8
a.m. to 4 p.m. at 706-654-2938.
‘On the Road
to Bethlehem’
planned Sunday
The town of Bethlehem will have
its “On the Road to Bethlehem” on
Sunday, Dec. 9, from 6-9 p.m.
Guests may stay in their vehicles
while driving through Bethlehem
to learn the true meaning of
Christmas.
The entrance will be at Church
Street.
Center UMC plans
Christmas services
Center United Methodist Church
announces the following special
services:
Sunday, December 16, at 11 a.m.,
children will present a musical pro
gram, “Sing a Song of Christmas.”
Teens will then present a humor
ous skit entitled, “A Watt Family
Christmas.”
•Sunday, December 16, at 6 p.m.
the adult choir and sdrama team
will present the dramatic musical
“The Christmas Shoes.” The drama
is based on the hit single from
the Christian group NewSong. A
nursery will be provided during the
musical.
Contact Joy Mauldin at
706-654-2144 for childcare.
A covered dish supper will follow
the performance.
•Thursday, December 20, at 11
a.m., a monthly luncheon will be
held for "Super Seniors.” All senior
citizens are invited to come enjoy
fellowship at this very special gath
ering.
•Monday, December 24, at 6 p.m.,
a candlelight communion service
will be held on Christmas Eve.
"Please come join us as we thank
God for His incredible gift - His
Son Jesus Christ,” organizers said.
Candles will be available to light in
memory of a loved one.
"We invite the community to these
services,” church leaders said.
The church is located at 7641
Jackson Trail Road in Hoschton.
The interim pastor is Howard
Banks.
Hoschton UMC
announces holiday
event schedule
Hoschton United Methodist
Church announces the following
Advent and holiday season services:
•December 14, “Prime Timers"
Christmas dinner at 11 a.m.
•December 23, church choir
Christmas cantata, at 11 a.m. ser
vice.
•December 24, Christmas Eve
candlelight service, 6-6:30 p.m.
The church is located at 12
Mulberry Street. For more informa
tion, call 706-654-1422.
The Vine plans
special series
The weeks leading up to
Christmas are often called the
"Advent Season.” The Vine,
Braselton, will present a special
series called “ADVENTure" during
this time.
“Advent is an Arrival, an
Intersection, and an Adventure,”
leaders said. “Advent is about mov
ing toward Jesus as He is moving
towards you. When the two of you
meet, the ADVENTure begins!”
Topics include: “Hope,”
December 2, “Peace,” December
9, “Joy," December 16, and “Love,”
December 24.
The second annual Chateau Elan
Christmas Eve candlelight service
will begin at 6 p.m. on December
24.
Gospel singing
planned Saturday
The Church of Jesus Christ,
Winder, will host Bobby Allen and
local church talent for a gospel
singing on Saturday, Dec. 8, from
7-9 p.m.
Refreshments will be served in
the church’s fellowship hall after
the singing.
The church is located at 1438
Hardigree Road. For more informa
tion, call Bobby Allen, pastor, at
770-725-5818.
Local church
services, addresses
The following is a list of address
es and service times of churches in
the Braselton, Hoschton and Mill
Creek area.
•A Call to Salvation Church:
Sunday worship, 8:30 a.m. and
10:45 a.m.; Sunday children’s
church, 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.;
Wednesday night Bible study, 7
p.m.; “Demostration Youth” for
ages 13-18, Mondays, at 7 p.m.
The church is located at 1295
Jackson Trail Road, Jefferson.
Arlene Smith is the senior pas
tor. For more information, call
706-367-9612 or visit www.acall-
tosalvation.org.
•New Liberty United Methodist
Church: Sunday worship, 11
a.m., with children’s church and
nursery available. The church is
located at 26 Charlie Smith Road,
Braselton. Jamey Prickett is the
pastor. For more information, call
706-654-2406 or visit www.new-
libertyumc.org.
•Mulberry Baptist Church:
Sunday worship, 11 a.m.; Sunday
school, 10 a.m.; singings, second
Sundays, 6 p.m.; youth choir prac
tice, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. The church
is located at 5970 Thompson Mill
Road, Hoschton. The Rev. Ollie V.
Hayes is the pastor.
•Hoschton First Baptist Church:
Sunday worship, 11 a.m. and 6
p.m.; Sunday school, 9:45 a.m.;
Wednesday night worship ser
vice, 7 p.m. The church is locat
ed at 99 East Jefferson Street,
Hoschton. For more information,
call 706-654-2938 or visit www.
hoschtonfirstbaptistchurch.com.
•Hoschton United Methodist
Church: Sunday worship, 11
a.m.; Sunday school, 10 a.m. The
church is located at 12 Mulberry
Street, Hoschton, at the corner of
Bell Avenue and Mulberry Street.
The Rev. Luis Ortiz is the pas
tor. For more information, call
706-654-1422.
•Crossroads Church of Jackson
County: Sunday worship, 10:30
a.m. The church meets at the
Jefferson Recreation Department,
located at 2495 Old Pendergrass
Road, Jefferson. Rod Zwenke is
the pastor. For more information,
call 706-658-0243 or visit www.
check-out-church.com.
•The Church of God of Prophecy
is located at 8187 Pendergrass
Road, Hoschton. Thomas C.
Holmes is pastor. For prayer or
information, call 706-658-2625.
Church News
Policy
Church news is due by
Monday at noon. Items
received after the deadline
may not be published.
Fax items to 706-387-5430
or e-mail to churchnews@
mainstreetnews.com.
For questions, call
April Reese Sorrow, at
706-387-5401.
(706) 335-4944
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