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♦ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2008
4C
RELIGION
Angel li*ee service to be held at St. Christopher's Church
By KATHY PADGETT
Contributed
As the holidays are rapidly
approaching, sorrow may be
in the hearts of many parents
in the area.
Since2oo4, St. Christopher’s
Episcopal Church in Perry has
held a non-denominational
Angel Tree service for parents
who know the heartache of
having a child of any age die.
The service is beautiful and
very moving.
Upon entering the church,
each parent is given a hand
made angel ornament with
their child’s name and they
proceed to the “Angel Tree”
to place their angel on the
tree. Many touching songs
are sung and scriptures said,
focusing on loss and hope. As
each child's name is read, the
parent comes forth to light
a candle from the paschal
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ENI/Gary Harmon
Rayburn Bagwell maneuvers a crane as workers intall the new steeple on New
Hope Baptist Church in Perry Tuesday.
Children's informality with adults
is a sign of change in social values
Focus on the Family
Dr. James
Dobson
Columnist
QUESTION: It seems to
me that children are far
too familiar -- too infor
mal - with adults today.
When I was a kid, we
always addressed grown
ups by “Mr.” or “Mrs.” Or
if they were in the family,
we called them “uncle”
or “aunt,” or “Grandpa”
Spellbinding apperances of the risen Lord
Parables to Ponder
Billy
Powell
Columnist
Jesus promised He would
return to earth, When He
does, His essential nature and
being will be vastly different
from the suffering servant
who “was wounded for our
transgressions, bruised for
our iniquities, and led like a
lamb to the slaughter.” He
first came to earth as sav
ior. He will return as divine
judge. The Bible describes
three spellbinding appear
ances of His return to earth
as the glorified, risen Lord.
(1) While exiled on the isle
of Patmos, John heard a=2
Omighty voice speaking to
candle. Following the ser
vice there is a reception in
Buchanan Hall which allows
parents to share stories, tears,
memories and even laughter.
It is comforting to be
amongst people who know
how you feel, even if no words
are spoken. I myself know
all too well what the holidays
are like when your child is not
there.
On May 28, 2005, my eldest
daughter Mackenzie was
tragically killed in a car acci
dent. She was only 11 years
old and had an entire lifetime
ahead of her. The Angel Tree
service came to life through
a wonderful woman named
Tribby McQuaig.
Tribby knew the loss of
her own daughter Sherry
and felt a service such as
this could help others who
have experienced a loss of
or “Grandma”. We would
never have referred to
an adult as Sam or Alice.
But today’s parents don’t
teach that courtesy to
their children. Some of
them introduce four
year-olds to adults by
their first names. Am I
the only one who is con
cerned about this? What
can I do to counteract
this trend with my own
son and daughter?
DR. DOBSON: I’ve been
bothered by that same obser
vation. It’s a by-product of a
cultural shift within society
itself. We are less respectful
of one another today in many
ways. Fifty years ago, for
example, men didn’t curse
him. He turned to see a
figure standing before him
like the Son of Man. The
resplendent Lord was
clothed with a long robe,
a golden sash around his
chest. His hair was white as
snow, his eyes like a flam
ing fire, and his feet resem
bled burnished bronze. His
voice sounded like the roar
of rushing waters. From
his mouth came a sharp
two-edged sword. His face
shined bright as the sun.
Overwhelmed, John fell to
the ground as though he
were dead. The Lord said,
“I am the Alpha and the
Omega, who is and who
was and who is to come, the
Almighty. Behold I am alive
forevermore, and I have the
keys of Death and Hades.”
(2) Zachariah prophesied
of a colossal Christ who
descends to earth: “On
that day, the Lord’s feet
will stand on the Mount of
Olives, east of Jerusalem.
this magnitude. Sadly, Tribby
passed away on March 6th of
this year. Too many people,
including myself, knew that
this service had to continue,
as it benefits so many. This
year the service will be held
Saturday, Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.
at St. Christopher’s Episcopal
Church in Perry.
The service will be offici
ated by local ministers, and
the reception following will be
hosted by the Daughters of
the King.
Perry Girl Scouts will be
lighting luminaries along the
driveway and many talented
musicians will provide the
music.
Anyone who wishes for their
child to be part of the memo
rial can contact me at 478-
442-3000 so that a personal
ized angel will be available to
them at the service
around women and cultured
women didn’t curse at all.
How that has changed! Both
men and women used to
address each other with for
mal titles (Mr., Mrs., Miss,
etc.) unless they had become
very close friends. Now, a
waitress whom you’ve never
met approaches your table
and says, “Hi, I’m Stephanie
and I’m going to be serving
you today.”
I don’t suppose today’s
informality is harmful,
although I agree that chil
dren should be taught to
speak to their elders with
certain deference. I still like
to hear them respond with
“Yes, Ma’am” and “No, sir,”
instead of “yeah,” “yep” and
The Mount of Olives shall
be split in two, from east to
west, making a very large
valley; half of the moun
tain shall move toward the
north and half of it toward
the south. Then the Lord
will come with all his holy
angels. He will be king over
Ml the earth and his name
alone will be worshiped.”
(3) John describes the
Lord’s majestic descent
from heaven to defeat the
forces of evil at the Battle of
Armageddon: “Then I saw
heaven opened, and behold,
a white horse. The one sit
ting on it is called ‘Faithful
and True.’ In righteousness,
he judges and makes war.
His eyes are like a flame of
fire. On his head are many
diadems. He has a name
written that no one knows
but himself. He is clothed in
a robe dipped in blood. The
name by which he is called
is the ‘Word of God.’ The
armies of heaven are follow-
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Members of the church hold the ornaments that will go on the Angel Tree.
Perry UMC
Event
The Perry United
Methodist Church “ Ladies’
Vocal Ensemble,” under
the direction of Miriam
Marchetti, wil present a
Christmas Musical Program
on Thursday, December 4 at
12:00 noon, in the Fellowship
Hall.
Reservations must be
made by 9 a.m, Tuesday,
December 2, by calling the
church office at 987-1852.
The cost of lunch is $5.00
per person.
If cancellation is not made
by the deadline, the pay
ment of $5 is due.
Deliverance Upcoming
Event
Deliverance Tabernacle
Holiness church on Elberta
Road in Warner Robins will
have their family and riends
day service on Sunday,
November 30 at 2:30 p.m.
The guest speaker will be
pastor Shedrick Ellington
at Shiloh baptist Church in
Milledgeville.
“nope.” When their man
ners are respectful, , their
entire demeanor is on a
higher plane.
As for how you can instill
these and other courtesies
in your child, you simply
make up your mind to do it.
You might explain that there
are many things your family
does differently than oth
ers: For example, “We don’t
use bad language, we don’t
attend certain kinds of mov
ies and we don’t (fill in the
blank).”
Why? Because we’ve set
a higher standard fbr our
selves. This is what makes us
unique as a family. Someday
you will understand that,
too.
ing slim on white horses.
From his mouth comes a
sharp sword with which to
strike down the nations. He
will tread the winepress of
the fury of the wrath of
God the Almighty. On his
robe and on his thigh he
has a name written, ‘King
of kings and Lord of lords.’”
When Jesus appears, what
happens to those still
alive? I Thessalonians 4:
16-17 reveals that a blast
of God’s trumpet will sig
nal His return and that
He will be ushered from
heaven with the shout of
an archangel. Rising first
to meet the Lord in the sky
will be those who died with
their faith in Christ. Next
to rise heavenward will be
those believers who are still
alive. The two groups—
the deceased believers and
those still alive- will meet
together in the clouds and
live forever with the Lord.
Being thankful
for blessings
Reflections
>;• •v;
Earline
Cole
Columnist
“Give thanks unto the
Lord, for He is good;
His love endures for
ever.” - Psalm 118:1
For what am I most thank
ful for? What is the top of
your list? What Christian
does not give priority to God
and the many blessing He
freely bestows? Next in line
is freedom of our country.
Without that freedom,
we would not be safe and
secure to enjoy the priv
ilege of family unity.
My thoughts jump over to
a recent Sunday School les
son when the question came
up regarding when we first
come to know God.
As I sat, pondering the
question, I wondered if it
would sound self-righ
teous of me to suggest
that I do not recall ever
NOT knowing of God.
An impressive testimony
was given by a Godly man
about when and how he
came to know God. It was
not hard to visualize his
life-changing experience. I
could think of no particu
lar experience that brought
God into my life.
At the conclusion of the
testimony, another class
member spoke up, humbly
and sincerely stating that
she could not remember ever
not knowing there is a God.
I was glad I had maintained
my silence because others
who grew up in Christian
homes surrounded by
the acknowledgement of
God, values of Bible read-
£m6**teU*4f * • rfltetaUA**
478-988-2448
740 Main Street
Perry G A 31069
‘t/iait We Online
www.sewingbees.com
Ministries
pßlpmetTiGod In Christ
David A. Taylor, Pastor
Order Of Services
Sunday School at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship 11:30 a.m.
W Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study at 7:00 p.m.
m New Bethel Mission COGIC
Supt. David A. Taylor, Coordinator
New Perry Hotel Conference Room, Perry, GA
Thursday Bible Study at 7:30 p.m.
Come Worship With Us
Contact 478-953-6676
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HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
"Let the spirit move you"
ing, prayer, and worship,
nodded affirmatively.
Near the top of my priority
list, is the blessing of hav
ing had Christian parents. I
never heard Daddy or Mama
prayer aloud, except for his
table grace, “Lord, make us
thankful for these and all
our blessings, A-men.”
The Bible gathered no
dust, even though we did
not have family devotion
als. Daddy and Mama did
not attend Sunday School
until after his retirement,
but they saw that their five
children attended. W
e were blessed with car
ing neighbors who provided
transportation when needed
even though we could have
safely walked the short dis
tance. We were joined by
our parents for worship.
The existence of God was
always acknowledged in
every walk of life.
My acceptance of Christ
as my personal Savior came
when I was twelve years old.
He has forgiven me many
times since and His forgive
ness will be needed for blun
ders made along the way.
Daddy always said
“Every day should be
Thanksgiving.” He said this
of each designated holiday.
Thanks to God for not giv
ing up on me.
Thank you dear friends for
being instruments in God’s
hands to help me become a
better person. Best Wishes
to you and your loved ones
for a blessed Thanksgiving
observance on Thursday
and all those to come.
I thank (our) God upon
every remembrance of
you. - Philippians 1:3
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