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137 Hopson Road
Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone: 928-4421 / Fax: 928-4421
Email: [email protected]
April 2015
Minister’s Moment—Power in Prayer
I have been thinking a lot, discussing a lot, reading a lot, and practicing a lot on my prayer life. As
Christians we know that prayer is important. We know we have been called to prayer, in fact the Bible
calls us to pray continually. We even know that prayer is powerful and advantageous to our lives. But
with all of that knowledge we still struggle to fit it in to our daily life, well at least that is what we say.
So I began to wonder, do we really believe prayer is powerful if we are unwilling to make a priority out
of it? Can we call prayer important as a priority if we only devote 10 minutes a day to it? Can we
claim to be led by God if we never really listen to what He has to say? Listen to what James says.
James 4:2 - You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you
want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
Now before we go any farther I want to be careful not to give the impression that prayer is some
kind of powerful incantation that provides you with everything your heart desires. Prayer is not Aladdin’s lamp ready to bestow upon you 3 magic wishes. Yet at the same time I think it is important that
we realize that Scripture repeatedly tells us that we do not have because we do not ask. Listen to what
Jesus tells us.
Matthew 21:21,22 - Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only
can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in
prayer."
We need to realize just how powerful and effective prayer is! We need to recognize that prayer is
not just a religious activity but rather it is our lifeline to God. It is our line of communication. It is
one of the powerful ways that God communicates with His children. It is our red phone and our after
dinner conversation, it is our 911 call and our “just to let you know I was thinking about you” text. It
is how we stay connected and how we keep ourselves properly directed.
Now look back at James 4 and think about what it says, you want something and in order to get it
you covet and kill, you fight and argue, in other words, you attempt to get it on your own, by your
power, with your strength, and for your self-satisfaction, instead of asking God about it. Which made
me wonder, “Am I allowing God to work powerfully in my life through prayer or am I trying to work
powerfully on my own and only pray when I can’t get it done on my own?” I also wondered, “when I
do pray am I making it all about me instead of actively, deliberately, even desperately seeking God’s
Will for my life?”
So here is my conclusion, prayer doesn’t just access power, prayer is power because through it and
by it we have access to the throne room of God and through it and by it we are actively submitting our
lives to the Lord. So we need to pray, and not just as a way to receive what we want or desire, but as a
way of giving ourselves, our priorities, and our wills to the Lord. Then and only then will we really
experience all that God has in store for us.
April 2015
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
1
THU
2
FRI
3
7
8
6pm-Basketball at
Central Elementary
6:30pm-Connection
Groups
14
15
4
1pm-Easter Egg
Hunt
6:30pm-Connection
Groups
5
6
7am—Sonrise Service (followed by a
carry-in Breakfast)
10am—Combined Worship
SAT
9
10
11
16
17
18
No Evening Worship
12
13
5pm-Deacon’s Meeting
6pm-Basketball at
6:30pm-Connection
Central Elementary
Groups
7pm-Carter Co. Men’s
Fellowship at Blue
Springs Christian
6:30pm-Youth/Adult/CHAOS Kids
7:45pm-SNAC at Amigos in Elizabethton
19
10am-Combined Worship
Followed by a Fellowship Meal
20
21
22
6pm-Basketball at
Central Elementary
6:30pm-Connection
Groups
28
29
6pm-Basketball at
Central Elementary
6:30pm-Connection
Groups
5:30pm-Joy Group Mystery Meal
23
24
25
9am-Men’s Prayer
Breakfast
Youth Hiking Trip
26
6:30pm-Youth/Adult/CHAOS Kids
7:45pm-SNAC at Pizza Inn in Elizabethton
27
Sunday Morning Service Times:
9:10am — Worship/Sunday School
Children’s Church
10:15am — Fellowship Time
10:35am — Worship/Sunday School
2-Brayden Phillips
8-Betty Fernandes
8-Tony McKeehan
8-Karen Robey
10-Todd Franklin
10-Tom Turbyfield
13-Memphis Scalf
16-Jason Altman
16-James Otis
18-Geoff Hutchings
18-Haley Rice
19-Kim Meredith
22-Angie Milam
22–Keith Ray
24-Heather Hendrix
24-JP Townsend
26-Kinnick Meredith
28-Leah Scalf
9-Luther & Nancy Cox
23-Albert & Pat Wood
25-Gary & Patsy Hurley
April 2015
Workers’ Schedule
Children’s Ministries
Worship Ministries
Service Ministries
Preschool/Nursery 1st Worship
5: Combined Worship
12: Nathan & Delanie Winningham
19: Combined Worship
26: Charlene Ray & Karen Robey
Communion Meditations:
Greeters:
5: Jerry & Eileen Hendrix
12: Tom & Terry Turbyfield
19: Billy & Julie Murphy
26: Jeff & Lori Whitson
Nursery 2nd Worship:
5: Lori Whitson/Karen Robey
12: Julie Murphy & Melissa Carr
19: Sarah Turbyfield & Amy Vaughan
26: Carolyn & Kenneth Arwood
Preschool 2nd Worship:
5 & 12: Ashley Whitson
19 & 26: Cathy Selbert
Preschool Helpers 2nd Worship:
5: Meghan Murphy
12: Summer Ward
19: Cassidee Ray
26: Christie Scalf
Children’s Church
5: Karen Hughes
12: Verna Vance
19: Family Sunday
26: Debbie Leach
Sunday Evening Nursery
5: No Evening Worship
12: Lori Whitson & Leora Hendrix
19: No Evening Worship
26: Karen Robey & Janet Wolfe
Sunday Morning
Worship #1
5: Michael Vaughan
12: Eddie Thomason
19: David McKinney
26: Garrett Townsend
Worship #2
5: Combined Worship
12: Bob Hendrix
19: Combined Worship
26: Bill Combs
Sunday Evening
5: No Evening Worship
12: Dick Hendrix
19: No Evening Worship
26: Nathan Winningham
Sound Room
5: Tom & Terry Turbyfield
12: Josh Carter
19: Steve Leach
26: Jeff & Lori Whitson
Video Recording
5: Nathan Winningham
12: Josh Carter
19: Larry Hammons
26: Jeff Whitson
Shut-In Communion:
5: Bill Combs—926-0830
12: Dick Hendrix—926-9537
19: Bob Hendrix—9292075
26: Michael Vaughan & Youth
Communion Preparation:
Janet Wolfe
Communion Servers
Matthew Albritton
Keith Carr
Jeff Carter
Jeff Whitson
Nathan Winningham
Matt Wolfe
Jason Altman
Kenneth Arwood
Larry Hammons
Dick Hendrix
Mike McNees
Billy Murphy
Building Lock-Up
Billy Murphy & Nathan Winningham
Service Attendants:
Worship #1
5: Eddie Thomason / David McKinney
12: Wayne Turbyfield / Mike McNees
19: Chauncey Fernandes/Keith Carr
26: Everett Smith / Michael Rice
Worship #2:
5: Combined Worship
12: Tom Turbyfield & David Meredith
19: Combined Worship
26: Tim Robey / Garrett Townsend
April 2015
Hey everyone!
Schedule of Events:
We're already a quarter of the way through 2015!
Crazy, huh? Time really does fly around here, and if
you're like me, you feel like you're just trying to keep up.
Well the good thing about Spring is that we get the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors a little more, and escape
sickness and the winter-blues.
There really is a lot to be excited about as we enter
Spring and the Easter season. Christ the Lord is Risen!
(Hallelujah!) I think the theme for this month needs to be
“Renewal.” We've had a Spring Break (unless you're in
Carter County Schools), we've done some Spring Cleaning, and our clocks have “sprung forward.” This month
we're looking forward to some hiking trips and other
“outdoor” worship events. Also, on the “renewal”
theme—we're REnaming the Youth Group, REmodeling
the youth room, and REorganizing the way we do Sunday night Youth stuff! I'm going to need some REst!!!
I'm very happy with the way you all have been adjusting to the changes we've been making. Wednesday night
Small Groups are going really well. And I love seeing
how you are growing in your relationships with one another and with the Lord! Join me in praying for all of
these other “renewal” things to go well. We really do
want to make sure what we're doing helps us to glorify
God, grow in our faith, and reach lost people with the
Gospel. As important as it is for us to have fun, THOSE
are the real goals!

Saturday, April 4- Easter Egg
Hunt- Come help us hide eggs
for the kids! This is a great opportunity
to love and serve the church. Plus, it's
fun!

Sunday, April 5- Easter/Sunrise Service- Yes, it's early. But this day celebrates the most important event in the
history of the Universe! So come out
and greet the sun (and the Son) with the
rest of the church. Then, we can eat
some breakfast together! (He is Risen,
indeed!

Sunday, April 19- Hiking Trip
after church- It's going to be
awesome. Location TBD. We'll
grab some dinner together afterward, so
bring a few bucks!

Youth Room Remodelling!!!! Date
TBD- This is it! We're going to make
this happen! It's going to be glorious!
Get pumped!
In Christ's Love,
Michael
P.S.- Sign up for camp!!
P.P.S.- Invite your friends to youth group!!
P.P.P.S.- You know you love the 'stache. Don't deny it.
Sunday AM
Sunday PM
Wednesday PM
4/1- Small Groups
4/5- “Young Moses”
(Ex. 2)
4/5- “How does Christ Act as Our
Prophet?”
4/8- Small Groups
4/12- “The Call of Moses”
(Ex. 3-4)
/12- “How does Christ Act as Our
Priest?”
4/15- Small Groups
4/19- “Pharaoh and the Plagues”
(Ex. 5-11)
4/19- Going Hiking!!!!!
4/22- Small Groups
4/26- “The Passover”
(Ex. 12:1-32)
4/26- “How does Christ Act as Our
King?”
4/29- Small Groups
Easter Sunday Schedule
7:00am—Sonrise Service (followed by carry-in breakfast)
10:00am—Combined Worship
Don’t miss this time of celebration!
Eggs Needed
Our Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be on
Saturday, April 4. We will be collecting
candy-filled eggs for the kids to hunt on
that Saturday. We will invite the children
in the community so we will need lots of
eggs. Plan now to help out the
cause! There will be a box in the
foyer for eggs. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Joy Group
Mystery Meal
The Joy Group (ages
50+) will meet on Saturday, April 18th, at
5:30pm for a time of fellowship and dining
together. The theme of the night is
“Mystery Meal” Come out and enjoy this
time of fun and fellowship!
On Tuesday,
April 21, the Carter
County Christian
Men’s Fellowship
will meet at Blue
Springs Christian Church 7:00pm. Randall Johnson will be the speaker. All men
are invited to attend
Combined
Worship
Sunday, April 19th, at 10:00am
Weather permitting we will meet outdoors!
With the walls and the new heaters that
were purchased recently it should be comfortable!
On Sunday, April
19th, following our
Fellowship
Combined Worship,
Meal
we will have a Carry-in
Fellowship Meal.
Bring meat, side
dishes, desserts and
drinks for your family and to share with visitors. Craig & Allison Fowler, Missionaries to
Ethiopia, will be with us this Sunday. Don’t
miss this opportunity to fellowship together!
All men are invited to breakfast for
a time of prayer, Bible study and fellowship on Saturday,
April 25th, at
9:00am. Don’t miss this opportunity for fel-
Opportunities to Serve!
In striving toward being servants, modeling ourselves after Jesus, we want your
help in meeting the needs of those in our congregation and community. If you know
of any needs or service projects that need to be addressed, please see Billy Murphy.
In the same way, if you have a gift or talent that you want to offer in service to those
in our church family, let Billy know that also.