Conneaut Church of Christ

December 24, 2006

Will You Welcome Him?

O Come, All Ye Faithful #997

O Little Town of Bethlehem #996 (vss. 1-3)

The First Noel #999

Welcome and Greet One Another

O Little Town of Bethlehem #996 (vs. 4)

Sermon      Will You Welcome Him?       Tim Kraus

Joy to the World #1018

Jesus’ Birth Medley #1000

Communion

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem #1005

Offering

Scripture Reading         Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25;  Luke 2:1-20

Praise and Prayer

We Declare That the Kingdom of God Is Here #730

I admit to a certain queasiness about the way the coming of the Son of God is portrayed.

Tradition usually takes precedence over truth when the Christmas story is told. After all, Christmas is a tradition, as opposed to a Biblically-mandated holy day!

When I am confronted by the religious expectations surrounding Christmas I feel a combination of annoyance and embarrasment.

“We don’t put as much emphasis on the celebration of Christmas as some churches do,” I hear myself saying. “Don’t get me wrong,” I usually qualify, “We believe the birth of Jesus is true and very important. We just don’t have all the pagentry.”

The terminology and the symbology of the relgious aspect of the holiday have always been a little foreign to my low- church leanings. Don’t get me wrong, I can tolerate, even enjoy, the liturgy and candles of those who see Christmas as a high holy day. It’s just that I have seen what happens when religion becomes a yearly pagent instead of a daily lifestyle.

The real meaning of that baby in the manger, is that God humbled himself and became our servant, to the point of dying for our sins. The incarnation says that God inhabited human flesh so that he might win our freedom and inhabit us by means of his Spirit.

That makes people who are generous gift-givers 365 days of the year. They hold doors open, tip waitresses generously, allow a car to merge in front of them, donate to feeding ministries, and talk about the loving God who wants to adopt us…all year long.

After saying all that, I must admit that it does my heart and my imagination good to see portrayals of the star, the angels, the wise men, the shepherds and the baby in a crude manger.

It reminds me of the wonder and the mystery of God’s entry into our world. It makes me want to declare, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Conneaut Church of Christ

December 10, 2006

In The Beginning…

We Shall Assemble #718

Firm Foundation

A Common Love #705

Welcome / Greet One Another

The Family of God #732

Come, Share the Lord #364

Communion

Amazing Grace #129

Lamb of God #176

Sermon In The Beginning… Tim Kraus

You Are My All in All #484

Offering

Knowing You

Praise and Prayer

You Are My All in All (Refrain)

It is now December 3 and we have survived “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday,” which mark the surge of shopping that culminates in Christmas.

“Let’s see, I need to get something for Aunt Ruthie and she doesn’t like ‘fru-fru’ stuff, so how about a gift certificate for Tractor And Supply?”

“Cousin Barney is so hard to buy for. He buys all the latest gadgets for himself, so anything I get him he either didn’t want or already has!”

“I know just what to get little Harry. His parents always got our kids toys that made annoying noises, so I’ll get him a set of drums!”

I am sure those musings come purely from my imagination, and in no way resemble your thoughts as you choose gifts…but gift buying can be a chore. Especially if you forget why you are giving the gift!

Thankfully, God never forgot why he gave the greatest Gift ever. As the disciples scratched their heads and tried to figure out what Jesus meant, when the Pharisees plotted to kill him, when the fickle crowds quickly switched their chant from “Hosanna!” to “Crucify him!” God never said to himself, “Why was it that I gave my only Son?”

He never regretted the price of his gift, never wondered if it was appropriate. The gift represented ultimate sacrifice, yet was given freely…a true “gift.”

As we speed toward Christmas, schedules with get hectic and stores will get crowded. Don’t forget why you are giving…and never forget why He gave.

Tim Kraus

After sixty-six days at sea, the hopeful travellers landed on the New England coast. Before disembarking they had signed an agreement to work together and help each other, despite their cultural and religious differences. It was called the “Mayflower Compact,” and was America’s first document of civil government…and the first to introduce self-government.

It was December when they arrived, and their first need was for shelter. A harsh winter, combined with sickness and starvation, reduced their by half.

With the help of some Indians, they prepared ground and planted crops for the Summer season and were rewarded with a bountiful harvest.

That was the setting for the first New England Harvest Festival, called to thank God for his goodness, and to thank the native Americans for their help.

Edward Winslow, one of the Pilgrims, described that Thanksgiving feast:

“Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling so that we might, after a special manner, rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as…served the company almost a week…Many of the Indians [came] amongst us and…their greatest King, Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted; and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought…And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD WE ARE…FAR FROM WANT.”

We, also are “far from want,” and ought to be thankful to the God who allows us to live in this land and to enjoy his watchful provision!

Tim Kraus

Conneaut Church of Christ

November 26, 2006

Give Thanks!

He Has Made Me Glad #103

Scripture Reading Psalm 100

Doxology #66

For the Beauty of the Earth #67

Scripture Reading Hymnal page 65

Offering

Give Thanks #68

Greet One Another

Sermon Thanks-Giving People Tim Kraus

“I give thanks for…”

Thank You, Lord #781

When Upon Life’s Billows #742 (vss. 1-2)

Come , Ye Thankful People

Prayer Requests and Prayer

Communion

When Upon Life’s Billows (vs. 3)

These observations are from a recent “Does God Exist?” newsletter by John Clayton:

More Britons believe in ghosts than believe in God. A British entertainment retailer ChoicesUK conducted a survey of the beliefs of British people that is interesting. Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed believed in ghosts, 55 percent believed in a God, 26 percent in UFOs, and 19 percent in reincarnation. When we have done lectureships in England, we have heard repeated references to the notion that we are living in the “post-Christian era.” Social pressure might make such a survey less meaningful in the United States, but we would suggest the numbers would be comparable.

Atheists continue to pound away in courts. The ACLU and Michael Newdow, a California atheist, continue to file suits to remove any notion of God from public display and functions. Newdow is the atheist who attempted to get “Under God” taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance. He filed a lawsuit November 17, 2005 in Sacramento to get “In God We Trust” taken off currency. The challenge is that these things violate the First Amendment’s religion clauses, which ban government establishment of religion and infringement of the free exercise of religion. The suit also says that the motto violates Newdow’s free speech and equal protection rights. Newdow has also challenged the use of prayer in presidential inaugurations. Newdow is a doctor who has gotten a law degree, so he can make his challenges without much monetary need. The well-funded ACLU has sent out mass mailings soliciting money to fight abstinence programs and any relief work done by faith based organizations. You can see their agenda at www.aclu.org. on the web. It seems our country is destined to become an atheist state as these voices and extremist religious groups battle and get media attention. The good work being done by Christians, and the fact that thinking believers in God want separation of church and state as much as anyone, seems to be something that is not made public and gets no publicity in our media.

To those who have placed themselves, and have been placed, in situations where they were under the constant threat of being killed and where they were forced to kill, we give our undying thanks.

Their trauma protected us from invading armies and tyrants with ambitions to conquer the world. Their nightmares have delivered the majority of us from ever having to experience that nightmare of war.

They put duty over comfort and expressed a love of country that shames those of us who enjoy the freedoms and opportunities of this nation without ever having to suffer for it.

To our Veterans we say, Thank You!

Take Part In Honoring Our Veterans

Next Saturday, November 11, is Veteran’s Day. On Sunday we will give a tribute to our veterans, and we need your help. Over the last few years we have collected photos of your loved ones and friends who have been, or are yet in, the military services. If you have any new ones, please loan them to me so I can scan them and add them to our photo presentation next Sunday. Please bring them to Wednesday Bible Class or let me know and I will pick them up early next week. I will return them to you Sunday, November 12.

Tim Kraus

We came up with a crazy idea last Sunday at the early- morning planning session (That’s what happens when you mix coffee and sweet rolls early on a Sunday!). We are going to bake a hundred pumpkin pies and give them away.

That’s right, during the week of Thanksgiving, we are going door-to-door and giving fresh, homemade pumpkin pies to our neighbors. Just because we care about them and want to do something nice for them. And, just because we think it would be a cool thing to do.

It’s scriptural, too. Jesus said, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Matt. 10:42). According to my resident, expert pie-maker, a pumpkin pie has about a cup of water in it (That’s my interpretation of what she said)!

Are you eager to take part in this chance to fulfill Jesus’ mandate to love our neighbors? Pam Blum is coordinating the pie project. Talk to her this morning or give her a call.

Another Way to Serve

Lately we have been blessed with several cute and eager children who need child-care during the Sunday morning service. Ideal staffing is a team of one adult and one teen each week. I’ll be sending around the infamous CLIPBOARD to give you a chance to sign up for this important job (and to prick your conscience if you are reluctant!). Both women and men are needed.

Next Sunday Brenda and I will be camping with our grandchildren in the mountains of northern Georgia. If we survive, we’ll be back the following Sunday. While I am away, I have a real treat for you for next Sunday. Don’t miss!

Tim Kraus

My heart is heavy over the shooting of several Amish girls in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, this week. As pieces of the story come together it looks like the killer, Charles Roberts, was driven by guilt and a perverse fantasy.

As hard as the senseless killing is to understand, the actions of Westboro Baptist Church, from Topeka, Kansas, is even more difficult to comprehend. On Tuesday they announced their intention to picket the Amish funerals to convey the message that God killed the girls in order to punish Pennsylvania for remarks Governor Rendell made about Westboro Baptist Church. This is the group which pickets the funerals of slain US soldiers to say their deaths are punishment for America’s toleration of homosexuality.

Just as I was absorbing that outrage, I came upon an article about how the Amish families affected by the shootings have responded to the tragedy. Within hours of the deaths of their daughters, several of them knocked on the door of the Roberts family to pray for them and to extend forgiveness. They are offering financial support to help them through their difficulties. Mrs. Roberts was one of very few non- Amish guests invited to the funeral.

When I read that I was as shocked as when I heard of the shootings. We rarely hear of such Jesus-like behavior in our violence and vengeance-saturated world. I guess it makes sense that the people who have made the deliberate choice to live simply and to value community above conveniences would teach us what “Turn the other cheek” means.

A Daily Mail article about the first day of funerals ended with a quotation from Gertrude Huntington, who has written a book about Amish children: “The people know their children are going to heaven. They know their children are innocent. And they know that they will join them in death. The hurt is very great. But they don’t mix hurt with hate.”

I think we have something to learn from our Amish neighbors.

Tim Kraus

Ever since last Friday and Saturday’s Men’s Leadership Retreat I have been thinking about the Galatians 5:6 text to which Patrick Mead referred during one of his lessons: “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

Paul began the paragraph with a reminder of how God had liberated them from the burdensome, nit-picking Levitical law: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Then he grabbed them by the shoulders, looked into their eyes, and sternly demanded, “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

You see, the churches in Galatia were in danger of giving in to the bullies from Jerusalem who were trying to get them to “tow the line” by submitting to circumcision and adherence to Sabbath law. They sought to replace joy, celebration, love and relationship with rigid law-keeping.

“The only thing that counts…” he said. It applies to so many areas of life.

Is your relationship with your child all about “Clean your room!,” or are those reminders only a tiny part of the joy, affirmation, love, affection and play that characterizes your life together?

Do you try to mold your spouse into the person who will please you, or do you try to cultivate “faith expressing itself through love?” If you are not finding your deepest needs met by God, you likely are trying to extract from your spouse what no human can give you. (And your spouse can sense your disappointment.) Give that person next to you forgiveness, respect, appreciation and gratitude, even though they are not perfect.

This week, remember what counts!

Tim Kraus

Conneaut Church of Christ

September 24, 2006

Following Jesus

Call to Worship                   Psalm 84

I Want to Be Where You Are #833

I Worship You #64

Jesus, Name Above All Names #221

Christ, We Do All Adore Thee #186

Communion

Sharing Praises

Greet One Another

You Are My All in All #484

Reflections on Men’s Leadership Retreat

The Love of God #133

Offering

Prayer

This year we will have three groups. Each will meet on Sunday evening. Esther Wheeler will host one, and Jerry Miller will lead the group and facilitate the Bible discussions. The second group will be lead by Roger Burdick, Darwin Gurto and Scott Blum and will rotate the meeting place to various members’ homes. The third group will be hosted by David and Nancy Siegel and will be lead by Tim Kraus.

We believe we have a solid core to begin each group, and we would like to invite everyone to become part of a group. One meets in the Kingsville area, one in central Conneaut, and one roams around North Kingsville, Pierpont, Monroe and Ashtabula.

Inside this Bulletin is a listing of all of the groups with locations and contact information. Check us out!

It’s Insulation Installation Time!

The money has been raised, the insulation has been purchased and now it is time to install it in the Classroom building.

Next Saturday, September 30, we need a big crew to help install the unfaced fiberglass on top of the existing insulation. We will start at about 8:00 a.m. and make quick work of the job…if we have lots of hands.

I will pass around the clipboard with a sign-up form today so we can know how many to expect.

Tim Kraus

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12)

In Point Man, Steve Farrar writes,

“Years ago in a humble hotel in Philadelphia, an elderly couple approached the night clerk and begged him for a room. It seems a convention was in town, and all hotels were booked full for the night.

“Are there any rooms left anywhere?” the old man inquired.

The clerk thought for a moment and realized his room was available since he was working the desk all night long. He gave his room to the elderly couple. At breakfast the next morning, the old couple invited the desk clerk to join them.

“Young man,” said the elderly gentleman, “you’re too good a hotel man for this place. How would you like for me to build a big hotel for you in New York City?”

The elderly man was John Jacob Astor, who went on to build the famed Waldorf-Astoria hotel. And because of his service that came out of a willingness to sacrifice, that obscure and isolated night clerk eventually became one of the greatest hotel men in the world.”

Farrar applies this story to men’s need to love their wives sacrificially, but the principle applies to every area of life.

Don’t be deceived, sacrifice is never easy (Is it, guys?!) but it is always right.

It is the way Jesus lived.

Tim Kraus

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