Parson to Person by Pastor Eckman:
“In God we trust” is still on our coins and will remain there. Just this past week I heard the wonderful news of a Supreme Court decision to retain the national motto on our coins. “In God we trust” was a joint resolution adopted by congress on July 20, 1956. It gives God His rightful place in the life of this country.
I’m proud to be a citizen of a country that is willing to declare their trust in God. I’m grateful to be able to pledge my allegiance to “One nation, under God.” My heart is thrilled as I sing our national anthem which closes: “Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation; then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto – ‘In God is our trust’.” Woodrow Wilson on July 4, 1913 stated: “Here is the nation God has builded by our hands.” William Penn in 1681 said, “If you are not governed by God, you will be ruled by tyrants.” “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). Why should we be ashamed of stating openly and living as though we trust in God?
Membership Spotlight by Jan Clement:
Mrs. Barb Pratis was born in Harvard, Illinois and has lived around this area all her life. Her husband is Wayne and their children are: Cynthia (12), Jason (9), Linda (8), and Isaac (better known as “Truck”) (3). It was through the Mother/Daughter Banquet she attended with her children that brought her to Emmanuel Baptist. For a long time she felt a need of “Something” that was missing in her life. She tried different churches but they didn’t have the answer. Then Cyndie was invited to the Mother/Daughter Banquet and afterwards wanted to go to Sunday School. So she attended also since she had to drive them there. Barb said she felt the Lord’s leading all of her life and He finally got her to come to Him. For about three Sundays she held back and wouldn’t go forward, but God finally won the victory and she accepted Christ as her personal Savior.
Barb serves as a social chairman for the Ladies Fellowship. Her favorite verses are John 13:34: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another,” and 1 Corinthians 10:13: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.” Her favorite song is: “There’s Something About That Name.”
Ladies Fellowship by Evelyn Merry:
We met at the home of Eileen Dempsey. Jan Kraft read a letter she received from a missionary wife and Eileen led the prayers. The devotion was given by Luana Alderman and was about five important things to teach our children:
- Transparent tenderness (2 Timothy 1:4). In Joyce Landorf’s book “Touch & Tender” she has 11 words to score your tender abilities against:
- Consideration
- Sympathy
- Helpfulness
- Tact
- Courtesy
- Compassion
- Understanding
- Politeness
- Unselfishness
- Thoughtfulness
- Social manners
- Authentic faith (2 Timothy 1:5)
- Inner confidence (Book of Daniel)
- Demonstrative love – a love reaching out to the highest good of another (John 15:13)
- Self control (Proverbs 3:11 & 12)
It was a very enjoyable devotion after which a light refreshment was served to the 20 ladies in attendance.
News from the Pews by Pastor Eckman:
- New Arrival: Gloria and Mike Gesicki welcomed Michael James into their home on June 3rd at 6:30pm. We congratulate you and praise God with you.
Praise and Thank You Corner by Virginia Wright:
How thankful I am that one day I shall sit at the feet of Jesus my Savior in His kingdom and look into His loving eyes and see the great love that He has for all His children. What joy it will be to feel the touch of His nail-scarred hand, to behold His loving tenderness and know I will be with Him forever.
One way we can thank Him for this beautiful future is by building for it here on earth. Show our concern for lost souls while they still might be saved and give love to our fellow man and those in need.
1 Corinthians 4:5 states: “Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have PRAISE OF GOD.”
When we count the great blessings that come from honest praise, we will find our hearts filled with joy and thankfulness for the great sacrifice our precious Lord made for us, by taking our sins upon His sinless shoulders and bearing them away to the great sea of forgetfulness. Praise beyond measure should be given to Him.
Let us all with love in our hearts show the whole world where we stand with our Lord!
