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The Church of Columbus   --- 2010 ---    "The Year of Dreamers"

 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
 
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MONTHLY
 

First Sunday of Every Month -Friends Day - No Evening Service

Our morning service the first Sunday of every month will be extended and  dedicated to getting to know our guests and members better.  To achieve this goal, members are asked to invite someone to have lunch with them either in their homes or a restaurant.  By doing so, the service is extended beyond its regularly scheduled time; therefore, no evening service will be held the first Sunday of each month only.
 

March 2010

 
 
             
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
             
  1 2 3 4 5 6
  H2H Prayer   Children's Church Men's Night Out 7 PM   Minister's Training Seminar 9 AM Campground
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
SALVATION SUNDAY            
             
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Daylight Savings Time H2H Prayer  

 

Children's Church      
             
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
            LADIES YARD SALE
             
 28 29 30 31      
SPANISH SERVICE     6 PM

 

           
             
             
             
             
             
 
 
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FAN THE FLAMES
 
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit game them utterance."  Acts 2:1-4.
 
 
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Indiana Bible College Magazine

Perspectives

 
Vol. 19/No. 5
 
"The Place Between"
 
An article written by our Pastor was recently published. Click on the links below to read his article it in its entirety.
 
 
 
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MOTHER'S DAY 2009
 
 

"Mother and Child - forever connected - hand in hand, heart to heart."  Think about it - from the moment of conception a child is part of the mother.  Her heartbeat sustains the life being carried within her; her body provides the cozy, secure environment and nourishment for her child's development as the days, weeks and months pass.  There are many changes in the mother's body as the child grows and develops.  She experiences excitement, joy and sometimes apprehension about what lies ahead as birth nears when her child, once a microscopic seed, enters into the world as her son or daughter.  Any mother will attest to the joy of hearing her child's first cry; counting the fingers and toes and that wonderful experience of the small, fragile hand encircling her finger for the very first time. 

The love of a mother knows no bounds.  From the very moment she learns she is "with child" the protective nature for her child exists.  There is no amount of pain too great to be borne to cause a woman of God to turn away from the awesome miracle and precious life she is carrying.  Her child is God's perfect creation.  There is no animal more protective of its issue than a human mother.  Mothers are chosen by God to bring new life into the world.  God's scriptures provide instructions for training and teaching her child about God and His love.  At times, in the wee hours of the night, she feels alone and often frightened when cradling a crying or ill child to her breast, yet she knows she has been chosen by God for this important job - nurturing, training and guiding her child through the tender young years ahead and into adulthood.  Motherhood is an awesome and very rewarding blessing women have received from God.  Thank you God for this blessing!

We honor all Mothers on a very special Sunday in May each year designated as "Mother's Day".  While each Mother present received a bookmark commemorating her special day, we honored several for specific reasons: Having received the Holy Ghost within the past 30 days; most senior Mother; first time visiting Mother; expectant Mother; "Wanna be" Mothers, a "Wanna be" Father and, of course, Sis. Sarah Sheppard, our First Mother of The Church of Columbus.  Take a look at these special ladies:

Thank God for our Beloved Mothers!

 Mother's Day 2009

 
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CONVALESCENT CARE MINISTRY

The Convalescent Care Ministry of The Church of Columbus has two passions: Jesus and the Elderly.  We desire first and foremost to serve  in the example of Christ.  We are dedicated to ministering to the elderly to promote spiritual, emotional and physical healing.  Our focus and prayer is to awaken and remind them of God’s Love, His Salvation; their worth in this world and that they be healed in all phases of their lives. Many years ago a story was told of an elderly, frail man sitting on the sidelines of life, watching others laughing, living and enjoying their lives.  His heart cried out, “Please, bring me back into your lives and let me live too – don’t leave me on the sidelines by myself.”  Our elderly have served others; they have worked hard and in the twilight of their lives, they deserve our love, care and concern. They need to know they are loved by others and, most of all by Christ Jesus. We are their eyes, ears, hands and feet to aid in time of need. 

Over the past few years through community donations and sacrifices of love, we have provided several local facilities with Christmas gifts. o

In October 2008 we hosted the Third Annual Christmas for The Elderly Charity Concert on the grounds of Fountain City Care & Rehab, 5131 Warm Springs Road in Columbus, GA.  Through donations received, God provided the way for us to give over many Christmas gifts to nursing homes.  If you contributed to the success of this event--thank you for loving and for giving.

For our next Christmas for The Elderly Concert date and time, please see our Calendar of Events. If you are interested in donating items for Nursing Home residents, please contact Barbara Sims at bsims@thechurchofcolumbus.org or call The Church at 706-571-0919.

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2008 CHRISTMAS GALA
 
The first Friday evening in December we had our Christmas Gala to welcome the Celebration Season commemorating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Usually festively dressed, we enjoy fellowship with our friends and family as we have a wonderful time together in the Lord.  There are always beautiful decorations, delicious food, special music, recognitions and a message from our Pastor. 
 
 

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2008 CHRISTMAS PLAY

MAYHEM IN BETHLEHEM

Nosey News Network was the setting for our 2008 Christmas play.  Our Youth and Children's Choir did a superb job of telling the Christmas story in drama and song. 

Complete with an all together overly confident news anchor, Noah Lott, reporters Vesta Gates, Freddie Factoid and Loran Limelight, and a cast of others, they reported in story and song the events leading up to the wise men following the star to Bethlehem where Jesus was born and delivering their gifts to Him.  The Network and cast of characters, interspersed with commercials for Debonair hair products, other "news" and breaking news clips of the event, presented the account of the visit by the wise men and their gifts presented to identify Jesus as the Messiah in an entertaining, yet informative way.

Even King Herod made an appearance, singing "Pray Tell Me" as he sought the whereabouts of the Christ child.   Each gift represented something special:  gold - a type of kingship; frankincense - a type of priesthood and myrrh - a type of sacrificial lamb.  There was plenty of laughter to go around as we were entertained by our children, as evidence of their hard work and dedication to learning their parts and the songs presented became apparent.

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DEDICATION OF CHILDREN TO THE LORD

When parents present their children before the Lord for dedication, they consecrate themselves as parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  They vow to instruct them in the teachings of Jesus Christ and in the practice of prayer and to guide them in the development of a Christ like character.  They also commit themselves to scriptural discipline of their children; that is to spare not the rod but to do so not out of anger but always with love.  To the best of their ability they vow to shape the home life of their children, both by words and example, so that the children will at the timely spiritual age seek personal salvation.

 The vow is taken before God, the ministry and The Church congregation to dedicate children to the Lord Jesus and themselves to the task of rearing them for God.  Parents must address themselves faithfully to this sacred obligation, with wisdom, patience, devotion and the Holy Ghost.  Having made these vows, they are endowed with the blessing of Jesus our Lord and Savior upon themselves and their children. 

 God’s word is replete with scripture evidencing that children are to be dedicated to the Lord.  Genesis 18:19 says:  “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”

 In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, we find these words about how we are to instruct our children concerning God:  “And those words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; And thou shalt teach them diligently unto they children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

 Then, in Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

 Matthew 19:13-15 says:  “Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray:  and the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me:  for of such is the kingdom of heaven.  And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.”

In 1 Samuel 1:20 & 24-28 & 3:19, we find the story of Hannah and her son Samuel. Hannah had “… asked him of the Lord.” and therefore, named him Samuel.  When he was still very young, the scriptures say she took him to the house of the Lord of Shiloh – Eli and, dedicated him to the Lord.  She said, “… For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:  Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord, And, he worshipped the Lord there.  And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.”

Then, in Luke 2: 21-2, we find passages where Jesus was presented to the Lord.  The scriptures say, in part“…his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb…. they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;”

 Respect in any relationship is important and especially in marriage.  In the Greek sanctified means venerate (respected) and Holy means blameless. 1 Corinthians 7:14 says: “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband:  else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.”  Here we find that the husband and wife are to be respected by each other and their children are blameless or holy in God’s eyes.

Therefore, with these truths in mind, we present our children to the ministry for their dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 
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MISSIONS SUNDAY 2009
In January we have a special Sunday dedicated to Missions.  It is a time we recognize the numerous countries where the gospel is being spread among the people by our organization.  We have a visiting missionary who brings us insight into the mission field where he/she ministers to God's people.
 
This year Rev. John Wolfram and his wife were our guests.  He has not always been a missionary or a Christian.  On the contrary, he spent many years "in the world".  He has had quite an interesting life and shared some of it with us on this special Sunday.
 
Almost forty years ago at the tender age of 20, he was the first person Apollo  11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins saw when they splashed down in the Pacific Ocean following their historic moonwalk.  That was July 24, 1969; John Wolfram was a Navy Seal and had every appearance of being a "flower child" of the 60s with flowers plastered all over his wetsuit.
 
As a young Navy man, he served two tours of duty in Vietnam and received a purple heart.  He lost more than half a dozen close friends in Vietnam knows he was fortunate to be able to return to the United States and pick up his life where he left off.
 
He is a published author of the book "Splashdown, The Rescue of a Navy Frogman".  In it he tells not only his story of becoming a Navy SEAL and of the now famous splashdown of the shuttle when our three astronauts returned from the moon but also recounts his personal struggle with drugs; his plans for suicide while in Vietnam and his amazing journey to salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Never would he have thought this journey would have led him back to Vietnam, to dwell among those he fought in order to lead them to Jesus.  He has been making trips back there every year since the early 1990s.  His life is truly an example of what God can and will do for a person when they seek Him and answer His call to arms.

Rev. and Mrs. John Wolfram

 
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2009 Easter Sunday Morning Worship
Followed By Balloon Launch

 

On Easter Sunday morning countless people searched for what the Easter Bunny left them, prepared for Easter egg hunts and picnics without a thought to the true meaning of this sacred day.  Conversely, our sanctuary was filled with 658 souls who had gathered to honor and celebrate Jesus Christ on this wonderfully sacred day.  Jesus died on an old, rugged cross for our sins but rose again over 2,000 years ago on that first Easter morning.  Our choir ushered us into the presence of the Lord with beautiful voices and instruments as we celebrated and rejoiced His resurrection.  There were dramas and replicas of the cross at Calvary as well as the tomb before and after the stone was rolled away. 

Our Pastor delivered his Easter message, using I Corinthians 1:18 as his text - "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." He said, to sinners and the unsaved the cross means very little or is mere foolishness.  But, to the saved, is the power of the Almighty God.  To so many Calvary and Golgotha are just words but to the Christian it is a place of public crucifixion. To many the Cross of Calvary is simply an iconic symbol.  For example, some religions make the sign of the cross; some people use crosses as jewelry while still others hang them on the walls of their homes as decorations.  Many worship the symbol of God rather than God himself.  Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was made to become sin for us.  Calvary took away everything about Jesus that made Him human - He completely lost his human identity on Calvary.  Today men and women are transformed when they encounter Jesus Christ - the One who gave His all for their sins. The transformation strips away  humanity and creates something beautiful.  Everything comes with a price and it is never cheap or found in the bargain basement. We must always consider the cost of anything we plan to do before undertaking it.  For Christians, Calvary means submission to self and allowing Jesus to live through us. There is joy and fullness of life in Christ Jesus and it is well worth the price that we must pay for it.

After the awesome message from our Pastor, we adjourned to receive a helium filled balloon and then gathered in the parking lot for our annual balloon launch, signifying the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. As the gentle breeze carried our balloons up, up and away, we rejoiced in the knowledge that because Jesus became sin for us, we can look forward to all of our tomorrows with the peace that comes from knowing we can be with Him for all eternity, if we are willing to pay the price.  Later in the afternoon, there was a picnic provided for all who wished to attend, an Easter egg hunt for the children, other events and a wonderful time to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

                         

                   Preparing for the Launch                                                       Fellowshipping while awaiting the Launch

                     

Getting Ready                                                                Up-up and Away

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Homecoming

Held in May each year, Homecoming is a time to reminisce and reflect on our past, revel in the present, and anticipate the future with great faith. This wonderfully memorable day includes slide presentations, singing and worship, and a delicious meal served up with an enthusiastic helping of fellowship.

 
"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."  Psalms 16:6


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"Old Time Religion Sunday"

Display in Church Lobby

We continued our tradition of worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ  the second Sunday of 2009 the "Old Time Religion" way.  Many of our members dressed in attire considered old to them; while others donned very impressive outfits of by-gone eras.  In simpler times many churches met in buildings with dirt floors often strewn with straw.  Housed in our beautiful edifice with modern day comfort, we did not have the dirt floor but our vestibule was decorated with bales of hay, backless benches and rocking chairs.  Songs reminiscent of our heritage were sung; testimonies given and the praises of God's people  ushered His presence into our midst. Pastor Sheppard delivered a brief, yet powerful message. Many of our members, and even some guests had their pictures taken.  Enjoy looking at a few on the link above.

Pictures From Ole Time Religion 2009

Movies from Ole Time Religion 2009


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