The Insight

Rev. David Grandgeorge

Dennis Bell

Ida Wortham

Bonnie Hutson

March 18, 2020 Volume 20, Issue 541

COVID-19. Yes, we must deal with this in our worship and faith community. You have heard the news, read the information, and seen the dis-information. It is now in our community and it will get worse before it gets better. For up-to-date facts and news, visit the Center for Disease Control website www.cdc.gov rather than social media.

We have cancelled all activities in the church building until further notice. We will be recording a brief “service” on Sunday mornings to send electronically. Events and tasks in this newsletter are placed in hope of a shorter quarantine, but note that realism must make them “tentative.” Please continue your stewardship by mailing checks to 14411 Taylor Loop, Little Rock 72223.

We plan to send a weekly one-page newsletter to help keep our connections in Christ. In some ways this may be an opportunity to lean toward community rather than individualism. In the Hebrew scriptures, we read about laws prohibiting consumption of pork, self-quarantine for lepers, purification techniques, and washing everything. The Hebrews may not have survived the 40-year wilderness wandering without these and other health standards. Jesus made plenty of wine in Cana because they had six large stone jars that held 120-180 gallons of water in total. They washed everything!

In 2 Corinthians 13, Paul tells the Corinthians to “Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable.” Adding, “Greet one another with a holy kiss (embrace).” We do a lot of hugging, handshaking, holding the hands next to us in prayer, and even a little “holy kissing.” We will be told to avoid close personal contact. We are a special community. But the virus does not discriminate. “How shall we sing the Lord’s song (Psalm 137:4)” in a frightening and potentially dangerous pandemic?

How many times does an angel or Jesus say, “Fear not!” Jesus also admonished us to “be prepared.” We live in the reign of God even here in this world. Let us be disciples of Christ and lift up and tend to one another, even if social distance is necessary.

Grace and Peace,

David Grandgeorge, Interim Senior Minister

ELDER’S MEETING Sunday, April 19, 2020 at 9:30

in the Pastor’s Office.

Your Name: Your Phone Number:____________________

In Memory of

In Memory of

In Memory of

In Honor of

In Honor of

In Honor of

Saturday, 3/21/20; 8:30 a.m.

“Come on Down”

Deadline for ordering is Monday, 3/30/20

PLEASE NOTE …

Our order for Easter Lilies has already been placed and cannot be canceled. Please send your $10 for each lily and indicate whether in Memory or in Honor. We need to know if you

will pick your order up or want it to be delivered. The lilies are being delivered on April 7th and

can be picked up anytime after that date here at the church. Please call ahead if you are picking

up so that someone will be here. Thanks for your help with this.

PLEASE CHECK FOR

CONGREGATIONAL NOTICES AS TO WHEN SERVICES WILL

START BACK.

April 5, 2020

Communion Preparation David Chilcote

10:45 Diaconate

Mary Elizabeth Chilcote Andrew Skinner David Chilcote Steve Swartz

10:30 Elder

Brad Chilcote

Scripture Reading Brad Chilcote

Counters

Fred Chilcote/Carolyn Keith

Children’s Sermon Sarah Moffitt

Greeters

Delaine Baughtman

April 12, 2020

Communion Preparation Margie Godfrey

10:45 Diaconate Annette Hawkins

Jasmine McCormick Margie Godfrey

Lois Roberto

10:30 Elder Clara Chilcote

Scripture Reading

Clara Chilcote

Counters Mike Spinks/Marilyn Loomis

Children’s Sermon

Sarah Moffitt

Greeters Peggy Pratt

April 19, 2020

Communion Preparation Mary Elizabeth Chilcote

10:45 Diaconate Merritt Osment Joseph Osment

Harmony Skinner Hope Skinner

10:30 Elder

Fred Chilcote

Scripture Reading Gene Osment

Counters

Sarah Herring/Sue Halderman

Children’s Sermon Mary Elizabeth Chilcote

Greeters

Carolyn Keith

Louise Satterfield Ida Pettit Chrystal Hart Carolyn Olsen Jackson family Lola Roberts Jo Jo Lusk Lynne Haubenreich Diane Treece Carol Strong Lynn & Sue Jenkins Bob Waggoner Barbara Bell Mary Ann Grabiel Tom & Ethel Curry Chuck Gatlin Cindy Osment—broken ankle Sarah Herring—upcoming procedure Lynn PennRosemary Francisco Juanita Roberts

Rebecca Taylor Mini Ruth Osment Larry Roberts Searcy & Betty McBurnett

Thursday, April 9, 2020

6:00 p.m. “Tentative”

Maundy Thursday Service

Friday, April 10, 2020

6:00 p.m. “Tentative”

Good Friday Services

NOTICE TO THE

CONGREGATION:

We are canceling all in person worship

services, activities, meetings, etc. at the church until further notice. We cannot

prevent groups from meeting if they wish to do so, but they will not be able to use our

facility. This is in efforts to help reduce and prevent further community spread of the

virus. We will provide more information as the situation develops regarding when we

will be able to resume services and activities at the church.

Stewardship Moment ….

Take All God Promises

I will never forget my mother’s concise paraphrase of Malachi 3:10. The actual Bible text begins with the words ‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse’ and ends with ‘I will … pour out so much blessing that,’ in effect, ‘you will be embarrassed over your lack of space to receive it.’ But my mother’s paraphrase was this: ‘Give all He asks and take all He promises.’”

“Here is what God is saying in this verse: ‘My dear child, I still have floodgates in heaven, and they are still in service … I opened them for Moses, and the sea parted. I opened them for Joshua, and the Jordan River was stopped. I opened them for Gideon, and the armies of the enemy fled. And I will open them for you—if you will only let Me.

“’On My side of the floodgates, heaven is still the same rich storehouse as always. The fountains and streams still overflow and the treasure-rooms are still bursting with gifts. The need is not on My side but on yours. I am waiting for you to “test me in this.” But you must first meet the condition I have set to “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse” [Mal. 3:10], and thereby give Me the opportunity to act.” [Streams in the Desert, L. B. Cowman]

* Have My Own Way Lord * It is My Secret What God Can Do * I Need Thee Every Year or So * Here I Am, Send Aaron * I Surrender Some * Amazing Grace, How Interesting the Sound * Blessed Insurance * Give What You Don’t Want to the Master * Just As I Am With Lots of Excuses * There Shall Be Sprinkles of Blessings * When the Saints Go Sneaking In * Pass Me By, O Gentle Savior * Teach Me Lord, Thy Easy Way * O Come, All Ye Wishy Washy * Spirit of God, Descend Upon Their Hearts * Sweet Minute of Prayer * Surely Goodness and Money * My Hope is Built on Nothing Much * What an Acquaintance We Have in Jesus

Brian Swink April 2 Will Osment April 6 Jemmalyn Pesce April 7 Ryan Shell April 9 Bob Davis April 13 Becky Keogh April 13 Sue Jenkins April 15 Trey Baughtman April 15 David Chilcote April 23 Kyann McCormick April 23 Ashley Honeywell April 25 Arianna Griffin April 25 Evelyn Baughtman April 27

THE INSIGHT First Christian Church 14411 Taylor Loop Rd. Little Rock, AR 72223 (501) 225-5656