Go to our facebook page for more up-to-date happenings!
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT MT. TABOR
LAST WEEK OF JULY 2020
SO HOW HAS REGATHERING AT CHURCH BEEN GOING?
In a few days we will share the 4th Sunday morning of re-gathering for worship after a 3-month break because of Covid-19. The report is good, but mixed. We have averaged over 40 in attendance, which considering the time of year and demographic make-up of our church, is a fine showing. The participation has been energetic. We have followed the guidelines of the CDC and yet found the way to have meaningful worship. And many of our members continue to stay home. They are concerned about health, and we understand. We emphasize that Mt. Tabor is a judgment-free zone. You decide, under the guidance of the Spirit, if your health and conscience is ready for you to regather at church. And we respect that choice. It is heartening that many, who cannot come to church, continue to meet with us online at www.facebook.com/churchmttabor. Our offerings, while not quite at pre-virus levels, continue to be strong and give fine testimony to the strength of this church.
BUSINESS MEETING
Our quarterly business meeting is scheduled for August 9, after morning worship. We will also broadcast this meeting on Facebook Live and see if we can monitor for input from members. We have a congregational form of church government, so your participation is the key element.
WE GRIEVE, BUT NOT AS THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOPE
Our love and encouragement go out to the families of John Payne, Hazel Allen, and Gladys Chandler. John has been to our church many times, and his wife Janet is active in membership. Hazel was almost 98 years of age, having lived in this community and been a part of our church for most of her life. Gladys has been an integral part of our church and its ministries throughout her life. Thank God for the wonderful hope stated in 1 Thess. 4:13, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”
PASTOR AND WIFE CELEBRATE 20 YEARS WITH MT. TABOR
It has been quite the 20-year ride. And we are still in the saddle! Thank you for the check, the lovely bird feeder (it is mounted in the front yard and doing well), and most of all for the kind remembrance.
THIS NEW WORLD OF COVID-19 WEIGHS ON THE MIND
Lifestyles have been abruptly interrupted by the Coronavirus crisis. Too many are spending far too much time in isolation from others. I think how tough it is for those in care facilities and hospitals. Several of you have had medical procedures in the past few months, and I was not able to be present to hold hands and have prayer and stay with the family during the procedure. Of course, most every routine has been slowed down or halted. So, I fear, we have too much time on our hands for such unhealthy things as morbid introspection and worry. And overeating! Here is a silly example from my life. With too much thinking going on in my tiny little brain, I decided to try out some new razors. The ones I have been using have worked just fine. But it was simply something to do. So I sit here with a cut on my chin and lip. It was not a good idea, but it came along to fill an idle mind. And I also have a box of Swiss rolls on my kitchen cabinet, another new addition because of some virus-thinking. I’m warning you, virus-thinking will get you in trouble! With it you can nurse a grudge, make yourself depressed, get mad at your church, order things that cost too much and you do not need, watch far too much TV. Interestingly, it does not naturally lead you closer to the Lord. If you are not careful, it seems one can fill his mind and time with just about everything but the Lord. Watch out! Instead, let us follow the guidance of Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
20 THINGS WE CAN DO
Listen to www.dailyaudiobible.com,
Pray for 3 different people every day,
Spend 10 minutes with Proverbs every day at www.churchmttabor.com,
Attend church Sundays and Wednesdays either in-person or online,
Call 3 people every day to encourage and to catch up,
Practice daily the 5 elements of prayer (Praise, Confession, Thanksgiving, Petition, Intercession),
Read a book (something encouraging and enlightening),
Call somebody you have not spoken with in a long time,
Study a book of the Bible,
Make a prayer room or prayer wall in your home,
Take a walk and make it a Prayer-Walk,
Make a Forgiveness List and keep forgiving every name until you really mean it,
Spend an entire day (week?) without looking at social media,
Go to bed 30 minutes earlier than usual,
Write down 10 words to describe yourself,
Name 10 things for which your are grateful,
Wake up 30 minutes early to pray,
Watch a sunrise or sunset,
Let go of an undeserved guilt,
Write a letter to someone special,
Stream a good Christian movie.
Ph: 770-476-1463
Bro. David: 770-314-2453 Bro. Dean: 678-488-2595 Bro. Phil: 404-303-4313
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
- II Tim. 1:7
