“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-66 (“Solomon offered as peace offerings to the Lord 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord.”)
This Week’s Memory Verse: “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
Scroll down this page for a list of prayer requests.
Tomorrow Is The Lord’s Day! Take some time today to prepare your heart for worship tomorrow. Plan to join us (virtually) for Bible study at 9:15, and for worship at 10:15 and at 6:00. An email will go out later today with all the details and links for tomorrow.
Invite Someone To Worship: People are more likely to accept an invitation to worship when it’s online. Use these opportunities to share your faith with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers – even if they live in distant locations.
Communion Sets Are Available for you to pick up so you can partake of the Lord’s Supper from home as you worship with us virtually. Please call my cell phone number to find a time to come pick it up. If you can’t get out, let us know and we’ll bring it to you.
A Word Of Encouragement: “Life is not simple. We face many bumps and turns along the way. The race is real, the battle continuous, and the painful experiences may pierce our hearts. However, our circumstances should not define who we are or how we react. Rather, as believers our behavior in every situation should honor the Lord Jesus, and our identity should always be based on the salvation He has provided for us.” (Written by Scott Lewis, baptized into Christ on August 16, 2018, incarcerated at Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City)
Moving Away From Us: For the past two years we’ve grown to love Shannon and Brian Ketchem. They have gotten involved in the life and work of Central since coming our way. Shannon has recently completed her studies with the College of Pharmacy at ETSU, and has accepted a residency program in Denver, Colorado. Brian reports that their last day in Tennessee before moving will be May 28. Brian writes, “We will dearly miss our Central family and are sad we won’t meet in person for worship before then.” Let’s make sure they know how much we’ll miss them!
Virtual Ladies’ Day: This morning at 11:00 (Eastern Time) Polishing The Pulpit will offer a session entitled “Remembering God” with Jania Otey speaking. The session can be seen at this site (or on PTP’s Facebook page), and is for women only.
Concerts Cancelled! We heard much about sporting events that were cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, but not as much about concerts. In the five-minute video you’ll find here, 200 students from five different high schools join together remotely to sing a beautiful piece entitled, “You Are My Refuge”. Enjoy!
Remember These In Prayer:
John McKinnis is scheduled to undergo outpatient cataract surgery on Tuesday. He and Brenda would appreciate our prayers for all to go well.
Gene Arrowood is in Nashville with his family for a few days as he continues his recovery from a recent brain bleed and subsequent surgery and hospitalization. If you’d like to send him a card, send it to Gene Arrowood, in care of Gary Phillips, 108 Shepards Square, Nashville, TN 37211.
Will Terry, 8-year-old son of former Central member Adam Terry and his wife Catherine, remains in a medically-induced coma in PICU at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. The family asks that we keep fervent prayers going for his healing.
Karen Stevens was to have met with an oncologist on Thursday following discovery of a growth on her surgery site recently. We have had no update on the visit. Keep our sister in your prayers.
Mamie Gates, mother of Carla Davis, is recovering in Memphis after undergoing surgery on Monday to repair a broken hip. Carla wrote on Friday: “She has been getting blood daily and is on antibiotic for an infection. It is very hard on her and family since no one is allowed to see her. Prayers for peace and comfort for her please.”
Ashley Lilly Cutshall, daughter of Mary Nell Lilly, is dealing with a difficult medical condition, and Mary Nell has asked that we pray for God’s help. Ashley and her two children live in Denver, Colorado.
Fayrene Terry, mother of Wilda Rumbaugh, was to have undergone a bone marrow procedure on Thursday following discovery of some unexpected findings in recent lab work. She is to consult with an oncologist next week.
Two Thieves: * “Most Christians are being crucified on a cross between two thieves: yesterday’s regret and tomorrow’s worry.” (Warren W. Wiersbe) * “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13,14)
