CHURCH OF CHRIST

April 5, 2020

Comfort, Comfort, My People

(Isaiah 40)

The army was right there at the gates of Jerusalem. Sennacherib’s army had already taken all the fortified cities of Judah and now

is preparing to finish the job with a number greater than 180,000. Hezekiah was king in Jerusalem and was nearly dead with ill-

ness. Hezekiah prayed to God and was healed even after Isaiah had told him to put his house in order.

The result was a sudden illness struck the army of the Assyrians and Hezekiah was healed. Judah was given a few more years res-

pite and Hezekiah was given fifteen more years to live. You can decide whether that was good news or not for Hezekiah.

Doom was still to befall Judah. They would still be carried away into captivity because they refused to repent. I can’t help but think

that if they would have turned to God he would have relented, just as he did with Hezekiah.

The very next chapter in Isaiah begins with “Comfort, comfort my people,” and ends with “They who wait on the Lord shall renew

their strength.”

One might think the Bible, and the Old Testament, specifically, is a violent, pestilence, plague, siege -ridden book. Well, it is. What

we are experiencing right now was a constant fear in peoples’ lives until very recently. (Vaccines only 100 years ago, and we still

did not know what a virus was). The dust bowl was a scant ninety years ago, and the lessons we learned about farming would not

be implemented until after that.

There was a constant throb of fear of the next drought, flood, earthquake, plague, army, or riot. There had to be a reason for it

and the reason was that people would not follow God. We still give lip-service to that today, but for the most part the fear that

pulsed through life as it did in the ancient world has vanished.

For those who lived before modern times there was no economic system, political system, or technology to hide behind. All of

these protect us somewhat in the Western world today. Or so we think – until one of these decades apart events hit us. Then we

realize that it is indeed God who is creator and he who is in control – because clearly we are not.

The birds are still singing, the eagles are still flying, the earth is still waking from winter’s rest, and we still prepare for better days

ahead. We do so because we have faith. It is just that in our current circumstance it is brought more clearly into focus.

WELCOME

Please fill out the information sheet found in the maroon binder at the end of your pew.

*An attended nursery is provided during worship assembly.

*Communion—We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord every Sunday (“first day of the week”) through a time of communion known as the Lord’s Supper. The “unleavened bread” represents His body and the “fruit of the vine” (cup of grape juice) represents His blood shed on the cross. As our guest, you are welcome to participate, though you are not required to do so. *Giving– We are challenged to be good stewards of God’s blessings by supporting the various minis-

tries of the church through a weekly collection that is taken during our worship time. You are wel-come to give, but please do not feel as though you must.

Ryan Hill-RI (Shoulders) Christopher Goodale-USMC Cameron Hurst--USAF(Curry) Hans Niestrath-USNA Sam Richey-USMC (Stoltz) Jason Rushing-Air Natl Guard Derek Brothers, (Partlow) (Hampton)

Worship Order ALTERNATES:

Please meet in case you

are needed to serve as a

sub for the Lord’s Supper

March:

Roger Dillingham

Tim Teel

Prepare communion:

March: Kenneth

April: Almon

For the Record:

Last Sunday

Bible Class: 0

Worship: 0

Contribution: $

Wednesday: 0

—We are currently doing a Bible study from the book Crazy Love by Francis

Chan. I send out our Bible studies on Sunday's and Wednesday's through

our group message. At 7 PM on Sunday night's and Wednesday night's we

are doing a video chat to discuss the Bible studies. Contact Jon (270-635-

1029) if you would like to be added to the group message.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

April 5—Tim Teel

April 5—Cameron Seesengood

April 6—Quincy & Donna Stephenson

April 7—Johnny Allen

April 8—Whitney Goad

April 11—Amelia Iliohan

CALENDAR:

Will add activities as they come open.

• There will be no services at the building at least through the end of April.

• The office will continue to be open Mon-Fri 9am-1pm. Call first to make sure someone is here.

• You can mail in your contribution .

• Communion can be picked up at the office or call us for delivery.

When we meet:

Sunday

Bible Study 9:30 A.M. Worship 10:30 A.M.

Sunday P.M.

At the building 6 P.M.

Small Groups Sept—May: various times; contact Sean Niestrath

Wednesday

Bible Study 6:30 P.M.

Contact Us:

Office: 8:00-12:00 M-F Phone: 270-825-0304

Email: pennyrilecoc@gmail.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 161 Madisonville, KY 42431

-Bulletin Deadline: Friday, 10 am

Minister:

Sean Niestrath 269-352-9134 niestrath@juno.com

Missionaries:

Paulo Mirabelli Via Pacchiarotti, 52 00139 ROMA-ITALIA

Marvin Rivera, Honduras Email: marvinrivera1985@gmail.com

Elders:

Barry Webb– 270-339-8429 barry.webb@ge.com

Dan Rust— 812-746-5635 dbrust@bellsouth.net

Byron Pruitt— 270-841-7518 brpruitt65@gmail.com

Ronny Stubblefield— 270-635-5360

ronnystubblefield59@yahoo.com

Sean Niestrath— 269-352-9134 sean.niestrath@outlook.com

Pennyrile Christian Counseling

Elizabeth B. Webb, LMFT, LCSW To make an appointment, call 270-825-8746.

Deacons:

Jeremy Duggin, James Rust, Joshua Scott

Brock Shoulders, Steve Stoltz,

Darin Swaidner, Tim Teel

PRAYER REQUESTS

Honduran brothers and sisters Watata CoC in Homa Bay, Kenya

Church in Rome Serious Illness/Injury: Rita Frazier, lung cancer, Barbara’s SIL Kim Feltner, Tim’s sister Bryce Alexander, leukemia Michael Skultety, cancer, Jane Marvin Gallagher Lance Pace, cancer Mike Bright, health issues Phil Keith Ruffin Chandler George Teel, cancer Jon Riley, lungs Keith Roberts, cancer, EJ Betty & Kim Stanley Bruce Coleson, MS Makenzie Carson, L. Russell Ed Wallace, liver transplant Brady Cobb, intestinal problems Lowry Johnson, 4m old, cancer Roberta Lynch, Shelia’s mom Cliff Duncan, cancer Barbara Lynch, Shelia Charles Smallwood, Micki’s father Jonathan Allen, MS Rodney Householder Tracy Thorp, cancer Aaron Reding, ALS Mack Shearn Jeff Travis, health George Utley, cancer Ronnie Lear, COPD Audrey Davis, 4yr.old, leukemia Tracey Moore, illness Hannah Gates, heart surgery Sherry Mitchell, cancer Wayne Warszona, Parkinson’s Pam Wiggins, cancer Jakayla Acker, lymphoma Barbie Kern, Carol’s sister, cancer Connie Armstrong, cancer Mark Martin, mesothelioma Andrea Kane, cancer Dan Evans Kathy Lawrence Sandra Hawkins, cancer Bob Reis, MS Amy Caulder, brain cancer Richard Grogan , Barbara S. Diana Adams Karen Kittinger, cancer Linda Turner, cancer Dustin Ray, cancer Chesley Castleberry, cancer, EJ Tracey Durham Aliyah Copeland, Palmer’s gd Monica Seke, liver, Kenya Olivia & Baby Ostrander Bill Long, cancer, Goodale Samantha Morris, cancer, Stanleys Rosetta Jenkins, cancer, T.Brown Paul Stone, Larry’s brother Lisa Russell, blindness

Shut-Ins & Elderly:

Anna Etta Brown, Ruth Shoulders,

Ann Alderson, Don & Judy Niestrath, Sandy Pilon

Gary Kirkwood , doing better.

Barry Villines

Tracy Henry, still in hospital but improving.