Knees Devoted to Praying (Follow-Up)

In my sermon, I promised you I’d send you a link to the Archives for our sermon on The Lord’s Prayer. I also want to give a few corrections to the sermon from this past Sunday.

First Correction:

The series we preached on The Lord’s Prayer called Teach Us to Pray was only four sermons (not five as I had said).

Again, I mentioned in my sermon, I wanted to give you a link to the archives so you can listen to the series we did on The Lord’s Prayer. We did this series in October and November of 2015. (To listen you will need to have installed Adobe Flashplayer)

Here’s the link to our Archives.

Second Correction:

I read a poem called The Prayer of Cyrus Brown, and I said it was written in the late 1800s. The Poem was actually published in 1906.

And for anyone who was interested in having the poem. Here it is below.

THE PRAYER OF CYRUS BROWN
by Sam Walter Foss

“The proper way for a man to pray,”
Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,”
And the only proper attitude
Is down upon his knees.”

“No, I should say the way to pray,”
Said Reverend Doctor Wise,”
Is standing straight with outstretched arms
And rapt and upturned eyes.

“Oh, no, no, no,” said Elder Slow,
“Such posture is too proud:
A man should pray with eyes fast closed
And head contritely bowed.”

“It seems to me his hands should be
Austerely clasped in front,
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,”
Said Reverend Doctor Blunt.

“Las’ year I fell in Hodgkin’s well
Head first,” said Cyrus Brown,
“With both my heels a stickin’ up,
My head a-pinting down;

“An’ I made prayer right then an’ there,
Best prayer I ever said,
The prayingest prayer I ever prayed.
A-standing on my head.”

Meals Together Table Questions

For the week of November 5:

If you could be given a supernatural power, what power would you want and why?

Jesus walked everywhere that He went on earth. What is the longest you have walked at one time?

If God were to create a new animal that you wanted Him to create, what would you ask for?

For families with Preschoolers:

What do you like to do outside on a sunny day?

If you could sleep anywhere else besides your bed, where would you want to sleep?

Who are some kids who are your friends? Who was Jesus’ close friends? (Mary, Martha and Lazarus)

 

 

 

November 2, 2018

Fall Back 2

Celebrating Baptism:

We are celebrating what God is doing in the lives of those being baptized. Laura Kuhn and Casey & Heidi Wooddell were baptized October 21.

Mark Your Calendar:

  • Saturday, November 17 at 10am: Proposed 2019 Budget Presentation
  • Sunday, November 18: Called Council Meeting following each service to vote on Proposed 2019 Budget

A SPECIAL THANK YOU those who brought in candy to create a special treat for the kids on Fall Fun Night!  God brought us some children who do not know Him!

October 26, 2018

SUCCESS PROGRAM OUTREACH PROJECT

The Preble County Success Program was created with the goal to remove non-cognitive barriers to learning (lack of food, shelter, medical care, personal hygiene, etc.) so that children are better able to achieve in their education setting. ECOB is partnering with the Success Program to meet the needs of the children.
Here’s how you can help:
Give – To give, make checks payable to ECOB and denote “Success Program” on the Other line of your offering envelope. To give online through our website, eatoncob.org select “Success Program”.
Bring in needed items – Purchase and bring to the kiosk by October 28.
Items needed:

  • Socks – Boy & girl sizes 4/5 through young adult
  • Underwear – Boy & girl sizes 4/5 and 8/10
  • Coats – Boy & girl sizes 8/10, 12 and 14/16
  • Chapstick
  • Body Wash
  • Shampoo

Fall Fun Night

  • Wednesday, October 31
  • During ETCH Meal Time (5:45 – 6:30pm)
  • Costume awards (For Kids, Teens, and Grown-Ups!)
    • Most creative
    • Funniest
    • Best Bible costume
    • Best “Pairs” costumes (two people dressing to the same theme)
    • (Please, no gory, bloody costumes, costumes based on violent characters, or witch/devil themed costumes.)
  • Special activities
  • Treats for the children

Regular Electives and ETCH Knights Club will start at their usual time.

Candy Needed: If you would like to donate individually wrapped candy, please bring it to the office by Monday, Oct 29. Thank you!

Mark Your Calendar:

  • Saturday, November 17 at 10am: Proposed 2019 Budget Presentation
  • Sunday, November 18: Called Council Meeting following each service to vote on Proposed 2019 Budget

 

Quarterly Financial Update

Below is a Rolling 12-Month Trend Report which uses the running total of the giving and expenses for the last 12 months plus a graph.  This information is from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018.  There is also an explanation of some extraordinary expenses that have occurred during that time period.  This Trend Report and graph will be presented to the congregation quarterly.  Hard copies are available at the Information Desk for anyone who does not have access to LifeShare.  See a member of the Finance Team or Elder if you have any questions.

3rd Qtr 2018 running total

Council Meeting Voting Results

Below are the voting results from Sunday’s Annual Council Meeting

The question of “Shall the Eaton Church of the Brethren proceed with the process of investigating withdrawal from the Church of the Brethren denomination by entering into a period of prayer and discernment with the Southern Ohio/Kentucky District?” Passed with 95% voting yes to move forward with the process of investigating withdrawal from the Church of the Brethren denomination.

Mike Cobb, Bob Jones and Walt Locker were elected to the Elder Board.

Audrey Burton and Regina Hapner were elected to the Finance Team. Jim Wadman will be fulfilling Mike Cobb’s term since Mike will be stepping off the Finance Team to serve as an Elder.

Additionally, please mark your calendars for a special Called Council Meeting on Sunday, November 18 after each service. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on the proposed 2019 budget.  There will be a presentation of the proposed budget on Saturday, November 17 at 10am in the Gathering Area.

 

Meals Together Table Questions

For the week of October 21:

If you were stranded on a desert island with your family and 2-3 other people, who would you want with you?

If you were going to live on the moon and could take only ONE personal belonging with you, (food and clothing already provided), what would you take?

If you could have any ability in the world that you don’t have right now, what would you want?

For families with Preschoolers:

What are you good at doing?

What do you like about night-time? (Possible answers: the moon or stars, cuddling with my blanket, night-time prayers, etc.)

 

 

 

October 19, 2018

Fall Council Meeting

We will hold our Annual Fall Council Meeting Sunday, October 21 at 2:00pm. The Elder Board is asking all members of ECOB to plan to attend this most important meeting. The Council will be voting on whether we should proceed with the process of investigating withdrawal from the denomination and offices to be filled for 2019. Childcare provided for children 10 and under.

Women’s Ministry

  • Love In Action
  • Monday, Oct 22 at 6:30pm, Kitchen

Freezer meal prep for those in need: sickness, death, new birth, etc. Opportunity to prep, deliver meals, write notes, pray or donate. All ladies are invited to join us.

Fall Fun Night

  • Wednesday, October 31
  • During ETCH Meal Time (5:45 – 6:30pm)
  • Costume awards
    • Most creative
    • Funniest
    • Best Bible costume
    • Best “Pairs” costumes (two people dressing to the same theme)
    • (Please, no gory, bloody costumes, costumes based on violent characters, or witch/devil themed costumes.)
  • Special activities
  • Treats for the children

Regular Electives and ETCH Knights Club will start at their usual time.

Candy Needed: If you would like to donate individually wrapped candy, please bring it to the office by Monday, Oct 29. Thank you!

 

 

 

Circling in Prayer

Several years back we did a sermon series based from a book entitled, “The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson.  Mark tells the story of the legend of Honi, the circle maker. Honi was a man with deep faith in God. A faith that led him to pray fervently, passionately, and consistently.  Batterson uses this story to challenge Christians to be prayers that “Dream Big”, “Pray Hard”, and “Think Long”. Honi’s example teaches us to develop a pattern of “circling” in prayer.  It is a pattern for a life of prayer that believes in great things from a great God.

This Sunday, October 21, is an important day in the life of this church family.  As we gather as covenant members of ECOB we will be placing a vote on whether or not to move forward as a congregation in the withdrawal process from the Church of the Brethren denomination.   This first vote is a decision to move forward with exploring the process of withdrawal. It is a decision that will determine our next steps with the Southern Ohio & Kentucky district as we enter conversation with them to understand and agree upon the terms of a peaceful parting.  A final second vote, to officially leave the denomination, will come at least three months or more down the road in 2019.

In these final days leading up to this vote I call upon you to join me, and your elders in circling this decision with prayers like Honi, the circle maker:

  • Dream Big – Pray in such a way that shows our dependence on a great, mighty, and majestic God that calls His people to carry out the great commission in a spirit-filled unique way here at ECOB.
  • Pray Hard – Pray fervently, with specificity, and with focus about our obedience to God in this season.
  • Think Long – Pray, that we would embrace our identity as followers of Christ, to grow in Him so that we might bring the hope of Jesus Christ to broken lives in our community. Passing on a spiritual inheritance to future generations.

There has been much thought, much discussion, and much prayer leading up to this first vote on Sunday.  Your elders have worked prayerfully and diligently to prepare us for this weekend’s vote. It is our responsibility to not simply cast a vote, but to seek God, listen to His voice, and walk in obedience. I believe the outcome of this dedicated time of prayer will bring more than a voting result. It will bring us together in unity and bring clarity in our mission of “Sharing Life, Sharing Christ”. Let’s devote our knees to prayer.

Praying with you and for you,

Pastor Dan

Meals Together Table Questions

For the week of October 14:

What is one thing that other people do that you really enjoy having them do?

What is one thing that people do that annoys you?

If food ran out and you had enough for only two people (and you didn’t have to worry about your family), with whom would you share it?

For families with Preschoolers:

What makes you feel sad sometimes? What makes God feel sad?

What is your favorite song to sing or listen to?