A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT...
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... * IN OKLAHOMA...CHEROKEE...ADAIR...CREEK...OKFUSKEE...OKMULGEE... WAGONER...TULSA...ROGERS...MAYES...DELAWARE...PAWNEE...OTTAWA... PUSHMATAHA...CHOCTAW...WASHINGTON...OSAGE...CRAIG...NOWATA... PITTSBURG...SEQUOYAH...MCINTOSH...MUSKOGEE...LE FLORE...LATIMER AND HASKELL. IN ARKANSAS...WASHINGTON...MADISON...CRAWFORD... BENTON... SEBASTIAN...CARROLL AND FRANKLIN.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER... * SNOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS MORNING. THE SNOW WILL MIX WITH OR CHANGE TO RAIN BEFORE IT ENDS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
* ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO 6 INCHES WILL OCCUR TODAY FROM THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF ARKANSAS TO NEAR MUSKOGEE TO NORTH OF MCALESTER WITH LESSER AMOUNTS TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS SINCE THE SNOW BEGAN SATURDAY WILL EXCEED A FOOT IN PARTS OF FAR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AND FAR NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.
***
GJ - It's colder than a Friendship Sunday event in WELS.
5 comments:
WOW, Pastor Jackson! THAT'S cold!
Friendship Sunday is for the Baptist Churches. Friendship is rather Schwarmer. We are to be concerned for the spritual life/soal of a person who comes into contact with our congregation. Spreading the Gospel through evangelism is far greater than a single Sunday.
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
Yowzah, yowzah, yowzah. You are hitting pretty hard today, GJ.
There is also the conversation between friends and acquaintances and the example of faithful Christianity in action that needs to fit into the equation.
A church should always greet newcomers and casual visitors as though they were important as they certainly are. How many times has one visited a church while traveling and not met a single person in the congregation?
Have all of the Rally Days and Evangelism Sundays you want but if the visitors aren't made to feel at home and welcomed it's all for naught.
I think that a pastor should stand at the door as the worshippers enter the sanctuary and greet them individually. I am pleased that the two pastors at King of Grace Lutheran Church in Golden Valley MN where I am a member do so.
Norman, I am sure that you will agree to this. The Gospel produces the fruit of the Spirit. To have more friendship and welcoming in a church, place your trust in the Gospel Promises rather than a program of friendliness. Friendship Sunday reminds me of Chase Bank promising "to be friendly, look the customer in the eye, and greet him or her by name," - while overcharging for everything. Doubtless that was also thunk up by a junior executive.
Yes, of course the Gospel produces the fruit of the Spirit. There is, still, something to be said for essential human kindness and friendliness. The word of the Lord is what is needed.
Post a Comment