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Messenger
Fifth Avenue Church of Christ
115 W. Fifth Ave.
Lancaster, OH 43130
740-654-0626
www.myfacc.com
e-mail info@myfacc.com
Brad Seevers
Senior Minister
(740-550-9882)
David Tingler
Associate Minister
Sunday Services
Bible School
8:45 a.m.
Worship
10:00 a.m.
Evening Worship
6:00 p.m.
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COMMUNION
GREETERS
NURSERY
Sunday School
Worship
Brenda Hines
Jean Azbell
VISITOR CENTER
Sue Tingler
CHILDRENS CHURCH
Natalie Neff
SECURITY
Bible School
Worship
Evening Worship
Ray Coats
George Lambert
Prayer Requests
Jim Hoff
Millie Hoy
LeRoy Shaner
James Neff
BJ Hoff
Wib Sparks
Betty Sparks
Our Troops
Alberta Ellis
Connie Lane
Jeanne Noble
Ron Young
Naressa Allen
Jeane Goldfarb
Judy Fricker
Heather Tracy
Pat Schlosser
Joyce McCray
Marianna Gall
Mark Seevers
Norma Bullock
Gary Henderson
Don & Ruth Seevers
Jackie Thompson
Camille Stiverson
Carolyn McKenzie
Kenneth Dusthimer
Ralph & Cheri Frank
Kasen Newman
Wilbur Barnes
Upcoming Events
At the Table
COMMUNION
GREETERS
NURSERY
Sunday School
Worship
Shirley Marsh
Thea Kallenberg
VISITOR CENTER
CHILDRENS CHURCH
SECURITY
Bible School
Worship
Evening Worship
Family Sunday
Carmel Marsh
Bob Neff
Dick Shumaker
Adult Class
Ecclesiastes
Room 214
Brad Seevers, Teacher
Harmony Adult Class
Sustaining Hope
Room 204
Dave Tingler, Teacher
Philothean Adult Class
Parables
Room 108
Jim Love, Teacher
Core Values...
Global Evangelism
We are constant to our founding call to worldwide evangelism,
proclaiming to all that Jesus Christ is the Savior, Healer, and SoonComing King (Acts 20:27).
Discipleship
We do not want you to "get religion" here at Fifth Avenue Church of
Christ in Lancaster. We are all about teaching you that Jesus seeks
a daily relationship with Him through a life of obedience. In other
words, we want to see the things you are taught actually change
your lifestyle & your daily decisions.
Social Conscience
We place high value on the sanctity of human life, of Biblical
marriage and morality, and we welcome ethnic diversity (Isaiah
56:7; Philippians 2:15-16).
OUR PURPOSE
WE EXIST TO
OUR MISSION
The line was long, it stretched out the door, down the stairs, and around the corner of the building. Altogether over 500 families were in line in order to
receive a box of food. Many were the families of veterans, some have been laid off from their jobs just a few months before, many had small children in
tow. They had all come to the Toledo Seagate Food Bank for help.
Each family or individual would walk down a hallway, check-in at a desk, and proceed to a long row of tables. On these tables would be set large
cardboard boxes filled with food. There was a turkey, 5 pounds of frozen hamburger, cans and cans of vegetables, stuffing mix, noodles, bread, fruit,
baked goods, and more. There was so much that it normally would take more than one person to carry the food back outside. And we would stand behind
the tables waiting to replace the boxes as they were taken.
This was an all day event. One that required weeks of preparation. It also required extra work above and beyond our normal responsibilities. We had to
pack the boxes with nonperishables, stack them on pallets, rearrange the warehouse so there was room for all this additional food. Reorganize the room
where everyone came in to get the food and set up the assembly line type system in order to distribute it all.
For those of us who worked and volunteered at the food bank this was a yearly event. Each Christmas we would put together this roughly $250 worth of
groceries to give directly to those in need. Normally the food bank was like a giant warehouse and we provided food directly to soup kitchens, who then
dispersed it to individuals. But once a year we opened our doors and provided it directly to those in need. The idea was that we would be able to
experience the joy of helping those in need, face to face.
Through the years I have spent over six years working and volunteering at the food bank. So this Christmas giving was something that I have experienced
multiple times. And although it's primary purpose was to provide for those in need I believe that it gave to me just as much. The experience provided me
with a number of different life lessons and experiences. It brought me joy, sorrow, and even frustration and anger. But more importantly it provided me
with a window on what my relationship with the Lord can and often does look like. Allow me to illustrate by providing you with a few of the
conversations that I experienced over the years while giving to those in need. Although these are just a few examples, these conversations were
replicated in multiple different forms with multiple different people time and time again over the years. And they provide, I think a picture of who we are as
children in the kingdom of God.
A young man approaches the table, there's a young lady presumably his wife with him, as well as a small child. I'm standing behind what will be their boxes
of food. As they approach I greet them politely and smile at their little girl. The young man acknowledges me but instead of picking up the box of food, he
begins to pull out all of the contents and place them on the table. I politely reminded him that there are many waiting and perhaps I could help him carry
the box outside. The young man ignores me and continues placing the contents on the table. Finally after a few moments he looks up at me and says,
"Why isn't there a honeybaked ham in this box?" "I know you have hams for the folks that you like. I want a honey baked ham." I kindly inform them that
we do not have any ham, but what they do have is a 14 pound turkey and approximately $250 worth of free food. I told the young man that basically he
could take the food that was provided or he could leave it; and that I didn't have any other food to give to him or anyone else. He angrily repacked his
boxes and stalked off with the food and family in tow.
A different young lady approaches alone. There's no way she'll be able to carry all this food by herself. I give her a similar kind greeting and ask her she'll
be in need of some assistance in taking the food out of her car or perhaps the bus. She replies that yes she could use the help and that her aunt is parked
just outside. So I pick up the box and follow her out the door. When we get to the car she opens up the back door. There are several young children in the
car and I put the box in as best I can. The young lady gives me a quick thank you and without another word gets into the car, closes the door and I never
see her again.
Another man approaches, he is by himself. He is probably in his mid-30's, dressed in clean clothes, and has an embarrassed look an his face. I greet him
as I have greeted the others. This gentleman looks down and away. Then he looks up at me and says, "I have never needed help from anyone ever
before. But I have three children and a wife; and I was laid off four months ago. I don't know why, but I have not been able to find work since. I've always
worked from the time I was a teenager, and I don't know what to do. I can't even feed my family anymore." And then this grown man begins to cry. At
first it's silent with tears running down his cheeks. After a moment he begins to sob, crying into his hands. I walk around the table and I put my arm around
him for several minutes until he quiets. Again he looks up at me and says, "If it wasn't for people like you I don't know where we would be. Thank you and
everyone here for your kindness; for giving to my family when I can't." And then he wiped his eyes, picked up the food and walked away.
There are times when we respond to God the same way that each of these three people responded to me. God provides for us, he cares for us, he sent
his Son to die for us. But there are times when our reaction to that mirrors the first man. We look at the gifts that God has given to us and we complain
that they aren't good enough. God gave us turkey when what we wanted was a ham. We aren't thankful, we are bitter, and irritated. And I hope in those
times that God does not become as irritated as I did when confronted with the same ungrateful attitude.
At other times we respond to God with a quick thanks. Then without a second glance we jump in our cars and drive away. Yes Lord we say that was nice
of you and now I need to get on with my life. Maybe I'll stop by again when I need something else. But other than that we have very little reaction at all.
Then there are those moments when we look at the Lord and know that if it wasn't for him we would have nothing at all. We look at the gift of our Savior
and we break down and cry. We cry with thankfulness to the Lord for providing what we couldn't. At these times we show true gratitude to the one who
sacrificed everything on our behalf.
As we go through this Christmas season I ask that you take a moment and reflect. Reflect on which of these three attitudes best mirrors your own during
this time of joy and giving. Are you bitter over your box of food? Perhaps, you give a quick thanks and move on with your life as there is so much to do.
Or, do you fall on your knees with tears in your eyes, for the gift. A gift wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. A gift you could never provide for
yourself, but one that you need oh so much.
~ Patrick Wersell
Jul 9: Ps 120-132
Jul 10: Ps 133-139
Jul 11: Ps 140-145
Jul 12: Ps 146-150
Jul 13: Prov 1-3
Jul 14: Prov 4-6
Jul 15: Prov 7-9
Jul 16: Prov 10-12
Jul 17: Prov 13-15
Jul 18: Prov 16-18
Jul 19: Prov 19-21
Jul 20: Prov 22-23
Jul 21: Prov 24-26
Jul 22: Prov 27-29
Jul 23: Prov 30-31
Jul 24: Ecc 1-4
Jul 25: Ecc 5-8
Jul 26: Ecc 9-12
Jul 27: Solomon
Jul 28: Is 1-4
Jul 29: Is 5-8
Jul 30: Is 9-12
Jul 31: Is 13-17
Aug 1: Is 18-22
Aug 2: Is 23-27
Aug 3: Is 28-30
Aug 4: Is 31-35
Aug 5: Is 36-41
Aug 6: Is 42-44
Aug 7: Is 45-48
Aug 8: Is 49-53
Aug 9: Is 54-58
Aug 10: Is 59-63
Aug 11: Is 64-66
Aug 12: Jer 1-3
Aug 13: Jer 4-6
Aug 14: Jer 7-9
Aug 15: Jer 10-13
Aug 16: Jer 14-17
Aug 17: Jer 18-22
Aug 18: Jer 23-25
Aug 19: Jer 26-29
Aug 20: Jer 30-31
Aug 21: Jer 32-34
Aug 22: Jer 35-37
Aug 23: Jer 38-41
Aug 24: Jer 42-45
Aug 25: Jer 46-48
Aug 26: Jer 49-50
Aug 27: Jer 51-52
Aug 28: Lam 1-3:36
Aug 29: Lam 3:37-5
Aug 30: Ezek 1-4
Aug 31: Ezek 5-8
Sep 1: Ezek 9-12
Sep 2: Ezek 13-15
Sep 3: Ezek 16-17
Sep 4: Ezek 18-20
Sep 5: Ezek 21-22
Sep 6: Ezek 23-24
Sep 7: Ezek 25-27
Sep 8: Ezek 28-30
Sep 9: Ezek 31-33