PAPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The 2017 Pape Christian Church Noah’s Ark Vacation Bible School was held Saturday, July 1, 2017, with 36 people in attendance. Seventeen youth – all from Pape Christian Church – participated: Caitlyn, Darren, Wilson and Jaxon Burchett; Alexus Evans; Hannah and Hali Doherty, Alyssa, Gabby and Brooklyn Leonard; Judd Lawson; Connor Leonard; Jeff Newton; Ashley and Lukas Kaemmerling; and Gracie and Brody Swopes. It was a joy to have all of these youth take part in the music, pledges, lessons, crafts, games (which included water balloons – and in some cases buckets of water being tossed!), and a delicious meal for all.

Thank you to Eva Hadsall and all who assisted for the wonderful artwork and the many hours it took to create Noah’s Ark.

Thank you also to everyone who worked so hard to make this Vacation Bible School such a wonderful success: Amanda and Anita Evans; Katy Bodka; Marcia and Susan Abbott; Lisa Leonard; April and Tammy Burchett; Jack and Carole Smith; Carl Nelsen, Jan Nelsen and Joyce Heuser; Connie Newton and Jill Kaemmerling; and Howard and Joan McPeak

We look forward to next year’s VBS which will be, “David and Goliath,” on Saturday, June 30, 2018.

On Sunday we had the pleasure of welcoming several guests including Jim and Pat McPeak, Jerry Coleman and Amanda Smith and her family.

Prayer requests were made for Glen Hadsall, Shawn Jobson, Marci Cook and Linda Smith, as well as continued prayer for our leaders and our nation, each other and for Isreal.

Our Worship Service began with Joan McPeak leading our youth in a song they learned from VBS, “Arky, Arky.” Lukas Kaemmerling read the poem, “American Flag,” by Joseph Rodman Drake and then Lukas led the congregation in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Our Call to Worship was Psalm 91:2 – I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Brother Dennis titled his message, “In God We Trust.” He began with the birth of our nation 241 years ago and how the people who made this country trusted in God. The first Pilgrims trusted and depended on God to get them through the months of hard passage from persecution to the “New Promised Land.” They still trusted and called on God as they settled this land. And, years later, when our forefathers were creating a “New Nation,” they continued to place their trust in God.

We enjoy our freedom today because of our Founding Fathers who come to this land for “freedom of religion,” not “freedom from religion!” Our freedom has continued because of the many men and women who have defended and still defend this country and preserve this land of the free.

Dennis said the colors of the American Flag serve as a reminder of our freedom: Red is the blood that was shed by our soldiers fighting for and maintaining our freedom; and the Blood of Jesus (If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed). White is Holiness. God told Moses to speak to the assembly of Israel and say to them, “Be holy, because I, the LORD your God, Am Holy,” (Lev 19:1-2). Blue is loyalty and faithfulness. God is always faithful to His people. The 50 Stars stand for 50 separate states that are united into One Nation. And the Gold fringe that surrounds many American Flags is a reminder of the cost of freedom, because freedom is not free.

Psalm 33:12 – Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.