cemetery and the walk down the aisle warrant identical excitement. Weddings are great news!

So, says Jesus, are burials. Both celebrate a new era, name, and home. In both the groom walks the bride away on his arm. Jesus is your coming groom. I will come and get you . . . He will meet you at the altar. Your final glimpse of life will trigger your first glimpse of him. But how can we be sure he will keep this pledge? Do we have any guarantee that his words are more than empty poetry or vain superstition? Dare we set our hope and hearts in the hands of a smalltown Jewish carpenter? The answer rests in the Jerusalem graveyard. If Jesus tomb is empty, then his promise is not. Leave it to the apostle Paul to reduce the logic to a single sentence: There is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back (1 Cor. 15:23 NLT). Paul was writing to Corinthian Christians, people who had been schooled in the Greek philosophy of a shadowy afterlife. Someone was convincing them that corpses couldnt be raised, neither theirs nor Christs. The apostle couldnt bear such a thought. Let me go over the Message with you one final time (1 Cor. 15:1 MSG). With the insistence of an attorney in closing arguments, he reviewed the facts: [ Jesus] was raised from death on the third day . .

he presented himself alive to Peter . . . his closest followers . . . more than five hundred of his followers . . . James . . . the rest of those he commissioned . . . and . . . finally . . . to me (1 Cor. 15:48 MSG). Line up the witnesses, he offered. Call them out one by one. Let each person who saw the resurrected Christ say so. Better pack a lunch and clear your calendar, for more than five hundred testifiers are willing to speak up. Do you see Pauls logic? If one person claimed a postcross encounter with Christ, disregard it. If a dozen people offered depositions, chalk it up to mob hysteria. But fifty people? A hundred? Three hundred? When one testimony expands to hundreds, disbelief becomes belief. Paul knew, not handfuls, but hundreds of eyewitnesses. Peter. James. John. The followers, the gathering of five hundred disciples, and Paul himself. They saw Jesus. They saw him physically. They saw him factually. They didnt see a phantom or experience a sentiment. Grave eulogies often include such phrases as Shell live on forever in my heart. Jesus followers werent saying this. They saw Jesus in the flesh. When he appeared to the disciples, he assured them, It is I myself! (Luke 24:39 NIV). Five hundred witnesses left a still-resounding testimony: its safe to die. So lets die with faith. Lets allow the resurrection to sink into the fibres' of our hearts and define the way we look at the grave. Let it free those who were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death (Heb. 2:15 NCV).

Church of Christ Newsletter

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 2 - September 11, 2011

we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children. We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9

The Fear of Lifes Final Moments

This is the promise of Christ: Dont let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Fathers home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am ( John 14:13 NLT). He promised, not just an afterlife, but a better life. We Westerners might miss the wedding images, but you can bet your sweet chuppah that Jesus listeners didnt. This was a groom-to-bride promise. Upon receiving the permission of both families, the groom returned to the home of his father and built a home for his bride. He prepared a place. By promising to do the same for us, Jesus elevates funerals to the same hope level as weddings. From his perspective the trip to the

Worship Schedule
Worship Leader: Rolland Communion: Jim Caring and Sharing: John Worship Welcome Come Let us All unite to sing I love to tell the story How Deep The Fathers Love Communion We Bow Down Message We Will Glorify Sharing

TODAY:

Worship Leader: Cameron Communion: John Caring and Sharing: Garnet

NEXT WEEK:

Forget what is behind and strain forward to what is ahead.

Philippians 3:13

News and Prayers

THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER...
They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, To the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and To prayer...

EIGHT WEEKS OF DISCOVERY ANNOUNCEMENTS If you have any announcements for the bulletin, please submit them to Margaret Husband on or before Thursday each week. The Bulletin is printed on Friday each week.
For the months of October and November 2011 we will spend time together sharing our discoveries about what God has done in our lives. Different couples will have a chance to share an intimate time with the congregation during our Bible Classes, followed by a sermon on the same theme. If you are interested in participating in the 8 weeks of discovery please speak to Rolland or Jim in the next few weeks.

CONTACT INFORMATION Box 182 Kenosee Lake SK (306)577-2477 info@moosemountainchurch.com www.moosemountainchurch.com A S S E MB L Y T I ME S Sundays: 10:00 am Bible Class 11:00 am Worship

News, Notes And Prayers:

All of those walking through grief. Arnold Lawrence Tammy McMillan after the recent loss of her 24 day old baby, Blake. Justin Lawrencedealing with cancer. Bernard and Alicia Krogsgaard Missionaries in Mexico Travis and Alicia SassMissionaries in Ecuador The EthridgesMissionaries in Vancouver Marie McMillanNew home in Willowdale Lodge Chris Cornforthcontinued health concerns. Paulette ONeal has cancer and is in Edmonton for treatment. Pray for her daughter Mandy. Harold Floyd -continued health concerns. Tayo Sedor Pray for his continued progress with infantile scoliosis. Melissa PawlakIs now facing extensive radiation therapy to try to combat the cancer that remains after

THRIFT STORE
chemo. Jim LangfordRollands Next door neighbour, is facing many treatments for cancer. The Leadershipsetting vision and direction for our congregation. Ron Kalinchuk in the passing of his mother. Wayne Istace in the hospital in ICU after rodeo accident. Tammy LambIn the passing of her holder sister Bill McCconnelPrayers for healing regarding brain surgery. Chris Cornforthcontinued health concerns Rod Cordickdiganosed with pancreatic cancer. Pray for him and his family as they discuss treatments. Shelbytravelling to India with Ray, Laura Olson, and Wilf Olson on October 13. Heather Goudgoing to work in Ireland as a nanny.

October 4 & 6 November 1 & 3 November 29 and December 3 December 27 & 29

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
There will be a congregational meeting and potluck lunch on today. Please plan to stay for lunch and then to be a part of the congregational meeting. Thank you.

LIONS CLUB GOLF TOURNAMENT

October 1. There will be a breakfast at the building at 8:30am, and the tournament will begin at 11:00am.

Come! And Walk With Us As We Follow In His Steps... Our Mission is To Glorify our Father in heaven by emptying ourselves, becoming more like his son and living lives that are lights in our communities.