***Important Notice***
No Services, at our building, until further notice.
We will continue to include a limited weekly bulletin, which can be accessed by the link above.
Information to follow during the current COVID-19 Outbreak
April 4, 2020
Greetings Beech Grove Family,
UPDATE: Coronavirus Day 77…
I woke up Wednesday and thought, “maybe today we will find out this has been a month-long April Fools Joke and its over!” But alas, no such luck…. The highlight of my week, aside from watching Jake and Kayla unsuccessfully attempt to slide cookies off their foreheads and into their mouths, has been talking with several BG folks.
As you know we will NOT be meeting at the building on Sunday. We continue to monitor the safety of switching to “social togetherness” on a week-by-week basis. While it will be a while before we can get back together, I appreciate what Gretchen Forrest said this week, “I miss my church family so much, when we can get back together I think we need to have Church-Eat-Church every Sunday for two months!” (Some of us may need to have a diet version of Church-Eat-Church. This being quarantined and eating six meals a day is taking its toll.)
I was encouraged this week to hear from so many of you that you are doing EXACTLY as you should and trying hard to shelter in place and practice social distancing. KEEP IT UP! From most reports, it seems that the worst is still to come in our communities. Don’t let the bright, warm, sun shiny days fool you. Continue to HUNKER DOWN.
If you must go out and will be around others, they now strongly encourage you to wear a mask. There is a lot of misinformation out there about the effectiveness of masks. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/04/can-a-face-mask-protect-me-coronavirus-covid-19-myths-busted)
If you don’t have access to a mask and must make your own, I thought this info might be helpful. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/coronavirus-what-you-should-know-diy-masks-and-ventilators/
As we are bombarded with news about the devastating effects of this virus it is so easy to get obsessed and frightened. The last two Friday nights, our family had “virtual family dinners” with our kids and the most gorgeous baby on the planet (insert bias here). We even played several games virtually (for those with a smartphone, download the “Houseparty” app). As we linked our family together for prayer and fellowship, it served as reminder of how blessed we are with loved ones and that is something no virus can change! And yet, I miss my BG family so much. Virtual hugs to you all! When we finally can get back together, we will need to sit and chat about our bear-like hibernations and won’t that be fun?
I encourage you to go to your church directory and call other BG members. Matthew 25 says I was “sick” and “imprisoned”, and “you visited me”. During our virus “imprisonment” take time to visit by making phone calls! It will surprise you how great it is to simply reconnect. I discovered this week that several do not have smartphones or even computer access and TV/phone serves as their only means to get info. FYI, I will be attempting to touch base with several of you this week.
A question that I have seen raised is, “where is God in all this?” The question is not only important but fair. If the Lord is the same as He has always been (Numbers 23:19), then I believe that “God goes before us.”
In Deuteronomy 31:8, we read: “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” This was the message that Moses gave to Joshua as he instructed the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. I suggest that this serves as a reminder for us today that God goes before us, He walks alongside us. In today’s language, He’s got our backs! He will not leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and He is well aware of all that is happening, all that has happened. He is still in control!
We are all human and this could be the greatest challenge to our faith in our lifetime. If you have the desire or have the need to speak with me during this unusual time, do not hesitate to call. I would love to encourage you and pray together.
Love you all!
Jim
ALTERNATIVE BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP OPTIONS
Several churches are offering worship in online, and live-streaming options.
For those with cable TV you may want to check out the program, In Search of the Lord’s Way. In Columbia (Spectrum) it broadcasts on Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. on channel 703.
For those wanting a Bible Study option, check out CONNECT on “Digital Bible Study” on this location. They are attempting to have three speakers each day from the Churches of Christ. https://www.facebook.com/digitalbiblestudy1
As we look forward to our own study about the Holy Spirit, you can watch and/or listen to a number of interesting lessons on this topic found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eB1capJKbUu-0gU7N4kHj6GHdxkPBK2PLwsygZ9vVEU/edit
The number of churches now streaming a worship service is growing rapidly. We suggest that you gather your family and participate in one of those options. Here are some examples:
Graymere Church of Christ: Live stream at https://www.graymere.com/av.shtml
West 7th Street Church of Christ: Either live stream at https://w7church.org/connect/live-streaming OR via Facebook Live (from the West 7th Facebook site.
Spring Hill Church of Christ: Live streaming on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpYWMTbsLtWQ07eou5fpdPw?fbclid=IwAR1V_RsKvj5pbqZ6SIdgGW0Dm7KwBIzRd6Wu1QmD2ISC0emODL-FEOE0JR8
North View Church of Christ: 10:30 am live on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/North-View-Church-of-Christ-111674515535081/
Gateway Church of Christ (Pensacola, FL) On Facebook search Gateway Church of Christ LIVE
Peachtree City Church of Christ (Peachtree, GA) with Stan Butt. Live on their Facebook page at 8:30 am CST. Stan also presents several Bible Studies as well as a children’s study (“Bible Time with Stan”) throughout the week. https://www.facebook.com/PTCChurch/
COMMUNION
Partaking of Communion each Lord’s Day is not only in keeping with Biblical examples but serves as a reminder given by Paul. “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes” (I Corinthians 11:26). Our participation in this memorial is a reminder not only of the price paid by Jesus, but that HE WILL COME AGAIN!
Communion Supplies-You are more than welcome to use your own communion supplies. The stores may have grape juice or Manischewitz or Matza bread (unleavened bread brand names) but they may not. If you prefer to bake unleavened bread, here is a link to a recipe:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/241680/unleavened-bread-for-communion/.
If you need communion supplies, Brother Eddie Hickman has agreed to deliver them to you. To make arrangements to get those, call him at: (931) 626-3200.
GIVING
It is important that we remember the example of giving in the New Testament. You may hold your gifts until we return on-site to worship at the church building and then “make-up” the weeks we were away. If, however, you prefer to mail your contributions to the Church send them to:
Eddie Hickman
Beech Grove Church of Christ
1035 Carter’s Creek Pike
Columbia, TN 38401
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Jake and Kayla will continue doing their live broadcasts on Wednesday nights at 7pm on Instagram and Facebook. There has been some trouble with the connection through Facebook so if that continues, they will start posting the video to Facebook after they are finished recording on Instagram. You can see these videos either on Jake’s Instagram (@jakemcneese00) or on the Church’s Facebook page.
Also, instead of sending out printed lessons on Sunday there will be a video instead posted sometime on Sunday in addition to the Wednesday night live video. Here are the links to the last four devotionals.
Sunday night 3/22 “When Things Are Out of Our Control”
Wednesday Night 3/25 “The Church Outside of The Building”
Sunday Devo 3/29 ”Relationship with God”
https://www.facebook.com/beechgrovecoc/videos/804533870070466/
Wednesday Night 4/1 “Forgiveness”
https://www.facebook.com/beechgrovecoc/videos/260551678437460/
Also, please remember all of our kids in your thoughts and prayers at this time. They are dealing with a lot right now with their school, sports and other activities being interrupted. It is easy for us to look at this as if they are getting a break right now but in reality many of them are trying to adjust and cope with something that none of us could have seen coming. So let’s all try to send a little extra love their way if we get the chance.
THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS INFO
When it comes to health, everyone wants reliable, up-to-date information. See the latest from cdc.gov for answers to questions you may have about coronavirus (COVID-19).
Go to www.cdc.gov
And from TN: https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html
March 28, 2020
Beech Grove Family,
What an interesting and historic week it has been. From sheltering at home, to the preacher shaving off all facial hair, to watching Jake and Kayla smash eggs on their heads
March 21, 2020
Beech Grove Family,
The Apostle Paul told the young preacher Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7).
Are We Serving As We Should?
Serving God has ways of making us ask questions of ourselves and others for that matter. Do I serve others that need me? Why doesn’t he/she help others when they see a way to serve?
China Now Update
The news of COVID-19 and its ongoing impact has finally captured the attention of our country. The China Now leadership team has been watching closely since mid-January