Bulletin 12-17-19

1. 4
Vol. 44 December 17, 2019 Number 49
May Christians Observe Holidays?
By Wayne Jackson
“Is it wrong for Christians to celebrate some of the holidays popular in our
society—like giving gifts at Christmas time, allowing children to go trick-or-
treating at Halloween, or hunting eggs at Easter?”
In considering this issue, several things should be kept in view.
A practice may have originated under certain circumstances but, eventually,
have lost that significance—either in whole or at least significantly. There is Bible
precedent for dealing with this principle.
Consider the practice of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols
previously—a very lively issue in the first century. Here is the background: A meat
sacrifice would be made to an idol. After a certain portion was consumed in sacrificial
flames (or by the priests), the balance would be sold as common food in the market.
The controversy, therefore, arose: is this meat contaminated simply because it had
some connection with an idol?
Paul’s answer is no (see 1 Corinthians 8:1-13). If one has “knowledge”—i.e.,
that an idol is “nothing”—and his conscience is not offended, he may eat of that meat.
It is not contaminated merely by its former association.
Yet, there is this caution: if one is in an environment wherein some “weak”
(i.e., without mature knowledge) brother is liable to be damaged, then it would be best
to refrain in that instance, lest the weak brother’s conscience be wounded.
It would be wrong to partake religiously of a practice that compromises one’s
fidelity to the truth. The apostle deals with such a matter in 1 Corinthians 10. If in a
service where sacrifices were being offered to “demons” the Christian were to partake,
i.e., have “communion” (koinonia—participation, fellowship), with those involved in
the illicit worship, such clearly would be sinful (10:20-21).
To practice Christmas, Halloween, or Easter religiously would be unwarranted.
To do so merely as a cultural custom would be a matter of personal judgment.
In Romans 14, Paul argues the general proposition that there will be different
levels of knowledge among brethren and that, to a certain extent, these must be
accommodated for the sake of Christian unity. For example, some, out of conviction,
choose not to eat meats; others see nothing wrong with such a practice.
The apostle instructs that neither individual is to “set at naught” the other. No
man is to create a law in areas of expediency and then demand that all others submit. If
an overt act of transgression is not the issue, peace must prevail.
Most folks who are rather sensitive about these cultural practices are not
consistent entirely in their own conduct. Consider, for example, the celebration of
--article continued page 2--
ELDERS
Mike Childers..............397-6453
Dennis Hallmark .........255-5557
Mark Hitt.....................322-0917
Bobby Lindley.............260-9193
DEACONS
Wade Bryan.................419-5552
William Harris.............416-8149
Ricky Lindsey .............255-8136
Jeff Mansel..................871-0357
Jimmy Spearman.........840-8957
Michael Wilson ...........891-0891
PREACHER
Barry Kennedy ... (931)787-7108
SECRETARY
Renee Childers
Office...........................842-6116
Fax...............................842-7091
E-MAIL
eastmaincoc38804@gmail.com
WEB PAGE
eastmaincoc.com
SUNDAY SERVICES
Worship....................... 9:00 a.m.
Bible Classes............. 10:15 a.m.
Worship..................... 11:15 a.m.
Singing or Devotional
Last Sunday of the Month
MID-WEEK
SERVICES
Wednesday Classes .....7:00 p.m.
EAST MAIN CHURCH OF CHRIST
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)

2. --article continued from page 1--
birthdays. In ancient Egypt, the birthdays of the
Pharaohs were considered as “holy” days, with no
work being done (McClintock and Strong 1969,
817). Moreover, as John Lightfoot noted: “The
Jewish schools esteem the keeping of birthdays a
part of idolatrous worship” (1979, 217).
Does this mean that if a man in this era
gives his wife a birthday present or if we have a
birthday party for a child, we have compromised
our faith? Surely no one will so allege.
What about the man who takes his wife
out for dinner and gives her flowers on
Valentine’s Day? Has he yielded to the Romish
dogma regarding “Saint Valentine”? When we
place flowers on the graves of our loved ones, is
this the same as the Hindu practice of putting
food on the graves of one’s ancestors? Does
having a wedding ceremony in a church building
imply that we endorse the Catholic notion that
marriage is a “church sacrament”? Surely these
queries must be answered negatively.
Practices can change with time and mean
different things to different people. We must not
compromise the truth, but neither are we
permitted to make spiritual laws for others.
Works Cited
Lightfoot, John. 1979. A Commentary on the New
Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica. Vol.
2. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.
McClintock, John and James Strong. 1969. Cyclo-
pedia of Biblical, Theological, and Eccle-
siastical Literature. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ALL Youth Caroling
ALL the youth of the
congregation are invited to
meet in the multipurpose
room this Thursday, Dec. 19
at 5:00 p.m. for supper &
then to go Christmas
caroling to some of the
senior members’ homes.
Men’s Tool Swap
The men are invited to the
multipurpose room this
Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6:30
p.m. for a Tool Swap. Please
bring a $20 wrapped tool to
play “dirty Santa” and your
own meat to grill. Sides will
be provided.
Community Outreach
The Community Outreach Program would like to
thank the elders and each member of this
congregation for the overwhelming support of the
KIDS’ CHRISTMAS PROJECT! There were 73
children from area schools and Pinevale serviced
through this project.
Girls’ Joyful Rebellion
The girls’ Joyful Rebellion group
are invited to Beth Reed’s home
this Friday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. for
a Christmas party. RSVP to Beth
ASAP. Please bring a wrapped
pair of Christmas socks.
John Duke stationed in Long Beach, MS
Caleb Williams stationed in Iraq
Rob Cross & family stationed in South Korea

3. Daily Bible Reading
December 18.....................................Hebrews 12-13
December 19............................................. James 1-5
December 20............................................1 Peter 1-5
December 21............................................2 Peter 1-3
December 22.............................................1 John 1-5
December 23.......................................... 2 John-Jude
December 24......................................Revelation 1-3
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Rommie Dilworth (Dec. 20), Ian
Willis (Dec. 20), Greg Lyle (Dec. 21),
Suzanne Long (Dec. 22). Anniversaries:
None this week.
Our Sick
Pete Barber was able to be here Sunday. Rivers
Wills, Michael Wilson’s mother, has finished her
therapy at Cedars and is home now. Bob Gilliland,
Jeannie Simmons’ brother-in-law, will undergo
surgery this week and has requested prayers. He’s a
member at Plainview. Mikki Gilliland’s uncle,
Shirley Roberts, has been diagnosed with terminal
cancer.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Jean Mounce, Steve Kelly,
Frankie Estes, Donny Dulaney, Adam McCurley,
Mary Jordan, Bretta Robinson, James Goddard, Bill
Goff, Leroy Brown, Jadon Parish, Jerry Smith,
Mitch Maclean, Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers, Ruby
Clark, Homer Smith, Jill Rice, Ann Letteri
Nursing Homes
Evelyn Willis, Nancy Haywood, Randy
Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona
Harris, James Nichols
Home Devotional
In what chapter of the Bible do you find?
Creation...................................................Genesis 1-2
Noah and the flood................................Genesis 6-10
Twelve apostles...................................... Matthew 10
Great Commission ............................ Matthew 28:19
Birth of the church .......................................... Acts 2
Name the twelve apostles:
❖ Peter
❖ Andrew
❖ James
❖ John
❖ Philip
❖ Thomas
❖ Matthew
❖ Bartholomew
❖ James (son of Alpheus)
❖ Simon
❖ Thaddeus
❖ Judas
**Matthias (took Judas place after betrayal)
What has Jesus done for me?
❖ Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.”
❖ Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace.”
Put the following Bible characters in
chronological order:
❖ Noah
❖ Abraham
❖ Adam
❖ Isaac
Can you tell a Bible story from the
following picture?
Outreach Item for December
Deodorant

4. Men to Serve Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 a.m.
Announcements..........................................Mark Hitt
Bible Reading.......................................John Mounce
Opening Prayer .................................... Greg Hughes
Lord’s Supper
Hugh Scribner & Dale Dulaney
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Andy Baldwyn, Lee DuBois, Ben DuBois
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Larry Bates, Jackson Voyles, Casey Gullett
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Closing Prayer......................................... Larry Long
Ushers ..............David Ramseyer & Dillard Scribner
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer .....................................Wesley Bass
Closing Prayer...................................Shawn Mounce
Lead Singing...............................Bobby Joe Lindley
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Prayer................................................ William Harris
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Contact William Harris (416-8149) if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters ........................ Dennis & Debbie Hallmark
.....................................Mike & Hilda Ratliff
Prepare Lord’s Supper—December............. William
& Marla Harris
Nursery (1st
worship)....................... Tracy & Logan Lyle
(2nd
worship)............ Sherry Kingsley & Debbie Vines
Pantry.......................................... Canned vegetables
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 12-11-19............................................171
Sunday 1st
Worship, 12-15-19 .............................199
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................190
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................172
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$8,828
The Christmas Card Envelopes
have been put on the bulletin boards down
the east hallway for you to place your holiday
cards in for the members here at East Main.
If anyone has accidentally been left off, please
let the office know and we’ll get you one put up!