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Vol. 45 April 7, 2020 Number 14
BREAKING THE BREAD OF LIFE
Barry Kennedy
Song leaders do a good job picking out appropriate songs to use in the
worship of our God. The song books are indexed to help in this endeavor. There
are differing categories listed with such headings as: “invitation, prayer, blessings,
Heaven, forgiveness, etc. One section that I find very helpful when selecting songs
is the “Lord’s Supper” section. However, one song that is often used in preparation
for the Lord’s Supper is not listed in this section. “Break Thou the Bread of Life”
is accurately put under the “Bible” section. Many think the words “. . . as Thou
didst break the loaves beside the sea. . .” make this song fitting to use as a Lord’s
Supper song. No doubt this song is very beautiful and very fitting to be sung in our
worship services, but it would be far better to use it before a sermon than before
the Lord’s Supper. All one has to do is look closely at the words of the song to see
this point.
Jesus was not instituting the Lord’s Supper beside the sea (i.e. Sea of
Galilee). Matthew records the “biography” of Jesus’ life here on this earth. Chapter
fourteen is Matthew’s inspired account of one of the many sermons Jesus preached
in His three-year ministry. The people had followed Jesus because of the miracles
that He performed. Luke’s account pointed this out, “And the people, when they
knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom
of God, and healed them that had need of healing” (Luke 9:11). Jesus, according
to Matthew, was “. . . moved with compassion toward them. . .” (Matthew 14:14).
Jesus saw that some of His followers were sick and hungry as well (Matthew
14:14-16). He was compelled to aid their physical needs, but His attention to the
spiritual needs was His primary focus (Luke 19:10). Notice the words of Jesus:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but
because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the meat which
perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of
man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John 6:26, 27).
Breaking the bread of life is a reference to preaching the gospel.
Jesus is the Bread broken that we might have LIFE. “Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you
the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from
heaven, and giveth life unto the world” (John 6:32, 33). Jesus compared Himself to
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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
MINISTERS
Barry Kennedy ... (931)787-7108
Alex Blackwelder (731)879-9196
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—
the “manna” (meaning what is it) that God gave to
the children of Israel. Israel would have perished in
the wilderness without food. Mankind as a whole
will perish without Jesus (John 14:6). Israel did not
deserve the manna God gave them in the
wilderness, nor do we deserve the Bread of Life
which comes to us from above. Jesus freely gave
His life that we might live (John 3:16; Romans 5:8,
10).
When Israel ate of the manna, they found
themselves to be hungry again. In fact, they even
began to despise the bread and wanted meat
(Numbers 21:5). Jesus made it clear that the bread
He offered could permanently satisfy the soul’s
hunger. Do we find ourselves following the
example of the children of Israel? Do we despise
the Bread from above? Jesus’ word is the life-giving
nourishment to the soul of man. His word provides
the light, or direction, to the pathway of our lives
(Psalm 119:105; 1 John 1:7); it is the source from
which we receive our faith (Romans 10:17), and it
is the standard by which we all will be judged (John
12:48). Yet many people, sadly even some
Christians, will not study God’s word. What we all
must realize is that when we are guilty of neglecting
the word of God, we despise the Bread of Life.
So, the next time we sing “Break Thou the
Bread of Life,” remember we are asking for the
Word of God. Jesus became that Bread that all the
world might be fed. Are we willing to take that
Bread to the world? Are we willing to partake of
that Bread ourselves?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wedding Shower for Alex
& Cassie
The Wedding Shower for Alex Blackwelder &
Cassie Cummings has been postponed until May.
They are registered at Target and Bed, Bath &
Beyond. Details will be following soon!
Ladies!! Due to the COVID-19 and the
ordered quarantine, we are having to think outside the
box for Savannah Tucker’s baby shower that was
scheduled for April 26, 2020. We have decided to
show our love and excitement for them with 3
different options:
1. Drop a gift card/cash or present off at the
church when you are picking up emblems for
the Lord’s supper.
2. Mail your gift directly to her house at the
following address: 1210 CR 811, Saltillo, MS
38866
3. Order online from where she is registered, and
have it shipped directly to the Tucker house!!
We appreciate all the prayers and gifts for this
exciting time in Savannah & Zac’s life!!!
Please see Lynn Sanderson, Emily Williams,
Sarah Phillips or Star Ray if you have questions.
John Duke stationed in Gulfport, MS
Caleb Williams stationed in Iraq
Rob Cross & family stationed in South Korea
3. Daily Bible Reading
April 8.................................................1 Kings 20-22
April 9.....................................................2 Kings 1-3
April 10...................................................2 Kings 4-8
April 11.................................................2 Kings 9-12
April 12...............................................2 Kings 13-17
April 13...............................................2 Kings 18-21
April 14...............................................2 Kings 22-25
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Susan Reed (Apr. 8), Jalon
Mansel (Apr. 9), Emily Williams (Apr. 9),
Larry Bates (Apr. 11), Scott Childers (Apr.
12), Linda Hand (Apr. 14). Anniversaries: Russell
& Norma Deaton (Apr. 10), Sky & Jennifer Ray
(Apr. 14).
Our Sick
Andy Baldwyn’s father, Danny, underwent
quadruple heart bypass surgery on Friday. He’s in a
room now and doing well. Jean Mounce’s surgery
at UAB is scheduled for April 22. Charlie Ruth
Hallmark and Wilma Underwood, Chevela’s
mother-in-law, are undergoing therapy at The
Meadows in Fulton.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Pete Barber, Steve Kelly,
Frankie Estes, Jennie Cox, Donny Dulaney, Adam
McCurley, Mary Jordan, James Goddard, Bill Goff,
Leroy Brown, Jadon Parish, Jerry Smith, Mitch
Maclean, Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers, Homer
Smith, Jill Rice, Ann Letteri, Shirley Roberts, Brad
Dillard, Merlene Johnson, Margaret Miller
Nursing Homes
Evelyn Willis, Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway,
Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona Harris
Home Devotional
In what chapter of the Bible do you find?
Model prayer ............................................... Matthew 6
12 Apostles................................................ Matthew 10
Death of John the Baptist .......................... Matthew 14
Great Commission................................ Matthew 28:19
List the New Testament Divisions:
➢ Gospels
➢ History
➢ Letters
➢ Prophesy
List the Old Testament Divisions:
➢ Law
➢ History
➢ Poetry
➢ Major Prophets
➢ Minor Prophets
List the books of the Old Testament:
Genesis Isaiah
Exodus Jeremiah
Leviticus Lamentations
Numbers Ezekiel
Deuteronomy Daniel
Joshua Hosea
Judges Joel
Ruth Amos
I Samuel Obadiah
II Samuel Jonah
I Kings Micah
II Kings Nahum
I Chronicles Habakkuk
II Chronicles Zephaniah
Ezra Haggai
Nehemiah Zechariah
Esther Malachi
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Can you tell a Bible story from the
following picture?
Outreach Item for April
Shampoo
4. Men to Serve Sunday, April 5, 2020 a.m.
Announcements..............................Dennis Hallmark
Bible Reading..............................Hunter Underwood
Opening Prayer ..............................Roger Sanderson
Lord’s Supper
Dale Dulaney & Kent Nichols
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Greg Hughes, Joe Minor, Andy Baldwyn
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Lee DuBois, Ben DuBois, Jackson Voyles
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Closing Prayer................................. Jason Dickinson
Ushers .................. David Ramseyer & Eric Barnette
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer ...................................Mike Childers
Closing Prayer................................... William Harris
Lead Singing....................................James Simmons
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Prayer.................................................... Chet Wilson
Lead Singing........................................ Greg Hughes
Contact Wade Bryan (419-5552) if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters ..................... Bobby Joe & Brenda Lindley
...................................Ricky & Lisa Lindsey
Prepare Lord’s Supper—April...........................Greg
& Tracy Lyle
Nursery (1st
worship)...................Tammy & Sarah Minor
(2nd
worship)......Stephanie Baldwyn & Maggie Minor
Pantry................................................................ Tuna
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 3-25-20.............................................N/A
Sunday 1st
Worship, 3-29-20 ..............................N/A
Sunday Bible Class .............................................N/A
Sunday 2nd
Worship............................................N/A
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$6,755
Mark Your Calendars!!!
Personal Evangelism Workshop – May 29th-30th
Vacation Bible School – June 14th-17th
Maywood Christian Camp – July 12th-18th
Outward Camp – July 31st-August 1st
Gospel Meeting – September 13th-16th
Fall Family Retreat – November 13th-14th
We will be livestreaming services
again this Sunday!
We are in unprecedented times! The elders are diligently looking for ways to spiritually
feed our East Main family while we are unable to assemble as a congregation due to the
COVID 19 virus. Please continue to view East Main’s Facebook page to see recorded
worship services and Bible class lessons, as well as, daily devotional thoughts (“Monday
Meditations,” “Thoughtful Thursdays,” “Elders’ Encouragements”) for adults and youth.
Also, you can view our Sunday worship services on YouTube.
East Main Church of Christ
Here is what the Facebook page looks like. If you are not able to access this page,
please call the church office and someone will assist you in gaining access.
Please continue to pray for each other and the world over!
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13)
