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Vol. 47 September 13, 2022 Number 36
FRIENDSHIP
Barry Kennedy
Friendship is one of those blessings that many take for granted until they
lose it. That brings to mind the old saying, “Give me my flowers while I am
living.” Far too often we wait until it is too late to let one another know exactly
how we feel, or we fail to take advantage of opportunities to help one another.
There are many examples of friendships recorded in the pages of God’s Word.
From David with Jonathan to Jesus with John, the Bible emphasizes how God
expects man to establish and maintain good friendships with one another, and with
God Himself. So, what is friendship in God’s eyes, how do we establish it, and
how do we maintain it?
What is friendship in God’s Eyes? The English word friendship is found
only two times in the King James Version (Proverbs 22:24; James 4:4). The
American Standard Version of 1901 has the word five times (Job 29:4; Psalm
25:14; Proverbs 3:32; 22:24; and James 4:4). It is very interesting to note that the
KJV translators went with the word secrete instead of friendship in (Job 29:4;
Psalm 25:14; and Proverbs 3:32). Just taking their difference at face value might
cause one to be somewhat puzzled. It is not puzzling if you consider best friends
keeps secretes the best. True friendship is not based upon what we can get from
someone else, but what we can give. Luke recorded how Jesus said, “It is more
blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Friendship is helpful. Many think that being a friend is just making people
feel good, but true friends tell us what we need to hear. There will never be a
better friend than Jesus (John 15:13), but He didn't always make people feel good.
One of the many examples of this is His meeting with a “certain ruler” (Luke
18:18-25). This man came to Jesus asking about eternal life, but he didn't like the
friendly message Jesus gave him. “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou
hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and
come, follow me” (Luke 8:22). Luke went on to record how that the ruler went
away sorrowful because he was very wealthy (Luke 18:23). Jesus told the ruler
what he needed to hear, but it clearly was not what the man wanted. True
friendship will never compromise the spiritual well-being to maintain physical
relationships.
How do we maintain true friendship? Anyone who owns a car, a home,
or any other big-ticket item of the like, understands the need for maintenance. We
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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
Ricky Lindsey............. 255-8136
Jeff Mansel.................. 871-0357
Jimmy Spearman ........ 840-8957
Michael Wilson........... 891-0891
MINISTERS
Barry Kennedy....(931)787-7108
Alex Blackwelder ....... 706-1888
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 class..................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.
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)

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change oil, check the tires, etc. on our vehicles, and
don’t get me started on the home maintenance, all to
keep things running at peak performance. Maintaining
friendship is no different. We get out of it what we put
into it. The Bible says, “A man that hath friends must
shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). We
have no control over what anyone else may do or how
they may feel about us. We do, however, have control
over what we do. Think about it. Jesus does not force
us to be His friend, but He willingly extends His hand
of friendship to you and me. We previously noted that
He gave His life for His friends (John 15:13) and in
the very next verse He said, “Ye are my friends if ye
do whatsoever I command you” (Luke 15:14).
How do we maintain true friendship? Get self
out of the way. “If any man will come after Me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and
follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins
and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry,
everything to God in prayer.” A beautiful song, but
can the Lord sing, “What a friend I have in (Your
Name) all My words he’ll hear and do, what faithful
way he serves Me, brings light to others too?”
True friendship is a blessing both to the giver
and receiver, Let’s all practice true friendship today.
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Church Directory Update
We are updating our church directory! If you have
started coming to East Main since the last directory,
need an updated picture, have had an address change,
phone number change, new births or weddings, please
text or email this new information to Jean Mounce at
662-491-0362 or njm563@bellsouth.net OR Renee
Childers at 662-401-7328 or renchilders@yahoo.com.
If you do not have access to either of these and would
like a new picture, please see Jean Mounce for that.
Thanks.
40s and 50s Fellowship
The 40s and 50s bi-monthly fellowship will be
held this Sunday, Sept. 18 in the multipurpose room at
6:00 pm. Please bring finger foods.
Sympathy
Our sympathy is extended to the family of Earline
Dickerson who passed away Sept. 10 at the age of 90.
Funeral services were held at Pegues on Sept. 12. Mrs.
Dickerson was a sister of Pat Putt, mother-in-law of
Diane Dickerson, & aunt to Wanda Bishop.
Jr. Youth Devotional
The Junior youth devotional will be held this
Sunday, Sept. 18 immediately following morning
worship services in the multipurpose room for any
child age 2-6th
grade and their parents. A food sign-up
list is posted in the foyer under the TV monitor.
Sr. Youth Devotional
The Senior youth devotional will also be held this
Sunday, Sept. 18 at the home of Will & Ashley Davis
at 5:30 pm. Please see Ashley for what to bring.
Tuesday Mornings with
the Master
Don’t forget Tuesday Mornings with the
Master every Tuesday in the multipurpose
room from 10-11 am. Anyone who can come
and help is welcomed.
Enrichment Workshop
You are invited to participate in a series of eight
classes that will be held on the second Monday of
each month, beginning Sept. 12 and ending Apr. 10 at
Gloster St. in Tupelo. This workshop is for men and
women. It is designed to encourage gospel preachers,
class teachers, elders, deacons, and all other Christians
who desire to be more effective in the service of our
Lord. Class times are Oct. 10, Nov. 14, & Dec. 12,
2022; Jan. 9, Feb. 13, Mar. 13, & Apr. 10, 2023 from
6:30-8:00 pm. with Sam Hester teaching.
Gospel Meeting
The Amory congregation will have a Gospel
Meeting Sept. 18-21 with Kirk Brothers speaking at
1:30 pm on Sunday and at 7:00 pm Monday-
Wednesday.

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Daily Bible Reading
September 14 .............................................Jonah 1-2
September 15 .............................................Jonah 3-4
September 16 ............................................Micah 1-2
September 17 ............................................Micah 3-5
September 18 ............................................Micah 6-7
September 19 .................................................Nahum
September 20 ............................................Habakkuk
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Lauren Long (Sept. 17), Andy
Baldwyn (Sept. 20). Anniversaries: Barry &
Berta Kennedy (Sept. 20).
Our Sick
Debbie Duke underwent another chemo treatment
Monday. Michael Wilson’s mother, Rivers Wills, is
in room 567 at NMMC following hip surgery.
Russell Deaton’s great-niece, Jacy Raburn, is at St.
Jude suffering side effects of chemo. Mark Hitt and
Lori Sheffield’s aunt, Mary Ann Hitt, has begun
chemo for her lymphoma. Greg Hughes was sick at
home Sunday.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Bettye Davis, Betty Long,
Evelyn Thompson, Steve Kelly, Barbara Bishop,
Bob Smith, Doug Wallace, Frankie Estes, Shirley
Lyons, Stella Pittman, Caroline Willis, Carol Hood,
Bill Goff, Sheba Tuggers, Michelle Maclean, Ricky
Britt, Nathan Hale, Dawn Brown, Freida Gardner,
Willie Bob Gates, Brian Carver, Larry Kennedy
Nursing Homes
Randy Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Bob McClure
Don’t forget to check
your mailbox in the foyer!
EMYG News
Hello East Main Family,
I hope that you are doing well and are having a
great week so far. This past Sunday, we enjoyed having
FHU with us and the opportunity for fellowship that
them being here brought.
Just a reminder that this Friday night is T.G.I.F.
beginning at 9:00pm. Also, this coming Sunday, Will
and Ashley Davis will be hosting our family monthly
devotional at their house beginning around 5:30pm.
Please contact them for what to bring. Below are some
pictures from this past Sunday. As always, if I can help
you with anything, please let me know. Alex

4.
Men to Serve Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022 a.m.
Announcements..........................................Mark Hitt
Bible Reading.................................... Stuart Childers
Opening Prayer .....................................Wesley Bass
Lord’s Supper
Michael Wilson
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Closing Prayer................................... Terry Kingsley
Ushers .............................Mike Childers & Ian Reed
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer ............................ Rommie Dilworth
Closing Prayer....................................Ricky Johnson
Lead Singing........................................ Kent Nichols
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Opening Prayer ...................................Mike Childers
Lead Singing.......................................Misha Pannell
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact Jeff Mansel (871-0357) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 9-7-22 ...................................................... 151
Sunday 1st
Worship, 9-11-22 ...................................... 196
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 200
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 159
Contribution (budget $9,334) ................................ $9,621
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................... Peanut butter
College Student of the Week
Cooper Blansett
P. O. Box 73
Mooreville, MS 38857
Cooper is currently attending ICC at
Belden and is living at home.
Please be sure to send him a card of
encouragement this week.!