Church new#
God reflects on our citizenship and Christianity
1 J
Sunday school lesson ?
CITIZENS OP TWO KINDOMS
(Read Romani IS)
"Love worfceth no ill to hi* neigh
bar; therefore, love is the fulfilling of
the taw." (Romans 13:10)
Let us begin today's study with a
question. How are we Christians to
conduct our lives, being loyal to both
our civil government and to our heav
enly government? Paul is about to
tell us in this passage of Scripture
giten for today's study. Jesus had
something to say on the subject also.
In answer to a question, He said,
"Render unto Caesar (Roman Gov
eminent? that which is Caesar's, and
udU God that which is God's." Paul
was addressing the subject because
the people to whom he was writing
were living under an emperor
No doubt, many things the Roman
authorities did, or permitted be done,
were at least distasteful to the ear
nest followers of Jesus. Many of the
early Christians were slaves and per
haps their treatment caused them to
wonder. The citizens of the Roman
Government had Uttle, if anything, to
say in the aelcection of their leaders,
or the laws of the land.
On the other hand, citizens of a
democratic society have the opportu
nity to select their leaders? and exer
cise some control over civil affairs.
Our responsibility then, is much
heavier and our accountability to
God more concise.
FunFair event to be held
The NC Democratic Party will bold
its biggest event ever at the FunFair
on September 12, Democratic Party
chairman Jim Van Hecke said at
Party Headquarters last week.
Inspired by Senator Terry Sanford,
Funfair is a day-long event combin
ing issue forums and entertainment.
FunFair will be held at Market
Square in High Point, on Saturday,
September 12.
Several issue forums will feature
presidential and state-wide candi
dates. Senator Albert Gore, Jr., from
Tennessee and Governor Michael
Dukakis of Massachusetts are among
those attending. Van Hecke said that
his staff is talking with the other
presidential hopefuls. Democratic
members of the congresssional dele
gation will also participate in the
event.
"We're expecting a large crowd of
Democrats to gather for this show
case of our candidates," Van Hecke
said. "With Super Tuesday only six
months away, our state primaries
eight months away, FunFair is a
great opportunity to meet the win
ning ticket."
A diverse group of entertainers will
perform throughout the day. Nation
ally known entertainers are sched
uled as well as North Carolina stars.
A flea market with wares from
across the state will be located in va
rious areas of Market Square. A wide
array of North Carolina food will also
be available from food booths.
Also on Saturday, the Democratic
Party motion picture will premiere.
The 15-minute film, produced by
North Carolina filmmaker Grady
Jefferys, will feature footage from
historical archives, contemporary
film clips and comments from a
cross-section of Democrats. The film
will be used across the state to boost
recruitment drives and organization
efforts.
"We're proud of North Carolins's
Democratic Party and we want to re
mind people how our state has grown
under Democratic leadership," Van
Hecke said.
Tickets for the FunFair are $2.00
per person and are available from
both county and state headquarters.
Facilities for the press will be avail
able. For more information call 919
821-2777.
E.C. Swanson,
Evangelist
- Special Singing
?I Each Service
Samuel R. Swinney, Pastor
: Phone 426-7476
In the absence of prear
rangement, the next of
kin atone has the right to
choose the funeral direc
tor to decide the funeral
arragements. No one
should attempt to influ
ence or usurp this right of
choice. Advice should be
given only when asked,
as the selection of a fune
ral director is a very per
sonal matter.
Respectfully,
HOST FAMILIES
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I
THE CHRISTIAN AND GOVERN
MENT
(Romans 13:1-7)
"Let every souki be subject until
the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be
are ordained of God." (Romans 13:1)
I have heard it said many tiroes, "I
don't mix my religion and my poli
tics." There is something askew
about that statement because the
Scriptures teach that Christianity is
to permeate all areas of our lives. It
should guide our political thought. In
these verses Paul is setting forth the
Christian principal which should
guide one's relationship with civil
government. Civil government exists
by permission of God; it is in fact
God ordained. That does not mean
that God selects every leader of gov
ernments?that leaden rule by di
vine selection and ordination. God
does not sanction evil, nor does He
approve evil practices of persons
who occupy high positions in govern
ment. God ordained civil government
and civil law so that people might
live in an orderly society. Without it
there would be chaos. Paul is saying
that we are subject to, and should
obey the laws, of our civil govern
ment.
THE CHRISTIAN COMMITTMENT.
(Romans 13:8-1#)
" Owe no man anything, but to live
one another? (Verse 8)
How are we to read this verse of
Perquimans Band Boosters Sell calenders
Calendar events
Perquimans Band boosters are
now sponsoring their annual "Birth
day Calendar" sales. Orders will be
taken for calendars at the price of
$3.50 each plus SO cent for each list
ing. We are asking all citizens to
please support us in this fund raising
effort. All proceeds will go to differ
the costs of new uniforms. For more
information please contact Ginger
O'Neal at 426-5117 or Carlyn Brown at
426-7964.
Correction
In the Aug. 13th edition of The Per
quimans Weekly under the Cards of
Thanks the name Billie H. Proctor
was printed incorrectly. It should
have read Belle N. Proctor.
We regret the error.
I,
Joe's Place
Lunch Buffet.... $3. 50
Sunday Buffet . . .$6.95
Grubb Street Extd., Hertford
Scripture? Are we to have no debts of
any kind? This is not an injunction
against indebtedness of any kind. To
live is to have certain monthly bills,
such as utilities. The thrust of Paul's
admonition is that one should pay all
just debts when due; to faithfully
meet one's financial obligations.
Paul makes one exception. It is the
debt of love, to both Christ and our
fellowman. It is a permanent obliga
tion that rests upon every Christian.
We owe Christ everything for His
death in our behalf-all we have and
all we shall ever have. One one occa
sion Jesus, in discussing the love of
God and the love of a neighbor, said,
"On these two commandments hang
all the law and the prophets."
THE CALL TO THE COMMITTED
(Romans 13:11-14)
"And that, knowing the time, that "
now it is high time to awake out 9^ ,
sleep.." (Verse 11)
Paul has just addressed the ques
tion of Christians and their civil gov-"*
eminent From this he moves di"
rectly to call Christians into active ?
service for the Lord. Aware of how.,
easy it is to become drowsy in oar
Christian living, Paul urges Chris- \
tians to wake up, and to work for the <
Master while there is yet time to fiil? .r
fill the duties given to us.
. >.4?nrn
Yes, Christians are to obey k?th l(
civil laws and God's kingdom re
quirements.
Church news
Piney Woods
Revival services will be held at
Piney Woods Friends Meeting Au
gust 24, through Aug. 30, 1987. Serv
ices will be held each night at 8:00
p.m. with the Sunday morning serv
ice at 11:00 a.m. The visiting evange
list, Leslie Winslow, formerly of Up
River Communitv will be holding
services.
New Bethel
Annual Men's Day services will be
observed at New Bethel Baptj.?t ,,
Church of Hertford, N.C. on Sunday,
Aug. 23 at 11 :30 a.m. The speaker wul
be the Rev. Oscar Butts, Associate .
Minister of New Sawyer's Creek Bap-. *
tist Church of Camden, N.C.
The public is invited to attend.
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TAFT, TAFT & HAIGLER
P.O. Box 19637 -
Suite 405, 6512 Six Forks Rd. 3
Raleigh, N.C. 27619-9637
(919)848-0744
Greenville Office : (91 9) 752-2000 * '
"The People Called Methodists"
Rev. Larry Higgins
New Hope ? Woodland United Methodist Charge
As of this past Tuesday, the official observance of the 400th Anniversary of the founding
of America cam# to on end. This anniversory has covered a period of four years, with many
?vents taking ploce in Perquimans County. One of the annual events were to celebrate our
reliaious heritage with four denominations conducting the services in the order of their
settling in the county.
These religious celebrations were held by the Friends (Quakers), Episcopal, Baptist, with
the Churches of the Methodist's family coming together at New Hope United Methodist
Church last Sunday to celebrate the herioge that we as Methodist's people have enjoyed,
as well as to express our Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the opportunity to offer a
Christian witness in Perquimans County. Joining the United Methodist Churches were
A.M.E. Zion and Wesley on Churches.
Who ore these people called Methodists, and what do they believe? There is not enough
space to fully answer these questions, but let us briefly reflect on them.
The founder of the Methodist Church was John Wesley. It wos not his intention to orga
nize a new church (denomination) but to have a renewal movement within the Church of
England, only to find the doors being closed to Him and his followers. Nevertheless, John
Wesley remained a loyal ordained minister of the Church of England until his death. The
Methodists in England did not orgonize into a church until after his death, but the Method
ist's people who were moving to the 13 colonies found themselves organizing a church to
meet the needs of people wherever they may be found, at that time from the coast to the
wilderness. Ordained ministers and lay preochers met on December 24, 1784 at Lovely
Lane Meetina House to organize the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Francis Asbury, a founding Bishop of their new Church found his way to Perquimans
County in 1783 where he preoched in Hertford and 1799 and 1804 he came to Durant Neck
(New Hope) where he preached again. According to records, there wos a Methodist con
gregation at Durant Neck a few years before land was deeded to the church in 1809. Thus.
New Hope United Methodist Church is the oldest Methodist Congregation in Perquimans
County, and worshiped in the oldest church building in continuous use in the North Carolina
Conference.
John Wesley never professed to discover new truths, but to restore the old faith. Let us
look at a few doctrines that John Wesley preached.
Wesley preached that not only must a person be saved to have a relationship with God,
but that they can be saved. Jesus Christ gave himself on the cross of Calvary for the sins of
every man, woman, boy and girl. Therefore, salvation is a gift from God to whoever accept
it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his
only Son thot whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
Wesley preached that a person can know that they have a relationship with God,
through Christ. An individual, Wesley believed he did not have to live in wonder or doubt
about if they had a relationship with God. They could receive the assurance of their salva- .?
tion through the witness of the Holy Spirit, romans 8:15-16a-"For you did not receive the
spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption when we
cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are
children of God". . .
Wesley preched the doctrine of santification. Santification is the process of being entirely
devoted to God. Romans 6:19-20 - Paul said "I am speaking in human terms, because of
your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to
greater and greater iniquity, so yield your members to righteousness for santification."
Wesley believed that if a person hos faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour - if a
person hod the inner assurance that they are in relations with God then they must be
influenced to live a life holy and concreated unto the Lord and to their fellowman.
This doctrine does not mean that a Christian will be sinless, but it does mean that as
Christians, our deepest desire will be to please God. Thus, John Wesley emphasized time
and time again that a Methodist Christian would be one who loved the Lord with all their
heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as they love themselves.
As members of the Methodists family we are proud of our heritage in this county, as we
souaht in the past, and will continue to seek in the presence and future to be open to the
leadership of God that we may truly be his witnesses as well as his servants.
AMEN * "