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Pastor's Page

Posted on February 28, 2008 ...

As we all know, one of the featured shopping days of the year is the day after Thanksgiving, also known as "Black Friday." In the past decade stores have opened in the wee hours of the morning (as early as 4:00 or 5:00 a.m.) to give serious shoppers a head start on all the deals. Yet a problem remained: How do you get people to rise that early who are accustomed to sleeping in much later. A couple of years ago a retailer addressed this issue by giving people the chance to schedule a "Wake Up Call" on that morning. In fact, you could pick what sounds you would like to hear when you answered. Options included a rooster crow, a crying baby, and the voice of Darth Vader.

Two Sundays from now, March 9, will be Time Change Sunday. Personally I'm still getting used to the change implemented last year that moved the beginning of Daylight Savings Time from the first Sunday in April to the second Sunday in March. Therefore, on March 9 we will "Spring Forward" and lose an hour of sleep from the night before.

To be honest, the day we switch to Daylight Savings Time has never been a Sunday for strong church attendance. In the past, our strategy for offsetting this decline was to promote the date and encourage people to remember to set their clocks forward the night before. While we will still do this, we are adding an additional tactic this year.

Some months ago I was reading a book containing over a thousand ideas for church ministry. It was there that I first read of offering people a Wake Up Call on Time Change Sunday. With today's technology, setting up such an automated call is relatively easy. I'm not sure yet whose voice you'll hear when you answer. I'd like to get James Earl Jones to make the calls, but I don't think he is available.

If you think such a call will help you to rise and shine on that day, fill out the blank on the back of the back of the worship registration form this Sunday or call the church office. It is worth getting up for some things. Jay

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2815 North Ocoee Street
Cleveland, TN 37312
423-476-8524
Fax: 423-476-8525

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This Week at NCBC

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30:
8:30 AM ... Early Worship
9:40 AM ... Old Fashioned Sing - Annex
9:45 AM ... Sunday School - Bible Study
11:00 AM ... Morning Worship
4:00 PM ... Handbells - Sanctuary
4:45 PM ... Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary
5:30 PM ... All other H.O.G. participants meet in Sanctuary
6:00 PM ... Hanging of the Green
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1:
6:30 PM ... Drama Practice - Sanctuary
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2:
7:00 AM ... Coffee and Bible Study - Grissom
3:30 PM ... Contractor Meeting - Conference Room
6:00 PM ... Quilters - Annex
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3:
6:00 PM ... Bible Study - Prayer Meeting - Sanctuary
6:00 PM ... Children's Choir - Room 410
6:00 PM ... Preschool Choir - Room 310
6:30 PM ... Youth Activities - Annex
6:45 PM ... Preschool Mission Friends - Room 312
6:45 PM ... RAs & GAs - Upstairs Education Building
6:45 PM ... Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal - Choir Loft
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4:
9:30 AM ... Ladies Prayer Group - Annex
6:00 PM ... Willing Workers Christmas Party - Antonios

This Week in Worship

Welcome and Announcements ... Verlin Tucker
Prayer ... Verlin Tucker
Call To Worship ... Congregation
"Come, Now Is the Time to Worship"
"O Worship the King" (Hymn 16)
Children's Sermon ... Dr. Jay McCluskey
Scripture Reading ... Jason Cox
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
Scripture can be found on page 816 of the Bibles supplied in our Sanctuary
Choral Worship ... Sanctuary Choir
"How Beautiful"
Offertory Hymns ... Congregation
"Make Me a Blessing" (Hymn 569)
"Little Is Much When God Is in It"
Offertory Prayer ... Jeff Elliott
Offertory Music ... Instrumentalist
Giving of Tithes and Offerings ... Congregation
Special Music ... Rev. Lanny Green
Message from God's Word ... Dr. McCluskey
"Do You Need Some Gift Giving Advice?"
Invitation Hymn ... Congregation
"I Give You My Heart"
Recognition of Decisions ... Pastor
Closing Words ... Pastor
Benediction ... Pastor

Hanging of the Green
6:00 p.m., Sunday, November 30
Hanging of the Green is a worship service centered around the songs and symbols of the Holiday Season. As the Sanctuary is decorated with sights and sounds, worshipers see how candles, greenery, poinsettias, manger scenes, and other objects become part of our Christmas traditions.