Calendar of Events

7/11 – Scrapbooking – Fellowship Hall 6:00 pm

July 27, 28, 29, 30 and August 3 – Vacation Bible School – POWER LAB – 6:30 pm

Minister’s Message

Greetings to all of our "Church Family".

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow..."

This is a very familiar little song sung in many church services after the offerings  are received. It is a time for people to offer a PRAISE to God for the bountiful gifts they have been given as they return a portion of those gifts back to Him.

As most of you know Carole and I went on vacation the first of the month and had all kinds of difficulties. The radiator blew on the car which sent us into a Best Western for the night, and it just happened to be in a major casino in Atmoor, AL. There was one room available and the lady really did not want to rent it to us because we were just spending one night. But we were safe from the elements and some strange people. (There are many difficult details I am leaving out of this article due to space concerns.)

Then on Monday we learned Carole's culture came back positive and we spent time trying to get her the necessary medication to combat the MRSA. After many telephone calls I was able to get her medication and she started on the road to recovery. Carole had a tough week, only leaving the condo four times and trying to regain her strength for the trip back to Knoxville.

It would be so easy to sit back and say how we handled the difficulties of our vacation, but in reality, God took care of us.  "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..." 

God bless you,

Larry

♫ ♪ ♫ ♪  NIXON’S NOTES  ♫ ♪

Diana and I are currently in the book of Psalms as we are reading the NLT version of the “Daily Walk Bible.”  Psalms, which comes from a Greek word meaning “a song sung to the accompaniment of a plucked instrument,” was the hymnal of the Jewish people.  It is truly a book of worship, capturing the writers’ heartfelt response to God.  In Psalms we find exuberant praise, gratitude, laments, petitions for help, genuine repentance, and many other expressions of worship to God.  For good reason, Psalms has been called “the church’s first hymnal” and has inspired many of our greatest hymns and worship songs.

From the earliest days, the singing of hymns has been an integral part of Christian worship.  In the book of Acts we find Paul and Silas “praying and singing hymns to God” in a Philippian jail.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:19-20, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Through the singing of “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” we learn and teach God’s truths; we pray; we share the gospel; and we praise our Creator and Savior.  As we experience His forgiveness and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we offer Him our worship, using more than just words.  And we look forward to the day when all believers—past, present, and future—will join in one great choir around the throne of God.

Words are inadequate to express my appreciation and love for all those involved in the music and worship ministry of HCC.  I would like to thank our glorious Celebration Choir, the praise band, and our technical support team.  I sincerely appreciate all your hard work, flexibility, willingness to serve, and your Christ-like spirit.  I thank the church leadership for their personal encouragement and support of the music and worship ministry.  And I thank you, the congregation, for your attendance, participation, and the love extended to Diana and me.  It has been an awesome privilege and gracious blessing to have served as worship leader of this church.

“Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!  Praise the Lord!”  (Psalm 150:6)

May God bless,

Ken