STANDING STONE BIBLE
WEEKLY
Monday, November 17 2025
Church Notes...
As shared at the annual meeting, we now have a couple of postcards available that you can hand out - one is an invitation to our Wednesday night "OAsis" times (front of postcard shown). The other is a general church invite detailing Sunday mornings. Take a few and give them out.
Troy gave us a challenge to hand out some of the Thanksgiving tracts and these postcards. Give out two tracts... and one of each postcard.
Troy gave us a challenge to hand out some of the Thanksgiving tracts and these postcards. Give out two tracts... and one of each postcard.
THIS WEEK
Here are the highlights of classes and events THIS week
OA:sis - Wednesday night meal and activities for all. Join us Wednesday for a meal at 6... and activities for all ages after until about 8:10.
Foundations of the Faith - The final session is this Saturday. We will conclude with Hebrews 6:3: And this we will do if God permits. If you ponder that verse, it is a tension we hold.... "We will do" - our responsibility. "If God permits" - God's sovereignty. Join us Saturday 9 to 10:30am.
Cantata Rehearsal - The Christmas cantata rehearsals continue on Sundays from 11:20-12:30pm.
Foundations of the Faith - The final session is this Saturday. We will conclude with Hebrews 6:3: And this we will do if God permits. If you ponder that verse, it is a tension we hold.... "We will do" - our responsibility. "If God permits" - God's sovereignty. Join us Saturday 9 to 10:30am.
Cantata Rehearsal - The Christmas cantata rehearsals continue on Sundays from 11:20-12:30pm.
upcoming events
Make note of the classes and events available in the near future
Thanksgiving Eve - Next Wedesday night, November 26th at 7pm will be a special Thanksgiving Evening service. We will spend much time in thanksgiving to God this night. No other regular OA:sis programs.
Christmas Program - The Christmas program titled "No Kings! – The Protest Where Everything Changed" will be Sunday night, December 14th at 6pm. This is brought to you by our Sunday school children.
Cantata - The annual Christmas Cantata will be on Sunday morning, December 21st during the worship service.
Christmas Program - The Christmas program titled "No Kings! – The Protest Where Everything Changed" will be Sunday night, December 14th at 6pm. This is brought to you by our Sunday school children.
Cantata - The annual Christmas Cantata will be on Sunday morning, December 21st during the worship service.
the Lord's day
Your Sunday school kids are now practicing their parts and songs for the Christmas program. In addition to the lessons. Whew! Sunday school is a rich time of reward for those who attend - it is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Bible and develop new friendships. If you aren't attending this Sunday mornings, consider coming.
We worshiped the Lord as we claimed Him as our daily bread and the very breath that we breath! We sang of how God leads us. We sang of it being well with our souls. And we sang of the beautiful, powerful, and wonderful name of Jesus. Jesus is beautiful. He is powerful. He is wonderful! Thank you to the many voices and talents that lead us in music each week.
The message took this "interruption" (it seems that way to the world, doesn't it?) that we call "Thanksgiving" between Halloween and Christmas as a reminder that God’s people are commanded to live in continual gratitude, even in a culture that is increasingly thankless toward God. We drew from Romans 1 and Jude, considering how unthankfulness distorts grace, leads to entitlement, and ultimately mirrors the rebellion of Israel, the fallen angels, Sodom, and the figures of Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Jude’s opening verses (1–2) call believers to remember God’s benefits—being called, beloved, and kept—which form the foundation for true thanksgiving. We finished in Jude 20–21, where we can see the idea of cultivating gratitude by building ourselves up in the faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, and waiting with hope for Christ’s coming mercy. Thanksgiving grows as we remember His blessings, recognize His daily mercies, and consciously keep ourselves in His love.
We worshiped the Lord as we claimed Him as our daily bread and the very breath that we breath! We sang of how God leads us. We sang of it being well with our souls. And we sang of the beautiful, powerful, and wonderful name of Jesus. Jesus is beautiful. He is powerful. He is wonderful! Thank you to the many voices and talents that lead us in music each week.
The message took this "interruption" (it seems that way to the world, doesn't it?) that we call "Thanksgiving" between Halloween and Christmas as a reminder that God’s people are commanded to live in continual gratitude, even in a culture that is increasingly thankless toward God. We drew from Romans 1 and Jude, considering how unthankfulness distorts grace, leads to entitlement, and ultimately mirrors the rebellion of Israel, the fallen angels, Sodom, and the figures of Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Jude’s opening verses (1–2) call believers to remember God’s benefits—being called, beloved, and kept—which form the foundation for true thanksgiving. We finished in Jude 20–21, where we can see the idea of cultivating gratitude by building ourselves up in the faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, and waiting with hope for Christ’s coming mercy. Thanksgiving grows as we remember His blessings, recognize His daily mercies, and consciously keep ourselves in His love.
The Moral of the story
Perhaps you’ve heard of the man, injured on the job, who filed an insurance claim. The insurance company asked for more information to which the man wrote the following letter of explanation:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information for my insurance claim. In block number three of the accident claim form I wrote, “trying to do the job alone” as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain that statement more fully. I trust the following details will be sufficient.
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the injury, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel using a pulley fastened to the top of the building.
Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in block number 11 of the claim form that my weight is 150 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. I proceeded up the side of the building at a very rapid rate of speed.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. By this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel then weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to the information in block number 11 regarding my weight. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and lower body.
This second encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks, and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked.
I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable to stand, and watching the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind, and let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed more than the rope so it came down upon me and broke both of my legs.
I hope I have furnished information sufficient to explain why “trying to do the job alone” was the stated cause of the accident.
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the date of the injury, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel using a pulley fastened to the top of the building.
Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in block number 11 of the claim form that my weight is 150 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. I proceeded up the side of the building at a very rapid rate of speed.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. By this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel then weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to the information in block number 11 regarding my weight. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and lower body.
This second encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks, and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked.
I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable to stand, and watching the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind, and let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed more than the rope so it came down upon me and broke both of my legs.
I hope I have furnished information sufficient to explain why “trying to do the job alone” was the stated cause of the accident.
As the church of Christ, we are not supposed to “do the job alone.” We are called to both need people and be people who stand alongside one another. There are no Lone Rangers in the family of God. We need the community of our brothers and sisters in Christ. “But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Cor. 12:24-26).
Prayer Prods
- Betty W being treated for infection @ Bergan Mercy
- Joanie B going into hospice
- Debbie S's dad had surgery - in ICU
- Tami N - PET scan Wednesday
- Linda W - estate court this week (Wedn)
- Maisel June Begg born 11/9!
- Kathy A - tooth infection
- Holly S's dad - cancer - meeting with doctors to discuss
