We had a full house Sunday as we gathered together for our annual homecoming to celebrate 112 years of worship at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Levi Hamilton, Susan Cory and Herman Hopper were celebrating birthdays. And special prayers were requested for Debbie Powell, Kirsten Crosby, Pat Ramsey, Keith Garvin, June Sherman, Renae Sherman, Mrs. Wyatt, Georgia, Wanda and Mickey.
Linda Abercrombie gave the devotional, "A Song of Deliverance," and read Psalm 32:7 -- "You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall surround me with songs of deliverance." When we listen to the radio, we sometimes get a song stuck in our head. When trouble threatens us, God selects His songs of deliverance to encourage us with spiritual help. God's faithfulness, love and presence helps keep us in life's rhythm.
Rick Lett and Wayne Johnson served as ushers and collected the offertory, and we were blessed to have the Gould family sing hymns of praise for our morning song service.
Brother Mark Hall brought us God's message, "What Do These Stones Mean," and read Joshua 4 about Joshua, the Jordan River and the memorial stones. He began by telling us that we don't want to forget anything that God does for us so we can tell others of His greatness.
"Sometimes we can't remember anything, and other times we can remember everything. Remembering keeps love and memories alive. Because we are prone to be forgetful, there were four reasons God had for commanding Joshua to set those memorial stones.
"First, it was a time of remembering for what God had done for them. It is easy to forget things that God does for us. Second, it was a time of renewing personal commitment. Third, it was a time of rolling away the old life, like crossing the river to the new side and a new life. And fourth, it was a time of revealing to their children the faith they carried.
"How may times has God bailed you out of a tight spot? Those are those 'Thank you, Jesus' moments. Don't let them become what we did instead of what God did for us. We need to put down a stone for what God has done for us. God orchestrates things for us. Give God the glory for it. Lay down the stones because it is easy to forget those monumental things God does for us."
We shared praises with one another and laid down stones in God's honor for what He has done for us. In closing, Brother Mark asked, "Do you need to give God some glory and thank Him for what He does for you? We are quick to run to God with our problems, but sometimes we are not too quick to go back and thank Him."
Our hymn of invitation was "I Need Thee Ev'ry Hour," and Wayne Johnson gave the benediction. We enjoyed a wonderful fellowship lunch and then reconvened in the sanctuary for the reading of the history of Mill Creek Baptist Church and more music from the Goulds.
Mill Creek Baptist Church was formed Aug. 7, 1904, after a flood destroyed the mill where the old church was and it was abandoned.
Church records indicate that Sunday offerings would be 5 or 8 cents, and the church, at one time, had a great balance of 32 cents. In 1938, the church was used during the filming of the Jesse James movie for the wedding scene between Tyrone Powers and Nancy Kelly. Twentieth Century Studios did extensive remodeling to the church prior to the filming. The 106-year-old building burned Jan. 16, 2010, and a new building was erected the same year.
Mill Creek Baptist Church has survived two of the biggest floods in 70 years, record snowfall and cold. One hundred and twelve years later, God continues to bless us as services are still held at the little white church on the bank of Mill Creek.
We invite you to come worship with us on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. as Brother Mark Hall brings us God's word. Mill Creek is located 3.5 miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90. Everyone is always welcome.
Religion on 08/25/2016