FAITH
A Section
w w w.c h iple y pap er.c om
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Faith EVENTS Homecoming at Pleasant Grove Church Pleasant Grove Church will hold a Homecoming at 6 p.m. today, May 18. The church is located on Shakey Joe Road at Hinson’s Crossing. There will be a spaghetti supper then an open microphone singing will follow. Sunday morning service will be at 11 a.m. on May 19 with a lunch following the service. Bro. Johnny Snodgrass will bring the message. The public is welcome to come and enjoy. For more information, contact Bro. Bufford Williams at 638-1189.
I AM Inn Ministries holds open house CHIPLEY — I AM Inn Ministries will hold an open house from noon to 4 p.m. today, May 18. All donors and interested parties are invited to 1461 S. Railroad Ave., Apt. 10-12, for the event, which will feature a cake auction, food, fellowship, door prizes and testimonies. To RSVP or for more information, call 768-2131.
One Heart to Perform at Otter Creek PONCE De LEON — One Heart is set to perform at otter Creek Methodist Church at 7 p.m. today, May 18. The church is located four miles north of Ponce de Leon off Highway 81.
Smith Chapel Homecoming Smith Chapel Assembly of God Church will be holding homecoming services at 10 a.m., on Sunday, May 19. There will be no Sunday School. The guest minister will be Ken Helton. Ken Helton and Family will also be singing. A covered dish dinner will be served.
Bethlehem Camp Meeting BONIFAY — The Bethlehem Family Camp Meeting will be held from June 21 to June 28 at 3073 Highway 160 in Bonifay. For more information visit bethlehemcamp.org or call 547-2598.
Breaking Thru Ministries Food Giveaway BONIFAY — Breaking thru Ministries thru the Bay Area Mobile Pantry will be having a food giveaway at the Bonifay House of Prayer and Praise on North Caryville Road in Bonifay. The giveaway is open to Holmes County Residents only. For application that are returned on or before May 26 pick up will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 28 and application turned in on or before June 5 pickup ill be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 7. For more information call 547-5941.
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Washington County
Nicole P. Barefield, Publisher Randal Seyler, Editor Cameron Everett, Production Supervisor The News is published every Wednesday and Saturday by Halifax Media Group, 1364 N. Railroad Ave., Chipley, FL 32428. Periodicals postage paid at Chipley, Florida. © Copyright 2013, Halifax Media Group. All Rights Reserved. COPYRIGHT NOTICE: The entire contents of the Washington County News are fully protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the expressed permission of Halifax Media Group.
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Saturday, May 18, 2013
Nothing wrong with best wishes I recently read an interesting article about prayer. The writer feels that prayers which attempt to influence the actions or beliefs of others are fundamentally no different than any other form of “black magic.” Such prayers involve exerting your will in a deliberate SHANNON attempt to control people. He argues SEYLER that using prayer Faithfully Yours to change others’ behavior is morally wrong. This includes prayers that people will fall in love with you, give you money, or convert to your religion. Whether you agree or not, it’s an interesting concept. Praying that another person will adopt your beliefs is quite different from praying for the well-being of that individual regardless of his or her beliefs. Likewise, praying that contestants at a sporting event remain safe is a far cry from praying that your team will grind its opponents into the dirt. Naturally, both teams want to win. If both sides petition God for victory simultaneously, don’t their prayers cancel each other out? And honestly, do you think an all-powerful God really cares who wins a ball game? As an elementary school student, I was once called upon by an adult to say a prayer. The idea of spontaneous prayer was new to me, since I was mainly familiar with prayer books. I tried using a prayer I knew from memory, but was ordered to start over and make up my own prayer. I was craving a certain type of candy that day, so I concluded my prayer by asking Heaven for some. I was promptly accused of offering a “junk prayer.” I was told that my prayer was worthless. I was so embarrassed that I never prayed for
NON-PROFIT OF THE WEEK: PETS FOR VETS Pets for Vets is an organization working to pair military veterans with suitable companion animals. The group was founded by animal behaviorist and trainer Clarissa Black, and is designed to aid both veterans and shelter pets. Shelter dogs are trained by program volunteers to function as companion animals for U.S. military veterans. These animals are often matched with veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), providing gentle and much-needed companionship for returning combat veterans. Companion animals can help alleviate stress and depression. The group’s website contains some success stories from veterans who have benefitted from working with these animals. Founded in 2009, the group is still relatively new and has not yet expanded to every state, but the more volunteers they get, the faster the organization will be able to serve veterans nationwide. Pets for Vets http://pets-for-vets.com 409 Black Diamond Drive Wilmington, NC 28411 candy again as long as I lived. Is there really such a thing as junk prayer? Probably not — although some prayers may be more thoughtful than others. I once met somebody who frequently prayed to St. Michael the Archangel for good parking spaces. He truly felt he had the ear of this powerful archangel. So did he appeal for justice, protection or getting closer to God? No, he was just interested in getting closer to the Walmart entrance. Apparently, concerns about poverty, war, oppression, illness and natural disasters all took a back seat to a decent parking place. Then again, just because praying for a parking spot seems trivial to me, I really can’t say anything. Remember, I’m the person who prayed for a bag of candy. I’m not going to tell you how to pray, or what to pray for. If you want to pray for candy or a front row parking space, do it. But remember
that God and Santa Claus are two different beings. Some prayers come off like a spoiled child’s letter to Santa: Gimme, gimme, gimme. You don’t have to ask for something every time you pray. If you do, try at least one prayer session in which you pray only for others and not yourself. Think twice about prayers that attempt to coerce others into certain actions, or prayers that are a mere recitation of your own personal wish list. Try praising God instead of begging for favors. Turn prayer into a two-way conversation. Listen for that still, small voice. Even if you’re not religious, you might find yourself sincerely offering your best wishes, hopes and thoughts for others. There’s nothing wrong with that. In my opinion, it’s actually a preferable moral position to that of the religious person who’s constantly begging for material goods while completely ignoring the needs of fellow human beings.
Community CALENDAR MONDAY
10 a.m. to noon: Holmes Council on Aging provides hot meals and socialization. 10 a.m. to noon: Holmes Council on 10:30 a.m.: Chipley Library preschool Aging provides bingo, exercise, games, story time. activities, hot meals and socialization. 11 a.m.: Washington Council on Aging 11 a.m.: Washington Council on Aging (Chipley) senior lunches; for reservations, (Chipley) senior lunches; for reservations, call 638-6217. Donations accepted. call 638-6217. Donations accepted. 11 a.m.: Care Givers Support group 6-7:30 p.m.: Salvation Army Domestic meets third Thursdays at the First Violence and Rape Crisis Program Presbyterian Church at 4437 Clinton St. in (SADVP) hosts a domestic violence support Marianna. group at the SADVP Rural Outreach office, Noon: Alcoholics Anonymous open 1461 S. Railroad Ave., Apartment 1, in meeting at New Life Assembly Fellowship Chipley. Call Emma or Jess at 415-5999. Hall, Chipley 1 p.m.: Caregivers Meeting at TUESDAY Washington County Council on Aging in 8 to 9 a.m.: Tai Chi Class at the Chipley for more information call 638-6216 Washington County Public Library, Chipley 2 p.m.: Writers Group meets the first Branch Thursday of each month (unless a holiday) 8 to 10 a.m.: Church Fellowship at the Chipley Library Breakfasts at Around the Corner Grill. 4 p.m.: Holmes County Historical Society Breakfast provided. Everyone welcome. 2nd Thursday of each month. 10 a.m. to noon: Holmes Council on 6 p.m.: TOPS meets at 7 p.m. with weigh Aging provides hot meals and socialization. in at 6 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church 11 a.m.: Washington Council on Aging 6 p.m.: The Holmes County Historical (Chipley) senior lunches; for reservations, Society meets first Thursdays at 6 p.m. The call 638-6217. Donations accepted. public is invited to attend. Noon: Chipley Kiwanis Club meeting. 6 p.m.: Washington County Council Noon: Alcoholics Anon. Open meeting, on Aging Line Dancing Class for more New Life Assembly Fellowship Hall, Chipley. information call 638-6216 5 p.m.: BINGO at St. Joseph Catholic 6:30 p.m.: T.O.P.S. Mt. Olive Baptist Church games start at 6:25 p.m. Call Peg Church on State Road 79 North. Russ at 638-451 7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous meeting, 6 p.m.: Holmes County Commission Blessed Trinity Catholic Church on CR 177A meets second Tuesdays. 7 p.m.: Narcotics Anonymous meeting, FRIDAY Blessed Trinity Catholic Church on CR 177A 6 a.m.: Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study at Hickory Hill Baptist Church in Westville. WEDNESDAY 10 a.m. to noon: Holmes Council on 10 a.m. to noon: Holmes Council on Aging provides bingo, exercise, games, Aging provides hot meals and socialization. activities, hot meals and socialization. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: The Vernon Historical 11 a.m.: Washington Council on Aging Society Museum is open to the public (Chipley) senior lunches; for reservations, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meetings are fourth call 638-6217. Donations accepted. Wednesdays at 2 p.m. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: On third Fridays, 11 a.m.: Washington Council on Aging Washington County Council on Aging (Chipley) senior lunches; for reservations, (Chipley) will have a plate lunch available call 638-6217. Donations accepted. to anyone as a fundraiser for our local 1 p.m.: Line dancing, Washington senior citizens. Plates are $6. Must make Council on Aging in Chipley. reservation at 638-6216 or 638-6217. 7 p.m.: Depression and Bipolar Support 3:30: Bead Class every second Friday at Group meets at First Baptist Church Laurden-Davis Art Gallery call 703-0347 educational annex building in Bonifay. Call 5 p.m.: Red Hill Methodist Church 547-4397. Mission Supper 4th Friday of every month. 6-8 p.m.: Washington County Council on THURSDAY Aging 50+ dance club for more information 7:30 a.m.: Washington Co. Chamber of call 638-6216 Commerce breakfast every third Thursday 6-8 p.m.: Marianna’s Gathering Place 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Amazing Grace Church Foundation has a get-together for 50+ USDA Food Distribution every third senior singles, widowed or divorced on last Thursday (Holmes County Residents Only) Fridays at Winn Dixie in Marianna. Come 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Money Sense at Goodwill join the fun for games, prizes and snacks Career Training Center; call 638-0093; every while you get your shopping done. For more third Thursday information, call 526-4561.
Library HOURS WAUSAU Monday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday: 1-6 p.m. Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 1-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday: Closed
HOLMES COUNTY Monday: Closed Tuesday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. to noon Sunday: Closed
WASHINGTON COUNTY Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday: Closed
VERNON Monday: Closed Tuesday-Wednesday: 1-6 p.m. Thursday: Closed Friday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday: Closed
SUNNY HILLS Monday: 1-6 p.m. Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 1-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday: Closed