Church of Christ Newsletter

Volume 10 Issue 7, December 19, 2010 www.moosemountainchurch.com

Contact Info:
MAMMONISM by Dann Pantoja info@moosemountainchurch.com
(306)577-2477
No man can serve two masters: for share of the capital investments be celebrated. Commercialized 1 Christina Street
Box 184
either he will hate the one, and love from the multinational corporations Christmas is Mammom-worship, not
Kenosee Lake, SK
the other; or else he will hold to the (MNC). These MNCs require, as their a Christian celebration! S0C0R0
one, and despise the other. Ye can- highest standard, maximum profit
not serve God and mammon. Jesus from their investments. Their mes- Mammon-worship is necessarily ***
of Nazareth(Matthew 6:24 KJV) sage to their host countries: expressed through an explicit and
Sell! Sell! Sell! intentional attachment to things. In Assembly Times:
To celebrate is to observe a day or the process, Mammonism actually Sunday
event with ceremonies of respect, In most cases, free-market economic reduces people to things by seeing Bible Class
festivity, or rejoicing. systems bring with their various their value merely as extrinsic—that 10:03am
marketing strategies aimed at con- is, based on exchange value. For
Christmas is a Christian feast com- sumers. Their message to the example, in Mammon’s value sys- Full Family
memorating the birth of Je- Fellowship
people: Buy! Buy! Buy! tem, human beings are seen as mere 11:03am
sus. December 25 is the day on human resources measurable by
which this feast is celebrated. The Holiday Season marketing their peso amount per time of Thursday Evening
Mammon is a First Century Aramaic strategies are some of the most ef- work. Thus, the worshippers of Bible Study
term that describes a worldview that fective way of selling consumer 7:00pm
M a m m o n t e n d
necessarily puts money, wealth, and products. Unfortunately, many peo- to “thingify“ people. When this is
property as the highest position in ple around the world iden- Life Groups
the case, people are sacrificed to the
the value-system of a person or a tify Christmas in the context of these altar of money, wealth, and prop- Alternating
community. selling schemes. New markets Thursdays in various
erty. It becomes easy to oppress and communities
around the world, through their exploit people when they are seen
Why am I connecting these three newly acquired as things.
ideas? Because I think the Christmas ***
TV sets, will see
Season is now becoming more of the old mar- The statement
a Mammon Season. It is the time of kets, mostly of Jesus in Mat- Leadership:
the year when the injury of poverty in Christian thew 6:24 is a
and injustices against the poor is countries, as call to reorder Minister
exacerbated by the insults of the active partici- the lives of his Rolland Bouchard
commercialism that magnifies what pants in this followers based
the poor do not have. buying and on the aware- Elders
The globalization of the free-market selling celebra- ness that God Jim Sedor
economic system is a major distinc- tion of the birth is Ultimate Real- Cameron Husband
tive of the 21st Century. Most coun- of Christ. ity. In today’s commercialization of Dale King
tries, including the Philippines and its Christmas, Mammon—wealth and Harold Floyd
neighboring countries, are compet- But commercialized Christmas property—is considered as the ulti-
ing against each other to get their is not the way the Birth of Christ is to mate reality and the highest cate- ***

Announcements and Upcoming Events Ministries:

THRIFT STORE DAYS SPECIAL COLLECTION

Benevolence
We will be working the thrift store This year we will be taking up a special col-
Harold Floyd
December 28 & 30 lection on December 26th. The proceeds will
go toward digging a well in India through the
*** direct sponsorship of Compassion Canada. Fellowship
POTLUCK REQUEST To give you an idea how much we will need Monica McMillan
We want to thank you all for your generous do- to raise, it costs $1500 to dig one well. This
nations to our potluck lunches. Because of one well will service a family or village. Worship
known allergies within our congregation we ask Please be praying about supporting such a Cameron Husband
that you do not bring any items containing pork. project. If you would like, there are gift cata-
Thanks! logues available for other ideas on how you
can support those stricken by poverty in our Education
*** world. Laurie Bouchard
HOMEMAKERS CIRCLE! ***
Jan 14th - Spa Night NEW YEARS EVE BASH Outreach
Feb 8th - Cake Decorating There will be a new years eve games Jim Sedor
Mar 19th - Ladies Day / Theme Supper fellowship and devotional at the building. Start-
April 8/9th - Mini Retreat ing at 7:00pm with a devotional at 8:30pm Missions
May 24th - Kennedy Memorial Gardens Bring snacks to share and games to play. Owen King
June 14th - Tea House, Fairlight ***
*** HINTS OF HARMONY Maintenance
THURSDAY EVENING ADULT BIBLE STUDY Garnet Goud
December 21 at 7:00pm in the Wawota United
The Adult Bible Study will be over for the rest of De-
cember, and will resume at the building on January
Church.
Finance
13th with an introduction to the Sycamore series. ***
Mark Olson
Teachers needed, see the sign up sheet at the
Volume 10, Issue 7 December 19, 2010 www.moosemountainchurch.com
THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER... JUST FOR FUN
 All of those walking through grief.
Joseph
 Arnold Lawrence Mary
 Marie McMillan Bethlehem
Born
 Lougheed Family—Friends of Verna after
Boy
losing their mother Frieda.
Wrapped
 Bernard and Alicia Krogsgaard - Missionaries in Clothes
Mexico Manger
 Joe Fox—recovery from surgery. Room
Inn
 Verna and Harold’s Sister Linda recovering from
car accident
Shepherds
Watch
 Chris Cornforth—continued health concerns. Flocks
 Joe Cornforth, continued emotional and health Angel
issues. Appeared
 Catherine Taylor– seeing continued success and Afraid
healing after her surgery. Sign
Glory
 Nancy Martinson—(Heather Kings Sister-in-law)
Peace
Pray for success in cancer treatments.
earth
 Candy Wise—undergoing another surgery for an
aneurism. Pray for success.
 Tammy Palmer—continued health concerns (Continued from page 1)

 Neil Palmer—Verna’s Cousin recovering from five
bypass surgery
 Pam’s Uncle, John Dyck had open heart surgery.
 Pam’s cousin Julie’s husband passed away from
cancer leaving behind 2 young sons and a widow.
 Pam’s step brother in the Hospital in Regina.
 Joe’s brother Dan is doing much better after his
accident.
 Krista Dolphin’s arm is broken, pray for a speedy
recovery.
 Mary Elford—is doing much better after tests
came back positive.
 Upcoming weddings: Trevor and Raysha, and
Abby Hannah (recently engaged).
 Glen and Kay—in Arizona
 The Bell Family after the passing of Bill
 Jeremy Hengen’s Dad Passed away
gory in its value system. For the follower of Jesus, true celebration of Christmas is a re-
newal of her or his commitment to God who loves people. When a commitment to God
is made, such commitment necessarily requires the reordering of wealth and property as
subordinate to God-Reality.
It means renouncing Mammon as god. By the same token, when a commitment to Mam-
mon is made, then Mammon becomes the highest category in one’s value system and
God is reordered as subordinate to wealth and power. Commitment to both is not possi-
ble. There can only be one Ultimate Reality. God-Reality does not allow other claims of
ultimate reality; hence, other claimants are false claims. Commitment to false claims of
reality is idolatry.
This spiritual realization is important because it determines our being—our sense of
identity and security. Our gift-giving reflects our own need to give or to receive, which is
rooted in our sense of inner security or insecurity.
So, how can we celebrate the Birth of Christ (it’s not the 25th of December, but that’s
another topic), against the tide of Mammonism?
Dann Pantoja

 Pamela King—pray for her personal well-being.

 That Christ would be made known throughout
this Christmas Season.
'I tell you the truth, whatever you
 People going through difficult times throughout
the holiday season.
did for one of the least of these
...and pray in the Spirit on all occasions... brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matthew 25:40

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