Word of Wisdom

Old church bulletins used to be one-half sheet, with service details and a long list of events coming up during the week.

Except during the summer.

Activities took a summer holiday, and so space in the bulletin was frequently filled with some interesting words of wisdom.

July 2, 1933

• A purchased friend never lasts.
• A photographed smile is never beautiful.
• A man's pessimistic views are often caused by an intimate acquaintance with himself.
• Honesty is the one business policy that need never be changed to keep up with the times.
• More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of; wherefore lift up thy voice.
• The most direct way of serving the country is by loyalty to religion.
• As an act of patriotism attend church regularly and devotionally.
• A thirty percent Christian cannot be a hundred percent American.

July 15, 1934

• There is no rest on the road that takes you away from your duty
  
• An educated man without religion is only a clever devil.
• An empty man is full of himself.
• The egoist is an I specialist.
• Christianity has been the mother of all modern education.
• Shutting the eyes to the danger signals does not clear the track.
• Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
• An example is the best argument.
• (July 15, 1934)
  
  

July 26, 1935

• To help build character on rock foundations is the purpose of the church
• Too many men conduct their lives on the cafeteria plan -- self-service only.
• All the world lives in two tents - content and discontent.
• Human improvement is from within outward.
• You cannot whitewash yourself by blackening others.
• Opportunity never knocks at the door of a knocker.
• Bees cannot make honey and sting at the same time.
• A Vacation is a rest, a joy, an experience and a preparation.
• After looking at the earth for six days we need the Sabbath in which to look up.
• Prayer must mean something to us if it is to mean anything to god.

August 25, 1935

Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way;
He has no tongue but our tongues
To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinner's gospel,
We are the scoffer's creed;
We are the Lord's last message
Given in deed and word --
What if the type is blurred?

What if our hands are busy
With other work than His
What if our feet are walking
Where sin's allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
Of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him
Unless from Him we learn?

--Annie Johnson Flint

Courier 10, 1969

This is my church. It is composed of people like me. We make it what it is. It will be friendly ... if I am friendly. Its pews will be filled … if I help fill them. It will do a great work . . . if I work. It will make possible any good works in the world . . . if I give. It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship . . . if I bring them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church of noble spirit . . . if I, who make what it is, am filled with these. Therefore, with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want my church to be.

- Ann Iona Warner