Some brief information is appropriate here as a matter of historical record. Our last edition of this bulletin was on March 15 and was also the date of our last "normal" church gathering. The following week, a national state of emergency regarding public health was declared by the President of the United States and the Governor of Alabama, resulting in all large group gatherings nationwide being discontinued, for a then unknown period of time.
The Maysville church began meeting again for the first time Wednesday, May 13. During the 9 week of closure, worship services and limited classes were broadcast (mostly) live, for the participation of those at home by means of the internet. National historians and church historians will find no shortage of information to sift through and debate regarding these unparalleled events.
This weekend is traditionally labeled Memorial Day weekend, for the Monday holiday which was officially designated in 1971. The original observation had its roots in the years immediately following the civil war when our nation buried the remains of many thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers. As Americans continued to perish in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and such, the honoring of those who gave their lives also continued.
The scriptures themselves note that some deaths received greater observance than others. Jacob was mourned after his death for 70 days or 10 weeks! (Gen. 50:3). Moses was mourned by Israel for 30 days (Deut. 34:8). Whereas the death of the beloved King David's has only a simple short statement regarding his passing (1 Kings. 2:10).
There is one death that is particularly memorialized. It is not the date of the death that is important as the year cannot be ascertained for certain. Nor is the location pertinent for the exact spot is likewise impossible to determine. But it is a death to certainly be remembered. And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.' After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, 'This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me.' For as often as ye eat this bread, an drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." (1 Cor. 11:24-26).
- Tim Orbison