FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, WRAY, COLORADO. Jesus said: "Upon this rock I Will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it." "And they continued steadfast in the Apostles Doctrine, the breaking of bread and prayer." "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believed on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "There's a church in the valley by the wildwood, No lovelier spot in the dale; No place is so dear to my childhood As the little brown church in the vale. How sweet on a clear Lord's day morning, To listen to the clear ringing bell; Its tones so sweetly are calling, Oh, come to the church in the vale." ORDER OF SERVICE Bible school 9:45 Preaching and communion 11:00 Christian Endeavor 6:30 Preaching 7:30 Music by the Firemen's Band Orchestra. Prayer meeting Wednesday evening 7:30 Choir practice Friday evening 7:30 (Photo of Rachel Dangerfield Boast) (Photo of the Styles) Mr. and Mrs. John Styles came to Wray about four years ago. The desire of their heart was to find the Church and there serve the master. Mr. Styles has been our superintendent for two years, and a more faithful and devoted superintendent could not be found. Mrs. Styles always greets the Sunday school with a chorus of twenty-two girls, which brings to us the Bible and song every Lord's day morning. I know no words that would better speak the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Styles than the words of this song: It may not be on the mountain's height Or over the stormy sea: It may not be at the battle's front My Lord will have need of me; But if by a still small voice He calls To paths that I do not know, I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hands in Thine, I'll go where you want me to go. Perhaps today there are loving words Which Jesus would have me speak; There may be now in the paths of sin Some wanderer whom I should seek- O Savior, if Thou wilt be my guide, Tho' dark and rugged the way, My voice shall echo Thy message sweet, I'll say what you want me to say. There's surely somewhere a lowly place In earth's harvest fields so wide, Where I may labor thro' life's short day For Jesus, the crucified; So trusting my all to Thy tender care, And knowing Thou lovest me, I'll do Thy will with a heart sincere, I'll be what you want me to be. (Two Pages of Teachers Photos) PROMOTION DAY Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. When the announcement came of the Colorado Springs Sunday School Convention, a committee was called together to decide who we would send. Everyone was anxious that it would be our consecrated Mrs. John Sty1es and Mildred Schaaf. On their return from the convention the ladies said they could not tell in words what a spiritual uplift the convention had been to them, and having the words hid away in their hearts, "In as much as ye did it unto he least of one of these, my little ones, ye did it unto me," they at once commenced work and Wray had its first daily Bible Vacation School, which numbered forty-five pupils. After the work was finished, promotion day brought joy to us all, as we watched our little ones march through the beautiful gate one step higher in the Master's service, and now our prayer is, "Help us, Lord, to keep them safe until at last they reach Heaven's gate." This year has been one of the very happiest for the Christian Bible School. With co-operation and Christian love and the help of our Heavenly Father, we have almost reached the two hundred mark. MEN'S BIBLE CLASS The men's Bible class is one of the most interesting in the Bible school. While most of these men have gone to Bible school early in life, they feel now they cannot give it up, because as they are growing older they want their lives to be an example to lead dear ones Heavenward. They truly get great joy by studying God's word. but it is a greater joy when they see their children and their grandchildren working in the Master's vineyard. Mr. A. J. Lasher. LADIES' BIBLE CLASS The ladies' Bible class consists of twenty-four members, with an average attendance of 18. We, as children, were sent to Bible school; as mothers and grandmothers, we now consider it a joy and a privilege to meet together to study God's word. "As is the mother, so is her daughter-Ezekiel. 16:44. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."-Prov., 23-6. Mrs. Clyde Roberts. CHRISTIAN SOWERS The place to sow the seed, which is the word of God, is in the home. It was my privilege to come west in the early day. I had the quiet little prairie home, the Bible school of the school house. It was my one aim to have good books in he home, but the one book that brought the greatest joy into my young married life when my children were around my knee was the precious book, the Bible. And now, as my own children are grown and gone, how thankful I am that God gives me strength to teach the young mothers and fathers of the Christian Sowers class. Mrs. Peter Cuney. LOYAL SONS AND DAUGHTERS If there is any time in life we need the Savor's hand to guide us, it is now when temptations seem to be greater than they ever were. True happiness brings lasting happiness. The life here with Jesus will give us the life in Heaven with Him. My one aim is to teach young men and women to love the Master. Floyd Lundy. VOLUNTEERS Soon after I became a Christian I asked Mrs. Boast what I could do to help in the Lord's work. She said: "Try to get: all the girls who are not in the Bible school to come next Lord's day and start a new class." I did this and it has been a great joy to me, as about eighteen of the girls every Sunday morning gather at the dear old church to talk of Jesus' love. We feel many times we are weak, but we know we can grow strong in Him. Mildred Schaaf. THE UP STREAMERS This is a class of twenty-two boys, every one just full of life. My aim is that by studying the Lord's work in the Bible school, their hearts will become tender and, like Samuel of old, they will hear the call of the Father and answer: "Speak, Lord. for thy servant heareth." Rachel Dangerfield Boast. BUSY BOYS "Excelsior," their motto, is the cry of every boyish heart, for it means "Onward" to manly hopes and aspirations of our so loyal boys. They are remembering their Creator in the days of their youth, and faithfully each Sunday say: "Let us go to the house of the Lord." To look into those clean, happy faces gives one high hopes for the future, for we see in them principle, ambition and courage in the cause of r5ght. These principles count for more than anything else, for they are the sterling qualities of the man of tomorrow. Mrs. Ray Paris. WILLING WORKERS Class motto: "Be ye doers of the word." "Heaven is not reached By a single bound, But we build the ladder On which we rise From the lowly earth To the vaulted skies, And we mount to its summit Round by round." Mrs. J. A. Styles. SUNBEAMS Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, To shine for Him each day; In every way try to please Him, At home, at school, at play. I'll be a sunbeam for Jesus, I can if I but try; Serving Him moment by moment, Then live with Him on high. Mary Lasher. FAITHFUL BOYS What work in Bible school can be more interesting, or a greater responsibility, than teaching a class of boys? The "Faithful Boys," seventeen in number, from six to eight years of age, are surely worthy of 4he name which they selected. In addition to our regular Bible study, we use the story method. These stories of actual experience, which the lesson suggests, are often confessions of naughtiness with 3incere resolutions to do better. Does it pay to devote much time to boys? Surely. Remember they are boys of today, but men of tomorrow. Let us not be weary in well-doing. Mrs. Florence E. Wisdom. BEGINNERS DEPARTMENT Class name: "Busy Bees." Motto: "Let us love one another." We range in number from twenty-five to thirty, and are really and truly what our name implies, "Busy Bees." We have two tabls and two dozen small chairs that we have acquired the past year. We use them for the work we do with our crayolas. Last quarter we made a frieze of fruit-apples pears and peaches-that the Heavenly Father provides for us. This quarter our frieze will be of autumn leaves. Also we are planning to make a scrap book to be sent to the Denver orphans' home. We have a set of sepia pictures that illustrates our lessons so beautifully and helps us remember them, for which we are very thankful. Oh! what would the world be to us, If the little children were no more. We should dread the desert behind us Worse than the dark before. Mrs. Carl Yarrington. Zadie Hadlock. FAITHFUL WORKERS We could not close our Bible school work without speaking of our faithful Flora Leaman, who always has a smile for everyone, and mistakes can never be found on her books and reports. She has been secretary and treasurer for a long time, and we feel that we could not do without her. (Three Photos) CRADLE ROLL Our present Cradle Roll was organized in February of this year and has grown from thirty-six to seventy-two. Our aim is seventy-five babies by the first of January, or at the end of our first year at least. Each baby is presented with a little certificate on being placed on our Cradle Roll, and is remembered each birthday with a card of greetings until he is three, then we enroll him in our Beginners Department. This year at the close of our Sunday school year we have nine to start in our Sunday school. Isn't it wonderful, mothers, to think some church of the living God is interested in your baby, the tiniest mite of humanity, today and tomorrow, one of the greatest forces helping to uplift the wo~rld and fallen humanity, for that is what ~e Cradle Roll stands for, to start that tiny mite in a manner that he may become a great power for good in the world as well as for the church? Is some church interested in your baby? Mrs. Carl Yarrington. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH ELDERS E. B. Remington. Brother Remington is one of the two charter members of the Christian church still living. From the beginning of the church to the present day he has meditated and prayed for her success in Jesus' name. D. A. Brown. Dr. Brown is a very busy man, but never has been so busy but what he is willing to contribute and give loyally to the support of the church. F. B. Williams. All through his work in the church for many years he has proved by his life his one aim, to do right. A. J. Lasher. Is one who loves the church with all his might, and the sacredness of the house of the Lord and the tenderness of its teachings is shown in his life. I. F. Garton. Brother Garton has not been with us long, but he loves the church next to his home, and that which brings greatest happiness into his life is as he sits at the Lord's table and speaks of the loving life of Jesus. DEACONS James Cross. We love him because he is so true, and we cannot help but think of his dear companion, who went away and left him and the four dear little children to hear the Master say: "Well done." Eli Fike. He is one of the most faithful men of the church, and should the Savior call, we could truly say: "He has done his best." W. L. Bailes. Though living in the country, it is never too cold, the roads too rough, the days too busy, but what he takes time to bring his family to the house of the Lord to remember the Savior. John Wisdom. Brother Wisdom has been with he church when it has been on the mountain top, when it has been in the valley, when dark clouds have hovered low; but strong he stands, saying: "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord." DEACONESSES Mrs. D. A. Brown, Mrs. John Mealey, Mrs. Julia Dehaven Miller, Mrs. B. F. Baker, Mrs. Fred Russell. Each of these women are faithful in doing whatsoever their hands find to do, to help in the work of the Lord. CLERK OF THE CHURCH Mr. Fred Russell, who gives much of his time that the work of the Lord may be carried on in an orderly manner. TREASURER 0. C. Smith, though young, old in the church. He has been faithful; helpful, and ready to do whatever he was called upon to do. TRUSTEEIS P. F. Cuney, A. J. Lasher and John Wisdom. Our book would not be finished without mentioning Mrs. Fred Russell, who has so ably and faithfully served the church as pianist. LADIES' AID President-Mrs. Mary Ament, better known to us all as Aunt Mary, because of her loving, helpful ways. Vice President~Addie Boyes, always thinking, always planning the beautiful things for the Lord and his house. Treasurer-Mrs. Florence Baker. Never in all the history of the church have we found a more faithful, tireless worker-always going beyond her strength .0 do something for the savior. Secretary-Mrs. Florence Garton. Eyes so keen and bright, always seeing the deep needs of others and having a big heart to want to brighten others' lives and make the road of life easier. How I wish we had the time and space to speak of every dear member. The Ladies' Aid has a membership of about forty, all active workers. They contribute to the various activities of the church and are indeed an aid to the church. In the last year they have paid $5 per month on the minister's salary, $65 toward repairing the church, $50 toward the parsonage. Other money paid out for the benefit of the church, such as flowers, collection plates, communion plate, tray and glasses, refreshments, etc., amounted to nearly $40. Florence Garton, Secretary. We cannot close our book without remembering some of the dear Grandmas of the church that we know we cannot have many years longer: Grandma Cox. Grandma Karns. Grandma Schaaf. Grandma Smith. Grandma Garton. Grandma McClusky. How we love and enjoy these dear old souls today, and when they are gone we will still have joy because of the home over there. This church practices Christian unity upon the New Testament basis. No creed or test of fellowship is required or applied, except that found in the word of God. All human opinions and speculations are laid aside that the commandments of Christ may be heard and obeyed. Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing: Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light, Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King!"