July 2:  Jason & Mary May Rice Anniversary

July 4:  Adam & Brook Linkous Anniversary

July 9:  Steven Kiracofe Birthday

July 15: Judy Mikel Birthday

July 18: Pat McDaniel Birthday

July 23: Jon Gano Birthday

July 23: Wesley Rice Birthday

July 27: Marv Edwards Birthday

July 28: Jerry Heiniger Birthday

July 30: Jon & Connie Gano Anniversary

Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin. Seven times she had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled her heart and mind. It was Mary who sat at His feet and learned of Him. It was Mary who poured upon His head the precious anointing oil, and bathed His feet with her tears. Mary stood beside the cross, and followed Him to the sepulcher. Mary was first at the tomb after His resurrection. It was Mary who first proclaimed a risen Saviour.

He is known as James the Great to distinguish him from James the Less, or James the brother of the Lord (also called by Eusebius James the Just) who became a pillar of the Jerusalem community, and is thought to have been the first bishop of Jerusalem.

With Peter and John, James was clearly one of Jesus' closest friends during his ministry. The James whose shrine is at Santiago de Compostela, in north-west Spain, was the brother of John (possibly the Evangelist). The Gospels (Matthew 4, 21-22; Mark 1, 19-20; Luke 5, 10-11) record that they were fishermen, the sons of Zebedee, partners with Simon Peter, and called by Jesus from mending their nets beside the Sea of Galilee at the beginning of his ministry. The Gospel lists of the Twelve (Matthew 10, 2-4; Mark 3, 14-19; Luke 6, 13-16) all include James and John among the first four, and from one of them (Mark 3,17) we learn that Jesus nicknamed them 'the sons of thunder'.