Midweek Message 05/17/2023

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #157

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #157. I hope all of you ladies had a great Mother’s Day celebration in your honor. I dare not forget the best part of me: Jo, my soon-to-be-wife of 50 years. I also have fond memories of my mother’s and grandmother’s influence, as well as other ladies-like Sunday school teachers; Miss Kutzer, my 4th grade school teacher whom I had a crush on; Mrs. John, who opened her home with iced tea and chocolate chip cookies for a teenage boy who just moved to a new home; a college teacher or two who challenged me; and so many more-all who played a part in helping me grow. I do hope you expressed your love to those women who have made a difference in your life.

I owe a great big huge thank you to the following ladies for taking part in our Mother’s Day service: First service-Tara Brinson (Mary, the mother of Jesus); Meshelle Roberts (Deborah); and Gail Kempe (Lydia). Second service- Becca Anderson (Sarah); Nannette Edwards (Hannah); Stacy Wood (Tamar); and Sydney Stockman (Mary of Bethany). I am so grateful to these ladies for their part in making our Mother’s Day service a little extra special.

Our school-related prayer is for April Walker this week. April is an Executive Secretary for the S-OCS school system.

It is hard to believe that the 2022-2023 school year is coming to a close this week. That, of course, doesn’t mean the work is done. Graduation. Report cards. End of the year reports and so much more are still ahead. Graduation is on the minds of many, and that includes the church. This coming Sunday, the 21st, is the final day to let us know of any graduates we need to recognize from the church family. At this point- you may find it hard to believe- but we have no high school graduates. But we do have three college graduates. I cannot ever remembering that happening. Once more: please let Diana or Pastor Ryan know if there is a graduate we need to know about.

Mother’s Day is traditionally the start of Change for Life, the annual fundraiser for New Beginnings Pregnancy Resource Center (NB). It runs from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day. I’ll repeat what I wrote in last week’s MM: There are several ways you can donate to NB:

  • Take a baby bottle (available at OVCF or the Center) to fill and return on or before Father’s Day.  You may fill it with your loose change or simply choose to include a check.
  • Mail a donation to the Center (PO Box 313, Spencer, IN 47460)
  • Give online through their website: http://newbeginningsowen.org
  • Use the link on their Facebook page or our Facebook group

Several years ago I was on the board of NB and I can honestly say a lot goes on behind the scenes than you or I will never grasp. They have only one paid staff person (the Director, Stacy Kristoff). The rest of the work is done by some very faithful volunteers of all ages. Many of those volunteers are ladies from OVCF. I make no apologies for being a supporter of the sanctity of life and of New Beginnings.

I took the time to go back and look for the last time I made any mention of the progress on our building addition. It was MM #144 (you can do the math as to how long ago that was. Just remember I have written a MM almost every week since I started). ☺  Currently, we are still in the gathering facts and information stage. We met virtually with a company several weeks ago to talk through some items and nothing has been decided yet. I know that the desire for an addition and being together is important to many, but we also need to proceed wisely. I’d like to reiterate something I have said several times before: going into debt is not something we consider an option. The wisdom of not having debt played itself out during COVID when churches, schools, etc. had to shut down. Many churches had to close up shop, lay off staff, cease doing some much-needed ministries and more, simply because they could not afford to continue operating. Due to having no debt and your faithfulness that did not happen to OVCF. We don’t want to be one of those casualties in the future, so we are operating with extreme caution. There is no doubt it will take longer to come to fruition but it will be worth it! Thanks for being patient with us as we try to make the right decisions.

After the one-Sunday reprieve due to Mother’s Day, I will be back on schedule preaching about Worry and Anxiety. This Sunday’s sermon is Who Me? Worry? I’d like to ask you to read Matthew 6:25-34 ahead of time and to come “prayed up” for God to speak through His Word to you.

I read an interesting tidbit recently. In 1953, a fledgling business called Rocket Chemical Company and its staff of three set out to create a line of rust preventing solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry. The original secret for WD-40-which stands for Water Displacement, 40th attempt-is still in use today. In a recent year, WD-40 had sales of more than $380 million.

Let’s ask an interesting question: what if they had stopped at #39? What if Joshua and the children of Israel had stopped at Day 6 or even Day 7 walk-around #6? They would have missed #7 and the opportunity to watch the walls fall. We often quit too soon. The Bible says, “Those who wait/hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Don’t wallow in self-pity. Use whatever is happening as an opportunity to grow.

Have a great rest of the week. I look forward to seeing and spending Sunday with you. Until then, please remember you are loved.

 

Pastor Bill

 

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