MIDWEEK MESSAGE #172
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #172. Well…Labor Day is now in our rearview mirror. The next big holiday is Thanksgiving. Fortunately, between now and then is Fall Break. ☺ Teachers (and students) rejoice! I hope you had a nice Labor Day weekend.
Remember to pray for our Educator of the Week-Mary Beckwith. Mary is a Special Education teacher in the Cloverdale School System.
I’d like to continue with listing our college students. This will be an ongoing list for the next few weeks so I will only list 3 or 4 a week. At the end I will list all of them for you so you can have a handy-dandy list to refer to. Here are the ones for this week:
- Caylan Akerson- IU, Majoring in Accounting and Finance.
- Colby Beckwith- St. Mary of the Woods, Majoring in Business/Minor in Web Design. Colby is a Junior and plays on the Golf Team.
- Kaedence Beckwith- Oakland City University, Majoring in Business. Kaedence is also a cheerleader.
- Grace Pendleton-IU, Majoring in Interior Design. Grace left Monday to spend the semester in Italy. Her parents would appreciate your prayers.
Look for next week’s MM to read about more of our college students.
I’d like to remind you again that I am starting my “66” class on Wednesday, September 13th from 6-7:00 P.M. in the youth addition. You might be wondering, “What in the world is ‘66’”? In case you missed last week’s MM, it is a study of the 66 books of the Bible. I will be starting the New Testament that week. Here are some helpful tips for you:
- There is no charge. All you need to do is show up with a heart to learn.
- I have materials printed up for our study. It is a teaching/discussion type of approach so there is not a “hurry up and get through this lesson” approach.
- All ages are welcome, but there is no child care provided.
- It would be helpful if you would sign up so that I will know how much material to have prepared. The sign-up sheet is on the info table in the auditorium. I use this to communicate with you as well.
- We do take breaks for any school breaks and holidays.
Even if you missed the Old Testament study you are more than welcome to come. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions.
AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT I NEED TO MAKE HERE (because some pastor just may have forgotten to announce it, even though he had made himself a note). All summer long you may have noticed that someone was growing flowers just beyond the east side of our parking lot. That someone was Josh Henson growing his mums. Josh asked me to announce that following both services this coming Sunday he will be in the shelter with samples of his mums. You can choose what color you would like and he will go get them for you. They will be available for $10 each.
Pastor Ryan is back from sabbatical! It was good to have him back in the office last Thursday. We (the three of us) had a short “catch up” meeting, synching the calendars, and then spent some time at lunch just hanging out. With him being back it is a good time to make sure you know of some upcoming youth news!
- Deeper begins this Wednesday, the 6th. If you have a student in Middle or High School and they are interested in going “deeper” into the Bible, this is for them! It meets at the East’s house from 4-5:30. If your child needs a ride, please talk to Pastor Ryan.
- ROOTS, the Sunday evening youth program for Middle and High School students begins this Sunday, the 10th! ROOTS meets Sunday nights from 5-7:00 PM at OVCF.
If you would like to know more about either of these activities please contact Pastor Ryan.
Robert Herrington was home on leave this past weekend and was more than willing to give the communion thought in both services. Something he said struck home with me, possibly because I just finished reading the book Nine Common Lies Christians Believe. Robert talked about surrendering our lives. Jesus calls us to come and die, to surrender our lives to him on a daily basis. But what it means is that we lose control of our lives and put them under the daily control of the ONE who knows us better than we know ourselves. One of the short couple of sentences Shane, the author of the book said was, “As good as it sounds, ‘Believe in yourself’ is a lie. Don’t believe in yourself. Believe in Someone bigger than yourself, knowing that same Someone will give you the power that causes you to live differently everywhere you go throughout your life.” You see…when Jesus was talking about denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Him, He was talking about a different way to live. Not just different; opposite. What the world offers us is just cheap knock-offs from what Jesus offers us. The world offers temporary; Jesus offers permanent. The world offers surface; Jesus offers depth. The world offers fake; Jesus offers real. {Side note: that book just may find its way into a sermon series for 2024. ☺ }
This coming Sunday I start a new series on The God We Worship with a sermon titled The Search Is On! The Scripture is Exodus 2-3; Isaiah 40:12-14, 18-23, 25-26; Job 38-41:11. Be prepared by reading ahead. I look forward to spending some time Sunday with you. I love you all!
Pastor Bill
