MIDWEEK MESSAGE #179
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #179. As I write this I think it is safe to say that Fall has arrived. I can’t honestly say that I am ready for it, but I live in Indiana so it is to be expected. I do hope your week has gone well so far.
Before I get to a recap of this past Sunday’s 19th Anniversary celebration and other events coming up, I’d like to remind you of some important bullet points.
- As our educator of the week, please pray for Cassie Linville. Cassie teaches Agriculture at Eastern Greene High School, is an FFA advisor, and is also the director for our local Campus Life program. She and Westin live in Cloverdale and have been married for just over 2 years. She sings and Westin plays drums with our worship team.
- As our college student of the week, please pray for Tori Floyd. Tori is returning to IU to get her Masters degree in Epidemiology. Tori also works for the Owen County Health Department.
- As our mission of the week, please pray for Hilltop Christian Camp. Ryan & Mala Croft are the directors, while Justin and Stevie Chandler are the assistant directors. Hilltop has affected many lives at OVCF-past, present, and certainly in the future. Justin was active at OVCF and his parents, Jason and April and twin sisters still worship here.
- Each week we ask you to pray for our Military friends and family, and also our Law Enforcement Officers and their families. Let me remind you to do that this week.
Congratulations is extended to Tommy and Kristina Mosier. They welcomed a new son, Koe Russell on October 25th. Haven and Kane are excited older siblings. Oh…I can’t forget mamaw, Janet Jones. ☺
And I should be horse whipped. In the second service we had a brand new newlywed couple with us and I forgot to mention it. Matthew and Hannah Foster were married Saturday afternoon here at the church building and had their reception outside in the shelter. Brrrr. Hannah works for Sweet Owen as Director of their daycare and has been attending OVCF for several months. Matthew works for DVM in Bloomington. Congratulations and may God grant you many years of love and happiness together!
About Sunday…WOW! What a great day! This week’s bulletin will share the numbers with you, but let’s suffice it to say that the attendance was higher than we have had in a long, long time. The offering-which went to the Building Fund-was phenomenal! ☺ Your generosity continues to amaze me. The presentation made by Wayne Akerson was spot on and informative (Thanks to Diana for making his notes). Hearing from David Samick about the effort to help the building fund along by investing part of it was a good thing. The singing was good. The sermon was, well…so-so. ☺ The crowd and food for the pitch-in was a beautiful sight to see. There was a lot of food and a lot of talking and laughing going on. Thanks for making the day extra special. As for the building addition: we will keep you updated as often as we can!
This Sunday, Cory and Cassidy F. and their children will be with us. They serve with Team Expansion and spent 10 years in the Middle East. They are raising support for their transition to serving in Europe. I have known Cassidy since she was in 2nd grade and she and her family played a significant role in the life of my family. I look forward to hearing their presentation Sunday. They will also be spending some time with the youth during the second service.
One of the items uppermost in my mind is the Thanksgiving Meal for the community. I have been sharing about it in the past couple MMs. This Sunday Diana will have the sign-up sheets for food and to volunteer on the info table. We do several outreaches to the community every year and this is one of my favorites. It is a lot of work for all, but the reward is so great! We plan to offer a meal, as always, at the Lions Club from 11:00-1:00. We will also be delivering meals during that time. Here is how you can help:
- Sign up and offer to cook an item or several. If you sign up to cook a turkey or ham, the church will be glad to purchase it, if needed.
- Sign up to help at the Lions Club. There are tables and chairs to set up and cover, food that needs prepared to serve, dishes that need washed, and delivery/carry out meals to prepare. We know you also have family commitments so anything you can do to help would be appreciated.
- We need to get the word out due to not having a newspaper. You can help us do that by telling folks about it. We have put up posters at several locations around town.
- If you know of anyone who could use a meal, please contact the church office (812.828.9840). We will call and confirm with them about time and any dietary restrictions. We always deliver to those who are working Thanksgiving Day, but taking the food to others is a special time. If you are able to help deliver, please sign up for that.
This Sunday I start a new series with the theme of More Than a Holiday. I was going to use that just for November but I’ve decided to include the December series on Christmas in that theme. As followers of Jesus, we need to see both Thanksgiving and Christmas as more than just holidays. They hold extra special meaning to us and my desire is to bring that out. Here is how the November sermons will shake out:
- November 5- Why Be Grateful?- I Tim. 1:12-15; Psalm 67
- November 12- Let’s Compare!-Col. 3:16-17; Romans 1:20-23
- November 19- Just Do It!- Luke 17:11-19; James 2:14-17,28
- November 26- When It’s All Said and Done- Pr. 16:18; 2 Cor. 9:9-11
That’s all for this week. Thanks again for a wonderful day Sunday! I love you all.
Pastor Bill
P.S. Reminder! There is an all-you-can-eat pancake dinner fundraiser for Maverick Pendleton, Tuesday, November 14 from 5-6:30 PM at the Patricksburg Elementary gymnasium. Cost: $5 per person.
