MIDWEEK MESSAGE #183
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #183! I trust you had a good week last week and this one is even better! Thanks for giving me a few minutes of your time.
I’d like to remind you to pray for the following people this week:
- Our Educator of the Week is Hope East (you might know her). ☺ Hope, of course, is the better half of Pastor Ryan and she homeschools their three children: Anna, Caleb and Rachel. Hope is also the lead person in OVCF’s Care Team Ministry.
- Our Mission of the Week is Weekly Religious Education or WRE. WRE is a totally voluntary program offered to the elementary children in the Spencer-Owen Community Schools district. Each elementary school has its own off-site meeting place. Many of our young people take part in the WRE program and we support WRE monthly through our missions giving.
YOUTH CORNER
Several Midweek Messages ago I began to highlight some of our young people in various ways. Some in sports; some in other areas. This week I have a mix to share with you.
- Addison Mayle plays basketball for the freshman girls’ team at OVHS.
- This past week Lincoln VanDerMoere, Don and Shelby’s son, had an exceptional week at school. He had given lots of effort at school and had many moments of empathy, caring about others! Stepmom, Shelby, wanted to share that news. (I love hearing about our young people making a difference in the lives of others in simple, caring ways).
- This is a little bit late but did you know that Anna East now has her driver’s license? She told me it has been a month and two weeks. Not that she is counting. ☺ I’m trying to figure out whether to say, “Congrats Anna!” or “Look out for Anna!” “Congrats” is more appropriate. ☺
- Aubrey Mangia plays for the 7th grade girls’ team at OVMS.
- Did you know Annalei Dow, the daughter of Chad and Terri Dow, will be diving for the University of Minnesota next year? She signed her national letter of intent on November 8. Annalei has been working toward this goal for many years. Congrats Annalei!! I predict mom and dad making some trips up north to where it is really, really cold with lots of snow.
- One correction: Kysen White plays for the 6th grade boys’ team not the 7th grade team at OVMS.
I’m taking ideas about our young people for next week’s MM. Please feel free to share with me if you know of any ways our young people are being active in school or in helping others.
Backpack Buddies for Christmas 2023 is now history. Thank you so much for your donations of food (and money to purchase items) for the young people in our schools to have food to take home over Christmas break. Even though your name or the church’s name is not listed on our donations, the Father in heaven knows of our/your generosity. I’m reminded of the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25 when He taught His followers: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” (Mt.25:35-36) When they asked Him when they saw Him like that He told them, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Mt.25:40). I see Backpack Buddies as one of the ways OVCF responds to the needs of others in our community.
As you probably already are aware, the day before Christmas is Sunday. We realize that Sundays are hectic enough for many, let alone it being the day before Christmas. SO PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE CHANGES FOR THAT SUNDAY ONLY. I’ll try to delineate them to make them easier to absorb:
- There will be ONE service on Sunday morning at 10:00.
- There will also be ONE service on Sunday night at 5:00.
- The services will be different. The one in the morning will be as usual and Sunday night will include singing carols, a short devotional thought and a time of reflection. We will also take communion together.
- The children’s programs will be offered on Sunday morning only.
- I’ll share more information as I have it.
Here is something which needs your attention: OVCF’s leadership is always looking for men to serve with them as elders. A couple of months ago I was asked to approach Robert Anderson about sitting in on some elder’s meetings to see if he might be interested in joining our leadership team. After the elder’s meeting this past Monday, he came to me and said, “I am definitely interested.” The practice of OVCF is to bring him before the congregation and present him as one who would like to become an elder. You then have two weeks to let us know your thoughts. If you have a spiritual objection, we ask that you put it in writing, sign it, and then hand it to one of the leaders (Wayne Akerson, Jeff Carlson, David Robertson, Pastor Ryan or myself). No anonymous letters will be accepted. We ask that you let us know your thoughts on or before December 20th. If there is no spiritual reason why he should not serve as an elder, we will let you know of the church’s decision and he will begin serving alongside us as an elder.
Last, but certainly not least, Jo and I (especially Jo), thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your concerns, prayers, and words during the loss of her sister, Vicki. I could say a lot about Vicki and her struggle but I won’t. Instead I will simply say, “To live is Christ; to die is gain.” Thank you for thinking about us during the time of loss and our travel. We love you all deeply.
Pastor Bill
