MIDWEEK MESSAGE #229
Hello everyone! Welcome to Midweek Message #229! I hope you have a sense of anticipation as we get closer to Christmas day. After reading to the Kindergarten kids at SES and GES this past week I can definitely say the teachers have their hands full as I think many of the kids have already “checked out” for Christmas.😊I certainly don’t envy the teachers as they try to corral the children. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this edition of the MM.
Please be praying for our educator of the week: Jenny Hess. Jenny is one of our homeschool moms. She and John have been married for 23 years and are the parents of two daughters. MiaRose is a freshman at Cedarville University in Ohio, majoring in business management with minors in entrepreneurship and the Bible. Meilynn is currently a junior in high school. John is the maintenance manager at People’s State Bank. Jenny said they also have a hobby farm with a horse, cows, goats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, cats, dogs and lots of honey bees. And in their spare time…… .😊
Since there will be no MM next week and no school due to the Christmas break, I’m going to ask you to simply pray for all our teachers and administrators over the break. I will be back when school is back in session with our educators.
I was stunned when I came to the office and Diana told me how many had signed up for the Everyday Gospel Daily Devotional. Our first order placed on week 1 was for 30 books. Our second order placed last week…wait for it…was for 60 more! That order has arrived and is ready for pickup. I said Sunday from the pulpit that means at least 90 people are planning to take part in reading the devotional and reading through the Bible in 2025. WOW! Then, as I talked about it, I made one last call for people to sign up. Are you sitting down? We ordered another 35 this week. That means close to 120 people signed up to do the devotional and to read the Bible this year. We will even have two of my friends in Arizona reading along with us. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to hear you say, “Teach us the Bible, Pastor Bill!” This past week or so I began reading the devotions and am sitting at January 31st as I write this. I’ve already begun preparing the four sermons in January. I will go back and read the Scripture passage on the day it is scheduled. I do have one vital and huge prayer request though. Preaching through the Bible is way out of my comfort zone. I’m used to doing a series of sermons on a book or topics, but never just starting at Genesis and preaching as I come to a passage(s). SO PLEASE KEEP MY NAME ON YOUR LIPS AS YOU PRAY EACH DAY! Ask God for clarity and insight into His Word as I study. I don’t want to shortchange His message, nor your eagerness to learn as we take this venture together. One more thought and reminder: if you ordered an Everyday Gospel Daily Devotional there will be a post-it note with your name on the book. Please take the book and either write a check for the amount OR put the post-it note attached to your cash. I sort of made a lot of work for the offering counters with this so first, I apologize to them; and 2) you can help make it somewhat easier by attaching the note. Thanks. Just so you know: Crossway Publishers gave us a phenomenal deal on the devotionals.
Many thanks to Pastor Ryan and the Roots youth group for decorating the auditorium this past Sunday night with lights and a celebration of Christmas. Ryan and I talked this past Saturday and I asked if he would consider leaving the decorations up for a few more weeks and he said, “By all means.” They are planning on leaving the lights and decorations up until the 2nd or 3rd week of January. Who says Christmas ends on December 26th? .😊
I mentioned in the second service (forgot to do so in the first service) that excavation was planned for this past Monday, but when I said something to somebody on the building team he said, “The rain may have something to say to that.” (For the record Dave Keith was right). It will be so exciting to see the earthmoving equipment here as our planned addition gets underway.
Just a reminder:
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- The excavation will start (hopefully) this week
- Along with the groundwork we also plan to do some parking expansion as well (east side of the parking lot will be extended)
- The ground will sit until the spring when we hope to lay the concrete pad and erect the shell. Stone will be laid in the parking lot expansion to begin that development.
- Our progress from that point on will be determined by the finances. As we have said in the past, we have committed ourselves to paying cash for the work and to not borrow any money. We are trusting God to honor our commitment.
- As always we will keep you informed.
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In MM #227, I gave you a heads up about possible changes to the office hours during the Christmas season. All three of us will be out of the office at different times during the week of Christmas and it goes without saying the office will be officially closed Tuesday-Thursday. If needed please feel free to call or text.
The week of the 29th is a 5th Sunday. The elementary age young people will be in with the adults that week. Nursery and Pre-school will still be in session.
As I have said, there will be no MM next week. I will try to have a MM for the week of December 29. I pray you have a joy-filled celebration of the birth of Jesus and have a time of unforgettable memories with family and friends. This week’s sermon is See and Tell from Luke 2 and Matthew 2. The 29th will begin the 2025 theme of “Burning Hearts” with a sermon on A Heart on Fire from Luke 24 and 2 Peter 1:16-21. I look forward to seeing you. Be careful if you travel. Never forget you are loved.
Pastor Bill
