MIDWEEK MESSAGE #230
Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #230. It has been several weeks since the last MM. I hope you missed me! If you didn’t please don’t tell me!😊My last MM anticipated the Christmas break. This one anticipates going back to school. Well…only if the weather cooperates. I have to admit I was kind of disappointed when the weather report for this past Sunday was snow, snow and more snow. I had been looking forward to preaching the first of the Burning Hearts sermons in person, but instead took a detour. I’m so glad for the live stream that makes it possible for us to make a change like we did and still be able to include anyone who wants to watch and listen. Granted, it isn’t like being there, but it is the next best thing. Unless, of course, you want me to come to your house and preach the sermon. Nah…never mind I even said that! Please just keep in mind that we made the decision to just do live stream because we love you and want you to be safe. I wrote the preceding paragraph before the snow started flying. Guess the weather people were correct this time.
With school back in session, I want to get back to praying for specific individuals. Before the break we had been praying for some of our homeschool moms. This week please pray for Michelle Lippert. Michelle has been married to Geoff for 10 years. He is a commercial plumber for a company in Indianapolis. Their daughter, Marla, is 15 and a freshman. I asked Michelle if she had any hobbies and she said she enjoys crocheting, sewing, and reading. They have some sheep but her real heart, she says, is for her dogs. She has 3 Chinese crested dogs and a small little terrier.
This MM will involve a lot of catch-up since we have been out of the loop for a couple of weeks. Here is a list of upcoming events which involve our OVCF family and friends.
-
-
- For the youth there are several items to remember. ROOTS will resume this coming Sunday, January 12 at 5 pm at OVCF. Pastor Ryan would love to reconnect with each of you! DEEPER will resume meeting this Wednesday, January 8th, at 4:00 pm at the East’s home.
- Wednesday Night Conversations will be starting back up on Wednesday, January 15th at 6 pm. My plan is to do WNC until Wednesday, March 12th, since the 19th is during Spring Break. The topics for discussion will be 9 Common Lies Christians Believe. I’ve read the book twice in preparation for the class and it lends itself to a lot of discussion. There is no sign-up sheet so please feel free to come. In the event school in cancelled due to that white stuff that falls from the sky, WNC will also be cancelled.
- The Connections Women’s Ministry will be having a Coffee and Chocolate get together on Saturday, January 25th from 2-4 pm at OVCF. Bring a treat to share and enjoy spending time with other ladies for the afternoon.
- OVCF has hosted the Legislative Breakfast for the Chamber of Commerce for the past several years. This year will be no different. The first breakfast will be Saturday, January 25th. It normally meets on the 3rd Saturday of the first 4 months (this year due to a long session for the lawmakers), but a scheduling conflict caused them to make a change for this month only.
-
Something different is coming! One of the characteristics of families is gathering around the table to eat. The staff talked last week about having more pitch-ins to allow us to spend more time together as a church family. When OVCF was just a mere baby, we used to meet at the Owen Valley Sports Complex. One Wednesday night a month we used to have a pitch-in that was well attended. When we moved to this building we stopped having pitch-ins. Then we went to two services (as we are now) and it became difficult to find a good time for one. The folks in first service wanted to be involved, but that meant they would leave and have to come back two hours later. So the staff (Pastor Ryan, Diana and myself) got our heads together and came up with the hair-brained scheme of trying to have a pitch-in on a Wednesday night. Jeff Carlson used to be fond of saying, “One of our strengths is trying something new. If it doesn’t work, well then okay. We will try something else.” We aren’t sure if the Wednesday night idea is a good one or not, but we can at least try. If not, we will go back to the drawing board. Please set aside that date-Wednesday, January 29th at 6:00 pm-for a pitch-in. We will set up in the main auditorium in anticipation of a good group.😊You bring
the food. We will provide the plates, utensils, and drinks. *My WNC group will not meet that evening.
I trust you are reading your Everyday Gospel Devotional (EDG) daily. Did you know we wound up ordering 135 books? I told a friend that number and he was shocked. His exact words were: “Dude, that is phenomenal!” He and his wife are also taking part (from AZ). They are also committing to watching the live stream to stay current. My sermon this coming Sunday is Two Recipes from Genesis 16-34. Reading the Scripture and staying current in EDG will sure help you understand more, as well as make my job easier. 😊
One last thing before I go: this past Sunday I read something at the end of the sermon which I said I would include in the MM. Here is that reading:
No matter how much we know the Bible; no matter how long we have known the Lord; no matter how intelligent you are in spiritual matters; no matter how many facts you know; no matter how spiritually mature you may think you are; we all rely on God’s transforming grace. Be grateful you were included in that grace and accepted His offer of salvation. If you haven’t why put it off any longer?
My goal and hope is that as we go through the theme of Burning Hearts I will be able to leave you with something to think about and chew on for the week ahead. Thanks for joining me on Sunday and in reading this MM. To the new folks: WELCOME! Just know you are loved.
Pastor Bill
