MIDWEEK MESSAGE #250
Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #250! I have to admit that when I started the MM I never thought I would hit #250. For those of you who are new to the MM I started this during the COVID nightmare because I wanted to stay in touch with people. I tried various ways-notes, drive-by prayers (I parked in the driveway or street and prayed for those who lived there), texts, calls, you name it-to stay in touch. We were not meeting in person at the time so I had no or very little personal contact with people. So I created the MM to stay in touch and let you all know what was happening in the church family. Never, though, did I expect to write #250. All along the way my trusty sidekick and editor (Diana) has patiently edited my ramblings. Some were heavily penciled while others were almost good as is. The latter has been very rare.😆
Now that you know some of the back story, thanks for letting me into your life this week. I have some great news to share! Congratulations to Bobby and Becca Anderson upon the birth of Bailey Christine on Saturday, June 7th at 7:35 AM. She weighed 6 pounds and was 18” long. Bailey is welcomed and loved by siblings, Kathryn, Alli, Rob, and James, as well as grandparents, Lonnie and Joyce Anderson, and a slew of other family members. We are grateful for a safe and healthy delivery and baby.
YOUTH CORNER
It has been my practice down through the MM history to list the young people who are heading to camp for the week so you can pray for them. As George Bailey once said, “A pox upon me for a clumsy lout!” I failed to list the young people who were at camp last week. And when I am done listing them, I will give you some even better news!
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- Dorm campers at Junior Week (Junior High camp) were Amelia Biggs, Bella Madorin, Aubrey Mangia, Rusti O’Neal, Charli Wood, CJ Wood and Evelyn Young. Boys were Brayden McVicker, Tad Nicholson, and Cooper Wood. Deanna Cain was on the Wilderness Camp side. On Friday afternoon, Rusti, CJ and Evelyn all made confessions of faith and were baptized. As I texted after I heard that: “Money wasted to send kids to camp? Said no wise person ever.” It is weeks like this and reports like that where I am so thankful the elders of OVCF see the importance of helping any young person go to camp.
- Campers this week: Dorm campers are Grace and Gloria Chandler, Zuri Wills, and Tanner Wood. Junior High Wilderness campers are Lucas and Nicolai Alexander, Kane Miller, Aasha Srinivasan, and Tatum White. A number of our folks are faculty: Pastor Ryan and Hope (Ryan is the dean), Anna Bales, Anna, Caleb and Rachel East, Mike and Bella Krapf, Isaac Manuel, Nolan Miller, and Gracie Wainscott. (Anna Bales, the Krapfs, and Isaac Manuel are friends and from other churches).
- The rain did a number on the ball leagues at the complex and they are no longer making up rained out games. There are a few games this week from the regular schedule and tournament games next week. I hope all the young people had a great time and deeply appreciate the time and effort of their coaches and parents.
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Keep this on your radar!! This coming Sunday is Father’s Day. While I’m not advocating for anything special for the men in your life (although…), I’d like to remind you that it is the last day of the Change for Life fundraising event for New Beginnings Pregnancy Resource Center. Please bring your baby bottle filled with change, cash, or a check to the info table this Sunday. And just so you know…they will accept those bottles at any time. 😊
June 21st is the day for the 5th annual Serving Owen County Together (SOCT) event. SOCT is an opportunity for us to participate with various organizations to help the folks of Owen County to
find some relief. Here are the specific details again:
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- 8-10am- Set up
- 10-12:00- First shift
- 12-3:00- Second shift
- 3-4:00- Tear down
- If you can help in any way, it will be welcomed.
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Some of you have asked me, “What is the next stage with our building addition?” At this point, as I understand it, they will be working on adding the new parking lot to the east (that, of course, depends on the rain). Following that, we will assess where we are financially to see when we can proceed with the concrete pad and the shell for the new building. Our contractor does not want to do the concrete pad until we can at least get it under roof and enclosed to protect it from the elements. Once we have a better idea of what is next, we will update you! 😊
I went to camp to visit the campers from OVCF on Tuesday since Pastor Ryan is somewhat busy doing his thing. 😁Jo, Tami and I will be heading out on today (Wednesday) sometime to see Braden (our grandson/nephew) play baseball on Thursday and Friday. We will be back Saturday morning. We have one more visit planned in July then our days of going to Ohio to watch him play baseball or football will be over.
This coming Sunday my message will be entitled A Godly Man. On Mother’s Day I took the reading from the Everyday Gospel Devotional and found a common theme for each day. I decided to take the same approach for Father’s Day. I will be looking at 7 characteristics a godly man should exhibit. I look forward to sharing that day with you. (And I do feel somewhat more qualified to preach on Father’s Day than Mother’s Day). 😆I do want you to know you are loved.
Pastor Bill
