MIDWEEK MESSAGE #249
Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #249. Thanks for joining me this week. So much happened over the past week and I can’t wait to share some of it with you. I do hope your week has gone well so far and you are finding some time to relax and enjoy the beginning of your summer. Now if the weather will just cooperate…😊
I have to start out with something concerning last week’s MM. I listed the teachers from OVCF and made the comment that I checked, double checked, and triple checked to make sure I had everyone’s name. Yep, you guessed it…I forgot a name. I sent her a text apologizing for my mistake and she told me it was okay and didn’t matter. But to me it does. My apologies to Cristi Wood, a teacher at MCES.
YOUTH CORNER
After last week I had more information given to me about some of our young people so I want to catch up on that.
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- Rusti O’Neal found herself on the all A’s Honor Roll at SES. To put that even more into perspective, she made the all A’s Honor Roll for the whole year! Along the way she found time to be the Patriot Paper Editor, Student Council Secretary, Flag Bearer and also was part of Lifeline (an organization at SES)
- Her brother, Beau, made the A/B Honor Roll at SES.
- Mia Rose Hess was a freshman at Cedarville University (Ohio) this past academic year. She made the Dean’s Honor List for Spring 2025. This award was for a 3.75 GPA or higher while taking a minimum of 12 credit hours.
- Hilltop Campers this week: (Jr. High) Rusti O’Neal, Amelia Biggs, Charli Wood, Aubrey Mangia, CJ Wood, Cooper Wood and Tad Nicholson. (Jr. Wilderness) Deanna Cain. Please be praying for these young people.
- Jo and I spent several evenings this past week at the sports complex (when it wasn’t raining) watching a number of our young people play ball (T-ball, baseball, and softball). I am not going to try to list all the kids whom we saw this past week. That is a disaster waiting to happen.😊However, the real troopers are the parents, some of whom are at the field every night of the week. The season is being extended due to so many rainouts, so they will at least be playing this week and next week. If you just want a nice diversion come to the sports complex and watch some ball. Games start at 6:00 on most fields. Look for Jo and me. We will most likely be there.
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Congratulations to Keaton & Lily (Bault) Zufall! Keaton is Candi Provo’s son and Lily is Melvin & Rosie Bault’s granddaughter. They were married this past Saturday. I had the privilege of performing the wedding.
Please remember, the Change for Life fundraiser that benefits New Beginnings Pregnancy Resource Center is still ongoing. You can still pick up a baby bottle at the info table and fill it with your change, $, or check. The fundraiser goes until Father’s Day, June 15th. Please return your baby bottle to the info table by that date.
I have been writing about the 5th Annual Serving Owen County Together (SOCT) event coming up this month on June 21st. The rain date is June 28th. SOCT is an effort to help Owen County folks (especially those who have been struggling) with various clothing items, shoes, socks, toiletries, diapers, and a host of other items, even some furniture. All of it free to those who come. Here are some details that might assist you in your decision to help:
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- 8-10am- Set Up
- 10am-12pm- First shift
- 12-3pm- Second shift
- 3-4 pm- Tear down
- Last year SOCT served over 1000 people and had over 100 volunteers.
- There is a link to sign up to volunteer:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D4DABAE29A2FC1-57095840-2025 - I will be there to welcome people as the first point of contact. There are many different ways you can help. Take a moment to sign up or if you prefer just show up to volunteer.
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Despite the rain (and construction site!), we have had volunteers who have kept our church lawn looking nice. Thanks so much to all of you who have taken the time to do so. Outside appearance is the very first thing someone notices when they drive by or pull into our driveway. An unkempt lawn tells observers we don’t care. Thanks for taking time to make our church grounds appealing and more welcoming! 😊
Have you been by to see the progress made on the building addition? The weather finally gave us a break this past week and they were able to pour the stem wall, do some excavating, and put down gravel for the foundation. Bobby Anderson and his crew also worked hard to get our plumbing roughed in! There is more to be done, but the next step is to begin excavating the new parking lot to the east. That is to begin early next week. When the money is available, the concrete pad will be poured and the building shell will be built to enclose it. We will have a better idea where we are after paying for the excavation and stone. It is exciting!!😊
On May 29th I wrote in my Living in the Shadow blog about an upcoming sermon on June 22nd. I issued a challenge in the blog to my readers. I’d like to ask you to read it and consider it as well. I will talk more about it next week in the MM. Here is the link:
My sermon this week is about that age-old question: “Why?” The Scripture I will be using is Job 21-42. I look forward to seeing you this week. Just know you are loved.
Pastor Bill
