MIDWEEK MESSAGE #276
Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #276. Thank you for allowing me to invade your world this week. I hope you are having a good one so far. It is sort of hard to believe that Christmas 2025 is history and that 2026 is already 7 days old. Just think: in 358 days 2027 will be here!😄Oops sorry. I’m getting ahead of myself there. I do sincerely pray that God’s love, grace and blessings will be poured out on each of you this year. May you know His power and the strength of His presence as you live for Him this year. “Be strong and courageous.”
Our educator of the week to pray for is Michelle Lippert. Michelle and her husband, Geoff, have been married for 13 years. They have a daughter, Marla, who just took her driver’s test this past Saturday and passed. Way to go, Marla! (Michelle has asked for prayer for safety for her. Smart mom!) Michelle has been homeschooling Marla for 4 years. Geoff is a commercial plumber and Michelle is a medical coder. Remember to pray for them this week.
Meanwhile, be praying for all of our students and school staff as school began yesterday. I can still remember how hard it was to get back into the school-swing-of-things after a break. We all find it hard to get back to business when we have a week or two (or more) of doing what we enjoy doing outside of the norm.
YOUTH NEWS
With school getting back into session this section will fill up with a lot of news about our young people. I have just a few items to mention:
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- DEEPER will resume tonight. It meets at the East homestead from 4-5:30. This is for the Jr/Sr High youth.
- The TCTC (Tennessee Christian Teen Conference) is this weekend. Pastor Ryan, Hope and a number of our young people will be leaving Friday for Gatlinburg and returning Sunday evening. Be praying for their safety and for the young people to desire to grow closer to Jesus. Besides Ryan and Hope and safe travels, here are the young people you can be praying for: Caleb & Rachel East, Kalissa Hamlin, Meilynn Hess, Marla Lippert, Noah Snodgrass, Ayzleah Sutton, and Ily Swan.
- ROOTS will resume again on Sunday, January 18th, from 5-7:00. This is for all Jr/Sr High youth. Look for correspondence from Pastor Ryan about this upcoming semester.
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MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
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- There will be an OVCF Women’s Connection Event on Saturday, January 17th from 11-1:00. This Coffee & Chocolate get together has become an annual event for the ladies. You can check with Linda St John, Hope East, or Macy Carlson for more info.
- Our next OVCF Family Pitch-in dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28th at 6:00. I look forward to seeing you there.
- The Building Team met again this past Monday to review what is happening with our building addition and to continue making plans. Truesdel H&C has begun installing the HVAC system. Soon the electrical work (Elite Electric) will get started as will the plumbing (Anderson Plumbing). A hole was cut into the north wall this week. It is the connecting point between the two buildings! Plywood will cover the opening until the doors are installed. Just a warning: if you sit in the area, it may be a bit chillier so wear something warm. We have also received a bid for carpet in the new addition (Geoff Biggs’ Cream & Crimson Flooring), as well as bids for drywall, insulation, tiling the bathrooms, and are seeking bids for painting. These are exciting times and we will soon share something super exciting with you.
- Shaking my head (and you can join me). I messed up. Those of you who were here Sunday or watched online, I mentioned that Emily Pavich was having surgery on Friday. She isn’t! Joe, Emily’s husband, was gracious and didn’t beat me to a pulp. 😄My apologies to Joe, Emily and all of you for the misinformation.
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In September and October of 2024, in preparation for our 20th anniversary as a church family, I preached a series of sermons on “Feels Like Home.” We have strived to make OVCF feel like a family in lots of different ways. As I preached that series, I also wrote something which we stated together for several weeks. Lest it become too familiar or seen as a “creed” I backed off from having it said each week. Many of you are new to OVCF and are not familiar with it so I thought I would share it with you in this first MM of 2026.
WE’RE GLAD YOU ARE HERE!
If you are happy we want to celebrate with you.
If you are tired and need rest;
If you are hurting and need comfort;
If you have failed, feel guilt and shame and wonder if God still loves you;
If you feel you are at the end of your rope and need a lifeline;
If you think you are too great a sinner and feel hopeless;
If you are here and can’t raise your eyes, head, or hands in worship…
That’s okay. We want this to be a place where you find strength to go on. Let us pray for you, stand beside you and even carry you to God’s throne where you can find new hope.
That belief, that feeling, still burns in my chest. I desire that OVCF be home to people where they can find hope and healing and encouragement, no matter their circumstances. I’d like to suggest that you make a copy or cut out the above statement and put it where you can see it each day. Pray for yourself and pray for others to find a home at OVCF.
I start my series “Seven” this coming Sunday. For 7 weeks we will be looking at the 7 “I Am” statements and 7 miracles recorded in John’s Gospel. The first is Show, Then Tell. Both the “I Am” and the miracle are from John 6. I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Until then, know you are loved.
Pastor Bill
