MIDWEEK MESSAGE #294
Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #294. School year 2025-2026 is history and now comes a chance to replenish the batteries and do some different things: Hilltop Camp, vacations, sleeping in a little later, visiting with family and friends, and just enjoying the “lazy, hazy days of summer” as one old song said. I hope you have a great summer!
“END OF THE YEAR” YOUTH NEWS:
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- Congratulations again to all our high school and college graduates (listed in last week’s MM). Two of our high school grads were honored for being in the Academic Top 10 at OVHS. Those two were Alli Anderson and Cambria (Cammie) King. Way to go, ladies! They were gifted with laptop computers.
- Draven Stahl won the coloring contest of the Cataract One Room Schoolhouse last week. He won an art set for his efforts. Great job coloring, Draven!
- Addilynn Hutchison (3rd grade), Deanna Cain (4th grade), and Tanner Wood (5th grade) were awarded Top Cat for the final quarter at SES.
- Kale Hatton transferred to OVMS on March 2nd. He got an award for academic excellence in language arts and math; a 4.0 GPA; and was also recognized for demonstrating continued academic dedication throughout the year. His mom, Ashley, teaches 3rd grade at PES.
- I failed to mention that Aiden, Collin and Mason Chesser (3 of the 4 quads) are playing T-Ball at Edgewood. They are about done for the summer.
SOME TOTALLY DIFFERENT “END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR” NEWS:
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- Congratulations to Cara King who retired after 30 1⁄2 years of teaching for S-OCS. She was honored this past week for her years of service. During those years she also found time to have two children-Cooper and Cammie- and see them both graduate from OVHS.
- After filling in as interim principal at Patricksburg Elementary, Kris Samick, has returned to her “other” job, S-OCS Communications Director. This past school year Kris did both the principal’s position at PES and the Communications Director. She burned the candle at both ends for sure! Her life will now get back to semi-normal. 😄
FROM THE “LET’S GO TO HILLTOP CAMP” DEPARTMENT:
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- Several our young people will be going to camp this coming week (starts Sunday). Junior High Dorm Week has the following young people from OVCF attending: Amelia Biggs, Rusti O’Neal, CJ Wood, Cooper Wood and Evelyn Young. Pray for them before, during the week, and after they get home.
FROM THE “YOU DON’T WANT MISS THIS” DEPARTMENT:
Our church pitch-in is this Wednesday, the 27th, at 6:00. I look forward to seeing you there.
BOOKS TO STRETCH YOUR MIND AND HEART:
A couple of weeks ago I began telling you about some of my books. I have put them in the church library for you to check out if any of them interests you. So far I have written about the books on Special Needs Ministry in the church and also Suicide. This week’s books are on a very sensitive subject many have faced:
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- Walking Through Twilight– Douglas Groothuis-Published in 2017, Douglas’ once-brilliant wife could no longer tie her shoes, use a phone, or brush her teeth as the ravages of dementia overtook her. This was the very first book I read on this subject shortly after its release. Douglas quoted Viktor Frankl: “When we are no longer able to change a situation… we are challenged to change ourselves.” (p.12) A wonderful, heartfelt book as a husband laments the loss of his wife, but uses it to help others.
- Memorable Loss– Karen Martin- Karen wrote this book in 2023 as she watched her friend face dementia, and eventually death. This was a wonderful book on friendship.
- Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia– Dr. John Dunlop-Although a medical doctor, this 2017 book is not a medical jargon book. He wrote this for several reasons, one being his own genetic predisposition to dementia (his mother had it). I loved this book because of its scriptural focus on this disease and how to show grace to those suffering from it.
- Second Forgetting-Dr. Benjamin Mast- Dr. Mast’s book uses a lot of stories to bring focus to those suffering and for those caring for them.
- Priceless People– Ben Boland- Mr. Boland is a chaplain in Australia with over 15 years of ministry to patients and families.
These books and others are available for you to borrow. I have put cards in each one. Please sign
the card and leave it on the shelf.
THIS IS FROM THE “PROUD GRANDPARENTS” DEPARTMENT:
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- Scott and Heather Herrington are grandparents (again). Eliza Claire was born on 5/21 to Adam and Cecilia Fox. She weighed 8lbs and was 19” long. Congrats…again. 😄
- Other than talking with some people or seeing his picture on my door in the hallway, very few know of our grandson, Braden (unless you have seen Jo’s “Wall of Braden”). But proud grandparents and aunt are allowed to brag every once in a while. We received word Friday that Braden made the Dean’s List with a 3.87 GPA at Ohio State University (yeah that school). He is majoring in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance. I was going to say we all know he got his smarts from his grandfather until I saw his major. Well…that left me out!😄
My sermon Sunday will continue the James series on The “Perfect” Christian with one I’ve titled Choosing One over Another from James 2:1-13. It has to do with favoritism, which should be loathed in any church. I look forward to sharing it with you. Know you are loved.
Pastor Bill
