MIDWEEK MESSAGE #295
Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #295. I hope you are having a good summer so far. The weather has sure let us know summer is on the way…finally! Jo and I even had a chance to see some of our young people play ball this past week and not have to dodge raindrops. 😄
I mentioned a few MMs ago that I may be going to an every other week format during the summer for the MM. This edition will begin that change. I will try to include two weeks’ worth of news so that you will at least know what is coming and, in the young peoples’ case, you will know who will be attending camp so you can pray for them.
FROM THE “IT’S NOT OVER YET” DEPARMENT:
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- Congratulations to Alli Anderson, Payton Lukowski, Addison Mayle, and Katrina Reuter. In the regionals, this 4×100 team set a new PR with a time of 51.89, placing 8th. The 4×400 team broke the school record that was last set in 1987! Their time put them in 4th place, but sadly, they were just shy of getting to the state. Alli is the daughter of Robert and Becca Anderson and Addison is the daughter of Brent and Angela Mayle. Way to go, girls!
- Youth baseball and softball are still taking place EVERY night at the Sports Complex. If you have a chance, head down the ball fields and support our young people.
FROM THE “DID YOU KNOW?” DEPARTMENT:
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- Did you know that Winston and Barrett Zigler played hockey last winter? Both boys will be playing hockey this winter, too. Can you say, “Brrrrr!”?
- Did you also know that the Zigler brothers and Jordan Mangia LOVE, and I mean LOVE, peanut butter filled pretzels and goldfish? I also know for a fact that Cheetos are also included in that list.😄
- We were watching Conrad and Calvin Keene play ball and their sister, Genevieve, was also there. I’m not sure she was cheering on her brothers, but I do know she was holding onto that small bag of Cheetos for dear life. I asked her if I could have one and she smiled and shook her head. I almost cried, but that didn’t work either!😄
- And then there is Karoline Chesser. She was there with her mom and dad, grandparents Rob and Polly, and sisters, Grace and Hazel, cheering on her brothers, Aiden, Mason, and Collin. She smiled at me, grabbed my heart, then hugged Jo, giggled and walked away. Hmm. Even a fake cry didn’t work! BUT, she and little sister, Hazel, did give me hugs Sunday morning…and I didn’t even ask.😄
- Rachel East is a member of the high school cheer squad? They will be having a car wash at the high school this Saturday from 8-2:00.
Congratulations to Adam Samick and Brooklyn Smeltzer who became husband and wife this past Saturday, the 30th. They were married at Freedom Nazarene Church and will live in Freedom. David and Kris Samick are Adam’s parents.
FROM THE “LET’S GO TO HILLTOP CAMP” DEPARTMENT:
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- This week we have 7 young people at camp: Amelia Biggs, Rusti O’Neal, CJ Wood, Cooper Wood, Evelyn Young, Asia Burnett Danaher and Bailee Miller (the last three are Amelia’s friends).
- Next week is Jr. High Wilderness camp. We have one young person going: Aasha Srinivasan. We do have others going to help. Besides Pastor Ryan (Dean) and Hope, Caleb and Rachel East, and LJ Jenkins are also helping.
- By the time the next MM comes out, the Ice Breaker week at Hilltop (June 14-16) will be over. It goes from Sunday through Tuesday. Campers for that week will be James Anderson and Christian and Emmelia Wells. Hope you have a great experience!
- I failed to mention that Anna East and LJ Jenkins are working at Hilltop this summer.
FROM THE “DATES TO KEEP IN MIND” DEPARTMENT:
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- Serving Owen County Together (SOCT): June 27th from 10-2:30. This is the 6th year for SOCT. (More info in the next MM). Rain date is Sunday, the 28th from 12-4:00.
- SPROUTS MEAL is June 27th at the Anderson’s. Contact Becca Anderson (812.360.7419) for more information. (More info in the next MM).
FROM THE “BOOKS TO STRETCH YOUR MIND AND HEART” DEPARTMENT:
For the past three MMs, I have been including books I took from my library and put in the church library for you to borrow and read. So far I’ve included books on Special Needs Ministry, Suicide, and Memory Loss/Dementia/Alzheimer’s. This week’s books are on a topic many struggle with: Depression and Anxiety.
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- Beauty in the Browns by Paul Asay-2021. Subtitled Walking with Christ in the Darkness of Depression. As a member of Focus on the Family’s family, Paul had an “image” to uphold. But he also knew that to conquer depression meant being honest with himself, and others. I read this several years ago and found it to be very, very helpful.
- Out of the Cave by Chris Hodges-2021. As the pastor of a mega church, Chris found himself struggling with depression. This is his story and his way out.
- Attacking Anxiety by Shawn Johnson-2022. Pastor Shawn is vulnerable about his battle with crippling anxiety until he reached a breaking point. A super helpful book!
- Knowing God’s Peace by Paul Tautges-2019. This is different than the others. It is a book of 31 devotionals about knowing God’s peace through anxiety.
- Made to Tremble by Blair Linne-2025. Blair’s life was changed with a car accident, which caused her to experience crippling anxiety & panic attacks which led to discouragement and shame. Her tag line is “How anxiety became the best thing that ever happened to my faith.”
My sermon Sunday is Don’t Just Stand There from James 2:14-26. See you then! Know you are loved.
Pastor Bill
