MIDWEEK MESSAGE #186
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #186! Welcome also to 2024! I can’t think of a better place to start 2024 than reading the Midweek Message. I almost put “reading the mind of someone whose mind is always spinning” but some people might not see it spinning the way I do. Some might say, “It’s spinning alright but out of control.” No matter what you might be thinking, welcome. ☺
I’m going to start 2024 with my first mistake. Man, don’t I wish I could “first and only” but those who know me would roll their eyes as well as make unintelligible noises. Every week we pray for an Educator of the week. The final MM of 2023 I failed to mention Jeanna Srinivasan. Jeanna homeschools her two children, Aasha and Nathan. She also stays busy with various activities with them. Jeanna’s husband, Kartik, is a Physical Therapist for IU Health. He also does mobile PT (comes to the house). My apologies to Jeanna for failing to mention prayer for her.
The first semester we spent our time praying for the teachers/nurses who attend OVCF. We will start praying for those in administration with our Educator of the Week: Carol Watson. She is the Principal at Gosport Elementary School.
YOUTH CORNER
Several of our college students have had eventful (even outstanding) first semesters:
- Mollie Wainscott, daughter of Chris and Kori, is attending Milligan University in Tennessee. Mollie made the Dean’s List with a 4.0 GPA. Way to go Mollie! Mollie also played O Holy Night at our Christmas Eve service on her violin.
- Cayden Paquette, son of Chris and Kim, is in his sophomore year at Blackburn College (Illinois). Cayden is a starting guard on the Blackburn basketball team. Cayden is a 2022 graduate of OVHS.
Several of our young people bravely dealt with health issues:
- Berkley Groomer spent her Christmas break in a cast from two broken bones in her wrist. The pictures show it didn’t slow her smile down.
- Sophia Kropack and Hudsyn Biggs spent part of their Christmas break healing from tonsillectomies. Rumor has it that they enjoyed Christmas and were back to their old selves in short order.
Remember: I’m looking for news about our young people to include in the YOUTH CORNER. If you know of anything newsworthy please let me know.
Our Christmas Eve services were testimony to the fact that OVCF people are special.
- Our Sunday morning, Christmas Eve day service at 10:00 brought in so many folks we needed to put up more chairs! The total for that service was 170 and that is with receiving several texts telling me sickness was keeping them away. But WOW it was packed! That gives further testimony why we need more space.
- 80 people enjoyed our Sunday night Christmas Eve service. A special thanks goes to Heather Keith, Geoff Biggs, Travis and Sierra Floyd, Becca and Kathryn Anderson, Karen Turner, Bob Kropack and Mollie Wainscott for taking a major role in helping our Christmas Eve service be so meaningful.
I’m really looking forward to developing the theme for 2024: Run with the Horses. My sermon for this coming Sunday is Dark Horse and will be focused on Jeremiah 12:5, I Cor. 9:24-27, and Hebrews 12:1-2. My first series will begin on January 14 and be entitled “WELCOME HOME…where…”
- The Gospel is Preached
- Jesus is Honored
- Grace is Offered
- Lives are Changed
- Obedience is Encouraged
I’m adding two others to that series to round it out and to take us to the end of February: “Tough Choices are Challenged” (Part 1) and (Part 2). The plans are for me and Jo to be gone to Arizona the last weekend of February so Pastor Ryan will be preaching Part 2. All sermons in the series will be from Colossians 1-3.
Congratulations are extended to Wade and Sarah (Humble) Stoliby who became Mr. and Mrs. on January 1. They will make their home in Clay City. Wade has his own construction company called Special Ops Construction and Sarah works for the Owen County Chamber of Commerce.
Did you know that we have two couples who are expecting a baby in 2024? Caleb and Gabrielle Corder are due in June and Jake and Brandi Markland are due in July. Congrats to both couples. Remember to pray for them each day-for a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy.
I just wanted to remind you of something from MM#185. With the new year often comes a renewed interest in reading the Bible, or at least making time for God each day. In MM#185 I gave a pretty long list of “Encounter Time” (what I call mine) helps to guide you and get you started. I KNOW you save very last one of the MMs ☺ so take a glance back and see if any of the helps interest you. They are all in the church library for you to check out. I would love for us to become a church that is committed to reading the Bible each day or to have some time alone with God each day. Each help I have used at one time or another or I wouldn’t recommend it. Take a moment to see if any interest you and/or check it out and give it a try. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Did you know I have a daily devotional blog called Living in the Shadow? You can access the first one for 2024 at this link: https://livingintheshadow.ovcf.org/2024/01/02/january-2-5/
Thanks for spending a little time with me today. I look forward to 2024 being a special year for OVCF and the church family in many ways. Always keep in mind that you are loved.
Pastor Bill
