MIDWEEK MESSAGE #262
Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #262. Thanks for joining me this week and allowing me to invade your inbox. I hope you are having a good week.
Remember to pray for Matt Beckwith, our educator of the week. Matt has been teaching at OVMS for the past 4 years in what used to be called Shop. It is so much more than what I remember when I was taught wood and metal shop. Am I the only one whose mother did not save what you made for her? 🙂 Matt teaches basic carpentry, computer science, medical detectives and robotics in his class. He and his wife, Mary (last week’s educator) have been married for 13 years and are the parents of Kaedence, Akaydia, Kayliana, and Aksel. Matt volunteers helping Mary, when needed, in the pre-school class and he also volunteers with giving the communion meditation.
The first Introduction to OVCF is in the books. This past Sunday I had 5 participate in the first session. Melissa Arnold, Geoff and Kala Biggs, Sherry Pavich and Joe Pavich were the “guinea pigs” for the class. We had a good time and also a good discussion with some great questions asked. At this point the next class will probably be in January.
This past Sunday was a really special day for our church family and for the Wells family. Gavin and Jenna Wells dedicated Teddy to raise him to love Jesus and the church committed to helping them accomplish that. Teddy was born on September 4th, and it was one year ago (September 6) that Jenna got a call about Teddy. Gavin was able to visit that night and Jenna got to hold him for the first time on the 7th. They brought him home, eventually adopted him and Sunday made it even better by his dedication. For your memory bank: besides Teddy, they now have Warner, August, Christian, Emmy, Zara (soon to be Gwendolyn), Fletcher, Lanie (foster), and Gigi. 🙂Make sure you pray for Gavin and Jenna and, in fact, all the families who are adopting and fostering.
Every week we have a prayer list in our bulletin of people who are in need of prayer for various reasons. Occasionally we receive one that is urgent. I try my best to mention them during the Sunday prayer time, especially if they are given to me at the last minute. This past Sunday there were two given to me. I’m going to try to be more diligent in reminding you in the MM.
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- The family of Marion Smith, who passed away on Friday, the 5th. She has been a long- time resident of Owen County and many of you know her.
- Becca Anderson has asked that we pray for Logan and Kathryn Cain (son-in-law and daughter). They are driving here Friday in a U-Haul, hauling their car and dog. They will be staying for a couple of weeks before driving to Camp Pendleton in CA where Logan will be stationed.
- I have asked occasionally for you to pray for my friend, Dave, in AZ. Dave was diagnosed in March of ’24 with a glioblastoma. Susan, his wife, texted Jo and I over the weekend that they had to put a shunt in for drainage and he has since suffered a seizure. Pray, of course, for healing, but also pray for Susan to know God’s peace.
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YOUTH NEWS
It was another jam-packed week with our young people being involved in so many events!
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- Did you hear the Pavich kids (Charlotte, Thomas, and Margaret) will lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the S-OCS Board Meeting his Thursday, September 11th? Congrats to them!
- I read a funny social media feed from Kris Samick, the interim principal at PES. It seems Kris had to leave and go to a meeting. Maverick Pendleton offered to fill in as principal and “make sure everyone followed the rules.” 🙂Maverick is a remarkable young man. Three years ago he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and not given very long to live. Even earlier this year they were told to call in hospice but he has greatly improved! I had the privilege of baptizing his dad (Josh), who then baptized Maverick and Waylon (brother) and Whitley (sister). It never ceases to amaze me what God can do!!
- Congratulations to Tad Nicholson who ran a personal best this past Wednesday at the OVMS cross country meet.
- Aubrey Mangia also ran well this past weekend after being sick all week. She placed 4th with a personal best and helped the team to place 9th among some really big schools.
- Alli Anderson finished 3rd for the team at the same meet.
- I love the innocence of children like Barrett Zigler. I went to watch some of our kids play football Saturday so I missed the soccer games. When I asked Barrett how he did and did he score any goals, he said, “No, but our team won 2-0.” That’s what I like to hear!! “The team won…”
- Jo and I went to a football game this past Saturday. We watched Mike Wood’s team, with his son, Auggie, and Christian Wells play. Emmy Wells was a cheerleader. The heat caused us to leave early so we will have to go back to watch Fletcher play.
- Eli Wood is playing football for OVHS.
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WHEW! It is no wonder we see a lot of parents/grandparents walking around in a daze! How do they keep up with all the activity?
UPCOMING EVENTS
Our next OVCF family pitch-in will be on Wednesday, September 24 at 6 pm. Please join us for lots of good food and fellowship! 🙂
Please join us to celebrate our 21st anniversary as a church family on Sunday, October 26th! We will have two services here (9 & 10:45), then a pitch-in meal. All our giving that day will go to our Building Fund, unless designated, to allow us to pay cash as we go for the continued work and future completion of our new addition without debt. 🙂
This coming Sunday my sermon is entitled In His Presence from Ezekiel 43-Hosea 7. It is getting harder and harder to stand against the draw of culture. We are being asked to compromise what the Bible says is right and wrong. The Scripture for this week covers familiar ground for many because included are the stories found in Daniel. I love those stories! I look forward to sharing them with you this Sunday. See you then. Until then, know you are loved.
Pastor Bill
