MIDWEEK MESSAGE #180
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #180. I’m not too sure about this cooler weather. Ask me in about a month and half what I think. I’ll probably tell you it was balmy. ☺ I hope you have had a good week so far.
Remember to pray for our Educator of the Week: Kristine Mangia. Kristine teaches 4th grade at Spencer Elementary School. She is married to Tom, who works at Catalent and coaches the 6th-8th grade boys cross country team. They are the parents of three children: Mason, a senior at ISU; Aubrey, a 7th grader at OVMS; and Jordan, a Pre-school student at SES.
Travis Floyd is our College student of the Week. Travis is a senior music major at IU Jacobs School of Music. He begins his student teaching at Bloomington North in January. He added another accomplishment to his life this year! He married Sierra on April 22nd. You will also find Travis playing bass with our Worship Team.
Our Mission of the Week is Jesse Cook/International Friendships, Inc. Jesse is married and has two very active boys who love soccer. Jesse was involved in Chi Alpha until accepting the challenge from IFI to engage with international students. Jesse/IFI is one of the missions we support as a church family.
This Saturday is Veterans Day. There is a Veterans Dinner, sponsored by 4-H at the fairgrounds. The dinner is at 6 PM and is offered free of charge to all veterans.
I ran out of room in last week’s MM to tell you more about the Pancake Meal Fundraiser scheduled for November 14th for Maverick Pendleton. Just about a year ago, Maverick (age 4 at the time) was diagnosed with a glioblastoma. He has been a real fighter and his doctors are doing all they can to help him defeat this cancer. His parents, Josh and Becky, have gone through this storm with him. As you can imagine, the cost of treatment is mind-numbing. The Pancake Meal is from 5-6:30 at the Patricksburg gymnasium. It is sponsored by the Patricksburg PTO. The cost is $5 per person. It is a great time for us to put feet to our prayers with our support. Even if you are not a pancake eater (here, here), it would be a great encouragement to them to offer your support and help.
Uppermost in my mind is the Thanksgiving Meal for the community scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, the 23rd. It may seem like I sound like a broken record, but I really feel it is one of the best things we do for our community. We help with several other events, advertise in several of them, but this is something that we can really do to have an impact. For those who are not familiar with the meal, we serve the community from the Lions Club from 11-1:00. People can come to the LC to eat inside; we deliver to their house; or we can bring it to the curb for their pick-up. I’d like to reiterate what is needed:
Sign-up sheets are on the back info table. You can sign up for different food items: turkey/ham, mashed potatoes, corn or green beans, stuffing, rolls, pie, cookies or brownies, ice, tea, (unsweet/sweet) or lemonade. Your help is needed in the kitchen to help get the food ready to serve, sometimes prepare food, wash dishes, assemble the delivery meals, and help set up or clean up. If you can only work for 15-30 minutes that would be great! Delivery drivers are needed.
It is an absolutely fun way to serve our community. Plus you get the added benefit of sharing your Thanksgiving with friends from your church family.
If you know of someone who needs a meal, please feel free to call the church office (812.828.9840) by Monday, November 20 and one of us will take your call/information.
I know I said this a few weeks ago, but it bears repeating: I am aware that Thanksgiving is a busy time for all of us, and many of you have family gatherings planned. Enjoy them! If you are able to help in any way, it is appreciated. Do not feel guilty of you are not able to be on site to help.
Operation Christmas Child boxes are due this coming Sunday, the 12th. Special thanks to Jerry and Carol Sturgeon who volunteered to take the boxes to Sherwood Oaks. The only bad part of that is that Diana, Pastor Ryan and I used to deliver them and then use it as an excuse to have lunch together. Hmmm guess we will have to find another excuse!! ☺ ☺
In MM #176 I asked you to pray for Valarie Akerson as our Educator of the Week. I mentioned that Valarie is a world class powerlifter and she and Wayne were heading to Coventry for the World Powerlifting Championships. Valarie came home with a gold medal as the #1 powerlifter in her age group (60-64) for women. That is quite an accomplishment. Congrats Valarie!
Youth Corner:
At the 4-H awards this past Sunday, Eli Wood was given an award for Public Speaking and for his Grand Champion Steer at the OC Fair this past summer.
Alli Anderson, daughter of Rob and Becca, received the Mental Attitude Award at the Fall Sports Banquet. Alli is a sophomore on the OVHS Cross Country Team.
Oakley Groomer, son of Brock and Tiffany, was selected as a Leader of the Pack and awarded a Certificate of Citizenship at MCES. Bonus: He will get to eat pizza with the principal. Can I come? ☺
Know any others I can include in future editions of the MM?
Just a quick heads up. Our December focus will be collecting goods for Backpack Buddies. A list is being compiled and a date will be set. As soon as we know the info we will let you know.
Cory and Cassidy, Emma, Chloe and Ben really enjoyed their visit with us this past Sunday and sharing about Team Expansion. Thank you so much for being gracious and asking questions and chatting with them afterwards.
I’m going to wind down this edition of the MM. Gratitude really does change us. I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am to be your pastor. Thanks for that opportunity. I love you all.
Pastor Bill