Category: OVCF News

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #224

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #224! Thanks for taking time to allow me into your world and into your inbox. I had a few moments on Saturday to begin writing this and I’m thinking maybe I should wait. It has taken me almost 3 minutes to type up to this point with all the mistakes the computer, oops my fingers, are making. So far it has not been a pretty sight. Then again, maybe it is a good thing I started on Saturday. Maybe by Monday or Tuesday I may have repaired the message to my fingers to type what I am thinking and not what they are doing.😊

Of course, the first thing on my mind is the anniversary celebration this past Sunday. But I’m going to put that off for the moment.

Our educator of the week is Rachel Nicholson. Rachel is in her 22nd year of teaching, her 10th at MCES. This is her third year as the Special Education teacher. She has also taught K, 1st, 3rd, 4th, & 6th grades. She and Dale celebrate their 20th anniversary today (Wednesday) and they have a son, Tad, a very active 7th grader who loves sports (especially baseball).

YOUTH CORNER

Yay! I have some youth information to share with you! I’m doing a happy dance here (and no, you don’t want to see that).

• • Congratulations to Jordan Mangia, Haven Mosier, and Brantley Schneider who were chosen as Top Cats at SES for the month of October. I loved their pictures! I really got a kick out of a video Brantley’s mom, Sarah, shared on Facebook that Tami showed me. When Sarah took the video of Brantley standing with his Top Cat certificate in front of him, his little sister, Stella, was recorded saying, “Prisoners do that!” I laughed my head off! That was funnier than many comedians who think they are. 😊Jordan, Haven and Brantley, we are so proud of you!
  • Addilynn (Addi) Hutchison was awarded with a certificate for the A/B Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance for the first 9 weeks. Way to go, Addi! (Mom may have posted a picture of her). 😊
  • Aubrey Mangia was chosen to receive the Patriot Award for her season on the Cross Country team. She was sick the morning of the awards but since she had connections to the coach (her dad) she was able to receive her award. She was a great teammate and leader. Way to go, Aubrey! Keep working hard!
  • Colby Beckwith, brother to Matt Beckwith and Amanda Hutchison, earned Male Golfer of the Week for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. He placed 2nd at the Kalamazoo Invite with a 74 this past weekend.

Pastor Ryan and I have a great opportunity every month to read to the Kindergarten classes at MCES (Ryan) and SES & GES (me). Mrs. Hensley’s husband reads to her class at PES. I absolutely love reading to my classes and I know Ryan does also. May I make a suggestion that you find a teacher and tell them thanks for their hard work? Having a teacher living in my house keeps me constantly aware of what they experience-the highs and lows-each day. It will do their heart good to hear a kind word from you.

Okay…now the moment you all have been waiting for. A recap of our anniversary celebration at Abram Event Venue. I’ll not mention any names for fear of leaving someone out.

• • We had tons of volunteers. I got there at 7:00 and a good number of tables were already set up. We had people help carry all the sound equipment, put up chairs, put the communion on the tables, get the food on the tables and ready to be devoured, and then help tear down, wipe tables down, sweep, take out the trash, and help carry things out to vehicles. Some of our younger ones helped put the “We’re Glad You Are Here!” papers on the tables.
  • Thanks to the volunteers who helped with the parking and shuttled people back and forth.
  • Thanks to the worship team who did a superb job of leading us in the singing part of our worship. It took a lot of work to cart everything over there and get set up, only to tear it down and bring it back to the church building.
  • Thanks to Diana for all the extra work it took and also Pastor Ryan with working with Diana on getting the kid’s papers ready and overseeing the parking and shuttle.
  • Thanks to all of you who came and celebrated with us. I appreciate you more than you know.

As many of you know the plan is for me to have surgery on November 11 to replace my knee. I will be preaching the first two weeks in November and Pastor Ryan will be preaching the other two. Lord willing, I will be able to preach on December 1st. The series for November is “I’m Thankful…” This Sunday is “God’s Got This.” Please read Psalm 2 ahead of time. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Love you all.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #223

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #223. I certainly hope you had a nice relaxing time during Fall Break. I know some headed to the mountains of Tennessee; others went to Disney; others just stayed home and enjoyed some really fine weather. Jo, Tami and I left Wednesday for Ohio and had a nice time visiting Janna, Mike, Braden and Cameron (yes, he has a girlfriend, although he says that is so ‘90s to say that).😊Friday night was senior night for the football players so we had one last chance to watch him play football. We came home Saturday and it was back to normal (if you consider me normal). Now it is back to school for the push to Thanksgiving. I hope you are refreshed and rarin’ to go.

Remember to pray for our educator of the week: Hannah Morse. Hannah has been married to Cole for four years and their twin sons, Tripp and Kohen, are three years old. Hannah has been teaching for seven years at Gosport Elementary School, but this is her first year teaching 1st grade. Cole has a business called M&M EarthWurx. Hannah, the boys, and her mom, Christina Corder, spent the Fall Break at Disney and she said the boys loved it.

The 13th was a special Sunday for Ava Dawley! Ava gave her confession of faith and was baptized
at Covenant Baptist Church (The Connection) Sunday afternoon by Pastor Ryan. Ava’s mom,
Sara Parker, and her husband, Jason, both were super excited for Ava. So were the others who
came. We love you, Ava! Keep growing!!

NOT SO YOUNG CORNER

• • • Congratulations to Caleb Hutchison for being honored as District 5 Conservation Officer of the year. Caleb has been with the DNR for 3+ years. When he became a DNR officer it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Way to go Caleb! We are proud of you. (But I have this suspicion Amanda, Addi, and Owen are even more). I did tell him I was going to call this OLD MAN’S CORNER. But I decided to go easy on him and call it the “Not So Young Corner.” Gotta let them old men down easy, you know?

SOME STUNNING NEWS FOR YOU!

Two weeks ago during our morning worship Pastor Ryan showed a video of Samaritan’s Purse and their ministry to the people of North Carolina following the devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene. He also told us that David and Adienne Robertson were taking donations for a group called Grindstone Ministries who had “boots on the ground” in North Carolina. The need was big for winter clothing of all kinds. While I was gone, Diana let me know that all need for donations were being suspended. Here is her “official” note left for me to announce this past Sunday:

• • • “Due to the huge response of donations we will not be collecting items after the 20th.
      The collection centers are overwhelmed with the amount of donations received! A
      good problem to have.”
    • It is a good problem to have for sure! That means that those who are desperately in
      need of clothing, especially warm clothing, will receive some. And by the way: did you
      know it snowed this week in some of the higher elevations? Yikes! Fortunately for us it
      was still in the 60s-70s. 😊
    • I would like you to keep in mind that relief efforts are not over by a long shot. After Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, relief efforts and salvaging efforts will be going on for quite some time. There is more info to come.

COMING TO AN EVENT VENUE NEAR YOU!

We are excited to announce that the 20th anniversary of Owen Valley Christian
Fellowship is coming to Abram Event Venue. All are invited to attend.

Here is the information one more time:

• • • One service at 10:00 followed by a pitch-in meal at the venue. Tables will be set up for your dishes to be placed on. Sorry…no early dining available. 😊
    • Help is needed for set up and tear down, as well as help with the parking and shuttle service. If you are able to help with the latter two, please give your name to Pastor Ryan (who is coordinating that effort). If you did not sign up to help, but would like to, please be at the venue at 7:00.
    • We will not be offering children’s programs but will have an unstaffed space available for families with little ones.
    • All the day’s giving will go to the Building Fund (unless otherwise designated). See below for news about our proposed building addition.
    • The sermon will be different than I normally preach. You will be asked to take part so be thinking about this question: “Why did I choose OVCF as my home?” I’ll close with a short retelling of Luke 15: 11-32 (Parable of the Lost Son/Loving Father).
    • If you are unable to attend, Pastor Ryan and I prerecorded the sermon and a short communion meditation that will be shown at the 10:00 time. We are unable to live stream at the venue and this will allow you to be part of our special day. 😊

We look forward to seeing you there!!

BUILDING ADDITION UPDATES!

• • • We have plans! They have been approved by the state.
    • Our local/state permits have been approved.
    • Utilities have been marked which will allow for any relocation to take place.
    • We are awaiting the estimate (which should be here soon) so we can start our excavation and storm water/drainage control phases soon!
    • It is not beyond possibility to see the excavation work done before the snow flies. Then, Lord willing, we could possibly see construction begin in the Spring. We will go at the speed of our ability to pay cash. NO DEBT.

I hope you are as excited as I am!

See you Sunday! Please know you are loved immensely.
Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #222

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #222. Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today. My words to you this week are “Hang in there!” Fall Break starts this weekend. It seems like many head for the hills so to speak and vacate Spencer. That also means many will not be here next Sunday. I hope you will take advantage of the live stream and still make OVCF part of your Fall Break. I can honestly say there wasn’t a lot of good that came out of the COVID era, but starting the live stream was definitely one.😊I am also sad to inform you that there will be no MM next week. I know that breaks your heart and you will miss hearing from me, but I think it will be wise to take a break that week. I’ll be back the week of the 20th.

Please remember to pray for our Educator of the Week: Angela Mayle. Angela is the inclusion teacher for the Pre-K and Kindergarten students at Spencer Elementary (SES). Angela has been teaching for 21 years. Before coming to S-OCS she also taught at Edgewood High School and Mooresville High School. She will be married to Brent for 25 years this November, and they have a 16 year old daughter, Addison (sophomore at OV).

Since there won’t be a MM next week, rather than ask you to pray for any specific individual, I’d like to ask that you pray for all the administrators, teachers, and staff who will use the Fall Break to recoup for the next push to Thanksgiving.

YOUTH CORNER

I’m excited to share with you some news about our young people from this past week. I received it too late to include in last week’s MM. This comes from Cristi Wood concerning the OV Youth Football cheer and football awards.

• • • Haven Mosier was chosen as MVP for the Minors cheer squad. You go, girl!
    • Kane Mosier was chosen as a Shining Star/Most Improved Player for Rookies football. Keep improving, Kane! I know your mom and dad were proud of you!
    • CJ Wood was chosen as MVP for the Majors cheer squad. Keep up the hard work, CJ! (If
      seeing your name here is embarrassing you can blame your mom!) 😊

In other youth news:

• • • Alli Anderson ran a personal best of 23:09 at the NIKE twilight race on Saturday night.
    • Aubrey Mangia ran a 13:50 for her 3k at the middle school cross country state championship. She placed 238 out of 411 runners. She finished on a high note. Mom says now it is onto basketball. Was that a sigh of tiredness I heard in that text?
    • Here is one for the ages: Tad Nicholson went to Terre Haute to cheer on the girl’s cross country team. Selfless act, Tad. Thanks for supporting them.

Moms and dads remember to send me information about your children. I want the Youth Corner to be about all the youth happenings, sports or otherwise! 😊

Sunday was exciting! Thanks to the Building Team putting in the time and work and Wayne for making the presentation, we now have a clearer picture before us of our planned addition. In case you missed it, here are the highlights:

• • Architect-engineer, design drawings, most permits, and builder selection are completed.
    The local permits will be applied for this week.
  • Cost estimate is almost complete
  • We hope to start soon (weather permitting). Here is the tentative schedule:
    • • Relocating underground utilities (electric, telecommunications, water, sewer)
      • Excavation begins
      • Storm water and erosion controls (have to install drainage tile)
      • Grading and seeding until Spring (hopefully)
  • We are committed to building debt free. It may take us longer but we believe it is the right thing to do. We currently have $350k+ in the Building Fund and, Praise the Lord, the church finances are healthy.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the church office or ask any member of the Building Team.

We have been sharing quite a bit over the last couple of months about our 20th anniversary on
October 27th. The day that seemed so far away is quickly approaching. In case you haven’t heard (Hmmmmmm), here are the details:

• • • One service at Abram Event Venue starting at 10:00. A pitch-in lunch will follow! 😊
    • All giving, unless otherwise designated, will go to the Building Fund.
    • Help is needed for set-up and tear down, parking, and shuttle service. If you would like to help there is a sign-up sheet at the info table.
    • Reminder! There are no youth programs that morning but a spot will be set up for an unstaffed nursery for families to use.
    • We will pre-record a message to stream ahead of time (like at Easter) since we will be unable to live stream from AEV. You can help me out: please email or text me why you chose OVCF. I will share the answers in my recorded message. For those who can attend in person, I will be asking for these answers during the service.

Some additional items you can pray about:

• • • Anna East, Pastor Ryan and Hope’s oldest, is having hip surgery on the 14th. Please pray for the family and for a rapid recovery for Anna.
    • Our law enforcement officers: Caleb (Amanda) Hutchison; Ryan (Karen) White; Shauna (Mitch) Wetzel; Nikk Wood; Ashley and Le’Von Griffin
    • Our active military: Logan (Kathryn) Cain; Ethan (Rebecca) Chesser; Robert (Hannah) Herrington; Christopher (Alyssa) Erb; Nick Hickman; Shane & Elise Hickman; Jason Means

I’ve included a ton of stuff in this week’s MM so I’ll close. I’ll be continuing my series on Feels Like Home with Lives are Changed. The Scripture is Colossians 2:6-15. See you then (if you aren’t taking off for Fall Break).😊Either way, know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #221

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #221. I think we can honestly say, “What rain!” after the past few days. Thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Helene we more than made up for our lack of rain over the past month or so. There are pros and cons to that, as I’m sure people will let you know. But let’s take it as a blessing from God (except I have to cut my grass again and watch the moles go crazy). Can you tell I really don’t like those annoying pests? 😊Be that as it may, I do hope your week is going well.

Remember to pray for Kristine Mangia, our educator of the week. Kristine is a 3rd grade teacher at SES. She has been teaching for a total of 25 years in S-OCS. She spent 17 of those years at Patricksburg, and is now in her 8th year at Spencer. She has taught 1st-6th grade and inclusion during her years at S-OCS. Kristine and her husband, Tom are the parents of Mason (recent ISU graduate and working in a financial firm in Carmel); Aubrey (8th grade); and Jordan (Kindergarten).

YOUTH CORNER

• • • The middle school cross country team ran at Shakamak on Saturday (yeah it was wet).
      Aubrey Mangia ran well and came in 3rd for the team.
    • Akaydia Beckwith came in 4th right behind Aubrey. The girl’s team took 4th place overall.
    • Coach Mangia had high praise for the running of Tad Nicholson. Way to go, Tad! Keep at it!
    • The girl’s team will run WIC tomorrow (Thursday) at Edgewood and then state on Saturday in Terre Haute. Way to go, both Aubrey and Akaydia!
    • Alli Anderson also ran at Shakamak this past Saturday for the high school cross country team. Mom said she had a great race. Her time was 23:29 which is one of her all time fastest runs. OV placed 2nd overall. All that hard work is paying off, Alli!

If you have looked to the back of the parking lot lately, you have seen a field of mums in bloom.
Josh Henson has been growing those mums and he has asked me to let you know that following
the first and second services THIS COMING SUNDAY he will be selling his mums at the shelter
house for $12 each. He also said that you can pay with cash, check or card. This is Josh’s second
year raising the mums on our property and we have been glad to let him do so. Take this
opportunity to buy a home-grown mum. 😊

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS SUNDAY! No, not because the sermon will be so great you will walk away astounded. 😊 The real reason you won’t want to miss this Sunday is the Building Team will be making a presentation of the proposed addition and where we are at the current time. There is more to the announcement so you won’t want to miss it! The Building Team met this past Tuesday night and the excitement was definitely there.

AND HERE IS SOMETHING ELSE YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS! On October 29th, OVCF will be
celebrating her 20th anniversary at Abram Event Venue. All offerings that day (unless designated) will go to the Building Fund. We have made a commitment to build debt free, so your gifts-big or small-will make a difference. Here are some other items of interest about the anniversary:

• • • One service starting at 10:00
    • Your help is needed to set up tables and chairs on Sunday morning starting at 7:00. Historically, we have been able to do the set up and be done by 8:00. We would appreciate any help you can give.
    • We have never used the tables before but this will allow us to be ready much quicker for the pitch-in meal immediately following the service.
    • Due to the shortage of parking, especially if it is wet, we will be running a shuttle from the church parking lot. If you can carpool that would help, however, if you would like to park at OVCF and use the shuttle that will be available.
    • There is a sign-up sheet at the info table for helping with the set-up and tear down and for helping with the shuttle and as parking attendants. If you would like more info about helping with the shuttle or as parking attendants, please see Pastor Ryan.

Here is something you probably don’t know! Every year we have made an effort to recognize our volunteers. This year we will be recognizing our volunteers on Sunday, November 10th. It will be part of my sermon for that morning: “I’m Thankful…God Has a Body.” If you have volunteered in any way, shape, or form this past year, we appreciate you and want to say thanks publicly.
Please plan to be here for that Sunday.

Shameless promotion department: Did you know I write a daily devotion from Monday through Thursday at Living in the Shadow? You can access it from the church’s website or sign up for daily emails. I would love to have you join me each day.

Having the young people in the service this past Sunday was fun. Their input during the “youth time” was really good. I was excited to hear some of them say they love church because they learn about God and others can, too. Another said what they liked was hearing about Jesus dying on the cross. Man, it made my heart feel good to hear our young people “get it.” A few also mentioned about being here with others and with friends. Hmmmm, sounds sort of like my sermon series, Feels Like Home. 😊 I’ll continue that series this Sunday with Fresh Start (Grace is Offered). I will be spending my time this Sunday looking at the book of Philemon. I’d like to ask you to read it ahead of time. It is 25 verses. Until then, remember you are loved…more than you know.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #220

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #220. Thanks for taking time to read! Boy this past week was a hot one! After a wedding this weekend, the comment was made that they thought Fall was supposed to be cooler. Then they were reminded that Fall didn’t officially start until September 22nd. Ohhhhhh…so one day will make a difference.😊Anyway, welcome to Fall!

Be in prayer for our educator of the week: Cara King. Cara has been teaching in the S-OCS system since 1993. She started out as a second grade teacher for a year at SES (Matt Beckwith was in that class) and she has been teaching Kindergarten at MCES since it opened in 2000. She is married to Brad and they have two children: Cooper, who is a freshman at USI, and Cambria (Cammie) who is a junior at OVHS.

Speaking of weddings: Congratulations to Logan Cain and Kathryn Anderson who became Mr. and Mrs. Cain this past Saturday. Logan serves in the Marines at Quantico, VA so they left Monday morning for a honeymoon in Tennessee and then will head home. Pray for their safe travel, but also a God-honoring marriage. Remember also to pray for the Anderson and Courson families as they pray for and wish their children well. I was also so proud of many of our church people (of all ages) who helped in various ways. I will not even try to name them all because I will, for sure, leave out someone’s name.

YOUTH CORNER

There hasn’t been much information given to me lately about what our young people are involved in but here are a few:

• • • Congratulations to Cooper Wood who was chosen as Vice President of the SES Student Council. Mom, Shelby VanDerMoere, might just be a tad bit proud of him.😊
    • Aubrey Mangia had an eventful track week. Monday the team raced at Brown County and she finished 9th overall and 1st for the team. Thursday the team ran at Jackson Creek and she finished 10th overall and 3rd for the team. They ran at the Eagle Classic invite at Brown County and both she and the team qualified for the Indiana Middle School State meet on 10/5.
    • Akayadia Beckwith was also mentioned by Coach Mangia for being a big part of the track team’s success this season. Keep up the good work, Akaydia!
    • Tad Nicholson ran his two best races this past week at Brown County. Way to work hard, Tad!
    • Rumor has it that Coach Tom Mangia is doing a phenomenal job as well. But I’m thinking that wife, Kristine, might be a little bit biased. 😊
    • Eli Wood is playing football for the OV JV football team. Keep working hard, Eli!
    • We have several of our young men who are playing youth football. The ones I know are Kane Mosier, Christian and Fletcher Wells, and Auggie Wood (dad Mike is the coach).
    • Several of our young girls are cheerleading. The ones I know are Haven Mosier, Emmy Wells, and CJ Wood.

Remember, mom and dad, I rely on your information to include your son or daughter in the Youth Corner portion of the MM. Please pass along any information I can share. (They are too modest to do that). If I failed to list someone in this current group, please let me know.

JUST A REMINDER! This Sunday is a 5th Sunday. That means all elementary aged children will worship with the adults this week. Nursery and Preschool will meet as usual.

Here is something to be super excited about! On October 6th, we will be giving you an update on the building addition. We can tell you that our plans have been approved by the state so all things are “Go” from that end. What’s next, you might be wondering? The staff met with Jerry Benton on Monday and the Building Team was updated and discussed the next steps on Tuesday night. We plan to share what we know the morning of the 6th.

I know we have been telling you about OVCF’s 20th anniversary for over a month. We would prefer to err on the side of saying too much than not enough. For those of you who have celebrated with us before at Abram Event Venue (Easter or Christmas), you sort of know what to expect. There is no question that morning will be different. Parking is at a minimum so we ask that you consider carpooling or being shuttled from the church parking lot. One big difference this year is because we are planning a pitch-in lunch immediately following the service, we decided to save some time by using tables and chairs during the service. It will require some help setting up on Sunday morning due to the venue having a wedding Saturday night. There is a sign-up sheet on the info table for you to sign up:

• • • If you can help shuttle people please sign up.
    • If you can help with traffic and parking please sign up.
    • If you can help with setting up tables and chairs or cleaning up afterwards please sign up.

Any and all help you can give us, is appreciated.

My series on Feels Like Home will continue this week with “Jesus is Honored.” The Scripture is Colossians 1:15-22. It would be a great help if you would read ahead. Have a great week and remember that you are loved. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #219

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #219! I think it is safe to say that the Fall weather of a week or so ago was just an anomaly. We kicked it up a notch this past week. Jo and I went to watch some of our young people cheer and play football on Saturday and I can attest to the heat. The good part was the humidity was way down. Thankfully, someone came to the 11:45 game with a tent and invited us under it. (Thanks Ryan and Katie for that reprieve!) It sure made that game much more bearable in the shade of the tent. If the weather report is accurate (which is always questionable) we can expect more of the same this week. Hmmm. I just might have to cancel any and all lunch appointments, or at least make them later. I hear the distant call from a bike!😊 No matter what, I hope you have a good week.

Please pray for our educator of the week: Matt Beckwith. Matt has been teaching at OVMS for two years. He teaches robotics, carpentry, design and modeling. He is also the boys and girls golf coach. Matt is married to Mary (our educator a few weeks ago) and is the father of Kaedance, Akaydia, Kayliana, and Aksel. Fun fact: Matt, Mary and family are hosting Adriana, a foreign exchange student from Madrid, Spain this school year. She is a senior at OVHS. In his spare time Matt likes to fish.😊

I have an urgent request I need to share with you. One of the ministries/missions OVCF supports on a monthly basis is New Beginnings Pregnancy Resource Center. I received a text from someone from OVCF about the desperate need NB has. Here is the text sent to me in its entirety:

• • • We need your help! We are in dire need of diapers sizes 4, 5, and 6 and all sizes of Pull-ups! We are serving more and more families each month and desperately need these diapers! If you could help us with some donations, please message us or drop them off at the center!

A day or two later I received this text:

• • • Did you know that we served 90 different families in the month of August? And in one day, we served an all-time record of 33 families? We are growing! And struggling to keep up with the opportunities in front of us! Could you help us with some donations? We are looking for diaper donations of sizes 4, 5, and 6 and all sizes of Pull-ups! Message us for more details or drop off your donations at the center Mondays or Thursdays, 12-4 pm.

Suffice it to say, New Beginnings needs our help. If you would like to help, contact the center or you may reach out to some of our ladies who volunteer there: Becca Anderson, Sally Carlson, Vicki Hogan, Cindy Shipley, or JuliAnne Wiegand. You can also order from Amazon using the New Beginnings Wish List and it will ship directly to the Center or, due to the hours of operation, you can have them sent here and we will make sure they get to the Center.

Don’t forget our 20th Anniversary scheduled for October 27th at Abram Event Venue!

After the summer lull, our building will be a beehive of activity for the next few weeks.

• • • Ladies Bible Study kicked off its fall study this past Monday. They are doing a 6-week study of Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life by Melissa Spoelstra. If you would like to know more please see Macy Carlson, Sally Carlson, or Hope East.
    • My Wednesday Night Conversations began last week and will meet weekly through October 16th. You are more than welcome to attend. We meet from 6-7 pm. It has been requested that we do a study on some of the cults and religions and what they believe so for the next two or three weeks that will be our focus. If you would like to know more about this topic but are unable to attend, we will be using a book called A Field Guide on False Teaching. It is available on Amazon for $6.

This Sunday is the B-Town Worship Night at Switchyard Park in Bloomington. Food trucks will be there at 4 PM, Worship from 6-8 PM. There is parking and a shuttle from Bloomington South HS. Bring a lawn chair, cooler and blanket and spend the night in worship with brothers and sisters from area churches.

• • • September 29th is a 5th Sunday. The elementary kids will join us for morning worship. The
      nursery and preschool will meet as usual at 10:45.

BIG DAY AHEAD!! Sunday, October 6th the Building Team plans to make a building update! We have received our plans, which have been approved by the state. You won’t want to miss this!

Have I told you not to forget our 20th Anniversary scheduled for October 27th at Abram Event Venue? Did you also know there will be a pitch-in lunch immediately following the service at the venue? All giving that day (unless designated) will go to our building fund.

Sometimes I just can’t believe myself! No, this is not a pat-on-the-back thing. Right after Diana sent last week’s MM, I realized I had forgotten to say anything at all about the significance of that day. She sent the MM on September 11th. I wrote something about it on my Living in the Shadow blog (https://livingintheshadow.ovcf.org/2024/09/11/september-11-5/) but then failed to even mention it here. Such a significant day in our country’s history and I totally spaced it. First, I apologize for forgetting and not asking you to remember those who were innocent bystanders of a cowardly act, as well as those who responded. Second, while I know this country is not perfect, I would not want to live anywhere else. Pray for America, its leaders, and for a spiritual revival. Third, reflect on your freedom-in our country, but mostly in Christ.

I’ll continue my series Feels Like Home this Sunday with The Gospel is Preached. If you would like to read ahead: Colossians 1:3-14 and I Cor. 1:18-25. I look forward to seeing you. You are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #218

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #218! I hope you are having a terrific week so far. One thing seems to be sure: the temps are more Fall-like the past few days. I’m not a big fan of the cooler weather largely because it means winter is around the corner. Yikes! Did I really say that? No matter. I learned a long time ago not to complain about the weather. I can’t change it so I might as well accept it and move on.

Remember to pray for our educator of the week: Gabrielle (Gabby) Corder. Gabby is in her second year of teaching Kindergarten at Gosport Elementary. Gabby is married to Caleb, and this past June they welcomed Charlotte into their world. Last week was her first week back at school. Caleb had the best job: he stayed home and was Mr. Mom to Charlotte.

Here is something to think about. Someone sent this to me as an email and I liked it so well I decided to print it out.

Laziness kills ambition;
Anger kills wisdom;
Fear kills dreams;
Ego kills growth;
Jealousy kills peace;
Doubt kills confidence.
Now read that right to left.

My Wednesday Night Conversations (WNC) begins this Wednesday night at 6:00. I have 13 signed up for the class but there is always room for more. My plan for WNC is for an informal time of study and discussion. This first week is a study/discussion of Next Steps, a course I wrote as a follow-up for new followers of Jesus (adults). It is designed to help the new follower know how to grow deeper in their faith. It will introduce the class to each other and give a one-week buffer for the rest of our study. I have been asked to do a study on some of the cults/other religions we come in contact with. There have been a few other suggestions as well and they will all be discussed by the class. We will be done at 7:00 each night. My plan is to offer the class
until October 9th or the 16th if needed.

The sermon series planned for November is focused on “I’m Thankful…” I will be preaching the first two weeks and Pastor Ryan will preach the last two. My knee replacement is scheduled for November 11th and I know I will be out of commission for at least those two Sundays. If Jo is the true boss of my world, I may be off for the next year.😊She loves having me around so much that she is looking for every opportunity to prolong it. (Believe that and $100 will buy you swamp land in Arizona).

If you have been keeping up with the OVCF world and all things 20th anniversary, you already know some information. Let me share with you what we know so far:

• • • Sunday, October 27th at Abram Event Venue (AEV).
    • One service at 10:00
    • We will be using tables and chairs this time instead of just chairs. Since there is a wedding Saturday night, the venue is not available for us to set up until Sunday morning. We plan to start doing that at 7:00. That allows volunteers to set up then head back home for their families (or take them to breakfast).
    • Pitch-in meal at AEV immediately following the service.
    • There will be a shuttle from the OVCF parking lot to AEV due to the lack of parking spots.
    • A “memory board” with newspaper articles and pictures will bring out some of the history of OVCF, especially to those who may not be familiar.
    • Besides the tables, there will be a major shift in the seating arrangement.
    • There will not be a separate children’s program but arrangements are being made for something to help keep the young people occupied. There will be a place for a nursery.
    • Due to the fact that we are unable to live stream the service from AEV, we plan to prerecord the sermon and communion meditation and then have it go live at 10:00 that Sunday. We did this at Easter and it was well-received.
    • All offering that day will go to the Building Fund unless otherwise designated.

Speaking of the Building Fund!! We do hope to update you on our new addition and the progress we are making with the state approval and architect plans on October 6th . STAY TUNED!

I started my series on Feels Like Home this past Sunday. It continues this Sunday with a message on “Love is Found Here” from the book of Ruth. That sounds long until you look and see Ruth is only 4 short chapters. May I encourage you to read a chapter a day to prepare for this Sunday? I’m convinced if you do read ahead, you will understand the message and learn even more. I am excited about preaching this series. I have an extra special event happening at the end of the series and for the anniversary but I’ll share that when we get closer. 😊

It was good to be back with you Sunday. I enjoy being with people I love. I know I don’t normally point certain people out, but what made it extra special to me was Frances being here for the first time in almost two months. She told me several times when I visited with her that she missed being here. After a stint in the hospital and the rehab facility, it was good to see her walk in with Terrie by her side. For me, it was just good to be here. I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Oh, by the way, we have been having a ton of visitors lately. For those of you who have been visiting and have asked to be put on our mailing list, welcome! Thanks for visiting with us and being interested in what is happening here. We are glad you’re here!

Pastor Bill