Category: OVCF News

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #196

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #196. I’ll probably make some enemies with 4 short words but here goes: Spring Break is over. I do hope you had a restful and good Spring Break and that it hasn’t been too hard getting back into the swing of things this week. Just think: the next one will be much longer. 😊 Can anyone say, “Summer!!”? 

Kelly Sorenson is our Educator of the Week. Kelly is the Director of Transportation for the school system. Her husband, John, is on active duty and is currently home due to an injury. They also have 4 children. 

This past Sunday we were privileged to have Cory and Cassidy Fountain and their 3 children visit with us. They brought us an update on their desired work for Team Expansion in London. Please keep praying for them. 

The biggest event on our calendar is Resurrection Sunday. I know we have been giving you some information the past few weeks but it never hurts to repeat it. So…here goes:

• • Who? Our growing church family 
  • What? Resurrection Sunday worship 
  • Where? Abram Event Venue (one driveway south of us)
  • When? Sunday, March 31st at 10:00 AM.
  • Why? We really want to worship together and know our current building will not allow that so we decided to meet at Abram Event Venue! 
  • Help is needed in set up/tear down.  Saturday evening at 6:00 we will be setting up for Sunday morning. We could use your help in making short work of this. 
  • Help is needed for parking/shuttle service. Parking is limited at the venue so if you can carpool that morning it would be great! If you are able to park at the church lot and either carpool or shuttle that would be very helpful. 
  • We will not have children’s programs or a staffed nursery that morning but hope to have an area for families to use, if needed. Pastor Ryan is putting together goody bags for the young people to have that morning. 
  • All the day’s giving will go to Missions unless otherwise designated. 
  • Thanks for understanding and adjusting to the change in plans. If you have any questions please feel free to ask or call the church office (812.828.9840) 

My current sermon series, Jesus Unfiltered, will be finished on Resurrection Sunday. The two remaining sermons are

• • • Jesus is Our Substitute-Isaiah 52:13-53:10
    • Jesus is Victorious- I Corinthians 15:12-57

A special announcement on what is to follow: I had announced a little over a month or so ago that following this series I would finish the series on Revelation. As I worked on this current series I felt a growing sense of something else taking root in me. 

This current series of Jesus Unfiltered has been a “heavy” type of series, one that has been extra hard to prepare but also to deliver. Included in the next several months are Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and so I wondered about highlighting them. Instead of having those two days with different women and men speaking, I thought I would do more than a one day mention. April will be a character study of:

• • God- “The Creator of It All”
  • Adam- “He Started It!”
  • Eve- “Caught in His Wake”
  • Satan- “The Deceiver” 
  • May will feature different women in the Bible (2 each week) who contrast/complement each other
  • June will feature different men similar in approach as the women. 

My plan right now is to complete Revelation in July and August. I’ll explain more about the whole sermon plan as it gets closer. I’d like to ask you for your prayers for the whole process of designing it and implementing it (research, study and preaching it). 

This coming Sunday will be the last time we will do “We’re Glad You Are Here” on a weekly basis. It will show up in different ways and at different times. I do hope it has ingrained itself into your soul and is more than just a reading-out-loud that we do. Here it is one more time:

WE’RE GLAD YOU ARE HERE!

If you are happy we want to celebrate with you.
If you are tired and need rest;
If you are hurting and need comfort;
If you have failed, feel guilt and shame and wonder if God still loves you;
If you feel you are at the end of your rope and need a lifeline;
If you think you are too great a sinner and feel hopeless;
If you are here but can’t raise your eyes, head, or hands in worship…

That’s okay. We want this to be a place where you find strength to go on.
Let us pray for you, stand beside you and even carry you to God’s throne where you can find new hope. 

After last week’s barrage of YOUTH CORNER additions, there are none this week. That speaks of Spring Break and a bunch of award events before break. We are proud of our young people. Keep up the good work…all of you!! 

I’m going to close this week’s edition of the MM. These next two Sundays are the highlights of the Christian message-the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Please keep them in mind as you go through your day. I love you all and pray you will experience this season in a whole new light. 

Pastor Bill 

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #195

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #195. I hope you are having a good Spring Break, either here or somewhere else. I know a lot of our folks have traveled to parts unknown for family time away, doing all sorts of crazy stuff, or just taking it easy in the hills of Tennessee or elsewhere. Have a great time but please be safe! I’ll look forward to seeing you all when you get back. Now…I hope you will read this all-important, “can’t-do-without-reading” Midweek Message.😊

 The Educator of the week is Betsy Breedlove. Betsy has been with S-OCS for 25 years. Her husband, Chris is co-owner of Elite Electric and they have two sons. Even though she and others are on break, please remember to pray for her.

YOUTH CORNER

I thought “Spring Break, not much to report in the Youth Corner.” Silly me. 

• • Cooper Wood received the Most Improved award for his season on the basketball team “Coop” is on the 5th grade B team. 
  • Charli Wood, Cooper’s older sister, made the “A” team for the Middle School softball team. Pity the…never mind. 😊
  • Tanner Wood took first place in the individual tournament for the OV Elementary Wrestling league. 
  • His brother, Lincoln VanDerMoere, took 3rd. 
  • Looks like it was a Wood-kind of week. 😊 Way to go, all of you, for a job well done. Made mom proud for sure (she sent it to me). 
  • I received a text that Eliza Chambers ended up as the balance beam champion for her age group and was in the Top 10 for the other events. 9th overall score for the state. She also got her personal best all-around score and met her goal for the season of 37 out of 40 (I have no clue what that is!) 😊 That’s pretty good considering she broke her pinky toe the week before. A proud mom sent this to me. 
  • Maddie Sparks was named Defensive MVP for the 5th grade basketball team.
  • Kyson White was named Team MVP for the 6th grade travel basketball team. 
  • His older brother, Kaden, was chosen as Freshman MVP and JV Most Improved. Mom and Dad (Ryan and Karen (Redenbaugh) White have two following in their footsteps). 
  • Tad Nicholson was named MVP for the 6B  basketball team (school/travel team). 

Although she is not in the “Youth Corner” category, several weekends ago Valarie Akerson went to Evansville to compete in a power-lifting meet. Valarie has been competitively lifting for years. In her meet in Evansville she took first place in her age division for lifting. This will qualify her to compete at the Worlds this November in Las Vegas. Congrats Valarie and we wish you well in November. Valarie trains at the Iron Pit in Bloomington. Husband, Wayne, is along for the moral support. 😊

This past Friday we said, “See you later” to a man who was instrumental in starting OVCF in 2004. Chris Wainscott has fought health issues the past few years and Saturday morning, the 2nd, he went home to Jesus. The church hosted the celebration and I gotta tell you, the ladies of the church came through BIG TIME! Many thanks to Madi Arnett, Tiffany Kropack, and Diana for organizing the meal following the service and to every one of the folks who provided food. It was a phenomenal undertaking and you all came through with flying colors. Thank you everyone for your help! 

Did you use a magnet or tape the “We’re Glad You’re Here” snippet to your fridge door or to your mirror or somewhere prominent? Of course you did! 😊

Resurrection Sunday (March 31) information:

• • One service at 10:00 at Abram Event Venue (next door)
  • Parking is limited so you may consider carpooling to the venue or parking at the church lot and carpooling from here or be shuttled. 
  • No children’s programs due to limited space. We will have goody bags with activities for the elementary/preschool-aged kids. We hope to offer an unstaffed nursery area for families to use, if needed.
  • If you would like to help set up/tear down or with the parking/shuttle service please let us know by signing up at the info table. We plan to set up on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. We will also need help to tear down and clean up immediately following the service.
  • The offering that day will go to Missions unless otherwise designated. 
  • We look forward to celebrating the Risen Christ with you that morning. 

Of a more personal nature: 

• • My 66 class will not meet this Wednesday night due to Spring Break. 
  • My sermon for this Sunday is Jesus is Incomparable from is. 7:14; Luke 1:26-38; Jn. 20:30-31 and 21:24-25. 

Cory and Cassidy Fountain will be with us this Sunday to tell about their mission work to London. They have an update to give us since the last time they were here. 

I’m going to close since I know it is Spring Break and many of you are traveling. If you take the time to read this while on break, have fun and be safe. Rest, relax and refuel. I love you all and look forward to seeing you at the earliest possible time. 

Pastor Bill 

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #194

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #194! I know it is probably foolish to say that I hope you missed me but…I hope you missed me.😊 Our trip to Arizona was fun, refreshing, and a great get-away, but it sure was good to sleep in our own bed! Thanks to all who picked up the slack and also prayed for us while we were gone. Besides spending time Dave and Susan (our friends we went to see), we also met a longtime blogging friend and director of the MAK Foundation (Floyd) in Scottsdale for lunch on Thursday. Dave was an excellent tour guide as we made our way to Sedona and then the Grand Canyon. Sedona was a beautiful place, but one cannot find the words to describe the Canyon. Just WOW! As I stood at the edge (but not too close), all I could think of were the words of the psalmist: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” (Ps. 19:1). Another one was from Psalm 8:3-4 “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers-the moon and the stars you set in place-what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” Pictures don’t do it justice. We had a great trip. The downside was that it was 70+ degrees when we left; the next day here it was in the 30s with a wind chill of 20. Sort of makes being a snowbird appealing, although I have absolutely no plans of being one. 😊

Remember to pray for our Educator of the Week, Norm Warner. Norm is the Director of Technology for S-OCS. He and his wife Lori are longtime residents of Owen County and are the parents of 3 boys. Lori works at Cook.

Did you know our very own Joe Pavich was honored this week during Athletic Trainer Appreciation Day? Here is what Kris Samick wrote about him in the Friday Fun Facts of S-OCS: We are SO fortunate to have Joe Pavich as our Athletic Trainer for Owen Valley High School! He does a fantastic job taking care of our student-athletes and is proactive in his approach to ensure their safety. Specializing in training, prevention, and treatment of injury, Athletic Trainers can handle emergency and non-emergency situations that come out of physical activity or sports. Way to go Joe! We are proud of you.

YOUTH CORNER

• Back in MM#183 I shined the light on Annalei Dow, the daughter of Chad and Terri Dow. Annalei plans to attend the University of Minnesota on a diving scholarship. But there is more to the story! She is not just a top diver but also a top student. She opened the mail the other day and has been awarded an academic scholarship as well. We are so proud of you Annalei!
• Don’t tell anyone, but Aubrey Mangia not only was part of the 7th grade girls basketball team (they won the WIC for 7th grade), she also celebrated her 13th birthday this past Sunday. Congrats on both Aubrey.
• Charli Wood was awarded “Most Encouraging” for the cheer season. What an honor Charli!

Part of my vacation is relaxing and part of my relaxing is reading. I read one book while I was gone: Just Show Up by Drew Dyck, and then when I got back I read one that I ordered as a result of reading that one. It was called Glad You’re Here by Walker Hayes (Crazy Like Applebee’s singer) and Craig Allen Cooper. Little did I know they both went along with the theme of the past series of sermons (WELCOME HOME…where). After reading them I put together something we all read together this past Sunday. I thought I would put it here so you can read it and maybe post it where you can see it:

WE’RE GLAD YOU ARE HERE!

If you are happy we want to celebrate with you.
If you are tired and need rest;
If you are hurting and need comfort;
If you have failed, feel guilt and shame and wonder if God still loves you;
If you feel you are at the end of your rope and need a lifeline;
If you think you are too great a sinner and feel hopeless;
If you are here but can’t raise your eyes, head, or hands in worship…

That’s okay. We want this to be a place where you find strength to go on.
Let us pray for you, stand beside you and even carry you to God’s throne where you can find new hope.

I’m sure we will tweak it in the weeks to come but please start familiarizing yourself with it. Eventually it will come as natural as breathing.

Here is some information you can file away:

• Spring Break begins this coming weekend, March 10-17. Many of you will be traveling. Please be safe and enjoy your time away.
• Cory and Cassidy Fountain will be with us on March 17th to update us on their move to London to do mission work.
• Resurrection Sunday services will be at Abram Event Venue. We will have one service at 10:00 a.m. More information will be coming!!!

My sermon this Sunday is Jesus is God (The Ant-Man heresy). I can give you one hint on the topic but I hope it won’t keep you away. 😊 One word: Trinity.

Remember to turn your clocks ahead this Saturday night!

Have a great week. I love you all and it was so good to see you Sunday.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #193

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #193, your “go to” place for all things OVCF. Okay…that is a slight exaggeration but it was nice to say it. 😊  Seriously, thanks for joining me for a few minutes. 

Jo & I are leaving for Arizona tomorrow for a week’s vacation! 😊 After the weather of the past couple of days, it will be good to have a change of pace. Speaking of weather, would someone please tell me what that white stuff was that fell on Friday afternoon and evening? I thought we were going to get off easy this winter, but this one snowfall changed all of that.  I should have known though. Tami looked at her Facebook memories and it has snowed the last 3 years on that date. In fact, one year ago school was canceled for snow. Maybe we can just leave out February 16th on next year’s calendar?? The only snow we may encounter is at the Grand Canyon, but our friend, Dave said that is supposed to be Wednesday, the 28th, and we will be gone. Dodged that bullet! 

Remember to pray for our Educator of the Week, Aaron LaGrange. Aaron has been the Assistant Principal at SES for 3 years. He is married to Sarah and they have two boys, Sawyer and Walker. Aaron has served as Principal at OVMS, as a Sheriff’s deputy, and is involved in many programs serving the schools and Owen County, including Backpack Buddies. 😊

The Educator for the Week of the 25th is Brady Tragesser. Brady is the Director of the Special Education program in the S-OCS system. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have 7 children and also run the Cup of Joy food truck.  

Pastor Ryan will be preaching this Sunday as he concludes the series on WELCOME HOME…where…  

• • The Gospel is Preached
  • Jesus is Honored
  • Grace is Offered
  • Lives are Changed
  • Obedience is Encouraged

These last two have been Part 1 and 2 of “Tough Challenges are Given.” 

Starting Sunday, March 3rd, I will start a new series called Jesus Unfiltered. There are some (false) teachings about Jesus that are being heard and taught in the pulpit and media, so I thought it would be good to tackle them. It is a brief series that will take us through March. Here is a brief summary of the sermons:

• • • Jesus is Real. People are saying, “Jesus is Woke.” What in the world does that mean? Is it true? Who is Jesus? What is the truth we are supposed to believe? 
    • Scripture: I Cor. 15:1-9
    • Jesus is God.  There are some who believe that Jesus is not God. I have subtitled this The Ant-Man Heresy. I hope you will come to find out why it is called that. 
    • Scripture: Mt. 3:13-17; 26:36-46
    • Jesus is Incomparable. His birth (Virgin Birth) and His life were like none other. People are trying to “dumb down” Jesus and do away with His uniqueness. 
    • Scripture: Is. 7:14; Luke 1:26-38; Jn. 20:30-31; 21:24-25
    • Jesus is our Substitute. Did you know that Jesus suffering on the cross is being called Cosmic Child Abuse? What we need to ask is where would we be without the cross? 
    • Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-53:10
    • Jesus is Alive. Rumor has it that the resurrection was a hoax. One progressive says Paul did not believe in a physical resurrection. We can only have one side-fact or fiction. What better topic to preach about than His resurrection on Resurrection Sunday?  
    • Scripture: I Cor. 15: 12-58

Those are my plans for March. The “loose” plan for April and May is to finish the series on Revelation…unless something else hits the radar. 😊 In all seriousness, I do owe it to you all to finish Revelation. 

I’m going to close this edition of the MM. Jo and I have been looking forward to getting away for this week to visit friends and see some sights in Arizona. She loved going to Alaska because she had my undivided attention. I knew no one and that was nice for her. She has put up with a lot in our 50.8 years of marriage, and perhaps the greatest is having to share me and have her semi-workaholic husband be gone so much. I am grateful for the elders giving me the chance to get away. I am grateful to Pastor Ryan and Diana who will fill in the gaps while I am gone. I am grateful to my Route 66 class who graciously agreed to give me a two week reprieve from teaching. 😊 I am wondering if Tami will miss us, especially her dad who loves to bug her. Right Ms. Grandi? And I am grateful for you. I will miss you, but realize a change in the routine is good for all. My heart hurts for some of you, for life situations you find yourself in, but just know that even when gone I will be praying for you.  Your prayers for our safe travel and relaxation would be appreciated.

There will be no MM next week!!  

See you, Lord willing, Sunday, March 3rd, if not sooner. I love you all. 

Pastor Bill 

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #192

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #192! I am excited to welcome you to this edition of the MM with these words: HERE COMES THE SUN! I have to admit I was drooling at the sunshine this past week. Sunday was especially beautiful. Someone asked me this week if I had ridden my bike outside the past week or so. I told them, “No it is on a trainer inside. If I rode outside and then had to go back inside I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I’ll wait.” But this sure gets the anticipation going. 

Remember to pray for our educators of the week: Tom Arthur is an Owen Valley graduate and is in his first year as Principal at OVMS. His wife is Penny and they have two children, Tara and Jackson.  Duane Potts is in his first year as the Assistant Principal at the Middle School after 20+ years in the classroom. His wife, Tricia, teaches kindergarten at MCES. They have two daughters, Kelsey and Kayla, both who are still in college. I know Tom & Duane would appreciate your prayers.

YOUTH CORNER

The youth corner has some slim pickings this week. 

• The only one I have heard about is Liam Hogan. Liam was chosen to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the school board meeting last week. Liam’s grandparents, Dick and Vicki Hogan are deeply involved at OVCF, especially with the worship team ministry. Speaking from experience, you can’t dismiss a grandparent’s pride and joy when it comes to their grandchildren. 😊

• Here is one for the funny pages. Three weeks ago I was standing in the hallway chatting when Marci Arnold (in Preschool class and also sees me at GES when I read) and her sister, Ellie, came up to me wiping their brows. Marci’s hair was plastered to her head with sweat. She started wiping the side of her head and forehead with both hands saying, “Pastor Bill it was so hot in our classroom today. We need a fan! You need to get us a fan.” So, I said, “Oh yeah? What if I don’t?” “Then,” she said, “You’re fired!” 😊 Fortunately, Diana found out why it was so hot in the classroom. The thermostat got bumped up to 80°! I may be off the hook! But you gotta love the precociousness of a kindergarten kid. 😊😊

• Remember: if you know if one of our young people are honored or do something for someone else, please let me know.
  

Speaking of our young people: don’t forget Hilltop Christian Camp registration is now open. Every summer we send a ton of campers to spend time at Hilltop. There is something for all ages. Some of you may be saying, “Hilltop? What is Hilltop?” It is a church camp in Brown County that we support financially each month as part of our missions giving, plus we send campers there. Information and registration forms are at the info table or you can register online at hilltopchristiancamp.com. Please keep in mind discounts are in place for early registration. An added bonus! On March 3rd, Ryan and Mala Croft, the directors of Hilltop, will be with us for both services to give a brief recap of camp. After their recap in the second service, they will be with the young people for a presentation (and making s’mores). Please mark your calendar!! 

The Connections Women’s Ministry has an event scheduled for Saturday, the 24th at 2:00. It is an Over 40 vs. Under 40 Trivia Showdown. You are asked to bring a snack to share and a willingness to allow the Over 40 crowd to win. Oops! I wasn’t supposed to add that latter part. 😊 Sounds like fun though. Contact Macy Carlson if you have any questions. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed preparing and preaching this series WELCOME HOME…where…

• The Gospel is Preached
• Jesus is Honored
• Grace is Offered
• Lives are Changed
• Obedience is Encouraged

These next two weeks were not part of my original plans but with there being two weeks and the rest of Colossians 3 I thought it would be good to continue the topic. The next two weeks are Tough Challenges are Given. It is actually in two parts. I will be preaching Part 1 (Col. 3:5-11) and Pastor Ryan will be preaching Part 2 (3:12-17).  Thanks also to Westin & Cassie Linville for the WELCOME HOME mat at the front door. 

Jo and I plan to leave for Arizona on Tuesday, the 20th, to visit with our friends, Dave and Susan Waechter and to also pay a personal visit to the folks behind the MAK Foundation (they have been so generous in their support of OVCF) to tell them thanks in person. A letter has been sent each time the church has received a donation, but there is something to be said for a personal thank you. We will be back, Lord willing, late on the 27th. Besides the Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix area, we also plan to visit Scottsdale, Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Dave said there is a possibility of rain due to the weather system in California. Prayers for safe travel and good weather would be much appreciated. One major announcement as a result (besides Pastor Ryan preaching):

• My Route 66 class will be cancelled for the 21st (gone) and 28th (jetlag and prep time).

My sermon series for March will be Jesus Unfiltered.  I’ll share more with you in next week’s MM. Then I finish Revelation. Then again… 😊

Have a great rest of the week. See you Sunday. Love you all.

Pastor Bill