{"id":10166,"date":"2021-12-15T13:02:38","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T18:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/?p=10166"},"modified":"2021-12-15T13:02:38","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T18:02:38","slug":"midweek-message-7-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/2021\/12\/midweek-message-7-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Midweek Message 12\/15\/2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">MIDWEEK MESSAGE #87<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #87.\u00a0 Thanks for giving me some time during your busy holiday preparations. Alas, I will be \u201cout of your hair\u201d (no comments please) J for the next couple of weeks. My plan is for this to be the last MM for 2021 to give you a break, give Diana a break from her editing and sending, and you a break from me bothering you. J\u00a0 So I hope you will take some time to really read this and check out what it is in it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The big item on the agenda is a huge reminder to you. Please remember that we will have one service on the 26<sup>th<\/sup>, the day after Christmas. The service will be at 10:00 and, as always, will be live streamed just in case you have those \u201cafter Christmas blues\u201d i.e. fatigue and are not able to make it. If you do the live stream, may I encourage you to make it a family affair?\u00a0 I promise I won\u2019t preach longer than 2 hours.\u00a0 Say what?\u00a0 I can assure you that won\u2019t happen under any scenario. J \u00a0Besides, Jo, Tami and I are planning on leaving after the service to spend Christmas in Ohio so I\u2019m guessing if I preached that long they would leave me behind.\u00a0 <u>Again\u2026one service at 10:00 on December 26<sup>th<\/sup>. <\/u><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I also want to remind you about our inclement weather plans. I know looking out the window it doesn\u2019t look anything like bad weather, but we live in Indiana and you know that can change on a dime.\u00a0 Here is the inclement weather information:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We will send a mass email about any changes.<\/li>\n<li>We will post the info to our Facebook group (if you are not a member of the group, search Owen Valley Christian Fellowship and request to join) and page (you can follow it at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship-Spencer, IN).<\/li>\n<li>We have a group of volunteers who will call or text you!<\/li>\n<li>If in person services are not possible, we will plan to offer a live stream service at 10 AM via Facebook and YouTube.<\/li>\n<li>Please be sure we have current contact info (email\/phone) for you if you want to be notified! Please call the church office at 812.828.9840 or email Diana at <a href=\"mailto:secretary@ovcf.org\">secretary@ovcf.org<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Most of all we want you to stay safe and not get out in bad weather.\u00a0 There are some of us who live in town (some of the worship team, Pastor Ryan and myself) who will do all we can to make sure the live stream happens. \u00a0In fact, we would prefer you stay home and stay safe than try to venture out.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The church office will be closed from December 24<sup>th<\/sup> (Friday) through December 27<sup>th<\/sup> (Monday). The church office be closed but we will still have worship on the 26<sup>th<\/sup>.\u00a0 Have I told you it will be at 10:00 that Sunday?\u00a0 Just making sure. You know how old people\u2019s memories can be. (Mine not yours).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When I asked Pastor Ryan if there is anything he wanted me to include in the MM he said, \u201cNothing really, except to remind the youth of the Christmas party\/final ROOTS of the semester this coming Sunday.\u201d So you have been reminded. And since I am guessing most of the youth don\u2019t read this, I hope you parents who do will remind your Jr\/Sr High students of the party. He has something good on the docket for them. Any questions? Please contact Pastor Ryan.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This past week I read an article entitled <em>4 Christmas Killers for Ministry Leaders.<\/em> I thought it was a very pointed article for ministry leaders but as I read it I also thought it would be good for all to read. I am not going to reprint it in its entirety but I thought I would share some of the main thoughts with you.\u00a0 Pete Scazzero, the author, is writing from a ministry leader standpoint. He contends that for years he preached the incredible message of the incarnation, but was spiritually dry inside. He says we can blame the culture or the expectations of people around us, but the trap of dryness is an easy trap to fall into. Here are the four \u201cChristmas killers\u201d he mentions:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong><u>Rushing<\/u><\/strong>. Pete writes, \u201cAs we are rushing, our family and friends get the leftovers because we are depleted physically, emotionally, and spiritually.\u201d That really hits all of us doesn\u2019t it?\u00a0 How often have you found yourself just depleted at the end of the day and by the time Christmas day rolls around you have had enough? Slow down this Christmas season.<\/li>\n<li><u> <\/u>I know for me, I was always told Christmas and Easter were perfect times to see the church grow. So special events were planned to help that along. But along with that mindset comes anxiety. What happens if it doesn\u2019t work? What happens if the church doesn\u2019t see new people?\u00a0 I have to agree with Pete on this: \u201cThings aren\u2019t going to be perfect this Christmas.\u201d I am not a perfectionist, but I do like things to go well.\u00a0 Relax. God\u2019s got this.<\/li>\n<li><strong><u>Ignoring God\u2019s limits.<\/u><\/strong> There are only so many hours in a day: 24.\u00a0 We get weary and spend an enormous amount of energy, money and time in getting things done.\u00a0 We can get so tired that we aren\u2019t any good to anyone. Listen to the Father. Ask Him to give you the strength to do what <em>needs<\/em> to be done and to help you know when to stop.<\/li>\n<li><u><\/u> Pete writes to the pastor and says, \u201cIt\u2019s easy to forget our most important priority in ministry: to remain deeply connected with the Father, those close to you, and yourself, amidst all the pressure swirling around us.\u201d For me, it is easy to forget what is most important during this season. Sermons to prepare. People to visit. Notes to write. Things to attend. They can all serve to \u201cunfocus\u201d me on what is really important. I\u2019d like to think we all struggle with that. Let\u2019s not forget to stop and spend time with Jesus. It is, after all, His special day and this season is to be all about Him.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Well\u2026hope those help you this Christmas season. People are fond of saying during this season that \u201cJesus is the Reason for the Season.\u201d I know what they are trying to say but I think differently.\u00a0 I like to say, \u201cJesus is the Meaning of the Season; we are the reason.\u201d\u00a0 He came as a baby for me and you to save us from our sin because we were unable to do so. That makes us the reason. He gives the meaning to the season. I pray you will have a meaningful and joy-filled Christmas. I love you and if I never received another gift I would be totally content. God gave me a great gift 16 years ago when He gave me you. Merry Christmas from me and Jo (and Tami). We don\u2019t send cards so please accept this as our card to you.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Pastor Bill<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MIDWEEK MESSAGE #87 &nbsp; Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #87.\u00a0 Thanks for giving me some time during your busy holiday preparations. Alas, I will be \u201cout of your hair\u201d (no comments please) J for the next couple of weeks. My plan is for this to be the last MM for 2021 to give you &hellip; <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/2021\/12\/midweek-message-7-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2\/\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-midweekmessage","category-ovcf-news","nodate","item-wrap"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10166"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10167,"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10166\/revisions\/10167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ovcf.org\/ovcf_wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}