MIDWEEK MESSAGE #117<\/b><\/p>\n
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #117.\u00a0 I hope you are having a good week so far. This week will bring so many changes!\u00a0 School is starting so traffic patterns will change; teachers will be excitedly welcoming new students; students will be \u201cexcitedly\u201d getting up early and starting new classes; and parents will have mixed emotions as their young \u2018uns take off for school.\u00a0 I just hope you all have a great year!<\/p>\n
The start of the school year seems to be getting earlier and earlier. I know I\u2019m old (no comment from the peanut gallery necessary) but I can still remember (surprise, surprise) when school ended just before Memorial Day and began after Labor Day.\u00a0 Man, those days are long gone! I can remember postponing summer vacations until August because baseball was over by then. Ya can\u2019t do that now!\u00a0 Unless you want to miss a week or two of school. IMHO some things change, but not always for the better. \u2639<\/p>\n
Every week we pray for an educator of the week. This week our educator is Mr. Andy Cline, the superintendent of SOCS. Mr. Cline has one year under his belt in our school system and I look forward to his influence playing a big part this year. Please join me in praying for Mr. Cline.\u00a0 Each week I plan to remind you of our educator so you can pray for him\/her.<\/p>\n
This coming Sunday is a big one for the OVCF children\u2019s department. It is MOVE-UP SUNDAY. To repeat what I have written about in the past couple of MMs:<\/p>\n
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There will be an added bonus for the one moving into 7th grade. You are invited to attend ROOTS youth group, which begins August 14th and meets from 5-7 pm. If you have any questions, please see Pastor Ryan. He is the man with the answers!<\/p>\n
I spoke with Ryan on Monday and he still has a few open spots for the ROOTS excursion to Koteewi Aerial Park on Saturday. After a couple of days of stress from school starting, youth (or parents) may be ready for some \u201cblowout\u201d fun. The cost is $30\/person, but Ryan needs to know ASAP. This is always a fun outing and they stop to eat on the way home (I think it is pizza). I like the order of that: high-wire fun then eat! I know my stomach and the other way around WOULD. NOT. WORK! \u263a<\/p>\n
Not to be left out: on August 14th starting at 5:00 (pm of course), the adults are invited to attend a meeting about small groups. Due to ROOTS using the auditorium, we will be using the children\u2019s addition room for our meeting. Wayne Akerson and Steve Pendleton will both be presenting their ideas about small groups and you will have an opportunity to sign-up for one if you would like to. I would like to reiterate: even if you did not sign-up originally, you are more than welcome to come and listen and then decide.\u00a0 I look forward to seeing you there.<\/p>\n
In last week\u2019s MM I gave a shout-out to those who run our live stream, and then was privileged to read a letter from the pastor who visited us the previous week. I\u2019d like to give a shout-out to our biggest bunch of volunteers, who along with the youth moving to the adult worship, will also be honored. There are over 30 teachers, helpers, nursery workers, and worship leaders who make Sunday morning in the children\u2019s addition a \u201chappening place.\u201d \u00a0 Here are their names:<\/p>\n
I should not have to say how important these folks are to our children\u2019s program.\u00a0 I spoke about the \u201cunseen and unheard\u201d aspect of the live stream folks. Week-in and week-out this group of dedicated volunteers make a commitment to teach our young people about Jesus. They miss adult worship and often go unrecognized for their faithfulness on Sunday. I don\u2019t want that to happen! So THANK YOU to all the volunteers in our Sunday morning youth program.\u00a0 You are not forgotten! \u263a<\/p>\n
One last thought: I finish my \u201c7 Cancers\u201d series this Sunday and begin one called \u201c8 Cures\u201d on the 14th. I have appreciated your kind words about this series which has not been an easy one to prepare for or to preach. As I was reading Tuesday morning during my Encounter Time from Isaiah 31, I ran across this verse: \u201cWoe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!\u201d (Verse 1). I was reminded of Psalm 20: 7 which says, \u201cSome trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.\u201d (ESV).\u00a0 The matter of dealing with the cancers we face is a matter of control. Who controls us? Will I allow an emotion, a substance, a priority, or some outside influence to have control over me? Ephesians 5:18 tells me I need to allow the Holy Spirit to have control and influence over me.<\/p>\n
After a break for the summer and the church directory being updated, the elders want you to know they are committed to praying for you and have resumed their practice of dividing up the directory to pray for everyone! Love you all.<\/p>\n
Pastor Bill<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MIDWEEK MESSAGE #117 Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #117.\u00a0 I hope you are having a good week so far. This week will bring so many changes!\u00a0 School is starting so traffic patterns will change; teachers will be excitedly welcoming new students; students will be \u201cexcitedly\u201d getting up early and starting new classes; and parents … <\/p>\n