Midweek message #70<\/p>\n
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #70.\u00a0 I really appreciate you taking the time to let me into your life as you read this.\u00a0 I hope your week has been a good one so far.<\/p>\n
With school back in session, we want to emphasize the importance of prayer for our school\/college administrators, teachers, staff & students. This past Sunday I mentioned during the prayer time that we are going to start giving you the name of an educator(s) to pray for during the week.\u00a0 I sincerely hope you will take the time to remember our school personnel during the week. Look for the first name this week. \u00a0This is such a crazy time and for many, a trying time.\u00a0 Patience, understanding, and a spirit of cooperation is so necessary. Agree or disagree with some of the policies still does not justify a rebellious and spiteful attitude. As followers of Jesus, let\u2019s set the example of being servants and being Christ-like in all things.<\/p>\n
What I am about to share with you is really, really important\u2026especially for those of you who watch the service live stream<\/em>. Due to some scheduling conflicts, we will only be streaming the first service this coming Sunday. The two who normally do the live stream for second service have conflicts which could not be avoided.\u00a0 So the first service only will be live streamed<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 It will be posted to the FB page and YouTube as always. If you happen to miss the live stream as it happens, you can watch it either at 10:45, or you can watch it sometime later. Or you can come see it live!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 Just kidding. I do appreciate that it is live streamed. We normally average around 35-40 folks per week who watch from home.\u00a0 Karen Turner has done a fantastic job of being really committed to doing the first service and Joe Pavich has been crucial to the success of the second service. \u00a0Thanks Karen and Joe!<\/p>\n That brings me to something which I need to share. This shows how much we need some others to step up to help.\u00a0 For example, when Karen is unable to be here for some reason, Ryan not only does the live stream, he plays the drums!\u00a0 No, he doesn\u2019t have the iPad in one hand and the drum sticks in the other.\u00a0 He\u2019s talented, but I\u2019m not sure he is that talented! \ud83d\ude42 But the scheduling conflict shows our need for more folks to help.\u00a0 If you are willing to learn, you can be taught. And honestly, we need you! If you are interested, please see Ryan or Joe Pavich (contact the church office for his number) to express your desire to help. Joe will be glad to teach you and walk you through it. You will not be handed an iPad and then told, \u201cHere you go!\u201d then be left on your own.\u00a0 Do I have any \u201ctakers\u201d out there?<\/p>\n I\u2019d also like to remind you again about the upcoming visit from Mike, Trisha, and Ryan Laws. \u00a0We have a picnic\/pitch-in scheduled for the 28th<\/sup> at 6:00 at the church shelter. If the weather doesn\u2019t permit that (too hot or raining) we will have it indoors.\u00a0 This will be a fantastic way to meet this wonderful family so you can ask questions and then enjoy Sunday without saying to yourself, \u201cI would really like to talk to them.\u201d They have a tremendous testimony to share about God\u2019s faithfulness through their whole ordeal of the kidney donation and transplant. There is so much more to the story! Jo and I were able to visit them last Thursday evening at their home and we had a fantastic couple of hours talking. (The burgers and mac & cheese weren\u2019t bad either!)\u00a0 It was hard for me to believe it was time to go\u2026close to 3 hours later. We have decided to change our approach that morning and I believe it will much more beneficial. You won\u2019t have a chance to meet their daughter, Brooklyn. She will be starting at West Virginia University this weekend. We are hoping to somehow make a video or find a way she can share her thoughts.<\/p>\n One thing I ask: please sign up for the pitch-in the next two Sundays. <\/strong>Jo and I will be providing the burgers and hot dogs and would like to have an idea of how many to plan for.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget our mission focus for this month is Backpack Buddies. This is a food program begun a few years ago and this past year it served over 200 students from pre-k through high school with food to take home over the weekend and during breaks. This particular program is close to Linda St. John\u2019s heart and she has made a display showing options of what is needed on the back table. Diana has also printed out a list of items that you can refer to when shopping. This will go through the end of the month so please consider helping in any way you can.<\/p>\n Have you ever noticed how close and attached you get to people? Pastor Ryan\u2019s schedule this summer has been all upside-down with camp and his visits with his dad and now his time away from the office with his family. I think I speak for Diana and myself when I say we miss him around the office!<\/p>\n I hope you are continuing to read the gospel of Mark each day to prepare yourself for Sunday\u2019s sermon. We will be in chapter 7 this week.<\/p>\n Please be in prayer for the Brandon Staley family. He was an EMT who suffered a heart attack and passed away on the way to the hospital, while administering aid to some young people in the ambulance. He was 46 and leaves behind a wife (LaVonne) and a son (Logan) and two grandchildren. \u00a0His last words were, \u201cTake care of these kids (those in the ambulance).\u201d He is a hero in my book.<\/p>\n I could fill up the rest of the MM with mindless chatter, but you would notice it is just that. You might even say, \u201cWOW! Miracles still happen. Pastor Bill ran out of (meaningful) words to say.\u201d\u00a0 So rather than give you an opportunity to say that, I\u2019ll just close.\u00a0 I do hope you have a terrific rest of the week.\u00a0 Remember I love you but Jesus loves you even more.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pastor Bill<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Midweek message #70 Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #70.\u00a0 I really appreciate you taking the time to let me into your life as you read this.\u00a0 I hope your week has been a good one so far. With school back in session, we want to emphasize the importance of prayer for our school\/college administrators, … <\/p>\n