December 2024 - Volume 56 - Number 12
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Thanksgiving. It’s a time of year we all look forward to, for various reasons. For students, it means a few days off school (which may or may not be a blessing for their parents). For most of those employed, it means some time off work. For nearly everyone, it means a great meal with family and friends. We often look forward to a time of relaxation. But have you ever stopped to consider how many of us celebrate thanksgiving? Here is a partial list of many of the activities engaged in on Thanksgiving.
Watch the parade on television (unless you travel to New York City to watch it live).
Watch an endless stream of football games.
Spend more time to prepare a meal than it does to consume it.
Sit in a comfortable chair, loosen our belt, and take a nap.
Travel over the river and through the woods, and then back again.
Imagine a dozen different ways to eat leftover turkey.
Plot our strategy for Black Friday to be at the most stores in the least amount of time.
Play outside if the weather is nice, or play in the snow if it decides to make an appearance.
And a host of other activities I cannot think of.
Are you worn out yet? Thanksgiving may be a busy day, but it is still a wonderful day. I hope you have a good one. And in the midst of it all, don’t forget to offer some thanks to the One who gives us a reason to be thankful.
A reason to give thanks. Thanks to your faithfulness and overwhelming generosity, we are able to pay off the loan we took out to fix, repair, and upgrade the window. Now, as the sun shines in through the window on Sunday morning to brighten our worship, and as the lights shine out through the window at night to bless our community, we can rejoice that we are debt free.
Looking Ahead.
Serve at the Community for Christ Assistance Center November 30, from 9:00am to 2:00pm (or however much time you can donate).
Dec. 6, Christmas in the Village. Would you like to prepare a crock of soup, or serve dinner to the community, or decorate the float, or ride on the float? There is still time to sign up at the Connection Center.
Ladies’ Cookie/Candy Exchange, Dec. 8 from 3:00 to 5:00pm.
Collect Christmas items for the residents of Timber Point and Golden Good Shepherd by Dec. 15. Please leave your unwrapped items in the box or basket in the overflow area.
Coming in January
We will begin a six-week study on the Eldership on January 16 and continue each Thursday through February 20. This will be the first of four such studies over the next few years. Anyone in the congregation is invited to be part of this study. Beginning in 2028, anyone who desires to be an elder must have completed this four-part study. However, the study is for anyone in the congregation who desires to understand more clearly and completely the roles and expectations of the eldership.
Several years ago, we established a campaign called Forging Our Future. We identified a vision, mission statement, and a Path to Discipleship. In the intervening years, we have let part of the campaign slide a bit. We want to revive the four Teams that lead our Path to Discipleship: Connect, Grow, Serve, Share. In January, we will make available a short quiz you can take to identify the Team you are best equipped to join. Be praying about your involvement in this campaign and take the quiz when it is available. We will provide further training once you commit to a Team.
Thanks for reading,
Rick
Thanksgiving. It’s a time of year we all look forward to, for various reasons. For students, it means a few days off school (which may or may not be a blessing for their parents). For most of those employed, it means some time off work. For nearly everyone, it means a great meal with family and friends. We often look forward to a time of relaxation. But have you ever stopped to consider how many of us celebrate thanksgiving? Here is a partial list of many of the activities engaged in on Thanksgiving.
Watch the parade on television (unless you travel to New York City to watch it live).
Watch an endless stream of football games.
Spend more time to prepare a meal than it does to consume it.
Sit in a comfortable chair, loosen our belt, and take a nap.
Travel over the river and through the woods, and then back again.
Imagine a dozen different ways to eat leftover turkey.
Plot our strategy for Black Friday to be at the most stores in the least amount of time.
Play outside if the weather is nice, or play in the snow if it decides to make an appearance.
And a host of other activities I cannot think of.
Are you worn out yet? Thanksgiving may be a busy day, but it is still a wonderful day. I hope you have a good one. And in the midst of it all, don’t forget to offer some thanks to the One who gives us a reason to be thankful.
A reason to give thanks. Thanks to your faithfulness and overwhelming generosity, we are able to pay off the loan we took out to fix, repair, and upgrade the window. Now, as the sun shines in through the window on Sunday morning to brighten our worship, and as the lights shine out through the window at night to bless our community, we can rejoice that we are debt free.
Looking Ahead.
Serve at the Community for Christ Assistance Center November 30, from 9:00am to 2:00pm (or however much time you can donate).
Dec. 6, Christmas in the Village. Would you like to prepare a crock of soup, or serve dinner to the community, or decorate the float, or ride on the float? There is still time to sign up at the Connection Center.
Ladies’ Cookie/Candy Exchange, Dec. 8 from 3:00 to 5:00pm.
Collect Christmas items for the residents of Timber Point and Golden Good Shepherd by Dec. 15. Please leave your unwrapped items in the box or basket in the overflow area.
Coming in January
We will begin a six-week study on the Eldership on January 16 and continue each Thursday through February 20. This will be the first of four such studies over the next few years. Anyone in the congregation is invited to be part of this study. Beginning in 2028, anyone who desires to be an elder must have completed this four-part study. However, the study is for anyone in the congregation who desires to understand more clearly and completely the roles and expectations of the eldership.
Several years ago, we established a campaign called Forging Our Future. We identified a vision, mission statement, and a Path to Discipleship. In the intervening years, we have let part of the campaign slide a bit. We want to revive the four Teams that lead our Path to Discipleship: Connect, Grow, Serve, Share. In January, we will make available a short quiz you can take to identify the Team you are best equipped to join. Be praying about your involvement in this campaign and take the quiz when it is available. We will provide further training once you commit to a Team.
Thanks for reading,
Rick
YOUTH
Christmas Gifts for Timber Point
The Missions Committee is leading a project to collect Christmas gifts for residents of Timber Point and Golden Good Shepherd. We will be collecting unwrapped items through December 15th. Items may be left in the box/basket in the overflow area. Some suggested items include: body wash (for males and females), hand and body cream, coloring books, large print puzzle books/sudoku/word searches, magazines (Cars, Hunting, etc.), pens, pencils, colored pencils, markers, crayons, Little Debbie cakes/snacks, gum, slipper socks with grips (all sizes), long necklaces, men’s watches, nail polish.
The Missions Committee is leading a project to collect Christmas gifts for residents of Timber Point and Golden Good Shepherd. We will be collecting unwrapped items through December 15th. Items may be left in the box/basket in the overflow area. Some suggested items include: body wash (for males and females), hand and body cream, coloring books, large print puzzle books/sudoku/word searches, magazines (Cars, Hunting, etc.), pens, pencils, colored pencils, markers, crayons, Little Debbie cakes/snacks, gum, slipper socks with grips (all sizes), long necklaces, men’s watches, nail polish.
