Prime Timer’s Planning Meeting
You are invited to a short but important planning meeting for our Prime Timer’s ministry. Covid-19 has kept us sidelined, but we hope conditions are improving so we can restart this ministry at the first of the year. If you would like to help plan an activities calendar for 2022 come to the fellowship hall after worship on October 31st around 11:15. After the meeting, we will go have lunch offsite. If you have questions or are ready to commit to the planning meeting, contact Bill Videtto, bjvidetto@gmail.com or Pastor Martin, martinmoore55@gmail.com.
Oktoberfest Celebration - A Huge Success!
Thank you to all who prayed for good weather and all those who participated in making the Oktoberfest of 2021 a great success. Please remember that this was just a rebuilding year as early on we were not sure we would even be able to gather. With the uncertainty earlier in the year it is truly a blessing for our congregation. Food plus fellowship always make for a spectacular time.
Many many thanks to all. And looking forward to a bigger and better 2022 Oktoberfest
The Unadorned Numbers Story
- Many estimate that there was well over 200 people who attended and joined the fun.
- More than 240 brats and 70 hot dogs were consumed.
- No body knows for sure how much potato salad and beans were eaten. I do have it on good authority that over 14 pounds of German potato salad was devoured within the first hour.
- Sauerkraut started out as 50 pounds of cabbage and was turned into its glorious bratwurst accompaniment totaling 65 quarts, 45-50 were used on Saturday. Special thanks to the “Lunch Ladies” who are a subcommittee of Oktoberfest foods.
- The beer that was made by church council was all gone first but luckily 3 more kegs were on hand from East Texas Brewery. All of that hard work provided by Alan Cumming and Blaine Davis plus their beer team! Council Club brew was awesome for sure
Coming Soon!
It's Shoebox Time! Let's Share the True Meaning of Christmas. In the coming weeks, people across our nation will be packing gift filed shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child... Each shoebox that you fill with gifts represent an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ... If you have questions go to http://samaritanpurse.org/occ
Pray that God will open doors for use to reach some of the world's darkest corners. Thank you, and may God bless you. Franklin Gram
Shoeboxes and more information will be available at the Operation Christmas Child display. Look for it in the narthex on Sunday, Oct 31. For more information contact Chris Miller, 903-561-6556 or Sarah Wruck, 501-580-5557.
Passing of the Peace
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” –John 20:19-21
Our Church Council met this past Sunday and the Passing of the Peace was prayerful discussed. Earlier, the council had decided to suspend this part of our worship due to Covid-19 concerns. Though we are still looking for ways to keep everyone as safe as possible, it was decided to add the Passing of the Peace back into our worship—but with some qualifications. First, please do not feel that you have to participate in this. In Christian love for one another, we encourage each member and guest to engage in worship in ways that support their own health needs. Second, if you chose to engage in this part of the worship please do so in a way that supports the ongoing need for social distancing. When we get to this part of the service please stay in place, turn to those immediately around you, and share the blessing of peace in a safe manner. I have seen members simply wave or touch elbows or bump fists; I’ve even seen those of a certain age flash the ‘peace sign’ to one another. This seems to be making a comeback along with bell bottom jeans!
The mechanics of how it is done is not important, but what it represents is. The resurrected Lord calmed the fears of His disciples with His peace. As we prepare for Communion we remind one another in the sharing of the peace that Christ has promised to be present in this Holy Meal. Asking the Lord to bestow His peace on a fellow believer is living out the words we profess in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (see Matthew 5:24).
Did You Know?
Did you know that VANCO has a new mobile app? If you currently use the VANCO mobile app, you will need to upgrade the app by Jan. 31, 2022
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