Sprint

So many things have to happen between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you might feel like you are running for all you are worth. Well here are some race tips to keep in mind for the next month:

1. Have a race plan. If you get tripped up, re-assess and keep going.

2. Talk to yourself about your race. Preach faith to yourself rather than letting yourself panic.

3. Visualize the finish line - both short-term and ultimate.

And, let's all pray for each other fervently so we have good stories to share at the caroling fellowship.

Rachel Potter

Christmas Caroling Activity

Our traditional caroling activity is scheduled for December 15th. We will enjoy caroling, a delicious supper, a never-before-played game (similar to, but not really like the picture), and a white elephant gift exchange - not to mention a speaker and a whole bunch of fellowship.

Stephen Kidd would appreciate early sign-ups so he can organize the caroling end of things. Mrs. Tompkins would like early notice too, since she is in charge of food. The sign-up has a few more details. So, let us know if your are coming or if you need a ride.

Fellowship at the Wiginton's

As usual, we had a delicious time at the Wiginton home this Sunday evening. We began with a lot of confusion, pictured below.

The confusion resolved itself into chatting circles and some very pointed conversations.

Everyone loved the soup, bread, and banana cake. The prep crew did a great job. 

(Don't miss Krista behind the vase and flowers.)

And the host and hostess kept everything going fabulously.

Mr. Wiginton moved too fast to be pictured.

Not pictured: Massive parking confusion because Paiton did not direct the late-comers

Intense ping-pong battles

A bunch of girls listening to Ashley Rush's student-teaching adventures

Rachelle at her first fellowship without her appendix

I would tell you to put the next fellowship on your calendar, but I don't know when it will be. I bet we will not get together again until our annual caroling activity - scheduled this year for December 15th. Definitely make plans to attend that one, and remember each other in prayer as we all seek to use our time wisely over the coming holidays.

Rachel Potter

Survey Link

We are attempting to find common ground and match short-staffed ministries with people who want to do them. Please own a piece of this effort by taking our free, painless, annonymous survey.

Short-Termers II

Our next featured Short Term team consists of four people (two parents, and two small children) whom I cannot name or tell you where they serve. The picture might give you a hint as to why.                   

I am not really sure how they got on the short-term board. They have been in their country for at least five years, and they do not plan to stop serving any time soon. I guess our church does not have to give them any money because they earn their own living, so that automatically puts them in the short-term section.

Please keep their communication, protection, and contacts in mind over the next couple weeks. And find their letter on the short term board - their writing is usually entertaining.

Rachel Potter 

Gratitude

It's nice to have one month of the year when our focus is steered toward giving thanks, isn't it?  I've been challenged lately to take "gratitude" to a higher level.  I now keep a gratitude journal, addressed to the Lord, in which I am compiling a numbered list of things for which I am grateful.  I'm challenging myself to look beyond the typical things for which we express thanks: to see the myriad of things all around me every day that I overlook.  This has been so rewarding!  The more I see, the more I see!  Does that make sense?  The more I look for blessings around me, the more the eyes of my understanding are opened to see.    One particular joy has been expressing concise thanks for blessings I find in the Word of God as I read each morning.  Here is a sampling:  ....for Christ in me, the hope of glory!...for a secure soul...for the promise of prayer...for weakness, which keeps me dependent on You!.....   Nature holds a multitude of gratitude objects, and each season reveals a different vantage point from which to view them:....for stillness of dawn...for Light, Jehovah's cloak...for a quiet breeze, rustling leaves...for tree sounds, coaxed by the wind...   The categories are practically endless!  We acknowledge God's glory when we attribute to Him everything we see, feel, taste, hear, touch, believe, and enjoy.  May we all have our most blessed Thanksgiving season this month, and may gratitude continue to swell in our hearts throughout the rest of the year.

Cyndi Wiginton

Where is it?

You are familiar with "Where's That Worship Guide." Here is a new twist. "Where is it?" is a picture taken by a college and career age individual somewhere on the church property. You can win by correctly guessing where the item is located or who took the picture. I have Reese's Cups or fun-size Snicker's for the first four people who guess correctly.  When you know the answer, email The Road at moretraveled@gmail.com.

On your mark, get set, THINK!

Rachel Potter

Short-Termers

Did you know that the College and Career class is responsible to pray for the short term missionaries our church sends out?

Shirley Pullins has put all the short-termers in the last section of display boards at the end of our missionary wall. Quite a few of the short-termers write prayer letters regularly, so you might want to check that board once a month or so and see what is new.

When it comes to mind for the next week or so, please pray for our two short-termers in the Philippines, Ruth Potter and Rachel Uhler.

Rachel is the concert mistress in this picture, and Ruth is first chair in the second violins. (If you keep looking you may see some other people we know.) Rachel and Ruth teach music - both lessons and classes - at Bob Jones Memorial Bible College.

Both Rachel and Ruth need prayer for daily strength in the heat, good communication across language barriers, and wise use of opportunities to minister and witness as they serve in small churches over the weekends.

Rachel Potter

Fellowship Sunday Night

 

The Hughes and Newton families put on a great fellowship Sunday night. All the attendees enjoyed the delicious food and great drinks including hot chocolate and cider.

John Chism said to "shop" him into this picture. I am not very good at that, so you will have to add him with your imagination.

Most people enjoyed the indoor fellowship and temperatures.

Some brave people fellowshippped outdoors.

And Ping-Pong got a lot of people warmed up.

Not pictured: Ezra Newton on his bike.

Rachel Dahlhausen at her first fellowship after getting back from the Philippines. 

Elliot Case trying to light a fire with sticks. 

The secret game of Rook, played after most people had left.

Make your plans to join us in a couple weeks for our last fellowship after a 4:00pm service.

What did the Lord lay on your heart this Sunday?

Leave a comment so others can pray for you.

Prayers and Worries

How do you keep yourself from worry? I recently figured out one activity that does not help me: praying constantly.

You know how worries run around and around in your mind while you bring up and discard solutions? I often "sanctify" this process by praying each time I go through an option: "Lord, I don't know what else to do!"

Then I go back to solution hunting. Worry, pray, worry, pray, worry, and praise the Lord when it is all over with. "I knew everything would be fine if I just 'prayed' about it hard enough!"

I don't think the Apostle Paul dealt with his worries that way.

What I have tried most recently is praying once. Then, when I find myself solution-hunting again, I tell myself, "Did God answer the last time I prayed? Will He answer this time? Then stop worrying!"

God has answered so many prayers for me, I cannot rightfully worry.

What do you do when you find yourself worrying?

Rachel Potter