Fellowship of Believers

A few things for you to consider this week!

Bobbye Riddle continues to improve. She will hopefully move to a rehab facility in the next few days to regain her strength. Continue to pray for her.

Our study of the lesser known Epistles returns this Sunday with the first half of 1 John. We'll spend two weeks with this important book, so begin reading now.

Mike and I have identified team captains for each of our ministry teams. The captains will be receiving their team rosters this week and will be contacting those of you who signed up to participate. It's exciting to see all that is already happening around our church and in our community through the work of these teams.

The summer will be here before we know it. I've added several of our usual summer events to the calendar on the left side of the blog. Mark your calendars - there'll be ways you can help with all of the events.

The next time for us to take communion to the nursing home next door is fast approaching: March 4 at 10 a.m. Several of you expressed interest in participating - I hope to see you there.

Thanks to everyone who made last Sunday a good day. Our family enjoyed a quick trip to Waco for a friend's wedding, and we're glad to be back home. I look forward to being with you on Sunday,
Tracy

To help our neighbors in town who really need to stretch their food-dollar, we're going to begin saving and sharing coupons from the newspaper.

So get out those scissors and star clipping! Delphene Weston has agreed to be our "Coupon Coordinator" (her very official title!) and will organize our coupons so we can distribute them!

One more, small way we can make a difference!
Tracy

I spoke with Teena this afternoon. Bobby came through surgery. There was no more damage to the small intestine at this time. The situation is still very tenuous, and for now, everything is pretty much "wait and see." Bobby is in ICU at BSA.

Please continue to pray,
Tracy

On Sunday we had the joy of welcoming our new leaders for the coming year. Mike Solomon will serve as Administrator and Carla Purcella will serve as Secretary. I know these two will do an outstandng job, and I look forward - as I'm sure you do - to working with them in the coming year.

Let us not move forward too quickly without sharing a word of appreciation with Jerry Ripley and Carolyn McDonald for the outstanding job they did leading us this past year. Each went about his/her tasks with quiet resolve, determined to accomplish their goals with confidence and competence.

Jerry, thank you for all you did for our church this year. We can look to the tangible things - the parking lot, the sound system, the computer system - but I believe it is the things we do not see that speak best of how well you led us this year. Your non-anxious presence was more reassuring than you know. We all recognize how incredibly busy you are, and yet you took all the known and unknown aspects of this position in stride, never becoming frustrated with the unpredictable but inevitable stresses that accompany this job. We thank you, Jerry, for a job very well done.

Carolyn, thank you for all you did for our church this year. We know that with the help of others you have updated our member rolls - an incredibly necessary, but thankless task. Your reminders for the monthly food pantry collection might have seemed to be an insignificant task, but it's effects were seen each First Sunday. That's the way you worked among us this year, Carolyn - the contributions may have seemed small, but they weren't. You shored us up in ways that we might not have seen, and hardly even knew, but we all felt supported none the less. Your competence and calmness was a gift that we sincerely appreciate. We thank you, Carolyn, for a job very well done.

As our new year begins, let us come alongside Mike and Carla. They will need our help and our support. Like all our Administrators and Secretaries have done, they will find their own ways to accomplish the tasks we have placed before them. If they call upon you to help, do not hesitate to say "yes." If they forget to call, volunteer - in specific, concrete ways. There is much to be done - much more than two people can do. It will, as it always has, take all of us.

I look forward to this year with you because
I am proud to be your pastor,
Tracy

For the months of February and March we will turn our focus to the lesser known letters of the New Testament: James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, and Jude. In Forum and in worship we will examine these "Love Letters to a Young Church."


I hope you'll join us for Forum at 9:30 and for worship at 10:30.