Fellowship of Believers

For a week with a holiday this past Monday, this has been a long one! There's much for me to report this morning, so let's get started.

First, James Hodge will be having triple bypass at Northwest today (Friday). Wendel plans to check in on him and Betty when he goes to see Lajean today. Pray for the Hodges.

Lajean has had a set-back. Let me share what her daughter Melissa wrote yesterday:

Update on Mom for Jan 20. They removed a lot more "stuff" from Mom and she actually sat in a chair this morning. That's when everyone noticed that she isn't moving her left side very good. They did a CAT scan and discovered she had a stroke. They called for a neurologist and he stated that this occurred very recent but he didn't think it was caused by the surgery. He stated that the stroke occurred in a place that in his words, "if I was to have a stroke, this would be where I would want it"...in other words, it wasn't in the cortex of her brain. He has put her on Heprin to thin her blood and prevent any further strokes...A speech therapist will be in tomorrow morning (Friday) to observe how she swallows, eats, talks, etc, and Dr Riveria will also be by as well.

Let's continue to pray for Lajean and Joe and all the family. Joe will be in Hereford on Friday to see a doctor himself. Lots going on for the Henrys.

Many of you heard that Jerry's mom, Josephine Lindsey, did not have a successful procedure this week. The doctors tried to clear some plaque from her arteries, but there was too much and they aborted the procedure. Pray for Jerry and his sisters as they have many decisions to make. Josephine is back at Hereford Care Center and, when I checked on her Thursday morning, she was back to her spunky, ornery self.

Glen Cash has returned to Country Club Nursing & Rehab after his brief post-op time at Triumph. He's doing well and is always up for a visit or call.

This Sunday two more teams meet to set their agendas for the year: The Congregational Care Team meets at 4 pm (Charlie, Rose, Marilyn, Judy, Carolyn Baxter, Trudy, Roy, and Brandon) and the Outreach Team meets at 5 pm (Wendel, Trudy, Roy, Brandon, Rose, and Sue). Anyone is welcome to attend these meetings and anyone can join the teams at any time.

The Administrative Team will meet after the election of our new Administrator and Secretary, which will happen THIS Sunday during Worship. Clay Francis has been nominated as Administrator and Carolyn McDonald has been nominated as Secretary. Other nominations will be entertained Sunday before the vote. Let us be in prayer for the ministry of our church in the coming year.

We're learning a lot in Forum as we walk through "A Travel Guide for Christian Faith." Even those who grew up in the church attest that they're enjoying this refresher course, and are learning new things. It's also a perfect topic for those who have lots of questions about the Christian Faith. I hope you'll join us at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday.

Those who plan to discuss Prayers For Sale with the book group need to be finishing up their reading! We will discuss this wonderful book by Sandra Dallas on Tuesday, February 1st, 7 p.m.

Sunday's sermon is "Whom Shall I Fear?" from Psalm 27. The Psalm begins this way:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
There are times in our life when it's not WHOM we fear, but WHAT. Our faith is rattled to the core when things happen that we do not expect and certainly don't desire. It is then that we must reach deep down for the faith that can sustain us when nothing else will. No matter what happens, we are not alone. God will never leave us, never forsake us. May we trust in that, trust with all our hearts.

Your Pastor,
Tracy