The Best SS Christmas Party!

As promised, here are a few pictures from the fabulous Christmas party! I'll try to add videos later!

There are a few others on my blog. See you all soon!

I CORINTHIANS 13 - A CHRISTMAS VERSION

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas China and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry Christmas and lots of love to you and yours! -Author Unknown

Thanks Katie and Jamie for sharing that with us! Merry Christmas!

Breakfast List

Here is the list of those who signed up for breakfast for the next few months:

Dec. 7th: Ben and Jill Titus
Dec. 14th: Justin and Nikki Dellinger
Dec. 21st: Emily and Levi Elliott
Jan. 4th: Krystle and Albert Henry
Jan. 11th: Laura Ann and Drew Mims
Jan. 18th: Blakely and Chance Stephenson
Jan. 25th: Jason and Rozi Dover

Thanks to everyone who signed up!

November 23 Announcements

Harvest Evangelism Dinner
Monday, December 1 in the 3:16 Center
Bring food by 6 p.m. and some may plan to stay and serve and clean-up.

Church wide Gift wrap Outreach
Dec 13 from 10:30 - 3:30 at Tiger Town.
Contact Cade or church office for more information

Christmas Social: Tacky Christmas and Karaoke Party
Friday, December 19 7 p.m. @ 672 Moore's Mill (Al & Krystal's)
RSPV to Tiffany at 334.707.1255
Bring a worst or funny wedding gift or other tacky item for those not so "blessed" due to really selective gift givers for friends and families or because you aren't married yet to exchange during the "Secret Santa" game.

Bible Study
Women are not meeting this week.
Men are not meeting this week but will resume next Tuesday at 6:30 to discuss "Knowledge of the Holy."

Prayer Requests

• Pray for travel mercies for all.
• Praises from Nikki, Jill and Emily in fellowship fun with one another...and beating the boys at bowling.
• Nikki asked for prayers for Justin as he is camping alone and returns on Tuesday. She also asked that we pray for Elaina Watson, her co-teacher who found a lump in her breast.
• Jason shared praises that he passed his oral exam.
• Krystal asked for prayers for her coworker Kathy who is having a heart cath and must prepare herself to share this with her family.
• Emily asked for our prayers for a student, Corey Crow, who fell off the back of a truck and is suffering physical injuries from the fall.

Nov 16 Announcements

Church wide
Gift wrap Outreach: Dec 13

Christmas Social: Tacky Christmas and Karaoke Party
Friday, December 19
7 p.m. @ 672 Moore's Mill (Al & Krystal's)
RSPV to Tiffany at 334.707.1255

Bring a worst or funny wedding gift or other tacky item for those not so "blessed" due to really selective gift givers for friends and families or because you aren't married yet to exchange during the "Secret Santa" game.

Bible Study

• Women are tentatively meeting on Tuesday at 6:15 at Shealy's (watch email)
• Men will meet on Tuesday at 6:30 to discuss the next study at Al's

Prayer Requests

• Pray for travel mercies for Phil and Ashley
• Pray that Jason will have peace as he prepares for his oral exam on Tuesday
• Praises that Rozi's sister's (Kristen) flight went well last week
• Jamie asked for everyone's prayers for friends who are speaking with fertility specialists who would make such wonderful parents
• Brooke asks for prayers for the next 9 weeks of her pregnancy
• Justin offered praises that his research project has been accepted and that resources are being made available
• Nikki asked for continued prayers for her friend Natalie's grandfather who has tumors and only 3 - 6 months to live, pray peace in his and his family's hearts and minds

November 2 Announcements

Church
Operation Christmas Child
Please feel free to bring shoe boxes filled with gifts. Contact the church office for details about what should be included. You can also donate cash to cover the mailing of the boxes as well.

Harvest Evangelism Gospel Concert
Saturday, Nov 8
3:16 Center
Dinner at 5 and Concert at 7...$10

Class
Women's Bible Study is cancelled this week, but the women will meet for dinner at Panera to fellowship and share prayer requests. Contact Ashley Gentry for details.

Men's Bible Study is cancelled this week.

Prayer Requests
Ryan Cummins: Pray for his father's safety as he is in Hong Kong. He returns on Thursday
Ashley Gentry: Pray for her mom's safety as she visits her sister in Montana.

Sunday, October 26 Announcements

Announcements

• Reminder of Harvest Evangelism Dinner on Dec 1...sign-up to bring food as able...more information available in previous posts and/or contact Emily Elliott with questions.
• Men's Bible Study: Contact Jason as they may not meet this week.
• Women's Bible Study: Judy Colley will share her wisdom with us at Rozi's house at 6:45. Prayer requests start at 6:15.

Prayer Requests

• Jason: May he have peace in academic preparations and be able to maximize his time to study well
• Jamie: Safe travels to and from Boston and for energy and sanity for Katie with all three kids on her own

Refreshments

November 2: Tiffany and Ryan
November 9: Shealy and Clayton
November 16: Katherine and Matt
November 23: Alli and Josh
November 30: Ashley and Ted

Softball Pictures

Softball was so much fun on Sunday (minus the bees!) Here are a few of the pictures:

Watching their dads. Precious!

We have such a great team (softball and just our class in general!)

about Sunday's notes

Yeah...since I was preparing to present, I failed to write down prayer requests or announcements. Brilliant, I know.... Sorry. If anyone has those and wants to send them my way, I am happy to post them. Yeah...we'll be back to normal this Sunday with Jamie doing the teaching!

Softball practice was great fun!! I can't wait for next week. I think the actual time and location are still undetermined....

Bible Study: James

Karen Herring leads a Bible Study on Wednesdays from 5:45 - 6:20. Her goal is for the women in the group to read five chapters of the Bible a week and memorize one scripture.

She sent the message below in preparation for next week's study...any of you ladies are WELCOME to join in at any time. The group meets in our Sunday School room...so that's easy to find.

*****

Well, this week we are reading the book of James. He was Jesus' brother, yet he calls himself His servant.... now that is a mighty witness for Christ! I don't know about y'all, but if anyone has seen my bad side it's my brother and sisters!!! Jesus also appeared after His death to James alone (I Corinthians 15:7). That must have been a special reunion. It is said that James spent so much of his time in prayer that his knees were callous like a camel's. Christian historians also tell us that James was martyred for his faith. While he was being stoned and clubbed he said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

Needless to say, James was a man who lived out his faith in a powerful way... and we can see it in his book. I read chapter one this morning and I have already been challenged about trials, wisdom, testing, temptation, listening to God, doing what I hear, my mouth, service, and purity...WOW! And that's just the first chapter!!

I want to encourage you to stop a moment, leave the world behind, and ask God to whisper in your ear the special truths He has for you from this outstanding book about how to live the Christian life.

Our memory verse this week is:"Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22 As always, if God lays another Scripture on your heart, please memorize that one. It's about hiding God's Word in our hearts and what that does in our lives.

Shealy and Clayton's News

If you haven't already, go see what Shealy and Clayton are having....

http://candsmckinnon.blogspot.com/2008/10/its.html

Sunday, October 12 Announcements

Announcements

• On Sunday, October 19 we will discuss how our personalities influence our communication and relationships. To make this go more smoothly, please complete the Type Focus assessment. Click on the link and select Type Focus. Use "au7788" as the password to complete the assessment. Confirm your type after completing the assessment and then print the front sheet so you have your four letter type handy. If you think to, email Katie your four letter type prior to October 19.
• Softball game and lunch with 9:45 Nearly/Newlywed Class on Sunday, October 26 after church. Location TBA.
• The Harvest Evangelism Dinner will be held December 1. Our class will participate by cooking sides as we did last year. Emily will be in touch with everyone.
• Pre-Marriage Seminar: Sat, Oct 18 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the Church Parlor. Contact Diane in the church office prior to Wed, Oct 15 to participate (334.745.5715)
• The church music ministry needs people to help with PowerPoint on Sunday mornings. Contact the music office to find out more information about this specific need.

Bible Study

• Women: Tuesday at 6:15 for prayer requests and 6:45 for a time of shared wisdom with Sherri McCollum
• Men: Wednesday at 6:30 at the Dover's to continue the discussion about defending your faith

Prayer Requests

• Drew: Pray for the healing of his coworker Bud Nesmith who was thrown from his motorcycle
• Phil & Ashley: Pray that there are no more problems with their house in Aliceville and that they have peace through this time
• Emily & Levi: Pray for their peace of mind as they file a police report for items that were stolen from their storage room at their home
• Ted: Pray for the healing of Amber Perdue, a nurse's granddaughter who he interacts with through his work

Sunday Refreshments

• Oct 19: Blakely & Chance Stephenson
• Oct 26: Wayne Dickens and Stacey Brown

Oct 5 Announcements

Announcements

• On Sunday, October 19 we will discuss how our personalities influence our communication and relationships. To make this go more smoothly, please complete the Type Focus assessment. Click on the link and select Type Focus. Use "au7788" as the password to complete the assessment. Confirm your type after completing the assessment and then print the front sheet so you have your four letter type handy. If you think to, email Katie your four letter type prior to October 19.
• Softball game and lunch with 9:45 Nearly/Newlywed Class on Sunday, October 26 after church. Location TBA.
• If you are interested in discipling a college student, please contact Hannah Roberts at 745.5715.
• If you would like to participate and contribute to Operation Christmas Child, start gathering items to fill shoe boxes. They also need donations to ship the boxes as each box costs $7 or more to ship.
• The Joy Department needs people to drive the church van and pick up those who can't drive themselves to church. Call the church office if you are interested.
• Harvest Evangelism Dinner will be held December 1. Our class will participate by cooking sides as we did last year.

Bible Study

• The men will meet on Wednesday at 6:30 at the Pool House to discuss the direction of their next study. Contact Jason with questions.
• The women will not meet this Tuesday as many are attending the Vicki Courtney event on Thursday evening at the church

Prayer Requests

• Jamie asked for prayers for Bo to heal quickly from his shoulder surgery.

Sunday Refreshments

• Oct 12: Phil & Ashley Gentry
• Oct 19: Blakely & Chance Stephenson
• Oct 26: Wayne Dickens and Stacey Brown

Announcements - Sept. 28

*Crown Financial Workshops: October 24 & 25 (AU Hotel and Conference Center) for $25. Call 1.800.340.5066 to register and go to www.crown.org for more information.
·Ladies Night Out: Thursday, October 9 (Vicki Courtney dinner)
·Women's Bible Study: 6:15 at Shealy's
·Men's Bible Study: cancelled this week
· If you are taking meals for Ally & Josh, please call ahead of time at
Josh: 334.707.0160 Allie: 334.707.1151
·Harvest Evangelism Dinner will be held December 1. Our class will participate by cooking sides as we did last year.
***Refreshments for Oct 5
Ted & Ashley Bryant

Prayer Requests
Katie: Pray for Nicci and Jason as they are trying to stay pregnant with a miracle of a baby. She is just over 7 weeks pregnant and has lost babies through three previous pregnancies and lost a twin of the current baby.

Welcome!

Welcome to our class blog! The title of this blog is Ecclesiastes 4:12 "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." It is important to remember that as we go through our marriages, if we have Christ in the center, we are not easily broken.