Although we ought to be thankful every day of the year, and hopefully we are, I suspect that most of us in the
With that in mind, I want to share
with you a short story about who God is and who we are in relationship to God.
It is my hope that after you read it you will be even
more thankful than usual in this month of Thanksgiving!
While praying one day a woman asked, “Who are you, Lord?”
The Lord answered her, “I Am.”
“But who is I Am?” she asked.
And the Lord Replied, “I Am Love. I Am Peace. I Am Grace. I Am Joy. I Am the Way, the Truth,
and the Light. I Am the Comforter. I Am
Strength. I Am
Safety. I Am Shelter. I Am
Power. I Am the Creator. I Am
the Beginning and the End. I Am the Most High.”
The woman, with tears in her eyes, looked toward
heaven and said, “Now I understand, but Lord, who am I?”
Upon hearing her question God tenderly reached out and wiped
the tears from her eyes and whispered, “You are Mine.”
While you ponder all of the things you are thankful for, may
you put “belonging to God” at the top of your list!
Blessings to you in November,
Wanda
REMEMBER TO SET OUR CLOCKS BACK 1 HOUR ON SATURDAY NIGHT,
NOVEMBER 1, 2008. DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1008!
Teaching the
Word...
NOVEMBER LECTIONARY TEXTS
Here are the
Lectionary texts for the month of November. Rev. Mello’s
preaching texts are in Bold print.
You are invited to read the texts ahead of each Sunday
service as you prepare to hear God’s word.
November 2, 2008
Psalm 34:1-10 &
22
(1st Sunday of Advent)
Psalm 80:1-7 & 17-19
Isaiah 64:1-9
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
WORSHIP
READERS NEEDED…
We are in need of our worship readers for the months of November and December. If you are interested in serving as a worship reader please sign up on the sheets in the Social Hall or speak to Rev. Mello. May you be blessed as you read God’s word in worship.
WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY
You are invited to attend our
weekly Bible Study on Friday mornings at
9:30 AM. At these studies we take a look at the scriptures for our Sunday
worship service and ponder their deeper meanings for our lives. Everyone is invited to attend.
COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING WORSHIP
The Bear Mountain Ministerial Association invites
everyone to the Annual Thanksgiving Worship service to be
held on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 7:00 PM. The hosting congregation
this year is the Free Will Baptist Church,
Touching the World...
You are invited to give a gift for mission to our Assistance
Fund. We have been utilizing the money from this fund to help several people
with their rent in the past few weeks; and we have used some to purchase food
vouchers from the Ranch Market for people in need. Thanks so much for your
continued support of this fund! Your gifts to this fund do indeed help those in
our community who are in need!
SPECIAL NEEDS
FOR JOEZER HOME
We have received word that there are some special needs for
the Joezer Home for pregnant teens. At the moment there is a great need for all kinds of
cleaning products. This includes window cleaners, floor cleaners, bathroom
cleaners, etc. If you would like to donate some new, unopened cleaners, please
place them in the big box in the Narthex.
Also the girls must have at least 10
servings of fruit daily, so there is a great need for fruit of all kinds. If
you wish to donate fruit, please speak to Kathy Brand.
Monetary gifts are always appreciated
if you do not wish to shop for fruit or cleaning products. Please mark any
checks, “Joezer Home”. Thanks!
Our next monthly Church Cabinet meeting will be on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the lounge. All Cabinet members are urged to attend.
Holiday
Luncheon and Bazaar tickets are available from members of the Women’s
Fellowship for the event that will be held on
Saturday, November 1, 2008. Luncheon tickets are $8.00 each.
Tickets
are also available for the raffle items. This year a hand made Christmas tree
skirt and Christmas table runner are the raffle items.
ADVENT
ORGAN CONCERTS
Our
organist, Patti, will once again be playing holiday organ concerts in our
sanctuary over the lunch hour (11:30 –12:30) beginning on Wednesday, November
26. The concerts will run for three weeks making the second and third concert
date, December 3 and December 10. The public is invited
to attend these free concerts.
REMEMBER YOU CAN FIND ALL OF
OUR NEWS ON OUR WEBSITE: www.arvinucc.org
Check it out!
Church Family
News…
As our world remains in a time of war, we ask that you continue
to remember in your prayers all of our young people serving our country all
over the world. Especially pray for Jason Brand, John & David Phillips,
Isaac Philips, and Tracey Farris.
Please keep our homebound, and nursing
home members in your thoughts and prayers. They are Mildred Holbert
in the nursing home; and Lucille Barkley at home.
REV. MELLO ON VACATION
Rev. Mello and Rodger
will take the week of November 23 – 29 as vacation time so that they can travel
to
CONGRATUALTIONS!
Congratulations to the Gurnett family who competed in the INT League National
Championships in September here in the Arvin area. This competition featured
all of the State Champions competing in their divisions.
Scott won the Open
Division Water Skiing Championship and is the National Champion for the second
year in a row.
Dianna came in 3rd
in the Wide Ride Fun Division.
Anna Grace was proclaimed
the National Champion in the Junior Division for those age
13 and under.
And Allison came in 2nd in the Mini Outlaw
Knee Board Division for those under age 8.
Scot said that before
the competition the family dedicated their efforts to
God and it really paid off! Congratulations all you water sport loving Gurnetts!
A Thanksgiving Prayer
Most people offer a
prayer before meals and while that is very important, perhaps this idea of offering
a prayer of thanksgiving after your thanksgiving meal might be ever better. As
you settle in with a full stomach, surrounded by those you love, consider
offering the following prayer of thanksgiving this year.
An After Meal Prayer
God of countless
blessings – thank you for bodies nourished, hearts overflowing and lives filled
with meaning and fulfillment. Keep us ever mindful of the responsibilities that
accompany your blessings – make us guardians of this world, caretakers of those
around us, and witnesses of your grace. Shape our lives into living “thank yous”, reflective of the many pleasures
which are on loan from you. In Jesus’ name we
pray. Amen
A
BIT OF HOLY HUMOR
Here is a bit of holy
humor to brighten your day!
A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question, “Boys and
girls, what to we know about God?” A hand shot up in the air. “He is an
artist!” said a kindergarten boy. “Really? How do you
know that?” the teacher asked. “Because,” said the boy, “you know…Our Father
who does art in heaven.”
Someone once said that
there are only two kinds of people in the world – those who wake up and say
“Good morning Lord!” and those who wake up and say, “Good Lord, its morning!”
One Sunday after
church, a mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. The
little girl answered, “Don’t be scared, you’ll get your quilt.” The mom was
perplexed. Later in the day the pastor stopped by for
tea and the mom asked him what that morning’s Sunday school lesson was about.
He said, “Do not be afraid, the Comforter is coming.”