Family Meal - Italian Style

Wednesday night (February 4) will be the monthly Family Meal and Prayer. Since this is Valentine's Month, we decided to have a little fun with the meal. This month will feature an Italian Food theme. Now, don't panic if you don't have any Italian recipes, go ahead and bring a good old southern dish to share!
But... if you are a bit adventurous, here are a few links to some recipes for Italian Cooking:

Italian Recipes

More Italian Recipes

Italian Dinner Party (skip the wine!)

Italian Desserts

Some simple dish ideas are:

Lasagna (of course)
Italian Sausage and Peppers
Chicken Alfredo
Meatball dish
Pasta dishes
Salad
Pasta Salad
Cheesecake
Baked Ziti

If you need any ideas or recipes, just go to Google and type in Italian recipes. Don't go extravagant, or spend the entire day in the kitchen, let's just have FUN!

Recent Sightings...

It has been noted that some of our church members have been frequently sighted at a local facility. It seems that they come often to this place, sometimes a few times a week.

Here they are caught on camera:

Yep, we know these people:

Here is the reason they are here - at the soccer field:



They keep coming to catch action like this:

And cheer on these guys:

And to bring unity even on opposing teams! It has also been noted there are some girls who hang out here - at the soccer field, don't worry, we'll catch them also, stay tuned!

Rock A Thon

The children will be participating in a rock-a-thon on February 14 from 3:00 - 7:00 PM. The chidren will receive pledge sheets and should begin to collect donations for their rocking for 4 hours.

Also this day a Valentine's meal will be held at the church fellowship hall. Everyone is invited to the dinner. Donations are accepted which will assist with the donations being raised for a local domestic violence shelter.

To ensure that enough rocking chairs are available, please let Sis. Kathy know if your child will be participating or not. There is also a sign up sheet for the meal to help with food preparation amounts. Please sign up for the meal by February 11. If not enough interest is shown, the meal will be cancelled.

Prayer Requests

Just a quick note of some prayer requests which were given during the mid-week prayer service.

Martha L. will be undergoing surgery tomorrow.

Rufus S. has been diagnosed with cancer and is facing surgery soon.

Dianne M's brother and family had a fire in their home which destroyed much of their home and belongings.

Several of our church family is traveling this weekend, please pray for safe travels.

Sermon Recap - Lean Times

For a couple of weeks we have heard timely messages in a series called "How To Thrive In Lean Times". We learned first some characteristics and truths that keep us focused in "lean times".

1. Lean times are tough.
2. World leaders are under God's control.
3. Dealing with sin problem is critically important.
4. The only way to thrive in lean times is to hear and obey God's instruction.

Part Two gave some guidelines on how to proceed during lean times.
1. Proceed slowly, wait on the Lord and ask His direction.
2. Pray first. Make no decision without prayer.
3. Start or move forward from where you are. Don't wait for better circustances , God has placed you where you are for a reason.
4. Be ready to seize the moment. When God opens the door, be ready to move.

We heard part three last Sunday, notes will be posted soon on that. Many of our church is experienceing lean times, times of economic trouble, sickness, job situations etc. Through the power of God's provision and guidance, we can thrive during these lean times.

Anne Graham Lotz

Anne Graham Lotz will be coming to Jacksonville April 24 and 25. In this life-changing gathering of love and praise, you will be stirred in worship by Fernando Ortega, you will be inspired in prayer by Jill Briscoe, and Anne Graham Lotz will lead you into the pages of God's Word through proclamation and inductive study. Invite a friend to come with you. And pray! Pray that the sparks fanned into flame in this gathering will become a raging fire that sweeps through your family, your church, your city, and the nation as together we carry this burning ember to the world.

There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board for more information. Our church needs to prepare for hotel reservations and we need to see how many women are interested in attending. Please see Sis. Caroline if you are interested in attending.

Here are some links about the conference:

Just Give Me Jesus

Jacksonville Conference

Prayer Requests

There are some prayer requests to share this week:

Many of you know Rufus S. who suffered from cancer a few years ago, he will undergo some tests this week and the doctors think his cancer has returned.

Please continue to remember Joy C. as she recently lost her husband.

Faye H. has a doctors appointment this week to evaluate kidney stone and treatment.

Bessie P.'s grandson and wife are expecting a baby very soon, please keep them in your prayers as the mother has some health issues.

Morris and Ann D's granddaughter Zoe is facing surgery soon for a cyst on her forehead. This may be a serious and extensive surgery. Please keep baby Zoe and her family in prayer.

Tom and Lisa K. are still up north ministering to Tom's family who is terminally ill.

A few of our men are out of town working, there are some who have lost their jobs and some facing unstable work situations. Please keep all this in prayer for God's will to be done and open doors for them.

Remember Wednesday night is Children's Missions and Adult Prayer Meeting.

Sunday Communion and Offering

“Why Is the Lord’s Supper So Important?”

1 Corinthians 11:23-34

1) Because in partaking of this Table, we are obeying Christ’s command (vs. 23-25)

2) Because in partaking of this Table, we are proclaiming the Gospel to ourselves and others (vs. 26)

3) Because in partaking of this Table, we are experiencing Christ as the Bread of Life (vs. 26)

4) Because in partaking of this Table, we are acknowledging our need for regular and open repentance of sin (vs. 27-32)

5) Because in partaking of this Table, we are heeding Christ’s call to love one another (vs. 17-22, 33-34)

May we prepare our hearts to remember the great sacrifice of our Lord and to examine ourselves and be pure before Him in fellowship and communion.

We will also be receiving an offering to help the benevolent fund which helps with various needs which arise.

Steve Green In Concert

Steve Green In Concert

Grace can be a tough word to get your hands around. But that’s the word that comes up time and time again in the life and ministry of Steve Green. It’s the pillar of his personal relationship with Christ, it’s evident in his 20 years of music ministry, and it’s a mainstay of his family relationships.

Throughout his years of ministry, Steve’s music has been honored with four Grammy nominations, 13 No. 1 songs, and seven Dove Awards, Christian music’s highest honor. With 23 recordings to his credit, including children’s projects and Spanish-language albums, Green has sold over three million albums worldwide.

Steve Green will be in concert at the Advent Christian Village Church on March 14 at 7:00 PM.
Tickets are on sale for $12.00 each and are available by calling 658-5343.

To learn more about Steve Green, visit his website: Steve Green Ministries

Special Speaker Tonight

Just a quick reminder that tonight (Wednesday) we will have a special speaker. Our local sheriff will be speaking to us about the issue of domestic violence and will share about a local center to help the victims of domestic violence. This is a subject we all need to be aware of and aware of solutions which are available.
The youth and children will go into the sanctuary to hear the program and will not meet with the regularly scheduled classed. The young children (up to age 5) will meet in their regular class. Church service begins at 7:00 PM.

Pictorial Directory Coming Soon

It has been over five years since our church has designed a church pictorial directory. Since than many familes have become involved in our church. We will be creating a new church directory this spring.

Every family (friends and members) is encouraged to have a family portrait taken. Olan Mills will be the photographers for the directory and every family photographed will receive a free 8X10 portrait plus a church directory. Olan Mills will offer photographs for purchase, but there is no obligation to buy and no pressure will be applied for the family to purchase additional prints. The dates for the portraits will be March 5, 6 and 7. Please check your calendar now! There will soon be a table set up at church for you to sign up for an appointment. More details will be coming, watch the blog and the bulletin!

Prayer and Weekly Update

There are some prayer requests to share this week from the church family:

Robert S.'s nephew David is forty years old and suffering with cancer. He will be undergoing surgery this week.

Rex and Dianne M. are rejoicing over a great grand baby! Praise the Lord for a healthy baby for their family.

Bro. Dave has a cousin who will undergo a biopsy this week.

Ida D's daughter will have surgery this week.

Tom and Lisa K. are still up north with his family. Tom's stepmother is in critical condition suffering from lung cancer.

Please keep in your prayers the ones from our church who have lost their jobs and those whose job situations are unstable.

We will have a special guest Wednesday night in our mid week service. Our local sheriff will be speaking to us about the important issue of domestic violence. He will also be sharing about a local crisis center to help with the victims of domestic violence. This is something each of us should be aware of. Please plan to come out Wednesday night and be informed.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Imagine the loss. Since 1973, when abortions became legal in the United States, the human race has lost approximately

• 31 Nobel Prize laureates

• 134,841 physicians and surgeons

• 392,500 registered nurses

• 1,102,443 teachers

• 553,821 truck drivers

• 134,028 farmers and ranchers

• 109,984 police officers and sheriff’s deputies

• 39,477 firefighters

• 24,4500,000 women (approximately half of all children aborted)

• And more . . .

We celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday by acknowledging the gift of every life and standing against abortion. Our church will be receiving an offering for our local Pregnancy Care Center. Thank you for your prayers and support for this special day.

More Prayer Needed

This has been a week filled with circumstances that need our prayers. Thank God we can touch heaven and bring our loved ones before God's throne and He can bring the help, healing, comfort and strength that is needed.

Lisa L's grandmother passed away Monday night. There will be a graveside service on Wednesday at 2:00 PM at the city cemetery. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Earlier this week Tom and Lisa K. left to travel north to be with Tom's family. Tom's step-mother and step-brother have been diagnosed with cancer. Please keep each one close in your prayers.

Remember church business meeting tonight at 7:00.

For the Ladies

Many of you are aware of the ministry Revive Our Hearts. This ministry is led by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Nancy has ministered for years to women and from her heart for the Lord has began a True Woman campaign which seeks to help women to:

• Discover and embrace God's created design and mission for their lives
• Reflect the beauty and heart of Christ to their world
• Intentionally pass on the baton of Truth to the next generation
• Pray earnestly for an outpouring of God's Spirit in their families, churches, nation, and world

Join the True Woman Movement

Joining the movement is easy:

1. Sign the True Woman Manifesto.
2. Start the True Woman 30-Day Make-Over.
3. Share the True Woman Message.

Ladies are encouraged to take a look at the True Woman Movement. Pray for the Lord's leading for your life and may this year be one of many blessings and joy in the Lord.

Special Prayer Request

There is one prayer request received that needs to be shared. Lucas H.'s brother in law Mark is currently on a mission trip. Your prayers would bring such encouragement and power to this ministry he is involved in. Please pray for his safety and that the Word of God would flow from him into the lives of those he is ministering to. Please pray for them to have receptive hearts to God's drawing. Thank you for your prayers.

Thought For the Day

“What makes the difference is not how many times you have been through the Bible, but how many times and how thoroughly the Bible has been through you.” –Gipsy Smith

Prayer Requests This Week

As we begin a new week, there are several in our church family to keep close to your heart and lift up in prayer.

Joy C.'s husband Bill passed away Sunday. There will not be any services, but you are encouraged to let Joy know that she is in our thoughts and prayers.
Harold S. will be having some tests this week.
Dianne M'.s daughters need your prayers for situations in their lives.
Kisha L.s grandmother passed away and the family will be traveling south for the services.
Two men from our church family are traveling out of town to work. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.
One of our church family who is serving overseas is in a dangerous assignment. Please pray for his protection and for peace and strength for his family.

Activities this week:
There will be a Baptist Men's meeting on Tuesday night at Wellborn Baptist. The church van will leave at 6:00 PM, all men are invited to come and enjoy a great meal, time of devotion and encouragement and great fellowship.

Wednesday night will be the church business meeting at 7:00 PM.

May God's love rule in your hearts and direct all of your actions! Scatter joy, share kindness!

Children's Christmas Program

Here are our children before the play, they don't look very nervous do they??

Our royal narrator:

Our church enjoying a Christmas carol:


Here are the children:

Yes...it's real! And was this little guy ever a hit!

What a beautiful program this was! Thank you to all who participated in bringing a blessing to our church.

Thought For the Day

Blessed are those who can give without remembering
And take without forgetting.

Family Meal

Wednesday night will be our monthly Family Meal and prayer time. We will begin at 6:00 PM and enjoy a covered dish dinner together. Following the meal the youth will meet for Bible Study at 6:30 PM, the M&Ms will meet at 7:00 PM and the adults will gather for a devotion and a time of prayer at 7:00 PM.
You are encouraged to bring a covered food dish to share and bring the family for a great mid-week blessing!

Prayer Requests This Week

As we begin a new week, many of our church family will be getting back into the school and work routine that keeps families busy. It is our hope that church attendance and support are a major part of that schedule. Our church has ministries for all ages for us to grow in the Lord and share His love with one another and our community.

One of the vital ministries of our church is prayer. We can share God's love to one another by praying for each other and offering encouragement to each other - remember: we're family!

This week we have several prayer needs in our church family:

Tom K. (Lisa's husband) has a step mother with lung cancer and a step brother with pancreatic cancer.
Dianne M. 's daughter and grandson are suffering with mono.
Dianne also has a granddaughter who is expecting a baby any day now, prayers for a safe delivery are appreciated.
JoAnn B. will be furthering treatment for an eye problem.
A teenage boy named Spencer who is related to several in our church is suffering with a blood clot in his lung and is in a lot of pain.
Tasha M. will be undergoing some surgery this week.
Leah B. will be undergoing a Cat Scan this week.
Ida D's daughter Zonia is in need of special prayer for a personal struggle.
Pat and Sandi R. have some children who have been sick this week.
Tiffany R. had 4 wisdom teeth removed and could use prayers for a fast recovery.
A few in our church family have been affected by unemployment, some are having to find work out of town and some are facing uncertainty about their jobs. Please keep these and their families in your prayers for God's provision, guidance and strength.
Lisa L.'s grandmother is still weak and is in an assisted living facility.

What a blessing to know that we can bring each of these before the throne of God. Thank you for your love and support for one another.

Biblical Truths For the New Year

Our church recently heard a sermon series on "Truths To Stand On".
Here is the list of Biblical truths that can guide us, comfort us and strengthen us through the year...and always.

1. The Lord is God.
2. The Bible is God's Word to us.
3. We are lost and in need of a rescuer.
4. One and only one is there who can rescue us and that is Jesus.
5. Salvation is a gift, not a paycheck we earn.
6. A person should be committed to a local church.

A thought provoking question was posed to us - "Are we married to the church, or just dating the church?" Are we committed and serving the church or is it a non-committal relationship?

May 2009 be the year we commit to loving the Lord and drawing closer to Him and may our commitment and love and service grow for our church.

Pre-School Christmas Program

You just thought they were cute in pictures...watch this!