Back To School Days

There is a feeling in the air that summer is rapidly fading away! No, the temperatures are still in the high 90's and upward with the heat index, but still, what with school back in session, football season already upon us,the baseball world series coming in a short while, and the new church year coming soon, there really is a feeling that good things are going to be happening in the next few months. We are excited around our church because we have a World Missions Conference coming our way the first week in October. This is where a number of missionaries come to our association and visit the churches, with a different missionary each worship service. Lots of good teaching and preaching, and seeing a 'real live missionary'!
More details about that a bit later.
We are having a local TV news person come on Friday, September 9, 2005 at 7:00PM to speak to us. This is Hannah Nelson, a very familiar face to most all of the TV watchers, as she is on the news reports daily. Hannah is a committed Christian and we are looking forward to having her.

We have been working on the new church directory all summer long, and finally have the proof set ready to be sent to the printer for final print. What with my sickness and hospital trips and such, and with having to correct many mistakes in the proof copy, it just seemed to take time. Anyhow, I will be glad to get it back to the directory people. At the moment, I am working on a tri-fold brochure about our church, and this will also be in color and printed by the directory people. We will ge a 1000 copies of the brochure, which we can use to witness to others about our church.

The Nominating Committee has completed their task of finding willing workers and officers for our church programs for the coming year. We will vote on their nominations at the September church conference. We will also be selecting new deacons for the next two years at that meeting. Plan on coming and participating in the business affairs of your church.

More later, have a great day, and pray for the soon coming of our Lord!

FELLOWSHIP MEAL PLANNED

A reminder to all our church family and friends, that tomorrow, Sunday, August 13, 2005 we will have the after church fellowship meal to officially welcome Adam and Ashley Stich to our church family and staff. As you know, we have called Adam as our music man and worship director, and he is already doing a great job. The meal will be a covered dish luncheon furnished by the members of the church. Everyone is invited to attend.

Of course, you are all invited to the regular Sunday worship and Bible study activities in our church. We have a Bible class for every age group, and a place for the children. Be sure to invite a neighbor or friend to come with you. Let us see how many we can have in Sunday school and worship services each Lord’s Day.

I would like to report that I came home from the hospital last Tuesday, was able to go to the office and do some work on Thursday, and had to spend a good portion of Friday in the doctor’s office getting my blood tested. But, and praise the Lord for this, I am feeling much better. Thank you for your prayers and concern.

HOSPITAL REPORT

Well, as I write this blog spot today, I am in the Richland Hospital in Columbia, SC, where I have been since last Thursday. Seems as if my problem for the past several weeks has been a pulmonary embolism, or blood clot in my lungs. By the grace of our Lord, I am doing well, and should be able to go home on Tuesday. The clot is still there, but the medications, which they are pumping into me, have made a great deal of improvement, and I feel very good today. The doctors claim that I “missed a bullet” this time, but I know that it is the healing power of the Lord in response to many prayers and much faith. I should be back on duty at the church soon, but will have to go back and forth to the lab for many days to keep a close check on something they call the INR which tells how the clotting is doing. Thanks for your prayers and concerns, and I do really appreciate it very much.

On hold right now is the finishing up of the Church Directory, which I should be able to get to the first of the week. It only needs to be sent to the printer and we should have it back in final form in a few weeks or so. I appreciate having a good pastor, as Pastor
Shull has visited with me several times in my stay here in the hospital. You know, us pastors are not used to having a pastor, and I am blessed to have a gooood pastor! And I am also blessed to have two pastor sons, Donny and David, who minister to me also. Of course, Miz Carolyn takes such good care of me. She wouldn’t take no for an answer when she insisted that I come see the doctor last week. As usual, she was right. Once the doctor saw me, I was hustled off to the hospital!

So, that is it for this time, will add more later from home and the office. Will look forward to seeing many of you next Sunday, if not before. Depends on the doctor’s instructions, of course. But, praise the Lord, I feel much much better.

AUGUST IS A GREAT MONTH!

Yes, August is a great month, one that I have come to love and appreciate for nearly 73 years, since I have been in the world since August, 1932. Imagine, being that old! And the Lord is still using me! And I have found myself in a church family like this! I am so blessed, and praise God for it. You are my church family, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I love you all. You have really blessed Carolyn and me with your expressions of concern, love and fellowship during these past 5 years. God is soooo Good! All the time!

What a fresh spirit we felt in our worship services last Sunday. Having Adam Stich come on board as our worship director has really been a blessing for us. You could just feel that the congregation was enjoying the singing, and the choir did an outstanding job. We are blessed to have Adam here, and he and Ashley are the answers to the many prayers we have made over the past year or so.

Pastor Donny and the Children's Spot during the morning worship service received an ovation of applause as he led them in marching forward for the Lord. You had to be there to appreciate it. Donny has brought a sense of excitement to our church also, as he leads the Children and Youth.

Looking ahead to August 14, all church members and friends are reminded that we will have a covered dish luncheon in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the morning worship hour to officially welcome Adam and Ashley Stich to our church family. You know us Baptists, we celebrate everything we do by eating! Come and bring a friend.

That is all for now, remember who loves you....
Bro. Don