January 9

FAMILY & FRIENDS
By Karen Horton

We have been saddened by so many recent deaths in our church family. Virginia Bridwell lost her husband Dale on December 19th. Dale was one of our deacons for many years. Millie and Cecil Boothe lost their daughter Lacy on Christmas Day. Norma Griggs passed away on January 3rd. Our prayers and heartfelt sympathy goes to these families. “For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17)

We are so thankful for all our many blessings! These are the visitors we were blessed with: Bob & Patsy Boynton (Whitney, TX), Stan & Ramona Pavias (Las Vegas, NV), Larry & Gretchen Renne (Van Alstyne, TX), Gary& Patsy McCool (Pea Ridge), Deborah Button, Austin Nelson and Janell Wood (all from Bentonville), Randy Gibbs and Tyler Stroud.

Those on our sick list include: Tim Short has a blood clot in his abdomen and asks for our prayers. Shirley Hale has pneumonia. Ray Pinner is in the Northwest Medical Center Hospital. The grandfather of Kim Passmore’s son-in-law, recently died in a house fire, and his grandmother is in the hospital. Please pray for these, and continue to pray for Jim Bynum, Sue Gartrell, Jennifer Oxford, Dee Eitzen’s mother, Martha Presley, our missionaries and our military.

Randall has been granted a leave of absence through the month of January. He is in great need of rest and asks for our prayers and support. We all love Randall and Georgia and hope they both will come back refreshed and know our love for them is steadfast!

Jared did a great job last week filling in for Randall and had a great lesson! Bob Grace had our lesson this Lord’s Day, and it was a very powerful lesson. Thank you Bob for two mighty fine sermons! “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)

A message from Jared Dockery: “Soon I will be stepping down as the full-time youth minister, though I have agreed to teach the Wednesday night teen class for awhile. The elders will soon begin the search for a new youth minister. I am wrapping up my doctoral degree, will be teaching three classes at NWACC this spring, and have begun submitting applications to teach college history full-time. I am deeply grateful for all of the love and support you have shown me, not just during the past seven years, but also during my first stint here in the early 1990s. Thanks to you all.”

If you would like to prepare communion and lock up the building for one month during 2008, please see the sign-up sheet in the foyer. Your help is very much needed and appreciated. The new 2008 directories are available for pick-up in the foyer. If you need a second copy, see the sign-up sheet in the foyer.

Those items needed for Fair Haven Children’s Home are chili beans, toothbrushes, baking soda, spices and pie filling.

Christian love gives and forgives. Love you, see you next Lord’s Day.