The Messenger

New Members/Baptism
Welcome Matthew & Amanda Johnson and their sons, Waylon & Evan. Congratulations to Matthew & Waylon who were baptized into Christ last Sunday.
 
80th Birthday Invitation
Jim Scroggins is having a birthday party at Golden Corral on Saturday, November 5 from 2-5PM. You are invited to drop by to wish Jim a happy birthday. Cake and drinks will be served. 
 
Trunk ‘n Treat 
Join us next Sunday, October 30 from 5-7 PM for a Trunk ‘n Treat. We still need lots of candy! Please place wrapped candy in the bins at the front entrances. We are also still looking for 2 more trunks! If you would like to participate please sign up at pacoc.net/tnt
 
Men’s Conference, December 2-3
Register now for the early bird price of $35. Offer expires October 30. Online registration is at  riseuptexoma.com
 
Operation Christmas Child
Thank you to everyone who has picked up a shoebox. Please return your filled shoebox to the main hallways by no later than November 6.

Coffee & Donut Fellowship
Come early on Sunday mornings to enjoy coffee, donuts, and fellowship, starting at 9:15 AM in the Atrium.
 
Ark Use
The Ark is a busy place and sometimes we find the kitchen or gym double-booked. We encourage use of the Ark but ask that you please schedule any use of the Ark through the Church office in order to avoid any conflict. Thank you.
 
Youth Ministry

 
Fortify Family Retreat
Families with kids of all ages: come have a fun weekend with our Park Avenue family! Enjoy family worship time, bonfire, s’mores, devotionals, family walk and talk, and parent rap sessions at a beautiful camp on Lake Texoma. The retreat will be November 12 and 13. The cost is $5 per person or $20 per family. We will begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday, stay overnight, and conclude on Sunday afternoon. Register now at pacoc.net/fortify.

Park Avenue Wednesday Supper
This week we are having Breakfast for Supper. The meal will be prepared by  Rhonda McClure & Christine Kirkbride and their team. Sign up on your communication card Sunday morning to let us know if you plan to attend so we can plan accordingly! 
 

TODD'S TAKE
Good morning and welcome to our worship service. A special welcome to our guests. If you have any questions about Park Avenue or Christianity in general, feel free to track one of our ministers or elders down or contact us any time.
 
This morning we will continue the series, The  Bible—Wonderful Words of Life. One goal of this series is to help us all fall in love with the Word of God and make reading it a daily discipline in our lives. In the Bible we have the words of life from the very One who created us!
 

Obstacles or Opportunities
This past week the ministry staff attended a short conference conducted by leaders from Lubbock Christian University. The theme was obstacles. Each church staff was assigned to identify obstacles at their congregation. For all of us that was not much of a challenge. Each church had a different set of circumstances but it came to light that every church faces obstacles of some sort.

That exercise wasn't all that encouraging. Who wants to dwell on problems and hurdles? I was hoping that the facilitators in all their wisdom would give us some magic formula to make all those obstacles go away, but they didn't. Problems don’t just go away. Hurdles don’t just vanish. I was wondering if I was wasting my  time.

Then they led us into a discussion of seeing beyond those obstacles and discovering ways to find opportunities for growth that those obstacles could provide. How can these problems bring hope instead of despair? How can obstacles make us stronger rather than weaker? How can hurdles uncover avenues of growth that we never really saw?  All these questions were leading us to see problems we face not just as obstacles but as opportunities.

Like all churches, PACOC has had, is having, and will have obstacles to overcome. A problem-free existence is not a reality this side of heaven. The question we have to ask ourselves is whether we will allow these obstacles to stunt growth or see in these challenges opportunities to learn and to grow and for God to take us places we never thought of.

Obstacles are inevitable. Reframing them as opportunities is optional. Let’s choose the latter.
 
 
PRAYER LIST
Prayer List—Debbie Black
 
Ongoing Needs—Chris Reinsch, Shawn Landrum, Larry Long, Corky & Linda  Armstrong, Sandra Aynes, Bobby & Peggy Slaughter, Kaile Williams (Norris), Jim Scroggins, Roy Galyon, Ernie & Kathy Sturch, Patrick Mullins, Vicki Ard, Joyce Henshaw
 
Homebound—JD Huffman, Dewey & Joyce Martin
 
Expectant Mothers—Brittni Calvert, Alissa Cope, Lauren Claborn
 
Missions—Hammer & Dela Afakule (Togo), Mario “Pepe”  Torre (Monterrey, Mexico), Jimenez family (Cartagena, Colombia), Cristian & Ana Corrales (Bucaramanga, Colombia)
 
Friends of Park Avenue—Rebekah Taylor (great niece of the Russell’s), Becky Sanchez (wife of Gil Sanchez, Director of orphanage in Mexico), Greg Oliver (father of Karee Earnhart), Nan Farmer (friend of Joyce Merworth)

 Sunday Schedule

Worship - 10:00 AM

Children Dismissed to Bible Classes at - 10:45-11:30AM
Babies -Nursery Area
2 & 3 Year Olds—Nursery Area
Pre K-6th Grade—Family Life Center

Youth Group Activities - 5:30-7:30PM

 Discipleship Making Communities (DMC’s)
Meet at various times and locations. Contact Lantz Howard for more information, or sign up at pacoc.net/groups