The Messenger

Baptism
Congratulations  to Kara Bird who was baptized into Christ last Wednesday. We rejoice with Kara and her family.
 
Thank You
Park Avenue family, thank you for your prayers, kindnesses, and precious notes for Ernie and I over the past days and weeks. You have lifted us up when we were lacking. What an amazing God who introduced Ernie and I over 59 years ago and has led us on a grand adventure. I will miss my life partner but am comforted to know all is well with his soul.   Kathy Sturch
 
Let’s Get Acquainted
Next Sunday January 22 immediately after worship we will have a luncheon for new members and guests. This is a great opportunity for you to get to know our ministers, elders and their wives.
 
Kingdom Unleashed
Come practice the life and leadership of Jesus and how his first Century Kingdom values are transforming cultures around the world and awakening his church. Join others in this real-life and practical application of how we can overcome the five categories of spiritual malpractice and become fully alive in the places we live, work, and play. This DMC will be in the atrium on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM.
 
2023 Budget
The 2023 budget is available in the members area on the church app. You can also request a paper copy from the church office.
 
Youth Ministry

 
Grief Share
Grief Share is a recovery and support group for those grieving the loss of a family member or friend.  This is a 13 week program that will take place on Saturdays beginning on Saturday, February 11 from 10-12 noon in Room D. The program will be lead by Anthony Bryant. The  cost is $20 to cover the workbook and video curriculum. Register on the app or at pacoc.net/grief
 
Sweetheart Banquet
Mark your calendars for the sweetheart banquet scheduled Sunday, Feb. 12. Anyone over 60 is invited to stay after church that Sunday for a meal served by our youth group. 
 
Park Avenue Wednesday Supper
Join us this Wednesday, January 18 for our PAWS meal at 5:15PM. We are having Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Veggie Burgers, Salad, Chips & Desserts. The meal will be prepared by Amyee McAlister and her team. After our meal we meet in our Discipleship Communities. Talk to Lantz about what communities are available. Classes for our children are also available for kids of all ages.
 
 
TODD'S TAKE
Good morning and welcome to our worship service. What a blessing to be able to gather together in the name of Christ with our brothers and sisters. A special welcome to our guests. Please let us know if you have any questions.

We had a great Covenant Sunday last week as all of us were challenged and reminded that we need to put our full trust in the Lord. It’s always a moving time to interact with the elders and wives as the covenant stone is collected and the pledge is made. Not only is it a privilege to participate but it is beautiful to watch church members go through that same process. After two weeks of sermons on the eldership I will resume a series of sermons on trust.

Today during the sermon time we have a special presentation from Paul Waggoner and Kirk Pendergrass. They shared their story of friendship at the men’s retreat and upon hearing it I knew this was a story the whole church had to hear. Through pain and loss these two men have found strength and hope in their common experiences and their common faith. I know you will be blessed.

Today we will also pause and remember our PACOC members who have passed away in 2022. Each year this memorial reminds us of all the many saints who have served this church for decades. All of us are indebted to these faithful lives and, in remembering their contribution to the kingdom, we are challenged to carry the torch of faithful service. We also continue to pray for and help carry the burden of grief of those families who suffered such deep loss. May the hope of heaven comfort us and may our anticipation of glory strengthen us until the day when death is defeated forever.

As you’ve heard over the past several weeks, 2023 brings us to the three year cycle of elder selection. As we have done in the past, we are asking PACOC members to submit names to the current eldership of men you consider qualified to serve this church as elders. The next two Sundays I will be talking more about the significance of this important role in the church. The nomination period will begin next Sunday. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask any one of our elders. See the schedule below.
 

 

January 22- February 5
Nomination Period
January 22 & 29
Sermons on Eldership
        February 19          
Nominees Presented to Congregation
     March 5          
Installation & Reaffirmation

 
 
Prayer List—Steve Black, Ralph Stone

Ongoing Needs—Chris Reinsch, Shawn Landrum, Larry Long, Corky & Linda  Armstrong, Sandra Aynes, Bobby & Peggy Slaughter, Kaile Williams (Norris),  Jim Scroggins, Roy Galyon, Patrick Mullins, Vicki Ard, Joyce Henshaw

Homebound—JD Huffman, Dewey & Joyce Martin

Expectant Mothers—Alissa Cope, Lauren Claborn, Whitney Allison, Melanie Truxal

Missions—Hammer & Dela Afakule (Togo), Mario “Pepe”  Torre (Monterrey, Mexico), Jimenez family (Cartagena, Colombia), Cristian & Ana Corrales (Bucaramanga, Colombia), Gonzalez Family (Bogata, Colombia), Paraiso, Monterrey

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), Ray & Marsha Jones (former members)

 

 

 Sunday Schedule

 

 

Babies -Nursery Area

2 & 3 Year Olds—Nursery Area

Pre K-6th Grade—Family Life Center

 

 

 Discipleship Making Communities (DMC’s)

Meet at various times and locations. Contact Lantz Howard for more information, or sign up at pacoc.net/groups