The Messenger

Thank You’s
TJ and I want to thank all you wonderful people who were so thoughtful to us during his surgery and recuperation time. We were blessed with calls of encouragement, food, cards, prayers, and his favorite Butterfingers bars.  You have been our strength when we were weary and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. He is walking well but has not been released as yet from the doctor.  We're looking forward to seeing and worshipping with you soon. Thanks again.  TJ & Margaret Atnip
 
Thank y’all for the adorable gift basket. I love the gifts and the essentials will really come in handy next year!
Love, Mollie Rangel
 
Baby Bottle Campaign
Thank you to all who picked up a bottle for True Options Pregnancy Center in Sherman. Please return your filled bottles to the church office by no later than Father’s Day, June 18. 
 
Youth Ministry

 
Christian Theater Workshop
Sign up online Today at pacoc.net/ctw
 
Wednesday, June 7—Church at the Park
We'll kick off summer this week on Wednesday, June 7th! Due to the construction at Waterloo Lake this year, Church on the Lake is becoming Church at the Park! We will meet together at Munson Park at 6 p.m. (north of Terrell Elementary on Highway 69, see the map above) for hamburgers, outdoor games (including disc golf), and fellowship. Bring a lawn chair!  We will provide the food. We are asking you to make a donation to offset the cost of the food.
 
Summer Wednesdays
Then, starting on Wednesday, June 14th and for the following 4 Wednesdays, we will meet in the Atrium for small group discussions on "Life Changing Stories from Genesis." We will also be serving some ice cream treats. Ice cream snacks start at 6:15 p.m.  Children's classes will be provided during those 5 weeks and will start at 6:30 p.m.
 

TODD'S TAKE
Good morning. What a blessing it is to worship together as the body of Christ! Welcome to all our church family and to our guests.
 
Don’t you just love spring? It’s simply glorious. Trees blooming. Plants blossoming. It’s all so beautiful. Unless of course you were looking at my front yard earlier this year.
 
Last summer we bought three bushes that looked so promising. The leaves were supposed to turn all kinds of spectacular colors as the seasons progressed. We were so hopeful. But this spring all we had left were barren sticks.
 
Two of the plants seemed utterly hopeless, but one had a few vestiges of leaves.  I uprooted all three plants and tossed aside two of them but decided to give the barely alive plant a second chance.
 
So, I took the lone survivor and replanted it in my back yard. Maybe a new location where it could get more sun would make a difference. With little hope for a recovery, I dug the hole, placed the plant in it, watered it, and waited to see what would happen.
 
The first week there was little improvement. The next week a little more. And the jury is still out on whether it will live into its potential, but, as of today, many of the once barren branches have given life to green leaves that show a hint of those spectacular colors we once hoped for.
 
I’ve felt like that struggling bush at times in my life. And maybe you have too. But like that little bush that is now blooming, I’ve seen the same thing in my life and the lives of so many others. Sometimes a second chance is all it takes.
 
Today, if you are feeling like that little bush, I want you to know that God has not given up on you. He has an amazing ability to see even the smallest signs of life in people, and he sees that in you. He gives second and third and fourth chances to those who refuse to give up.
 
Today, if you are feeling like that little bush, maybe what you need is a new location.  Maybe you’ve been deprived of the light of God’s love. Maybe you’ve been deprived of the water of supportive relationships. Maybe you’re planted in foul dirt of this world rather than the rich soil of God’s Word.
 
Today, if you are feeling like that little bush don’t give up the hope that there are spectacular colors in you. The transformation may be slow and challenging, but one day, by God’s grace, you will exhibit all the glory of springtime.
 

This Week on The Crown
1 Samuel 15
 

Saul wins another convincing military victory over the Amalekites, a long-time foe of the Israelites. Expecting to be praised by Samuel for his success,  he his met instead by the prophet’s rebuke. Saul had not fully obeyed the command to utterly destroy the people and animals. Instead, he spared some of the choice animals and the king of Amalek, Agag. For this act of rebellion Samuel declares to Saul that the kingdom has been torn  from him. Partial obedience is no obedience at all.
 
 
PRAYER REQUESTS

Prayer List—Linda Martindale, Corky & Linda Armstrong, Patrick Mullins, Daisy Miller, Keith House, Dave Smith
 
Ongoing Needs—Chris Reinsch, Bettye Henry, Shawn Landrum, Neal & Judy Odoem, Sandra Aynes, Bobby & Peggy Slaughter, Jim Scroggins, Roy Galyon, Steve Black, Che Che Smith
 
Homebound—Dewey & Joyce Martin, J.D. Huffman, Joyce Henshaw
 
Expectant Mothers—Annabelle Levacy
 
Missions—Hammer & Dela Afakule (Togo), Mario “Pepe”  Torre (Monterrey, Mexico), Jimenez family (Cartagena, Colombia), Cristian & Ana Corrales (Bucaramanga,  Colombia), Jhon & Deisy Gonzalez (Bogata, Colombia), Adrian & Gabriela Galvan (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), Diane Strauser (friend of Joyce Henshaw)