NEWS & NOTES
Sympathy
Our sympathy is with Judith Nevil after the passing of her sister, Dorothea Trim Czeczotka, on Tuesday, January 26. For many years PACOC supported Dorothea and her husband, Murray, in their work with the Eastern European Missions.  Services are pending at this time.
 
Thank You’s
Thank you so much for your very generous graceoffering gift to Family Promise of Grayson County. This will go a long way in helping children and parents experiencing homelessness. We appreciate your faithfulness!   Leigh Walker, Executive Director, Family Promise
 
What can I say to the many friends whom kindness was shown to me during the holidays with the wonderful gift bag. Thank you for your love and appreciation. May you be greatly blessed and your soul lifted with joy during this new year.  Arlene O’Malley                                                   
 
Bridal Shower
Join us TODAY for a bridal shower in the atrium in honor of Alissa Windle and Tyler Cope from 1:30-3:00PM. We are requesting that everyone wear a face mask. They are registered at Target, Amazon, and Bed Bath & Beyond.
 
Youth Ministry

  • Sweetheart Banquet: Unfortunately we will not be having our annual Sweetheart Banquet this year due to covid-19. We are truly sorry to have to do this. We are working on some other alternatives.
  • Sunday, January 31: Park Avenue Youth will meet from 5:30-7:30PM in the Gym. We will have dinner and finish up our last video from Winterfest!
  • Sunday, February 7: Park Avenue Youth will be watching the Super Bowl in the Gym from 5:00-9ish. Families are invited.
  • Wednesday, February 10: PACOC Youth Parents meeting @ 6:00PM in the Gym! We will provide dinner and then have our youth group class at 6:30PM.

 
Debt Reduction
Today is a fifth Sunday. All contributions will go toward the debt reduction on the Family LifeCenter.  
 
Covenant Sunday
As a follow up to Covenant Sunday consider participating in the monthly spiritual practice challenges. Go to www.pacoc.net/eyesonJesus or contact Lantz Howard.
 
Celebration of Marriage
On Sunday, February 14 during worship we will honor those couples who celebrate a wedding anniversary ending in years with a “1” or “6”. If you would like to participate please submit a wedding picture and a more recent picture to the church office  by February 1.
 
Save the Dates

  • Men’s Hiking Trip: March 26-28
  • CASA Family Mission Trip: July 2-10
  • Christian Theater Workshop: July 19-25

 
Marriage Getaway Weekend - February 26-28
Save the date for our marriage retreat at Lake Murray State Lodge, Ardmore, OK. The costs is $200 per couple. Register at pacoc.net/marriage


PRAYER LIST
Daisy Miller, Kimberly Pendergrass, Peggy Clark, Keith House, Corky Armstrong, Jimmy Rosser, John Eubank, Betty Clark, James Hawk, Dewey Martin, Bob Corley, Sandra Aynes, June Washburn, Nancy Richard, Sarah Carroll
 
Ongoing Needs
 Jim & Jane Scroggins, Terry Waggoner, Kay Skelton, Lisa  Cobble, Bobby & Peggy Slaughter, Nancy Richard, Sandra Thomas,  Larry Long,  Judy Shelton, Mary Pope, Gene Stogner, Kimberly Pendergrass, Kaile Williams (Norris), Peggy Parkey
 
Homebound
Barbara Corbett, Ray & Marsha Jones, Chris Keene, JD Huffman
 
Missions
Hammer & Dela Afakule (Togo), Mario “Pepe” Torre (Monterrey, Mexico)
 
Friends of Park Avenue
Rebekah Taylor (great niece of the Russells), Becky Sanchez (wife of Gil Sanchez,  Director of orphanage in Mexico), Kathy Hill (friend of Chris & Candsis Slaughter)
 
 
TODD'S TAKE
Happy Sunday! This morning we will continue our journey through Hebrews 12. I think it’s one of the great chapters of the New Testament, and I am especially encouraged by the opening three verses. 
 
These are worthy to be memorized, so here they are again:
 

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV) — 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 
Today we will be focusing on Hebrews 12:14-17 which, at first, may seem to be disconnected from the beginning of the chapter. In these verses the anonymous author urges the readers to pursue some good qualities, things like peace, holiness, and purity. And then he throws in a quick mention of one of the villains of the Old Testament, Esau, and a particularly perplexing event in his life.
 
Esau was a son of Isaac who was a son of Abraham. That’s a pretty impressive heritage. He also had a twin brother Jacob. They were as different as night and day. One difference was that Esau was a hunter and Isaac was more of a homebody. Anyway, there’s a particular interaction between the two brothers recorded in Genesis that the readers would have been familiar with, as probably are most of you, that he seems to randomly throw in.
 
One day Esau is out hunting and comes home famished. He claims he’s about to starve to death - although I take that as an exaggeration. Jacob, who needs to take his share of the blame in what is about to happen, offers his starving brother a bowl of stew he has just been working on in exchange for Esau’s birthright.  Now that’s a pretty big deal given that Esau is the older of the two and the first-born son, a really big deal in those days. This could include inheritance rights as well as a special blessing from their father. Surprisingly, Esau takes the deal.  He exchanges something supremely valuable for an ordinary bowl of stew.
 
So what does this all have to do with the theme of running the race with perseverance? How is this story a word of encouragement for these tired, weary, suffering believers? And, just as important, what might this story be teaching you?
 
Well, that’s what we will be talking about this morning!

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