The Messenger

NEWS & NOTES

Thank You’s
We want to express our sincere thanks to all of you who have prayed for us, sent cards, brought food, called us & loved on us in so many ways before & during the recent passing of our dad, A. C. Quinn.  Thank you also for the beautiful plant sent in remembrance of our dad.  We don’t have the words to express just how all of your acts of kindness have meant to us. In Christian Love, Kathy Reinsch & Family of A. C. Quinn

Thanking each of you for the prayers, calls, texts, visits, goodies, beautiful cards with sweet messages, and my birthday cards, calls, texts, and those who sang to me.  Thank you for giving me so many blessings. God’s blessings on you.  With love, Daisy Miller
 
Blue Christmas
Waples United Methodist Church will host a service of  hope for the holidays again this year on  Thursday, December 21st at 6:00 p.m. This will be a quiet reflective service focusing on the comfort and light God offers us in dark and difficult times.
 
Picture Directory
For those who prefer to have a paper copy of the church directory, we have some available on the glass tables in the atrium this morning (one per family please).
 
December Sunday Morning Bible Class
The Christmas Experience is a video portrayal of the birth of Jesus that examines the Christmas story in detail. Each episode will focus on how God chose each individual in the Christmas story for a specific purpose. This is appropriate for all adults and school aged children. Join us on Sunday mornings in December from 9:00-9:45 in the Ark for this special time.
 
Quilting Class
If anyone is interested in a Beginner's Quilting Class, Margaret Atnip would like to start one in January 9, 2024.  It would be open to anyone of any age that would like to learn to quilt.  There is no charge for the class and they would meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:00.  If you do not have a sewing machine one can be secured for you to use for the class. The Advanced Class has been meeting for several years and has produced many beautiful quilts.  It meets on the same days but in the morning at 9:30.  It is an opportunity to learn some new skills and fellowship with other ladies. Please notify Margaret Atnip at 903-815-8415 or email tj.atnip@myrhinomail.com if you would like more information or would like to sign up. 
 
No Sunday Morning Children’s Classes
Please note that there will be no children’s classes on Sundays, December 24th and 31st.
 
Youth Ministry

• Sunday December 10th: Park Avenue Youth Christmas Party from 5-8pm in the Gym! Bring a $10 gift for our game! Dinner will be breakfast themed!
• January 12th-14th: Winterfest! Signup online Today!

 
T’was The Night Before Christmas
On Wednesday December 20th, many of our 1st—6th graders will be performing a Christmas play on stage in the Ark at 7:00 p.m.  Make plans to join us for this 30 minute performance!
 
Park Avenue Wednesday Supper
Join us this Wednesday for our PAWS meal at 5:15PM. We will be having Beef Vegetable Soup, Cornbread Muffins, Salad Bar & Dessert.  The Kids Option is Mac ‘n Cheese.  The meal will be prepared by Kathy Hitchcock and her team. Please note that this will be the last PAWS meal of the year.  PAWS will resume on January 3rd.
  Prayer List—Pam Gardner, Daisy Miller, Linda Martindale, Pamela Hendrickson
Ongoing Needs—Chris Reinsch, Neal & Judy Odom, Roy Galyon, Steve Black, Keith House, Che Che Smith, Waymon Hinson
Homebound—Dewey & Joyce Martin, Joyce Henshaw, Sandra Aynes, Corky Armstrong
Expectant Mothers—Alissa Cope, Breanna Menifee
Missions—Hammer & Dela Afakule (Togo), Mario “Pepe” Torre (Monterrey, Mexico), Jimenez family (Cartagena, Colombia), Cristian & Ana Corrales (Bucaramanga, Colombia), Jhon & Deisy Gonzalez (Bogota, Colombia), Adrian & Gabriela Galvan (Paraiso, Monterrey)
Friends of Park Avenue—Taylor Burden (daughter of Greg and Terri Laird), 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), Sarah Thompson (daughter of Judy Black), Rhonda Griffith (friend of Jimmy & Karen Elmore)
     
 
TODD’S TAKE
Good morning and welcome to our worship service. If you are a guest with us this morning we welcome you and invite you to join in with us as we honor our creator and savior. If you are looking for a church home, please feel free to let us know if you have any questions.

This morning we move on to our fifth letter of Paul, Ephesians. This letter has a much more   positive and encouraging tone as opposed to the more corrective correspondence with the churches in Corinth and Galatia. Ephesians is among a subset of Paul’s letters called the “prison epistles” as they were likely written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome as described at the conclusion of the book of Acts. He makes reference to this near the end of the letter in Ephesians 6:19–20: “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Even in these less-than-desirable circumstances Paul continues to give himself to the encouragement and instruction to the early churches. Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are also among the prison epistles.

It was so encouraging to hear of the great turnout for the Ladies Christmas Party this past week and the enthusiasm surrounding the women's ministry. If you missed out and want to know more, contact Becky Russell and she will be glad to share with you our vision.

I hope everyone is planning on being at our Christmas Eve service, Sunday, December 24 at   6 pm. We will have our regular morning worship at 10:00 am and reconvene at 6 pm for our traditional candlelight service.  Invite friends and family for this special time of reflection on the coming of Jesus!

We have been invited to participate in a year end service with other local Churches of Christ.  It will be held at Parkview Church of Christ in Sherman next Sunday, December 17th at 6 p.m.  Hope you can join us for worship and fellowship.

 
  

 Sunday Schedule
Adult Bible Class
9AM Room D
Worship
10:00 AM
Children Dismissed to Bible Classes at
10:45-11:30AM
0 - 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.