Prayer Meeting and News

A highlight of our visit to Franklin was having a meal at the home of George and Karen Grant.  The food was great, but even greater were the shelves and shelves of books surrounding us, the conversations about books and music, and the restorative fellowship with George, Karen, and their son, Jesse.

Dear Grace Covenant Saints,
What a relief to be out of Tennessee, away from the slightly less hot weather, away from the book stores, shops, and hills of middle Tennessee, and away from the influences of George Grant and his cohorts.  (Surely you don't believe what I just said.) 
We want to invite and encourage all to come to our house tonight for a short Bible exhortation on Bible study, a time for sharing prayer needs, and for praying together.  Afterwards, we will fellowship and enjoy some snacks.  The kids and I are planning on assembling an ice cream sandwich cake, a family favorite.  Bring along any snacks and dessert items you wish.

News and Announcements:

1.  Summer Sanctus, church camp, is next week.  We will need to complete plans for taking our youth to church camp.  We will be joined by four youth from Todd Davis' church in Searcy. 

2.  Worship services for August are now being planned.  It has been quite a while since I have been in charge of picking out hymns, and more controversies arise over hymns sung or not sung than over doctrine (thank God).  If you have a hymn or two that you would like to see included in the service, let me know over the next week.
 
3.  Any events you would like to see listed on the August calendar need to be given to me.

4.  The garage sale that wasn't:  We attempted to organize a garage sale for raising funds for summer camp.  Time, other events, and heat prevented this from happening.  We do have a few sale items that have accumulated at the church and that need a new home.  This includes the Fica Tree that is currently in the school library.  Anyone wanting any of these items may take them, or if anyone is planning on having a garage sale, please take these items.

5.  We will be having a meeting soon (perhaps after the August fellowship meal) to begin planning for the Advent season worship services.  And we will be planning a Francis Schaeffer Conference for either late January or early February.  January 12, 2012 will mark the 100 year anniversary of Schaeffer's birth.  Our church owes an immense debt to this man.  This would be a good time to start reading some of Schaeffer's works or those of his wife, Edith. 

6.  I am still trying to figure out how to add people on to the GCC list.  Some of the members, particulary wives, are not on the list.  Please be patient.  If you use Facebook, please post the main points of this information, particularly about tonight.

In Christ's service,
Ben