Update for July 18, 2010

Thanks to everyone who came to the college class party last Thursday! Everyone had a great time, and the food was amazing!


Announcements

Donate blood during the Blood Drive in the mobile unit in the Colquitt St parking lot this Sunday, June 25, from 8am-1pm.

Plan to attend the Church Business Meeting in the Fellowship Hall following the 11:00 service this week. Lunch will be served for $7.

South Main's 2010 Bach to Broadway cast presents South Pacific on August 12-14 at 7:30pm and August 15 at 2:00pm. Tickets are available at smbc.org.

Ever wanted to be a part of the Guinness Book of World Records? Your chance is coming on Saturday, August 21 from 9:00am to 2:00pm (plus free dumplings for lunch!). Volunteer to come to the church to create the world's longest chain of shoes, all of which will be donated to orphaned and at-risk children through the Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls program by signing up here. South Main is currently celebrating it's 10th year of participating in this wonderful project, which has provided over 1.8 million shoes for orphans as far away as Guatemala, Kenya, and Peru. Also, if you have any ideas of what we should spell out with the shoe chain in the parking lot, send it to solechain@smbc.org by July 29. Follow this exciting event on Facebook and Twitter.

If you're looking for another opportunity to participate in a thought-provoking Bible study, head to the Fellowship Hall every Wednesday at 6:30 to hear Steve give a great lesson. Dinner is served as early as 5:00pm.


Prayer Requests and Praises

Jim was diagnosed last week with shingles in his throat. Please keep him in your prayers.

Pray for safe travels for those traveling performing mission work in Peru, including many of our freshmen.

Update for May 9, 2010

It was great seeing several of you back in Houston this week. We're praying for you as you take your finals and embark on summer jobs and travels!

Announcements:

There will be a blood drive in the Fellowship Hall this Sunday the 16th from 8:00am-1:00pm.

Manna, South Main's mission to the homeless right on our doorstep, takes place at 8:00am every Sunday morning. If you would like to volunteer to set up and/or help lead the Manna worship service, please contact Erin Conaway.

Prayer Requests and Praises:

Please pray for the flood victims in Nashville, TN.

Virginia's father, a landman, was just laid off.

Keep each other in your thoughts and prayers as you wrap up the school year.

Marie's neighbor has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Joey has found a place to live in Iowa.

Emily and Kyle are both moving within a day or two of each other --pray for their safe move and their family's sanity!

Update for March 14, 2010

Happy Spring Break past, present, and future to all of you! There are a LOT of announcements and prayer requests this week; sorry I have missed the past few weeks!

Announcements:

Blood Drive in Activities Building March 21st from 8am to 1pm.

Learn about the spiritual gifts God has given you and how to apply them at Discovery Weekend, March 26-27. I have taken this course and, trust me, it's fanTAStic! The retreat is from 6:30-9:30 on the 26th and from 8:45-3:00 on the 27th. The retreat is NO COST. To register, contact Martha Dethrow by March 23.

The Youth Auction will be held on March 28 at noon in the gym. If you have a good or service to donate to the auction (such as hair cuts, gift cards, photography services, baked goods, tickets, etc), contact Angie Durand, Sally Reed, or Missy Wells. All proceeds will go to the youth mission trip fund.

Missions Day is April 17, 8:30am - noon. Let us know if you have any ideas of projects we could take on, but we'll be sure to have some great assignment for our class!

Prayer during Worship Service: The Discipleship Committee is looking for volunteers to pray during worship services. To sign up, please contact Ruth Campos or Lu Alcazar.

David Wilcox Concert at SMBC, May 7

Manna, South Main's mission to the homeless right on our doorstep, takes place at 8:00am every Sunday morning. If you would like to volunteer to set up and/or help lead the Manna worship service, please contact Erin Conaway.

College Mission to Collique, Peru, May 22-29, 2010, organized by Tallowood Baptist Church. The cost is $1,500 per person. We will be ministering through worship, VBS, sports camps, construction, and painting. We'll also get to sight see in Lima. Contact Chuck Westbrook if you are interested in going.

SMBC is participating in a Buckner mission trip to Guatemala July 2-6. The group will lead a Disciple Now Weekend, complete a service project, and fellowship with students in transitional homes. The land cost ($915) includes meals, lodging, in-country transportation, insurance, interpreters, bottled water, and sightseeing. Airfare ($500-$550) can be arranged by the Buckner on-site Travel Consultant. Contact Chelsea Wade with questions or if you're interested in going.


Prayer Requests and Praises:

Sarrean's cousin as she grieves for her husband

Elizabeth as she decides which nursing school to attend

Elizabeth will be living in Peru this summer; pray for her safety and quick assimilation

Church-wide mission trip in Eagle Pass this week

Safe travel during spring break

Praise: Bill arrived safely in Australia (for those of you who don't know, he has taken a 20-month position in Australia; the rest of his family still in Houston)


Here are some additional prayers and praises from the past few weeks:

Praise: Peter and Sara's church has a permanent pastor

Virginia got a scholarship to Vanderbilt and will be heading to Nashville in August

As of Feb 28, Jessica's dad (Emily & Kyle's uncle) is having coronary problems

As of Feb 28, Zach's uncle was at MD Anderson

Update for November 15, 2009

We had a great turnout at the Fall Festival! Check out the photos on Facebook! As usual, the ever popular College-run Sausage-on-a-Stick booth ran out of its 400 servings about 2 hours into the festival. Epic win!

Currently, dozens of South Mainers are in Peru. Keep them in your prayers and read up on all their adventures on the Missions blog.

Announcements:

• Blood Drive, November 22, 8am-12pm, Fellowship Hall
  
• This December, several of South Main's own are going to spend a Buckner Christmas in Peru, during which they will visit orphanages and distribute Christmas gifts and humanitarian aid. If you would like to contribute to the gifts, please bring them to Chelsea Wade's box in the 3rd floor church office, or you can bring them to Sunday school, and we'll take care of them. Examples of items needed include:
• coloring books
• plastic jewelry
• bubbles
• board games
• Christmas CDs in Spanish
• journals
• Children's Tylenol (including chewable)
  
• vitamins for children and adults in large bottles
• Children's cold medicine
• antiperspirant
• antibiotic cream and band-aids
• diapers
• College Mission to Collique, Peru, May 22-29, 2010, organized by Tallowood Baptist Church. The cost is $1,500 per person. We will be ministering through worship, VBS, sports camps, construction, and painting. We'll also get to sight see in Lima. At least one SMBC college student is going, so you should too! Contact Chuck.Westbrook@interfaceflor.com if you are interested in going.

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• Mel had a rough week of student teaching; keep her in your prayers!
  
• Pray for Elizabeth as she applies to nursing school this fall.
• Continue to keep Jim's mom in your prayers. She had surgery on Oct 27.
• Virginia is nearly done with applications - praise!
  
• Keep each other in your thoughts and prayers as finals approach.

Update for November 8, 2009

The end of the semester is just ahead! I hope everyone's staying afloat with tests and assignments -- but just remember, you're almost done!

If you're in town, please come (and bring a friend) to the FREE FALL FESTIVAL this Sunday at noon in the SMBC front lawn. We need your help serving at the ever-popular college class booth: Sausage on a Stick! Please help out. I can vouch that it'll be lots of fun!

Announcements:

• Just to reiterate, Fall Festival (and the infamous college class Sausage on a Stick... yum!), November 15, noon, front lawn
• Catch Up Double Up Sunday is November 15. If you have fallen behind on your giving, this is the week to catch up. If you're in a position to give more than you planned, even the smallest gift could make an enormous difference.
  
• Discovery Weekend: what are your spiritual gifts? Find out on November 20, 6:30pm. Contact mdethrow@comcast.net to sign up.
• Blood Drive, November 22, 8am-12pm, Fellowship Hall
  
• This December, several of South Main's own are going to spend a Buckner Christmas in Peru, during which they will visit orphanages and distribute Christmas gifts and humanitarian aid. If you would like to contribute to the gifts, please bring them to Chelsea Wade's box in the 3rd floor church office, or you can bring them to Sunday school, and we'll take care of them. Examples of items needed include:
• coloring books
• plastic jewelry
• bubbles
• board games
• Christmas CDs in Spanish
• journals
• Children's Tylenol (including chewable)
  
• vitamins for children and adults in large bottles
• Children's cold medicine
• antiperspirant
• antibiotic cream and band-aids
• diapers
• College Mission to Collique, Peru, May 22-29, 2010, organized by Tallowood Baptist Church. The cost is $1,500 per person. We will be ministering through worship, VBS, sports camps, construction, and painting. We'll also get to sight see in Lima. At least one SMBC college student is going, so you should too! Contact Chuck.Westbrook@interfaceflor.com if you are interested in going.

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• Pray for Elizabeth as she applies to nursing school this fall.
• Continue to keep Jim's mom in your prayers. She had surgery on Oct 27.
• Pray for Virginia as she applies to graduate school this fall.
• Keep each other in your thoughts as finals approach.
• Praise: Kathryn gave birth to healthy, happy baby William (9lbs, 13oz) on 11/6!
  

Update for September 13

Hope you're having a fantastic week! I encourage you to visit SMBC's blog, as this entry this week ties in nicely with Jim's lesson! As always, be sure to check out the SMBC College Community's blog, tweets, and Facebook page.

Prayer Requests:

• Rachel's suitemate from HBU was in a bike accident. Please pray for healing.
• Marie visited her grandmother in Arkansas last weekend. She has ALS and has declined a lot since last time Marie saw her.

Praises:

• Jennifer's memaw turned 98. Jennifer had a good visit with her in Crockett, Texas.
• Virginia took the GRE and it went well.

Annoucements:

• Blood Drive: on September 20, from 8am-1pm in the Fellowship Hall
• State of the Church Address: On September 20, immediately following 11am worship, Steve Wells will talk to our church family about new and exciting programs, about our call to "worship, discover and share," and yes, even the truth about the numbers: are we really growing? Make plans to join us in the Activities Building for lunch ($7) and Steve's talk.
• College Tour: We'll be coming to a town near (most of) you. The tentative college tour dates are October 25-27. More information to come. We hope you can join us!

Update for September 6, 2009

Hello everyone! I hope you had a fantastic Labor Day and were able to catch up on lots of sleep! Thanks to everyone who helped pack shoes on Sunday.

Be sure to check out our blog, tweets, and Facebook page every week for photos and updates!

Announcements:

• Blood Drive: on September 20, from 8am-1pm in the Fellowship Hall
• State of the Church Address: On September 20, immediately following 11am worship, Steve Wells will talk to our church family about new and exciting programs, about our call to "worship, discover and share," and yes, even the truth about the numbers: are we really growing? Make plans to join us in the Activities Building for lunch ($7) and Steve's talk.
  
• College Tour: We'll be coming to a town near (most of) you. The tentative college tour dates are October 25-27. More information to come. We hope you can join us!

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• Pray for the health of Rice students, faculty, and staff as H1N1 is going through the campus
• Major praise: John and Avery's friend with a brain tumor had the cancer removed and is doing well.
• Ian left for a year's studies in Japan on Sunday. Pray for safe travel and a great time!