Update for April 11, 2010

Oh boy, finals aren't far away! Good luck to all of you! We're praying for your well-restedness and clarity of mind while you take exams, give presentations, and write essays -- and that you have a little fun too! :D

Please email Marie or Jennifer if you are coming to Missions Day this Saturday morning! More details are below.

Also, please mark your calendars: College Tour will be April 29-30.

The Share Campaign kicked off this past Sunday. This campaign is designed to engage the members of South Main in reaching out to the people they know and meet to share their faith and church community. During this campaign, we will discuss what it means to open ourselves up for God to work through us in the lives of those around us. Each week, we'll be studying what it means to live, learn, listen, and share as a Christian in today's world. Check out the South Main blog for encouraging articles and stories about your fellow church-goers.


Announcements:

This Saturday (April 17) is Missions Day. Bagels will be served from 8am-8:30am, and then the college class will troop to the South Main Community Garden to set up beds and planters & plant some veggies until around noon. Bring your own supplies (trowel, gloves, knee pads, etc). Last year, we had NO college students attend Missions Day, so please come out this year if you're in town! I know it's early in the morning, but we'll be making a huge difference for our community with this project, which will provide food and nourishment to our neighbors. Again, please RSVP by emailing Marie or Jennifer if you are coming!

Bring your used clothes to the Youth Building any time before Saturday; the Youth are sorting clothes for a clothing drive as their Missions Day project.

There will be no 8:30 worship service on April 25.

Susan's Rally, which supports the fight against cancer and is organized by SMBC's own Bruce Roberson, will be held April 25 at noon. The starting line is the Momentum VW/Audi dealership at 2405 Richmond, and the finish line is at the Post Oak Grill. To register, visit www.susansrally.org.

There will be a church business meeting April 25 at 12:30 in the Fellowship Hall.

College Tour is coming to a town near (most of) you, April 29-30!

The Youth are presenting Beauty and the Beast Friday, April 30 at 7:30pm and Saturday, May 1 at 2:00pm. Student tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the church or at smbc.org.

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.


Prayer Requests and Praises:

Jennifer Gribble's sister was recently diagnosed with MS. Please pray for her as they explore treatment options and look at how life will now be different.

Sean and Amy's wedding was beautiful. Pray they have a safe and restful -- and fun! -- honeymoon!

Bryan Brooks is having surgery tomorrow, Friday April 16th. He needs blood donations through MD Anderson, so please donate if possible.

Marie Parks' mother had successful heart ablation on Monday, so she's out of atrial fibrillation and back in rhythm!

The mother of Rachel Rentz's friend Aleeza had a miscarriage. Please pray for her and her family.

Virginia Busby has an apartment in Nashville!

John Cate has a job!

Claire Hein has an apartment, but is looking for a job.

Update for November 1, 2009

Happy Guy Fawkes' Day, everyone!

For those of you who met us around the state for college tour earlier this week, it was great seeing you! We'll do it again in the spring!

Be sure to join our Facebook group, check out our twitter feed, and read our blog! Sunday School is high-tech, yo!

Announcements:

• 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
  

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

Update for October 25, 2009

Last week in Sunday school, we talked about how God is revealing himself in our lives. The South Main blog, http://themainblog.wordpress.com, is a great source of stories that detail how God is moving in the lives of those in our congregation. It's full of lots of interesting articles about a variety of subjects by all sorts of folks at church, so check it out!

If you haven't already, please join our Facebook group! Also, we're tweeting regularly and updating the blog every week!

Announcements:

• College Tour is next week, November 2-3. Stay tuned for information about when South Main is coming to a campus near you!
  
• If you are interested in working for Passport summer camps in 2010, know that the priority deadline for staff applications is November 1. For more info, visit www.passportstaff.org.
  
• 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.
• 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
  

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• Continue to keep Jim's mom in your prayers. She had surgery on Oct 27.
• Pray for clarity and focus as midterms continue
• Praise: Virginia's grandfather has moved home
• Pray for Virginia as she applies to graduate school this fall
  
• Praise: Marie's mom is doing much better this week. Thank you for your prayers.

Update for October 4, 2009

If you're in the area, please come (and invite your friends!) to Deep Dish, an exciting new event series hosted by the SMBC College Community! Come to the Martel College TV Room at Rice University at 6pm this Saturday for FREE FOOD and an awesome discussion led by our own Amy Grizzle! Here's the topic for the evening:

unChristian Christians?
Most young people outside the church hold an overwhelmingly negative perception of Christianity and those who practice it. What causes these views, and how can Christians reflect to others a more compassionate religion--one that embraces the true nature of Jesus, honors the historic principles of the Christian faith, and works hard to understand the world in which we live?

Disclaimer: This event is open to anyone, regardless of faith or background. We want to tackle difficult questions, hear candid opinions, and start an open and respectful dialogue. And, don't forget, feed you for free!

For more info or to RSVP, please visit the Facebook event page.

Other Announcements:

• Sky Rocket is playing at the Continental Club on Oct 16. You're sure to find some friendly SMBC faces if you come!! :)
• College Tour is coming to a town near (most of) you, October 26-27.
• Fall Festival and the SMBC College Community's famous Sausage on a Stick booth are returning November 15 after the 11:00 service!

Prayer Requests and Praises

• Pray for the safe return of Jan and Kate!

Update for September 20, 2009

If you haven't already, please scroll down or click here to check out Joey's words of wisdom for new college students.

If you haven't already, sign up to receive the SMBC College Community's tweets and become a member of our Facebook page.

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• Virginia's grandfather has been having health issues. We are glad that he is now open to moving into assisted living, but please pray for her family as they find a good place for him to live.
  
• Rachel's friend Eliza is improving, but her great grandmother recently passed away. Please pray for her family.
• Jeff Kline continues to need prayers for his full recovery.
  
• John keeps pulling a muscle in his leg -- pray for healing.
• Emily's friend's sister, Claire, has a brain tumor and is now in hospice.
  

Announcements:

• Put Luck Lunch Sunday: Immediately after the 11am service on October 4, join us in the gym for a pot luck lunch and a special time of church-wide fellowship.
  
• 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 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!