Update for October 18, 2009

Last week, Jim delivered a crazy Sunday school lesson about some not-so-warm-and-fuzzy Psalms. I wonder what this week will hold!

Be sure to check out the new youth building. I know it's not a facility the college class will be using much, but it's BEAUTIFUL, and it's evidence of how awesome the New Wave Campaign is!

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

Announcements:

• Water's Edge: Drop in to learn more about SMBC, whether you've been here for years or only weeks.
  
• Oct 18, 9:30 in the Parlor (behind the Sanctuary): Where Can I Get Connected at South Main?
• Oct 25, 9:30 in the Parlor: Where Can I Serve at South Main?
  
• If you are interested in working for Passport summer camps in 2010, know that the priority deadline for staff applications is Nov 1. For more info, visit www.passportstaff.org.
  
• Fall Festival (and the infamous college class Sausage on a Stick... yum!), November 15, 12:00pm, front lawn
• Discovery Weekend: what are your spiritual gifts? Find out on November 20, 6:30pm. Contact mdethrow@comcast.net to sign up.
  
• This month, we are working together as a church family to memorize Psalm 139:7-10. Do you have it memorized yet?
  

Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• Jim's mom is having surgery on Oct 27. Please keep her in your prayers
• Marie's mom had a rough week last week with her atrial fibrillation (A-Fib). Keep her in your prayers too!

Have a fantastic week. I leave you with this parting gift: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWhUeAy35qc

God's Hand Revealed: A Spiritual Focus for the Month of October

October 18, 2009

Worshiping Together
This week, we will be learning about Onesimus; our readings will come from Philemon 1:10-18.

Reading and Reflecting Together: When God Winks at You by Squire Rushnell
In Church vernacular we call them epiphanies, those moments of awakening when you realize God is present and moving in your life. Squire Rushnell has coined the phrase "godwink" to describe those moments when he and countless other people have God's hand revealed through the mundane and often homely occurrences of our lives. His book, When God Winks at You, will be our gift to you during our month-long emphasis on seeing God's hand revealed. We are offering one free copy per family.

Memorizing Scripture Together
This month, the SMBC family is working together to commit to memory Psalm 139:7-10: "Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."

Update for August 23, 2009

We had a great class this week: we welcomed some lovely new visitors, said temporary goodbyes to dear friends off to school for the first time, and saw the return of some wonderful, familiar faces who had been out of town for the summer.

As you may or may not know, the SMBC Sanctuary Choir had the privilege of singing the National Anthem at the Astros game yesterday. Little did we know that Carlos Lee would jump in to sing with us! Check it out: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200908236253739&c_id=hou

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• Ty Gribble's first day of kindergarten is today. Pray for a fabulous start of his big-boy education, and pray that his mommy can let him out of the car this morning! ;) And, if we were honest, we could all use some prayers for our school year!
• Virginia (Rice) had interviewed for a job she really wanted -- and she got it!
• John and Avery's (Rice) friend is in MD Anderson with a brain tumor
• Please pray for the family of Ward Hill, who passed away on Saturday

Announcements:

• Calling All Artists! SMBC will be using artistic interpretations of Psalm 23 for an upcoming worship service where we will be guided by that text. We are asking for you to read Psalm 23 and let that guide your painting or drawing or sculpture and then bring it up to the church office on the 3rd floor on or before August 31st. We will display the artwork around the campus as we listen to God's word. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Erin Conaway (econaway@smbc.org or 713.305.9797). We look forward to sharing what God is saying to you and us through your art.
• Shoes for Orphan Souls. We are deep into the collection process of new shoes that will be delivered to orphans around the world. Shoe preparation and packing will occur following the 11:00am worship service on Sunday, September 6.
• Buckner School Supply Drive - Our Buckner students could use the following items: binders, notebook paper, protractors, pens, pencils, folders, composition notebooks, poster board, index cards, highlighters and reusable water bottles. Donations can be dropped off in the church office. Please contact Chelsea Wade at cwade@buckner.org for more details.
• Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at SMBC

  Starts August 26th and will be each Wednesday from 6-8pm. Contact Mark at gribbles@mac.com for more details and/or to enroll.

Update for August 16, 2009

Prayers and Praises

• Traveling mercies for all of you leaving for college this month. Please keep in touch! Send your new college mailing address and email to us at gribbles@mac.com!
• Rachel (HBU) asked for prayers for her friend Elisa who is a freshman orientation leader at HBU.
• Sarrean (Tech) is thankful for her dental stuff being over this week.
• Virginia (Rice GRAD!) is job searching right now and has interviewed for a job she REALLY wants.
• Sandra has requested prayers for family friend Jeff Klein who had multiple major surgeries last week to remedy his brain slipping into his spinal column.
• Jennifer's mom had emergency surgery to remove her gall bladder. Praise that all went well and that she is home recovering.

Calling All Artists! We would like to use artistic interpretations of Psalm 23 for an upcoming worship service where we will be guided by that text. We are asking for you to read the 23rd Psalm and let that guide your painting or drawing or sculpture and then bring it up to the church office ON or BEFORE AUGUST 31ST. We will display the artwork around the campus as we listen to God's word. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Erin Conaway (econaway@smbc.org) or (713) 305-9797 (cell).

Buckner School Supply Drive - Our Buckner students could use the following items: binders, notebook paper, protractors, pens, pencils, folders, composition notebooks, poster board, index cards, highlighters and reusable water bottles. Donations can be dropped off in the church office. Please contact Chelsea Wade at cwade@buckner.org for more details.

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at SMBC

Starts August 26th and will be each Wednesday from 6-8pm. Contact Mark at gribbles@mac.com for more details and/or to enroll.

Shoes for Orphan Souls We have begun collecting new shoes for delivery to orphans around the world. You can purchase new shoes and bring them to the Welcome Center or take time to help pack shoes.

Have a great week!