Missions Update

1) The clothing drive is still going on. Bring anything you want to donate and leave it under the table in the room. I'll pick it up Sunday evening when I am up there.

2) The Food Drive begins this Sunday, March 1 and runs through March 15. Non-perishable food items (rice, beans, pasta, cereal, peanut butter, canned goods) can be brought to the donation shelves in Fellowship Hall. Donations will benefit the Plano Food Pantry. Donations will benefit the Plano Food Pantry and God’s Food Pantry, and will also be matched by the Feinstein Foundation of Rhode Island during their annual MARCH to End Hunger. All monetary donations made through April 15th will be matched. Please make checks payable to CRUMC and indicate “Food Drive” on the memo line.

Take special note of the food drive. Last year, the entire church donated an amount that fit in the trunk of a Honda accord. They are looking to do much more this year especially with the company matching.

3) I'll be teaching Journey for throung Lent so I won't be in the room. Please put the post it note in our collection bowl if you have any missions to report so I can keep our goal sheet updated.

Thanks,

Wayne

Joys and Concerns

Joys and Concerns 2/22/09

Both the Oldham girls, Anne and Emily are home!
Please keep Jarod and Sarah in your prayers as they juggle responsibilities with their new growing family.

Have a great week.

Spiritual Gifts coming soon

2B1 - Please take a moment to review this information and schedule as you can:

Class,

As you have probably heard "spiritual gifts" is coming to Custer Road this lenten season. But you are probably have questions. What is spiritual gifts? What does it mean? Why is the whole church doing this? What does it mean for me? Why is this different than talents? What next?

This study is designed to help you find your gifts given by God so you can find roles in the church and community that meet your gifts. Contrary to popular belief, these gifts often do not match your career or what you think you're good at. Just because you're an accountant, doesn't mean you're called to serve in the finance committee. We are doing this study out of a desire to glorify God and become closer to who He created us to be. It's not a recruiting campaign for volunteers, but will give people the opportunity to find ways to plug-in and help the church gain a more community feel through connecting via our gifts.

We are going to take a deeper look into this then we do with most of our studies. Both of us had interest in this subject and felt it might be more effective to teach it as a team for the entire study. By doing this we hope to have a deeper understanding to help guide discussion and discovery and to make the course more enriching and engaging.

Please reserve a spot on your calendars for the six Sunday's in lent (3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5). Each week will build on the previous so if you can attend the entire time it would be great. There will also be several opportunities to take the course during the week and in the evenings for those that miss a Sunday or have conflicts during lent. It is our goal to get 100-percent participation in this course. Rev. Leslie Herrscher will join us one of the weeks and we may have some other guests depending on how the course develops.

We can pretty much guarantee that if you participate in this you will emerge with a greater understanding of your gifts and how you can maximize those to God's glory and your own satisfaction. Please feel free to contact either one of us in advance if you have questions.

God Bless,

Jason Lincoln & Michael Wilkins

Another Joy

One more joy for the list...

Annie Oldham came home from the hospital today.

I know Jarod and Sarah are going to be quite crazy between juggling back and forth between home and the hospital with babies in both places but the girls are doing great and Emily could come home as soon as next week. I'm sure they could use some extra prayers for sleep and patience through the even more hectic schedule.

We will probably get them so more meals here in the coming weeks once Emily is home to help them as they adjust to the twins and until Sarah's mom can come to town. I'll get more info out as I get it.

JL

Joys & Concerns:



Joys

- Keenan has two more interviews this week.

- Sam's eyes are just fine, thankfully.

-The Oldham girls continue to get stronger.



Concerns

- Michael Wilkins' upcoming radiation therapy.

- Michelle Taylor's safe travels from NY.

- Jason Lax's sister in law has job uncertainty.

- Ashley's dad was laid off.

- A friend of the Naser's grandmother is in the hospital.

-Jack Gibson's health concerns.

-Ashley has a rough week ahead.

Although the Burkett's will be leaving us, they will be moving closer to their family.

Please keep these joys and concerns in your prayers through the week.

Have a great week.

Girls Night/Guys Night

Hey everyone,

It's time to be thinking about the next social, our annual Girls Night/Guys Night! The dates are going to be March 6th & 7th. This year the girls will take Friday the 6th, and the guys will do Saturday the 7th. In the past I know the girls have met up for dinner and a movie, but we can always do something else if anyone has suggestions! Guys, y'all decide on what you want to do :) Just e-mail me with any suggestions- lesley821@yahoo.com and please RSVP in the comments section. Thanks, and have a great week!

Journey teachers

Hi Everyone -
Don't forget to sign up on the Yahoo Database for Journey teachers ! Michael & Jason have volunteered to co-teach the Lenten Spiritual Gifts for 6 weeks - Thanks in advance !
Everyone have a great week!
Karla

Jack Gibson

I just hear about Jack Gibson being in the hospital. Sorry if this is repeating, but was there any talk in class last Sunday of sending a card or something to him?

Wayne

Missions Update

Hello everyone.

1) Thanks again for all the help raising Money for the Hart Clinic in Matamoros. Just got back for there on Sunday evening and boy was it amazing. They are doing great work done there!

2) Feb's mission is going to be a clothing drive. Go through you closets and dressers and bag up any gently used items that you don't need any more. Mens, womens and children items are all needed. Bring the bagged items to the class room and I'll collect them there. So far 2 women's shelters are what I am thinking as far as where to donate, but if anyone knows of any others, please let me know. Men's clothing is still needed at the Women's shelters. Kids are getting big these days.

3) In March and/or April our Mission will be to help fund the Red Bird Mission in Tennessee. Boy can they use our help. If you get a chance watch 20/20 on Friday night, Diane Sawyer is doing an article on the poverty in the mountains out there.

I am teaching Journey this week so I hope to have someone fill in the details on these in my absence if I am not able to pop down myself.

See you soon,

Wayne

Joys & Concerns

Sorry for the delay. Here's the J&C's for thsi week.

Joys
- Chad & Leslie are expecting (and according to Chad, he's the dad). Due date is August 16th.
- Chris' sister was accepted with scholarship to a musice program in Millican
- Paul's mom had an mri on a mass that came back benign

Concerns
- Chris' aunt had a histerectomy yesterday for cancer and they are hopeful its contained and stage 1.
- Michael's thyroid is acting up and he is having a radiation treatment late this week or early next
- Jason Lax's friend with liver cancer was given 6 months to live and is no longer going through treatment

Joycerns -
- Prayers and best wishes for the Burkett's as they get ready for their move to Tyler

SS lesson/Journey sign up

HI everyone-
I've updated Yahoo groups of the current SS sign up sheet for class & for Journey through Easter
Thanks & have a great week
Karla

Prayers

Hi all...Just a few things I wanted to update you on.

For those who haven't heard yet, Sarah and Nick Burkett will be moving back to Tyler in the next few months. Nick will be taking ownership of an accounting firm there -what an exciting opportunity! Please keep this sweet family in your prayers as they will be selling their home and making this transition. Nick starts the job mid February, I believe. If you see them at church, please wish them well.

Michael's thyroid condition is kicking in again, full speed. Poor thing has lost 20 lbs in 2 weeks and his immune system is weak. He'll see his dr. tomorrow and hopefully we can get him scheduled for the radioactive treatment. Please keep him in your prayers - it's been hard starting a new job and taking care of us while not feeling well.

Blessings and love, Janessa

Joys and Concerns for Sunday 2/1/09

Joys and Concerns 2/1

I'm sorry that this is being sent so late in the week.
Here are the joys and concerns from this past Sunday.

Joys

• Michael Taylor's grandmother came home from the hospital
• Michelle's student (Robert) is home again and doing better
• Keenan has multiple interviews this week
• The Oldham twins continue to grow and their parents are looking forward to putting babies in their baby seats

Concerns

• The Naser's safety as the travel this weekend

Please continue to pray for all of the joys and concerns. Have a good week (or at least what is left of it).