Defacing God’s Masterpiece
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)
Mini Devotional
A mini message to take with you this week to help you in your devotion to God.
Defacing God’s Masterpiece
Devotional by: Kurt Montooth
Recently, protestors have adopted a new strategy to gain attention and raise awareness for their cause of choice: defacing art. Several high-profile paintings recently have been harmed or defaced by an activist group who claims to be protesting climate change. The ‘protestors’ destroy art to gain attention for their cause because destroying a Van Gogh painting will go viral on social media and international news. This is attention seeking behavior, and it is unfortunately effective because we interact with the posts in the form of commenting, reacting, and sharing. Even though most are outraged, the outrage drives the story, and the vandalism still has its intended affect. The tragic outcome is that art is destroyed, harmed, or defaced.
This in many ways reminds me of Satan. What do I mean by this comparison? In my last vine article, I wrote that we humans are God’s image bearers. You are a beautiful work of art that is designed to depict the glory and love of God. Ephesians 2:10 and Genesis 2 and numerous scriptures teach this clearly. You are made in God’s image and are a beautiful reflection of Him. Satan wants nothing more to deface, devalue, graffiti, and vandalize you, the image of God. Sin is the chief instrument that the Satan uses to deface God’s image. We could discuss this at length how sin defaces you as an image bearer of God, but I want to discuss Satan’s motivation. Unlike the previously mentioned protestors, Satan isn’t doing it for attention, he is doing it because he hates God and his image bearers. Jesus made this statement contrasting the Satan with himself, “The thief comes only to steal andkill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” John 10:10. Peter, who Jesus told on multiple occasions that the Satan was attacking him, wrote in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Satan wants to deface and destroy you as God’s image bearer because his character is hate, and his desire is to devour. This is the reality of who the Satan is: he wants to destroy you as an image bearer of God because he hates both you and God. He presents himself as a friend to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, and he masquerades as having our best interest and happiness as his motivation, but he lies and is the father of lies. He only wants to destroy you. Don’t allow yourself to be fooled, his desire is your destruction.
Missions
These are the challenges that the congregation is actively working on this month.
Our Missions For November
Equip — Encourage another church member to be thankful by inviting them to share in completing the Thanksgiving themed Teach & Serve missions for the month.
Kids’ Challenge — Ask each person in your family what they are thankful for, and why those things are special to them.
Teach — Using the blank slips at Mission Control, write out something you are thankful for, along with a Bible verse, and drop it in the big jar (put in at least 3). These will be shared with the congregation.
Kids’ Challenge — With your parents’ help, write out a list of 10 things that you are thankful for, and thank God for each one.
Serve — Write and give/send notes of thanksgiving expressing your appreciation to 3 different church members.
Kids’ Challenge — Have your parents help you write cards to say ‘thank you’ to your Bible Class teachers.
*Be on the lookout for weekly training videos on our Facebook and YouTube pages, published each Sunday, to help you complete the challenges.
*As you complete each challenge, drop one of the pom-pom balls into the corresponding jar at the Mission Control Center in the lobby so we can see how many people are completing each challenge. One completion per person, per challenge, per month.
News
This section is for any special announcements that are not upcoming events or prayer requests.
Women’s Ministry Announcement
Vickie Wise, myself and Mary Johnson are stepping down as coordinators of the Women’s Ministry. If any lady is interested in taking over the Ladies Ministry, please let one of us know so that we can give your name to the Elders and pass along all the information that you will need concerning the different programs within the ministry. We appreciate your support for these several years that we have chaired this ministry and will be around to help with any questions that the new chairman may have. However, I will NOT be stepping down from the Meal Train and the Food Pantry.
Administrative Assistant Position Update
Matthew Woodyard is our new administrative assistant. If you have questions about the emails or other administrative matters, please see Matthew.
Physical Copies Of The Weekly Vine To Be Sent Out
We will begin sending our printed copies of the Weekly Vine to those who are unable to receive them digitally. If you know of someone who needs to receive a printed copy via mail, please email the church office with their name and mailing address. You can also instruct them to call the church office at 502-227-7796 and leave a voicemail with their name and address. (See Matthew Woodyard)
Cards
If you know someone that needs to receive a card in the mail from the church, please send a note to office@hollyhillcoc.org with “Cards” in the subject line. We will get that information to Sonia to prepare a card for the church to sign.
Send All Announcements And Prayer Requests To Our New Email: office@hollyhillcoc.org
Starting October 1st, any announcement or prayer request you want sent out to the entire church must be submitted via our new email address: office@hollyhillcoc.org. We will collect the submissions and group them together and send no more than one email per day. Cutoff for submissions is 4pm every day, and the email will go out at 5pm.
Church Records (10/30/22)
Bible Class Attendance (Sun AM) — 65
Worship Attendance (Sun AM) — 112
Contribution — $5,160.15
Prayers
Here are some individuals that especially need our prayers this week. Please keep them in mind every time you pray.
New Prayer Requests:
Lonnie Trent as he recovers from pneumonia
The Allen family (Josh, April, Ella, and Chloe) as they mourn the loss of their 7-year-old son Andrew
Gail Keith as she continues to recover from her successful surgery
Marsheila Valentine and family in the passing of her mother, Sue Paris
Tammy Dotson Riddle’s mother and her struggles with Alzheimer’s Disease
Jenna Mays hoping to have medical issues resolved without surgery
Ongoing Prayers For: Inez Ramsey, Family of Bob Tankersley, David Fair (Asks for prayers for marriage and family situation), Larry Clarke, Steve Small, Phil and Suzanne Wilkins, Samantha Horn and Baby Cora, Janis Friend, Val Clark (healing after arm surgery), Jim Clark (Continued Prayers), God’s will for the Tom Roach family and Hudson, Prayers for Mission Control Challenges, Glenda Mitchum, Lisa & Pete Vogel, Robin Mayes’ mother, Corinne Dossett (Hip replacement surgery), Robin Mayes (Covid)
* Please submit your prayer requests for inclusion at office@hollyhillcoc.org
Upcoming Events
Here are some events that are coming up that you need to make space on your calendar for.
This Sunday Night, November 6th at 6:00pm — Mission Control
Everyone meets in small groups in the fellowship hall. Material is provided for group discussion of each question. Responses on how to better meet the month's challenges are shared with all groups. Attendance at the previous mission control meetings is not required.
Monday, November 7th at 6pm — R.E.A.L Ladies Meeting
The R.E.A.L Ladies November meeting will be on November 7, 2022, at 6pm at Michele Blanton’s house. Michele is hosting and Kathie Anderson will be giving the lesson on thanksgiving and gratefulness. Please bring your favorite appetizer. Michele will provide drinks, fruit tray, croissant sandwiches, and sausage balls. Please sign up in the fellowship hall if you plan to attend.November 13th, Sunday at 8:30 — Veterans Appreciation Doughnuts
Join us before class, for coffee and doughnuts, as we say thank you and show our appreciation to the men and women who’ve served our country. Thank you all for your service!
Next Sunday Night, November 13th at 6pm — Study Groups
On this Sunday night, the men will meet in the auditorium for a group session, and the women will meet in room 12 downstairs. Some of the men will teach the children in a separate classroom downstairs in order to allow the mothers to participate in the women's study group. All are welcome! Please bring your family!
November 19th, Saturday at 2pm — Memorial Service or Bob Tankersley
Join us for a Memorial Service, dedicated to our brother Bob Tankersley. The service will be held here, at the church building. “Stay between the white lines.”
How You Can Serve
There are a lot of ways you can get involved and do the work of God in our community!
For more information or for help signing up for any of these ministries, please call the church office at: (502) 227-7796.
Limited-Time Opportunities:
Pack The Pulpit Schedule And Items Needed
Mark your calendars:
November 13th…it is pack the pulpit Sunday.
November 16th…we will move the food downstairs.
November 20th…we will meet at 4:00p to start packing the boxes.
If you know someone that will need a box please contact Robin Mayes or Sonia Roach. We will have a list and make arrangements with you for the box to be ready and picked up.
If you make a monetary donation please write in the memo Holiday Boxes/Pantry.
The list of items needed:Macaroni & Cheese
Stuffing Mix
Instant Potatoes (Family size box)
Gravy (packets/jars)
Spaghetti sauce & Pasta noodles
Canned meat (chicken, tuna, etc)
Cream of mushroom
Cream of chicken
Canned Vegetables
Cranberry sauce
Dessert mix (muffin/cake & icing/Brownie mixes)
Rice
Peanut butter & Jelly
Bisquick
Pancake mix
Syrup
Pudding mix
Jell-O mix
Cereal
Crackers
Cooking oil
Applesauce
Marshmallows
Can fruit
100% Fruit Juice (Family Size Bottle)
Backpack Program
We will continue to work with Westridge Elementary School and provide food for 50 students through the weekend Backpack Program. We need your help to keep this program going for the months of December, February and April (see list of needed items below).
During these months please write (print) a card to encourage them or write your favorite Bible verse to share with them. We can invite them and their families to worship with us.If you have any questions please reach out to Tom and Sonia Roach. If you make a monetary donation please write Backpack Program in the memo line.
Items needed are:
Vienna sausage
Pull top ravioli cups
Shelf stable yogurt
Beef jerky
Oatmeal
Individual cereal
Cheese and crackers
Mac and cheese cups
Mashed potato cups
Beanie weenies
Popcorn
Raisins, pudding cups
Jello cups
Protein bars
Granola bars
Pop tarts
Cheese dippers
Pull top soup cups
Easy open green beans and corn.
November Mission Control Challenges
We have 3 new challenges for the month of November that we need your help on. Please see the section above entitled “Missions” for more information.
Long-Term Opportunities:
Mission Launch Team
We are needing individuals to sign up for the Mission Launch Team. People on this team commit to working on the Mission Control challenges each month, and they also commit to encouraging at least one other person to work on the missions as well. We need you to sign up for this ministry so we can grow the Mission Control program organically from person to person. Sign up for the Mission Launch Team at the Mission Control Center in the lobby.
Tech Team Support — The Holly Hill Tech Team needs help. We would love to have a few more people trained and available to set up the livestreams and audio equipment. It’s a fairly simple task and you’ll be well trained before being thrown into the seat alone. If you’re interested, see Nick, David, or Brad.
Greeter Ministry — We’re looking for people who are friendly and outgoing to welcome our guests and members each Sunday morning. If you are interested, contact Tom Owens.
Card Ministry — Every Sunday there are cards spread out on a table in the lobby that will be sent out to various church members and guests who need encouragement. You can help serve and encourage by making sure to sign these cards each week.
Casey Blessing Box — The Caseys are collecting items to give away to those in need in their Blessing Box. Currently, they are accepting donations of: Can goods of fruit and vegetables. Crackers, or cereal.
Shriners Children’s Hospital — Donna White is collecting soda can tabs to donate to the children’s hospital. Please leave your donations in the lobby.
Holly Hill Church of Christ
1020 Holly Hill Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
Web: www.hollyhillcoc.org
Phone: (502) 227-7796
Email: office@hollyhillcoc.org
Service Times:
Sunday Bible Class: 10am
Sunday Morning Worship, 11am
Sunday Evening Worship, 6pm
Wednesday Evening Bible class: 6:30pm