Crossing The Jordan
“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.
Crossing The Jordan
Devotional by: Elijah Bell
In Joshua 3, When the Israelites gathered at the Jordan river to cross into the promised land, the water was high. The Bible says it was overflowing its banks. It was probably running fast, and seemed intimidating. Yet, crossing it was the only way into the promised land. This was a real test of faith.
The priests walked forward, water flowing high and fast, and, without any proof that God would do anything, they stepped into the water. A step of faith. It was at that exact moment that the water stopped flowing. Interestingly, the Bible gives us extra information that the water was stopped by God at a town upstream called Adam, which the text says was “a great distance away.” It was probably about 16 miles away. If the river was flowing at a moderately fast speed of 3 miles per hour, that still meant that the water was stopped by God over five hours earlier in order for it to stop flowing at that exact spot at that exact time!
God proved that not only was He capable of stopping the water from flowing, He was also able to have made all the appropriate preparations so that when the priests DID take that step of faith, everything would be taken care of.
As God’s children, priests ourselves, God is asking us to cross the Jordan river. He’s asking us to do things that don’t make sense if God is not real. Why would we evangelize and risk being labeled a fool and losing our friends if there is no God? Why would we waste hours a week worshipping and sitting in Bible classes if there is no God? Why would we sacrifice our time, talent, and treasure for an imaginary being and for people who will never show us kindness in return if there is no God? Why would we give up a life of pleasure and self-gratification if this world is all there is, and if there is no God?
So, instead of waiting for God to give you the perfect opportunity and clear the way for you to do His work, take a step of faith and do the things that don’t make any sense if God is not real. Show God that you trust in Him so much that you’ll do the things He asks that seem foolish, knowing that He’ll be there to take care of you—that He’ll be there to clear the way. We want God to make a way for us, but sometimes He’s waiting for us to take the first step to prove we have faith that He can do it.
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.
“Feasting for Fellowship” beginning January 2023
Hey Holly Hill! We have an amazing upcoming ministry challenge for January of 2023, “Feasting for Fellowship!” The goal is simple: Each day in January, members of Holly Hill will assemble with one another to break bread. Simply put, this means that each day of the month at least (2) of our members (from different households), will meet and eat. Think of it as a prayer chain, but instead of praying, we’re eating! We will be posting a signup sheet where members can choose a date to share a meal. That may include having a family or two over for dinner, members meeting up at a restaurant for lunch, or grabbing lunch with a member who happens to work in the same building. We need folks to sign up on the bulletined board, agreeing to be responsible for a certain meal/date. I believe that this will be an amazing opportunity for our congregation! What a fun and exciting way to try and put into action Acts 2:42-47!
Children’s Bible Class Teachers/Helpers
Our next quarter begins in December, so we will be needing to staff our Children’s Bible Classes. Please take a second to think about what’s being asked, teaching the Word of God to our children… Our children deserve the very BEST and I hope you’ll want to do your part in making it so! If you’d be willing to teach and/or help, please see Matthew Woodyard.
Next Week’s Mid-Week Bible Study (Week Of Thanksgiving)
As a reminder, our Mid-Week Bible study will move to Tuesday, November 22nd, for Thanksgiving week ONLY. Classes and times will remain the same.
Meal Train For Inez
We have one open date, Tuesday November 15th, for a meal for Inez. Please contact Robin Mayes. Thank you!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 (11/13/22)
Bible Class Attendance (Sun AM) — 87
Worship Attendance (Sun AM) — 136
Contribution — $4,747.64
Prayers
Here are some individuals that especially need our prayers this week. Please keep them in mind every time you pray.
New Prayer Requests:
Dawson Stone (Brenda Stone’s grandson) and his parents, as he’s battling to get past a bout of RSV
The Minturn and Montooth family, as they mourn the loss of Ginny Minturn (Kurt’s grandmother)
Penny Harland, Katie Bell’s mother, has an upcoming surgery related to her battle with a very aggressive form of cancer
Paige Catron and family, as they mourn the loss of Sara Catron
The Mundt family, as they mourn the loss of George Azbill (Kim’s uncle)
Rita Tackett (Alyson Woodyard’s aunt) and family, as she begins to undergo treatment in her battle with cancer
Ongoing Prayers For: Inez Ramsey, Sandra Haden (Tiffany Quarles’ mother), Gayle Walker (Anna Marston’s son-in-law), The Allen family (mourning the loss of 7-year-old Andrew Allen), Tammy Dotson Riddle’s mother, The Valentine Family, Gail Keith, Jenna Mayes, Barbara Sudduth, 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, 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).
* 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 Saturday Afternoon, November 19th 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.”
This Sunday Night, November 20th at 6pm — Singing Service
We will meet downstairs in the fellowship area to sing together in worship to God, and to encourage each other. The chairs will be arranged in a circle to intentionally draw attention to the fact that we are a family and are singing to build each other up. For many, these singing events are very moving and powerful. We want you to be there!
Next week’s Mid-Week Bible Study (Thanksgiving Week)
As a reminder, our Mid-Week Bible study will move to Tuesday, November 22nd, for Thanksgiving week ONLY. Classes and times will remain the same.
Upcoming Sunday Night, November 27th at 6pm — In Home Small Group Study
In order to build relationships with our church family, instead of meeting at the church building, we will meet in each other's homes for a short devotional, guided discussion, prayer, and fellowship. More information on locations will be coming soon.
December 3rd, Saturday at 10am — R.E.A.L. Ladies
Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 3rd for our next R.E.A.L. Ladies Bible study. Join Sonia Roach and Janice Coffelt as they host the get together, beginning at 10am at their home (199 Hempridge Road, Shelbyville, KY 40065). Hope to see you there!
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.
Items needed are: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
Jell-O 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.Donations For the Frankfort Women’s Shelter
James and Dorothy Proctor will be collecting items for the Frankfort Women’s Shelter. They plan to deliver the collected items to the Women’s Shelter this Friday, November 18th. Items can be dropped off at the Proctor residence (contact Brad or Lori Proctor) or arrangements can be made to have the items picked up.
Items needed are:
Cleaning Supplies
Toilet Paper
Laundry Detergent.
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 Casey’s 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.
Children’s Bible Class Teachers/Helpers — Our next quarter begins in December, so we will be needing to staff our Children’s Bible Classes. If you’d be willing to teach and/or help, please see Matthew Woodyard.
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