Give Thanks
“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.
Give Thanks
Devotional by: Ray Bowman
We’ve all grown up with the stories of the pilgrims and native Americans gathering for “the first Thanksgiving” in November 1621. The pilgrims had just enjoyed their first successful corn harvest and Plymouth Colony’s Governor William Bradford organized a feast and invited the indigenous tribesmen who had taught them to grow the corn and survive the various challenges they had encountered as they tried to establish themselves in this new and hostile environment. Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow wrote of the event, reflecting on the difficult times the settlers had endured and expressing gratitude for the abundant fish and game that had been gathered as well as the produce they had grown by observing; “...although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving a year, and in 1789 George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States, noting; “...it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
On October 20, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln sought to focus the collective mind of a war-torn nation on the blessings of God by signing Proclamation 118 to take steps to create a national holiday to
“...appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.”
Notice a recurring theme in all this? A recognition that all blessings come from a benevolent God and that we need to recognize his love, graciousness and generosity and appropriately thank and praise and worship Him for it.
As we join with family and friends this week to enjoy the time-honored tradition of Thanksgiving, let us remember that
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 ESV
Happy Thanksgiving and God bless you all.
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.
Men’s Mission Trip To Honduras
We recently received an email about the Annual Men's Trip to Honduras. Tom Owens and I are going from Holly Hill and we hope others are as well. Please read the message below from the organizer of our trip, Mike Hayes from Berry's Chapel church of Christ. Please see either one of us if you would like to go and have questions.
Dear Potential Honduras Traveler for the 2023 Men's Trip,
You are receiving this email either because you have been on the Honduras men’s trip before, or someone thinks you might be interested in going for the first time. I’ve tried to make a complete list of people. If I have left anyone out that you know are interested, please pass this information on to them and get them to reach out to me with their contact information.
There’s some good news about this trip. While we are experiencing a time of inflation something unusual is happening with this trip. If you sign up early the trip will be at a reduced cost this year. The cost of the trip is $1250 per passenger. This includes all your travel expenses, food, lodging, and other expenses on this trip.
The dates for the large group trip in 2023 are February 24-March 3. I have reserved 40 seats on American Airlines flight 1139 leaving Nashville at 7:56am, arriving in Miami at 11:20am, departing Miami on flight 1531 at 12:36 and arriving in Comayagua, Honduras (XPL) at 2:26pm. If you want to be part of this group, please respond to me as soon as possible. This will be a first come first serve basis. After I have received 40 confirmed passengers, I will begin creating a list of backup passengers. If you plan to be in this group, please send me an email with your full name as it appears on your passport and your date of birth. I will keep you posted as the list begins to fill up.
As is usually the case five of us will fly down earlier to get things set up for the large group. Right now, there are four confirmed going down on February 20 and returning with the group of forty on March 3. Therefore, if one of you would like to travel early with us and stay a few more days in Honduras please let me know. This too is on a first come first serve basis. This group will fly out of Nashville on February 20 at 6:23am on American Airlines flight 2830 to Miami and then fly on flight 1531 to Comayagua. As I mention, we will fly back on the flights mentioned above with the group of 40.
Something new that is being offered this year is an earlier group flight for 10 people. This group will leave with the group of five from Nashville on Feb 20 but will be returning to Nashville on Sunday February 26. Their return flight schedule is as follows: Depart Comayagua on flight 2822 at 3:26pm to Miami and then depart Miami on flight 2766 which arrives in Nashville at 11:46pm on the 26th. This was primarily done to accommodate more men from Flow Construction. Therefore, they get first come first serve on this trip up to 7 men. The other three spots are available if someone else would like to make this trip. Once again, its on a first come first serve basis. Therefore, let me know if you want to be part of this group. I’ll keep you posted.
As you can see there are more logistical challenges with this trip than ones we’ve taken in the past. For that reason, please respond in as timely as manner as possible to ensure your spot and to ensure your cost will be at the reduced cost of $1250.
If any of you are planning on flying out of another city than Nashville, please try to book your ticket through American Airlines and be on the same flights from Miami to Comayagua and returning from Comayagua to Miami as the group flying from Nashville. If you are going to book and pay for your own flight from another city the cost for the rest of your trip, not including your airfare is $750. Please let me know if you are planning on this.
I will send you more information on what you will need to do, regarding payment, as I get confirmation from you on your plans to travel. Once again do not delay in responding to me. I think this is going to be a popular trip and I want to make sure as many of you can participate as possible.
If you have any questions, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you soon. I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Tu hermano en el amor y el trabajo,
Mike Hayes
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 (11/20/22)
Bible Class Attendance (Sun AM) — 68
Worship Attendance (Sun AM) — 105
Contribution — $5,492.10
Prayers
Here are some individuals that especially need our prayers this week. Please keep them in mind every time you pray.
New Prayer Requests:
Polly Deaton’s struggling with her health and hasn’t been able to get out as much
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: Dawson Stone and family, 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, 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 Sunday Afternoon, November 27th at 4pm — Elder/Minister/Deacon Meeting
Leadership meeting, on Sunday afternoon at 4pm, downstairs in the fellowship hall.
This 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!
Upcoming Sunday Night, December 4th at 6pm — 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.
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:
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.Men’s Mission Trip To Honduras
We recently received an email about the Annual Men's Trip to Honduras. Tom Owens and I are going from Holly Hill and we hope others are as well. Please read the message below from the organizer of our trip, Mike Hayes from Berry's Chapel church of Christ. Please see either one of us if you would like to go and have questions.
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