Together In Communion

“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.

Together In Communion
Devotional by: Nick Gill

I love the Lord’s Supper. For me, communion is the heart of our worship as the people of God. I could talk all day about all the things I appreciate about the time when we share the bread and the fruit of the vine together, remembering all that the Lord Jesus means to us. Communion was part of God’s creative intent – he created because he wanted to share the communion that already existed in fullness between Father and Son and Spirit. The act of creation is God’s decision to share God’s own loving fellowship with others for their benefit. God created out of the overflow of his love.

Just as communion was God’s purpose in creation, communion is also God’s purpose in redemption. God seeks to redeem that which is fallen; to recreate that which sin has so pervasively corrupted. God did not choose Abraham or call Israel because they were mighty or glorious or righteous, but because he loved them (Deuteronomy 7:7-9). In the same way, God did not choose us in Christ because we were so holy or inherently valuable that God HAD TO redeem us. “While we were still helpless… while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6, 8). God created Israel, and then the church, so that we could delight in communion with Him.

The ultimate goal of God’s promises and His faithfulness is so He will dwell with His people in a community He will establish when the new age is consummated (Revelation 21:3). The communion God intended in creation, and began to restore in redemption, will be fulfilled when God’s people gather around His table in the age to come. And when we gather around the table together now, between His resurrection and ours, we remember the promises of God! By faith, we know those promises will be fulfilled because we know the name of the True and Living God is “steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6).

If that wasn’t enough, here are even more of my favorite things about communing with our Lord:

He is my King, a servant-king who emptied himself to suffer all things on our behalf
There is truly only one table, the Lord’s table, and when we gather around the one table, we gather and eat and drink with all the “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) that the writer of Hebrews describes, the faithful saints who have gone on to their reward before us
Sharing the bread and the fruit of the vine models the sharing life of believers, as we all rely on Him for our life
Seeing my fellow disciples share this with me reminds me that we are one family, wherever we are
The Lord’s Supper reminds me that, in Christ, God is not just a spectator but the most glorious participant in our assembly
Eating and drinking the Lord’s Supper helps me look forward to the day when all of His children will gather and celebrate Him together, and all disease and poverty and hatred will have been defeated

I hope you will come Sunday and experience the humble, counterintuitive power of communing around the Lord Jesus Christ’s table.

Missions

These are the challenges that the congregation is actively working on this month.

Our Missions For December

Equip — Sign up to host a meal for “Feasting for Fellowship 2023.”
Kids’ Challenge — The next time you sit down to have a meal together with your family, have everyone at the table say something kind about everyone else.
Teach — Share your favorite Bible verse with a non-church member and explain why it’s meaningful to you.
Kids’ Challenge — Ask your parents to help you memorize a new Bible verse for you to be able to say anytime you want.
Serve — Look around the congregation and identify a need and then fill it.
Kids’ Challenge — You are important in the church! Ask your parents what you can do to help the congregation.

*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 bulletin 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!
A Message From The Elders/Worship Service On Christmas, December 25th
The elders have decided that on Christmas, Sunday, December 25th, we will have a worship service only. ALL Bible classes will be canceled. Worship will still be held at our normal time (11am). A devotional video will be shared at 6pm in lieu of Sunday evening service.
In service to Him,
The elders,
Todd Best, Tom Roach, and Ray Bowman
Gift Card For Sarah Engler Walker
Barbara Sudduth will be taking up a gift card for Sarah Engler Walker and her husband Jeremy. If you would like to give, please make sure Barbara has your gift by January 8th.
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.
Church Records (12/18/22)
Bible Class Attendance (Sun AM) — 81
Worship Attendance (Sun AM) — 131
Contribution — $6,392.57

Prayers

Here are some individuals that especially need our prayers this week. Please keep them in mind every time you pray.

New Prayer Requests:
- Penny Harland, Katie Bell’s mother, is recovering from surgery and continuing her battle with cancer
- Bertha Young’s family, mourning her loss
- Pete Tropoulos’ continued battle with prostate cancer
- Gail Keith and her most recent medical issues
- Nikki Fenney, niece of Johnny and Julie Widener, is undergoing radiation treatment
Ongoing Prayers For: Pete and Lisa Vogel (Brenda Stone’s brother-in-law and sister), Dorothy Trent, Polly Deaton, Jane Dempsey, Larry Clarke and family, The Horn and Bell family, The Stone family, Penny Harland, The Minturn and Montooth family (mourning the loss of Kurt’s grandmother, Ginny), The Catron family (mourning the loss of Paige’s cousin), The Mundt family (as they mourn the loss of Kim’s uncle), Rita Tackett (Alyson Woodyard’s aunt), 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, Family of Bob Tankersley, David Fair (Asks for prayers for marriage and family situation), Steve Small, Phil and Suzanne Wilkins, 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.

Christmas, Sunday, December 25th — Worship Service Only At 11am/Devotional Video at 6pm
The elders have decided that on Christmas, Sunday, December 25th, we will have a worship service only. ALL Bible classes will be canceled. Worship will still be held at our normal time (11am). A devotional video will be shared at 6pm in lieu of Sunday evening service.
January 1st, Sunday Afternoon at 4pm — Elders/Ministers/Deacons Meeting
There will be an Elders/Ministers/Deacons meeting January 1st, Sunday afternoon at 4pm, downstairs in the fellowship hall. Furthermore, the Elders/Ministers/Deacon’s monthly meeting will be held the first Sunday of each month, going forward. Please make note of this in your calendar’s.
January 1st, Sunday Evening 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.

December Mission Control Challenges
We have 3 new challenges for the month of December 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 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 new quarter is just beginning (Dec-Feb), so we will be needing to staff our Children’s Bible Classes. If you’d be willing to teach, sub, or help, please see Matthew Woodyard. We have a wonderful opportunity to teach God’s Word to our children. Let’s make sure they get our very best! Thank you!

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