More Than Words
“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.
More Than Words Devotional by: Kurt Montooth
I have deeply enjoyed preaching on the topic of brokenness the last several weeks. In many ways I feel like God has been breaking me down to better rebuild me in His image. This has been a painful and beautiful process. I wanted to follow Sunday’s sermon with further reflections on Jesus’ love towards the woman caught in adultery.
In John 8:1-11, we see a powerful example of Jesus's love in action. The story begins with a woman who was allegedly caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus by a group of pharisees attempting to trap Jesus. They asked Jesus what should be done with the woman, hoping to catch him in either a contradiction of the Jewish law or a violation of the Roman law. Instead of answering them, Jesus stooped down and began to write on the ground with his finger. After a moment, he stood up and said, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." One by one, the accusers began to leave until only the woman was left standing before Jesus. Jesus then spoke to the woman with words of love and forgiveness. He said, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" When she replied that no one had, Jesus said, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."
This passage reveals several aspects of Jesus's love. First, Jesus's love is a love that shows mercy. Instead of condemning the woman, he offered her forgiveness and a new life. The love of God provides grace towards restoration. This is on display in how Jesus treats the woman. His priority was the restoration and transformation of the sinner. He did not condone the woman's sin, but he also did not allow the religious leaders to use her as a pawn. He saw the injustice in their actions and cared for a woman that no else considered. Jesus considered the sinner. Jesus loves with mercy and grace.
This leads to our second point about Jesus’s love. Jesus's love is a love that transforms lives. He did not just forgive the woman and leave her in her sin; he called her to leave her old life behind and start anew. Jesus told her to go and sin no more. Jesus’s love is a transformational love, it is not simply forgiveness but about empowering our transformation into Jesus’s image by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also showed this type of love to the Pharisees as he challenged them to examine their own hearts and forced them to reflect on their own heart, motives, and sin before casting judgment on the woman.
In conclusion, John 8:1-11 provides a powerful illustration of Jesus's love in action. He showed a loving mercy and graced that leads to transformation. Jesus’s love, shown through us today, is not just a nice feeling or a motion but a life changing, world shifting force that has the power to change lives and bring new creation in our lifetime. As we reflect on Christ’s love, let us resolve to love likewise.
Missions
These are the challenges that the congregation is actively working on this month.
Our Missions For March
Equip — Admit one of your struggles or trials to a fellow church member and ask them for prayers.
Kids’ Challenge — Ask someone from church to pray for you. They will be happy that you thought of them as someone you could count on.
Teach — If your life were a sermon this month, list the lessons on selflessness you’d hope someone would learn from it, and every morning, pray over the list, and ask God that you may be that living sermon that day.
Kids’ Challenge — Talk to your parents about what other kids could learn from the example you set. Do you demonstrate selflessness?
Serve — Identify someone who may be marginalized or on the “fringe” of Holly Hill and do something for them to show they are loved.
Kids’ Challenge — Think of someone at church who might need cheering up. Do something to encourage them.
*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.
Important Announcement Regarding Mail
To counter the recent instances of mail theft, we rented a post office post to secure the delivery of mail. For at least the next three months, please send all correspondence, especially checks, to the following address:
Holly Hill Church of Christ P.O. Box 4001 Frankfort, KY 40604
VBS 2023
Dear Holly Hill VBS Volunteers,
I hope this email finds you all well. As previously discussed, our next meeting is scheduled for March 19th at 4:00pm. I can hardly believe it's already March, which means it's time to get down to business and work hard to make this year's VBS even more successful than before.
Last year, we had over 100 child participants and almost 70 visitors. This year, we're aiming to accommodate 150 participants, and with God's help, we can make it happen. Let's all do our part by planning and preparing for an amazing event and planting the seeds, leaving the rest to God to provide the fruit.
Just a quick reminder of our previous meeting and your assigned homework:
Theme: The Greatest King Dates: June 11th-14th
We made some significant changes to the schedule, including:
5:00 pm: Serving food starts 5:30-6:15 pm: Dinner 6:30-6:45 pm: Upstairs 6:45-7:45 pm: Classes 7:45-8:00 pm: Conclusion
We decided to cut snacks or include them at the end of the classes to maximize classroom time. Additionally, we agreed to have crafts during the class, allowing the craft leaders to coordinate with teachers.
Classes:
Sunday: Jesus’ birth- A King is Born
Monday: Jesus lives- The Life of a King
Tuesday: Jesus’ death- The King’s Sacrifice
Wednesday: Jesus Return- The King’s RETURN
Roles:
Carly Gill - Assistant Director
Brad - Filming and creating video advertisements
Mike - Set design and construction with Kimberly Mundt and Carly Gill
Miki - Head Teacher
Sandra - Assisting with food and crafts
David and Sarah - Head of the food committee
Michelle - Teacher
Bruce - Organizational support
Elijah - Advertisement, Registration, and Follow-up
As you can see, we still need more volunteers. Therefore, we need to step up our recruitment efforts and fill our volunteer roster.
The goal of our upcoming meeting is to clarify next steps and deadlines, as well as to discuss how we can do a better job of reaching out to our visitors this year.
God can make this a great success, let's work hard for the Kingdom.
Kurt
Wishing Geneva Hammonds A Happy 95th Birthday
Geneva Hammonds will turn 95 years old on March 21st and it would be nice for her Holly Hill family to wish her a Happy Birthday. Geneva is unable to receive email or text messages, so her mailing address and telephone number are provided in the email. It would really make Geneva happy to hear from everyone.
“Thank You” Note — From Sam & Sarah Webb (Anderson)
Sam and I would like to express our thanks for the generous gift sent to help us with the arrival of baby Theodora. It meant so much to us. We cannot wait to make a trip for her to meet you all. For now, we send a photo.
In Christian love,
Sarah, Sam, and Theo
Gift Card For The Monthooth’s
Barbara Sudduth will be collecting money until April 2nd, to go toward a (Baby) Gift Card for the Montooth’s.
An Invite to Celebrate Steve Small’s 80th Birthday
This email is a Special Invite to Celebrating Steve Small's 80th Birthday. Heather and Jeremy Steele have organized a STOP BY AND SAY HI, COME AND GO to celebrate Steve's 80th birthday. It will be Saturday, March 18th from 2-4pm. Small refreshments will be served. The address is 502 Pawnee Drive, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342. We hope you will make plans to attend.
Thanks,
Heather & Jeremy Steele
Operation Re-Stock The Food Pantry (March)
The Food Pantry needs to be re-stocked. During the upcoming months we will be asking for specific food donations. There will be a box in the foyer for you to place your food donations. Thank you so much and let’s make Operation re-stock a success!! For the month of February, we need:
Canned Chicken (Large cans, if possible)
Canned Tuna (Large cans, if possible)
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.Friendly Reminder Regarding Church Announcements
Just a friendly reminder to everyone regarding church announcements: If you wish to make an announcement or have a prayer request, please contact Matthew Woodyard via email (office@hollyhillcoc.org). Announcements will be included in our daily email (5pm), our weekly Vine (Thursdays at 10am), and posted to Holly Hill’s Facebook page. If you wish something to be shared, please submit your announcement by 4pm. Emergency prayer requests can be submitted at any time and will be shared as soon as possible. If you’re not receiving our daily emails, weekly Vine Newsletter, or text messages, or if you have any questions about this process, don't hesitate to contact Matthew.
Church Records
Bible Class Attendance (Sun AM) — 67 (12Mar2023)
Worship Attendance (Sun AM) — 114 (12Mar2023)
Contribution — $5,237.00 (12Mar2023)
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)
Nell McNeely (Samantha Horn’s grandmother) had surgery to remove a soft tissue mass blocking her bile duct
Ongoing Prayers For: Alyssa Deaton, Robert Lewis (Sharon Lewis’ son), Helen Hall, Pete & Jessie Tropoulos, Codie Rich (Michael & Kimberly Mundt’s son-in-law), Emma Collins, Mary Johnson, Larry Clarke and family, Jerry Mayes, Blake Ramsay (Inez’s grandson), Bill Marion (father of Robin Mayes childhood friends), Rusty Bell (friend of Robin Mayes), Tanya Phipps (Brenda Stone’s niece), Samantha Stone (Brenda’s daughter), Butch Elliott (Robin Mayes friend), Gail Keith (Michele Blanton’s mother), Nikki Fenney (Johnny and Julie Widener’s niece), Bertha Young’s family, Dorothy Trent, Polly Deaton, Jane Dempsey, The Horn and Bell family, The Stone family, Rita Tackett (Alyson Woodyard’s aunt), Inez Ramsey, Sandra Haden (Tiffany Quarles’ mother), 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.
* 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.
VBS Meeting — March 19th, Sunday Afternoon at 4pm
We'll be having a meeting regarding Holly Hill's 2023 VBS next Sunday, March 19th at 4pm. If you're interested in volunteering or assisting with this year’s VBS in any way, we'd like to invite you to attend this meeting. Hope to see you there.
Singing Service — March 19th, Sunday Night at 6pm
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!
REAL Ladies — Monday, March 20th at 6:30pm
The REAL Ladies monthly fellowship for March will be the Monday, March 20th at 6:30pm. Kimberly Mundt will be hosting this month’s meeting at her home (1125 S. Benson Rd., Frankfort, KY 40601). The meal theme will be breakfast, so everyone bring a yummy item. I hope to see you all on Monday.
“Complete” (Week 2), Mid-week Adult Bible Study — Wednesday, March 22nd at 6:30pm
Our new mid-week adult Bible study, “Complete,” will continue Wednesday evening at 6:30pm. Make sure to check your email this week for the Week 2 lesson material.
“Teaching Tabithas,” A New Ladies Group — March 23rd, Thursday at 6pm
A new monthly ladies group is starting. It’ll be held the 4th Thursday of every month. The group is called “Teaching Tabithas” ladies ministry. It’s a group where each month, a different woman will teach a different life skill. The first meeting will be Thursday the 23rd at 6pm at the church building. Feel free to bring your own food and eat at the building.
This month’s session will be taught by Katie Bell and she’ll be teaching how to make and bind a mini traveler’s notebook. The supplies will be provided for you.
Ladies wishing to attend MUST sign-up, and the cut off for registration is Tuesday the 21st to ensure enough supplies will be available to everyone.
The sign-up will be in the lobby, and there will also be a sign-up for future teaching opportunities.
This ministry will be coordinated my Michele Blanton and Katie Bell. Contact them with any questions or ideas.
Small Group Sunday — March 26th, Sunday Evening at 6pm
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.
Baby Shower for Jody & Brenda Hughes — Saturday, April 15th at 2pm
Donna White, Cora Owens and Sonia Roach will be hosting a baby shower for Jody and Brenda Hughes on Saturday, April 15th at 2:00 in the fellowship hall. Jody is the son of Donna White. They are expecting a baby boy in August. For more information on the baby registry, please see Donna.
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:
Operation Re-stock the Food Pantry
The Food Pantry needs to be re-stocked. During the upcoming months we will be asking for specific food donations. There will be a box in the foyer for you to place your food donations. Thank you so much and let’s make Operation re-stock a success!! For the month of March, we need:
Canned Chicken (Large cans, if possible)
Canned Tuna (Large cans, if possible)
March Mission Control Challenges
We have 3 new challenges for the month of March 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 next quarter begins in March, 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’s Children’s Bible Class Ministry Needs Your Help With Materials
We are requesting your help with the launch of our new Spiritual Heritage Bible Class curriculum for K-6.
The teachers are tasked to create a God-made wall. This wall is a focal point in the classroom and will provide an opportunity to speak of the magnificence and wisdom of God. To ensure successful implementation of the program in our K-6 classes, the Bible class teachers need photos of any kind showing the greatness of God. These photos could be any type including nature, scenery, seasons, animals, people, etc. Use your imagination!
Also included in the curriculum are specific lessons directed at certain topics. We need photos of these items also.
God Planned Animal Houses
God Made Desert Animals That Can Survive On Little Water
God Made Camels, Snakes, Great Eyes, Protective Coverings, Beautiful Animals, Mosquitoes, Giraffes, Animal Hands (Claws, Wings, Paws), Big Cats
God Made Animal Hides, Perfect Animals (even though they look silly to us), Porpoises, Animal Ears, Micro-Organisms, Animal Cooperation
Great sources for these needed photos are magazines, outdated calendars, and old books. Size of the photo does not matter. Our first Sunday class with the new curriculum will be March 5th. We will be accepting and using these photos throughout the next 26 weeks. Please turn them in as you find them.
All we ask is that you cut out the photos and place them in the box located in the foyer labeled, Spiritual Heritage. Let's support these dedicated teachers and help ensure our Holly Hill kids know that our God is very great!
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