Are We Living In The End Times?

“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.

Are We Living In The End Times?
Devotional by: Elijah Bell

In a generation marked by war, hatred, corruption, and division, the question often arises: "Could this be a sign of the end?" Regardless of whether the end is imminent, the more important question should be, "Are we living as if it could be?"

It's a belief that each generation should carry – the sense that their time might be the last. This sentiment is not new; even in the first century, people felt a similar urgency, as indicated in Matthew 24:6 when Jesus said, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet."

Today, many people are indeed alarmed, sensing a foreboding end. Consider the families who bid farewell to their sons drafted into WWII or the Vietnam War; for them, it felt like the world was, in fact, ending. In turbulent times throughout history, many indeed faced their mortal end. So, the key is not dwelling on when the end might come but on actively engaging in meaningful endeavors while time allows.

In John 9:4, Jesus emphasizes the importance of doing God's work while there is still daylight:

"We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work."

The uncertainty of when this night will fall urges us to be vigilant, as emphasized in Matthew 25:13:

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

While the exact moment of Jesus' return remains unknown, the certainty of our mortality is outlined in Hebrews 9:27:

"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment."

Regardless of the circumstances of our departure from this world, the reality is that our time on earth is limited. We are, in essence, living in our own last days. Whether we witness the return of Jesus or pass away, our remaining years are short. Therefore, the imperative question is: Are we living with the awareness that our time here is limited, and are we actively contributing to the works of God while there is still daylight?

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 and Serve missions for the month.
Teach — Using the blank slips in the lobby, write out something you are thankful for, along with a Bible verse, and drop it in the thankfulness jar (put in at least 3). These will be shared with the congregation later.
Serve — Give notes of encouragement to 3 different church members, thanking them for something they do for the church.

News

This section is for any special announcements that are not upcoming events or prayer requests.

Mid-Week Bible Study (Thanksgiving Week)
We’ll meet for mid-week Bible study on Tuesday night (11/21 at 6:30pm) before Thanksgiving, instead of Wednesday. This will be for Thanksgiving week ONLY. We’ll return to our normal schedule the following week.
Announcement From the Elders
Recently we have had a significant increase in spam and scam phone calls to the church’s office number. As a result, there is an increased likelihood the answering machine will pick up before one of the ministers. If this happens, please leave a message and someone will contact you as soon as possible. We expect this will subside after the Holidays and appreciate your patience.
Thank You Letter From Steve Small
Thank you to everyone that has mailed cards. I wanted to share my most recent update with everyone. We have made small changes to my course of treatment. We will be doing a low dose chemo treatment once a week for 4 weeks. We will also do Radiation 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Today Physical Therapy was ordered so that will be starting soon. I will be at UK Albert B. Chandler for the next 5 weeks. 11th floor room 1117. Visitors are welcome and appreciated. If you would like to send cards, please mail them to:
- 502 Pawnee Drive, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342.
Church Records
Bible Class Attendance (11/12) — 87
Worship Attendance (11/12) — 119
Contribution (11/12) — $5,575.00
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.

Prayers

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

New Prayer Requests:
- Dwan McKnight & Family (friend of Matthew Woodyard, whose son tragically passed)
- Ann Pittman (Off Vent & Improving)
Ongoing Prayers For: Larry & Renita Clarke, Steve Small, Candi Early (Mike & Robin Mayes’ sister-in-law's sister), Abe Martha (Brenda Stone’s nephew-in-law), Rita Tackett (Alyson Woodyard’s aunt), The Stone & Morris Family, The Kerman & Chatham Family, The Parrott Family, Aundreya Rich & Holly Collins, Jerry Mayes, Phillip Bartley, Michael Morris, Mark McPherson, Charlotte & Tanner Henderson (Elijah’s sister and brother-in-law, who lost a child), Wilton Hudson, Scarlet Stumbo (aunt of Val Clark), James Robert (Val Clark’s uncle), Janis Friend, Pam Smith (foster parent of Robin Mayes niece, Lexi), Horn family, Butch Elliott (friend of Robin Mayes), Rhoda Jones, Betty Blanton, Bill & Mary Jo Marion (friends of Robin Mayes), Helen Hall, Penny Harland (Katie Bell’s mother), Alyssa Deaton, Pete & Jessie Tropoulos, Rusty Bell (friend of Robin Mayes), Gail Keith (Michele Blanton’s mother), Nikki Fenney (Johnny & Julie Widener’s niece), Bertha Young’s Family, Dorothy Trent, Polly Deaton, Sandra Haden (Tiffany Quarles’ mother), Valentine family, David Fair (prayers for his marriage & family situation), Phil & Suzanne Wilkins, prayers for Mission Control Challenges, Glenda Mitchum.

* 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.

Packing Food Boxes for Thanksgiving - Sunday Afternoon, November 19th at 4pm
We will be packing Food Boxes for Thanksgiving on Sunday, November 19th at 4pm in the Fellowship Hall. If you know of anyone that needs a food box, please let Mike or Robin Mayes know. Thank you!
Singing Service — Sunday Night, November 19th 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!
Mid-Week Bible Study (Thanksgiving Week) - Tuesday Night, November 21st at 6:30pm
We’ll meet for mid-week Bible study on Tuesday night (11/21 at 6:30pm) before Thanksgiving, instead of Wednesday. This will be for Thanksgiving week ONLY. We’ll return to our normal schedule the following week.
Small Groups — Sunday Afternoon, November 26th (Check Schedule for Meeting Times)
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.
Men’s Bible Study & Breakfast — Saturday Morning, December 2nd at 8am
Join us on the 1st Saturday morning of each month, for the Men’s Bible Study & Breakfast. We will meet downstairs in the Fellowship Hall and be studying from the book of James. See you there!
Elders, Ministers, & Deacons Meeting — Sunday Afternoon, December 3rd at 4pm
Elders, Ministers, & Deacons will meet on the 1st Sunday of each month at 4pm, downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.
Mission Control — Sunday Night, December 3rd at 6pm
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.
Study Groups — Sunday Night, December 10th at 6pm
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!
Singing Service — Sunday Night, December 17th 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!
Schedule Update for Christmas Eve — Sunday, December 24th (No Evening Service)
Our Sunday schedule for Christmas Eve (December 24th) will be as follows:
- Bible Class (10am)
- Worship (11am)
- Evening Service (CANCELED)

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:

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.
Packing Food Boxes for Thanksgiving
We will be packing Food Boxes for Thanksgiving on Sunday, November 19th at 4pm in the Fellowship Hall. If you know of anyone that needs a food box, please let Mike or Robin Mayes know. Thank you!
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 November (Thanksgiving Boxes), we need:
- Applesauce (In a Jar)
- Brownie or Muffin Mix
- Saltine Crackers
- Canned Tuna
- Canned Chicken
- Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip

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.

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. If you know of someone the church should send a card, please give the name(s) and address to Joyce Best. We have “get-well” cards, “thinking of you” cards, “praying for you” cards, and sympathy cards. You can also text the information to (502) 593-5865.

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 — 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