The Olive Branch NOVEMBER 2019 OLIVE BRANCH CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) Richard D. Cline, minister Web Address: www.ob-cc.org Susan C. Fournier, secretary Office Email Address: [email protected] 757-566-8077 (Church Office) Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30AM – 1:30PM WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! remember all the saints of the church who have died, Jean McCue joined on Sunday, September 29. in particular those who have passed since our last observance. It is our moment to lift up their Bob Graver & Nancy Lorenz joined on October 20. memories, and to give thanks to God for those who We welcome them all to the OBCC family! have ‘finished well.’ We seldom need reminders to play hard in life. Some need reminders to pray hard in life. We all need to FINISH WELL be reminded to live our lives in such a way as to finish I suppose most of us have heard of The Villages, well. May this year’s All Saints Day service teach us America’s friendliest hometown. From its humble this lesson. beginnings in the 1960s, when lots were sold via mail See you in church this Sunday. order, to 1992 when it was given its name as The Blessings, Villages with 8,000 residents, today this community ~Pastor Richard of 55 and older adults spans portions of three Florida counties and has a population over 122,000. In reading the Editor’s note in a recent Christianity CWF NEWS Today issue, I was struck by some words from Chris Holck, the pastor of Live Oaks Community Church in MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE NEXT The Villages. In a community where the average 2019 CWF FUNDRAISING & OUTREACH family unit has at least two golf carts, one of the EVENT biggest draws of the church is its golf cart worship service, described as a “drive-in outdoor worship Sat., November 23, 8AM-2PM: Christmas Yard Sale experience.” Rev. Holck shared that Live Oaks even Mark your calendars for a day of fun and fundraising has a special motto: “Play hard! Pray hard! Finish for our CWF projects. Christmas-related and vintage well!” items have been rolling in. We still need baked goods I like the sentiment of that motto, especially the and special Christmas treats, as well as holiday items finish well part. It seems to fit well with the first day to sell. Dig out those holiday decoration boxes and of November, which, in the tradition of the church, is see if there is something you can donate. called All Saints Day. Here in the United States it is Set up will be on Friday, November 22, starting at overshadowed by something that is observed the 9:30 AM. If you can help then or on the 23rd, please previous day (October 31) called All Hallows Eve. You contact Sheila Yeatts. know it best as Halloween. In our tradition, we observe All Saints Day on the first Sunday of November. It is an opportunity to 1 CWF TUESDAY MORNING CIRCLE Tuesday morning circle met October 8th at Interlude SERVING THIS MONTH with 12 in attendance. We heard announcements on upcoming events. The CWF Christmas yard sale is on Elders November 23. We were reminded to look for nice Nov 03 Marney Brickhouse, Ralph Hutton Christmas items to donate and to think about what we might make for the bake sale. Nov 10 Missy Harbour, TBD Elaine presented the lesson on James, son Nov 17 Kim Riffle, Harold Barker of Alphaeus, another of the disciples. These have Nov 24 Joshua Fulgham, Elaine Henk been very interesting lessons. Deacons The next meeting will be at Interlude November 12. Come, bring a covered dish to share, and listen to Nov 03 Donna Haulsee, Boyce Mason Elaine bring us a lesson on another disciple. Donald White, Tracey Hutton See you there, Nov 10 David Love, Diana Love ~Donna Haulsee Steve Garrett, Linda Garrett Nov 17 Tracy Creech, Dale Teagle AFTERNOON DELIGHT Patty Barker, Susan Rinehart The November 5 meeting will be at 2 PM. Nov 24 Will Hatcher, Jane Hatcher ~Dick & Betty Barber Mel Watson, Kaye Watson Deaconess MONDAY CWF TO MEET NOV 18 AT 3 PM Danny Pitts Breaking Free from Fear study will continue. There are still extra books, in case you need one. The group meets at its afternoon time of 3 PM. There will be NO MEETING in December. Worship and Wonder (Ages 3-8) Meeting times will be 3 PM for January-March. Nov 03 Kim Riffle, Patty Barker ~Carole Kerr Nov 10 Landa Simmons, Carolyn Hunt Nov 17 Linda Williams, Diana Love COMFORT MINISTRY SUPPORT GROUP The breakfast is held on the second Saturday of the Nov 24 TBD, Patty Barker month, now at Sandy’s Pancake House in Lightfoot (6495 Richmond Rd-next to Smith Memorial Baptist Church) at 10:00 AM. If you are on a grief journey, IMPORTANT NOTE! please join us. We have a good meal and laugh a Worship & Wonder is in need of more teachers and lot. Call Judy Eley at 757-566-0927, if you would like greeters. This program involves helping young to attend. children worship and experience God together in a special place apart from the congregation. Worship and Wonder is held in the Education building during the 11:00 AM Worship service (after the Children’s Moment). During this service, the children sing, pray, hear a bible story, participate in an activity Nov 03 OPEN time, and a feast. Nov 10 Irma Gustafson Please consider helping as either a teacher or greeter Nov 17 David & Diana Love for this worthwhile program. If you are interested in helping in this ministry, please contact Linda Williams Nov 24 OPEN at (703) 577-1858. Church Family: Harold Barker, Charles Boy, Jeryl 14 Matthew & Paula Tackett Dieleman, Lucy Hall, Boyce Mason, Mac McWilliams, 14 Richard & Barbara Thiel Dallas Mitchell, Robbie Robertson, Richard Thiel, 24 James & Sharon Pullen Jerry VanCleave, Arnold VanDyke, Sarah Waid, Chuck Walker Family FOOD SHARING PROGRAM UPDATE Family and Friends: Professional and volunteer During our celebration of Thanksgiving, our dinner women and men who protect and defend us, our serves as a testament to the food, friends, family and nation, Jason Arthur (Lorraine Beasley’s son), God's love that we are grateful for every day of the Charles Barker, (Kevin Barker (Naomia & Charles year. During our Thanksgiving dinner blessing, we Barker’s son), Paul Chisari (Sue Rinehart’s friend), give thanks for what we have received. It is equally Mary Collamore, Joann Gillespie (Stacey Mullins’ important to give thanks for what we have given to Aunt), Betty Hudgins Family (Chuck Walker’s Aunt), further God’s Kingdom on Earth. David Hunt (Jim Hunt’s brother), Arne Jackson Our church community received a letter of gratitude (Tracey & Ralph Hutton friend), Laura Jacobs (Emily from Donna Hamilton, Director of the St. Olaf Food Dill’s cousin),Virginia Jenkins (Karen Marrow's Pantry. Her letter expressed her sincere appreciation daughter), Sally Marrow (Karen Marrow’s niece), for our sustaining support through our Food Sharing Marolyn Pierce (Carolyn Hunt’s sister), Lee Ann Reid Program: (Jim & Carolyn Hunt’s niece), Anthony Szvetecz Your most recent monetary and food (Patty & Harold Barker’s friend), Kempton Shields donations came at a time of depleted funds (Pastor’s brother-in-law), Tevik & Orhan Vantsever and low levels of food items. As our client (Cheryl & Gene Johnson’s grandson & his father), base has increased, I know I can count on Chris Vincent, Sr. (Karen Barrow’s friend), Heather Olive Branch Christian Church’s support for (Michael Ayers’ daughter) our pantry and our neighbors in need of food. Thank you for your generosity, as a faith community working together. We will continue to fill the gaps in in the lives of our neighbors who daily face food insecurity. Your faithfulness shows God’s love for our neighbors because of your spiritual commitment to donate. The peace of Christ 01 Curt Griffin is with you. 02 Andy Bradshaw 02 Sandy Wanner On Thanksgiving, we raise up a special prayer of 06 Hunter Creech III praise for your consistent support for our Food 06 Cheryl Johnson Sharing Program. 08 Irma Gustafson Happy Thanks Living! 09 Danny Pitts ~Will & Jane Hatcher 10 Helen Bradshaw 10 Elaine Henk OFFICE CLOSINGS 13 Sean Gormus 15 Abby Matschke Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving) Friday, November 29 (Thanksgiving Friday) 18 Becky Allred-Owens 20 Mary Apperson 22 Caitlin Rutherford MOVIE NIGHT RETURNS 24 Richard Jones The New Fellowship Hall will host a movie night on 25 Pat Allred Saturday, November 9, beginning at 6:30 PM. Come 25 Doug Dill on in and enjoy Peter Rabbit! Snacks will be on hand. 28 Jennifer Pullen 29 Chris Powell OUR DAY OUT Happy birthday to us! We celebrated our 4th birthday on October 9, but the actual date of our birth was October 15, 2015. Just like all newborns, we grew and grew and grew. Praise God! Our very first gathering was made up of 2 guests and 13 volunteers, that we now call buddies. Over these four years we have welcomed in 22 Guests and said good-bye to 8 special souls who died. Many of our volunteers have been with us since inception. How blessed we have been and continue to be as we currently average 27 folks per month! We have recently had some folks, both guests and volunteers, move away, leaving voids in our fellowship. We are currently trying to recruit more MARK YOUR CALENDAR buddies, hoping one or two might serve as drivers to pick some of our folks.