The Woodmont Word

E-Newsletter

A Family of Faith on Mission

January 2015

From the Pastor

Alvin Straight, age seventy-three, lived in Laurens, Iowa. His brother, age eighty, lived several hundred miles away in Blue River, Wisconsin. According to the Associated Press, Alvin's brother had suffered a stroke, and Alvin wanted to see him, but he had a transportation problem. He didn't have a driver's license because his eyesight was bad and he apparently had an aversion to taking a plane, train, or bus.

But Alvin didn't let that stop him. In 1994 he climbed aboard his 1966 John Deere tractor lawn mower and drove it all the way to Blue River, Wisconsin. Devotion finds a way - (Copied)

It is interesting to me what we have "time for" and what we don't. If we really want to do something, we find a way. If we don't - we find a way. So, it gets back to the heart, doesn't it. Love will find a way!

Love You,

Bro. Jerry

Thompson's Text

Lessons From Geese

Living out our Christian lives...is much like the precise formation of geese we sometimes see flying overhead.

FACT: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying together in a "V" formation the flock can fly 71% farther than if each flew alone.

LESSON: Friends in our church who share a common sense of community and direction can go farther traveling on the thrust of one another.

FACT: If a goose falls out of formation, it immediately feels the added drag of flying alone and quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

LESSON: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those around us and we will accept their help and be willing to help others.

FACT: When a goose gets sick or wounded, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay until the goose dies, or is able to fly again.

LESSON: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by and support each other in difficult times.

FACT: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

LESSON: We need to be sure our "honking" is encouraging -- in groups where there is positive encouragement, the production is much greater.

Amen!

Under His Grace,

Steve

Reese's Pieces

Music Staff "Fast away the old year passes, tralalalalalalalala!"

Maybe I'm just getting old, but it seems like this past year had only six or seven months in it. With all my heart I want to thank the members of the Woodmont Choir & Orchestra, the Magnification Team, our audio visual crew, and all who work with Woodmont Kids' Choirs for another year of making His praise glorious. Thank you, too, church, for being a loving family and for laboring so faithfully to build the Kingdom of God. My prayer for each of you is to grasp, if only microscopically, how deep and wide and long and high is the Father's love for you. May we all allow the Spirit of Christ to rule in our hearts in still deeper ways in 2015.

I leave you with the words of a hymn that always resonates with me at the onset of a new year. Time may seem to be hurtling past us at breakneck speed, but our God is timeless, steadfast, and eternal. Be comforted by that truth.

O God, Our Help In Ages Past (Isaac Watts)

O God, our Help in ages past,

Our Hope for years to come,

Our Shelter from the stormy blast

And our eternal Home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne

Thy saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone,

And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood

Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting Thou art God,

To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight

Are like an evening gone,

Short as the watch that ends the night

Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,

Bears all its sons away;

They fly, forgotten, as a dream

Dies at the opening day.

O God, our Help in ages past,

Our Hope for years to come,

Be Thou our Guide while life shall last

And our eternal Home.

Happy New Year, Woodmont!

Kevin

Hess's Headlines

Dear Church,

Jonah 3:1-2 says, "Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." What a wonderful truth, "the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time." I think it is appropriate that at the close of one year and the start of another, we focus on the word of the Lord. 2014 has ended and so have your opportunities for that year. For some of you, 2014 may have been a wonderful year; for some it may have been very challenging; and for some it may have been the worst. However, 2014 has ended. Now before us is 2015. A New Year is here, new challenges, new successes, and new opportunities to serve the Lord.

Take some time to look back on 2014. Where did you run from the Lord? Where did you intentionally disobey? What opportunities to share the gospel did you neglect? What enemies did you refuse to love? Jonah disobeyed, he ran, he would not turn back, he put others lives in danger, and he went overboard. Maybe that was 2014 for you. Maybe you encountered storms because of your disobedience. The unwise decisions you may have made caused you to suffer, but also those around you, just like Jonah chapter 1.

Great news! The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. Jonah listened, a city was saved, and a whole nation experienced repentance and salvation. I pray that in 2015, the word of the Lord would be living and active in your life. Take time this year and make the Bible a priority in your life. Perhaps the Lord will protect you from unnecessary storms, and provide the strength and endurance for the necessary storms. To be honest, our obedience doesn't prevent a terrible tragedy in our life; if that was the case, Christ would not have encountered the cross. The Bible does change our perspective in the tragedy, the hard times, and the challenges that may happen in 2015. So this year, allow the word of the Lord to speak life to you, to call you again, and follow where He leads with reckless abandon. He is worthy!

Chad

Children's Ministry

Singles Ministry

Highlights of 2014

Prepared and served food to over 100 guests at the Soup Kitchen 4 times in 2014
Partnered with Women's, Children's, and Family Life Ministries to host Everyday Heroes: A Day of Encouragement for Single Moms
Groups enjoyed trips to Gatlinburg and Orange Beach
Launched a new class just for Single Moms
Joined forces with Children's and Youth Ministries for the Annual Cherry Hill Back to School Bash
Hosted 8^th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser for Missions

Upcoming Events for 2015!

January 16-19 - Smoky Mountain Get Away

January 25- Covered Dish lunch in the gym after the service

January 26- Our 13 week DivorceCare and DC4K program will start back up. Classes will meet on Monday nights from 6-8 pm.

55 and Older Join Us For These Upcoming Events...

No Game Day in January!

Monthly luncheon on Thursday, January 15 at 11:30 in the Gym. Jason and Mary Lee Staggs will be our entertainment. Bring a dish to share and start the year off with the Primetimers!

Frances Moore

New Members