ClassNEWS - September 2008

Hey guys! How are you? I loved being in Sunday School this week (at least for part of the time). I must tell you I miss you guys when I don't see you. Let me know how you are.

Thank so many of you for being at the business meeting on Sunday night. WOW! It was the fastest meeting ever! I am really excited that Josh and Jenn and Isabel will be heading to H'ville very soon! Please be praying for Josh as he will be giving his 2 week notice tomorrow at his job. Pray for his family too as they are preparing to move, Jenn is due to have baby #2 on November 30. WOW!

So, I LOVED Kidstuff today! It was all I had hoped for, it was funny, educational and fun! I noticed that the kids were totally into it....they loved it! Our class is playing a big role with this. Gabe is directing and guiding the entire production, plus starring in it, along with Rachel, Larry, Mandy and special guest performances by Ben Brown and Aaron Echols to date. Chris Socha is doing the input of all the technical aspects, which is a TON of stuff! I encourage you guys if you want a place to plug in, our children's area is a great place to do this. We have been amazed at the number of new children are coming to both Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. This is a great thing!

There are essential areas of service available....we could use additional greeters (on a rotating basis), people to help visiting children to their classes upstairs, ushers to help seat people and to pass out bulletins and welcome people. Also Lloyd Hartman is helping us out each week in setting up the Kidstuff set and others that help out. If you would like to help out in this way, email me at wendyswaby@bluegrasschurch.net

I love seeing Jennifer Beachboard, Julianna, Jeremy and Jana singing in worship. I also love seeing so many of you on Wednesday night being a part of the different classes. I love the behind the scene stuff that so many of you do, our class helps out in changing the sign out front, it makes up the communication team, it videos the services, does media, playing music in worship, serves on the vision team, as deacons, serves in extended session, teaches sunday school, does drama, serves in W.E.E., are chairman in training, serve on committees, serves on teams, ushers and so much more! God is doing a mighty work in each one of our lives. You may not see it, but I promise you, God is growing each of us, changing us, challenging us and making us more like his son Jesus! How cool is that?

I want to encourage each of you as you make a difference in eternity! It is not an accident that you are a part of this community for such a time as this. He has plans to give us hope and a future (Jer.29:11) We are changing our families, our lives and our the very path that we walk as we grow and allow God to change us. Be encouraged! If God is for us, who can be against us! All things are possible with God! Encourage one another and build each other up this week! (Thes.5:11)

I encourage you to encourage someone this week! If you did not get a KISS this week, with a love/dare on it during worship, or even if you did, do something that encourages someone in your home, at your work and a random stranger. Share this with us this week! I love you guys! Hope your week is GREAT! love, wendy

Being Thankful

Every day I am reminded by things, places, people...ect...how thankful I am to have the things I DO have. At the hospital I see the sick....I see people at their worse....and I thank the Lord for my healthy children...husband...I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful church. To be a part of so many things is a blessing too. To build relationships with others that REALLY care about you. That are not just fake or for show but who truly care about you in their heart. Who would do anything for you. The Lord has blessed me with some wonderful, loving, people and they came from OUR CHURCH! I am so excited, stressed, nervous, happy, pretty much MANY different emotions for all the changes right now at church. I was busy this morning like I'm sure many of your were...and I got a "little" stressed and I was letting it affect my mood so instead of being distant and not "there" I left in my free time and got a Starbucks and prayed about it. That really helped to go pray when things weren't going the way I wanted them to. It took that burden off my chest to give it to the Lord. I let people affect me, their actions, words, looks.....but I have to learn that God is the one I should focus on. We are there for him right!!!!! I love the new contemporary worship, I feel so free to praise him, to feel his presense. As Debbie Martin says"I just got the Jesus Bumps". Do you get that feeling when you sing, pray, ect....I love that feeling. When you hear a song that touches your heart or that relates to what you are going through. Like when we sang "Even if I fall" today. I love those lyrics. It's not just about singing along, it's about listening to what you are singing, the words to the Lord. Even if you don't like to sing you can just meditate on it! Even if I fall I'll rise again, cause you are my God, even if fall you lift me up! I mean that is amazing and so true! Here are some bible verses that spoke to me and I hope that they will mean something to you!

Psalm 105

1O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. 2Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. 3Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 4Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. 5Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he has uttered,

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!!!!!!!!!!!