First Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson...

is here.

Service Hours Are Piling Up!

As you know, in June, following our Lenten emphasis, 40-Days to Servanthood, we set a congregational goal of 500 outside-of-Friendship service hours by the end of the year.

Based on the volunteer hours you reported through this past weekend, Friendship folks have so far volunteered 407 hours!

That's fantastic!

Make sure to report your outside-of-Friendship service hours on the attendance sheets each weekend.

Remember Jesus' words: "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40)

'God is For You'

That was yesterday's Friend Day message. Go here to read it.

Third Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson...

is here.

INVITE YOUR FRIEND FOR 'FRIEND DAY'

I keep hearing more and more reports of people who are bringing unchurched friends to be with us on FRIEND DAY, 2006!

Keep praying about who, among your non-churchgoing friends you'll be inviting to be with us for FRIEND DAY, 2006.

Friend Day is another way we can express our love of God and neighbor, a day when we invite our friends to know the best friend any of us has: Jesus Christ. The Bible says that it's only through Christ that we meet God, experience forgiveness of sins, and have the power of God for living today. The Bible says that the Church is God's family in the world, the fellowship within which we experience the power to live life God's way. Every Christian should want to share Christ and the fellowship of the Church with the world!

Friend Day happens this coming Sunday, October 29.

Here's how you can get ready for a great Friend Day, 2006:

• List all those among your classmates, co-workers, family members, and others who need Jesus Christ and an ongoing connection with Christ's body, the Church.
• Then, pray that God will open the wills of those you've listed.
• Pray too, that God will give you the love and the faith to invite them to be with us on Friend Day.
• Pray also that God will work in the lives of your friends as they experience worship with us on that morning.
• Make sure that you're present for Friend Day, too!

In the power of God, it's going to be a great day!

The Second Pass at This Weekend's Lesson...

is here.

Please pray...

for the family of Jim, a neighbor and friend of my mother-in-law. Jim died yesterday afternoon from a mysterious immunodeficiency disease that no doctor was ever able to accurately diagnose. Pray that his widow and two sons will be comforted by Christ in the days and months ahead. I will be conducting the memorial service in Columbus on Saturday.

The First Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson...

is here.

Prayer Request

This from Carol Barrett:

Could you please ask the congregation to keep my good friend, Kitty, in
their prayers this week? We have been praying for her daughter-in-law,
Angie for sometime now (she had the gastric by-pass surgery three years ago
and has ended up very sick from it). This weekend, Kitty's son (Angie's
husband) died from complications from multiple surgeries. He leaves
behind two boys who also need our prayers as this has been very tough on
them watching their mom through her illness and now their father passing
on.

Thank you.

Pray that God will sustain this family in these dark times for them.

Today's Message...

is here.

Today's Skit...

is here.

The Second Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson...

is here.

Be Shrewd

Check out this re-run and then prayerfully consider who you might invite to be with us for Friend Day, October 29.

Pray for Buffalo

Please pray for the people of Buffalo, New York and environs. As you know, they were hit with a major snowstorm about a week ago. Ordinarily, Buffalo handles tons of snow very well. But Jan Witkowski, who has family there, informs me that because of when the storm hit, it's been particularly devastating. Most trees still were full of leaves and virtually everyone has trees in their yards felled by the snow. The school where Jan's sister-in-law teaches has been closed for a week, designated a shelter for those unable to get back to their homes because there are still thousands without power. Flooding has proved a major problem and because of the outages, homeowners have been unable to pump the water from their homes, causing additional damage.

Jan's mother-in-law, ninety-one, a nursing home resident, seems to have handled the hours without power fairly well.

But the entire Buffalo area needs our prayers for a rapid recovery.

[Here's a news story that details some of the problems there.]

Who Will You Invite to Be with Us on FRIEND DAY?

Keep praying about who, among your non-churchgoing friends you'll be inviting to be with us for FRIEND DAY, 2006.

Friend Day is another way we can express our love of God and neighbor, a day when we invite our friends to know the best friend any of us has: Jesus Christ. The Bible says that it's only through Christ that we meet God, experience forgiveness of sins, and have the power of God for living today. The Bible says that the Church is God's family in the world, the fellowship within which we experience the power to live life God's way. Every Christian should want to share Christ and the fellowship of the Church with the world!

Friend Day happens this year on Sunday, October 29.

Here's how you can get ready for a great Friend Day, 2006:

• List all those among your classmates, co-workers, family members, and others who need Jesus Christ and an ongoing connection with Christ's body, the Church.
• Then, pray that God will open the wills of those you've listed.
• Pray too, that God will give you the love and the faith to invite them to be with us on Friend Day.
• Pray also that God will work in the lives of your friends as they experience worship with us on that morning.
• Make sure that you're present for Friend Day, too!

In the power of God, it's going to be a great day!

Attention: Men of Friendship

From Steve Snoke:

Our next Men's group happens this Saturday 10/21 at 8AM. We will be meeting at Abbotts Restaurant in Amelia. It promises to be a relaxing time of good food, enjoyable discussion, followed by a Bible study discussion. We will conclude the event by 9:15.

Please make every effort to be with us and remember to bring a friend (of the same gender:)).

Thanks,

Steve Snoke

A Prayer Request

This from Nanci Daniher:

Please keep my mom, Ruth, in your prayers this week. She had a heart procedure on Tuesday that failed to adequately regulate her faulty heart rhythm. She is in the hospital on medication to regulate her blood thinner, since she has a history of embolism. She's having chest pains today (a new symptom), and is scheduled for another procedure this afternoon to attempt to correct her heart rhythm.

Thanks for your prayers.

Friendship's Youth Will Meet This Sunday Night

Friendship's youth will meet again this coming Sunday night, from 6:00 to about 7:00. The purpose of the gathering is, to have fun, and to plan the youth-led worship celebration happening in December.

Prayer Updates

Please remember Ronald Christian Black in your prayers. He is the nephew of Vickey and Bill Herdtner and is heading back to Iraq for another stint with the Army, for whom he pilots helicopters. Ask God to keep him safe.

Also, their healing and recovery is such that you can now take Jimmy Coleman and Linda off your prayer list. Thank God for their progress!

The First Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson...

is here.

Terrific Thoughts

Luis Palau, second only to Billy Graham in influence among contemporary evangelists worldwide, has some interesting thoughts on having a positive influence on others. Go here.

You've Helped a Lot of Kids! Thank You!

I'm sometimes amazed by how well you respond to calls to share Christ's love in practical ways!

In anticipation of yesterday's baby shower for Clermont County's CASA for Kids! program (which provides diaper and duffel bags taken into foster care), you provided the following:

• 90 onesies
• 20 wash cloths
• 22 stuffed animals
• 11 bottles of shampoo
• 12 sippy cups
• 40 sleepers
• 7 books
• 5 pkgs., Q-Tips
• 32 pkgs., eating utensils
• 6 pkgs., underwear
• 2 little people toys
• 6 roller suitcases/backpacks
• 11 backpacks
• 1 diaper bag
• 4 baby toys
• 10 blankets
• 8 bibs
• 5 baby bottles
• 4 burp cloths
• 4 btls., baby lotion
• 1 diaper rash cream

...and a lot more!

Tonight, our fabulous Youth Group were able to pack 26 full or partially-complete duffel and diaper bags. Money which some of you contributed will allow for the purchase of items that will complete each one.

Thank you to all of you for letting the love of Christ shine through you!

Thanks also to Nancy Ball and Laurel Vogel for coordinating things!

(CASA stands for Court-Appointed Special Advocates.)

"What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?"...

can be found here.

Remember...

if you can't be in worship on Sunday, you can still join us for the GoDeep worship times that happen on Saturdays at 5:30 PM.

Tomorrow, during the GoDeep service, we'll receive Holy Communion.

The Second Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson...

is here.

Please pray...

for Cheryl, Scott, and Belinda Simmons. Cheryl is the widow and Scott and Belinda are the children of George Simmons, who died yesterday. George was the brother of Mel. George had been ill for some time. Last week, he suffered from a stroke.

Please pray for all who mourn, that God will strengthen and comfort them with the hope of the resurrection which all who follow Jesus Christ have!

How Can the Amish Forgive?

It'll be adapted to become a column. Read it here.

We Get to Share Again!

Friendship's building facility will be the location of an important community meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, October 10. Our county's Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities board will hold its annual retreat at the building tomorrow, from 1:30 to 6:30 PM.

We can be grateful that God has given us the building to share with the community!

Don't Forget...

tomorrow, Tuesday, we'll have our Bible study group. We're looking at the book of Acts. It happens from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. at the church building, 1300 White Oak Road. Hope you can be there!

The First Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson...

can be found here.

Thanks to all...

who stayed after worship today to do the crafts for local seniors. What a great outreach!

Please Pray...

for Linda, Vickey Herdtner's sister-in-law. Ask God to bring her healing.

You can find this weekend's message...

here.

The Third Pass at This Weekend's Lesson...

is here.

The Second Pass at This Weekend's Lesson...

is here.

Prayers needed...

for our neighbor, Pam Sandlin. Pam went to the hospital at 1:00 this morning, suffering from numbness on one side of her body. Tests have indicated that there's a problem with the nerves, but she's to be released later on today. She got good care at Christ Hospital, according to husband Carl, with whom I just spoke. Pray for her complete healing. (Fortunately, Pam's a nurse. So, in describing and dealing with her symptoms, she's got a leg-up on the rest of us.)

The First Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson...

is here.

Please Pray...

for John Krueger, uncle of Jan Witkowski. Jan writes, "He is my uncle and Godfather who will be undergoing his 4th round of surgery relating to prostate cancer. Prayers for successful surgery and complete healing are very much appreciated."

Shiphrah and Puah...

Never heard of them? Read about them here.

Get Involved with Friend Day!

Get involved in Friend Day.

Invite people who need Jesus in their lives to be with us for worship on October 29.

Inviting others to worship with us helps us to grow not only numerically, but spiritually. People who invite others to worship and to grow close to Christ with them are displaying compassion and concern for the eternal well-being of others, the love of Christ grows within them.

Please don't miss this opportunity to change a life forever!

Pray that God will open the wills of those you'll invite. Ask God also to give you the right words. Then, open your mouth and depend on God!

Thanks...

to all who yesterday, signed on to help the youth raise money for their Week of Hope mission trip.

Seventeen volunteered to help take dinner orders and serve drinks at TGIFriday's on November 16!

And ten signed on to help with the Sam's Club Hot Dog sale on November 11!

THANK YOU!

As I mentioned yesterday, our youth aren't the future of the church...they are the Church today. I appreciate it so much that you're making their growth in Christian discipleship a priority in your lives!

We need more volunteers and you can sign up this coming Saturday and Sunday after worship.

More details shortly.

Habitat for Humanity News

The Clermont County Habitat for Humanity group of which Friendship is a part will have a Bake and Book Sale at the Eastgate Sam’s Club on October 28, from 8 to 3. Begin collecting those used books you have at home and prepare to provide some baked goods for the event. For more details, contact Jan Witkowski at jw2708@fuse.net.

About the Tuesday Night Bible Study

The study won't happen this Tuesday night, but resumes next week. It happens from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the church building.

Three Cool Ways to Serve Your Neighbor

(1) Give to our sock and underwear drive for local elementary schools. We’re taking up this collection for the benefit of children who may “have accidents” while at school. We’re taking your gifts for this drive through October 29.

(2) Give also to our coat drive. Your new or gently used coats can provide homeless or impoverished people in our area with warmth this coming winter.

(3) Participate in our Senior Service Outreach. Items needed are hand sanitizer, tissues, toothpaste, and soap. (No food, please.)

For more details, contact Carol Barrett at cabarrett@mmm.com.

KEEP PRAYING, PLEASE

Here's this week's prayer concerns.
Seek healing for:
Charlene Hauke;
Alena, granddaughter of Dara and Pete Wagner;
Jerry Rogers, recovering from surgery;
Franny Bishop;
Bonnie (a friend of Carol Barrett’s);
Nancy Ball’s Aunt Mary;
Allyn;
John Clough;
Bill and Betty Ball, recuperating from an automobile accident;
Jimmy Coleman;
Sarah Russell;
Mel Simmons;
Susan Frejofsky;
Ross Hudson;
Josh Cress;
Angie Satterfield (Vic Fay’s sister);
Nick Wimmers;
another Angie (friend of Carol Barrett);
Courtney DeMoss;
Cheyann Fletcher;
Jim Tenbrink (father of Betsy DeVore);
Eileen Martin (sister of Tim Toerner);
Kristina Erdmann;
Sheron (a friend of Judy Toerner);
Veldonna Agee;
Gracie Cress;
Jason Hauke;
Brian Collins;
Allie Meckstroth;
Jessica Niehaus;
Pat Sidwell;
Betty Daniels; and
Lindsay Bond.
(If you have names to add to or delete from the list, let Mark Daniels know via email at MarkLuth@aol.com.)

Please pray that either an in-kind source or some large donors who can provide the funding for the purchase of daily snacks for the children of our Clermont County Boys and Girls Clubs can be found.

Pray that the ceasefire will hold in Lebanon.

Pray for peace throughout our world.

Ask God to bless the efforts of our youth group as they plan and prepare for their Week of Hope misision trip in June, 2007.

Ask God to bless Sinanzinkosi Moyo, the Zimbabwean girl our congregation sponsors through World Vision. Our sponsorship helps Sinanzinkosi and her fellow villagers to have schools, clean drinking water, and the opportunity to know and follow Jesus.

Pray God’s guidance for all world leaders and that their wills will be open to that guidance.

Pray for Friendship, asking God to help us to be faithful in our mission of reaching out to others with the love of Jesus and thereby experience growth in faith, love, unity, outreach, prayer, discipleship, giving, numbers of disciples, numbers of worshipers.

Pray for our Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), asking God to grant the same sort of growth to our entire denomination that we seek for Friendship.

Pray that God will use our FRIEND DAY on October 29 to bring many people in contact with Jesus Christ.

Pray too, that God will provide the funds needed for Friendship's youth and their friends to make the Week of Hope mission trip in June, 2007.

Putting Our Faith in Action

See today's message here.