In-Touch Newsletter of the Worthington
Seventh-day Adventist Church
November 13, 2008
My Grace is Sufficient. II Cor. 12:9

Upcoming Events and Items of Interest:

Coming this week:
Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi is coming to present an Advent Seminar this weekend. He will be joined by soprano Cristina Piccardi. This event begins Friday, November 14 at 7:00, continues on Sabbath morning for both worship services and concludes Sabbath afternoon at 4:00pm. Dr. Bacchiocchi was a professor of Theology and Church History at Andrews University, has written 16 books and gives lectures worldwide.

Citrus arrives this Saturday evening at 5:15pm. If you are available and could help unload the truck, that would be much appreciated! Please meet at the activity center around 5:15pm.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD IS IN FULL SWING! Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ.

How to Pack a shoebox

1. SHOE BOX
Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

2. BOY OR GIRL?
Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Use the appropriate boy/girl label found in the bulletin insert. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. FILL WITH GIFTS
Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.

4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION
Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our EZGIVE option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

5. DROP OFF
Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at our Church or at Worthington Adventist Academy during our collection week November 17 - 24.

Gift Ideas
TOYS small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES opens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER
Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

A PERSONAL NOTE
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans

Coming in the weeks ahead:
Next Sabbath, November 22, is a busy Sabbath! During the 2nd worship hour we will be treated to the Men’s Chorus under the direction of George Gibbs. Then at 6:00p.m. we will have the opportunity to hear Pastor Tom Hughes as he performs in the sanctuary for a vespers concert. Tom is an accomplished musician with an Irish Celtic flair. And lastly, there is a Church corporation meeting immediately following vespers. We hope that you are able to attend and be blessed by these various presentations.

TUTOR NEEDED. A WSDA Church family is looking for a tutor for their high school student for general area’s of study. Please call 614-937-3285 for more information.

Available again this year are the colorful, inspirational God’s Creation Calendars. Our WAA students will be selling them beginning October 12. They remain the same low price as in the past, just $8. Buy one for your home, office and for that hard-to-buy-for uncle for Christmas!

Good News! The Health Food Cupboard is back in operation. It will operate under the management team of Harvey Kinkead and Jim Sowards. The Grand Opening last week was a huge success! The open dates for the remainder of 2008 are: November 14 & 16 and December 5 & 7 and December 12 & 14. The times remain 2:00-4:00.

SSLC is looking for a few usable typewriters for their toddlers to use to add to their curriculum activities. If you have an old typewriter sitting around and would like to donate it to the center, please call 614-885-6656.

Mom’s Time Bible Study – This group resumes meeting on November 17 @ 8:00pm. Location to be determined. They will be doing a Beth Moore study entitled A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place. They will meet every 1st & 3rd Monday of the month. If you are interested in joining or have questions, please call Robin McGhee at (614) 330-9615.

VERIZON CELL TOWER IN OUR CHURCH STEEPLE. The cell tower in our church steeple is now in operation. A Life Safety test was conducted on November 4, 2008, and the project is now virtually complete. Testing the automatic load transfer to the emergency generator is scheduled for November 12, 2008. Once that is accomplished and witnessed by the City Building and Fire Inspectors, the final inspections will be completed. Verizon is paying us $2,000 per month for using our facility. In spite of this extra help since April, Local Budget is in the RED by $30,631.00 as of the end of October.

GUTTER REPLACEMENT. Some folks have noticed the gutter down on the East side of the church sanctuary. That happened on September 14 as a result of the high winds that day. A contract has been signed for replacement of that gutter and re-sloping another gutter at a cost of $866.00. There were lots of gutters damaged, so the contractor has a considerable backlog, but it will happen. We are blessed that the overall damage from the storm was no worse than it is. If you can share an extra blessing with the Local Budget, you can share in the pride of maintaining your church.