Tyler, Paula, Zoey, and Jacob Olsen are moving from Bono to Jonesboro in the next few days.  They will move into a three-bedroom rental on Concord (behind Wallace & Owens, near Jonesboro High School) where they’ll have access to Jonesboro JETS for most of their transportation (and when they do use their car, the trips will be much shorter).  They have very little furniture and are in need of some household furniture items, especially beds.  If you have a bed or any other furniture item you would be willing to donate, let me know.  

The children’s emphasis service Sunday was lovely in every way.  I have never done the children’s song/grownup song motif and found it quite meaningful.  A "THANK YOU" to Rick Griffin and Sam Sullivan for being the troopers they always are when I ask for special songs.  And didn’t Dakota Crabtree do a great job reading our scripture?  And Brad Martin did a good job helping him!  And how about Cullen Felkins just being up there with Darrell Parks?  It was a big deal to Cullen and to all the kids for him to be a part—Helen Baldridge said granddaughter Kaitlyn took notice.  We had intended to have all our grownup men serving the Lord’s Supper to all have one of our boys as a “helper,” but that didn’t quite get worked out Sunday.  Gaylon Tate and I have discussed it and we’ll make it happen periodically. If one of them drops something and we’re passing bread and juice, please overlook (I’ve seen our grown men fumble a tray or two now and again).  

Still a bit on Sunday morning’s children’s emphasis… two more things.  One is a big “THANK YOU” to David and Darah Watson for the slide show of our kids.  I know our adults enjoy seeing our kids from the chuckles I heard when a funny mug scrolled up, and some “oohs’ and “ahs” otherwise.  The kids noticed, too.  My grandsons all glued their eyes to the screen.  Sharon Griffin complained loudly that baby Kyli Hazelwood's picture wasn't there... these grandmothers!   

The second thing is this: it’s likely few of us appreciate what wonderful technology tools we have back in our projection and sound booth and how competent the guys are who put things together and get them presented before us.  The program we use is called Media Shout and it allows us to prepare various items ahead of time, load them in order on a grid on our computer screen, and then just click them one after the other to have them “instantly” appear.   This "THANK YOU" goes to David Watson and Alex Archer.  Oh, a service like Sunday morning’s also requires sound to be on here, off there—"THANKS" to John Owen, our soundboard/microphone champ!

If you missed the usual “sermon notes” Sunday, I intend to shortly put most of it together in a little brochure.  It summarizes a philosophy of children’s ministry I hope we will adopt and follow.    Other youth ideas are being worked on.  As you’ve already heard, we’re working on plans for a Children’s Bible/Worship Hour (not sure about what we’ll call it).  We have to decide when, how often, what ages, who staffs, what the goals are, what the curriculum will be, etc.  So questions remain to be answered.  Besides that, I’m turning over in my mind how to do a “pew packers” session a couple of times a month on Sunday nights.  Just bear with us and hold on.  These things or other ideas just as good or better are coming.  The good thing is that our “want to” is there.