LIFE TOGETHER ON WEST MORRIS STREET
A Bi-Weekly Information & Prayer Journal
December 16, 2009
by Pastor Mike Conkle
Following Jesus – Making Disciples – Loving Neighbors

Prayer and Praise
            Prayer is becoming a major force in the life of our church.  God is drawing people to Himself, and commitment to prayer is a faithful response to that divine attraction.   As a result, our prayer groups are experiencing a surging momentum of the Spirit that is adding to our numbers, empowering our efforts in ministry, and creating an environment of holy expectancy.
            Our Thanksgiving worship service attendance was 200.  That was the largest attendance we have had since the second Sunday in July, when I was formally welcomed as WEMO’s new Senior Pastor.  God is drawing people to our church, who is seeking to know Him, and others who are sensing God’s call to reinvest themselves in ministry and service.  Five people have come to know Jesus in the last 5 months, and many others have experienced a renewed sense of God’s presence and power in their lives.  In all these things we give thanks and praise to God!
            Let’s continue to seek and respond to God in prayer.  Prayer puts us and keeps us before God, and that is the place where all things become possible.
 
                                    -Pastor Mike  
 
Giving Update:  In order to reach our year-end
goals for giving, and begin 2010 with all obligations met, we need to receive approximately $35,000 by December 31.  Pray for these financial needs, and give as God directs! 
 
BY PRAYER AND PETITION  "Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends our understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

• Pray for Families in need of God’s healing touch.  Pray that forgiveness, love, repentance, and reconciliation would be experienced.
• Pray healing for Carol Domogalik.  Carol is scheduled for surgery on December 15th.
• Pray for Joe and Angela Larrison Wirey as they work toward returning to their home after the fire that destroyed so much of their house.
• Pray for Masel York, She has moved to Crestwood Village  and is receiving assisted care.
• Pray for David York as he continues treatment for esophageal cancer.
• Pray for Annalee Wills who was moved into a Hospice unit last week.
• Pray for Ken and Judy Garner’s grandson, Mike.  Mike is staying with Ken and Judy during his recovery.
• Pray healing grace and power for Jim Ditton as he battles stomach cancer and other complicating health issues. 
• Pray for Brenda and John Guffey.  Brenda’s seizures have not yet been controlled by the implant she received a couple months ago, and John is in need of steady employment.
• Pray for those who have recently committed their lives to Christ, and also for the many prodigals who have yet to find their way home to Jesus. 
• Pray God’s healing grace and peace for Kathy Fryman.
• Pray for Kim Miller.  Kim has completed her rounds of treatment and is healing up from many weeks of chemo and radiation.   
• Pray grace for our currently homebound friends and those in assisted living: Masel York, Lois Smith Fugitt, Linnie Moorefield (Spencer, Indiana), Jackie Logue, Loy & Patsy Sutton, and Annalee Wills.

PRAY FOR BREAKTHROUGH  With thanksgiving, pray for encouragement, wisdom and spiritual breakthrough:

• Pray for the financial needs of our church.  Through November, we are about $30,000 behind last year’s giving (year to date).  We need to have a very strong month of giving in December in order to meet our financial obligations and to end the year in good financial health.   
• Pray for our ministry teams and commissions as they plan for and oversee the ministries of our church.
• Pray for our Finance Team and Official Board as they seek God’s wisdom, direction, and priorities for ministry for the new year. 
• Pray for the ministry of LYN House and for Heidi Lyda, the new Director of LYN (Love Your Neighbor) House.
• Pray employment for all those in our fellowship who are seeking work to provide for their households.
• Pray generosity in our giving.  EVERYONE please participate EVERY Sunday in honoring God in your giving.
• Pray for a breakthrough in our nation’s economic downturn   and for those who have been negatively impacted.  Pray wisdom for our Nation’s leaders as they put together plans to improve and reform our health care system.
• Pray encouragement for our Missionaries David and Sherrill Yardy as they coordinate mission outreach throughout Asia, and for Michael and Maria Long as they coordinate mission and outreach work in Greece and the Balkans. Get continuously-updated news and prayer requests regarding our Free Methodist missionaries at www.fmwm.org/missionary.
• Pray for personal renewal in your passion for God and for spiritual breakthrough for those who are not experiencing God in their daily lives.
   
   
  CHRISTMAS CAROLING Join us on Wednesday, December 16 for an evening of Christmas Caroling. We will gather in the Lower Level at 6:30 pm and then we will split into groups to carol through the neighborhood.  We will reconvene in Lower Level for hot-coco and a dessert at 7:30 pm. Please bring a dessert to share with others. All Wednesday night activities will be canceled due to this All-Church Christmas Caroling.

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP CELEBRATION Please join us for a special Sunday morning worship hour this Sunday, December  20th at 10:30 am. During this time we will be preparing our hearts and minds for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
SCAMPS FOOD DRIVE The SCAMPS Holiday Food Drive is well on its way.  With your donation we have not had to turn anyone away this month. The food drive will continue until January 3rd.  Thank you very much for your donations and blessing to the people of this neighborhood.
 
CHRISTMAS BASKETS For many years we have partnered with Simms Cabinet to deliver food baskets to families in need. This year we submitted 20 families to receive these baskets and all 20 were accepted. Now we need volunteers to deliver these baskets to the 20 families on Thursday, December 24 at 9:00 am. Due to the sizes of the families most deliveries will have 2 boxes, which normally take up a back seat of a car. This is a great opportunity to serve others in need. Please call 632-8311 or e-mail wemofmc@sbcglobal.net to sign up.
 
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE December 24 @ 6 pm. This is the focal point of all our Advent preparations.  The Christmas Eve Service features special instrumental and vocal music. If you would like to sing or perform with others in this service, contact Candi Morgan. This service includes a candlelight carol sing.  We light the Christ Candle of the Advent Wreath and proclaim anew the story of God's love become Incarnate in Jesus -- the babe born in Bethlehem's manger as the Savior of the world.  All welcome!  Invite friends & family to join us on this holy night.

REV. KEN GARNER PREACHING Pastor Mike, Debbie, and family will be out of town on Sunday, December 27. During their absence, Ken Garner will be preaching in our Morning Worship Celebration Service.

YOUTH ICE SKATING The youth will travel to Pan Am Plaza on December 29 at 10:45 am to go ice skating. The cost of this activity is $7.00. We will return to the Underground at 1:30 pm.

CAMPUS CRUSDAE CHRISTMAS OUTREACH On Wednesday, December 30, approximately 75-100 college students will be fanning out into our community to share Love Boxes and the good news of Jesus with our neighbors. Pray for this outreach efforts. Every year these students have the opportunity to witness to and pray with many people who do not know Jesus.

NEW YEAR’S EVE SERVICE & FELLOWSHIP  We’ll ring in the New Year with a Celebration of Praise on December 31 at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary and then begin an evening of fun and fellowship for all in the Lower Level at 8:00 pm.  Bring board games and snacks to share throughout the evening.
 
2010 OFFERING ENVELOPES Offering envelopes will be in your church mailbox this Sunday. There will be extra Offering Envelope Boxes located in the foyer on December 27th.
 
CHURCH MAILBOXES The WEMO Mailboxes have been updated. Make sure to stop by and empty your mailboxes periodically. Christmas Cards are beginning to fill the boxes. If for any reason you see a name missing please let the office know so we can quickly get it added. 
 
SOCIETY MEETING Our Annual Society Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 10th, following the morning worship service.  Our 2010 budget will be presented along with other plans for the new year.