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NEWS

Stay completely up-to-date by regularly visiting The Orchard's Calendar of Events at: www.theorchardfranklin.com

Come join us for dinner and a movie complete with a Sub Sandwich & Ice Cream Bar on August 29th at 5:00 PM. Please sign up Sunday to bring a part of our Sub Sandwich Bar and/or Ice Cream Bar. We will follow it up with an entertaining movie and, of course, Great Fellowship!

Shoes for Orphan Souls: It's hard for most of us to imagine how a new pair of shoes can make such and impact. But for children living in desperate circumstances, this simple act of kindness is life changing. When caring strangers visit an orphanage to deliver new shoes and sock, it can brighten the darkest day. For the first time, children aren't just hearing about God's love - they're seeing it in action. And thay can change souls for eternity.

For several years we have helped to support Shoes for Orphan Souls in conjunction with Dave and Marilyn Knight's car wash drive and we want to do that again. You are asked to bring new children's shoes and/or socks to church on August 30 to help make a difference in children's soles and souls.

Volunteers needed to clean the church for the months of September - December. We ask that each family or group sign up for one month. A list of what needs to be cleaned and all the cleaning products are supplied. If you would be willing to clean any of the open months, please contact Pastor Anita ASAP.

Attention Children: On Sunday August 30 we will be opening the Ticket Store. Don't forget to bring your tickets to "buy" all kinds of fun things.

Ladies, please don't forget that we are in need of volunteers in preparation for the Women's Conference in October. If you would be willing to serve in the set-up/clean-up of refreshment and breakfast, telemarketing, poster and flyer distribution, welcome/greeting or post conference clean-up, please email Pastor Anita to volunteer.

We have been blessed with more visitors and hope that will increase even more as we move into fall. Would you please leave the front parking spaces for our guests, those with small children and those who might need assistance. Parking is available in the back lot, the Post Office and the Oil Stop.

Make plans to attend Acts 2:42 as we continue the study entitled "God Will Make a Way".

The Ladies Prayer Group meets Wednesday at 9:15 a.m and the Men's Prayer Group meets Thursday at 6:30 a.m. at The Orchard Ministry Center.

Mark your calendars for the following events:

Aug 26- Women's Prayer Time
Aug 27 - Men's Prayer Time
Aug 29 - Dinner & a Movie
Aug 30 - Shoes for Orphan Souls
Aug 30 - Children's Ticket Store
Oct 2-3 - Women's Conference

Click Here...

for a full Calendar of Events

August 22-28, 2009

weekly word logo

Mystery

“The secret things belong t
the Lord our God…"
~ Deuteronomy 29:29)~

We know from the second half of this verse that God has revealed many things about Himself and His plan for us – for that we are grateful. Every truth and word revealed in Scripture is precious and given to us for the sake of obedience (30:11-14). Are we as grateful for the things which God has concealed? There is what Moses calls “the secret things.” Not everything that is true of God or our lives has been revealed. There are mysteries.

Often our prayers are centered in breaking through these mysteries. James counsels us to ask for wisdom because God is generous and wants to give it (James 1:5). Paul prays for the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18). Our quest for the knowledge, insight and wisdom of the Lord must be balanced with the relinquishment of our need to know everything. Humility calls us to let go of our greed for perfect knowledge. Because we don’t always have the mind of God, our prayers must include two great elements prayed in equilibrium: believing strongly and asking submissively. As one church father says, “we should present our request with one hand holding up ‘Thus saith the Lord’ and the other hand holding up ‘The will of the Lord be done.’”

Mystery calls us to trust God with what He reveals to us and the timing of His revelation. Part of faith is trusting God to reveal what we need to know when we need to know it. There may be some things that we don’t need to know. There may be other things that we don’t need to know right now, but later.

As disciples of Jesus we are called to complete trust in a reliable God who cares for us in our knowing and in our unknowing. “The more comfortable we are with mystery in our journey, the more rest we will know along the way” (John Eldredge). Come before the Lord with your requests – believe strongly and ask submissively. God wants to grant us the rest that comes through trusting Him.

For Greater Gratitude in All Things,

Weekly Financial Report

Weekly Need $4,829
Last Week's Giving $4,206 (Tithe $3,586/Faith Prom. $620)
Over/Under -$623

YTD Actual Weekly Giving Average $5,731
YTD Weekly Average Over/Under $902
YTD Total Over/Under $29,753

This Week's Prayer Focus

Sunday - Praise God for the Children's Ministry team and
pray for them as they nurture our children.

Monday - Praise God for your home and family.

Tuesday - Pray for Lion of Judah Ministry.

Wednesday - Pray for God to clearly lead The Orchard as we mov
into the fall. May we seek God's will in all situations.

Thursday - Pray for the Women's Conference in October, those who will lead
those who will come and those who are planning and preparing.

Friday - Praise God for a place to worship and a church family to worship with.

Saturday - Pray for hearts ready to worship tomorrow.

www.TheOrchard.cc