The Weekly Visitor -- Online Edition

From the Minister's Desk

My class has been studying Lee Stoubel's book, "The Case For Faith." This is the second of his books that we have studied over the past nine months. Under the heading "God Makes Sense of the Universe's Complexity" he quotes some scientific experts. For example: "British physicist P.C.W. Davies has concluded the odds against the initial conditions being suitable for the formation of stars- a necessity for planets and thus life- is one followed by at least a thousand billion billion zeroes." Aren't those numbers beyond comprehension? They go beyond my mind. I can imagine a couple zeroes and maybe even seven or eight zeroes, but when you get beyond that I cannot imagine what they are. A trillion dollars is beyond my thinking and yet we as Americans are in debt much more than that.

But there are some numbers that I can imagine. It is easy to imagine one or two zeroes. Even children use one or two zeroes in their thinking. Since I work for DTCC, I like to think in terms of our congregation. If five people brought five visitors with them that would increase the total number to 10. We have added one zero already. If 50 people brought an additional 50 people we would increase the total to 100. That is two zeros. Now if that happened, we would have to start another service to accommodate everyone and then the process starts all over again. We can grow numerically just by adding zeros. I realize that we aren't talking a billion billion zeros, but then we also aren't trying to create the heavens and the earth. So we have a much easier task by just bringing another person with us this Sunday. See how easy it is to grow! By the way, between the morning worship service and the SALT service we had 360 people in worship services last week.

Think about how you can do your part to add a zero to the attendance as we worship together this Sunday. See you then.

Your Pastor

Our love and sympathy is expressed to the family of George Acred who passed away last Tuesday. Graveside services were held Friday. Cards may be sent to Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Acred at Allen Morgan Health Center, 177 N Highland, 38111.

I would like to express my appreciation for all of the concern shown during Hunter’s hospitalization. Your prayers and concern have helped us through a very difficult time.

Thanks to Bob Keith and Wayne Climer for coming over and repairing my ramp. It is greatly appreciated! I’m sure everyone coming into my house will appreciate it also. I love all of my church family. Mary Jean Morris

I would like to take this time to thank each of you for the prayers, calls and cards during the recent loss of my grand-mother. Scott, I especially want to thank you for the sweet memorial service which you gave. I would also like to thank my Sunday School class and all those who helped prepare and serve the lunch after the funeral. It is comforting to know that we have such a thoughtful, caring and loving church family.

We wish to thank Dave Luechauer and Rod Kitterman for cleaning and waxing the new floor in the Activity Building. It really looks good.

Sweetheart Banquet Sat., February 10 at 6:30 p.m. Dinner and dancing to the #1 local swing band – Sugar Water. Hope you’ve made plans to be there!

February 14^th at 6 p.m. in the Christian Family Center starts our 12 week session of food and fellowship. On Valentine’s Day there will be a lasagna dinner prepared with cheesecake for dessert. For your entertainment a musical ensemble of Paula Mitchell, Chuck Fitzgerald, Mable Parks, Bill and Laura Huff will be performing.

On February 21, Johnny Wray, Administrative Director of Week of Compassion, will be our guest speaker. Pot-luck will be the dinner. All presented by the Outreach Department. Everything starts at 6 p.m.

Cost for the dinners this year are as follows: $5 per adult, $3 per child ages 5-12 and children 4 and under free.

Make reservations on Sunday mornings following church service or contact Ada Person at the church office to sign up.

Don’t forget picture settings Feb. 9 & 10, 13 & 14. Look for your reminder cards in the mail this week.

The Children's Choirs (Alpha and Phi) will be starting back next Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 6:30 p.m. We will eat dinner at 6 p.m. in the CFC and then be dismissed around 6:30 to sing. Mr. Bill Huff, our choir director, will be with us. We have some exciting music to learn, especially for Easter. We look forward to seeing your smiling faces on Wednesday.

The Keenagers will have a pot-luck luncheon on February 14 at 11:15 a.m. in the CFC. We hope you can join us!

Two massive earthquakes have brought catastrophic destruction and suffering in El Salvador and India. Nearly 1000 people were killed in El Salvador from the January 13 quake and some 75,000 homes were destroyed and another 100,000 damaged. In India the official death toll from the January 26 quake is 6,000 but it is feared the final count could be 3 or 4 times that many. The city of Bhuj, population 150,000, has been destroyed.

In both countries, strong local church partners are already engaged in major relief and recovery projects. In coordination with Action by Churches Together and Church World Service, our partners are distributing emergency food, water, medicine, shelter and tools; providing much needed pastoral care and trauma counseling; and planning for long term reconstruction work. Week of Compassion has already rushed nearly $40,000 in emergency grants and is pledging at least $100,000 for quake relief, recovery and reconstruction.

Your prayers and support for the people of El Salvador and India are needed. Designated contributions can be made to Week of Compassion and marked for the Compassion Response Fund. All such gifts will be used in their entirety for earthquake response.