Beach Party Saturday :-)

Ken and Tami Beach are coming for a short visit this week to do some maintenance on their house as it still remains up for sale. To assist them in their efforts, any one who is interested and available is invited to a work party to assist them on Saturday, April 4th at their house starting at 10 am. Bring cleaning supplies, yard tools (mowers, weed eaters, pruners, etc), and let's all give them a hand.

Also, since they don't have any furniture or utensils here, let's plan on having a picnic potluck for lunch. Bring all your favorite dishes (both the kind you eat and the kind you eat off of) and we can fellowship while "roughing it".

The Beach Homestead is located at 16104 Mountain View Drive, Mount Vernon.

If you have questions or need directions call Rodney Blunt at 360.757.3608.
Thanks and see you there.

Sunday Notes

Lannix Santos is planning to move to California at the end of March until he can get his job situation worked out. Next Sunday, March 29, we will be having a special collection for Lannix to help cover his expenses related to his trip down there. Please keep Lannix in your prayers as he prepares for this move and that he'll be back with us soon.

Prayer Request from Cathi Adams: "My mother, Ann Dale, had some tests done last week that indicate her cancer has returned to her spine or back. She will have an MRI tomorrow; pray for her to have peace and comfort."

Prayer Request from the Williamsons: "For Robb, Kamalyn, & kids as they travel today from Albuquerque, NM to Dallas."

From Karla Williamson: "For Becky's mom, Alma Jones, who is at Urgent Care this morning, probably to rule out pneumonia and for Billy O'Brient who has colon cancer."

From Lydia Williamson: "Pray for the home school moms and dads."

From John & Trish Gaines: "Our friend Barbara Eggart in Florida has emailed a prayer request that we remember her daughter Connie in Virginia who will be having open-heart surgery tomorrow."

Sunday Notes

We had a good morning -- several visitors (who are always appreciated at Skagit Valley!)

Darlene Stuber responded to the invitation this morning, asking for prayers and forgiveness. We appreciate her desire to live her life the way the Lord wants.

Prayer requests:

"All pray for Lannix, that he will be able to continue to stay here in Burlington and find work."

"Silas Burke is home with a pretty severe case of one of the childhood rashes (measles or chicken pox, according to the doctor)." Candy Hobbs

"We welcomed a new granddaughter to our family on Tuesday, February 24: Jaylie Kamiya Avance." Judy Hill

"Jim & Ann Pollock want to thank the church for your prayers on Ava's behalf. She is better, but has a long way to full recovery."

"Jim & Ruth Lake, Elmer & Martha, All of our ill; all we need to remember daily, Mother [Evelyn] Hill and the Hill family; Leta from her fall, to heal rapidly"

"Please pray for my foster daughter Mariah as she is in the hospital" Darlene Stuber

"Prayer Requests: For Ruth Lake as she's not feeling well; the Juntenens; For Paula Williamson as her grandmother passed away Friday; Cathi Adams. Thank You." Karla Williamson

"Laurie Woodrow in Georgia needs prayers for health and financial reasons. She is a friend of Rentz and Jean."

A Thank-You Note:
"Thank you every one who gave food. It is going to be such a blessing for those who need it" -- Olivia Blunt

Announcements:

Next Sunday is our monthly potluck fellowship. Please make plans to join us.

Remember the time change to Daylight Savings Time next Saturday night. Set your clock ahead one hour before you go to bed so you won't be late on Sunday morning.

Monday night has been designated Skagit Valley Night at the Gospel Meeting taking place at the Portal Way Church of Christ in Ferndale. We will be leaving the building at 6 p.m., so be here a few minutes before that if you want to go with the group. The service begins at 7 p.m. for anyone going directly to Ferndale.

Thursday Morning Class

We were brought back to a rude remembrance of winter with the storm that rolled into western Washington Wednesday afternoon. At the church building Thursday morning, we have about an inch of snow on grassy areas, but the roads seem to be in good condition. There might be some icy spots so drivers need to use appropriate caution. However, television reports indicate that some roads in other places are slippery and dangerous. The bottom line for us is that we are going ahead with Thursday morning Daytimers' Class as scheduled, but advising anyone interested in coming to be cautious and use good judgment about whether or not travel is safe for you.

Wednesday night prayer requests --

1) Ava Pollack (Brett and Jessica's daughter) -- pneumonia

2) Martha and Elmer Juntenen

3) Evelyn Hill

4) Kathi Adams

5) Karla Williamson's neighbor, Teresa

6) Karla Williamson

7) Children injured in a bus accident earlier in the week at Abigail Todd's school

8) Leta Pollack - had a fall

9) Patricia Hill

10) Judy Hill - new grandchild (her son Justin's baby)

11) Homeschoolers and their parents

Darwin Day Debate Broadcast Online

Today (February 12, 2009) is the 200th birthday of both Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. As part of an effort to celebrate "Darwin Day," the University of South Carolina is hosting a debate on the existence of God. Disputants will be Dan Barker, a former charismatic preacher turned atheist who now serves as co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Kyle Butt, a gospel preacher, author, and lecturer who works with Apologetics Press. The Barker-Butt Debate will be broadcast live on the internet today at 7 p.m. (eastern time; 4 p.m. pacific time). The direct link to the debate is http://www.justin.tv/darwindaydebate . Further information from Apologetics press can be found here.

Sunday Prayer Notes

Please pray for Tom Granger, a friend of Joe Williamson, who had a stroke last week.

Praise that Karla Williamson's sister Rhonda's ultrasound showed the baby looks healthy.

Pray for all the unemployed and those whose jobs may be in danger.

Pray for Darren Williamson and his family for decisions being made about employment in the near future. Darren is a teacher at Cascade College in Portland, Oregon which is closing at the end of the spring semester.

Please pray for Cathi Adams, who will be having knee surgery Tuesday. She will be spending the rest of the week with her mother.

Looking Ahead to Sunday

I'm spending my last night in Alabama before getting up early in the morning to head for the airport. I'll be back in Washington tomorrow night.

The week at the Freed-Hardeman Lectures was outstanding. Most of the lectures I heard dealt with the book of Psalms, although there was a variety of presentations on a variety of texts and topics. I'll be saying more about the FHU lectures for weeks, I'm sure.

Remember Sunday is the 2nd Sunday so we will be having a potluck lunch after our morning services. Then, starting Sunday, we're beginning something new. After we have to clean up and rearrange the "fellowship hall" back into the "auditorium," we will have an afternoon singing. This will be starting somewhere between 1:30 and 2:00 and will last approximately an hour. Other than a short devotional and a couple of prayers, the entire time will be devoted to praising the Lord in song. There will not be an evening service at 6 p.m.

So, the Lord willing, I'll see all our Skagit Valley friends and brethren Sunday morning. Come at 9:30 for Bible class. The adult class continues its study of New Testament Churches. Sunday we're still studying the church at Corinth; we'll pay attention mainly to 1 Corinthians chapters 8 and 10 as we deal with the problem of paganism.