Women's Bible Study
The women's Bible Study that has been held on
Tuesday evenings is being
temporarily suspended.
We hope to resume in February, 2008.
The Sweet Smell of Nighttime
That’s a borrowed line from a song by Robert Earl Keen
(nope, he doesn’t have an “e” at the end of his name).
Today I looked around in church, and marveled at how such a small congregation
can represent so many corners of the world.
There are people from Africa and Southeast Asia.
There are folks from different parts of the USA, and I’ve heard testimonies from visitors from Israel, Europe, and elsewhere.
Sometimes I question why I drive all the way to Leesburg for a really small church.
Well, it wasn’t my decision. As Pastor Lyman says, it’s no coincidence we are there on Sunday mornings at 10 am.
The sweet smell of nighttime…
I just heard a low rumble of thunder and now a gentle rain is falling on the parched grass. This summer went by so fast. Is it just a byproduct of getting older, or is time really speeding up? Did I take Kayci to the pool enough, while the weather was hot? Did I remind myself, God told me to become a farrier, when I was walking around the rec yard track in prison, agonizing over what to do when I was released?
Did I remember to thank Him, when I made over one thousand dollars in one week, then a week later I made only one hundred sixty-five dollars?
The sweet smell of nighttime…
summer is on the wane, and I hear my beloved katydids,
singing their sandpapery ratcheting call back and forth in the trees.
That’s God.
He gave those funny-looking bright-green insects a song
to soothe me when I can’t sleep.
~Tom Dukes
A Word
It's time. It's time church!
It's time for you to walk under God's open heaven.
It's time for you to take your place.
It's time for you to receive that which you have been
waiting, believing, and standing for.
But, you have to do something.
Stop waiting for these things to just be handed to you.
You must do something to show God that you are serious.
If it is evangelizing, then do it!
If it's writing a book, then write it!
If it's studying, then study!
If it's a song, then sing it!
By our actions we will either walk under the open heaven, or we will stand at the edge.
Cheryl Hajdasz
New Year's Eve
Fellowship, Praise, & Prayer
What better way to welcome in a new year, than by coming together to worship our
God and Creator?
We'll begin with fellowship at 9:00PM at the church.
Bring a dessert or beverage to share
(we'll provide coffee, tea, and hot chocolate).
We'll then proceed to worship and "pray in" the New Year.
Be prepared to share a word from the Lord, and to hear what God is saying for 2007.
Can You Help?
A Christmas party and dinner will be held on Saturday December 23rd at the firehouse on Plaza Street for the residents of Meadow Glen and Heritage Square. Dinner will be served from 5:30--8:30PM, and gifts will be given to the children. We need volunteers to help with: setup (3:30PM), baking home-made Christmas cookies, provide a salad or vegetable, help with face-painting and crafts, sitting at the tables and sharing with the guests, purchase gifts ($20.00 or comparable toy for children up to age 12), clean up after. Your assistance with any (or all) of these would be greatly appreciated! Please help in spreading the message of the season. For details, see Jackie.
Ideas Requested
If you have any ideas, comments, critiques, etc. for or about our website, please drop them in the offering basket, email them, or jot them down and give them to Brian. Any suggestions are gratefully welcomed! Ideas for the bulletin can also be sent in (by Thursdays). Please let us know.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
We will come together to worship at 5:00PM on Sunday, December 24th. Join us for our annual Christmas Eve candlelight service as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! (Please note, there will NOT be 10:00AM service on this Sunday)
Directory Update
We are in the process of updating our membership directory. We would like to have all the information compiled within the next few weeks; that way we can get a new directory into your hands by the start of the new year. Inside the bulletin (there are additional forms on the back table) there is a small form for your family's information. Kindly fill the form out, and drop it into the offering basket.
Harvest Party
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make Youth Sunday on October 22, 2006, such a success! The service was powerful, and a tremendous blessing. The Harvest Party at the Freedom Center was a lot of fun. We wound up with perfect weather, a good turn-out, and PLENTY to eat. It's often said that today's young people are tomorrow's leaders--after seeing our young people in action, we can be quite confident about tomorrow. A special thank you goes to Steve Major for being an excellent chauffeur for the hay rides on the Freedom Center grounds. Who knew that when you combine a tractor, a trailer, and some hay bales you could have your own private amusement park ride!
A Loss
We received word on October 16th from Leslie in Malawi that Maxwell's sister-in-law, Beatrice Guta, passed away unexpectedly on October 14th. Beatrice was the wife of the late Lovemore Guta, who had ministered at our church several years ago. The exact cause of her death is unknown, but she was suffering from extreme circulation problems. Her three youngest children are living with Leslie and Maxwell, and her oldest daughter is living with her grandmother in Guta Village. Please keep the children, Leslie, Maxwell, and the entire Guta family in your prayers.
Day of Fasting & Prayer
The Elijah Gate Christian Center is a member of the Loudoun Church Alliance. As a signatory to this organization, we have agreed to "...secure our County borders through orchestrated prayer with fasting..." Our monthly obligation for a day of prayer and fasting falls on Thursday, October 26. We ask all who are able to fast for the day. Remember, a fast is between you and our Father, and is therefore done privately (see Matthew 6: 16-18.) Also, to end the day, please join us for corporate prayer at 7:30PM at the church.
Copies of Service Available
Copies of the Sunday church service will be available on CD, for a nominal cost of $3.00 for the set (Praise & Worship and the Sermon), or $2.00 each. Write your request on the form on the back table. Your copies will be available on the following Sunday.
