Was Sunday a great day or what? A full classroom, a full worship service, and a full belly among friends. Does it get much better than that? We had a great picnic at the Adkins house…it has been much too long since we had a social and I forgot how much fun they are. Bill and Debra, thanks so much for opening your home to our class family! The kids seemed to have had a blast, and it was a reminder of how many good cooks we have in this group. I hope we all start getting together more often like that because it is a great atmosphere for us to get to know our new friends that are coming into our family and a chance to catch up on our long time friends. If you were not there, please know that we missed your company and look forward to spending time with you at the next gathering. And speaking of the next gathering, has anyone started making plans for a Christmas Party….anyone want to step up and accept the role as our social coordinator? Let Gary and the class know if you have a heart for this ministry.

What a blessing it is to see new faces coming into our classroom! It is even more of a blessing that some of our guests have come more than once [which means I have not run them off....yet!]. If you have a chance, please take a moment to introduce yourself and welcome our new families that were with us this past Sunday:

The Sunday School lesson this week was titled “Live in Relationship, not Rebellion” based on Isiah 1:2-4, 10-20. In life, we have only two directions to go and each direction comes with a set of consequences — living in a right relationship with God or living in sinful rebellion. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. When we choose to live in a right relationship with God, we are able to live in the peace that we are experiencing the meaningful & abundant life that God intended for us. If we choose the path of rebellion, we are simply deserting our loving Father for a life of sin. In right relationship, we experience the fullness of who God is and He is able to continue the work He started in us which is to be a reflection of His son to this lost and lonely world. With rebellion, He leaves us to our own way that will ultimately lead to His judgment. Many people profess God and worship Him with their lips publicly, but they never reach a point where they allow God’s instructions to affect their daily lives at work or in their personal relationships. We cannot have a right relationship with our Lord until we start allowing our Sunday worship time change our Monday workplace behavior. God will bless us in many ways when we commit to a right & growing relationship with Him where we live in reverent fear of Him, walk in His ways, love Him, and worship Him with our lives and lifestyles.

Brother James sermon was titled “A Well of a Story” taken from John 4:1-13 based on the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. The message was that we need to develop a passion to reach out to the lost world using Christ’s example at the well. That passion must include:

1. A decision not to get bogged down by minor details. Jesus walked away when the argument began about who was baptizing more people - him or John the Baptist - He walked away because there was no kingdom significance to the argument. We also need to avoid meaningless discussion on minor details so we can focus on the mission at hand — reaching out to the lost in our community. As body of Christ, we need to follow Jesus’ example and major on the major things and minor on the minor things.
2. We need to be willing to take detours into uncomfortable places. Jesus was taking a great “earthly risk” by traveling through Samaria and great social risk as a Rabbi speaking to a woman…especially a Samaritan woman who was living a sinful lifestyle. It is important to remember that most people who need Jesus will never go to a church to find Him….that woman did not find Jesus, He found her…just as He found each of us! We need to look for those who need to hear the Good News by taking divine detours, deliberate detours, and sometimes even dangerous & uncomfortable detours.
3. Finally, we need to be willing to make a declaration to God which states “help me to see and seize the opportunities You give me to share my faith everyday”. Only then will you truly be ready to share the living water that springs forth in you with the dry and thirsty world around you!

The greatest quote of the day came during the evening service when Brother James reminded us that “no matter who appears to be in charge, God is always in control”. Whether it was the Israelites in slavery in Egypt, the Christians under persecution in the Roman empire, or you today being tormented by a bad boss, bad relationships, or any other bad situation, it is great to claim this phrase and remember that though that person or authority may seem to be in charge, they are not really in control. I find that very liberating to know the people that seek to bring me harm or make me miserable are not really in control and God will take charge to deal with them in His own time.

Isn’t great to know that our Lord is in charge and we do not need to be in charge of anything except worshiping Him as Lord and Savior? He alone is trustworthy and worthy of our praise and He will work all things to our good and we can claim the following verse as we seek to trust Him with our everything:
• Proverbs 3:5-6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
Please keep all of the following prayer needs and requests lifted up for your Sunday School Class Family. Our God does answer our prayers so make sure you take time this week to intercede for your spiritual family. Have a blessed and Spirit filled week!

** SPECIAL NOTICES **
• Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Time - November 5-15. Brochures are available in the Welcome Center, see Milissa Butcher if you have any questions.
• Desoto Hills T-Shirts - for sale in the church office, sample is in the office along with order forms. Cost is $10, available until November 15. See Tracy Hunter if you have any questions.
• Membership Roll - there is an updated member roll on the Welcome Center table in the Grand Hall. The list was compiled from the commitment cards turned in by those moving from Carriage Hills, as well as those who have joined since coming to Getwell. Please check the list and contact the church office if your name is missing.
SOCIALS & CHURCH CALENDAR
• November 11 - Children’s Western Banquet from 6-8 pm for K-5th grade. Sign up sheet is located on the table in the Welcome Center
• November 11 & 12 - John Yates [ventriloquist] and Friends
• November 19 - Dedication Service at 3:00 pm
• Youth Praise and Worship - 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall for 7-12th graders
• Youth Choir - 5 pm Wednesday’s
• 6th Grade Choir - 5:15 pm Wednesday’s
• GA’s & RA’s & Mission Friends - 6 pm Wednesday’s
• Prayer Time - for adults with the pastor at 6 pm Wednesday’s in the Prayer Tower
• Children’s Choir [1st to 5th grades] - 6:30 pm Wednesday’s
• Pre-School Choir [4 & 5 year olds] - 6:30 pm Wednesday’s
• BOOST - Mid Week Youth Service 6:30 pm Wednesday’s in the Attic
• Power-Aide - 6:30 pm Wednesday’s - a mid-week spiritual boost for adults with curriculum based classes for equipping the saints for the work of the ministry through spiritual maturity

PRAISES [Our God is good....ALL THE TIME!!!!]
• Kelley Benson/brother Kevin - God is good! Her brother was moved last Thursday into the Desoto Care Facility next to Baptist Desoto. The family can now easily stop by and check on him, pray over him, monitor his care, and just spend time with him. This is truly an answer to prayer and a reminder that God does hear and works things out in His good time. To God, be all glory and praise for His answer to this prayer!! Thanks to all of you who have been praying for Kevin and we ask that you continue to keep him and all of our family in prayer.
• James & Susan Lusk - praise that James work schedule now allows their family to be back in church and that he will be finished with school in April. It is great to have your family back!
• Michael Albers - praise that the Lord is already opening doors for him to change job positions at FedEx that will allow him the freedom to spend more time with his family. He had a positive 3 hour meeting the Strategic Planning department and meets next week with the Corporate Auditing team. Pray the Lord will continue to open doors and allow Michael to network with the right people so that he will find a position that will allow him to have more time being the dad and husband his family wants and needs him to be.
• Dee Church - the stress and snapping at one another is improving at home. Pray that the Lord will wrap His arms around their home and bring the peace they desire so they can show each other how much they love one another.
• Bob Benson in appreciation for Brad Dickey - last Friday, Brad got off early from work and drove home from North Carolina just to take his sons to their last football games of the season. He then turned around and drove back to North Carolina on Sunday to be at work Monday. What a praise that he put himself through that trip just to let his kids know how important they are to him. You’re a good dad Brad…even if you did score lower than anybody else in history on the empathy exam!
HEALTH CARE PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES
• Heather Schreiner/Mom - her Mom has been diagnosed with cancer and doctors are concerned that it may be more serious than what they had first suspected. Pray that the Lord will comfort the family and that the next series of tests will help the doctors with the right diagnosis and God given course of treatment that will lead to healing.
• Jay Hasselman - Mom is having pain in her hip that has kept her in bed for 3 weeks, doctors cannot find out what is wrong. She is a teacher and is trying to decide if she should retire or not.
• Debra Adkins for Tim Vickers- Tim’s test show that there is nothing wrong with his liver [Praise!] but they still are not sure what is causing his illness and there is still the possibility that it is a hereditary problem that may require that he be put on the liver transplant list at some point.
• Dee Church/Blac - doctors have found a thyroid problem and will have to monitor closely
• Gwen Cain - her cousin Phyllis is on dialysis and has been placed on the Kidney & Pancreas transplant list
• Kelley Benson, brother Kevin Gunn - Continue to pray that God’s hands will astonish the medical professionals with a full and miraculous recovery from his coma.
• Jeff Cain - Kenny Garrison, Roger Cryer, Larry Jolly [uncle], Aunt Margie Lackey, and Susan Nunn all have cancer

PRAYER NEEDS
• Lucy Hasselman - prayer that the elections will place people of God in office who support our schools with the tools they need to create a safe and thriving learning environment
• Gary Blaylock/sister & family - prayer for his brother in-law & sister [Chris & Dusty Malone], he has been offered a six figure early buy-out from the military but only has 10 years to retirement when he would be guaranteed $40,000 year pension. Sister wants to get family closer to home so they are really struggling with this decision. Pray that God will give them wisdom to know what is best.
• Gary Blaylock - prayer for Aimee and their marriage with some struggles she is going through related to her dad an how his health may effect hers
• Gary Blaylock - prayer for the class as we grow, that we will minister to those in our class family
• Susan Lusk - teaches algebra to 17 year olds at Center Hill, many who have failed multiple times and are apathetic to even trying. She is not getting any support in her parent contacts and is very frustrated with her position. She is asking for prayer for survival through the school year because she knows the second half of the year will be even worse than the first.
• Gary Blaylock/Paul & Susan Palmer - Jimmy has been declared ineligible to play basketball at Hernando this year and this has caused a great deal of heartache and confusion for the family on what to do next. Pray that God will comfort them with his peace and guide them with His wisdom to know what is best, not just what is right or wrong.
• Cathy Chandler - please continue to keep Jeri Hunter lifted up.
• Sonja Dickey - seeking to change jobs, pray the Lord will open doors for her
• Derek Chandler - prayer for Cathy who has been stressing about acceptance to nursing school

SPECIAL NEEDS FOR THE CHURCH
• FAITH TEAMS - includes Gary Blaylock, Deanna Gray, and Leigh Ann Baker from our class family - prayer that they will make an impact on the community and prayer for ease in the learning process

SALVATION FOR FRIENDS & FAMILY
• Bob Benson - Neel Rideout/business partner
• Kelley Benson - whole family + Bryan Petrich/Brother- in-law
• Paul Palmer - Margaret Ann Ferrez/Sister
• Susan Palmer - too many to narrow to one name
• Aimee Blaylock - too many to narrow to one name
• Gary Blaylock - Mike Mullins/Step Dad
• Leigh Ann Baker - extended family/in laws
• Dewayne Eddington - close friends, family, & co-workers
• Dee Church - Jeff/husband
• Kristi Rikard - Dennis/Brother in Law
• Lori Gilbert - Bud’s family
• Cathy Chandler - Candice & Joey/her sister & brother
• Norma Morreale - Russ & Joanna/Dominick’ s Dad and his girlfriend

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone”
I Timothy 2:1