Dear Church Family,

Another sobering week as we received the grievous reports of the Las Vegas shooting.  Prayers are needed for the thousands who experienced the horror of that night on the streets of Vegas.  In the following quote we find a clear description of life today.

There is coming rapidly and surely an almost universal guilt upon the inhabitants of the cities because of the steady increase of determined wickedness. We are living in the midst of an “epidemic of crime” at which thoughtful, God-fearing men everywhere stand aghast. The corruption that prevails is beyond the power of the human pen to describe. Every day brings fresh revelations of political strife, bribery, and fraud; every day brings its heartsickening record of violence and lawlessness, of indifference to human suffering; of brutal, fiendish destruction of human life. Every day testifies to the increase of insanity, murder, and suicide.   9T 89

Indeed it was encouraging to read the story of the work of these two young ladies who worked the city streets of Vegas that evening and then left to go eat and stay at the church.  It reminds us of the important council with regards to working the cities:

The cities are to be worked from outposts. Said the messenger of God, “Shall not the cities be warned? Yes; not by God’s people living in them, but by their visiting them, to warn them of what is coming upon the earth.”—Letter 182, 1902.

In the news:

1. This Sabbath I will share the morning message with a look at the story of Elisha and the Woman of Shunem.
2. The Zimmerman team will be hosting fellowship lunch this week.
3. AYA will be at 6PM this week and will feature the dramatic historical portrayal of the Millerite movement and the beginning of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
4. This Monday evening we will have Finance committee at 6pm and church board at 7:15pm at the church.
5. Dinner with the Doctor will be this coming Tuesday evening at 6:30pm at the church. Please call to register. The presentation will feature the topic of Thyroid Health.
6. Remember that it is now time to round up your friends and neighbors for the Diabetes Undone program beginning Oct 17 and running through to November 9. Contact Rhoda Kanna to register.
7. Our evangelism subcommittee met this week to prepare a proposal for the upcoming church board. One of the key take aways for me from our discussion was the need for each home to be a center of evangelism.  In the next few months as we anticipate our evangelistic series in January with Pastor Eric Flickinger from It Is Written, we will be focusing on ways in which you can share your faith while continuing to offer events at the church that provide you with opportunities to invite your friends.  One weekend a month over the next three months, we will feature a special Sabbath dedicated to inspiring and resourcing you with ideas and means for sharing your faith in practical ways.  Total Member Involvement is an initiative from our General Conference for good reason.  It is because in order for a church to reach its maximum potential, each home must represent a satellite campus of influence and evangelism.  Here is the current list of outreach and training events we currently have on the 2017 calendar:
   1. October 10, 6:30pm – Dinner with the Doctor
   2. Oct 17 – Nov 9 @ 6:30(Tuesday & Thursday nights)– Diabetes Undone
   3. Oct 21 – Thunder Groups Training
   4. 27-28 – Pale Horse Rides with Voice of Prophecy
   5. Oct 29 @ 12pm – God in Shoes program
   6. Nov 6 – Cooking Show with Chef Mark Anthony
   7. Nov 14 – Health Cooking for the Holidays Cooking Class @ 6:30pm
   8. Nov 17-18 – Regional Evangelism Training event with Wildwood Express at our church.
   9. Dec 9 – Evangelism Rally with Pastor Eric Flickinger from It Is Written
8. Speaking of outreach, last night the boys took homemade bread they had prepared to the neighbors along with Steps to Christ and Glow Tracts. They enjoyed decorating their wagons as you can see to serve as their delivery wagons.
   

   
9. Jonathan Dietrich and his family as you know are serving in Chad and he sends regular emails out with news and prayer requests. Contact Shawn Dietrich if you would like to receive these newsletters from the frontlines.  Shawn shared with us recently about an amazing story Jonathan shared and I wanted to pass it on to you.  Click here to read his most recent newsletter.
10. This special announcement came my way this week and we wanted to pass it on to each of you as well. Jay Grose & Jana Taylor are engaged to be married and will be having a small private ceremony Sabbath October 14th in Savannah with Pastor Nate Dubs officiating.  They are planning a reception in Greeneville in the following weeks.  Jana is originally from Morristown and has served as a teacher for many years.  She is currently serving as the principal of the Maryville church school.
11. There is much to pray for right now in our church and world, but here are a few requests that have been brought our way: a. Grace Baxter’s 28 year old grandson died a week ago today in his sleep. Please remember the family in prayer.   b.  Kathy Seeley’s son in law Randy York, who married Kathy’s daughter Margaret, is set to have surgery at 1pm on Monday at Franklin Woods Hospital.  They are seeking to remove cancer from around his kidney.  c. Roxanne Shelton will be having a rather serious surgery soon and requests your prayers.  d. Richard Hood has been in the hospital with respiratory problems and appreciates our prayers.
12. Finally, I would invite everyone to remember our world church as the Fall Annual Council began this week and will continue into next week. Some weighty matter are before them and they need much prayer.

Blessings as you prepare for the coming Sabbath!

In His Service,

Pastor Jeremy