|
Your Monthly News & Updates
|
Read about Advent Worship,
outreach opportunities, 2018 important dates and so much more!
|
|
|
 |
The season of Advent is a time when we in the church step away from the world that is constantly telling us to buy stuff and eat stuff. We leave that kind of thinking behind and focus on the journey of faith of two-regular ordinary people, just like us. Their names were Mary and Joseph and their faithful following of God would bring hope to the world. Their lives and the birth of their son, even though it happened long ago still gives hope to us all.
Here at Slash Church we will focus on their story during the four Sundays of Advent leading up to Christmas. Beginning on December 3rd we will remember not just the birth of the Savior, but also remember his journey as prophet and teacher destined to light our way to God.
Join us each week for worship as we anticipate the birth of Jesus and celebrate with joy that Hope is On the Way!
Slash will have a regular Sunday schedule with both services and Church school on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
. Make plans now to join us for Candlelight Worship Sunday afternoon.
|
|
|
|
December Serving Schedul
e
Elder of the Month: Catherine Young
Communion Prep: Jean Smith
**Please note that 11 am servers on Christmas Eve are scheduled
to serve the 4 p.m. Candlelight Service
| 3 |
ONE Worship 11 a.m.
|
Sandra Loving |
Ginnie Caudell* |
Carrie Peterman
|
| |
|
Reggie Martin |
Lois Haines |
John Weeks |
| |
|
|
Christine Harrison |
|
| |
|
|
Olivia Gant |
|
| 10 |
Sandra Loving |
Ted Jones |
Heather Ostrander* |
Daniel Peterman |
| |
Brooken Loving |
Catherine Young |
Jim Ostrander |
Elena Highfield |
| |
|
|
Becky Baugher |
|
| |
|
|
Brenna Peterman |
|
| 17 |
Judy Pierce |
Nancy Farrell |
Don Moore* |
Hailey Pierce |
| |
Jared Pierce |
Mark Highfield |
Julie Moore |
Cassidy Penley |
| |
|
|
Angie Dalton |
|
| |
|
|
Chloe Baugher |
|
| 24 |
Leslie West |
Reggie Martin |
Patsy Fowler* |
Avery Pierce |
| |
Lloyd West |
Ted Jones |
Pat Penley |
Carrie Peterman |
| |
|
|
Jean Smith |
|
| |
|
|
Ruthie Weeks |
|
|
24
|
**4 p.m. Worship
|
|
|
Daniel Peterman |
| |
|
|
|
Elena Highfield |
|
|
|
|
|
| 31 |
Harold Manahan |
Reggie Martin |
Alex Smith* |
Lauren Markley |
| |
Ed Baugher |
Gen Bohannon |
Keith Davis |
John Weeks |
| |
|
|
Barbara Davis |
|
| |
|
|
Logan Markley |
|
|
Reggie Martin, Moderator
Slash Congregational Meeting
A Congregational Meeting will be held immediately following a One Worship Service on December 3rd. Please plan to attend this important meeting to allow the church to move forward with our 2018 Ministry. Please lift the 2018 plan up in your prayers.
A copy of the 2018 Ministry plan was emailed to the membership the week of November 20
and copies will be available in the back of the church on November 26. Please review and bring any questions you may have.
Copies of the 2018 Slash Leadership and the Facility Use Guideline will be available in the back of the church. We will vote on the Leadership and Facility Use Guideline again to meet the quorum requirements for a congregational meeting as Don Richardson correctly pointed out at the October 22 Congregational Meeting.
Congregational Meeting Agenda Items:
2018 Ministry Plan review and approval
2018 Slash Leadership
Facility Use Guidelines
I
nstallation of 2018 Leadership Community
& Elder/Deacon Training
We have already scheduled an Installation and Ordination for our new officers and elders. It will be January 14th at the 11 am ONE Worship service. Later that day at 5 pm all church the elders and deacons will meet for training.
All Church Planning Retreat & Board Meeting
We will meet with the team leaders, committee chairs, and elders for a planning retreat at
5 pm, January 21st. We will make plans to implement our 2018 Ministry plan. This meeting will be followed by the January Board Meeting at 7 pm.
Nominating Committee
I want to take this opportunity to thank our Nominating Committee for their outstanding work this year. Every slot has been filled and with that said, I also want to thank those in our congregation who accepted leadership roles. It takes all of you to do God's work. A tremendous thank you to:
Cathy Tillman, Lloyd West, Deborah Sadler, Olivia Gant, and Chad Baugher.
|
|
January 14th, 5 pm - 7 pm Elder/Diaconate Training and Meal
Come and join all the Elders and Diaconate of Slash in a time of fellowship and learning. This is an important opportunity to get to know one another and learn about our ministry plans for the year. Several important topics will be discussed.
- The Serving schedule will be distributed
- The shepherding of the congregation will be outlined
- Sunday morning ministry responsibilities - early service & 11:00 service, ONE Worship services, and special worship services
- Greeter/lead diaconate responsibilities
- Visitor greeting process
- Receiving offering
- Serving communion
- Communion preparation
|
|
|
|
Slash Post Office Opens Soon
You may use the free Slash Postal Service to pass along Christmas greetings to fellow members and regular visitors to our church.
A mailbox will be placed in the back of the sanctuary where you can leave your Christmas Cards. Please bring your cards on December 3rd and 10th. The cards will be sorted by Norma Miller and Kelly Benson's class and will be available for pick up during worship services this month.
We encourage you to make a gift to the Christmas Offering to benefit the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Virginia with the money you save on postage this Christmas.
|
The Latest Youth News from Slash
Our youth maintain an active schedule of mission, Bible study, and fun. Just a reminder that Youth Group at Slash includes 6th-12th graders. Everyone is always welcome to bring
friends. We have several activities coming up that we want to make sure everyone has on their calendars.
- December 17th, 6:00-9:00 pm, Youth Christmas Party at the West home. Leslie and Lloyd West, 9016 Peaks Road, Ashland. Bring snacks to share and a $10 gift card.
- January 7, 5-6:30 pm, Youth Bible Study, at Slash Church. We will also take some time to plan our Lock-In.
- January 26, 7pm - January 27, 9am, Winter Lock-In, we are inviting other groups from Disciple churches in the area.
- January 28, 2:00 pm, Celebration and Wedding Shower for Anna West here at Slash.
Summer 2018 Craig Springs Schedule
Remember Slash provides half price camperships to many of these camps as well as paying 100% of the fees for our 9th-12th grade youth who volunteer as counselors at Nature Camp. Get the date of your camp on your family calendar now.
Spring Work Weekend - May 25-27
Nature Camp - June 25-29
Special Camp - July 1-6
Triple 1 - July 8-13
AMPDD Camp - July 16-21
Triple 2 - July 22-27
New Covenant Camp - July 29- August 3
Family Camp - August 3-6
Fall Work Weekend - October 5-7
|
|
Outreach Opportunities
CROP Hunger Walk
The Crop Hunger Walk netted a total of $4,237. Slash collected a total of $1,570 for which the Outreach Committee is so very appreciative. 25% of the proceeds from this walk will benefit ACES in Ashland. Providing clean water, nutritious food and tools for sustaining life in areas where poverty is a part of life is where your funds make a difference. Thanks for caring about others!
2017 Thanksgiving Offering
Thank you for the contributions made to our
Thanksgiving Offering totaling $566.50.
Your contributions help to support the seminaries, colleges and theological education faciliti
es that in turn support church leaders spiritually as well as intellectually and shows our support to them.
Christmas Family
None of us knows what tomorrow will bring. What position will you find yourself? "Stuff" happens and we do not always have control of that. As in many years past, Slash Christian Church is sponsoring a family in need for Christmas. A family of 5 young children - ages 1.5 years through 10 years of age will have a much brighter Christmas with your help. A list of items has been made available to you. The young ages of these children will make purchasing items of toys and clothes so much fun this year. Let's help to clothe these young children. Let's help to give some joy to this family. Let's bring smiles and share your gifts with others. Let us be part of sharing the love that God has asked us to share. Let's once again make Christmas a little merrier!
Gloves and Hats for the Christmas Mother!
Again, you have helped to keep little hands warm. On behalf of the Christmas Mother, thank you to everyone who donated gloves to help those less fortunate!
Christmas Caroling
Would you be interested in Christmas Caroling in December in our local neighborhood? In the near future, you will see more information on this fun opportunity. Everyone loves to hear those beautiful Christmas carols. Let's get into the REAL spirit of Christmas!
Christmas Offering received December 10 and 17
Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:15-16
Did you know that 100% of the Christmas offering that your congregation receives on December 10th and 17th comes back to the Region of Virginia? Perhaps that may sound strange, for the Region to be a recipient of this Special Day offering, but in fact, what better way can we live into our commitment to one another, to live together as the Body of Christ? From Christ's love for us, and our love for one another, we can strengthen all the marvelous ministries that happen around the year in Virginia, by participating prayerfully and generously in this year's Christmas offering.
What does Regional Ministry do that is valuable to us?
- We equip leaders for service in all types of ministries. In particular, we work with our commissioned ministers in order to provide education they need as they serve local congregations. We also equip our youth to be leaders by providing camp counselor training. The women regularly have leadership events as they continue to develop their skills and abilities to best serve Christ and the church.
- We encourage congregations in various ways, sometimes to provide a listening ear as they ponder their future, other times to begin working with a search and call committee as they search for a new minister. The Region is here to serve the congregations, whether it might be helping to resolve a conflict or to celebrate the installation of a new minister, helping to get a new church started or help an older congregation transform themselves.
- We build relationships among many: between congregations, between clergy colleagues, between lay leaders, between campers at Craig Springs, between the larger church and the local congregation. We help to build bridges and connect with others we may not have had opportunity to connect with previously.
Our world has been through a great deal of pain and suffering this year, and we want to continue spreading Christ's love to the many that so desperately need to be reminded that there is hope, there is light, that we are there for them. You can help be a part of something greater than yourself when you prayerfully and generously give to this year's Christmas Offering.
|
|
Flower Ministry
The 2018 flower chart will be posted in mid December. If you would like to purchas
e flowers
in me
mory of or in honor of a loved one please sign up on the flower chart, fill in an order form and return it to the office. You may email or call the office (798-4520) to order sanctuary flowers.
The sanctuary flower price is $27.00 with checks made payable to Slash Christian Church. Orders do not have to be prepaid.
Return to top
|
|
BLESSING BOXES
For 60 years, the women of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have had a special
way to express their gratitude to God for the blessings they
have receive
d - the Blessing Box. The Blessing Box was created in 1953, the result of a dream of the women who founded Christian Women's Fellowship.
Jessie Trout, who was CWF's co-founder and first executive secretary, developed the idea as an over - and- above way to help fund the wider mission of the church. Since that time, women of the church have kept Blessing Boxes in their homes, cars, offices to express their gratitude for everyday blessings.
For those who participate, it is a spiritual discipline even more than a financial one. It helps keep a focus on gratitude to God and on the responsibility to share blessings with others. The amount put in may be a dime, a quarter or more. The amount is not nearly as important as the discipline of regularly remembering God's goodness through the acts of dropping in coins and praying prayers of thanksgiving. How am I blessed? It may be we are thankful for a sunny day, or a call from a friend, a safe journey, or a good meal. You will be amazed how many ways God blesses you once you start to put coins in the box. Anyone in the church can join us in counting our blessings and helping to support Disciples Women.
Return to top
|
|
New Book by Rev. Dan Ficklin
Dan Ficklin, a former member of Slash, has recently published a book, "The Cancer Chronicles, Finding Hope and Faith in the Midst of Grief ". To order, email Dan.
|
|
Current Needs:
Men's Plus Size (2x or larger) Briefs and Boxer Shorts (new)
Men's Plus Size (2x or larger) Undershirts (new or gently used)
Men's Plus Size (2x or larger) Sleepwear (new or gently used)
Men's Thermal Underwear (new or gently used)
Men's 3x and larger winter shirts
Men's and Women's winter coats
Men's and Women's boots
Men's and Women's Athletic (tennis) Shoes (all sizes, new or gently used)
Women's Bras (all sizes, new or gently used)
Women's Plus Size (2x or larger) Underwear (new)
Women's Plus Size (2x or larger) Undershirts or Camisoles (new or gently used)
Girl's Winter Clothes (sizes 6 and 6x)
Boy's and Girl's Underwear (new - all sizes)
Boy's and Girl's Winter Coats (all sizes)
Pantry items: jelly (smaller sizes), boxed mac & cheese, canned beef stew
Toiletry items: toilet paper and shampoo
Warehouse: can openers, electric heaters
Thank you for your continued support!
|
|
Prayer Requests
Church Family
Jo Richardson, Sandra Loving, Dianne Jones, Gail Hellermann, Jakob Hellermann, Carolyn Nash
Homebound
Buck and Frances Hale, H.T. Loving, MaryLee Jones, Norma Jennings, Beverly Vaughan
Alvin Loving, (Hanover Manor)
For Healing
All those affected by the shootings, hurricanes, earthquakes and fires
Gloria Mangum (sister-in-law of Judy Pierce), Ann Graham (sister of Don Kersey)
Charles Goodman (brother-in-law of Barbara Jean Goodman), Barbara Cunningham (sister of Jo Richardson), The Berrocal Family in Puerto Rico (family of Don and Julie Moore), Bob Raiford (father of Michelle Weeks), Bob Henderson (husband of Barbara Henderson),Sheryl Snellings (friend of Dianne Jones), Robert Cook (brother of Julie Moore), Darlene Webb (friend of Gail Hellermann), Luella Markley (grandmother of Logan and Lauren), Cara Wehman Bradshaw (friend of Matthew Harrison), Kathy Goodman (aunt of Carolyn Putnam), Duff Green (neighbor of Steve Harrison), Walter Loving (brother of Brooken Loving), John Doty (friend of Becky Baugher), Whitney Bush and Gene Harmon (friends of Patsy Fowler), Donald West (brother of Lloyd West), Conner Bartz (nephew of Carol Kurz), Iris Epps (friend of Gail Hellermann), Pam and Craig Brown (friends of Gail Hellermann), Vaughn Schmitt (family friend of the Weeks'), Nancy Hooper (sister of Brooken Loving), Dickie Tomlin (brother-in-law of Buddy Fowler), Charlie Hunt (friend of Judy Pierce), Shot Mangum (brother of Judy Pierce), Jack McGuire (uncle of Michelle Weeks), All military personnel, first responders and their families
Unspoken prayer concerns
Love and sympathy are extended to Ted and MaryLee Jones upon the death of MaryLee's aunt, Myrtle Walls
|
|
|
