The trip is on! Let’s put it on our calendars; we are going to Columbus, MS, and to Palmer Home on Thursday, September 30, 2010. We will stop at Palmer Home, tour the facilities, eat lunch there, and then head over to Mrs. Youngblood’s to be entertained by her. As time permits, we will stop at an Amish Shoppe as we return to Hattiesburg. The plan is to leave the church at 8 a.m. Sooooo, come on, let’s get ready to go!

Thank you for your prayers for me as I preached at Hopewell and Mt. Olive on two straight Sundays, August 22nd and 29th. It is always a wonderful opportunity to visit the old historic Hopewell church, which was built with slave labor before the Civil War. You can see the hand-hewn streaks on the boards, and can visit the balcony if you’re small enough to climb up the narrow steps! The Hopewell Church is growing, while the Mt. Olive church seems to be in a decline. Pray for these two churches located in the heart of Grace Presbytery. The Mt. Olive Church was the sight of the first official meeting of Grace Presbytery. Joe Gardner was the pastor then, and after pastorates elsewhere, has returned to pastor both churches again.

Speaking of Grace Presbytery, its next meeting will be Tuesday, September 14, 2010, at the Covenant PCA of Laurel. Russ Hightower, pastor of Faith PCA, Brookhaven, will preach at the opening service at 9 a.m. We will be taking the church bus to Laurel, leaving around 8 a.m. If you would like to ride up and visit Presbytery, call the church office and sign up. Presbytery usually lasts until about 4 p.m.

There is a lot going on during our Wednesday night fellowship. Besides some wonderful food, we are being fed spiritually. David Jussely and Matt Wiggins are giving us theology and a Bible study in the Fellowship Hall; E McMullan is leading a divorce recovery class for women in the Parlor, and Grant and Leah Claire Bennett are leading a study in the “Cry of the Soul”, a time of discussion and prayer. You are always welcome to come to these helpful studies on Wednesday nights. 

There are still plenty of spots for Greeters in September. Stop by the Greeters desk and sign up! Thank you for all who have volunteered to help in this way. You are a blessing to others.

Prayer Needs:  Katherine Bagby, Jimmy Bolton, Kaye Chambless, the Tinkey Cook family (her sister, Faye Arbun died 9/1), Dan Davis, Amber DeHuff, Emily Dever, Marjorie Duncan, Deidre Finseth, the Joel Flynt family (his mother died 8/26), Roscoe Hearon, the Paul Herring, Sr. family, Cameron Howard, Henry James (Audi Shook’s uncle), Patten Lane, Terri Langkos, Connie Larsen, Will McHard, Buddy McMillan, Harold and Violet Midgett, Linwood and Marge Orange, Charlie and Sylvia Power, Pat Raulston, Else Ross, Jack Ross, Bo and Joy Smith, James and Helen Snowden, Barton Spencer, J. W. Walker, Ben Watrous, Lois Watrous, and our military personnel: Overseas—Andrew English and Lee Grubbs; Stateside—Jay Beiring, Bill Glausier, Brett Patterson, Myles Smith, and Nathan Starns.