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** "We will always have the poor." **
By Oscar Nolasco
Every time that I help somebody, I just remember that Jesus said, "It
is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). By faith I see beyond
what I am giving. I think of what Jesus gave us, and what He will give us. That
encourages me to have more to be able to give. And God continues giving us so
that we can give to others. The elders from Ephesians received a good message,
to remember that our hands should be good to work and to have something to share
with others. Christ's body is big, so that we all are blessed when giving
of the material things. God gives us of both the spiritual things and
material.
Because we live, we give.
**Thank You**
A big thank you to
all who visited the Johnson Street building and house during last Sunday's
housewarming/pounding. Your presence was encouraging to all
involved. As you could tell by your visit, this building will get a lot of
use from the Way, the Hispanic congregation, and Thursday's after-school
tutoring.
To those who brought gifts for the pounding, there is no way for us to show
our appreciation by sending you all a personal thank you because everyone gave
anonymously, but you all need to know how much your gifts are appreciated.
Remember, when you give in secret, "Your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you openly." You have helped three outreach ministries that
did not exist ten months ago take a big step forward. This church's generosity
is exceeded by very few! May God continue to bless His Kingdom in Fort
Smith! And may He continue to do that through the church at
West-Ark!
--David Boozer
**New Class for Sunday Morning Children's Worship**
Beginning Sunday,
October 6, ages 4-5 will meet in Room 106. Ages 6-7 will continue meeting
in room 121.
**LTC Announcement**
Young Men's Bible Reading is Sunday morning (Oct.
6). Be prepared to read the verses for this Sunday the following Sunday (Oct.
13th). Call Brian Perkins at 996-2687 if you have any questions.
**Christmas Gifts for City of Children Workers**
OVERWHELMED! That
is the only way to describe how we feel! The donations for the workers in
Mexico were so generous it was overwhelming! Thank you so much for
all the wonderful personal gifts.
Brad, Tom, Roxie and the
entire
Mexico Missions Team.
**Caring for our Shut-in and Homebound Members**
Being homebound or in a
nursing home can become quite lonely. This week make a visit, a phone call, or
send a card to someone on the list.
* Ruth Edwards, 10812 Old Harbor Road #2, Fort Smith, AR 72903, Phone:
452-7594
* Frances Gilley, Methodist Nursing Home, 1915 South 74th, Fort Smith, AR
72903, Phone: 782-2950
* Waymon Griffin, Methodist Nursing Home, 1915 South 74th, #26D, Fort
Smith, AR 72903
**Thank you, George & Margaret!**
For years, George and Margaret
Thompson have done volunteer work in the food pantry, and we appreciate their
work so much. They really feel the need to retire from this good work, and we
need someone to volunteer to take their place. The work involves some stocking
of groceries, but mainly consists of preparing 12 sacks of groceries each week
for the needy who come by the church office. Margaret says it takes about 30
minutes per week and can be done any day of the week (Monday is preferable). If
you would like to help with this work, please contact the office or Lyndell
Foster.
**Area Gospel Meeting**
Waldron Church of Christ
105 West Church
Street
October 6-9
Larry Bridges, Speaking
Monday - Wednesday, 7
p.m.
**Sunday in Worship**
Morning: The Christian Challenges of Caring, David
Chadwell and Brad Pistole
Evening: God Was Not Their King, David
Chadwell
**Happy Birthday**
October 13
Taylor Hankins
Hannah Watlington
October 14
Jana Berryhill
Nancy Smith
October 15
Bob Willett
October 16
Richard Adams
Ann Combs
Jerry Glidewell
October 17
Alvis Ingram
Nora Lou Miller
October 18
Laurie Armstrong
Shelly Robbins
October 19
Janice Prater
Alisha Wewers
Mark Willis
**Peak of the Week**
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Family Life
Center.
October 9th, "Women, Men, Families: In His Image"
Jill
Roberts, Mat Griffin, Brad Pistole
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**Note from the Staff**
Please call the church office when you have a
loved one enter the hospital. At Sparks Hospital, due to federal privacy
regulations, the ministers can no longer check the hospital record for church
affiliation. We expect this to be true at St. Edward Hospital in the near
future.
**Remember in Prayer**
* Blossom Mayhan is back in St. Edward Hospital.
She can have visitors.
* Kathy Rosalez reports all her tests were
normal.
* Continue to pray for Anita Maxwell, Erma Beshears, Sandy Berger,
and Kathy Bauer in their treatments for cancer.
**Bereaved**
Thomas Owens, uncle of Patti Anderson, passed away last
weekend. Thomas had very recently been diagnosed with cancer. Our love and
prayers go out to Patti, her mom, and family.
Our love and prayers are also extended to Robertta Moses in the unexpected
death of her grandmother, Clara House, earlier this week.
**Welcome**
Louise Cline
2690 Enid
Fort Smith, AR 72901
Phone:
646-6504
Louise is Helen Branum's sister.
**Change of Address**
Carlos & Arianna Heras
6721 Riviera
Drive
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone unchanged: 452-7571
** 60+ **
Our Halloween potluck is Saturday, October 19, at 6:00 p.m. in
the FLC. Come and join us for good food, fun, and fellowship.
**Widows/Widowers**
We will be hosted by the Singles group on Saturday,
October 5th, at noon in the Family Life Center. Call Mary at 646-6079, or
Janice at 474-8851 if you need transportation.
**Car Clinic**
Our car clinic is October 5th from 8 to 11 a.m. for
widows, widowers, and 60+.
**Library Update**
We have NEW BOOKS arriving at the library. They are
on the table in the library for your inspection. Don't forget to fill out a
check-out card.
There is an ARTICLE/NEWS TABLE in front of the library. Take what you
need!! If you have any questions, comments, or need more printed,
contact John Lankford. (If you leave a message, please give your name).
**Notes of Thanks**
To the Family at West-Ark,
Thanks for all the
prayers, calls, and the ones who came by while David was in the hospital. You
will never know how much it meant to me to know how much everyone cares. I would
like to ask that everyone still pray for us. It is going to be a long road to
see if he can go back to work.
Love you all,
David, Jennifer & Whitney
Dotson
The many expressions of sympathy and the floral tribute in the passing of
my mother are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers in
our time of sorrow.
Benny Gooden for the Lela Gooden Family
Thank you so very much for the beautiful peace lily you sent to Dad's
service. It was greatly appreciated. Please keep our family in your
prayers.
The Family of Bud Morrow
My procedure was successful, and I want to thank everyone for their
concern, cards, and phone calls. You are a wonderful church family to belong
to.
In Christian love,
Coleen Shirley
Dear West-Ark Family,
Thank you for the beautiful peace lily you sent to
our sister's funeral.She loved flowers, and lilies were her favorites. We thank
those who visited her at the hospital. We also thank David and Roy for their
prayers with her; and all others who prayed for her and us. The cards are a
great comfort to us.
Anetia and Lewis Livesay
Marceil Stevens
**Wedding Announcement**
Thomas and Kindy Kweekul
request the honour
of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Phonesanong Angel
Kweekul
and
Lee Eric Omo
son of Gene and Judy Omo
on Saturday, the
twelfth of October
at twelve o'clock in the afternoon
West-Ark Church of
Christ
Reception immediately following
the ceremony in the Family Life
Center.
**Fall Festival **
Saturday, October 26 in the FLC!
A safe and fun
evening for families in our church
and community. See the sign-up sheet
posted in the foyer.
Ways you can help:
* make cakes and
desserts
* work at a booth
* donate candy or 2-liter soft drinks (a
basket is in the foyer).
Parents, help your children choose costumes
appropriate for a church event!
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** Congregational Needs Analysis This Sunday, October 6th **
By Brad
Pistole
For quite some time now, you've heard me talk about the concepts involving
Family Life Ministry. Perhaps you've read my articles, papers, and even listened
to this past Sunday's dialogue between David and I about Family Life
Ministry.
Now it's time for the next step. This is a critical one for the West-Ark
congregation. It's time for each member, age 18 and above to fill out a
Congregational Needs Analysis. Again, that's simply a fancy term for
"survey."
We will administer the survey this coming Sunday morning, October
6th, during the worship hour in the auditorium. The 25 question survey will be
finished by most of you in 10 minutes or less. However, if you need more time to
finish it, you have until October 16th to turn it in.
This survey will give
us a good physical and spiritual outline of our congregation.
It
will help us know you and your needs in greater detail. It will educate your
leadership and keep us from guessing what your needs and struggles really
are.
For those of you who cannot be here on Sunday morning, October 6th, the
survey will be easily found on a table just inside the front doors in the foyer.
You can fill out the survey and place it in the box on the table. Remember, this
survey is completely anonymous. You do not need to sign your name to it.
Everyone will have October 6th, 9th, 13th, and 16th to turn their survey in
to Brad, David or one of the elders. We will gather the data until October 18th.
Then the staff will have a dedicated meeting on November 2nd to discuss the
results of the survey and our future plans in order to best provide for you and
your family's spiritual needs.
**Nursery**
A.M. Infants: Paula May, Sandi Pippin, Melissa
Walker
Toddlers: Dena Jenkins, Irene Willis
P.M. Nursery: Dixie Burkhart,
Gina Williams
**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship (10:30)...............
663
Sunday Classes (9:30) ................ 427
Laotian
Attendance........................ 37
The WAY (4:00)
...........................
42
Spanish........................................ 14
Evening Worship
(6:00)................ 293
Wednesday Worship (7:00).......... 358
Sunday
Contribution ............. $15,731
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