Slideshow image

The last Monday email of 2024, wow! This year just zoomed right on by. A LOT of really special things took place this year, thanks to all of your support, participation and prayers. I have some time scheduled next week to do some reflection and planning and I’m looking forward to looking back on all that God has done with his people here. 

I’m grateful for a quiet week around here after the business of the Christmas and Advent schedule. We’re tying up lots of loose ends on the building project as we anxiously anticipate the Kid’s Wing Launch on Sunday for Lil’ Roots Sunday School and Monday for Wee Friends Preschool. If you find yourself with some free time and are looking to help with some miscellaneous projects this week, please shoot me a call, text or email! This is a great way for you to participate in the project, regardless of what your family has felt led and able to contribute financially. 

I’m glad to turn the calendar to a new year, where ahead awaits some exciting ministry opportunities for us all. In January we will be launching the MGCB Marriage Ministry, hosting monthly church-wide date nights. You’ll hear more about this on Sunday, but I’d like to encourage ALL of you, regardless of the number of years that you’ve been married, to make this a priority on your calendar. The foundation to a healthy and flourishing family (every generation of that family) is healthy marriages. 

We’ll start back up with our Wednesday Roots Nights on January 15th as the first Wednesday of the month is New Years Day. Pastor Kevin will be continuing his Adult Bible Study which meets every Wednesday night, not just on Roots Nights. 

I’m excited to be leading my woman’s Bible study group, D-Group, through a chronological Bible reading plan in 2025. We’ll be using a resource called “The Bible Recap.” Traditionally, this group meets every Tuesday evening, but in efforts to allow more friends to join us in this journey through the Bible, I’ll also be hosting a discussion group on Tuesday mornings here at Mechanic Grove! I’d love to have other ladies join us! We’ll be meeting from 9:15-10:30 am on Tuesdays in Room 209 (*new* Large Group Room in the Adult Wing). If you’d like to learn more or would like to register to join in either the evening or morning groups, check out our website at www.tinyurl.com/LancTBR25. The plan starts January 1st, discussion groups will meet for the first time on Tuesday, January 7th.

Happy New Year to you all! Praying God’s blessings on your households and hearts in 2025!

 

What WE’RE Learning This Week: A nugget of what our Lil’, Youth and Adults Roots heard this week

Our Family Theme: The Problem With Gambling

Our Root Text: Proverbs 1:8–19; 10:2; 1 Timothy 6:9–10; Proverbs 23:4–5; Proverbs 10:2–5; 13:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–13; 1 Timothy 6:17–19

Verse of the Month: John 3:16

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Discuss how we can protect ourselves from the problems of gambling by following the financial principles of Scripture and being steady, hard workers on the job God provides.

 

What I’M Learning This Week: Sharing what I’m reading and listening to lately

I had a journaling prompt this past week on Jeremiah 32:37-40. These verses come out of a chapter where Jeremiah is questioning God about a command that he had just received. Here, in this section of the chapter God is doing some reminding here. God’s telling Jeremiah, “I’m not finished here. You can’t see the end result, but I’m telling you that I’ll keep my promise.” God says He’ll gather up, bring back lead and keep his covenants with his people. I was particularly impressed by verse 39 which reads, “I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them.”

I want the same for myself. For all of us, really. Lord, give us singleness of heart and action. Unite us to serve you. Keep my eyes heaven-ward. May this be true for the generations to come. May we be known for our “one heart and one purpose: to worship God forever, for our own good and for the good of all their descendants.” (vs 39, NLT).

 

Make Every Week Count: Parenting, Grandparenting & Spiritual Mentoring Resources

Something to Read: Reading this right now and really enjoying it! Words with God: Trading Boring, Empty Prayer for Real Connection

Something to Listen to: This feels like a great song to usher in 2025… Prepare the Way by Stars Go Dim

Something to Follow: Anybody can do the Bible reading plan that I’m leading a bunch of ladies through. Though it might be better with friends, every day in the Word is a good day! Check out one of my favorite tools to do so - The Bible Recap.

 

How Can You Pray? Prayer Requests and Praises from Roots Ministries

PRAY for another Adult Sunday School class. This week let's pray for the Messengers class, a group of Age 50+ Church Members, in all stages of life. 

PRAISE for all that God has done in and through this church family in 2024!