Announcements – October 6, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

In Luke 18:1-8 we discover another one of the colorful parables of Jesus.  It concerns a judge, probably a pagan judge, who becomes so exasperated with a Jewish widow that he gives in to her request for legal assistance.  The judge describes her doggedness in seeking help this way: “I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming” (v. 5).  Simply put, she wore him out!  And in order to get rid of her for good, the judge relented.

What’s very interesting about this parable is that in verse 1 we are told exactly why Jesus used this story in order to teach the Disciples: “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”

Here we have a lesson, in the form of a parable, concerning prayer. It addresses not only that we “ought always to pray” (v. 1), but that must do so in the manner of the widow in the story, by crying out to our Father “day and night” (v. 7).

The title I’ve assigned to our sermon for this Sunday is, “The Necessity of Exasperating Prayer.”  And we will consider why we must pray this way–in the fashion of the widow–but also to whom we must pray–in stark contrast to the reluctant judge.

Have a blessed weekend, and I can’t wait to meet with you before our Great King this Lord’s Day!

I love you all,

Mike

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sunday Fellowship Lunch – We will have our 2nd Sunday Fellowship Lunch today immediately after worship. Please join us in our Fellowship Hall.

Church Workday – On Saturday, October 14th, from 8am-12pm. This is an opportunity for your family, including capable children, to serve the church in a tangible way, maintaining this beautiful facility the Lord has provided and meeting/fellowshipping with church members as you work. Please sign up in the narthex. Contact John Dragash with questions.

UAH RUF Support – The next large group meeting is Monday October 16th. Sign-up sheet to provide snacks will be in the narthex. Please bring snacks to the church on Sunday October 15th. UAH RUF students LOVE home baked cookies. Please also pray for the young men and women as many hearts are turned to the Lord during these sessions. See Cheryl Johnson with questions.

Save the Date – We will have a fall fellowship and soup pot luck on Wednesday, October 25th. Look for an email with more information and sign-up soon.

Children’s Ministry
• Nursery – The fall quarter nursery sign up is now out. Please see the link in the email sent last week or the sign up sheet in the narthex to sign up. Please contact Amanda Dean with questions.

Youth Ministry – Our next Sunday night fellowship is tonight, 4:30-6:30pm at the church house.

Women’s Ministry
• Senior Sisters meet monthly on the 3rd Thursday, 10-11:30am
• Senior Sisters exercise class meets Mondays at the church, 10-11:30am
• Monthly lunch 1st Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11
• Women’s Bible studies are on Tuesday Morning, Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning
• Save the date for Women’s Christmas dinner, Wednesday, December 6th, at Huntsville Country Club from 6-8pm.

Men’s Ministry
• Senior Fellows – Our next breakfast will be Tuesday Nov. 7 at 9:00am.
• Men’s Friday Bible Study – Meets Fridays at 11:30am at the church.

Career Ministry – Bible study & fellowship meets at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, Sundays at 5:30 pm.

See christpreshamptoncove.org for detailed news and upcoming events.

PRAYER REQUESTS Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Bill Cowley, Elizabeth Holton, Steve Terry and Kristy York

Expecting – Please pray for the Prinzingers, Lancasters, and Joe and Jennifer Calvert, all expecting in October, the Tomlinsons due in November, the Stephens (missionaries to Thailand) due in February and the Beams due in April.

Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries:
• Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland)
• Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand)
• Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand)
• Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH)
• Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M)
• Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA)
• Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada)
• Dieter and Marty Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL)
• The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center