June 1, 2022

WELCOME

We welcome Ashley Norville, wife of Jeff, who met with the elders and stated that she would like to work and fellowship with us at Central. Please get to know and encourage The Jeff Norville Family.

PRAYER REQUESTS

•  Lorraine Baker: “God bless, Clyde. Please pray for all my children.”

•  Jim Blue: “Times move on, and people come and go. Let us always remember those who follow the ways of Jesus. I will pattern myself after these people. Clyde Jones is one that I will remember and mimic my life after!! Amen.”

•  Deborah Brown: “Please keep my mother in your prayers. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance Friday morning, May 27^th. She has a compression fracture. They gave her morphine, sent her home, and referred her to an orthopedic doctor. She will be 92 next month. Thank you!”

•  Juanita Crittenden: “Please keep my aunt, Irene Middlebrooks, in your prayers, as she recovers from her surgery May 27^th. (Update: Surgery went well and is now recuperating at her daughter’s  home.)

•  Dittos: “Pray for families who have brought children (adopted, fostered, other) into their homes to raise.”

•  Melanie Gipson: “Pray for my sister, Kim, for healing. Also pray for Celia and Alan Moore and family for the loss of Celia’s dad. Pray for His Way and all of the people making a change in their lives.”

•  John Kuhn Family: “Please continue to pray for our friend, Mindy Simms, as she struggles with cancer. Also please continue to keep Rose and her team in prayer as they work in Peru.”

•  Dana Mercier: “Condolences to all the Jones Family on the passing of a very special man. My hero, Clyde Jones.”

•  Jim and Tracy Phillips: “Prayer for Regina Ralston for comfort and peace.”

•  Tom Reynolds: “Please continue to pray for Regina Ralston’s strength in battling cancer. Pray that her clinical trial will help. Pray for Russell and her family as they serve her.”

•  Please continue to keep Herb Underwood in your prayers as he had hip replacement surgery Thursday, May 26^th. (Update: Herb is recuperating at home and doing well.)

•  Mothers-In-Waiting: Mishaella Ryans (7/7), Breanna Baucum (7/13), and Karin Bell (11/3).

•  Our Shut-ins: Amelia Biser, Jamie Cole, Ted Moore, Mary Etta Neiland, Sheril Townsley, and Herb Underwood

•  Our Missionaries: Denisovs & Rahimovs (Tomsk, Russia), Kishore Etwaroo Family (Port Kaituma, Guyana), Carlos & Linda Eguizabal (Juayua & Salcoatitan, El Salvador) & YOU (Huntsville Area)

SYMPATHY

Our sympathy is extended to the family of our sweet brother, Clyde Jones, Jr., who passed away early Thursday morning, May 26^th. His funeral was Sunday, May 29^th.

ELEMENTARY SUMMER PROGRAM

To all those who have will complete 1^st grade through 5^th grade and their teachers, get ready to have a great time in Central’s Elementary Summer Program. It will begin next Wednesday, June 8^th.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5^TH

 Make your plans now to join us Sunday, June 5^th, at 5:30 p.m. as we share a meal together (along with those churches going to our HandsFree Work Camp). We will be celebrating the time we spent together during our Prayer and Fasting and look forward to seeing what God has in store for us. We will stop serving food by 6:30 p.m. in time for our devotional with the campers at 7:00 p.m.

WORKCAMP HELPERS NEEDED

Workcamp is right around the corner – June 5 – 10, and we need your help to make it happen!

Please contact the office or Rodney if you can help in the following areas:

1.   Preparing food (in kitchen with Graham Ray coordinating – See article below.)

2.   Driving church vans daily (8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

3.   Staying on campus at UAH with students in the evening

If your LIFE Talk would like to assist one evening with food or help prepare morning or evening meals, contact Graham Ray.

Thank you for making Workcamp such a wonderful experience!

HANDS FREE 2022 KITCHEN HELP

If you would like to volunteer to help in the kitchen during our Work Camp, please contact Graham Ray for helping to prepare/serve Monday – Thursday (June 6 – 9) or Pat Canterbury for helping to serve Sunday (June 5).

WORKCAMP NEEDS

5 toasters are needed for WorkCamp. If you have one that they can borrow for the week, please contact Graham Ray (256-677-8511).

THE ETWAROOS ARE COMING THIS SUMMER!

Cheryl and Kishore Etwaroo, our missionaries in Guyana, South America, plan to arrive the evening of June 13^th and depart on July 5^th. A “Sign-Up” calendar is posted in the fellowship area. For more information, contact Ed Ditto.

SUNDAY ASSEMBLY LESSONS

June 5 – Practicing Spiritual Disciplines – David Nance

June 12 – Handsfree Workcamp: Afterward – Rodney Keeton

June 19 – Guyana Missions – Kishore Etwaroo

SUNDAY ADULT CLASS OPTIONS

May 29 through June 19

1.   General Bible Class (Family Life Center)

Through June 19, the general Bible class will have a new topic each week. The topic for June 5 is “Understanding, Encouraging, and Practicing Prayer” (Teacher: Ed Ditto). The format will be small groups organized around a handout that will be provided prior to the beginning of class.

A new series called “Spiritual Vision for Life” is planned to begin on June 26, which will be conducted alongside a sermon series addressing the same topics each week. More information will be provided in coming weeks.

2.   Women’s Ministry (Library; Coordinators: Sue Underwood and Kim Story)

This class provides Bible-based content in a LIFE Talk setting and is set up to minister to women who are the head of their household and women whose husbands are not Christians. Women of all ages and situations are welcome who wish to participate in this ministry. The class is generally organized to alternate between Old Testament and New Testament books, topics, and ideas. However, prayer and sharing are also integral parts of the class. As participants begin to apply the teaching to their own lives, they are invited to openly share burdens with one another. This is so that others who have walked that path previously can share their own experience and wisdom in how to face that situation faithfully. While two ladies provide the principal oversight for the class, a number of ladies from within the class will be encouraged to lead individual sessions, usually a week or two at a time.

WEDNESDAY ADULT GATHERINGS

June 1

The Bible classes that met during the spring in the Family Life Center and the Library have completed and will not meet tonight. If you are able, please make plans to support the Overflow Praise and Worship Gathering in person in Room 200 tonight at 7:00 pm.

Handsfree Workcamp: Combined Teen and Adult Wednesday Night Class on June 8

The Handsfree Workcamp is not only a teen-oriented service week but also a camp designed to teach missionary and discipleship skills. These lessons can be beneficial to all ages and our speakers have been selected to share those messages and their experiences on the theme of “Glimmer” (reflecting the light of Christ to the world). Adults can participate in Workcamp by coming and serving alongside the teens. The teens are working with a wide variety of local organizations and charities. This is beneficial and educational for all ages.

Another way to participate is through fellowship and worship. The activity on Wednesday, June 8 will include both teens and adults in the old auditorium from 7-8 pm. The lesson will be presented by Coleman Yoakum, Executive Director of Micah 6 Community in Pontiac, Michigan. Please plan to participate in person.

Summer Term: June 15 through August 24

1.   Designed for Happiness – The Beatitudes: An Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12) (Family Life Center; Teacher: Allen Wright)

“A Christian shouldn’t be concerned with happiness,” the man said. “He should only be concerned with Christian joy,” he continued with a sour look on his face. Why is it that Christians are accused of being miserable? If we are free from sin, if we are saved from punishment, if we are at peace with God and loved by him, it would follow that we would be happy people.  My question as we look at the Sermon on the Mount is, “Just how happy are you?” If you struggle with happiness and you are more comfortable with anxiety and fear, then this study is for you. In 11 weeks, we will only have time to cover the first 12 verses of chapter 5 of Matthew but what goldmine there is in these verses! There is a slight possibility that we might get into being “Salt and Light” (5:14-16) but no promises.

2.   Practicing Personal Bible Study (Library; Facilitator: Gregg Rigney)

As a follow-up to last quarter’s inductive Bible Study class, we will be meeting this summer to engage in either a Biblical book or topical study of the group’s choosing. The format is anticipated to be mostly class-participatory, rather than a teacher-led lecture. Participants will want to do reading and study during the week to contribute to their own and the group’s learning. Attendance of the inductive study class will be helpful, but not necessary.

3.   Overflow Praise and Worship Gathering (Room 200; Coordinators: Daniel Alavi, Gerry Binford, and Rodney Keeton)

An optional gathering is offered during the 7:00 pm class time. This gathering is intended to be both outreach and encouragement focused. It is designed to reach new members, “Covid” displaced members, visitors, and anyone seeking a time of praise and worship on a Wednesday evening. In an effort to be sensitive to younger families who cannot stay late on Wednesdays, this gathering will start promptly at 7:00 pm and finish at 7:30 pm. Anyone wishing to stay until 8:00 pm can do so and fellowship with one another.

During this time, there will be singing, prayer and Scripture reading centered around spiritual disciplines. All are welcome to attend!

If you already attend a bible class or small group on Wednesday evenings, please continue to do so! If not, feel free to join us in Room 200.

CONGRATULATIONS

Our congratulations to Jim and LaVonne Norville, who will be celebrating their 54^th anniversary Wednesday, June 1^st. Thank you for your example to all of us.

PRAYER AND FASTING

Be looking for your email Sunday morning as to what Psalm we will be reading.

MEN TO SERVE – JUNE

Chair Set-Up – Steve Lowery’s Team

Counting – Alan Moore’s Team

Ushering – Ronald Graham’s Team

ACTIVITIES

June	5-10	Handsfree Workcamp (See article.)
	5	Central Meal Together (5:30pm See article.)
	8	Elementary Summer Program Begins (See article.)
	13-5	Etwaroo Visits at Central (See article.)
	17-20	Jr. High Impact
	20-25	Sr. High Impact
	21	Jr. High Higher Grounds
	28	Teens’ Higher Grounds
July	3	Meal Together