I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed the holidays. We certainly did. I am thankful to the elders and this congregation for giving our family the opportunity to be away this past Sunday and a few days prior to that. We had the opportunity to go home with our families and to be able to worship with them on Sunday. Many of you are able to worship with your families on a very regular basis, but we aren't able to do that as often as we would like to. We thoroughly enjoy and appreciate those times when they come around. I'm thankful for Dwyane who is so able and willing to continue to preach on a regular basis here at Central. I know you enjoyed hearing him.

I'm so excited about the New Year that is upon us. I believe great victories are in store for us in 2005 if we faithfully continue to follow the commandments of Christ. May our outlook be upward and outward. May our resolutions be specific and spiritual. May we truly become a "spreading flame" for the gospel of Jesus Christ in this community. And may we continue to work together in the "...unity of the spirit and in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3)

Maggie and I once again would like to tell you all how fortunate we feel to be a part of God's family here at Central. You have accepted us into your family, and we love you for that. You support us, pray for us, encourage us, love us, and lift us up. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you! I count it as a distinct honor and privilege to be your preacher, minister, servant and friend. I realize there are many gospel preachers in the brotherhood who would swap places with me in a heartbeat. I know how blessed I am! Please keep praying for me. I need it. You are in my daily prayers as well. May the Lord's richest blessings be upon us all this coming New Year.

Virgil Beasley's new phone number is 598-0174. Everything else remains the same.

Ladies Bible Class will resume on Wednesday morning, January 5, at 10:30 a.m. The monthly luncheon will follow.

Thank you notes have been received for the fruit, candy, and workers from Lola [Mullinax], Jean Pointer, Clovie & Thelma [Dossey & Divine], Vesta Mays, Sue Riedel, Judith Bell, Mariella Jacobs, Vonda Merrill, James & Ellen Childers, Larry & Sarah Smith & family, Lois Lanier, Kathryn Shields, Fred Bowers, Ruth Autrey, Dot & Chub Strickland, Erma Dean [Farris], Elva Gill, & Doris Whittern.

This note is for Dwyane and our singers. Thank you for the lovely uplifting service you performed for my great aunt, Ida McIntyre. Your words were comforting and uplifting. The music was beautiful. You also performed the service for my mother-in-law, Betty Holman, and I was blessed by your message. The music was also lovely. Please share my gratitude with your chorus.

Yolanda Ikard Holman, Midwest City

Thank you for the beautiful pink azalea plant and your other kind expressions of sympathy.

The Family of Ida McIntyre

Carletta and I want to thank you for all your prayers, calls, cards and concern during my stay in the hospital. Thanks to Robert Prater, Dwyane and Marcia for their visits. It is wonderful to have Christian brothers and sisters. Each of you mean so much to us.

In Christian Love, Harvey Moore

We express our appreciation to Glendon and Juanita Combs for their work each year for many years in the organization and distribution of fruit and candy to senior members. Glendon and Juanita, and all of us, would like to thank their helpers: Bill & Bertha Combs, Ann Bivins, Vesta Mays, Jim Pettyjohn, Ruth & Herman Guin, John & Beverly Aylor, Howard Vanlandingham, and James Reeves.

We are grateful for Bob Stephens and all the boys from the youth group who conducted our devotional on December 22.

We offer our appreciation to Ron Taffe for developing the theme and selecting the men to lead Wednesday evening's devotional of December 29.

The Harris's daughter, Darla Cole, was scheduled to have major surgery on December 30 in Decatur, Texas.
Harvey Moore has been released from the hospital.
Aubrey Mercer has been released from the hospital in San Diego, California.
Charles Thomas has recently been in Unity Health Center with pneumonia.
Babe Doyle fell on December 16 breaking his hand. He also had to have several stitches in his head.
Jearline Bates had her second cataract surgery on December 22.
Polly Reese had a mild stroke during the holidays. She is experiencing some resulting limitations that will hopefully be temporary. She did not have to be hospitalized.
Alta Carroll has not been able to attend services due to bronchitis.
Mariella Jacobs has had a bad fall and surgery for a broken wrist. It was good seeing her able to be in worship Sunday.

Gertrude Andes, Jack Aylor, Gwen Barrett, Jearline Bates, Chad Beard, Betty Bernard, Betti Boswell, Harold Carothers, James Childers, Harold & Clydean Decker, C.F. Drain, Ola Fitzwater, Mary Gaines, Geneva Green, Dwight Harber, Phyllis Heald (Doris Whittern's daughter), Roe Honaker, Anna Jarvis, Earnest Johnson (Yuavonda Sperry's uncle), Phil Lairson (Rosie Brightwell & Ellen Childers's nephew), Lloyd Lofties, Betty Martin, Mary Martin, Don Allen McNutt, Aubrey Mercer, Harvey Moore, Eddie Morris (Louise Dixson's brother & Jim Pettyjohn's cousin), Ruth Nevills, Monroe Pettyjohn, Ruth Pratt, Polly Reece, Alice Rice, Horace & Leoh Roberts, Naomi (Richards) Rutledge, Lillie Smith, Sarah Smith, Mary Sorensen, Chub & Dorothy Strickland, Charles Thomas, Floy Turner, Alvie Vanlandingham, Argil Wiggins, Emma Wilson, Carl Worley, Viola Yates, Verna Nell Young, and Tollie Zitterkopf. All these members and friends have continuing health concerns or other special circumstances. They appreciate your interest and prayers.

Hats off to Jason Perry. Jason has a talent I wasn't aware of until just recently. He has been helping his mom, Louise, in class on Sunday mornings recently, they teach the four and five year olds. I'm not sure of his official capacity in the classroom, but the experience will be invaluable in the years to come. Good job Jason!

Just a reminder, the LTC sign up sheets will be coming down soon. We need to get our registrations in the next couple of weeks. If you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for? I've noticed in a couple of bulletins that some area congregations are already working on their projects!

"If we ever forget we're a Nation under God, we'll be a nation gone under."

Hope to see you here Sunday!