The Olive Branch

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FEBRUARY 2019

OLIVE BRANCH CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ)

Richard D. Cline, minister Web Address: www.ob-cc.org

Susan C. Fournier, secretary Office Email Address: obcc1833@gmail.com 757-566-8077 (Church Office) Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30AM – 1:30PM

SONGS OF FAITH

During the month of February, the songs in our worship services will celebrate the important contributions cultural-historical Black music has made to the understanding and celebration of the presence of God in our faith journey. We refer to these hymns as spirituals. I like to think of them as instant-print pictures of life in this world, and our response to its pain and distress. After all, as Luke Powery notes in his book, Were You There?: “They are musical memorabilia created on the anvil of misery by enslaved Blacks. They are sorrow songs. They are suffering songs. However, to sing can be a sting to the reality of suffering. It can be a sign of hope and the presence of God in the midst of agony. This is why they are called the spirituals because they are the spirit’s song, and the spirit will not be stopped and will blow through every season of life…”.

Come and worship with your church family this month, and together with your fellow pilgrims sing, in the face of trials and challenges, songs of faith and hope. Johnny Cash described us as just poor wayfaring strangers, traveling through this world below. But I know we don’t walk this path alone. Our Lord travels with us, and our brothers and sisters in faith support us. In worship, that truth is known.

See you in church! Pastor Richard

CWF NEWS CALL FOR YARD SALE ITEMS The CWF Yard Sale is set for February 9 from 8AM-1PM in the New Fellowship Hall. Baked goods and wonderful (non-Christmas) items are needed.

Items will be accepted beginning after the 11 AM service on February 2 and continue all week to Friday morning. Baked goods can be delivered Friday, February 8 or before 8AM on Saturday, February 9.

Set-up for the day is on Friday, February 8th beginning at about 10AM. Come on over to help if you can. Sheila Yeatts is the coordinator.

CWF TUESDAY MORNING CIRCLE The group is slated to meet again on February 12 after 2 months off. Meet at Interlude for food and fellowship, along with a good lesson.

See you there, ~Donna Haulsee

MONDAY CWF TO MEET FEBRUARY 18 AT 3

The study will be Breaking Free from Fear. There a several extra books, in case you need one.

In March the group will meet at the afternoon time (3 PM). Evening meetings will resume in April.

~Carole Kerr

YOUTH GROUP

We meet on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7 PM. All 5th-12th grade folks are welcome to join our discussions. Please invite the youth in your life to come!

~Kelsey Creech, Youth Outreach Ministries

BOOK CLUB—RESUMES THIS MONTH: Our next book, Forgotten God by Francis Chan, will be the topic when we meet on February 2. We will discuss chapters 1 and 2. From there, we will meet monthly on the first Saturday at 10 am discussing 2 chapters each month.

~Kelsey Creech

AFTERNOON DELIGHT

The February, 5th meeting will be at 2 PM at the Larkin’s home. ~Dick & Betty Barber

SERVING THIS MONTH

Elders

February 03 Joshua Fulgham, Elaine Henk February 10 Barb Schmidt, Barb Schmidt February 17 Chuck Walker, Bob Lawrence February 24 Marney Brickhouse, Ralph Hutton

Deacons

February 03 Will Hatcher, Jane Hatcher Mel Watson, Kaye Watson February 10 Linda Williams, Janet Dombrowski Phyllis Taylor, Will Hatcher February 17 Val Mason, Sheila Yeatts Andrew Pfister, Keeta Hodson February 24 Donna Haulsee, Boyce Mason Donald White, Tracey Hutton

Deaconess

Nancy Griffith

Worship and Wonder (Ages 3-8)

February 03 Kim Riffle, Linda Williams February 10 Ann Bradshaw, Patty Barker February 17 Linda Williams, Carolyn Hunt February 24 Landa Simmons, Linda Williams

February 03 OPEN February 10 OPEN February 17 OPEN February 24 OPEN

Church Family: Pat Allred, Betty Barber, Harold Barker, Charles & Betty Boy, Phillip Day, Doug Dill, Emily Dill, Phyllis Gardner, Nancy Griffith Family, Lucy Hall, Norm Harbour, Lena Jeffries, Gail Key, Pete (& Janet) Kowalchick, Mac McWilliams, Dallas Mitchell, Charlie Pruitt, Robbie Robertson, Donald White

Family and Friends: Professional and volunteer women and men who protect and defend us, our nation, Rob Berclaw (Karen Marrow’s friend), Chris Burrows (friend of Pergers), Paul Chisari (Sue Rinehart’s friend), GJ Gerner (Stacey Mullins’ co-worker brother), Bobby Wayne Higgins (Dwayne Davis’ brother & Elizabeth Gardner Davis’ son), Shaun Hooker (Don White’s son), David Hunt (Jim Hunt’s brother), Marolyn Pierce (Carolyn Hunt’s sister), Megan Raikes (Phyllis Gardner’s great niece), Iris Reeder Family (Nancy Griffith’s older sister), Pam, Mark & Brooks Saunders (Jim & Paula Thacker’s daughter & family), Brenna Schumacher (Barkers’ niece), Kempton Shields (Pastor Richard & Ann’s

brother-in-law), Paul Smith (Susan Kohlman’s brother-in-law), Trevor Smith (Larry & Louise Smith’s grandson), Arnold VanDyke, Walter Via (Janet Neal’s friend), Margaret Wilhelm (Elizabeth Ripley’s sister)

I wish to thank everyone for their prayers, cards and calls in the recent death of my Sister, Iris Reeder. Thank you for the prayers for my Grandson, Adam Griffith, whose cancerous tumor is GONE! God does answer our prayers and this was an extra special Christmas gift! I love you all! ~Nancy Griffith

Thank you for the many notes, cards, love and prayers when my sister died. I loved every one of them. I cherish you all and hope to see you soon.

~Gertie Duke

05 Karen Barrow 05 Norm Hall 08 Charlie Pruitt 08 Barbara Thiel 09 Andy Bell 09 Norm Harbour 11 Madison Elam 12 Bev Walker 13 Kelsey Creech 16 Bob Schmidt 17 John Garrett Jr. 18 Barb Nicholson 21 Pat Bullock 21 Robin Moscati 22 Doug Haulsee 22 John Savage 23 Barb Schmidt 24 Steve Ainsworth 24 Andrew Pfister 25 Tonya Meadows 25 Virginia Dare Waltrip 26 Rosa Griffin 26 Gail Key 26 Kathleen Shuman 27 Steve Garrett 28 Gracie Gardner 28 Tracey Hutton 29 Dick Ivy

NONE

FOOD SHARING PROGRAM UPDATE

Let the special Valentines in your life know you are making your food donations in their honor during the month of February. Your donation acknowledges your love for those special Valentines and provides our neighbors with the additional food support they need. You do this good work in remembrance of Him. Thanks for being generous Valentines!

~Will & Jane Hatcher

COMFORT MINISTRY SUPPORT GROUP The breakfast is held on the second Saturday of the month at Jimmy's Grill in Norge at 10:00 AM. If you are on a grief journey, please join us. We have a good meal and laugh a lot. Call Judy Eley at 757-566-0927, if you would like to attend.

OUR DAY OUT

What a wonderful day we had after missing December because of weather! Douglas Panto, Community Program Coordinator from the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, was very well received by the 32 people in attendance. He has offered to come back at any time to share more insights into this sad disease with us. He has a wealth of information at his disposal, so if anyone you know could benefit, please let me know. I can put you in contact with easy-going, easy-to-talk-to Douglas.

We received news from Harold that Mac had possibly suffered a stroke and was at Riverside Regional. Harold dropped his passenger, Pat, off with us. Then, he made his way to Riverside to check on his buddy. Happily, he came back by lunch time and reported that Mac had a TIA and would be ok. He was released to go home later in the day. Thank you, Lord. I tell you this so you know the deep level of love and concern we all feel for one another in this wonderful group of folks.

Jane provided a lovely craft project…a star ornament, representative of the one that the Magi

followed to find the baby Jesus. Louise and Carole continued with the Christmas story. Carole read the KJV of Luke 2:1-20, a family tradition for many families over the years. She also used her school teaching skills with the use of candy canes and M & Ms to drive home some Biblical truths and to satisfy our sweet tooths. To conclude our belated Christmas program, Tyler ushered in Santa Claus Jim and Elf Larry with his recording of Here Comes Santa Claus. Everyone got to sit on Santa's knee, while Irma shot photos of Elf Larry passing out stockings filled with an array of goodies.

As usual, Sheila, Marney, Jane, and Edie made sure our palates were satisfied with wonderful food on tables set & decorated in beautiful fashion. Thank you so very much, ladies.

What a wonderful day of good, old-fashioned Christian fellowship we had, as we all became child-like. It's no wonder Jesus loved children so much. When we come together as His children, we are so very, very blessed.

P.S. Keeta, during her recent recovery from a fall, had much time to rest and read. One book she read she highly recommends for all geriatric situations, Making Rounds with Oscar (who happens to be a cat) by David Dosa, MD. She borrowed it from the library.

Love in Jesus’ name, Louise Smith, Co-Coordinator

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

OBCC TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY: wants volunteers to provide rides to some of our members who are unable to drive themselves to worship services, nearby appointments, and/or Bible Study sessions at church. Please consider serving as a volunteer driver! Contact Robbie Robertson to volunteer (757-707-3944; rrcrmia@icloud.com).

Need a ride? Please contact Robbie Robertson.

If you can help to develop van policy/procedures, please let Pastor Richard know.

OUR CHURCH VAN IS IN USE!! There are still some details to take care of. We need some volunteers to make that happen. If you are interested in being a part of our van ministry, please let Pastor Richard or the church office know. Ways to be of help: develop ride & driver policies, van maintenance (monitor and execute), coordinate scheduling, driver (clean driver record required).

WORLD OUTREACH NEWS:

WEEK OF COMPASSION SET FOR 2/17 & 24: This time of giving makes a difference in the Christian Church’s relief, refugee support, and development efforts in the U.S. and Canada. We seek to equip & empower Disciples to alleviate the suffering of others through disaster response, humanitarian aid, sustainable development, and promotion of mission opportunities.

For many, 2017 was an apocalyptic year filled with unbelievable storms, fires, floods, mudslides, and violence. You have shared your compassion with families in South Texas and Puerto Rico who were impacted by hurricanes. You offered food and shelter to families as far away as Sierra Leone and Bangladesh, who experienced the most severe floods of the century. You imagined the unimaginable world---God’s world---for empowered women and girls in in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia.

This Compassion offering---the seedling we help to plant---will have effects that ripple far beyond our imagination and spread far beyond what we might conceive.

Will you be a part of God’s dream for the world? Will you accept the invitation to make a difference and see what God will do with our giving?

~ Sheila Yeatts

UPCOMING OBCC EVENTS: (Save these dates &

watch for details in newsletters and bulletins)

02/10 & 24 Dominion Village Sundays 02/5,12,19,26 Youth Group Meets 02/6,13,20,27 Family Nights 02/17,24 Week of Compassion Offering 02/14,28 Girl Scouts Meet (EB)

02/02 10:00 AM Book Club 02/09 8AM-1PM CWF Yard Sale 02/13 10:00AM-2:00PM Our Day Out 02/09 10:00 AM Comfort Ministry 02/19 8:15 AM Bus trip to Agecroft Hall 02/21 5:00 PM Burnt Ordinary Meal 02/18 3:00 PM CWF Monday Eve Circle 02/23 9:00 AM Worship & Wonder Training 02/25 Elders’ Meeting Cancelled 02/28 11:00 AM Naomi’s Lunch Bunch

GRAMMA’S KITCHEN OFF TO A GREAT START FOR 3 YR OLDS-5TH GRADERS: Seven children are attending this fun new class. And 7 Grammas are there to greet them and help to engage the children in fixing and serving a meal together. John and MacKenzie have already made pancakes, and all eh children want to get their turns. Please encourage any children in this age group to join us on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour from 9:45-10:45 AM.

~Elaine Henk

THE ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS meets upstairs in the Education Building. Discussion is lively. Refreshments are served. All are welcome. It is NOT too late to join!!

THE CAMPBELL CLASS invites you to join them each Sunday morning at 9:45 upstairs behind the sanctuary. After gathering time, the class watches a short video and has discussion. Currently it is studying the history of Christianity, utilizing a lecture series by Dr. Bart Ehrman, Chair of the Religious Studies Department at UNC Chapel Hill. Upcoming lectures will include the most-timely discussion of The Beginning of Jewish Christian Relations, The Anti-Jewish Use of the Old Testament, The Rise of Christian Anti-Judaism. After the shootings at the Synagogue, many of us want to know more about origins of this hatred for the Hebrew people. Please join us; let’s explore together.

UPDATED OBCC DIRECTORY AT CHURCH SERVICES: Look for a supply of the newly-revised Directory at both services during the first part of February. Those who are out of town or not ever able to attend church will receive a Directory in the mail. Please get new/changed information to the office whenever it occurs, so that the office records are up to the minute.

WORSHIP AND WONDER TRAINING: will be on Saturday, February 23rd in the Education Building. This all-day training promises to be useful and fun. Contact Linda Williams if you will attend and to get details of the day. Read more below!

WORSHIP AND WONDER NEWS: Worship and Wonder is a program for children that invites children to experience and learn about God in a special place apart from the congregation. It is conducted during the 11:00 a.m. church service in the Education Building in a room that has been designed and maintained just for this purpose. We are in need of more volunteers to help out with this worthwhile program as either Storytellers or Greeters.

Curious? Interested? Please attend a Worship and Wonder training on Saturday, February 23, 2019, from 9AM to approximately 3PM in the New Fellowship Hall. Both current and prospective Storytellers and Greeters are invited/encouraged to attend. A light breakfast and lunch will be available. Please contact Linda Williams (lwilli6504@aol.com; 703-577-1858 if you are interested and able to attend.

Thanks in advance for your consideration! ~Landa Simmons, Ann Bradshaw, Linda Williams

FAMILY NIGHT CONTINUES ALL MONTH: Good food, great fellowship, grand learning….all part of the evening outing. Come anytime!

AGECROFT HALL TRIP & LUNCH STOP ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19: The OBCC bus will travel to Agecroft Hall, a majestic Tudor mansion brought to Virginia piece by piece from Manchester, England. The home is located on 23 beautifully landscaped acres overlooking the James River, not far from downtown Richmond. The OBCC bus has 12 seats available. Sign up with Edie Larkin (757-258-1439; normlarkin796@yahoo.com) by Monday, February 11. The bus will leave at 8:30 AM for a 10AM tour of the home. Admission cost: $8.00 (payable on the bus); Lunch at Baker’s Crust following tour.

OBCC PARTNERS FOR HOMELESS SHELTER WEEK AT HICKORY NECK: Episcopal Church from February 24-March 3. The shelter week is part of the annual area-wide effort to assist those in need during November-March.

VOLUNTEER JOBS THAT NEED TO BE DONE In general, one shelter day runs from 5:30 PM to about 9:30 AM. There will always be a Hickory Neck member on site to help and give guidance.

Check-in & Dinner Team (2 teams) 5:30-10:00 PM: 1) 2 check in guests according to the

established process 2) 4-6 prepare tables, serve dinner, and

clean up

Overnight Shift 10:00 PM-6:00 AM (2 parts-10PM-2AM and 2AM-6AM):

2/shift part-4 total for the night (awake throughout shift)

Watch to insure safe and secure environment according to established process

Morning Shift (2 teams) 5:30 AM-9:30 AM: 1) 2 check out guests according to the

established process 2) 4-6 prepare tables, cook & serve

breakfast, clean up, and pack bag lunches (using food already on site) according to orders received the previous evening

Please consider how you can help during the shelter week. Contact Sheila Yeatts is coordinating OBCC’s work with Hickory Neck (757-903-5845).

Sheila is separately coordinating a cooking team to provide 2 dinners during the shelter week.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH-A BIT OF BACKGROUND: The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

As a Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson, like W. E. B. Du Bois before him, believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail

over prejudice. His hopes to raise awareness of African American’s contributions to civilization was realized when he and the organization he founded, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), conceived and announced Negro History Week in 1925. The event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The response was overwhelming: Black history clubs sprang up; teachers demanded materials to instruct their pupils; and progressive whites, not simply white scholars and philanthropists, stepped forward to endorse the effort.

By the time of Woodson’s death in 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life and substantial progress had been made in bringing more Americans to appreciate the celebration. At mid–century, mayors of cities nationwide issued proclamations noting Negro History Week. The Black Awakening of the 1960s dramatically expanded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black history, and the Civil Rights movement focused Americans of all color on the subject of the contributions of African Americans to our history and culture.

The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” That year, fifty years after the first celebration, the association held the first African American History Month. By this time, the entire nation had come to recognize the importance of Black history in the drama of the American story. Since then each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations. And the association—now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)—continues to promote the study of Black history all year.

~Excerpt from an essay by Daryl Michael Scott, Howard University, for the Association for the Study

of African American Life and History

OUR DAY OUT DECEMBER FUN IN JANUARY

The Olive Branch

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The Olive Branch

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Olive Branch Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 7643 Richmond Road

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