The Olive Branch

1

JANUARY 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

THERE IS STILL GOOD IN THE WORLD

Early in December of 2018 disaster struck. Our church van had just the previous week made a trip to the Rocky Hock Playhouse in Edenton, NC, to see the play, Christ the Savior is Born! The second group from our church was on their way to see the play, when the van broke down 20 miles outside of Edenton. Mel Watson did a great job of easing it to the shoulder of NC State Route 32. No one was injured. Help was needed. But would anyone stop to help?

The answer was an unqualified yes! A deputy for Gates County stopped to render assistance in just a few minutes. A farmer and his wife stopped to offer their help. A driver of a 20-passenger van for a local Baptist Church stopped and offered to take everyone to the Playhouse after he dropped off his passengers. A tow truck driver arrived to begin repairs. The farmer and wife left and quickly returned, each driving a Chevrolet Suburban, to transport people to Rocky Hock. The farmer then went back to stay with the tow truck driver and help get the van to the repair shop. By 4:00 that afternoon the church van was fixed, all the Olive Branch folk had arrived to the playhouse in time for the lunch buffet & to see the play….and what had looked like a disaster had turned into a God-moment, as God showed us that there are still good people left in this world.

The late Fred Rogers, known to many as simply Mister Rodgers, said this in an interview: "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by

realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world."

God’s people are still helping others in this world. No matter how terrible we think this world has become; no matter how bad we think people have become; God is still working through those who know and love Him. We learned that lesson southbound on NC 32.

May we be God’s helpers in this community. Reach out, stop, and offer to help. In so doing, God’s love will shine, and people will have their eyes open to the good that still exists in this world. Make God’s love through Jesus Christ visible! Go out and make some God-moments!

Blessings, Pastor Richard

Here are your leaders for the 2019 year. I am deeply grateful for their willingness to step up. Many more have and will step up to serve on and chair committees to make the work we do possible. Without all of you, Olive Branch could not function. Thank you!

BOARD CHAIR Doug Dill

VICE CHAIR Robbie Robertson

RECORDING SECRETARY Maralyn Carr

CLERK Kim Riffle

TREASURER Cindy Robertson

FINANCIAL SECRETARIES Lorraine Beasley Joyce Allen Richard Bradshaw

ELDERS Missy Harbour Kim Riffle Norm Harbour Chuck Walker Elaine Henk Harold Barker Marney Brickhouse Bob Schmidt Joshua Fulgham Ralph Hutton Bob Lawrence Barb Schmidt

DEACONS Tracy Creech Will Hatcher Keeta Hodson Val Mason Tracey Hutton Stacey Mullins Boyce Mason Andrew Pfister Kaye Watson Linda Williams Mel Watson Susan Rinehart Phyllis Taylor Patty Barker Sheila Yeatts Dale Teagle Jane Hatcher Donald White Janet Dombrowski Diana Love Donna Haulsee David Love

DEACONESS Nancy Griffith Linda Hutchens Irma Gustafson Elna Pitts Danny Pitts

TRUSTEES Larry Smith Harold McKeel Danny Pitts Kay Ainsworth Fred Rothermel

CWF NEWS

Dear OBCC members and families, I would like to say a special thanks to all of you for always answering my call for food, baked goods, decorations, and especially help to set up & take down tables and chairs, and clearing & cleaning up after each event. Everyone always tells me thanks for a beautiful, delicious, and wonderful time, so I would like to pass those thanks to all of you who truly make it possible. Because you freely share your talents and time, I am blessed with the most loving church family and do appreciate all of you so much.

May God Bless You Always, ~Marney Brickhouse

CWF TUESDAY MORNING CIRCLE Tuesday Circle on December 11 was cancelled due to the nasty snowstorm over the previous weekend.

The January meeting is CANCELLED. The group is slated to meet again on February 12 at Interlude. Hope you had happy and safe holidays!!

See you there, ~Donna Haulsee

MONDAY CWF TO MEET JANUARY 21 AT 3

The new study will be Breaking Free from Fear. If you have not already ordered a book, please email Carole Kerr (mrskerr@verizon.net), so she can order one for you.

The group took a break during November and December. In January they will meet at the afternoon time (3 PM). Evening meetings will resume in April, 2019. ~Carole Kerr

YOUTH GROUP

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

HELP NEEDED IN JANUARY!!! Volunteers are needed for January. Kelsey will be gone for the first three weeks of January because classes are out of session at the college, and we need some volunteers to teach and hang out with the youth. Please contact Kelsey Creech at creechkelsey@gmail.com if you are willing to come and spend time with these wonderful young people. Curriculum and materials will be provided.

~Kelsey Creech, Youth Outreach Ministries

BOOK CLUB—NO JANUARY MEETING: Instead, take this time to order our next book, Forgotten God by Francis Chan. We will start up again on February 2 and 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-CHANGED

The January, 2019, meeting (set for the 1st) will be on January 8th instead at 2 PM. ~Dick & Betty Barber

SERVING THIS MONTH

Elders

January 6 Chuck Walker, Bob Lawrence

January 13 Marney Brickhouse, Ralph Hutton

January 20 Norm Harbour, Missy Harbour

January 27 Kim Riffle, Harold Barker

Deacons

January 6 Val Mason, Sheila Yeatts Andrew Pfister, Keeta Hodson

January 13 Donna Haulsee, Boyce Mason Donald White, Tracey Hutton

January 20 David Love, Diana Love Stacey Mullins

January 27 Tracy Creech, Dale Teagle Patty Barker, Susan Rinehart

Deaconess

Worship and Wonder (Ages 3-8)

January 6 Landa Simmons, Kim Riffle

January 13 Ann Bradshaw, Patty Barker

January 20 Linda Williams, Carolyn Hunt

January 27 Missy Harbour, Linda Williams

January 6 OPEN

January 13 OPEN

January 20 OPEN

January 27 OPEN

Church Family: Pat Allred, Betty Barber, Harold Barker, Charles & Betty Boy, Nancy Griffith Family, Lucy Hall, Norm Harbour, Lena Jeffries, Gail Key, Dallas Mitchell, Charlie Pruitt, Robbie Robertson 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), Sue Dunfee (Susan Rinehart’s friend), GJ Gerner (Stacey Mullins’ co-worker brother), Shaun Hooker (Don White’s son), David Hunt (Jim Hunt’s brother), Marolyn Pierce (Carolyn Hunt’s sister), Iris Reeder Family (Nancy Griffith’s older sister), Arnold VanDyke, Walter Via (Janet Neal’s friend), Margaret Wilhelm (Elizabeth Ripley’s sister)

Pastor has reviewed and revised the prayer list. Please let the church office know if there is anyone who should be returned to the list. Thanks!

09 Danny & Elna Pitts

02 Bob Phillips 06 Kayla Walker 07 Elna Pitts 08 Phyllis Gardner 08 Rudy Ruskey 09 Sheila White 11 Harold Barker 12 Travis Garrett 14 Colleen Wright 15 Erich Hodson 17 Shirley Ann Harrison 18 Amy Gilliam 19 JC Biggs 27 Clay Harrison 30 Linda Hutton 31 Skip Jensen

FOOD SHARING PROGRAM UPDATE

Happy New Year, 2019! We are grateful for your weekly food donations to support our food sharing program. Your donations lighten the load for our neighbors dealing with food insecurity. We are confidently praying your generous donations to our food sharing program will continue in 2019.

We have amazing “points of lights” in our church that bless our church family and light up the lives of our neighbors who are in need. Your participation is a Christ-like way to serve our neighbors. We are grateful for the service you provide. Thanks for your good will!

~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

A nasty snowstorm and remaining ice forced us to cancel the December Our Day Out. Instead we will have our Christmas in January (complete with Santa, who has agreed to make a special appearance) on the 9th. See you there!

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

OUR DAY OUT SPECIAL SPEAKER TOO! Douglas Panto of the Alzheimer Association Williamsburg Branch Office (of the Southern Virginia Chapter) will present a program on Wandering and Safe Responses at the January 9th session of Our Day Out. He will speak from 10:30-11:20.

Please invite anyone you know who could benefit from this very important information. Education is just one of the important facets of ODO. It aims to help caregivers with the challenges they face daily.

~Louise Smith

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Mondays, January 1 & 21

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).

UPCOMING OBCC EVENTS: (Save these dates &

watch for details in newsletters and bulletins)

1/13 & 27 Dominion Village Sundays 1/8,15,22,29 Youth Group Meets 1/3,17,31 Girl Scouts Meet (EB)

01/01 OFFICE CLOSED 01/09 10:00AM-2:00PM Our Day Out 01/12 10:00 AM Comfort Ministry 01/17 5:00 PM Burnt Ordinary Meal 01/21 OFFICE CLOSED 01/21 3:00 PM CWF Monday Eve Circle 01/24 11:00 AM Naomi’s Lunch Bunch 01/28 6:30 PM Elders’ Meeting

HYGIENE KITS PROJECT COLLECTION ALL MONTH OF JANUARY Here is what you will need. Please have your kit at OBCC by Monday, January 28, 2019. Look for the box outside the office.

*One hand towel about 15”x 28” to 16”x 32” (no fingertip, bath, dish, micro-fiber) *One washcloth

*One wide-tooth comb-remove from package

*One finger/toe nail clipper-remove from package

*One bath-size bar of soap-in the wrapper/box

*One toothbrush-in the package

*Ten standard size Band-aids

►Put items into a 1-gallon zipper-close plastic bag ►Squeeze out excess air from the bag & seal it ►Donate $2/kit in a separate envelope for shipping

**PLEASE do not add** extra items OR toothpaste

WORLD OUTREACH NEWS:

CHRISTMAS OFFERING REPORT: A total of $2,445.00 has been collected as of this printing.

GRAMMA’S KITCHEN TO START ON JANUARY 20TH--NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: A Young People’s Sunday School Class is set for January 20th in the Education Building for 3-year olds through 5th graders. A light breakfast will be part of the class, followed by a story time, and building activity. Look for more details in bulletins and e-mail. Please call Elaine Henk if you can help to make this a success. (757-566-3911).

THE ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS meets upstairs in the Education Building & will begin a new study. 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 TO BE PRINTED IN JANUARY, 2019:

Please check your directory entry to make sure the information you want is there and correct. If you have revisions to information for the 2019 edition, please let the office know by January 21.

Directories will list the names of member & friends for whom we have address, phone, and/or e-mail. It will include an updated list of leaders and committee members, as well as a variety of community resource contact information.

The directory should be available in late January for pick up at the church.

WORSHIP AND WONDER TRAINING: will be conducted in March, rather than January.

CLAY HARRISON MEMOIR IN PRINT Wings of Faith is now available from Clay Harrison or from the publisher www.lulu.com for $15.00.

The 282-page book is filled with 100 poems, family photos, and orginal art from VIPs. There are stories about how we encounter angels in our lives and how we entertain angels unawares during difficult moments in our lives.

NEW PRAYER GROUP STARTED IN DECEMBER—IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN IN: Prayer is one of the most important actions that a child of God can do. Prayer is our one on one talk with our Lord, and it is a necessity, not an option or recommendation, or something to put until the last minute in our day to day lives. I have seen prayers

answered, as well as every one of us. Prayer is real; and it is through continual, from-the-heart prayers that God not only hears us, but answers us. It is with great joy that I invite everyone to join the Thursday evening prayer group. The group will start on December 6, at 6:30 pm. We will start with a small study, and then lift the needs of our families, friends, strangers & others in need.

~With the love of Christ, Joshua Fulgham

GIRL SCOUTS BACK AT OBCC:

Welcome! Daisy Troop #1385 (K-1) will meet every other Thursday from 5:30-7PM in the Southeast Sunday School Room in the Education Building. They first appeared on December 20th and will depart after their June 20, 2019 meeting. They are very happy to have found a home!

OBCC YOUTH AT CHRISTMAS TOWN: The

youth group enjoyed this outing on December 28th and invited the rest of the church to join them to see the wonderful shows and lights Christmas town had to offer.

FAMILY NIGHT RETURNS: Watch bulletins and e-mails for details on the anticipated return beginning on Wednesday, January 16th. Good food, great fellowship, grand learning.

Ann and I would like to thank our church family for the beautiful cards, special notes, goodies to eat, lovely gifts, and the always surprising and greatly appreciated love gift from the congregation. Over and over, throughout the year, we are humbled by your love and kindness.

~Richard and Ann

Feast of The Three Kings—January 6

OBCC PARTNERS FOR HOMELESS SHELTER WEEK AT HICKORY NECK: Episcopal Church from February 24-March 3. The shelter week is part of the 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

If you are able to volunteer for one or both of these jobs during the shelter week, please contact Sheila Yeatts, who 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.

Thank you SO MUCH for the generous Christmas gift! I am blessed to be a part of this wonderful family of such caring folks. It is my distinct pleasure to know that I can help you do the important work you do every day. Here’s to a great New Year!!!! ~Susan Fournier

MAY THIS BE THE BIGGEST SNOWFLAKE STORM WE SEE!

The Olive Branch

9

The Olive Branch

10

The Olive Branch © published by

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

Williamsburg, VA 23188-7024

(757) 566-8077

Electronic Service Requested .

Non-Profit Organization U. S. Postage

PAID Norge, VA

Permit No. 2

Note: No longer wish to receive our newsletter? Address changed? Please contact the church office.