this weekend @ sfbc - May 30th

sfbc family,

We need you at sfbc! I want to remind you that we do have activities on Wednesday nights this summer and that even though AWANA is out for the summer, we haven't shut down. The break is good for the AWANA workers but it is not intended to say you don't come to church on Wednesday for 2 months. It is to allow some refreshing by attending Bible Study, prayer meeting, or student worship, originally the intent was to bring us all together. In AWANA our goal is to share the importance of knowing God's word, because that is how we know Him. What does it say to our kids if we by example demonstrate that attendance in the summer is optional? We lead by example. There are activities for children, adults, students, and adults. I completely understand a break from so much hard work, but during the break adults please join us for prayer and Bible Study, it might just be more refreshing than you think.

This is from the newsletter this week, I hope you read it or have already . . . . .

Summer is here. Memorial Day is usually considered by many the beginning of summer. School will be out after Friday and many will be taking their vacations soon. So as summer starts let me ask you to please remember that the church needs you in many ways this summer.

South Fork needs you to pray everyday. Please pray for the church and its ministry each day. Even while you are on vacation, take a moment to thank God for your church and to bless your church family. Pray for our church mission trips, that people will trust Christ, that our attendance, giving, and participation would remain strong. We only go as far as your prayers!

South Fork needs you to attend faithfully. Please remember to attend on Sundays and Wednesdays. There are still activities each week at church, so often attendance is really down during the summer, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It just means continuing the habit of attending. Remember just showing up can be a blessing to those who serve our church family.

South Fork needs you to give consistently. We still have bills and expenses during the summer. With lower attendance, giving can take a dip. A dip that, we many times don’t make up. We need to be reaching our budget goals and I am afraid we take for granted that things will be fine. We also tend to spend more on ourselves during the summer and give little. This summer, if you are away for two Sundays for vacation remember to make up those weeks when you return to church. We have several things that need your giving to be consistent, things like VBS, AWANA preparations for the fall, MFUGE, mission trips all depend on you being faithful.

South Fork needs you to serve. We need Bible School workers. Sandy has a sign up poster at the main bulletin board. This is a great way to help reach children in our church and area. Please don’t wait until VBS to ask where you can help, sign up on Sunday. You can serve at the 4th of July picnic, with students, with children, or lead a Bible Study or class. There are so many areas, please be a servant this summer. Your church needs you . . . will you help?

Please participate in our Marine Care Box project for 3/6 Kilo serving in Afghanistan. As we approach Memorial Day, it reminds us of the great sacrifice that many have made serving our country and I am sure will cause our hearts to be heavy. This project is in honor of Matt Hanson and will be sent to his unit. One of Matt‘s friends was killed this past week in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Be sure to bring your items on Sunday. A list is available at the missions map or in our church office.

See you on Sunday

Bro Norm




Memorial Day Project
We will be sending "Care Packages" to 20 Marines in 3/6 Kilo, Matt Hanson's Unit. There will be a list of supplies needed available at the welcome center on Sunday and a tub located near the mission area to drop of items. We plan to ship the Care Packages around June 1st. Items are needed by Sunday, May 30th.

How can you help, several ways. Do a box, a family or person could actually do a box, be a leader in your class (volunteer to help get items), give funds designated for shipping, (cost $14 per box total $280), give funds to buy items (if you can't pick up some things give a designated donation and someone will pick them up), help us when we pack the Packages (more about this will be announced later), write a card to a Marine, a list of their names will be on the back of the items list. There are lots of ways to get involved. Melinda Howell is helping me with this, you can see her if you have any questions.

Vacation Bible School 2010 - Saddle Ridge Ranch - Roundin' Up Questions, Drivin' Home Answers
VBS will be July 18th - 22nd, 5:30pm - 8:30pm. We are looking for people to serve during VBS in the areas of teaching, nursery, music, missions, crafts, and the kitchen crew. A sign up sheet is located in the front foyer. Please sign up or contact Sandy Kidd for more information.

Wednesdays Summer Schedule
Prayer and Bible Study 6pm - 7pm
Kids Choir 6pm - 7pm
CM2 Creative Ministry for kids 7pm - 8pm
Student Worship 7pm - 8pm
There is something for everyone on Wednesday nights @ sfbc!

MFUGE Silent Auction
There will be a silent auction fund raiser for MFUGE on Sunday, June 6th, beginning at 5pm in the church fellowship hall. We still need to raise funds for this mission trip. There are 95 students and leaders attending MFUGE this year in Nashville. It is a week of missions, worship, growth, and life change. We will have one of the largest groups in the nation participating this summer. Many times we attempt to get a "bargain" at a silent auction, let me encourage you instead of asking how cheap can I get something, ask how much can I give to help a student this summer. Let's see if we can meet a $5,000 goal for this auction. If you would like to donate a item for this auction please contact Dewayne or Theresa Banks.

Angel Food Ministries
We are taking orders for June. On site orders may be placed on Sunday following morning worship or at the office Monday - Wednesday 9am - 2pm. We accept cash, money orders or food stamps. You ,may also go on lone to order with a credit card or debit card at www.angelfoodministries.com/. Distribution Day is Saturday, June 26th, 9am - 10:30am.

this weekend @ sfbc - May 23rd

sfbc family,

This Sunday, we will focus on our Student and Children's ministry. Sunday morning we will celebrate with the class of 2010. In the 11am service, we will introduce the senior class to our congregation, there are 23 students participating, just think about that 23 seniors! Awesome testimony to the blessing that God is pouring out in our student ministry. We will feature a video in both services and host a reception for the Senior Class from 4pm - 6pm on Sunday afternoon. Baccalaureate is also Sunday afternoon at 3pm at the Larue County High School.

On Sunday night, we will celebrate as our children's ministry has completed another year of AWANA. Sunday night, we will recognize our children and volunteers for a great year of ministry. AWANA attendance has averaged around 101 this year, we have been blessed with wonderful workers who serve and a committed team of people who have provided our AWANA meals Thank you doesn't seem like enough to say for all you do but Thank You for serving and your commitment each week.

So in total our Wednesday night student and children's ministry reaches over 200 people each week! And these kids and youth are not just future leaders for our community but the very ones that will lead and serve in our church. A great investment but a better return.

Speaking of investment, we will also be receiving a special offering for MFUGE on Sunday morning. There will be a offering envelope in your bulletin. On July 5th, 95 of our students and adults will travel to Nashville to serve on-mission. This offering helps with the cost of the trip, while some students are able to pay for the majority of their trip many can not and depend on your gifts to send them on-mission. This investment provides a life changing mission experience, teaching, worship, food, housing for the week, and transportation. This week has resulted in a powerful transformation for many of our students and is worth far more than what we can give. I have been suggesting that instead of giving each graduate a gift during the reception that you give an offering in their honor to MFUGE and just give a card that reads, in honor of you, I have given a special offering for MFUGE this year. A great investment but a better return.

See this weekend,
Bro Norm



Memorial Day Project
We will be sending "Care Packages" to 20 Marines in 3/6 Kilo, Matt Hanson's Unit. There will be a list of supplies needed available at the welcome center on Sunday and a tub located near the mission area to drop of items. We plan to ship the Care Packages around June 1st. Items are needed by Sunday, May 30th.

How can you help, several ways. Do a box, a family or person could actually do a box, be a leader in your class (volunteer to help get items), give funds designated for shipping, (cost $14 per box total $280), give funds to buy items (if you can't pick up some things give a designated donation and someone will pick them up), help us when we pack the Packages (more about this will be announced later), write a card to a Marine, a list of their names will be on the back of the items list. There are lots of ways to get involved. Melinda Howell is helping me with this, you can see her if you have any questions.

Class of 2010
We will be celebrating with our High School Graduates on Sunday, May 23rd. We will recognize them during morning worship and host a reception in the fellowship hall that afternoon from 4pm - 6pm.

AWANA AWARDS
Sunday night at 6pm. Parents and Children please attend as we celebrate another great year of AWANA!

Vacation Bible School 2010 - Saddle Ridge Ranch - Roundin' up questions, Drivin' Home Answers
VBS will be July 18th - 22nd, 5:30pm - 8:30pm. We are looking for people to serve during VBS in the areas of teaching, nursery, music, missions, crafts, and the kitchen crew. A sign up sheet is located in the front foyer. Please sign up or contact Sandy Kidd for more information.

Wednesday Summer Schedule begins on May 26th
Prayer and Bible Study 6pm - 7pm
Kids Choir 6pm - 7pm
CM2 Creative Ministry for kids 7pm - 8pm
Student Worship 7pm - 8pm
There is something for everyone on Wednesday nights @ sfbc!

this weekend @ sfbc - May 16th

sfbc family,

I am really looking forward to Sunday. I love to see our church family gather together to worship, grow, and serve. This Sunday, Bob and Bonnie Parker will be a big part of our worship services.

Bob and Bonnie have played such a huge part in me, I have been "wrecked" by their commitment to Jesus, their love for missions and Africa. Needless to say their impact on our church has been significant. I feel like they are more than a visiting missionary, I think of them as part of our church family. God called us to partner (see Philippians 1) with them and we have never looked back. We have been able to build churches, a pastors home, share the gospel with unreached people, teach children, support the daily work and the list keep growing. One major thing that will happen on Sunday is we will be sharing with Bob that we will be providing a water tower for Gallenshau. AWANA kids and others have raised the funds to provide the tower. Clean water is a must and a tower, is basically a tank that collects rain water runoff from the tin roof of the church. This tower will provide clean drinking water during the dry season. During both my trips to the area, we have been asked to provide water and pray for water. Last time, we prayed on Sunday and it rained on Monday. . . God is good . . . . had to stop for just a second . . . anyway, be sure to be at church on Sunday, they will be part of both services 8:30am and 11am.

Sunday night at 6pm, Sandy Cruse will be sharing about Springhaven Domestic Violence Program in Etown. I had a small part last year in a balloon ceremony and heard a woman share her story. There is much need for ministry in this area. You will hear not only what they do but how you can help. This is part of their Mother's Day awareness emphasis. I promise God will touch your heart listening to the story of Sringhaven.

Next Sunday is Senior Sunday at South Fork. We will recognize the Senior Graduates during the 11am worship service. It is always a great time as we feature our students who are about to start a new chapter in life. We also will receive the special MFUGE offering next Sunday. There will be an offering envelope in your bulletin. This offering has always been an important opportunity to give for our student mission trip this summer. Let me make a suggestion, for years our church family has given card to graduates, many that include cash during the evening reception. But now we have large graduating classes, people just can't do that for everyone. So, give one special gift to the MFUGE offering and write in your card for the graduates, I am proud of your commitment to Christ and I gave a gift in your honor to MFUGE. You will bless many this way. Of course, you can still do both.

Saturday at 3pm is the wedding of Emily Riggs and Corey Skaggs, you are invited.

Don't forget memorial day care package items are due on Sunday, May 30th.

See you this weekend,
Bro Norm

PS - Congratulations to Caleb and Leeann Ragland on the birth of a baby boy last night, Charlie Caleb Ragland, 8lbs. 6oz, 22 inches long!

Bob and Bonnie Parker
This Sunday morning, we we will host Bob and Bonnie Parker our mission partners in Africa. They are coming to share with us before their return to Ghana in June. This is always an inspiring Sunday and a great opportunity to hear what God is doing in West Africa. We partner with Seed Ministry providing support, planting churches, and sending teams. You will love Bob and Bonnie, please be sure to attend.

Springhaven Domestic violence Program
Sandy Cruse (who is one of our sfbc family) will be our Special Guest on Sunday Night at 6pm. Sandy will be sharing about Springhaven in Etown. You will learn what Springhaven does and ways to volunteer and give to assist this program. This is part of their Mother's Day emphasis on awareness of Domestic Violence. Please attend Sunday night at 6pm.

Memorial Day Project
We will be sending "Care Packages" to 20 Marines in 3/6 Kilo, Matt Hanson's Unit. There will be a list of supplies needed available at the welcome center on Sunday and a tub located near the mission area to drop of items. We plan to ship the Care Packages around June 1st. Items are needed by Sunday, May 30th.

Class of 2010
We will be celebrating with our High School Graduates on Sunday, May 23rd. We will recognize them during morning worship and host a reception in the fellowship hall that afternoon from 4pm - 6pm. We want to be sure we have the names of all our graduating seniors including any college graduates. Please see Dewayne, Theresa Banks, or call Pam at our church office to be sure you are on our list of graduates. Thank you!

Vacation Bible School 2010 - Saddle Ridge Ranch - Roundin' up questions, Drivin' Home Answers
VBS will be July 18th - 22nd, 5:30pm - 8:30pm. We are looking for people to serve during VBS in the areas of teaching, nursery, music, missions, crafts, and the kitchen crew. A sign up sheet is located in the front foyer. Please sign up or contact Sandy Kidd for more information.

this weekend @ sfbc - May 9th

sfbc family,

Hope you have experienced a great week and are looking forward to a wonderful weekend that includes worship at South Fork on Sunday. Sunday was a challenge with all the rain and flooding. We learned much and there are many people who are facing a long clean up both locally and both Kentucky and Tennessee. Please pray for those still effected by this weeks flooding. For most of of us the worse part was being inconvenienced by roads that were closed or a canceled school day, remember it could have been much worse, we in fact are blessed.

The last couple of years, we have been doing Memorial Day projects as a way to remember those who are currently serving and those who have served in the Armed Forces. Last year, we gave 3 cases of Bibles that were shipped to our service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year Memorial Day (May 31st) takes a really personal turn for our congregation. Our project will be sending 20 Care Packages to 3/6 Kilo Marines serving in Afghanistan, Matt Hanson's unit. We have names of 20 Marines from Megan (Matt's sister) and will be collecting items and shipping them on June 1st. This will be a great project for a Sunday School class, student group, or even a children's class ( get the kids to write notes thanking them for serving). There will be a list of items that we will be collecting available on Sunday at the Welcome Center. A tub will be places near the mission area to drop off items. We will ship the packages in US postal boxes cost $14 each. I will be placing Bibles in each of the boxes, as well as a prayer letter from the church (we will be doing them on the next few Wednesday nights). Items will need to be at the church by May 30th. Let's do everything we can to make this a church wide project and care for Marines in 3/6 Kilo.

How can you help, several ways. Do a box, a family or person could actually do a box, be a leaders in your class (volunteer to help get items), give funds designated for shipping, (cost $14 per box total $280), give funds to buy items (if you can't pick up some things give a designated donation and someone will pick them up), help us when we pack the Packages (more about this will be announced later), write a card to a Marine, a list of their names will be on the items list. There are lots of ways to get involved. Melinda Howell is helping me with this, you can see her if you have any questions.

Sunday is Mother's Day, we will recognize Mom's in both services and have baby dedication at 11am. Should be a great Sunday of worship. There will be no services Sunday night. Please enjoy some time with your families.

Men's Prayer Fellowship is tonight 7pm at the home of Randy and Suzanne Hines. Men of all ages are welcome!

See you this weekend
Bro Norm

PS - please pray for Scott Cameron. His father Ed has been sick all week and having several tests. Then last night he received a call from Mississippi that his mother was is critical condition and on life support. Her name is Martha Anderson. Please remember Scott, Michelle, and John Calvin and their families.




Men's Prayer Fellowship
Men's Prayer Fellowship will be meeting tonight at 7pm at the home of Randy and Suzanne Hines.

Memorial Day Project
We will be sending "Care Packages" to 20 Marines in 3/6 Kilo, Matt Hanson's Unit. There will be a list of supplies available at the welcome center on Sunday and a tub located near the mission area to drop of items. We plan to ship the Care Packages around June 1st. Items are needed by Sunday, May 30th.

Class of 2010
We will be celebrating with our High School Graduates on Sunday, May 23rd (note the date change). We will recognize them during morning worship and host a reception in the fellowship hall that afternoon from 4pm - 6pm. We want to be sure we have the names of all our graduating seniors including any college graduates. Please see Dewayne, Theresa Banks, or call Pam at our church office to be sure you are on our list of graduates. Thank you!

Bob and Bonnie Parker
On May 16th, we will host Bob and Bonnie Parker our mission partners in Africa. They are coming to share with us before their return to Ghana in June. This is always an inspiring Sunday and a great opportunity to hear what God is doing in West Africa. We partner with Seed Ministry providing support, planting churches, and sending teams. You will love Bob and Bonnie, please be sure to mark your calendar.

Vacation Bible School 2010 - Saddle Ridge Ranch - Roundin' up questions, Drivin' Home Answers
VBS will be July 18th - 22nd, 5:30pm - 8:30pm. We are looking for people to serve during VBS in the areas of teaching, nursery, music, missions, crafts, and the kitchen crew. A sign up sheet is located in the front foyer. Please sign up or contact Sandy Kidd for more information.