Baby Shower

Valencia is hosting a baby shower for a lady who chose not to abort her twin baby girls! Praise God for those who go week after week to the abortion clinic to minister to those ladies.

Anyhow, the shower is going to be held at Metro on Sunday, November 22nd. This mom is having financial difficulties and is in need of baby items. If you have any baby girl clothes you want to donate or would like to purchase a gift card or baby items, please let me know.

You are welcome to join the shower on the 22nd and meet this mom!

Dawn

Just a quick update on Dawn. She had surgery yesterday on the area that was infected. I don't understand all the details but her recovery at home may be lengthy. Dawn is currently in Florida Hospital Altamonte if you would like to go see her. I would imagine she will be there for the next couple days.

Let's pray that this surgery was a success and that she can recover completely at home.

Update on Dawn

Dawn is still in the hospital and is suffering from an infection. Please continue to pray for her recovery. Currently, she is in Florida Hospital Altamonte. I'm not sure what room number.

Please keep her in your prayers!

Olga's Move

Hi Everyone,

Olga will be closing on her house soon. We are going to help with painting, cleaning and moving her in.

I will have more information in the next couple days.

Please pray that the closing goes smoothly.

Dawn

Hi Everyone,

Please pray for Dawn. She was admitted to Florida Hospital Altamonte last night with cellulitis and is in a lot of pain. This is usually happens because of the mrsa. Donna is at home with the baby.

Let's be in faith for this to clear up quickly along with the other complications she's been having.

I'm going to try and stop by the hospital today to see Dawn. I believe she is in room 6728. I'm sure she would love having visitors. This family really needs to be encouraged.

Here is Donna's number in case you would like to talk with her. 352-875-3284.

Homegroup Fellowship @ the Siedlecki's

Okay, I'm really late posting these pictures!

Month of August

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick reminder about some things in August. The 3rd Wednesday of this month is a churchwide family meeting. They are encouraging every adult to attend. Also, our homegroup is serving in children's ministry this month. If you are on the schedule, please make sure you check in at 9:30am every Sunday. And, if you will not be there one week, please let Tim or I know so we can get a replacement for you. Also, the churchwide marriage retreat is at the end of this month. Couples, please sign up! You are not going to want to miss this!

Dawn and Baby!

Hi Everyone,

I just got word that Dawn had her baby last night by c-section! Everything seems to be going well for mom and baby. Baby weighed in at 6lbs. I'm not sure what Dawn named the baby. I'm hoping to speak with her today. I will be setting up meal for her real soon.

Now we have two new babies in the homegroup only days apart!!

Dawn

Hey all -

Dawn just called me a few minutes ago and told me she went in to the hospital because she wasn't feeling well, and due to the babies heart rate decererating, they are going to take the baby today instead of mid August. As I understand it, there is no immediate emergency. The doctors just want to avoid one! So please keep her in your prayers!

July Fellowship!

Hi Everyone,

Check out what we have planned for the month of July!

Hope to see you there!

Prayer for Tracy

Hey HG!

Thank you so much for my baby shower.  I had such a blast and was overwhelmed with your generosity.  I am thankful we did the shower when we did because now I am on bedrest again.  Here is the update:

I am on bedrest again until the end of my pregnancy.  I am 33 weeks now and will have to stay on bedrest until 36/37 weeks.  My cervix has thinned out and 25% effaced.  He is still breech and she was going to turn him on Tuesday but now is going to wait 3 more weeks.  The only issue with this is it will make him much bigger and more difficult and painful (for me) to turn him.  If he doesn't turn then I will have to go into the hospital and they will try there - if they can't turn him then I will be forced to have a c-section.

We would appreciate the prayers that he will stay put for a few more weeks and that he will turn on his own!  Plus, for Seth and Norah who will have to manage without Mommy for awhile.  =)

Homegroup Fellowship in July!

Hi Everyone!

As you all may know, there is no formal homegroups in the month of July. However, leadership has encouraged us to get together to fellowship in different ways.

So, here are the couple things we have planned for July. Mark your calendars now!

* Wednesday, July 8th - Fort Mellon Park at 6:30pm. This is a great park for kids and adults too! There is a playground, splash park, basketball court and tennis court. I don't know if the splash park will be open at 6:30pm. But keep in mind if it is, there is a fee. Check out the website at www.sanfordfl.gov You can bring drinks and snacks if want.*

Sunday, July 26th - Barbeque and Pool Party - Black's home at 1:00pm. More information forthcoming. I will have a sign up for food.

Also, please make some time and fellowship outside these two events!!!

Need Help this Saturday!

We need volunteers to help distribute Conversation flyers this Saturday. Even if you only have an hour that would be great. The Black's distributed about 60 flyers last Saturday in about an hour!

Please respond if you can volunteer. Our goal is to have the two mile radius done before the Conversation meetings begin the the middle of June.

Flyer Distribution

Here are the dates for the Conversation flyer distribution. This is a great opportunity to take the whole family and distribute flyers. Please let us know who will be going out each week. You will want to coordinate with one another. These are just suggested dates and times below.

Saturday, May 23rd (9:00am-1:00pm)
-Matt, Jess, Nick, McKenzie, Jeremy

Saturday, May 30th (9:00am-1:00pm)
-

Saturday, June 6th (9:00am-1:00pm)
-

Saturday, June 13th (9:00am-1:00pm)

Conversation

The Conversation course will begin Tuesday June 16th (6:30pm-9:00pm) with a total of seven sessions. This course is an opportunity to explore the Christian faith and diaglogue about life's greatest questions in a relaxed, non-threatening environment. Childcare and dinner is provided at no cost.

Please begin to earnestly pray about who would like to invite to this course. Here are a few names the homegroup has already thought about inviting. Please pray for these folks. And begin by asking them to come!

Nikki
Karen
Clayton
Keith
Brett
April
Ravel (Julia & Anna's Dad)
Tom
James
David & Dee Hernandez
Eric Jerolenan (sp)
James Mosely

The Truth Project!

Hi Everyone,

Well, some of us in the homegroup spent some time going over the first 9 DVD's from the Truth Project a few months ago. We have 3 more to watch. The church office is looking to receive them back soon; as they are on loan to us.

With that said, we are wondering who would be interested in watching the last 3? Here are the subjects that will be discussed. The American Experiment: Stepping Stones, Labor: Created to Create, and Community & Involvement: God Cares Do I?

Our weekends in May are full, so we are looking at doing a Tuesday or a Thursday night beginning at 7:00pm and would finish by 10:00pm. We know it is a lot of information on the DVD's but there are study notes to go along with it so you can take them home for further reference.

We will provide some drinks and snacks!

Please let us know if you are interested and we will come up with a date on a Tuesday or Thursday in the month of May. If I don't hear from you soon, I will just assume that you are not interested.

Homegroup Christmas Party 2008

Yes, I'm now posting pictures from the homegroup Christmas party!

This Wednesday!

Okay, the Siedlecki's are game for hosting a fun evening on the 5th Wednesday of this month. The plan is to have a bonfire and I heard some of the guys may bring their musical instruments.

Why don't we start at 7:00pm.

So here is what to bring:

Lawn Chairs
Games
2 liter drink to share
Bug spray
Stuff to make smores - chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows, skewers or sticks (last name A-L)
Sweet or Salty Item - (last name M-Z)
Does that sound good? We can change things if needed. Let me know if you have any other suggestions for that night.

Ladies Night

Hey Ladies,
So this Friday is Ladies Night at my house. Don't forget it's natural hair night. You have to wash your hair and come to the party natural! Should be a treat. Also, feel free to bring your favorite snack foods with you. We'll start around 7 pm. Call me for directions (407-312-3676)because it's not in mapquest and if you can possibly car pool (all you who live up north) please do because there are parking issues with the HOA here. Call me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you!

~Eva

Snack List

So I finally figured out how to edit this thing! I posted an updated snack list. I will try to keep it 4 - 6 weeks ahead of time so you will have time to know if you will be there or not. I will also try to remind you at church the preceeding Sunday but please check here to know when it is your week. Thanks

Tracy on Bed Rest

Hi Everyone,

Tracy's midwife put her on bed rest the other day. She has been contracting so the midwife gave her medication to stop them.

She will be on bed rest until her next appointment which in April 23rd. Then, the midwife will determine from there.

Please pray for Tracy, baby Bradley, Norah and Seth. I'm sure this is not what they expected.

God is in control!

Prayer on this end too...

Sorry to bug you guys. But, I am potentially facing bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy - which is a long time! I'm not due until August 6th. I need prayer against this!! I went to my midwife yesterday and apparently I've been having contractions and not noticing. So I was told to go home and watch and count. I ended up having way to many last night. So I've been told to be on complete bedrest today and tomorrow and then we will re-evaluate things. Three things could be causing the contractions: 1. dehydration (which I drank an ungodly amount of water yesterday - so it pretty much isn't that) 2. some sort of infection 3. pre-term labor. We sent some samples off yesterday to test for an infection and I should hear the results today or tomorrow. Norah is taken care of for the next couple days so I am just home resting. Which is pretty boring! Please pray that the contractions stop and everything is okay. I'm still having them today every time I stand up. Thanks!

Prayer for Tomorrow

As everyone knows, we are being sued for a very large sum of money for a fender bender in 2006. Tomorrow there is a hearing scheduled to determine whether or not Caleb is at fault. The plaintiff wants the judge to determine he was completely at fault so that when the case goes before a jury sometime later, the case will be only to determine what damages are awarded. The jury will just be told we are at fault and will not get the opportunity to determine that for themselves. We obviously don't want that to happen.

Unless we hear differently, the case is tomorrow morning at 10 I believe.

We would appreciate any and all prayers.

Going to the Siedlecki's

Okay, the Siedlecki's are game for hosting a fun evening on the 5th Wednesday of this month. The plan is to have a bonfire and I heard some of the guys may bring their musical instruments.

Why don't we start at 7:00pm.

So here is what to bring:

Lawn Chairs
Games
2 liter drink to share
Bug spray
Stuff to make smores - chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows, skewers or sticks (last name A-L)
Sweet or Salty Item - (last name M-Z)


Does that sound good? We can change things if needed. Let me know if you have any other suggestions for that night.

Be Diligent to Enter God's Rest

Hi Everyone,

I just listened to a message by John Piper titled Be Diligent to Enter God's Rest. The scriptures he is referring to are Hebrews 4:1-10. These are the same scriptures Jesse spoke on last Sunday.

This message from Piper may give some more clarity to our homegroup discussion last night on these scriptures.

Piper concurs that versus 3-10 in Hebrews 4 are a bit complicated. Towards the end of his sermon, he list 5 points in reference to God's rest.

I think the message is worth listening to. If you have an ipod, I'm sure you can download.

I would be interested to know what you think after listening to his message.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByScripture/26/965_Be_Diligent_to_Enter_Gods_Rest/

Hi everybody,
I just want to send an information about Jazz Concert. You can get tickets on line www.wlog.com It's only $15.00 to get in. Please let me know if you are interesting to go to the concert. I think it would be nice to get together as home group and have a good time. Bring your blankets, chairs and food! Here is info:
Announcing Smooth Jazz Under the Stars! Baldwin Park.
Join us Saturday, April 25th from 5-10pm. This year we are bringing you a fantastic line-up with Sax for Stax featuring Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum, and Four80East featuring Shilts from Down to the Bone and Chuck Loeb! Tickets are priced at an amazing value for only $15! Tickets for Sax for Stax by themselves sell for $40-$60 in other cities, but WLOQ is bringing you ALL of these acts for just $15! You've also asked us to create a reserved seating section, so we did!! Those tickets are $30, but hurry- this section is filling up fast!

Need Ideas!

Hi Everyone,

Well, I just looked at the calendar and saw that there are 5 Wednesday's in April. Right now, we would be up to doing something on the 5th Wednesday.

So, I need ideas from the peanut gallery! What would you all like to do? We will consider all reasonable suggestions!

Post your idea!

Update...

So first, I am okay. The baby seems to be okay but we have an ultrasound scheduled for Friday afternoon just to make sure. I am still hurting pretty bad and most likely pulled a couple muscles in my back. I am contracting often if I get up and do anything so my midwife wants me to lay low for a few days to see if that will go away. She is assuming it is just because of the jolt and "trauma" that my body is reacting. Thanks for your prayers. I am sure we'll be just fine over here. It's just yet another crazy story...

Pray for Tracy

Hi Everyone,

Tracy just called me a couple minutes ago. She slipped and fell last night and now is in a lot of pain. The baby is moving a lot and it feels like she is having contractions. Her midwife suggested that Tracy come in this morning to be monitored and will probably have an ultrasound to see what if anything is going on.

Please pray for Tracy that there would be peace in her heart and that nothing is seriously wrong.

I will give an update as soon as I hear something.

Proclaim!

As we conclude on series on Proclaim, let us continue to put in practice what we've learned. We are all called to evangelize.

Alpha is coming up soon. Wouldn't it be amazing to see the chapel filled to overflowing with folks interested in hearing the good news? Please starting inviting people!

Please read the following from Todd Twining.

How Should We Sustain Proclaim?
The PROCLAIM course is serving to challenge us as we dialogue about evangelism. It is a discipline we as a local church desire to grow in. So I want to pose this question to us:
How should we sustain the "PROCLAIM" mandate in our every day lives? It would be a true joy for us to be able to drop everything and just focus on sharing desperately with everyone we meet in light of the Lord's return. But in His sovereignty, God has given us families. God has given us jobs. God has given us schools. God has built into the fabric of our every day lives opportunities to grow and proclaim what we treasure in the Gospel.

I would recommend that you take 5 minutes one evening and just jot down the regular and mundane tasks you set out to accomplish each week. For some of you, that means including laundry and cleaning up messes. For some perhaps a commute to and from your workplace each day. For others it means a schedule that changes each day and others a set school schedule for the semester.

Once you list out those every day things, I would suggest asking God for insight. Make some room for Him to bring you His wisdom.Maybe your week could include things like this:
Serious prayer time during your commute for the network of people He has placed in your life. Monday - pray for salvation of family members. Tuesday - pray for salvation of co-workers. Wednesday - pray for those others around you have mentioned that they have asked for by name. Thursday - pray for the lost you bump into. Ask God for the words to say. Friday - pray for your own soul to be affected with the Gospel in deeper and more meaningful ways with each passing day.
While performing those tasks that we typically can see as the "non-spiritual" aspects of life (laundry, housekeeping, recreation) ask God for ways you can Proclaim His Gospel. Sing! Sing the Gospel! Let your spouse or family members hear you. Sing to your own soul. It really is only us that make that distinction of "spiritual" and "non-spiritual" things - we live one life before God and every thing we do should be infused with the Gospel.
Look for opportunities to step outside your comfort zone every day. Just one conversation with someone you see every day but just sort of move through the day without an effort towards them. Example: going through the line at Publix and seeing the same person working there each week - learn their name. Next time you see them - call them by name (having prayed for them by name) - let them know you are glad to see them. Next time you see them - let them know you are a Christian and you pray. Ask them if there is anything you could remember in pray on their behalf. Listen to them each time you see them. That way you are incrementally building a relationship rather than just moving through a line to satisfy your need for groceries.
Be intentional. Your car most likely needs fuel regularly. Go to the same gas station. Pay inside instead of at the pump and strike up a conversation with the employees there.
Chances are there are a number of regular things that take place within a month for you (haircut, shopping, PTA meeting). Consider those an opportunity to interact with the lost.
Don't let sports events be all about the game. Reach out to the lost. Interact with them. Get to know them. Invite them to sit with you. Take an interest in their world.
When you are with fellow believers - encourage them with testimonies of what God is doing. Remember the small things. Be grateful for them. Ask how one another is doing in putting to death fear of man. If we don't talk about it and hold one another accountable, we could easily grow stagnant and stale.
Ask the Holy Spirit to change your heart toward evangelism. Ask Him to orchestrate divine appointments for you.
Speak up! We need to hear the testimonies of what God is doing in your life through the Proclaim course. Please send me e-mails with testimonies, suggestions, etc. Let's make the effort to keep this before us as a church family.
Finally, invite the lost to come on the ALPHA course with you. It starts right after Easter. We need volunteers to help serve in the program but also we need folks who will commit to bringing the lost with them for 10 Thursdays in a row. That may be the most rewarding investment in your life as you see the entrance of the Gospel into someone else's darkness.
Remember that evangelism is a discipline. Evangelism can be messy sometimes. We can grow lazy. Let us not grow weary in sharing that which we treasure the most. Let us make every day count for Christ.

- Todd Twining

Keep The Cox Family in Your Prayers

Hello Everyone,

Medana's grandfather past away Monday morning. Though he had some health issues going on, this came as a bit of shock to their family. Jonathon and Medana will go to Jacksonville Thursday night and the funeral is on Friday. Please keep them in your prayers, especially for Medana's mother and grandmother.

A little MUSCLE!

Can't we get this web page looking a little more gender neutral friendly? All these pretty white and green circles... not enough MALE influence! Here, guys - look at this:

Opps Grammar Error

Not to be "that Guy" but shouldn't the tag line read "a blog to help us stay connected"?

Thanks, Tracy!

Thanks for doing this Tracy! I will add a couple things in the next day or two. I hope this serves everyone!

Thank you

Tracy, this is great. Thanks for doing this. I know nothing about blogs so I may need some guidance but I think this could be really great.

It's up and running!

Hello HG!

Well, yes, I am quick. It isn't completely finished - I need your help to do that. You all should have received an e-mail inviting you to be an author to this blog. Accept it. You will then be able to write whatever you want on this blog. If you look on the right you will see where I need you to fill in information: birthday's, events, prayer requests, etc... Eva, I think you do snack lists so you can fill out who has snacks this month.

You will also see "e-mail me updates". If you put in your e-mail here it will automatically send you an e-mail whenever someone writes something new on the blog. This way you don't have to remember to "check" the blog - it will check on you!

I hope this serves you and allows us to keep all the HG information in one place!
-Tracy