West Main

Rivers return water to the earth’s oceans, from whence it came by evaporation. During their flow downward, rivers serve man in many ways. This writing is just one more stanza in our song of praise for our God’s provident multipurpose ways of serving our needs through water – in its many forms and disguises.

 

 

Have you noticed that rivers are snaky? We see this as they wind back and forth in valleys during their traverse to lower ground. This meandering is caused by the eroded soil carried along that forms micro-dams that divert the flow from side to side. This wandering process serves a double good by depositing fertile soil and by maintaining a high water table in the whole vicinity. Water wells are sustained in this action. River valley farming is rewarding.

 

 

Rivers, when unpolluted by man, develop ecosystems along their paths that sustain abundant life. A lot of the world’s population lives on fish, with much of it from rivers, and the lakes formed along their routes.

 

 

Water transportation is the cheapest of all. Blessed is that country with great rivers that allow boat freight. Such transport is the economic life blood of large adjacent land areas as goods of many kinds are exchanged en route.

 

 

Rivers make room for human ingenuity by gouging out ravines that can be dammed-up for irrigation. As a result vast arid areas are opened up for farming and food production.

 

 

Along the way, rivers expose mineral and metal deposits for easy taking by man in mining efforts. Because some compounds are soluble in water, they are deposited in layers and therefore, more accessible.

 

 

Rivers carry a load of dissolved minerals to the ocean for use as housing by shellfish. This then becomes a link in the recycling of carbon that ends up as deposits on the ocean floor before being slid under Continental land masses by plate tectonics. In the end, carbon is eventually spewed back into the Earth’s atmosphere by volcanoes, where it recombines with earthy materials.

 

 

The solar energy that lifted water vapor from the surface of the ocean can be partially recovered by man from dammed-up rivers. Huge turbines driving electric generators capture the energy of falling water and make large areas habitable using electric power.

 

 

The atheist might regard all of these gifts to man as accidents of nature that are taken advantage of by human ingenuity. While there is no denying that man displays God’s image in his abilities, the opportunities laid before us are too many to count as accidental. We are thankful that our God and Father has revealed himself in his work so clearly.

 

– James Gibbs

 

 

Prayer Vigil and Fasting – November 17-18  -- Our prayer time will be from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Nov. 17. Our Fasting time will be from 9:00 a.m. on Saturday to 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18. We will break our fast with breakfast at the building at 8:15 a.m. on November 18. Please enter and exit by the West exit with the canopy. We will have prayer guardians watching the foyer and parking lot for the entire time to ensure your safety. Sign-up sheets for the Prayer Vigil are posted at the back of the auditorium. For complete info, please pick up the pamphlet this week.

 

Prayer Concert – December 1

 

 

Thanksgiving Day Dinner  -- We are in need of someone or several people to coordinate and organize the details for Thanksgiving Dinner at the building this year. If you can help, please contact the office or Lance and Betty Lake.

 

Christmas Program

(Please note the change of time and date.)

Our Annual Christmas Program this year is scheduled for Saturday, December 15, at 6:00 p.m.  Our theme this year is, “God’s Gift of Jesus to Us.” We will be presenting our program in the format of “West Main’s Got Talent” in which all members, young and old, are invited to participate. Please be thinking about how you can share and bless us with your talent. Some suggestions are singing, drama presentations, poems, scripture readings, memorization, prayer, skits, etc. Please come prepared to share your ideas or talents at our first meeting/try-out at 4:00 p.m. on November 18 in the auditorium. (Please note the change of date for the try-outs.) Posters and sign-up sheets will be available this Sunday. Please contact Christi Olson or Wyndee Thomas for further details. Our rehearsal dates are scheduled for December 2^nd and 9^th at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium.

**Please bring lots of your favorite finger foods to share at our party in the Fireside Room following the program. (We will have a special guest in attendance during our fellowship time.)**

 

 

Christian Relief Fund --  Now is the time that we need to start collecting extra funds for our “adopted children” for their Christmas presents.·· Please be generous as the donation can is passed around during our class time OR you may write a check and place it in an envelope marked CRF. Thank you so much for all that you do for our children - it is greatly appreciated. :)

 

 

 

Missing Microphone  -- Our microphone for the front of the auditorium is missing. If you have borrowed it or used it, please let the office or Mark Hamilton know of its location.

 

 

PRAYER REQUESTS . . .  For EEthel Flock who is in Hearthstone, Room 37 - she would appreciate visitors...Matthew York is in Room 6370 at RVMC and can have visitors now - his surgery and recovery have been one of God’s miracles...Luther and Jackie Riley would appreciate visitors...For Lillian Casebier who fell Monday evening and is in RVMC with some fractured bones...For Mike Eddy and his continued recovery from surgery...Prayers for our country following the election and the direction that our country will go...Cady Morris wishes to thank everyone for their prayers for her friend, Dakota, who was hit by a car two weeks ago - he is expected to come home this week from the hospital...David Mayes has had bronchitis for the past two weeks - he asks your prayers for his healing...For Jenny Way and her continuing recovery from her brain injury and that her loved ones are healthy and happy...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.

 

 

Thank You Note:  All of the ladies who received flowers on Anniversary Sunday wish to thank the Elders for the flowers. They were greatly appreciated!

 

 

HONORING OUR VETERANS

 

Did you know that our own Frank Sparks was featured in last Saturday’s Mail Tribune for his military service in WWII? Frank was a “Jungleer” in the 41^st Infantry Division from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. The 41^st division fought in more campaigns than any other division in WWII.

 

The Jungleers are the subject of a new documentary that will be premiering this Saturday, November 10, at Medford Central High School MSD Education Center, Spiegelberg building. The cost is $10.00 per person.

 

Frank, who is prominently featured in the documentary, figures he may be the last Jungleer left in the Rogue Valley. Frank became a platoon sergeant during his service years and later received the Bronze Star for Valor.

 

For the complete article on Frank, please see the article in the Mail Tribune or on their website on the internet.

 

At this time of year, we want to remember and to say “Thank You” to all of our military men and women and their families who have served and are serving our country.

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Nov 18: Meeting/Try-Out for Christmas Program; 4:00 p.m.; Auditorium

Nov 17-18: Prayer Vigil and Fasting

Dec 1: Prayer Concert