Christmas Eve Service

Don't forget that we will celebrate Christmas with our traditional candlelight service on Sunday, 12/23/18 at 5:00 pm. There will be no morning service this week.

If you'd like, you may bring a memorial candle to honor loved ones that have passed. Hope to see you then.

Cookies for Heroes

Don't forget, this Saturday, 12/15/18, will we meet at Judy Ware's office at 10am and assemble and then deliver the cookie baskets for our local fire stations.

You are asked to bring enough cookies to accommodate 13 different stations. If you're unable to be at the actual event, but want to participate by donating cookies, let Ben Abernathy know @ 770-354-0872 or 770-889-1526 to make arrangements to get your items there on Saturday morning.

It's a good time to say, "thank you" to the men and women that serve us daily. Hope to see you there.

Church tomorrow and an Important reminder

Due to the threat of inclement weather tonight in our area, the leadership has decided it would be best to cancel services tomorrow. That doesn't mean you shouldn't take time to worship and pray to our Lord some time during the day.

Everyone be safe and we'll resume our services next Sunday.

Also, don't forget that this Saturday is our Cookies for Heroes day. Please be prepared to get your offering of cookies or candies to Judy Ware's office by 10 am and please supply enough goodies to share between 13 local fire stations.

Remember those on our prayer list:

Prayer Concerns

V  Our church leaders & mission; our country and political leaders

V  Unspoken prayer requests

V  Damien Darragh – remember Christians worldwide

V  V  Barbara Chapman- health; friend with breast cancer

V  Marcie’s Mother – Surgery recovery; Dementia

V  Bill Ford – Aunt Francis - cancer

V  Susan Eichler – Sister; Brother-in-Law, Everett

V  The Hightowers –Dennis Barnes – cancer; Kathy Quimby; friend suffering from cerebral trauma; Former minister lost house to fires in California.

V  Judy Ware – Andy; Friend going through a divorce:

V  Cathy Schmidle’s brother, Craig; cousin, Donna-cancer

V  Michael Foster – Mike, Jr.; co-worker, Angela; Helena Cochran; Liz Mayo -brain aneurysm; Brian Blemas – cancer; Sandy – broken wrist

V  Kathie Copeland: Sister; Kathy Umberger; friend, Kathy - brain tumor 

V  Earharts: Mike’s jail ministry; Steve (homeless); tent communities: Prayer for our children, for the obstacles in their path causing separation, to be removed; Jack & Joyce McClure. Trish’s stepfather; Brother-in-law – heart blood clot; Mikie – college

V  The Lizottes – Sherry and her father; Pete Charles – COPD; Roger’s kids

V  Pat Little: sister and family, Ashley & Donna; Phil Morgan; Michelle & her mother, Marie Schultz; Jean Lamb – Parkinson’s

V  Debbie Whigham: Mother, Belle Scaffe; Amber – Chron’s disease; Karen Ramsey; Daughter, Deborah – health; Chris Hicks; Linda & Jacky Stowers – health; Stowers’ daughter, Susie – cancer; house sell; nephew – deployment; Jeremiah Hicks

V  Lorie Morris – cousin, Eddie Washburn

V  The Abernathys - Bill Turner, Colton, & 3-year-old Maddie – cancer; Marie Witkay; Jan – severe stomach issues & anemia.

Update on Pat Little's family

In response to Pat's earlier request for prayer:

Received these messages from my family.

From my brother Al:

"We are fine, the Woolsey fire started about a mile away, but blew south.

Another fire started close to us.  smoke and ash covered our house and neighbors were packing. 

but they stomped on that very quickly and it was out in a few hours.  Being the engineer, I need to make

improvements to keep flying embers out."

From my sister-in-law Janie:

"Fires down wind of us and getting contained. Scary moments a few days ago but no evacuations. 

Firemen are awesome."

Now, fellow Castle Christian folks, share this with anyone that says, "Prayer doesn't work."

IMMEDIATE PRAYER NEED

Pat Little's brother, Al, is needing prayer as the fires in California are only TWO miles from his home. Please take a moment as soon as you get this and pray for the safety of his family and God's protection of his belongings.

Thanks, everyone.

Service at The Place today

From Mike Foster:

Lunch was great today at the Place. A big thank you to everyone that helped serve or prepared food. We served around 70.

Prayer request

Trish Earhart has asked for prayer for God's Will to be accomplished in the life of her daughter, Kim Earhart Warne.

Funeral arrangements for Lorie's stepfather

Receiving friends Sun 3-5pm in Gastonia and graveside service Monday 11am Adaville Baptist, Spindale

Receiving friends at McLean Funeral Home

Obit and pic posted

http://m.mcleanfuneral.com/

m.mcleanfuneral.com

This was quite unexpected. Please remember this family in your prayers. They have suffered two deaths in the past few months.

Another passing

Lorie's stepfather, Stan Ferrell, passed away this morning from complications due to heart surgery this past Tuesday. Please be in prayer for the family.  

Services will be held Monday, August 14th, at 11 a. M. At McLean Funeral Home in Gastonia North Carolina.

Update on Maurice

From Michael Foster:

We are finally home from the ER. His back had started to retain fluid. They drained the fluid and ran test and found nothing funky. They want him to schedule a follow up appt with his doctor.

Arrangements for Debbie's father

Visitation will be Saturday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Scot Ward Funeral Home in Conyers. The service will be Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm in the Chapel at Scot Ward's. Graveside service will follow at Bethel Christian Church.

The Funeral Home is located at 699 Legion Rd NE, Conyers, GA 30012. Their phone number is  (770) 483-7216.

Bethel Christian Church is located at 1930 Bethel Rd NE, Conyers, GA 30012. Their phone number is  (770) 483-2371.

Another passing

Debbie Whigham's father passed away at around midnight. We don't know arrangements yet, but will post those as soon as they're available. Please remember Debbie's mother, the family and Debbie in your prayers as they adjust to life without a cherished family member.

Update on Debbie's father

Debbie says the nurse told them that her father's prognosis is not very good. She is asking for prayer for him, her mother and the rest of the family. A sister is on her way up from Florida so we ask for travel mercies for her.

It's a difficult time for the Schaffe family. Please remember them.

Prayer need for Debbie Whigham

Debbie's father was admitted to the hospital a couple of days ago because of dehydration. He has now been moved to ICU because of critically low blood pressure. Please put him in your prayers along with Debbie and the rest of her family.

Updaate on Marcie

From Bill:

Just wanted to let everyone know that Marcie is doing better and is actually at home now. Keep the prayers going because that’s never a bad thing. Thanks for asking, everyone.

Immediate Prayer Request

Marcie is in the hospital at Northeast Georgia Medical Center battling a perforated ulcer. She asks that she be allowed to rest so visiting her right now would be best put off until further notice. At this point they are giving her heavy duty antibiotics in hopes that the ulcer would heal itself.

She and Bill ask for prayer at this time and Bill plans to be with us tomorrow morning.

From Bill and Marcie

At around 3:50pm today, Boone Humphries, all 7.14lbs and 21 inches of him arrived making Marcie and me proud grandparents. Mom (Sam), and Dad (Brannon) and Boone are all recovering at NE GA Medical Center in Gainesville.

Bill

Another change

The latest from Mike is:

The service will be Tuesday, May 29th at the Roswell Funeral Home at 2;00pm. There will be a reception to follow.

There's been a change on the arrangements

Mike Foster sent this change in  his mother's funeral service.

There will be a service @ 2pm with a reception to follow.

Arrangements for Mike Foster's mother

It will be at the Roswell Funeral Home on Saturday.

Visitation: 10:00 -11:00

A short memorial service at 11:00.

Please pray for the Foster family in the loss of Dorothy Foster, Mike's mother.

Death in our family

Mike Foster's mother, Dorothy, passed away this morning. We don't have any arrangements at this time, but they should be forthcoming. Please pray for this family in their loss.

From Mike Foster

A big thank you to everyone that prepared food and those that came to help serve. We served 90 people today and had so many compliments on how good everything was. Several people came back for seconds. Again, thanks to you all

Michael

More info

Concerning The Place:

Here is Michael's contact information: 404-218-5863 (cell)

The Place

Hi all,

Don't forget our service date at The Place is quickly approaching (May 2nd). You may bring your food items to church this Sunday and Michael will pick them up OR you may meet him between 5:30 and 6:00 pm on Tuesday, May 1st at McDonald's funeral home. IF YOU OPT TO MEET MICHAEL AT MCDONALD"S PLEASE LET HIM KNOW so that he will know when everyone who was planning on meeting him has come and gone.

A big thanks to Michael and Anne for all their efforts in this ministry. Our little church continues to honor God through gestures such as this one.

From Bill

I did some research on Mark 1:41. I thought it might be helpful to send this out on the blog:

If you were in the service yesterday at Castle you’ll recall that we had a little discussion when I read the lesson from Mark 1. When we got to verse 41, I mentioned that the NIV read “indignant” while most translations interpret that Greek word as “compassion” or “pity”. I found an explanation when I studied it further after we left. Those of you who were reading the NIV commented that it read “compassion” in your version after I commented that the NIV reads “indignant”. Which is it? 

If you read Mark 1:41 in an NIV printed before 2011, and in an NIV printed after 2011, you will find two different statements.  The early editions of the NIV say that when a leper approached Jesus seeking to be healed, Jesus was “filled with compassion.”  In 2011, the NIV was revised in order to adopt many of the changes that had been introduced in the discontinued TNIV.  Among those changes was the introduction of a different form of Mark 1:41 which states that Jesus, rather than feeling compassion, became “indignant,” that is, angry. Those are clearly two vastly different interpretations. My statement Sunday about the NIV’s interpretation being “indignant” was because I was consulting an NIV version printed in 2011, while you were presumably reading an NIV version printed prior to 2011.  

The explanation as to why the two very different translations gets into some extremely technical areas of interpretation including textual variants, textual criticism, ancient Greek texts considered while translating, Latin translations of the Greek text, etc, etc. I won’t try to go any further right now so as not lose us all in details.  I will say that in my opinion after the brief research I’ve done, “compassion” or “pity” is the more accurate translation. 

See you Sunday, 

Bill 

Church Picnic

Here's what you need to know about the picnic we'll be having this Sunday after services:

1. We'll be dining at the outside pavilion on the VFW grounds weather permitting
2. The church will provide the burgers, dogs and fixings.
3. The VFW is graciously providing the charcoal we'll need for the grill.
4. You should plan on bringing:
1. A potluck dish or two to share,
2. Your own drink
3. Your own seating (There are only two picnic tables)

Hope to see you there!

Update on Debbie Whigham

Word from Debbie:

Just want to say thanks for all those praying for me and checking on Alan. I am home resting with a good news report that all test and blood work came back good. They have ruled out a heart attack or heart problem at this time. Thanks for the calls, texts and prayers and visitors! I just have to follow up with my regular doctor over the next week to two weeks! Thank you Jesus! I love you all my friends and family!

Immediate Castle Church Prayer Need

We just got word that Debbie Whigham is in the hospital at Northside and they plan to keep her overnight for some tests. We're checking in on Alan and their pups, but prayers are needed at this point. Debbie seems to be in good spirits and we'll get out updates as we get them.

Thanks, everyone.

Reminder

A couple of reminders, actually:

1.  Our Maundy Thursday service beginning at 6:30 pm on 3/29/2018.
2.  Our cookie drive for the fire departments will be this Saturday beginning at 10:30 am at Judy Ware's office. Email me or Judy if you need directions @ ben_a@bellsouth.net or jware813@gmail.com. Remember we will be providing goodies for 13 fire stations so keep that number in mind when you're preparing your food items.
3. And of course, probably the most important celebration in the life of Christians, we will observe Easter Sunday at our regular church location and time.

Obituary

Lorie Morris asked that I share this with you all:

James Edward “Ed” Morris, 74, of Morganton, went home to be with our Lord on Monday, March 19, 2018 with the comfort of his wife and some family by his side. Ed was born to the late William Garland Morris and Laura Louise Edwards Morris on Thursday, September 23, 1943 in McDowell County. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert William Morris.

Those left behind to cherish Ed’s memory include his wife of 33 years, Sherri Morris of the home; his daughter Marguerite Holby of Pitcairn, PA; his son James “Jim” Morris, Jr. of Lake Wiley, SC; his daughter Lorie Morris of Cumming, GA; his son Chris Eastman of De Pere WI; granddaughter Erika Eng of Trafford , PA; granddaughter Jayde Eng of Wilmerding, PA; grandson Jake Short of Cumming, GA; granddaughter Ever Morris of Lake Wylie, SC; great grandson Max Scott of Wilmerding, PA; sister-in-law Bertha Morris of Union Mills, NC; and niece Tori Crawford of Chesapeake, VA.

Ed received his high school diploma in 1960 from Mount Vernon School, Rutherford County. Ed started his career as a pipefitter at Newport News Shipbuilding Apprenticeship School in Newport News, VA. After graduation, he became staff supervisor over the pipefitting department. He then went on to work for ITT Grinnell as a pipefitter in Kernersville, NC; Westinghouse on an offshore nuclear floating power plant in Jacksonville, FL; then on to nuclear power plants with Westinghouse in Krsko, Yugoslavia (now called Slovenia), Philippine Nuclear power plant on Bataan Peninsula, nuclear power plant near Kaoshiung, Taiwan, and one in Shanghai, China. He retired in Morganton, not very far from Cane Creek Community in McDowell County, where he was born.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Cane Creek Baptist Church with Pastor Paul Carlson officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday evening at Kirksey Funeral Home.

Lorie Morris's Father

Lorie Morris' father, Ed Morris, passed away last night at around 9pm. Lorie and Jake were on their way back to North Carolina, when he passed. So thankful she had time with him last week. Please remember this family as they adjust to life without their loved one.

Immediate prayer need

Lorie Morris' father. Ed Morris, was rushed to the hospital this afternoon. He was unresponsive and had quit breathing. He has since been revived and he's aware that Lorie is with him. Please pray for this sweet family. Lorie, in particular, has been through a serious surgery on her stepfather and now her biological father is in dire need.

This is his status as of 3pm this afternoon.

DON'T FORGET

Move your clocks forward one hour when you go to bed on Saturday night -UGH

Immediate prayer need

Debbie Whigham's cousin, Mike Scaffe, is in the trauma unit in Macon with a broken neck, broken back, possibly a broken hip and internal bleeding. He will be having surgery and is already in a weakened state from lack of nutrition for the past few weeks. He has experienced falling episodes from the weakness. Debbie asks that we seek God' intervention on behalf of her cousin.

Prayer request

From Bill earlier this morning:

Marcie just text me and said that her front office person, Candy informed her that two of her friends' 12 year old son committed suicide yesterday. So tragic! This family needs immediate prayer.

Prayer request

Most of you will remember William and Valerie Flynn who were former members of Castle. We just got word that Valerie Flynn's mother, Diane Simmons, passed away. Please remember the Simmons and Flynn families in your prayers. This is a difficult loss for the friends and families.

The Place

We had a huge turn out for the meal today.99 people came through and we did 22 to go meals.

A big thank you to all prepared food and helped serve at the Place. Again, Castle proved it is the little church that could.

Latest post from the Beeman's

They are in Africa and have a FB page set up if you want to join it. It is called, "Jay & Diane in AFRICA."

Here's Diane's latest post:

Made it to Dar es Salaam! We had delays the whole trip and got in here over an hour late. 14 trunks made it. The last trunk is supposed to arrive on tomorrow nights flight.
We are 9 hours ahead of you in Illinois. We will sleep as much as we can and get on the road to Morogoro after breakfast. We felt covered by your prayers the whole way! Asante!! (Thank you!)

Hello

Don't forget, we'll be meeting at the VFW tomorrow. Same time.....different place. See you there.