Movie Night and Finger Foods

Your fearless leader and his family will be out of town on Friday night so ya'll will be watching Episode II The Clone Wars. Stephanie will also be out of town.  Heather/April, please send out prayer requests for me from Friday night.

Praises:

• Cheryl has a new job!
• Mark Israel's car was repaired at no cost to the Israel's.
• Michelle is safe and having fun in Boston.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes put on a baseball camp at Salem this past week.  It was so amazing to see how God moved those kids during their chapel time.
• Cheryl and Snuffy had 14 kids over for their grandchild's birthday last week.  Cheryl said it was so moving to see the pure joy on the kids faces as they played in the pool.
• Mark Chastain received praises at work from his "big bosses". 
• Mark Chastain is also suppose to receive a raise with his new position at ACI.
• Tiffany's mom is really doing well after weaning off some of her medication and going to physical therapy.
• Rebecca had a great time at camp and is home safely.

Prayer Requests:

• Continue to please pray for Stephanie's baby Ashtyn as she grows to be born a healthy baby girl.
• Rose's niece's baby is in ICU.  Please pray for healing for the baby as well as for the parents to have comfort during this time.
• Traveling graces for Michelle's safe return.
• Ruth Sawyer's had surgery last week and is need of prayers for healing of her hand.
• Cheryl's mom is having pacemaker surgery on Tuesday.  Please pray for all to go well and for healing after surgery.
• Tiffany Hunt's grandfather passed away.  Please pray for the family.
• Valerie Nunz's step-father passed away. Please pray for the family.
• Brian and Tiffany need our prayers as Brian has not had a lot of work lately.  Please pray his work load increases.
• Please pray for Chrisha's friend at work, Destiny, she is in need of a kidney transplant and has a myriad of other health issues.  Please pray for healing for her.
• Please pray for Chrisha's friend, Fawn, as she is struggling after having left an abusive relationship.  She needs the peace only God can provide.
• Traveling graces for Stephanie and the Israel's.

What's Cookin'?

Finger Foods!

Rose - Veggie Tray

Starnes' -

Salter's -

Ozee's -

Martin's -

Smith's -

Please note, we will be meeting on July 6th to cover Chapter three.

Chapter Two and Breakfast for Dinner

We will be covering Chapter Two, Your Eyes Can Deceive You, in our session on Friday night.  Please read the chapter before Friday.   

Praises:

• Mark Chastain was hired by ACI, the company that has acquired his current firm.
• Michelle's grandmother is moving toward a long term health care facility which will alleviate her mother's stress.
• Jeremy, Stephanie's husband, works at Costco which is undergoing a change and has remained safe with no pay cut.

Prayer Requests:

• Stephanie's best friend, Sherry, lost her mother last week.
• Stephanie's baby, Ashtyn, to continue to grow and be a healthy baby girl.
• Traveling graces for the Salter's.
• Heather's Papaw is in the hospital with pending surgery due to blood clots.  He recently had a pacemaker put in so the surgery is going to be difficult.
• Please continue to pray for Cheryl's employment possibilities.
• Ruth Sawyer is undergoing surgery on her hand on June 18th. 
• Michelle's daughter, Amanda, has endometriosis and may have to have surgery.

What's Cookin'

Orange Juice - Chastain's

Fruit and Condiments - Stephanie

Turkey Bacon - Ozee's

French Toast - Israel's

Pancakes and Eggs - Starnes'

Pork Bacon - Salter's

Creamer - Rose can you grab some creamer? We are dangerously low...

Eclair Cake and Ham and Cheese Casserole - Smith's

See ya'll on Friday night!

Chapter One and Italian Night

We will not be meeting again until Friday, June 15th.  Your fearless leader should be in Atlanta and not stuck in an airport in Florida.  We will be going through Chapter One, Your First Step Into a Larger World.  We will also be reviewing the Path of a Hero handout. 

Prayer Requests:

• Vacation Bible School
• Cheryl had interviews last week so please pray for her.
• Cheryl's Mom is traveling so please pray for traveling graces.
• Heather's company is doing layoffs please pray that she is unaffected.
• Mark C.'s sister left her husband and is without a job. She needs our prayers for work as well as to get through this tough time in her life.
• April's uncle has terminal throat cancer.  Her aunt also has terminal cancer.  Please pray for April's family.
• Rose's sister-in-law has a baby due any day.  Please pray for the baby's safe delivery.
• Stephanie's baby Ashtyn to continue to grow and be a healthy little angel.

What's Cookin'

• Meat Lasagna - Israel's
• Veggie Lasagna - Starnes
• Dessert - Chastain's
• Salad - Smith's
• Garlic Bread - Ozee's
• Side Dish - Stephanie

A Galaxy Far, Far Away

We are getting ready to go to into the summer semester of connect groups.  If you have not done so please go sign up online or via your connect card on Sunday.

We are going to be using the book Finding God in a Galaxy Far, Far Away:  A Spiritual Exploration of the Star Wars Saga by Timothy Paul Jones.  Here is the link to purchase the book.  For those kindle junkies like me it is also available for the kindle.

We will be starting on June 1st at the Starnes at 7:00 p.m.  We will kick the series off with an introduction to the series and a movie night where we will watch Star Wars Episode I. 

What's Cookin'

Finger Foods

Here's what we have signed up so far:

Stephanie - Oreo Balls

Israel's - Sausage Lovers Dip/Tostitos
Salter's - Chicken Asian Meatballs with Rice
Smith's - Veggie Dip
Rose - Pinwheels
Starnes' - Veggie Tray
Ozee's - Cinnamon "Leia" Buns and Popcorn
Chastain's - Pistachio-Cranberry Goat Cheese Log and Crackers

Don't forget we are going to need popcorn!

See you all on June 1st if not before!

Wrapping up BIble 101

A message from Tiffany:

I want to thank you all for your commitment and participation through a not so interesting study. I worked hard to try to make it educational and hope you took something away to help you know how to study your bible better and know what it means to you and the message within.

Praises:

• Heather's Papaw is doing well after pacemaker surgery.
• Chrisha is here!
• Mark and Chrisha were able to settle with the insurance company to have equity in the totaled car.
• Ruth is feeling better.
• Leon is getting re-baptized.
• CRCT is over!

Prayer Requests:

• Stephanie's brother, Travis, is up for parole.  Pray for his hearing to go well and him to be released.
• A friend of Valerie's had to rush her baby to the hospital.
• Financial wisdom for the Israel's as they purchase a new car.
• Michelle needs prayers of strength.
• Heather has an unspoken request so please pray for her.
• Heather's Papaw to continue to heal with his new pacemaker.
• Please pray for Skylar as she is struggling with bronchitis.

Reminders:

• Vacation Bible School sign ups start this week.
• Connect Groups sign up begins on May 6th.
• Don't forget to keep your eye open for updates for the wheelchair breakfast Saturday, June 2.
• Vacation Bible School is June 4-8.

Enjoy your month off and we hope to see you again in June as Mark Israel ventures where he has never gone before as our fearless leader.

Mexican Night for the Final Week

As I get the pleasure of being the blogger for the Starnes Group, I want to personally thank you for all your prayers, calls, emails, facebook posts, and so on throughout the weekend.  I am trully blessed beyond measure as God wrapped His protective arms around me to keep me safe.  I really appreciate all each of you did.  Thank you!  Praise be to God that I am safe, sound and unharmed!

Prayer Requests:

• Michelle's Mom is stressed from taking care of her mom (Michelle's grandmother).  Michelle's grandmother needs to be in a facility where she can get this care.  The family is looking into options so please pray as they go through this time.
•  
• Stephanie's baby girl, Ashtyn, is 21 weeks now.  Please pray she continues to grow and she and Stephanie remain healthy.
•  
• Michelle, Mark and Cindy need our prayers as they continue through their stress.
•  
• Mark and Chrisha need prayers as they work with insurance companies, car dealers, etc. to replace Chrisha's car. 

What's Cookin'

Mexican Fiesta Night

Rose - Salsa, Sour Cream, Cheese

Starnes' - Taco Beef, Beans, Chicken

Ozee's - Fruit Salad

Chastain's - Lettuce, Tomatoes, Pico

Israel's - Soft and Hard shells

Stephanie - Tortilla Chips

Ruth - Dessert

Salters - Guacamole, Quesidillas

Figures of Speech, More Pure Words, and Manhattan Meatballs!

We are heading into the home stretch with our Bible Study 101.  This Friday we will be covering Figures of Speech (Chapter 9) and More Pure Words (Chapter 10).  Please note there is an error in the chapter numbers from the table of contents vs. the text. 

Praise Reports: 

• The week is over!
• April had a great first week at her new job.
• Skylar turned five.
• Jake turned eleven.
• Ashton turned ten.
• Mark and Michelle had their four year anniversary and went to the marriage conference.
• Sonya (April's cousin) is fighting the cancer.

Prayer Requests: 

• Officer Burch adn family in the loss of their eleven year old son, Connor.
• The driver that hit Connor.
• Mark C.'s ex wife is having some challenges in her current marriage.  Please pray that this is resolved as the children are witnessing the problems.
• Rose's friend in the passing of her daughter. 
• Rose's co-worker lost her mother.
• Sonya (April's cousin) for healing.

What's Cookin'?

Mama Mia that's a Spicy Meatball!

Manhattan Meatballs - Smith's

Turkey Meatballs - Ozee's

Rice, Mac & Cheese, Parmesan - Starnes'

Salad - Salters

Egg Noodles - Chastain's

Bread - Israel's

Hot Veggie - Ruth can you possibly do this one?

Oreo Balls - Stephanie... you mentioned these and we can't seem to get the thought of them out of our minds... can you do these? 

Have a great week everyone.  We are looking forward to seeing ya'll on Friday night.