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Grand Opening: May 2, 2010

After years of praying, searching, and building, we are happy to announce the Grand Opening of our new location on May 2, 2010. The facility at Houston Levee is truly built for community and ministry. Bring a friend and join us as we celebrate on May 2nd!

WHEN: May 2, 2010
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship

Prayer Requests 3/21

- those searching for Christ and those of us trying to help
- Laura's grandfather, John- very sick, in and out of hospital, pray for his soul/salvation
- Laura's parents- to seek Christ and desire healing (in life, in their marriage)
- Mom Ivey- pray for peace for her and guidance for Bill and Cathy and her care
- Shappley's nephew, Lathan, leukemia
- Rudy- out of town for 6 weeks
- still praise for Ashley's dad's job and Rudy's job
- Ben Pinckley, Iraq/camp Taji, pray for: his safety, his spirit, for a heavy issue he is faced with
- Gena, woman JD works with was injured by her grandson. Pray for her comfort, recovery
- Lauren Setzler- chemo for leukemia
- Carrie and Baby Presley
- Seth + family's transition to Louisville

Prayer Requests 2/7

- Ann King- heavy treatments this week

- Jenny- fighting off a cold

- Jenny and David- God's guidance, and blessings on our family through all going on (Ann and wedding)

- Liz LaVelle- migraines- healing and answers

- Nita Fuller- healing- back pain

- Martha Kee- healing- brain cancer- starts treatments soon

- Arlana, Savannah, Ian- agape kids and caregivers; decision

- Seth and Carrie and Colt traveling to Louisville next weekend to start looking at houses

- Seth and Carrie about to put our house on the market in the next few weeks.

- Baby Presley Portis to continue to grow healthy

- Pat Davis' passing- cancer- funeral was 2/3

- Ben Pinckley- shipping to Iraq

- JD's niece Katie going through some things- that she would be open to support from family

- Shappley's- nephew Lathan has leukemia

- medical team from LeBonheur in Haiti- seeing 200+ patients a day and doing surgeries

- Rebecca Ellis's Dad, prayers for him to continue recovering and to gain physical strength back

REMINDERS

Please remember to complete the Spiritual Gifts Profile and bring it to class tomorrow (Feb. 14). This is a great way to discover your God-given gifts how you use them to glorify Him! See link in previous post.

I now a lot of us are busy, but Bridgebuilders is an important piece of the Highland family. There are a lot of great upcoming opportunities for growth, study, and fellowship!

Act Like Men Breakfast WHEN: Sunday, February 21, 7:30am WHERE: Grad School Hospitality Room TOPIC: "Being Christ" Wednesday Night Studies Womens's Study: Priscilla Shirer’s “Discerning the Voice of God” WHEN: Begin Wednesday, February 17, 7:00pm WHERE: Harding Academy This is a 7 week DVD study. If you joined us last spring for the first Priscilla Shirer, you know you’re in for a treat! Priscilla’s studies are very similar to Beth Moore. Workbooks with daily homework are recommended but not required. Please sign up and purchase workbooks ($11) this Sunday morning. Men's Study: John Eldridge's "Wild at Heart" Ministry Fair

WHEN: Sunday, February 21, during Sunday School WHERE: Harding Academy Learn about Highland's ministries and find the best fit for your talents and passion.

Prayer Requests 1/17

Spiritual Gifts Profile - http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?id=501116 . Please complete the profile, print a copy of your results and bring to class on Feb. 14.

Please be in prayer for the following:

-Lauren Setzler-friend of Ryan and Laura's with leukemia
-People of Haiti
-Leslie and Martha's brother, Scott
-Sarah Shappley's nephew (leukemia) and his family
-Sara Garner's parents and their financial situation
-Ann King-chemo treatments start Tuesday
-blessings in every step of this process
-Wisdom and insight for David and Jenny as they are being blessed by caring for Ann
-Becca's dad, Bob Robertson, hospitalized after falling. He is having some neurological problems. Pray for healing and for his doctors.

-Pat Davis (cancer)-Pray that the doctors will target cancer type for specific treatment and chemo
-ECS-pray for this time of re-enrollment
-Ben Pinkley, JD's cousin-will ship to Iraq/Pakistan at the end of the month. Pray for his spirit and protection, as he has a wife and two children who he will be leaving.

Spiritual Gifts Profile - IMPORTANT!

The Spiritual Gifts Profile is online here. You can click on it and take the profile. Invite all your class members to do the same. After you take the profile it sends a copy of the computed results to your email account. Every class member can print this and bring it to class on Feb. 14th. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS!

Upcoming Social Events

December 10 - 6pm Cookie Swap. See this post for details.

December 13 - Christmas Class Potluck Dinner 5:30, eating at 6. A food sign up list is circulating via Carrie. Please email her with questions or to sign up for food, or just to let her know you are coming but can't bring anything (you're still welcome and we want you to come!)

December 18 - Zoo Lights. Please email me or comment below if you and family plan on attending.

Prayer Requests 11/29

-Ann King-health concerns
-Arlana, Savannah, and Ian-the LaVelle's foster babies. Specifically pray for the Eli family, who are fostering the children, as well as the birth parents. Pray that the best decisions will be made for the children.
-LaVelles-God will guide and bless all activities in our home and family-peace
-family of Misty George, a friend of Josh, Cason, and Randi, who died over the weekend. She left behind 3 young children.

Praise for the sale of Stacey's parents home in Louisville. Prayer for continued renewed relationships and allowing God's leading.

Praise for Seth's acceptance into dental school!

Praise for Carrie's good ultrasound and healthy baby GIRL!

Praise for the sale of Stacey's parents home in Louisville. Prayer for continued renewed relationships and allowing God's leading.

Zoo Light NIght

If you are interested in joining other Bridgebuilders families for a Zoo Light night on December 18 please comment below. For a group of 20 or more, a discounted price of $6/person applies. If you currently have a Zoo Membership, your regular discounted price of $5 will apply. Children under 2 are free. If we do not have at least 20 interested people we will still plan on going, however the non-member price will be $7/person.

For more information on Zoo Lights features click here.

Cookie Swap 2009

When: December 10, 6:00p until

Where: Stacey Meredith's Home - email for directions/address

Get out those recipes and mixers! This is so much fun every year and I know I'm not alone when I say it's one of the holiday events I look forward to the most!

Details: Come ready to sample and judge

1. You'll need to bring a plate of cookies (or bite size dessert) (one for each participant - as of today we have 21) for tasting and judging. No slice and bake please.

2. Bag or package approximately 4 cookies for each participant. Attach the recipe to the bag.

3. Please email me the name of your cookie beforehand (will remain secret until the night of the event) so I can make the name/number signs for the anonymous tasting table. (I am not a judge!)

Tips:

Look for recipes that make approx 3 dozen. You'll be fine with three times the recipe.

Use a cookie scoop to be sure you get the amount of cookies you expect out of your dough.

Packaging your cookies and freezing them usually works with most recipes so you should be able to work ahead.

Don't wait until the night before to bake or you'll pull your hair out!

Prizes will be awarded for the following:
1. Best Overall
2. Best Taste
3. Most unique
4. Prettiest (includes the presentation on the tasting plate)
5. Best Packaging

We've got a two time winner in our midst! Will she make that a Triple Crown? We'll find out December 10!

Note - if you would like the recipe booklet from last year's event, please email me or comment below. I'll be finishing a PDF booket this week.

Prayer Requests 11/22

Carrie and Seth- first ultrasound on wed. Find out sex. Pray for a healthy baby.

- Robert Hill- graduated from HS with Jean; his wife died last week after a 5 year struggle with breast cancer. She was only 30 and left behind a 5 year old daughter, as well as her husband.

- Lavells- Arlana, Savannah, and Ian- the Eli family- that God will direct what's best for the children. That God will do whatever it takes to bring us all close to Him. Our children too.

- Coker family- father/husband killed in MVA

- That we can continue to find ways to bless Bill's mom in ways that bring quality to her life.

- Merediths- praise for good meeting my brother had yesterday. Continued prayers for brother and family.

- Meredith's traveling to SC this week

- For all those traveling for the holidays to have safe travels.

- Matt and Laura traveling to FL this week; haven't seen Laura's family since April and getting a little nervous. Pray we would continue to be spiritually intentional with our relationships with them

- prayers for the families at LeBonheur who will be spending the holidays in the hospital.

Happy Thanksgiving! Give thanks to God!

Christmas Potluck Dinner

Look for an email this week from Carrie for our class Christmas potluck dinner! There will be a sign up for all the various things we'll need. If you know that someone in our class is not getting Bridgebuilders' email, please have them email Leslie (email on side bar under Reach Groups.) to be added to the list.

The class party will include an ornament exchange and lots of delicious homemade goodness! We're looking forward to it and hope you are too.

Stacey & Carrie

Upcoming Social Events

December 10 - Cookie Swap
List of those who will be participating and guidelines to follow in an email. Please invite your friends. This a great outreach opportunity for our class. You also don’t have to bake to be a part of the fellowship. We always need judges!

December 13 - Class Christmas Potluck & Ornament Exchange
This year’s class Christmas fellowship will be a pot-luck dinner. I'll post again with details on how many entrees, veggies, sides, etc. W

December TBA - Zoo Lights Group
Zoo Lights at the Memphis Zoo has expanded it’s footprint to include Teton Treck and the Northwest Passage. It’s sure to be a magical evening. Group rates are $6/person for those who do not have a zoo membership. For those who do, your regular membership of $5/person applies. Please comment or email me if you're interested. We are considering December 18 or 19.

Prayer Requests 11/15

Sorry I missed putting last week's on here. I've listed them below this post.

- Thomas Neely (4 yrs old) is having a biopsy on a mole that will be removed from his cheek this week. (Amanda + Matt Neely)

- Praise for improvement in health of Shannon and Zoe (Bill & Cathy's daughter and granddaughter)

- Praise for Mrs. Ivey's improved health (Bill's Mom)

- Those couples experiencing marriage problems or going through divorce

- Thanks for successful Dynamic Marriage Class (10 couples)

- Please pray for Ian, Savannah, and Arlana that they will be alowed to be in a permanent family soon. Blessings and strength on the Eli family to who is fostering all 3 - with possibility of adoption

- Dan LaVelle - apply for grad school, interview Thursday

- Ann King - health questions

- Sean Prince - health issues

- Ashley's dad - looking for a job + the other request not posted here.

- Stacey's Aunt Gwen Beauford was killed in a car accident Friday. Please pray for Sid, her husband and her sons Tommy, Kevin and Don. Please pray that my parents can help comfort them during this time. Please pray for my mother as she ministers to her sister's sons through this.

- Continued prayer for the Bynums (Stacey's parents and brother/family) that their business would glorify God, that they would be blessed by this work, and that they would continue to rely on God to meet their needs during a very stressful time. Prayer that my parents will find a renter for their home in Louisville.

- Ben Pinckley - possible deployment

- Pray for the Bridgebuilders - that we would grow closers as a class and community

11/8

Meredith's friend Jessica's husband in Iraq

- Darrien Bonner- 10 y.o. at Lebonheur (not doing well)

- Shappleys- Ccontinued prayers for nephew, Lathan, and praise that he is responding very well to chemo so far. Also, my sister-in-law's (Lathan's mom) dad died yesterday.

- Merediths- Stacey's uncle- Quad bypass; JD's Grandmother- No Parkinsons but treated for depression; Stacey's Brother Todd- struggling financially; Stacey's mom and dad- sale of home- pray for good appraisal.

- Shannon's health/Cathy helping; Bill and Cathy being apart; Mom Ivey

Cookie Exchange/Swap

It looks like Thursday, December 10 is winning out. We (Carrie and I) are really excited about this year's exchange. In case you don't know, she and I are officially the social planners of our Bridgebuilders Class. 

Some things in the planning are our annual Christmas Dinner. Several of you have mentioned you'd love a Potluck and Ornament exchange this year and we've heard you. We'll announce the date asap, but we're looking at December 13. 

Also, we've priced Zoo Lights for a group. If you've never been you'll want to. Even if you don't have kids it's so pretty and magical looking! The Zoo has expanded the footprint of Zoo Lights to include the Northwest Passage and Teton Trek. For a group of 20 or more, admission is $6/person. Kids under 2 are free. If you have a Zoo Membership, it is your regular Membership discounted price of $5/person.

2010 Cookie Swap

Are you ready for some holiday competition? Get out those mixers, measuring cups, cookies sheets, and aprons. It's time for our annual Cookie Swap. How many years has it been now?

We've had some real contenders in years past including Leslie Jerkins, two time overall winner. It just might be your year to be crowned as the Cookie Queen! Heh. And yes, we will have several categories this year too!

Please comment below and let me know if Tuesday, December 8 or Thursday, December 10 works better for you. Majority will rule.

Instructions, details, and recipe book from last year's event to come....

I'll be checking for your comments!

Feed-a-Family Sacks

Help a family enjoy a Thanksgiving meal this holiday. If you were not able to pick up a Feed-A-Family Sack at the Welcome Center last Sunday it is not too late. Just fill your own paper sack with the items listed below and return the filled bag on Sunday, November 22. 

Please put your $10.00 check to MUM in the designated baskets that will also be on the stage.

Feel free to decorate the bag!

2 cans of corn
2 cans green beans
Stuffing Mix
1 can cranberry sauce
Bag of Rolls
Pie Crust Mix
Canned Pie Filling

$10.00 Check to MUM (will be used to purchase the turkey)

Help others have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Holiday Social Events

We are currently working on some ideas for December class social events. If you have any ideas, please email me ispydesigns at mac.com.

Some of the ideas include The Cookie Swap, Zoo Lights, and of course, our annual class Christmas Dinner. 

Upcoming Events:

11/7/2009 HeartLight 2009    
Agricenter Memphis, TN

TIME: 
Tour 1: 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM, Tour 2: 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM. Reserve your time now (includes dinner, tour and program), seating limited to 500 per tour. 

ABOUT POWERLINES:
This year’s HeartLight event, “Powerlines,” will be a uniquely engaging and interactive experience. Through an experiential tour, guests will be introduced to real-life experiences taking place in our community, and the exciting new ways we have planned to bring help and hope to children and families in at-risk neighborhoods. Powerlines will move, challenge and energize attendees around the need to help children and families in Memphis. 

COST/INFO:
Cost is $75 per ticket. Please contact 901.323.3600 for reservations or questions. Sponsorships are also available. Dress is business casual. 
For information on tickets or sponsorships for the HeartLight event, call 901.323.3600.

11/9 Seasonings
This is such a great opportunity to get to know some spiritually mature or "seasoned" ladies who can be wonderful mentors and encouragers.  The topic of this Seasonings event will be "Making Family Memories."  If you need any more info, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at jeanbostic at hotmail dot com.  Look for the sign up sheet  again this coming Sunday.

11/14 Crafts with Lou Anne

Saturday, November 14
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
5565 Shelby Oaks Dr.

Back by popular demand, we'll be creating Decorative Ice Buckets! Bring $16.50 and decorative baubles (beads, jewelry, ornaments, etc.). Sign-ups are required at the Reflections Table.

Prayer Requests 11/1

Please be in prayer for the following. Please comment below to add more prayer requests/praises/words of encouragement.

- Jenny- sick today

- Jenny's foster brother Lloyd and Brenda need prayers re: health, legal and job issues

- David- travel next weekend

- Laura's friend- pregnant and having a threatened miscarriage, on bed rest; pray for wisdom, comfort, health

- Sarah and Taylor's nephew Lathan, diagnosed with leukemia

- Ashley

- Darrien Bonner- 10 y.o. patient at LeBonheur, inoperable heart condition, not doing well, will probablly not make it to Christmas

- Seth- dental school interviews; upcoming acceptance day

- Randi and Anne in NYC