On this day in 1621, William Tucker was born. He is believed to be the first African-American born in the New World. If his middle name was Robert, he also would be the first Billy Bob born in this continent.

Also, on this day, in 1996, the first mobile flip phone, the Motorola StarTAC, went on sale. Should we be upset that they are responsible for the mess we have now or wish we could go back to those early days of phones with no computers in them? Or, even better, long for the days with rotary dials and long, stretchy cords.

Okay, let’s proceed.

Intercessory worship and prayer will resume on Jan. 14. Jennifer Martin leads this group from 8:45-9:45 a.m. each Sunday. It’s a time for people to pray and meditate while soaking in an atmosphere of worship.

Beginning Jan. 28, Pastors Becky and Wendy will be moderating Alpha, a 15-week video series. This class is a basic Christianity class with a video and discussion. It begins with questions about God being real and goes all the way into baptism of the Holy spirit. It is a wonderful study for those who want to know more about Christ. The class will run 8:45-9:45 a.m. each Sunday. A sign-up sheet is in the foyer. Check with Pastor Becky if you want a study guide.

Thanks to each of you who support the church financially every month. We could not operate without you. For those who would like to give, there are several ways. In addition to checks, cash and money order, you can give by text (84321), use your credit card at the church or by going online to our website, www.ilovemore.org. The most efficient way for the church is for people to give by bank draft. If that interests you, please contact Pastor Wendy.

Community Groups:

• James and Paula Butler lead a service every Sunday afternoon at ACTS Community Resource Center on 2^nd and Louisiana for the people in San Jacinto. Contact the Butlers if you would like to be a part of this.
• Mark Wolfe leads a men’s group that meets the fourth Saturday of each month (January 27). The group will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the church. There will be coffee, a devotional time and fellowship. For more information, contact Mark at 806-674-1050.
• Ben and Caitlin Standish lead “Sabre in the Spirit,” a prayer meeting with live music and rooted in the Bible. They meet at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Saturday of every month at the Standish home, 5721 Andover Dr. For more information, contact Ben at 418-0692 or Caitlin at 670-5344.
• The MORE Recovery group meets at 5:30-6:30 p.m. each Monday at the church. This meeting is open to the public. Childcare is available for birth-3^rd grade if we know a day in advance.
• Pastor Lyndal leads the Crump Church service at 6:45-8:00 p.m. each Monday at the church. This is a smaller, more intimate gathering of worship and ministry for those who may not feel comfortable in a regular church setting. This is open to the public. Childcare is available for birth-3^rd grade if we know a day in advance.
• Pastor Kathryn Roach leads a young women’s group called Grow Together! The group will meet 7-9 p.m., Jan. 20 and Feb. 17 at MORE before Kathryn takes off a few months for the birth of her new child. The group is open to women 18-35 and focuses on growth in relationship with the Lord and others. In a chill atmosphere, there is a short worship time, small devotional and discussion. For more information, contact Pastor Kathryn at 690-5144.
• Creator’s Space, hosted by Joy Conner at Acts Community-Downtown, 816 S. Van Buren, 3 p.m., the first Saturday of each month.  This group is for adults only. Bring projects, ideas and artistic/creative friends to make things you love. This is a place for you to make things and for creators to create. For more information, contact Joy Conner at joy.conner@yahoo.com or 806-683-5054.
• Women’s prayer and worship, led by Jennifer Martin, 9 a.m. each Tuesday at MORE. No childcare.
• Going Up, a community group for people who have attained age 50 and above, meets once a month. The next fellowship is still to be determined. Contact Keith and Sherry Moore for more information. Keith can be reached at 382-3780 and Sherry at 382-6654.

Our Sunday morning sermon is available live each Sunday around 10:45-10:50 a.m. on our Facebook page or later it will be posted to our website and YouTube. For additional information on MORE, please check the calendar below or look us up at our website, www.ilovemore.org, our Facebook page or YouTube (MORE Church Amarillo).

January Schedule:

• January 3 – Potato bar fellowship/ministry sign up at Acts Downtown, 6-8 p.m.
• January 10 – Resume Wednesday services, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
• January 27 – Unleashing Possibilities women’s conference, 9-4 (Christy Hilbert)
• January 28 – Baby dedication

February Schedule:                                        

• February 18 – Water baptism (Pastor Lyndal)

Weekly Schedule:

• Sunday: 8:45-9:45 a.m., Alpha Class (begins Jan. 28)
• Sunday: 8:45-9:45 a.m., Intercessory Prayer (begins Jan. 14)
• Sunday: 10:00 a.m., Sunday service
• Sunday: 10:00 a.m., Children’s church
• Sunday: After worship, service for 6^th-12th graders
• Monday: 5:30-6:30 p.m. – MORE Recovery group
• Monday: 6:45-8:00 p.m., Crump Church at MORE
• Tuesday: 9:00-10:30 a.m., women’s prayer and worship
• Wednesday: 6:30-8:00 p.m. – Wednesday services (returns Jan. 10)

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for Jane Barnes who will have knee replacement surgery Jan. 8.
• Pray for Clayton Walker, Lubbock pastor and friend of Michael/Rachael Neagle, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon/abdominal cancer. He is 42 and has a wife and three children.
• Pray for Wendy Roach’s mother, Barbara, who is recovering at Wendy’s home following lung surgery.
• Pray for Carol, the mother-in-law of Crystal Chambers’ brother, who is in hospice.
• Pray for Rainey Braughton who continues to recover from a brain bleed.
• Pray for Johnny Saunders who is recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery.
• Pray for those with long-term health ailments: Shelly Wood (bowel surgery now chemotherapy); Phillip, son of Chris Czosnek (chemotherapy); Eddie Gonzalez (internal issues); Mike Miller (kidney dialysis, cancerous cyst in his mouth); Nick Woodard’s father (liver cancer); and Johnnie Daniels, PREP board member/volunteer (rectal cancer).
• Pray for family and friends in our congregation who are struggling with meth, alcohol and other addictions.
• In addition, please pray for all of our military personnel, leaders, president and cabinet members.

MORE Money:

The Sunday offering for 12/24/23 was $10,427.50. Offering for Sunday, 12/31/23 was $20,728.16. Final giving for 2023 was $682,958.49. Attendance the past two weeks was 305 and 209.

Thoughts for the week:

• Psalm 1 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (NKJV)

• Jeremiah 17:7-8 – “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green and will not be anxious in the year of drought nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (NKJV)

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Things to do on an elevator:

• Walk on with a cooler that is labeled “human head” on the side.
• Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering, “Shut up, all of you, just shut up!”
• Stand silently and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
• Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.
• Meow occasionally.
• Wear a puppet on your hand and use it to talk to the other passengers.
• Listen to the elevator walls with your stethoscope.

Nine dangerous words women use:

• Fine: This is the word women use to end  an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
• Five minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
• Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
• Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Do not do it!
• That’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

One day, my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his sweatshirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, “What setting do I use on the washing machine?”

“It depends,” I replied. “What does it say on your shirt?”

He yelled back, “University of Oklahoma.”

That’s all, folks. Enjoy the rest of your week.

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