On this day in 2001 was the highest barometric pressure ever recorded (1085.6 hPa, 32.06 in Hg; that means a lot if you’re speaking in tongues). It occurred in Tosontsengel, Khovsgol, Mongolia. (Probably the only time in my life I’ll get to type that.

We will have one Christmas Eve service this year. It will be at 10 a.m. on Dec. 24. That Sunday also will include water baptism. In addition, some of the sisters from Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ near Boys Ranch (Prayer Town) will be joining us for worship.

Pastors Becky and Wendy will be leading a new Sunday morning group beginning Jan. 14. They will be teaching the 15-week video series, Alpha. 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 are grateful for your faith in trusting the Lord. In addition to checks, cash and money order, we have several other ways you can give, too. To give by text, just text 84321. The first time, you will be required to set up your bank account. Find MORE (use address 5511 Amarillo Blvd. West only for this, not our mailing address) and follow the prompts. You may 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:

• Mark Wolfe leads a men’s group that meets the fourth Saturday of each month (December 23). 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. (Will not meet Dec. 25.)
• 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. (Will not meet Dec. 25.)
• Pastor Kathryn Roach leads a young women’s group called Grow Together! They meet 7-9 p.m., the first and third Saturday of each month, at MORE. 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.
• 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.

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).

The 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.

December Schedule:                                      

• December 20 – Youth Christmas party (Pastor Tanner)
• December 24 – One service at 10 a.m., regular Sunday service
• December 24 – Water baptism (Pastor Lyndal)
• December 25 – Happy Birthday, Jesus!

January Schedule:

• January 3 – Potato bar fellowship at Acts Downtown/ministry sign up, 6:30 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

Weekly Schedule:

• 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 Wendy Roach’s mother, Barbara, who was moved to a rehab facility on Tuesday following lung surgery. She is at Hillside Heights, Room 103.
• Pray for Carol, the mother-in-law of Crystal Chambers’ brother, who is in hospice.
• Pray for the husband of Crystal Chambers’ mother. He has been in the hospital with heart problems.
• Pray for Debi Jeter’s friend who unexpectedly received divorce papers and is devastated.
• Pray for Oscar Ramirez who is recovering from shoulder surgery last week.
• Pray for Tiffany James’ son who is in the Navy. He is about to deploy to Guam and will be there for three years. He will be in a submarine.
• Pray for Jane Barnes who will have knee replacement surgery Jan. 3.
• Pray for Rainey Braughton who continues to recover from a brain bleed.
• Pray for Phillip, son of Chris Czosnek, who recently began chemo treatments. He will have five treatments per week for 12 weeks.
• Pray for Johnny Saunders who is recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery.
• Pray for Shelly Wood who continues to recover at home back following bowel surgery. She now has a chemotherapy port and begins chemo today (Wednesday).
• Pray for those with long-term health ailments: 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 12/17/23 was $17,230.02. Giving year to date is $651,851.43. Attendance was 245.

Thought for the week:

• Psalm 32 (The Joy of Forgiveness) – Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me. My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found. Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him. You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with a bit and bridle else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked. But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous. And shout for joy, all you upright in heart. (NLT)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bubba went to a psychiatrist. “I’ve got problems. Every time I go to bed, I think there’s somebody under it. I’m scared. I think I’m going crazy.”

“Put yourself in my hands for one year,” said the shrink. “Come talk to me three times a week and we should be able to get rid of those fears.”

“How much do you charge?” Bubba asked. The psychiatrist replied, “Eighty dollars per visit.” “I’ll sleep on it,” said Bubba.

Six months later, the psychiatrist saw Bubba on the street. “Why didn’t you ever come to see me about those fears you were having?” he asked.

“Well, $80 per visit three times a week for a year is an awful lot of money. A bartender cured me for $10. I was so happy to have saved all that money I went and bought me a new pickup.”

“Is that so? And how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?”

“He told me to cut the legs off the bed. Ain’t nobody under there now.”

A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Hunting flies,” he responded.

“Oh. Killing any?”

“Yep. Three males and two females,” he replied.

Intrigued, she asked, “How can you tell them apart?”

He responded, “Three were on a beer can and two were on the phone.”

            Two young boys walked into a pharmacy one day, picked out a box of Tampax and proceeded to the checkout counter. The man at the counter asked the older boy, “Son, how old are you?”

            “Eight,” the boy replied. The man said, “Do you know what these are used for?”

            “Not exactly,” the boy said. “But they aren’t for me. They’re for him. He’s my brother and he’s four. We saw on TV that if you use these you would be able to swim and ride a bike. Right now, he can’t do either one.

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

MORE