This Sunday is the last day to turn in your boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Please bring your boxes to church. Sheri Bounds will be collecting them and delivering them to the shipping location. Costs for shipping are $7 per box. If you would like to cover the shipping for your boxes, please include one check in the appropriate amount. If you are not packing a box, but would like to contribute toward the shipping, please make out your check to Operation Christmas Child and give it to Sheri Bounds so she can deliver the check when she delivers the boxes.

Sunday, November 1, twenty-six of our members participated in an outreach activity serving the homeless in downtown Houston at The Beacon. Some worked in the laundry, others in the kitchen preparing lunch, others assisted in the dining hall with coffee and beverage service. Others welcomed and registered guests.

It is our intention to continue serving in this worthwhile ministry by offering our services once a month. Ideally, we would rotate two groups, so that 12 to 15 people would serve each month on an alternating basis. Sylvester Washington is coordinating this effort, so please contact him for further details. Anyone is welcome to serve, no experience is necessary!

The need is great. Recent Houston homeless statistics indicate that 10,000 homeless individuals are on the streets of Houston on any given night , more than 3,000 are considered chronically homeless. 25% of these homeless individuals are youth. More than 50% of these individuals have been diagnosed with mental illness. More than 50% have complicated legal issues that prevent them from accessing services and employment. 50% report having a substance abuse problem

CCF and Southway will again combine singers this year to present our annual Christmas program. Rehearsals have begun, and participants are hard at work to enrich your Christmas with quality seasonal music. Performances will be held on Friday, December 11 at 700 PM, Saturday, December 12 at 600 PM, and Sunday, December 13 at 600 PM.

Please see Johnny Mayes, Sylvester Washington, or Irene Wright for tickets. Tickets are $5 per adult and $2 per child 12 and under. Do purchase your tickets early, especially if you plan to attend on Sunday, which will sell out due to its convenient after-church time for our members.

How to Observe Thanksgiving
 
Author Unknown
 
Count your blessings instead of your crosses,
Count your gains instead of your losses.
 
Count your joys instead of your woes,
Count your friends instead of your foes.
 
Count your smiles instead of your tears,
Count your courage instead of your fears.
 
Count your full years instead of your lean,
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
 
Count your health instead of your wealth,
Count on God instead of yourself.