It's Official!

 
 Last night we got to celebrate two special people and
two special events. Jay is another year older and of course
is another year wiser.

That explains why this week he asked Melinda
to marry him! Of course she accepted!

We're all thrilled! Congratulations Melinda and Jay!

Missing Our Friends

Hurry back to us soon Kim, Mindy and Mike.  

Kim can find anything to be a VBS prop

Mike' s in training to be a grandpa

Mindy taking time for sun and fun

His First Visit!

A couple of weeks ago, we welcomed our new
pastor at LAOG and last night he stopped in for a
surprise visit and enjoyed lots of laughs and some great
conversation. It was a nice chance for everyone to
get to know one another a bit better. We used to joke
when Pastor Harv stopped by for a visit, that we
prayed that I wouldn't get fired as our group leader
and our group wouldn't be disbanded! You see, we
really don't fit into a mold. While we came together to
draw closer to God and one another, we make sure that
we have plenty of fun doing it. As Jay puts it, Friday night is
our mental health night and I think that Pastor Paul got
a sense of that.

It was a fun evening though quite a bit quieter
than usual since Kim, Mike and Mindy are off
for a few weeks, doing their very own small group
study with friends who attend Crossroads Community
Church!  Laurie was home nursing a cold!

We have come to realize that we really aren't
complete when even one of our group members
is away! We have become like a family and have been
through a lot together these last 2 years, both happy
and sad times. How wonderful to know we're always
there for each another.  Life is good!

A Happy Anniversary

It's almost impossible to pull off a surprise for
Laurie but we actually were successful this time.

A healthy sense of humor is certainly a requirement for
everyone in this group.

It looks like Laurie's really loving this special moment
while Brian is focused on sharing Mindy's world
famous Ribbon cake with us all.

Check out these 'love birds'.
Happy Anniversary Laurie and Brian!

Posted by the In Line With The Word team

Off to Iraq

No! Our home team isn't heading off to Iraq but our
first 'Buddy Boxes' in 2011 are packed and ready
for shipping to Iraq. But let's start at the beginning!

Last night everyone arrived with bags filled with everything
needed to fill our first 5 boxes for this year. We hope to fill
and ship boxes every month to service men and/or women
who don't receive packages from home.

We start every Friday evening together with food
and fellowship. So last night before packing our
boxes, we enjoyed a nice pot luck supper together.

After a short celebration that I'll post about at
another time, we sorted out all of the supplies
everyone purchased and we were almost ready.

Do these pictures remind you of past postings
when we pack for Operation Christmas Child?
I wish that you could see and experience the
fun we have doing this.

While we packed boxes, Charlie cleaned up his
kitchen. He really is the BEST!

 With the boxes packed, and I mean packed, they
were ready for the final touch before the boxes
were closed and sealed for shipping.

 Inside each box we send a Thank You from our group!
We each write a personal note and include our blogspot
address hoping to hear back from the service member
who receives their very own Buddy Box!

I have to admit, it's always exciting to know the person
who is receiving the box! The first Buddy Box of 2011
is being shipped to SGT Tyler Hackett (Pastor Paul and
Ann's son-in-law) who is serving in Iraq!

We are thankful for the sacrifice and service of the
brave American  men and women stationed around the
world!

Posted by the In Line With The Word team

Our New Pastor

We are rejoicing in God's faithfulness today!!!   Many of us in our small group attend Leominster Assembly of God.  We have had an interim pastor for the past 9 months.  The first 5 months were a time of turmoil, division, and uncertainty.    Then he arrived!!!   Pastor Paul Martin agreed to come on board for a month and help us begin the healing process.   Pastor Paul is a man who only wants to serve God where ever God calls him...and God called him to Leominster.  Woohoo!!!

Last night we had a meeting to confirm our new pastor.  Not only did he want to hear about what the membership had to say...he is interested in what the non-members had to say too!   Everyone got to vote (of course, only member votes counted).   We are so excited that Pastor Paul and his wife Ann have been confirmed as pastor at Leominster Assembly.

Pastor Paul, Ann, and two of his daughters (Tara and Tiffany) waited in the office while we took care of business.  The family entered to a standing ovation (further confirmation) with the deacon board behind.     Too bad you can't hear the hooting and hollering going on in the auditorium.  It is amazing that in the short 4 months he has been here, there has been much healing in our body.  Truly a miracle!!!

Ann and Pastor Paul shared with the church body for a short while.  They are a couple that have many years of pastoral ministry experience in the mission field and in leadership.  Together...they are going to be a dynamic shepherding team.  As many have said....hold on tight!!!

Pastor Bob Wise, our District Superintendent, was gracious and let us present some welcoming gifts to the family.  Melinda and Laurie had been planning for a few days to welcome these "Cub cheering, Bear loving" fans to "Bawstun"!!  

Don't they look happy to be part of the Red Sox nation!!!    Now we will have to educate them on all things New England!  He'll be wearing a Brady jersey by the Fall.

Pastor Paul is all about reaching the lost with all tools...technology is one of them!  He is sooooo excited about his new IPad!!!   Ann is excited because she knows he's a good sharer....otherwise we'll have to send him to Sally's Sunday School class for a quick lesson.

Welcome Pastor Paul and Ann.  We can't wait for both of you to be here full time!! 

And of course, we can't wait to meet the rest of the family!  Thanks Tara and Tiffany for being here for the weekend.  

Buddy Box Donations

We're preparing for our Feb.4th get together
when we'll be packing our 1st Buddy Boxes for
shipment to Kevin Bell in Iraq. Kevin will distribute
them to the guys or gals who would love to receive
a package from home! Our stash of goodies is
growing but since we've had people ask if they can
help, I decided to list a variety of supplies that
are commonly being requested by our young men
and women serving overseas.

As of today, we have lots of snacks, TP, deoderant,
razors and shampoo! Our goal for this shipment is
to FILL 4 boxes!

Travel Size Personal:
 Baby wipes, white crew socks, razors, shaving
cream, foot ointment, foot inserts, deodorant, nail
clippers, lip balm, toothpaste & toothbrushes,
eye wash, nasal spray, bug repellent, hand sanitizer
toilet paper, q-tips ( to clean their guns) and boxer
shorts.

Entertainment:
Frisbee, balls, hand held games, cards, squirt guns,
books, magazines about sports and cars, disposable
cameras, AAA, AA and C batteries, brain teasers.

Food:
Anything individually wrapped, candy, gum, trail mix,
protein bars, tuna, chicken and ham snack kits, cookies,
peanut butter crackers, cheese & crackers,
pudding (non refrigerated kind), single serving Propel
or Gatorade, beef jerky.