Happy Almost Thanksgiving everyone!! Hope you have a beautiful time wherever you are headed! Here are a few things coming up in the next couple of weeks at dcf…

Lessons and Carols – Sunday, December 4th at 7pm

Ladies’ Christmas Craft Night – Friday, December 9th at 7pm – no boys allowed, obviously…I’ve heard some rumors about an anti-craft night for the males (please see Aaron Lilley for more details).

Nicaragua Benefit Swing/Shag Dance - Saturday, December 10th at 7pm – all proceeds go to the team, so come dance your heart out for Nicaragua!!!

Exam Week Mayhem is just around the corner, so just keep it on your radar!

Ladies’ Retreat – January 27-29th – $20 if you register before 12.22 and $25 after that.

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And here are a couple of thanksgiving thoughts for you (thank you Ann Voskamp)…

“There is this: We give thanks to God not because of how we feel – but because of Who He is…He who is grateful for little is given much laughter… and it’s counting the ways He loves, this is what multiplies joy.

And the life that counts blessings discovers it’s yielding more than it seems.

Why don’t I keep an eye on the number of His graces? Why don’t I want to know that even though it doesn’t seem like there’s been enough rain, He reigns and He is enough and the bounty is greater than it appears?”

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We hope that you may have many grace-moments this thanksgiving week…

I hope you had your heat on and your scarves and mittens ready for this morning when you went to bed last night! It is something to be thankful for isn’t it?That even though it’s cold and some would even say ‘bleak’, we are eagerly anticipating the celebration of the birth of our Savior…all the while, giving thanks. So in the rush rush and busy-ness of the end of the semester and that frenzy of shopping and celebrating we call the holidays, I would encourage you to slow down…slow down and really look and see. I’ve noticed that when I slow down (which is not an easy feat for me personally), I can actually see the innumerable blessings and showers of grace and love that the Lord has rained down on me and those around me. Anyway, just a thought I wanted to share with you. 

A big thank you to everyone who was able to make it for the OCC Extravaganza! It was truly a sight to see – wrapping paper and garland and ornaments were everywhere! I am truly excited for the 80 (plus a few) children who will be receiving a Christmas present from members of our body this year.

Now as far as things going on in and around dcf…

Prayer Partners for those going to Nicaragua – We need 6 more partners! We want each member of the team to be well-covered in prayer and for them to have a letter to open for each day they’re away (10 total letters). We want them to known that they are not doing this alone, so let’s love them well! Contact Chandler at aclattimore@gmail.com for more details and to sign-up.

Lessons and Carols – Sunday night, December 5th at 7pm – I think that one’s pretty self-explanatory, right?

Ladies’ Christmas Craft Night – Friday, December 9th at 7pm – bring your supplies (or just yourself) and come hang out as we fellowship together. 

I think that’s it! Stay warm this weekend, friends!
Grace and peace…

11.11.11 what a day!! Hope you are having a super special one! Here are a few reminders for the next few days/weeks:

The Operation Christmas Child Extravaganza is this Sunday at 7pm! Show up dressed in your best Christmas outfit (yes there will be a contest) with some gifts for little ones. We’ll be packing our boxes, writing letters, and praying for the children who will receive our boxes. It’s going to be a blast, I promise!

Christmas Craft Night for the Ladies (sorry guys) on Thursday, December 8 at 7pm. Bring your craft supplies, so we can spend time together while making wonderful homemade gifts for Christmas. No need to be crafty to join…I’m going to have to do some googling myself.

Wait…are there only two announcements?? Is that even possible around here? I guess it is…although I’m probably just forgetting something.

Hope you have a blessed weekend!
Grace and peace to you…

Contra dance tonight!!! Beginner lesson at 7:30, and the dance starts at 8:00pm. $5 for students, and $8 for non-students. No experience needed – super easy to catch onto – and the caller tells you exactly what to do. Invite your friends, and dance the night away with us!

Don’t forget to set your clocks back on Saturday night so that you don’t show up an hour early for the Gathering. An extra hour of sleep?? What a gift!!

Nicaragua Benefit Show on Sunday!! $7 to get in, and all proceeds go towards the trip. The show features Haley Shaw and Christopher Branch. Check them out at http://noisetrade.com/haleyshaw and http://www.myspace.com/christopherbranch).

The Operation Christmas Child Extravaganza is next Sunday night (11.13) at 7pm. We’re going to be packing boxes and playing games together. Be praying for the child who will receive your box and hear about the love of Jesus this Christmas.

Hope you have an especially blessed weekend,
Grace and peace to you…

What has the Lord been impressing on your heart this week? Just curious…might be a good way to go deeper with the folks you’ll be eating with on Sunday at the Love Our Neighbor event. We’ll be eating dinner at Croc’s (restaurant above dcf) at 7pm. Be there ready to fellowship and to love some of our own proximity neighbors.

Also, there’s a contra dance next Friday night in the building. The beginner lesson is at 7:30, and the dance starts at 8pm. I know there are a lot of contra dancers out there in the dcf body, so show up and bring friends! It’s only $5 to get in, if you’re a student, and $8 for non-students. We’re partnering with the Clemson Contra Club, which is giving us the chance to meet new people and love on them…are you getting the love our neighbors hint here?

Thirdly – Nicaragua Benefit Show next Sunday night (that’s 11.6) at 6:30 at the building. Bring $7 to the Gathering on Sunday to get your ticket or buy one at the door. All proceeds go to support those going to Nicaragua. Haley Shaw (http://noisetrade.com/haleyshaw – free album download) and Christopher Branch (http://www.myspace.com/christopherbranch) will be playing.

Last!! Operation Christmas Child is fast approaching. It’s one way to share the love of Jesus with children all over the world who may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn about Jesus or receive a Christmas gift. Check out http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/ to learn more about the ministry and how to be a part of it. We’re having our O.C.C. extravaganza on Sunday night, November 13 at 7:00pm. We’ll be playing games and packing our shoeboxes together. Don’t miss it!

Ok – I think that’s it! Hope you have a blessed weekend!
Grace and peace…