More Photo's of Old Fashioned Day!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Some how I think you will enjoy these pictures better than several thousand words from me.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thank you to Sister Linda and Sister Angela for letting us use their pictures on the blog.  There are still more but we may leave those for the scrapbook.

Old Fashioned Day 2010

I ended up leaving my camera at home so these pictures are compliments of Sister Angela.  We may have more later cause everyone else remembered their cameras.

It was a great day full of excellent food and good fellowship.  Everyone had a GREAT TIME!

Brother Tyler and Sister Angela did a wonderful job decorating and preparing for the day.  Treats pages were passed out at the close of the dinner.  Great job!  Next year will be here before we know it. 

Fall in Arkansas

So many from our local congregation have been shut in this fall.  I thought you might like to see some pictures we took recently of familar areas to you.  I have pictures from Georgetown to Heber Springs.  The rain we recently had seems to have added additional color to the Searcy area just in the last couple of days.  These pictures were taken about a week ago.  Hope you enjoy!

Welcome new viewers from Germany!

We want to welcome our newest viewers from Germany!  Hope you will continue to visit with us.

New Viewers and Announcement

We welcome 7 views from China to our blog. We do not know how accurate these statistics are but we are glad for each visitor.  We welcome you to be a part of our church blog family.

Remember!  Old Fashioned Day is coming up the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  Pull out those bonnets, aprons, and boots.  Invite your friends for a fun day of food, fellowship, games and photo shoots. 

Our condolences to the Vinson Family

Brother Robert "Chuck" Vinson, a member of The Church of God in Bald Knob, Arkansas passed this life on Saturday, October 30th, 2010.  Visitation, Funeral and Graveside were all conducted in Wheatley, Arkansas.  He will be greatly missed in the body at Bald Knob.  We love you Brother Chuck.  You will be remembered! 

This picture was taken at the beginning of the General Assembly 2010.  Brother Chuck was very excited about the General Assembly this year.  He loved to attend church.  The last church service Brother Chuck was able to attend was the Sunday morning program of the General Assembly.  It was a truly awesome service.  Brother Chuck didn't begin serving the Lord until late in life but he had an urgency and faithfulness in his walk and service of the Lord.  We praise the Lord for his life and example. 

Thank You from the Wantulok Family

We want to thank everyone for their kindness during our families time of loss. 

Floy "Granny B" Brook passed this life on Saturday, October 30.  Visitation was conducted at McNabb Funeral Home in Pocahontas on Sunday and the funeral followed at Maynard Cemetary in Maynard, Arkansas.  Granny would have been 95 on her birthday November 8, 2010. 

Granny B was grandmother to Brother Willard and great-grandmother to the boys.  She was very special to our family.  We all enjoyed visiting on the farm and have many stories that we share frequently which if you haven't heard you will, for those memories will never leave us.  One of my fondest memories with Granny is sitting in the porch swing sipping ice tea and the memory with grandpa was rocking around the old wood stove listening to him talk politics.  We thank the Lord for the times we were able to share together.  She really enjoyed visiting while we were pastoring in Russellville and would tell everyone how Sean would say, "Let's keep her." 

During our time pastoring in Walnut Ridge, just a few years ago, we were able to visit with Granny and all of Brother Willard's family which we have not had the pleasure of doing with the responsibilities of being in the ministry.  Granny talked to us about how much she enjoyed the time we shared together and how she loved each one and never wanted anyone to forget that.  Willard's mother also speaks frequently of the Thanksgiving Celebration we had together during that time.  Although we were only in Walnut Ridge for one year, due to appointment changes, God knows the blessing it was to the family.  We thank those of Walnut Ridge who helped make that time special for our family and wish we could have continued to minister to the family and their spiritual needs but God knows that.

Granny spoke frequently of the time she was able to attend the Arkansas Ladies Retreat (the time the rock was given to each lady attending) and often stated to others that it was the best week of her life. Thank you ladies for making that time special to her.

November 2010 WMB

WMB service for November 2010 involved Washing Dishes!

We compared the process of washing dishes on an old wood stove to spiritual things.  Soaking was compared to being spiritually awakened, Washing to Salvation, and Rinising to Sanctification.  The drying process and washing of iron skillets with oil and fire were compared to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.  Then finally we had the table set and ready.  Last month we talked about vessels.  We want to be vessels of honor ready for the masters use.  We don't use dirty dishes to set the table and neither does the Lord. 
We all really enjoyed all of the speakers and their personal comments.  Each one had special thoughts of personal experiences that added to the uniqueness of the service.  We also enjoyed our team of dish washers.

We also talked about what was on each of our plates and how we keep ourselves ready for service. At the conclusion of our service we all came to gather and prayed together and then began to pray one for another as request were made.  It was an uplifting service filled with memories.  Thanks to everyone who helped and attended.

VLB Cookout and Fall Fellowship

We all had a wonderful time of fellowship and worship out at the Troy and LeeAnn Dixon's home.  Stephen Wantulok coordinated the event and Jessica Heitman brought the devotion.  David Wantulok kept the cooking fire going.  Stephen and Sean Wantulok prepared the firepits, and the maze which was a BIG hit.  Michael helped bring up the wood to keep us warm and for us to cook our hotdogs for later.  There were prizes and snacks.  We had 20 attend.  Games and prizes were given.  Michael was the number one worm collector and the girls wrapped the mummy faster.  Glow sticks were distributed before the maze and they had a blast with that.  Great fun!  Thanks to everyone who helped and attended.

It was very relaxing and pleasant to sit under the stars in front of the fire.  We all needed this break with the sickness and losses that were taking place in families and within the local church.  Everyone is talking about doing it all again soon.

District Tea Party at Russellville, AR

A special thank you to Sister Sherry Cox from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, for organizing, planning and conducting District Ladies Teas.  The ladies of Bald Knob have been anxiously awaiting the first.  Here are a few pictures from the day.  Bald Knob Ladies are called the Blue Bonnets.  Bald Knob ladies look forward to hosting the next tea in March 2011.

The Pink Ladies (Pink) of Russellville hosted the first District Tea and did a wonderful job helping with decorations and other preparations for the event.  Thank you Ladies!

Ozark Mountain Ladies (Purple) of Mt. View, Arkansas.  Thanks for coming and bringing some great deserts.

Blue Bonnet Ladies (Blue) of Bald Knob, Arkansas will be hosting the next District Ladies Tea in March.

Keepers of the Light Ladies (Green) of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.  Sister Dixon provided activities for the younger ladies and Sister Cox organized, planned and brought all kinds of wonderful treats and the devotion for the day.  She also provided parasols for each Pastor's wife of each group.  Tea Cozy's were also distributed and these were the craft ideas of the day.

Look for your invitation to the next Ladies Tea and enjoy the wonderful fellowship of the Ladies in our District - bring your friends - the will love it!

Revival in Princeton, MN

We had a wonderful time in Princeton, MN, with the Saints of God.  We really appreciate the folks at Bald Knob, AR, allowing us this time of ministering outside the region.  Thank you, Stephen Wantulok, for taking care of services during our absence.  Here are a few pictures.  I just realized that most of my pictures had only one person in them at a time or they were blurry.

Brother Bacon is busy making us a treat for dinner.  Just his best casserole ever!  And we now know the secret!

Smiling Sister Bacon!  It was such a pleasure to visit in their home.  They are gracious hosts.  They certainly keep you fed.  They had BBQ sandwiches ready for us as soon as we arrived. We had pumpkin and apple muffins, bananna muffins, donuts, potatoe casserole, grilled beef steak, sandwiches...even some of Brother Bacon's B-day cake!  Oh, yes!  We apprecaite them and their hospitality.  I enjoyed resting on the deck and Luke enjoyed running in the yard.  It didn't take Brother Willard long to find a recliner - smiles.  Sean enjoyed walking the neighborhood.  We all enjoyed the laughter and fellowship.  I hope Sister Bacon was able to perfect knitting - our lesson was very brief.

Men visiting at church in Princeton, MN.

Young talent in the local church - Montana Thompson playing and singing an original song that she wrote.  Beautiful!  Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the B-day party for Luke.  He turned 11 years old while we were in MN and they organized a surprise party for him at the Thompson's home.  Grilled burgers and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.  Happy B-day, Luke.
We had a bonfire that evening after services with singing, marshmellows and hot chocolate.  It was good fun and fellowship.  My pictures didn't turn out in the dark.  I haven't learned how to do that yet.
We also had a lunch of soups at the Bock's home on Sunday.  It was great having the opportunity to fellowship with everyone from the church.  We had a great time and hope we were able to be a blessing.  Sister Bacon tried her hand at knitting before we left - time will tell if that will be a fruitful venture or not.
We were blessed with great weather.  It was very pleasant during the day and slightly cool in the evenings.  Beautiful sunsets and I have pictures of a few.
We really had a GREAT time worshiping with everyone and fellowshipping with everyone.  Thanks for inviting us and for all the wonderful treats. 
Oh, Luke spent his B-day money before we left MN on a tent that came in handy just the other day.