For the week of October 7:

What color would you use to describe your life right now?

The wise men brought gifts to Jesus. If you could give Jesus any one object that you own right now, what would you give him? (No cop outs – it has to be a physical object; not your heart or love).

What weather condition best describes your life in the past month?

For Families with Preschoolers:

When God was creating all the animals, which animal do you think God had fun creating? What is your favorite animal that he made?

Sometimes people have bad dreams. What is a bad dream that you have had? How can God help us when we have bad dreams?

Fall Council Meeting

Eaton Church of the Brethren will hold its Annual Fall Council Meeting on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. The Elder Board is asking all members of ECOB to mark your calendar and plan to attend this most important meeting.

Over the course of this year, the Elder Board has presented information concerning our recommendation that consideration be given to withdrawing from the Church of the Brethren denomination. At our Council Meeting on October 21st, Mr. Dave Shetler of the Southern Ohio/Kentucky District will be present to address the congregation on this matter. Upon completion of Mr. Shetler’s remarks, the Council will be voting on whether we should proceed with the process of investigating withdrawal from the denomination.

This is a matter of significant importance to our congregation. As a result, we urge all active members to be present for this vote. Proxy and absentee voting is not permitted. You must be present to vote.

We realize that many of you may still have questions concerning the withdrawal. Elders will be in the Gathering Area between the services, and after the 2nd service each Sunday until the Council Meeting to answer any questions you may have. We also have copies of the Peaceful Parting paper outlining our position, as well as the Framework for Withdrawal Process recently provided by the District available at the Info Center.

Please make this a matter of prayer as we consider God’s direction for our congregation.

Benevolence Project 2018-A

One responsibility of the Deacons of ECOB is to be aware of and seek to meet any unexpected significant needs of members in our congregation.

One specific need has come to our attention regarding a family in our congregation that has incurred a large debt due to medical expenses. We ask that you would prayerfully consider showing goodwill and kindness toward the need of this family by giving financially to help them. Our goal for this project is to raise $5,000. Please mark any giving to this project as “Benevolence Project 2018-A”. All funds collected above and beyond our goal will be used for future benevolence projects. Thank you in advance for loving one another in tangible ways through generous living.

Sunday, October 7 at 6pm, Gathering Area

Your Board of Elders invites you to join them for an update of developments at ECOB and for any questions you might have. Topics:

• Meet the Candidates: Elders & Finance
• Financial update and how info will be reported to the congregation (rolling 12 months)
• Denominational Q & A

For the week of September 30:

How many people would make up the best-sized family and why?

What is your favorite room in your house and why?

If you could create on object to help the world, what would you design or build?

For Families with Preschoolers:

If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you like to be and why?

Which do you like better: being outdoors or being indoors?

Success Program Outreach Project

The Preble County Success Program was created with the goal to remove non-cognitive barriers to learning (lack of food, shelter, medical care, personal hygiene, etc.) so that children are better able to achieve in their education setting. The mission of the Success Program is to remove these barriers to promote school success. ECOB is partnering with the Success Program to meet the needs of the children.

Here’s how you can help:

Give – To give, make checks payable to ECOB and denote “Success Program” on the other line of your offering envelope. To give online through our website, eatoncob.org select “Success Program”.

Bring in needed items – Purchase and bring to the kiosk beginning Oct 7 and ending Oct 28.

Items needed:

• Socks – Boy & girl sizes 4/5 through young adult
• Underwear – Boy & girl sizes 4/5 and 8/10
• Coats – Boy & girl sizes 8/10, 12 and 14/16
• Chapstick
• Body Wash
• Shampoo

ECOB Knights Sr and Jr High Boys Meeting

• Monday, October 8, 7-8pm, Rm 101
• For boys in grades 6-12 and their parents (to sign medical and permission forms)
• First practice Monday, October 15
• Contact Clif Martin, 937-456-5301

Women’s Ministry Scavenger Hunt

• Saturday, October 13, 3-6pm
• Starting and ending at ECOB
• $3 for pizza
• RSVP by October 10 – forms at Info Center or Bible Study

For the week of September 23:

When Jesus lived on earth as a child, He likely had to do chores. What chore do you hate doing the most? What chore do you not mind the least?

Share your place in the family: oldest, youngest, middle. What is the hardest about being the oldest/youngest/middle? What did you or do you like about being the oldest/youngest/middle?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

For Families with Preschoolers:

What is your favorite room in your house and why?

What is one thing that makes you happy? What is one thing that makes God happy?

Congregation Informational Meetings

• Sunday, September 23 at 2pm in the Great Room
• Monday, September 24 at 6pm in the Great Room

An update from the Elders regarding ECOB’s next steps with the Church of the Brethren denomination. We encourage members and attenders to make it a priority to attend one of the meetings as we discern God’s will for our church on this important issue.

HIT Foundation is in need of some personal care items.

Their greatest needs are:

• deodorant
• shampoo
• conditioner
• liquid body wash
• If you are able to donate, please drop off items to their office, 111 W. Somers St. Eaton.
• Hours: Monday- Friday 8:30am – Noon and 1-4:30pm.

Teacher Training Workshop

• Sunday, September 30 following 2nd service in Rm 101
• Find out how to become a teacher that will fully engage and challenge your children or students
• Lunch provided
• Register now with Miss Coleen

For Week of September 17

What is the most unusual place you have prayed?

Activity: Each family member takes a turn to share a joke. Vote for the best one.

Everyone takes a turn and laughs. What do you think makes God laugh?

For Families with Preschoolers:

What do you think is God’s favorite color and why?

What did Jesus eat when He was a little boy?

Celebrating 2018 Picnic

Wow! Our worship service was close to 400 and we served approximately 355 meals! Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s picnic as we enjoyed time with each other by sharing a meal and having good fun & fellowship together.

The planning team extends a big, big Thank You to all of the One Another Groups, Ministry teams and countless individuals who stepped up and helped our team to accomplish  all the work details to ensure a wonderful time together.

Judy and I want to recognize and thank those from the Picnic Planning Team, Deb Tinstman, Regina Hapner, Brenda Hamilton, Leah & Bill Jennings, Walt & Tina Locker, and all who worked so hard to make this event a success.

WHY NOT TAKE TURNS?

Some people ask, why not just have people take turns caring for our littlest ones in the nursery?  It’s the easiest for us grown-ups – that’s what is CONVENIENT for us.  But that is not what is easiest for the children.

When children have a different care-giver every week, they have to go through the pain of separation anxiety yet again.  Instead of getting to know a caregiver and becoming comfortable with that person, they have to get used to a new person every week.   Children thrive best when a caregiver knows them as individuals, when the caregiver knows the needs and uniquenesses of each child, what calms a specific baby, or what each child responds to best.

So, for our Wednesday night programs this year, we are looking to hire a caregiver, a paid person who will be there every Wednesday.  That person will come to know each little one deeply and provide a high quality of care for them.  If you know a caring, committed Christian who would love serving God in this way, and perhaps could be helped by a small remuneration, invite them to contact Miss Coleen.

The front entrance/sidewalk is being repaired today.  Please use the north door (at the end of the kid’s hall) if you are coming to ECOB today or this evening.