Olga (Dave Malutinok’s mother) had a stent implanted on Monday. The stent didn’t completely seal and so the aneurysm is still leaking some.

Right after the surgery the doctors didn’t know if she would wake up, if she did wake up, when it would be. They also didn’t know if she would need another surgery-which they didn’t think she would survive) or if the heart would heal on its own around the stent.

Today she woke up and was able to recognize people. She is on a ventilator. Right now they can’t take her off because she wouldn’t be able to breathe without it. They are going to try again tomorrow.

Last week at this time the doctors didn’t even know if she would be able to survive surgery, so she has come a long way but she still has a very long way to go in order to survive and heal.

Please continue to pray. It’s only because of the mercy of God that she is still alive.

Please continue to pray that she will heal and become a life long disciple. Please also pray that she will live many happy years with the Malutinoks.

As you probably figured, Dave and Peggy are physically and emotionally exhausted. Please pray that God will renew their strength and be with the kids as well.

Something I’m having a bit of a problem with is being at peace with whatever God’s will is, but please pray, as I’m sure you do, that God’s will be done. Thank you so much.

Judith Hicks

Date of Sermon: 10/29/2006

Given By: Felipe Bascones

With Love to God  -  from Albania
Korca, Albania & Worcester, MA
Written November 24, 2005

The Poetic Gratitude of Lorena Vangjeli

This week, we are blessed by God with expressive poetry created by a grateful sister from
Albania. Lorena Vangjeli (Lorie) was born in a town called Librazhd and was raised in her dad’s
hometown, Korca.  She came to theUnited Statesa little more than 2 years ago when her sister,
Leila, was graduating from Worcester State College inMassachusetts. Lorie recalls, “At the time, since
issuing visas for students was almost impossible, I called myself lucky to have gotten a visa so easily
in the US Embassy in Tirana, without thinking much that it wasn’t mere chance…”

“As soon as I came here it was not the ‘new land’ that impressed me as much as my sister’s
deep love for me. Later on, my sister told me that after becoming a disciple, she had fasted and
prayed for days for me to come to US. She thought it was a miracle.”

Not until Lorie studied the Bible a year later did she realize how God had
worked a miracle!  She esteems Angie Hoover and Meaghan Butts  as “two great women” who
helped her to get to know God. Lorie was immersed into Christ on December 5^th,2004. She
exclaimed, “After the baptism I believed the ingenious plan my awesome God had (and has) for me!”

 

In the one year she has been in God’s family, Lorie has penned dozens of poems.
(See link at the end of this article.) Below, in her own words, she discusses her relationship

with God and her Poetry.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have been writing since I was twelve years old. Back in
Albania, writing in poetry and prose was not just a hobby; it was a means of
expressing what was deep in my heart without anybody understanding what was going on.
Since I never trusted people, I never shared
how I felt, so writing became my surviving tactic
until I discovered I wasn’t even surviving-I was
already dead… Many of my ‘friends’ used to read
my sad short stories of characters dying,
melancholic poetries of lonely people, existentialist
theories, but they never guessed that what I
wrote was a symbolist reflection of what I felt.
Feelings of emptiness, voids that I could never fill, pain, anger, arrogance, jealousy, pride, self-pity,
defeat and denial- I had them all.Yet, if I didn’t experience that dark period of my life I would
have never appreciated the unspeakable joy and contentment I am having today walking with
my Father, the only one who fills every void and peels off every burden through Jesus Christ.
Finally I am experiencing what it means to be happy, full and free; finally he has given me dreams,
goals, friends, challenges to grow, passion and a great mission to dedicate myself to.My
poetries are all about Him now, because I can’t really find any other greater topic to write about
except the love he has shown me-breaking news for my heart! I give thanks to the Lord for he has
made my heart dance. Faleminderit –Thank you.   Lorie Vangjeli 

You are the One

(Top of article translated from Albanian )

You are the One
Who holds me in your arms
The One who spreads my wings, wide
You are the One
Who fires up my heart
Whose flames light my passion for life
You are the One
Who brought me to life
Who gave me Jesus, my hero
Who touches my soul when your arms stretch
Like ropes toward me - a Fatherly hug
When I weep through storms of life
You are the one who gives me strength
When I feel so weak you raise me up
You have faith in me, a faithless kind
You caress me when floods of tears engulf me
You are the one who has given me, unconditionally
Your Son,
Your life,
Your Spirit
You are the one
I have always been waiting for
When my soul was empty and dead
A bright awesome sun
Only you, my Father
You are the one

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

To enjoy more of Lorie’s Poems click on the link below… 
Let her gift from God give to you!

http://worcesterchurch.org/arts/Lorie-Vanjeli-Poetry-Collection.htm

Copyright © 2005

  

Please send an email to WCOCNEWS@aol.comif you have any questions regarding the announcements.

Music Ministry meeting - Sunday, Nov 12, 2006:  Immediately following services at the SDA Building.  We will be putting together plans for this year’s 12/24 Christmas Eve Service, as well as discussing/planning future services.  There is an immediate need for participants in the service including: 

Date of Sermon: 10/22/2006

Please send an email to WCOCNEWS@aol.comif you have any questions regarding the announcements. 

Going Away Party: There will be a going away party for Noah Johnson and Adam Lazarra on October 28th from 1-5pm. Please see Wennie Amechi for more information.

Rubies in the Rough - a casual gathering for the women: T Saturday October 28th from 10am-1pm at Hindsight Farm (Pat & Kate’s) in Connecticut. Using Proverbs 31 to look at all kinds of transformations -flax and raw wool to yarn, yarn to weave a blanket, worldly natures to Godly natures. A chance to explore, and try some of these changes, as well as transform some polar fleece yardage into scarves and blankets to be shipped to orphanages in need for the winter. Come, enjoy the farm, the fellowship and share a meal together. Please RSVP to katebars@hotmail.com or call 1-860-428-4002.

Music Ministry Meeting: The meeting scheduled for October 19^th, will be postponed until October 29^th immediately following services at the SDA Building.

 New England Singles Retreat: United in Christ.  Come celebrate Jesus’ will for us to live in unity as God’s chosen people.  Jesus’ final prayer was for our unity.  Let us put on the warm coat of Jesus’ splendid character that will allow us to draw closer to him and to each other. November 10th - 12^th, Mount Snow Resort, Mount Snow, Vermont.  Online Registration at: http://www.sunergia.org/?evt=5

Mail-in Registrations send to:
NE Singles Retreat c/o Maritza Vargas
77 Third Avenue
New London, CT 06320
Phone: 860-367-4808
Email:  gnlicc_retreat@yahoo.com

Date of Sermon: 10/15/2006

Next Sunday, October 29, there will be a Music Ministry Meeting immediately following services at the SDA Building.

We will be putting together plans for this year’s 12/24 Christmas Eve Service, as well as discussing/planning future services.

There is an immediate need for participants in the service including:

1) Adult Singers for a choir:  One or two songs.

2) Adult Men Singers for a men’s quartet: Two Songs

3) Parts Singers (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass, like we do on Sundays)

4) Children singers: Specifically we’re looking for a preteen boy or girl to sing a solo, A Cappella piece.

5) Dancers - Previously announced by Patryce Hudspeth

6) Sound/Prop Helpers: Folks who can help set things up, and help with run-throughs, etc…

If you would like to participate in the service, please plan on attending this meeting, as we plan to solidify plans then.

Thanks in advance for your service for God’s family!

Rich Evans

Please send an email to WCOCNEWS@aol.comif you have any questions regarding the announcements. 

Sherry’s House Says Thank You: Thank you to everyone who donated goods to Sherry’s House. We will keep accepting donations for a couple of weeks and any donations afterward can be dropped off at Sherry’s House or given to Chris or Michelle Charon to be given to the House.  They are still in need of many items on their wish list online at WhyMe.org.

Down On The Farm: Kid’s Kingdom Thank You Open House, at Pat and Kate’s, Saturday October 21st from 2-5pm for teachers and their families who served during 2006. RSVP to Pat and Kate (if you plan on coming) by sending an email to katebars@hotmail.com or by calling 1-866-203-8319.

Music Ministry Meeting: The meeting scheduled for October 19^th, will be postponed until October 29^th

Singles Devotional: We are very excited to have Jeff Chappel as our keynote speaker for the October Singles’ Devotional! As the second in our three part series on the theme "Openness and Trust", Jeff will be speaking on the topic of Confession and Acceptance. 

Who: New England Churches
What: Singles’ Devotional
Date: Oct 20, 2006, Time: 7:30 - 9:45 pm.
Where: Newton Holiday Inn, 399 Grove St., Newton, MA (Exit 22 off I-95N)

Rubies In The Rough - A Casual Gathering For The Women: Saturday October 28th from 10am to 1pm at Hindsight Farm (Pat and Kate’s) in Connecticut. Using Proverbs 31 to look at all kinds of transformations- flax and raw wool to yarn, yarn to weave a blanket, worldly natures to godly natures. A chance to explore, (and try some of) these changes, as well as transform some polar fleece yardage into scarves and blankets to be shipped to orphanages in need for the winter. Come, enjoy the farm, enjoy the fellowship and share a meal.  Please RSVP (if you plan on coming) by sending an email to katebars@hotmail.com or by calling 1-860-428-4002

New England Singles Retreat: United in Christ.  Come celebrate Jesus’ will for us to live in unity as God’s chosen people.  Jesus’ final prayer was for our unity.  Let us put on the warm coat of Jesus’ splendid character that will allow us to draw closer to him and to each other. November 10th - 12^th, Mount Snow Resort, Mount Snow, Vermont.  Online Registration at: http://www.sunergia.org/?evt=5

Please send an email to WCOCNEWS@aol.comif you have any questions regarding the announcements. 

Sherry’s House Says Thank You: Thank you to everyone who donated goods to Sherry’s House last week! We had a van load of items for them and they were incredibly grateful! They almost broke into tears at the sight of all the bags and boxes being unloaded. They currently have three families in great need, with a one month old baby and a four year old boy with cancer, who is one of triplets. These children and their families are going through very trying times and appreciate so much the help we are able to offer. We will keep accepting donations for a couple of weeks and any donations afterward can be dropped off at Sherry’s House or given to Chris or Michelle Charon to be given to the House. They are still in need of many items on their wish list online at WhyMe.org.

Thank you to those who were able to help out with the landscaping at Sherry’s House! They cannot believe the transformation of the grounds after the hard work put in on a very hot couple of days! Sherry’s House has definitely noticed the giving hearts of the Worcester County Church of Christ! We will all be invited on a tour of the house and new grounds soon!

Singles Devotional: We are very excited to have Jeff Chappel as our keynote speaker for the October Singles’ Devotional! As the second in our three part series on the theme "Openness and Trust", Jeff will be speaking on the topic of Confession and Acceptance.  Biblically, we need to confess our sins.  Socially/psychologically, we need to be accepted by one another.  Confessing our sin reveals how unacceptable we are, making these two things seem diametrically opposed to one another.  (Praise God that through His Son He accepts us no matter what!)  Jeff will be elucidating how confession actually can (and does!) lead to greater acceptance by those around us, rather than the opposite, as we fear.  Please join us as we explore this much needed topic.  (And if you feel like you’ve got this one nailed down and don’t need to come, please DO come so that you can share with the rest of us your experience, convictions, and heart on this topic!).

Who: New England Churches
What: Singles’ Devotional
Date: Oct 20, 2006, Time: 7:30 - 9:45 pm.
Where: Newton Holiday Inn, 399 Grove St., Newton, MA (Exit 22 off I-95N)

HOPE Harvest Walk: Thanks to all of the walkers who showed up from WCCC.  Together with the Boston Church of Christ, we raised over $12,000 for Hope Worldwide!  The donations will specifically benefit Sihanouk Hospital in Cambodia, Romanian Orphans, Honduras Adopt a Family, Framingham Food Pantry, Indian HIV/Aids home for Women & Children and the Indian Primary School in Chennai!  Next year we hope for an even bigger turn out!

Down On The Farm: Kid’s Kingdom Thank You Open House, at Pat and Kate’s, Saturday October 21st from 2-5pm for teachers and their families who served during 2006. RSVP to Pat and Kate (if you plan on coming) by sending an email to katebars@hotmail.com or by calling 1-866-203-8319.

Rubies In The Rough - A Casual Gathering For The Women: Saturday October 28th from 10am to 1pm at Hindsight Farm (Pat and Kate’s) in Connecticut. Using Proverbs 31 to look at all kinds of transformations- flax and raw wool to yarn, yarn to weave a blanket, worldly natures to godly natures. A chance to explore, (and try some of) these changes, as well as transform some polar fleece yardage into scarves and blankets to be shipped to orphanages in need for the winter. Come, enjoy the farm, enjoy the fellowship and share a meal.  Please RSVP (if you plan on coming) by sending an email to katebars@hotmail.com or by calling 1-866-203-8319.

HOPE worldwide Volunteer Corps Opportunity: Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Week of October 23, 2006.  Join the staff and volunteers and for an exciting volunteer opportunity. Please see Chris or Michelle Charon for more details. 

Upcoming October Birthdays:

Elizabeth Olaniyan     Oct-25
Danielle Lazzarra       Oct-29
Laura Nowick             Oct-29

Prayer Requests:

Val Petricone: Her mother is back in the hospital. Val asks prayers for strength and wisdom in helping her mother.

Jayne Bartlett: Her home situation is still in uncertain waters and the families who live in the park, are still at risk of loosing their homes.