Cool Stuff
Get a head start on living out “the reason for the season” at Merry Market 2019. As you get your Christmas shopping done early, you will be helping families in need in our community! Merry Market 2019 is October 18-19 at the Gardendale Civic Center and includes a huge array of great gifts from unique vendors. Your purchases will help support Just Keep Smiling (JKS), a local ministry that assists families who have children in medical crisis.
Be sure to make your way to Nay Nay’s Creations, famous for their home-made canned soups, vegetables, pickles, salsas, jams and jellies. They also have delicious sweet treats and home crafted items such as ornaments and dish towels. Other shopper favorites include Faith Friends which showcases original creations from refurbished wood perfect for the home, Just Fine Designs’ vintage recycled clothes, hats and jewelry and Bow Genius’ beautiful and unique doll clothes, dog scarves and vests, hair accessories and wreaths.
Special events happening at the Merry Market include “Cookies with Characters” Saturday from 10 a.m.-Noon. Children will have the opportunity to converse and have pictures made with Mickey, Minnie, Cookie Monster, and more. And before you leave, don’t forget to stop by the Merry Market Cafe and Amazing Sweet Shoppe to enjoy some delicious treats!
The ministry of Just Keep Smiling was born from the experiences of three women in our
community, Patrice Brooks, Debra Cook and Sue Jeffreys. All three women know what it is like to live with tragically losing children to a life-threatening illness. Fourteen years ago, they established the non-profit JKS that seeks to assist families with critically ill children by providing financial aid for immediate needs, emotional support based on personal knowledge of a child’s serious illness or death, and spiritual insight that conveys the solace, grace and strength found in God. JKS works with a network of social workers at area hospitals to identify families with such needs during their time of medical crisis with a child or children. Learn more at www.justkeepsmiling.org †
Brought to you by: Thomas Waters State Farm, 
“Romans: The Good News of God’s Saving Power” is one class being taught this semester by Dr. Frank Thielman. In his class, Dr. Thielman will explain the historical circumstances that resulted in Paul writing the book of Romans while exploring why Paul’s words found in Romans are still significant to the Bible today. “Romans is a bit like hiking a mountain whose path to the top is challenging, but with an amazing view once you have arrived,” Dr. Thielman explains. He adds, “Our plan in this class will be to walk through Romans together from beginning to end, pausing along the way to reflect on what it means for our own lives. By the end, my hope is that we will all have a deeper understanding of the good news that Jesus offers forgiveness and new life to all who follow him.” This class will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. for six Wednesdays beginning October 2.
six Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. Dr. Pasquarello will lead students through the book of Ephesians using the book Practice Resurrection by the late Eugene Peterson as a guide. Dr. Pasquarello adds, “This class is designed to help Christians better understand the nature of the Triune God whom they worship, the nature of the church to which they belong and the nature of the Christian life and mission to which they have been called.”
“The Gospel of Mark” will be taught by Dr. Sydney Park for six Friday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m., starting on October 4. Dr. Park will guide students through discovering who Jesus is. She will explore questions such as, “Who is Christ?” and “What did He teach?” Dr. Park invites you to join her on this journey through the Gospel of Mark. “Come and explore the rich heritage we have in Christ and the salvation He offers as Mark offers a moving and painfully realistic portrait of Jesus and the disciples. You will leave with conviction and a renewed desire to know this Lord,” Dr. Park adds.
