Can this really be the first of October already? Where did the summer go? You can feel the touch of fall in the air already and I'm not ready to give up summer yet.
I don't have much to talk about today; only went to Sunday School on Sunday so I don't know what the sermon was about, nor did I get to go back to church on Sunday night.
Beginning with Saturday we have had a full week; seems there's something going on here every day. This weekend  we lost my Aunt Marie Holloway. Her husband, my Uncle Woodie, passed away the first of the year and I don't think she ever got over losing the love of her life. Her funeral was on Sunday and I had the honor of singing. It's hard to sing when a close family member died but with my Lord's help and a lot of prayers I did get through it.
I was supposed to sing at Sewell Methodist last night, but was so exhausted that I  knew I could not give them my best, so I canceled and stayed home from all services. Believe me, my body tells me these days when it's near exhaustion.
I have a few reminders for you to mark on your calendar...
This coming Sunday is our yearly Old Fashioned Day. This is the time we dress in our "finest" of long-gone days and we have a great time. On Sunday morning our special singers will be our own  Against the Downpour. Also, lunch in the fellowship hall. I regret that I will have to miss this year. First time I've missed this occasion.
On the 13th of October we'll have our Fall Festival beginning at 6 p.m. in the afternoon with so much for the kids to do as well as for the adults. Remember kids, if you dress for Halloween, no evil or dirty costume wear. This is a church event. Come and enjoy the fun and food, and it's all free.
Be sure to mark the 20th–this will be our last quarterly gospel singing of the year and we need to make the Glorybound Quartet welcome to our church, so please support us. I'm so looking forward to meeting Bob Reese and his group. I don't usually book a group I've never heard, but this group came so highly recommended. It also begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday night.
That just about gets all the special events for this month, but remember on Tuesday nights around 7 p.m. we have the Antioch Bible College Bible Classes. There's still time for you to come and learn and enjoy.
Remember the deadline for the Christmas shoe boxes is Oct. 28.
Also, Wednesday night supper at 6:30 p.m. before prayer meeting.
 We need to send up many prayers for our loved ones: Diane Busbee, Don Patterson, Eurtiss Hamilton, Jessie and Lou Comans, Michael Walker, Virgil Bumgarner, Alvin Walker, Charles Johnson, and so many many more as well as our church family and our pastor. Seems our prayer list gets longer each week.
 I mentioned this before, an "Old Time Gospel Singing," live music featuring The Gospel Trio on Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. The address is 354 Upper Harmony Road, about 2.5 miles from Highway 441. I understand this will be a regular event they are planning.
Against the Downpour had a great time on Saturday night in Lincolnton where they played at the Lewis Family Pavilion, sponsored by the Loco Baptist Church. Next Saturday they will be at Faith Fest in Winder.
On Saturday I enjoyed my high school reunion at Snellville, Walton Electric Building. This is a yearly event for our class and we are so lucky that we keep in touch with each other and are close still. The food was delicious and was catered by Catering from the Master's Table. They did a great job and are reasonably priced. 
It's time for sweet potatoes and collard and turnip greens to come in. Eat, as these are healthy foods for the body as well as "soul food."
   So until next week, may the Lord bless you real good.

Printed in the October 4th edition.