This month we will be celebrating Communion on Sunday, February 28th at all three services.  There will NO evening service on Wednesday, February 24th.

There will be no Celebrate Recovery tonight, February 16th due to the snow.

Student Ministries is sponsoring a food drive for starving families in West Virginia. Over 400 families in this impoverished area are in need of food. Please bring non-perishable food items to the function hall any time before Feb 15. The student ministry team will be driving the collection down to WV after that date.

Where can a married couple find help with difficult issues? How can a couple handle the challenges of life together as a team?  Join the Marriage & Family Life Team to look at some of the powerful promises of God that show how God desires the best for our marriages…forgiveness when we fail, grace for trying times, wisdom for decision-making, and hope for the future.  Friday, March 5th 6-9PM at Spring Hill in South Berwick for dinner and session 1.  Sessions 2 and 3 and continental breakfast Saturday, March 6th 8:30AM – noon at DEC.  Childcare provided for Saturday morning at DEC. Cost is $90 per couple.
FMI:  familylife@durhame.org  To sign up and pay:  http://short.durhame.org/mflretreat

The Stewardship Ministiry is pleased to again offer Financial Peace University, a biblically based accountability curriculum that teaches you how to make wise desicions with your money.  This 13 week class begins February 21 and meets Sundays from 4-6PM.  Free childcare is provided.  Cost for course materials is $100 per family.  Free preview Sunday, Feburary 7th between services in the Youth Room.  FMI:  financialpeace@durhame.org.  You can sign up and pay online at http://short.durhame.org/FPUsignup.

Today we’ve heard stories from our team of the sounds of Haiti, the unending cacophony of voices and animals throughout the day and night. And we praise God for peaceful moments for our team  in His presence. 

We’ve heard reports of the taste of Port au Prince, the food distributions that are never enough to feed the starving desparate throngs.  And we praise God for the delicious, satisfaction our team enjoyed eating the chicken that kept them awake most of the night. 

And we heard descriptions of the rubble of 50% of the buildings in Carrefour, of the remaining buildings 30% of which need to be torn down, and of the smoke, dust, and stench that hover  over it all.  And we praise God for strengthening our team to see  through the morass of confusion to reach out to the people of Haiti.

Please pray for Jeremiah and Jenn as they travel by bus to Santo Domingo, DR on Tuesday and by plane home on Wednesday.  Pray for John as he continues to serve on many fronts in Port au Prince.  And pray for the safety of a PID medical team traveling down to Haiti tonight and tomorrow.

The sights, smells, and lawlessness are beyond comprehension.  The stories they’ve heard and stories they’ve experienced are heart breaking.  But through it all, they see God’s perfect plans in motion in them and around them.  They have traveled around the city and witnessed some of the worst devastation.  They have served tirelessly at the PID clinic to treat and comfort the sick and injured.  They have provided vital assistance with food distributions.  They are facing the constant challenges of fatigue and stress resulting from such overwhelming  need and chaos.  Please continue to pray God will continue to protect them and use them to bless PID and the people of Haiti.

The initial team from DEC and PID has arrived in Port au Prince after a very, very long day of travel.  As harrowing as  the trek to Port au Prince was, the situation of the people there is terrible to behold.  This first team consists of people from PID and DEC, among them 2 nurses, a doctor, an electrician, a pastor and long term PID missionaries.  Yesterday they were able to open the clinic with UN Peace Keepers.  They’ve witnessed riots, flat tires, hunger, sickness, devastation, lawlessness, fear and death.    And in the midst of this heart wrenching chaos they rejoice in God’s faithfulness and protection.

Please pray for their continued safety and stamina to serve.

Please pray God will open a window to provide transportation for medical and relief supplies that are ready and waiting for them.

Pray for hope for the people of Haiti.

Thursday, January 28  5pm-midnight

The restaurants of Durham unite to support Haiti Relief with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Durham Evangelical Church.  100% of the donations will be going to on-the-ground relief efforts in Haiti with Partners in Development and Heartline Ministries.

So where’s to eat?

At Libby’s, Scorpion’s Bar & Grill and Village Pizza there will be a $5 donation right on the menu you can add to your order.

Libby’s has pledged to match all donations up to $500!

Village Pizza will match all donations up to $500!

At JP’s Eatery, Wings Your Way, Youngs and Ballards there will be volunteers who can take your donations by cash, check or credit card. Or buy a Haitian flag to donate at these restaurants.

Or at any establishment, purchase a Haitian flag all this week to support Haiti.  Please thank the dining establishments of Durham for coming together to support this relief effort.

In UNH terms, this evening is “One Less Beer for Haiti” challenging students to donate $5.00, or the cost of one beer, to support the relief efforts in Haiti.  This is not an InterVarsity event.