By the time this column reaches the newspaper, it will be exactly one week until Thanksgiving and one week and two days until the first official Christmas service, the Hanging of the Greens. It's hard to believe it's all coming so fast.

On Sunday, there will be a special Thanksgiving dinner after church with plates of food prepared for those who can't make it to church or others in the community who might appreciate such a meal.

Then, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, it will be time for the Worship committee and all others who like to decorate to come to the church at 9 AM to put up all the Christmas decorations, or at least get them out, in preparation for the Hanging of the Greens service at 7 PM that same night.

Right now, the choir is busily preparing a cantata service for the second weekend in December. That should be very nice to attend.

For most of this time, Rev. Richard and Rebecca Prather will be here, but right after Thanksgiving, they have the opportunity to slip away for a little vacation in Germany.

They are going on a cruise and visiting a lot of interesting places over there. They will be back in time for most of Christmas, though.

Bob and June Hitt left to spend Thanksgiving with relatives in Alabama on Monday. They will be gone about a week.

Ken Cade has returned from a business trip in San Antonio last week.

Debbie Morris has had a little car trouble this week, but it seems to be getting fixed and she should be back on the road in her own car soon.

Joyce Martin should find out a date for her surgery sometime this week. She is constantly in our prayers. And because of that and the holidays, the GED program has been suspended until the first of January.

We were happy to have the Prices from Iowa in church on Sunday. They were on their way to Alamo, Texas and stopped by to visit their nephew, Gordon Rhodes, and his wife Vera.

It was also good to see baby Elijah in church. He has really grown. The cold weather didn't keep him inside.

Speaking of the children, they did a great job with their musical special on Sunday morning. They were led by Angela Martin.

Our prayers are with Jack Boggs who is currently in the hospital. LeAnn went over to see him and had a flat tire. Herb and John had to go help her out.

Miranda Rowan has had the flu this past week.

We are also keeping Ann Blackmon's grandson, Jack in our prayers because of his surgery.

Something to put on the calendar for a near future event is the annual church Christmas dinner. It will be Dec. 10th, Wednesday, at 6 PM.

Also, since it is almost Christmas, it's time to sign up for poinsettias. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of the church, or just call the church office. They are $6 apiece.