The time has arrived!  On Friday, December 15, at 7pm, we will gather at the Center to collect pickle jars and enjoy each other’s company.  There will be coffee, tasty treats, and Christmas music.  Please bring your pickle jars, of all shapes and sizes, decorated or undecorated, partially filled or overflowing.  So we’ll know how much food to prepare, please drop us a line(craddockcenter@tds.net) or give us a call (706-632-1772) to let us know you’ll be joining us.  I hope you can make it!  -TRS
 

THE EIGHT MOST ASKED QUESTIONS IN THE WORLD

1. Will Fred Craddock and Steve Darsey have the Songs and Stories program this year? Yes
2. When will it be? Saturday, January 27, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
3. Will it be at the same place? No. Brasstown Valley Resort gave our date to another event, so we have moved to the Performing Arts Center in Blue Ridge, Georgia. The room is larger with better acoustics, lighting, and view of the stage.
4. How can I get a ticket? The event is free. We used tickets in the past to keep the audience at 400, the limit of the room. Our new location will seat twice this number, so there is no need for tickets. There will be a free will offering to cover rent of the room, sound engineer, janitorial services, etc.
5. Are there good places to eat and to spend the night? Yes, restaurants a plenty. As for lodging, you may choose among Ramada Limited-Blue Ridge (706-632-4444), Days Inn-Blue Ridge (706-632-2100), Douglas Inn & Suites-Blue Ridge (706-258-3600), Best Western-Ellijay (706-515-1500), Budget Inn-Ellijay (706-635-5311), or Stratford Motor Inn-East Ellijay (706-276-1080). Or why not rent a cabin for the weekend? Call Black Bear Cabin Rentals at 888-902-2246.
6. How do I find this Performing Arts Center? From Appalachian Highway 515, aka US 76, head east on old Highway 76 (the intersection where you see June Walker Chevrolet). Follow the road until you see the Performing Arts Center at Fannin County High School on a large hill on your right.
7. Will CDs of previous performances be available for purchase? Yes.
8. Will I have a good time? Is the Pope Catholic?
   -FBC
    

WILL SANTA BRING YOU A NEW SOFA?

If so, you don’t have to dig through your phone book to find your brother-in-law’s number so you can ask him to help you take the old one to the landfill (unless, of course, the cat has used it as a scratching post). And you certainly don’t have to drag it to the end of the driveway hoping someone will drive by and pick it up. Let us help you help others…

The Craddock Center accepts donations of used furniture in good condition, which the Center stores until someone in the community has a need for a sofa, a table, a desk, or a bed. We receive calls all throughout the year asking for help… someone’s home burned, or a relative unexpectedly moved in.  As with all of our programs, there is no charge to recipients.

We do ask that the furniture you send our way be in good working condition… something you wouldn’t be ashamed to invite your mother (or at least your mother-in-law) to use. While we will provide you with a donation receipt if you’d like one, we can’t provide an appraised value for the donated furniture. We’ll leave that up to you.

Unfortunately, our furniture inventory has dwindled to nearly nothing as of late. Two weeks ago, we received a call from a family – a woman and three children – whose home completely burned. With the colder weather approaching, we usually see an increase in the number of people whose homes burn. We try to meet their needs as best we can, but really need your help.

Now is the time of year that some folks redecorate, and we’ll be quite pleased to acquire any items you wish would depart from your presence. If you have some furniture you need to recycle, please give us a call. It’s much easier for you, and will certainly brighten someone’s day. - TRS

HUNGRY?

Now is the time of year many folks consider, in a special way, those who are suffering. There are food drives at work, at church, at school, at the grocery store…

Here is a little food for thought.

According to the USDA’s study of food security in America in 2004, 13.5 million households were food insecure*, and 4.4 million American households had one or more members who went hungry some time during the year. Of American households with children, 17.6% were food insecure during the year. On a daily basis, between 41,000 and 50,000 households contained hungry children. The agency also notes that one in five Americans participates in at least one of the USDA’s food assistance programs each year.

The USDA states that recipients of food stamps, the largest governmental food assistance program, received an average benefit per person, per month, of $92.70 in fiscal year 2005.

Participants may fully utilize governmental assistance, and still go without. Private organizations try to help bridge that gap by providing emergency assistance. America’s Second Harvest is a network of food banks in the US, and is also our country’s largest charitable hunger-relief group. They conducted an in-depth study of Hunger in America in 2005.

Here is what they found:

• America’s Second Harvest provided emergency food assistance to 25.3 million people in 2005.
  Of those served, 68% had family incomes at or below the poverty line; the average monthly income for a household was $800/month.
• Roughly 9 million of their clients were children under the age of 18; 2 million were under the age of five.
  Among clients with children, 73% were food insecure and 31% were hungry.
• 41% of clients choose between paying for food and paying for utilities or heating fuel; many others choose between food and rent, or food and medical expenses.
• Clients fully utilize their food stamps in an average of 2.5 weeks.

Unfortunately, food insecurity and hunger are on the rise. Fortunately, organizations such as America’s Second Harvest are there to help local food pantries, kitchens, and shelters.

What does The Craddock Center do? We have a discretionary fund that we use to help folks who call on us with needs for food, utilities, rent, or prescriptions. We always welcome contributions to the fund.

There are other ways you may help, too. The Hunger in America 2005 study also found that volunteers work at 90% of the food pantries in the network (and 66% of these pantries rely solely on volunteers). And, of course, there are food drives at work, at church, at school, and at the grocery store…

*the USDA defines food insecurity as limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.



I WALKED INTO A ROOM

A large room, a show room, on an American Saddlebred Horse Farm in Shelby County, Kentucky. I was amazed at the luxury in which the horses live. Every need is anticipated. And needless to say, the horses were strong, proud, and beautiful, and they performed their gaits flawlessly.

I asked how soon a colt showed potential to be a champion. Well, at birth, of course, some pass the initial test and some do not. As weanlings, the colts begin to show the owners whether or not to continue hoping for a champion. And as yearlings, they are groomed for the show ring or are to be sold as pleasure horses.
I love horses.

I walked into a room, a small room, a classroom of a Head Start school in North Georgia. There were 18 children crowded into the room. I was amazed at the luxury of love shown to them, and they performed the songs and movements and listened to the stories, not flawlessly, but with intermittent giggles, and laughter, and unrelated comments. No, I stand corrected: it was flawless.

I asked how soon a child shows potential to be a champion. Oh, we already know. They are 3 and 4 now, but we have known since birth. You see, these are children of God; I’m sure you see the striking resemblance.
I love children.
-FBC



FULL!

Enrollment for the March 12, 2007 preaching workshop is full, and it’s only November. Don’t be dismayed - we do have a waiting list. Someone might think she can attend, but in early February will receive the call telling her she won an Alaskan cruise… –TRS

BECAUSE YOU ASKED

When you call or e-mail inquiring about tapes or CDs of sermons and lectures, you are referred to Bell Tower Productions. The Center does not produce or sell tapes and CDs, but Bell Tower does, and receipts from such sales are given as a donation to the programs of the Center. How about that? No work and all pay makes all of us happy. -FBC

Bell Tower Productions can be reached at:
4217 North Mountain Road
Marietta, GA 30066
770-294-1469 (phone)
770-509-3049 (fax)
www.craddocksermons.com