Update on Crickett

Crickett saw the doctor Tuesday.  The antibiotics have reduced the infection somewhat.  He gave her a second round of them and will see her next week to monitor the progress.  The surgery will be scheduled when he feels that the infection is gone. Thanks for your prayers for her in this situation.  We look forward to being back at work on Sept 16 when Sabbatical ends.

Sympathy for the Norton family

Our Christian love and sympathy go out to Barry and Lavada Norton and Barri and Ted Pratt in the loss of Barry's older sister, Ethel who died yesterday.  She suffered from a short illness and now is at peace

Prayer requests for August 22

Please keep Crickett in your prayers as she is being treated for an ongoing infection.  No other surgeries or treatments can begin until this infection is resolved. She will be going to see her doctor again next Tuesday. 

Sympathy for the family of JoAnn Kierce

Our Christian Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of JoAnn Kierce, who passed away this morning. 

There will be a graveside service at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Greenville, AL this Sunday, August 25, at 4:00 PM.

Arrangements for Grace Higginbotham

Peoples Chapel Hueytown on Thursday
Visitation at 10 AM
Service at 11 AM
Burial at Highland's

 

Prayer Concerns for August 19

Goooooood Morning Prayer Troopers!

I have an update on our Crickett.  Her oncologist believes that a mastectomy is the best option.  At the present time, it will not need to be a radical mastectomy, but that will be confirmed later.  Crickett goes back to her surgeon next Tuesday the 27th.  Expected date for mastectomy right now is first week in September.  Let us pray that no further cancer is found so that she will not need a radical mastectomy and that she will continue to heal from the last surgery she had.  Also let us continue to hold her and Randy close in our hearts and prayers and pray for both of their strength and victory over their illnesses.

Also, Julie Bradley has another court appearance tomorrow. Let us continue to pray for her strength and victory over her situation as well.

Keep the family of Grace Higginbotham in your prayers as she has recongnized her final and eternal victory.  I understand the funeral will be Thursday, but more information will be forthcoming.

Remember, as friends and family and children of God, no one fights alone!

Love,
Becky

Prayer Concerns for August 12

Grace made it through the night but remains unresponsive.

Barri Norton's sister Ethel (in South Carolina) is also near death this morning.

Thank you for your faithful prayers.

Randy Kesler
Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
Bessemer, Al, 35020

Update on Grace Higginbotham

I'm told you received word this morning of Grace's worsening condition.  Having talked to Michael (her son) this evening, she is not expected to live through the night. You may not know it, but Grace transferred her membership to First Pres in Tuscaloosa and Charlie Durham, her pastor now, will be handling the service.

I can tell you that Peoples' Funeral Home in Hueytown will handle the arrangements.  I'll keep you informed as word comes.

Grace is so sweet, kind and loving.  Heaven will be enriched with her presence.  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Randy Kesler
Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
Bessemer, Al, 35020

Prayer Concerns for August 1

Let us remember Dr. Holt this morning as he is recovering from some skin cancer surgery done yesterday.

Also, Crickett's pathology report shows they did not find cancer but they did find some DCIS cells which are precancerous.  More surgery will be required once she heals from last week's surgery.  With the second surgery, the doctors will remove the DCIS cells and test them.  If they still indicate pre-cancerous, she will need to have a mastectomy.   An uneasy wait both for the second surgery and the results forthcoming so please lift her up and ask for strength and peace to encompass her.

Love,
Becky

prayer request for Austin Marino

Pray warriors Just found out that old church members, Eddie and Vickie Snider's grandson, Austin Marino was in a bad motorcycle wreck, prayers for him and his family.

Love and prayers,
Dominga

prayers for July 30

Please remember Julie Bradley throughout the day today but especially at 1:15 which is her scheduled time for her and her attorney to meet with the Shelby County mental health judge.   The Lord will be there too!  :)

Update on Beth Black:  She is still unconscious but is responding to some external stimuli.  The doctors still don't know the extent of her head trauma and are waiting for her to wake up.   Please include her in your prayers and ask for God's healing to continue and strength for the family to continue to care for her in the ways needed while she is sleeping.

Let me give you also a brief update on Gracie Poole.  She and her parents went to Houston to meet with the doctors there regarding her lung transplant.  She made a big impact on the doctors and nurses there, stole their hearts I understand!  The relocation to Houston does not have to happen just yet.  The doctors there and here in B'ham are in communication and working together for the best care for Gracie. 

This is from Gracie's mom's blog:

She is definitely a lung transplant candidate-however they feel it's too soon for her to be put on the waiting list. I honestly was shocked by that conclusion! They say she needs to be in the best possible physical shape and also weaned down off of her ventilator and oxygen as much as possible, if possible. They also want us to discontinue her ivig infusions-which are to boost her immune system-to see how her bodies levels are on its own now-she hasn't been without these infusions for 3 years now. She is on the bare minimum settings on her ventilator anyway and has been for some time now. She has been on 1 1/2 liters of extra O2 for a long time now, so we started watching her sats and turned down her O2 and she has been without any extra O2 for two shop days now-that is also a first! So this week she will start boot camp, for lack of a better term. HA she will have Extra PT and try to beef up her muscles and endurance as much as she can tolerate.

So you see they have a lot to do and just so you understand the situation, the tests in Houston concluded that Gracie's lungs are performing at an unsatisfying rate.  She has part of one of her lungs removed some time ago and now much of the lung she has left is black and nonfunctioning.  Her doctor said that if you were to put both her lungs together, they would be functioning at just under 50%.  Yet Gracie still enjoys her play time and her siblings and all that she is able.  Their family gives all the credit to God.  And the other thing is Gracie is well aware that God is right there with her and will tell you so!

Love,
Becky

Arrangements for Lee Grider

Our Christian sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Lee Grider, on his death. Visitation & service are today at Peoples Chapel in Hueytown. Visitation is at 1:00 PM and the service at 2:00 PM.

Congratulations to Jeff Obert

Congratulations to Jeff Obert on the birth of a new grandson, Lane Powell, born this afternoon. Congratulations also to proud parents, Eva Jean Powell and her husband. Lane was 7 lbs 8 oz and 20 inches long.

Update on Crickett

Crickett had surgery this morning for cysts in the breasts. The doctors think everything is fine and she'll be going home this afternoon.

Church Office closed 07/12

The Church Office will be closed Friday, July 12.

Prayer Request for Tom Barnes

Please pray for Tom Barnes, who is a former member. He will be having a stent removed this Friday and has been told that the chances of a good outcome are very low.

youth yard sale and SVPC

Dear Church Family,

Please remember our youth sponsored yard sale Saturday at 7:00 AM and lasting until..........we are guessing until noon-ish. Join us at Shepherd of the Valley for some great buys for a great project! We would love to shop and visit with YOU!

The proceeds from this yard sale will go to the Property Pay-off Project from our youth. Thank you for helping them to make this sale a success!

Don't forget that The Way will NOT meet Sunday evening so we can share in Father's Day with our family and friends. See you back there on June 23rd as we laugh with The Beverly Hillbillies and study a great scripture lesson and life applications.
Peace,

Barri Pratt
Director of Youth and Outreach
First Presbyterian Church
Bessemer, Alabama

Youth Car Wash CANCELLED

The weather has caused us to cancel our car wash today. It looks like rain and thunderstorms will be passing through all day, so we've decided the safest thing is to cancel.

Thank you for your support!

Barri

Arrangements for Mary Sue Caldwell

Arrnage for Mary Sue Caldwell are as follows:
Thursday, May 16
Visitation 12:30 at McCalla Funeral Home
Graveside 02:00 at Highland Memorial Gardens

Sympathy to Dominga Toner

We extend our Christian Sympathy to Dominga Toner and family on the death of her brother-in-law, Mickey (Hubert Floyd Moss, III), yesterday morning. The service is Tuesday in Montgomery. Please remember Dominga and Heinz as they travel to Montgomery for the funeral.