Angela Hamilton was celebrating a birthday and Doug and Susan Cory were celebrating their anniversary as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Jerry Abercrombie greeted us and opened our service with prayer. Special prayers were requested for Jake Allison's father, Beverly Weeks, David Weeks, travel prayers, the people in Las Vegas and unspoken. It was good to have Dot Harnar and Frankie Garvin back with us.

We will be participating in SWC Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31 with "Autumn Blessings" and our free Community Dinner will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is invited to come and eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal, fellowship and give thanks for our many blessings.

"Enough" was the title of the devotional given by Linda Abercrombie. She read II Kings 4:42-22 about the 20 loaves of bread feeding 100 men and having some left over. Linda told a story about hosting a social gathering and having the ability to do it. "We may feel reluctant and inadequate and don't know if we have or can give enough to do it. God asks us to give in faithful obedience and He is the one who makes it enough."

With Becky Johnson at the piano, Jerry led the congregation in singing "Standing on the Promises" and "Glory to His Name." Tyrel Lett asked for God's blessing upon the offertory, and he and Grant Abercrombie served as ushers. Linda gave a testimonial, "When you hear all the bad news on the news every day, turn to Jesus." She and Jerry sang "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus."

Our pastor, Brother Mark Hall, brought us God's message "What a Friend We Have" and read Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Brother Mark began by telling us what a blessing it is to have friends and to be a friend.

"Have you ever noticed that it is more popular to name your burdens one by one than to count your blessings one by one? Everyone has been given blessings if they will just stop and look at them. Rarely do we hear people in conversation tell how they are blessed and what they are thankful for. You can do that without bragging, just give God the glory. Do we squander our blessings and just complain? There is no greater blessing than to have a friend or to be one. Friends are made, not met. How does a friend sharpen his countenance?" Brother Mark said the answer is in II Timothy 1:16-18. The scripture tells us that a friend refreshes us. Paul said a friend refreshes us. Their very presence helps ease our burden.

Second, a friend is loyal. Brother Mark said, "A friend isn't conditional, it is not part-time or just during fair weather. A friend is a friend no matter what. Third, a friend is there when you need them. In the words of Fred Hall, "In order to have a good neighbor, you must be a good neighbor."

Brother Mark told us that we only have one perfect friend and that is Jesus. Jesus tells us in John 15:15, "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made know to you." Brother Mark told us that the closer we get to Jesus, the easier it is to know what God wants of us. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus tells us, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Brother Mark said, "A friend comes to help. When Jesus is your friend, let Him help and refresh you and rest your soul. Brother Mark talked about the things Jesus does for us when He is our friend. "Jesus is loyal and will never leave or forsake you. He is there when you need Him. You don't have to look for Him, he finds you. He also prays for us." John 17:20-26 tells us of Jesus' intercessory prayer.

In closing, Brother Mark told us, "Jesus will save you. When Jesus is your friend, He will confess you before the Father. Friends are loyal to the end. Jesus is. Let Jesus in to be your friend. He never promised that you won't have problems, the world is full of trouble, but if Jesus is your friend you won't have to worry about it. Jesus will carry the burden if you will claim Him as your friend."

Our hymn of invitation was "What A Friend we Have in Jesus." Wayne Holly gave the benediction.

We invite you to come to worship next Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at Mill Creek Baptist Church, as Brother Mark will talk about backing up and going in the right direction when we become negative in our thoughts. "God doesn't want us to be negative. He wants us to get turned around to think positive."

Mill Creek is located 3 1/2 miles east of Noel just off Highway 90. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and everyone is welcome.