other's Day is one of those days of recognition and reflection. To those who have mothers still living, the nature of the relationship causes emotions to cover a wide spectrum. Sometimes a phone call is all that is shared, while for others the whole day or weekend may be devoted to activities for and about mom. At Hillside last Sunday we shared a look at the lives of three prominent women in scripture and how they were different. The differences in their hopes and hearts led them to leave very different marks on the people in their lives. Mary, the mother of Christ, Hannah, the mother of Samuel, and Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau all played powerful roles in the lives of their children. That's the way it is with moms, their influence is felt years after their lives may be over.

For many people, Mom's ideals are the moral compass in their lives. They may not always heed her advice but do have an opinion about what she would think or say. This kind of power makes it vastly important that Moms know and follow the Lord. They lead the way and influence generations whether they choose to or not. The ripples from a Godly mother's life go on forever, blessing untold lives. All of us who claim the name of Christ owe our faith to many women of faith who have passed on their heritage. Their sons and daughters have been our leaders and teachers and helpers in time of need. In many families Mom is the backbone of spiritual strength. Biblically dads are to be the spiritual leaders. The problem is that too often mom finds herself in that role because dad has vacated his responsibility. Praise the Lord for women who have made the choice to do whatever God has put upon their hearts and dedicated their lives to Him and family. Thanks, Mom.

Last Monday evening our Women's Ministry hosted an event for mothers, daughters, and friends. The activities included a fashion show in wedding gowns and formal wear. The theme for the evening was, "The Bridegroom is Coming". We are thankful for the many vital things our women do for the Lord and His church. The ladies enjoyed the banquet and fellowship.

This coming weekend is a busy time for our congregation. We'll have our regular services Sunday morning, and then participate in Baccalaureate that afternoon. The evening service will be dedicated to worship and the ordination of Chris Wilson into the ministry. Chris has graduated from Ozark Christian College and will be going into full-time Christian service. His family has been part of Hillside for many years and has supported and encouraged Chris's efforts to achieve this goal. We're glad to be part of this special time and Chris's home church. The service will begin at 6:00pm.