Gospel singing Oct. 4 at Eolia Community Park
Eolia
By BRENDA GROSS

Greetings from the hills and valleys of Eolia and Eolia Christian Community Outreach.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Now that summer is ending, we at ECCO are back to our regular routine planning events and projects for the upcoming holidays. The first event is Saturday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. when the Eolia Community Park will host a gospel singing in the park free of charge. Those already booked to sing are Backwoods Revival; The Boggs Family from Norton, Va.; Shannon Mullins; God's Grace; Judy Kincer; and members of the Millstone Methodist Church. We have other singers who have not yet been contacted, but we think may come also. Hot dogs, Polish sausage, pop and coffee, cakes, candies and a variety of Liz Sturgill's fried pies will be on the concession menu. A door prize of a church painting by Jeff Chapman-Crane and a Home Interior candle will be given away. So bring a lawn chair and prepare for a day of good gospel music, food and visiting with friends and neighbors.

This month we were happy to celebrate two birthdays with volunteers Hannah Burke and Junell Sturgill. Sept. 8. was Hannah's birthday, which was also pantry day, and we took her completely by surprise by singing "Happy Birthday" after Roger asked the blessing. Janie had a birthday cake hidden away and there was a gift from ECCO.

Junell's birthday was Sept. 17, the same day Teresa Bevins from LKLP showed us a video cautioning about borrowing money from questionable organizations. She also brought pizza, pop and gift bags, which everyone really appreciated. We also had a cake and gift for Junell. We love and appreciate these two volunteers for their work at ECCO.

ECCO's Neighborhood Watch meeting has been changed to the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. because we are now having Bible study each Monday evening at 7 p.m. We appreciate Pastor Dave Hammond and Pastor Lloyd Mullins for taking time from their already busy schedules by alternating Mondays to teach at ECCO. We invite everyone to attend.

Fall is my favorite time of the year and although we need the rain, I was glad for the sunny days, which enabled us to get ECCO's porch stained. We were also finally able to paint the floor in the new addition to the thrift store. We're getting there, slowly but surely.

Thought for the day: "Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest."

News from the Ovenfork Senior Citizens Center by Jewell Maggard:

"Hi seniors, hope you had another week of praising and serving the Lord.

"Two weeks ago I was saddened to lose my dear friend, Susan Cook. I looked forward to delivering Sue her dinner because we would always have prayer before I left. Sue's life was about the Lord, family and church. She was so talented. She could paint, make beautiful quilts and so much more. When visiting the Eolia Mission go downstairs and see the different Bible stories she painted on the walls of the Sunday school rooms. I'll never forget her. She was a very special lady in my life. Read 1 Thess. 4:16.

"At a recent meeting at Hazard conducted by Kimberly Baker, elder abuse specialist, we were amazed at how many older people are being neglected and abused. Below are some highlights of what we learned. In Kentucky, SFY 2007 received 45,048 reports of adult abuse, 9660 of which were for persons 60 and older. One in 14 cases of abuse and neglect come to the attention of proper authorities. One in 25 cases of financial exploitation come to the attention of proper authorities. In the eastern mountains regions, you had 4,776 adult abuse reports during SFY '07 for persons over 60 almost 1000 — just in this area.

"Kimberly Baker left us with this sobering thought. Who will you be, when you are no longer who you are? What will your life be like when it is no longer what it is today? What are you doing to prepare for that day? We are all the face of aging.

"For more information, contact Kimberly Baker, elder abuse specialist, 1-502-564- 6852 or Adult Branch, 1-502- 564-7043, the Department of Aging and Independent Living, 1-502-564-6930."

Community bulletin board: Kids' Time each Friday, 10- 11:15 a.m. at ECCO. Good News Club at the Eolia Mission, Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. for children 3 and up, call 633-5015 for transportation. Neighborhood Watch meeting at ECCO the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.. Rockvine Baptist Church youth group meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m., Bible study also 6 p.m.; the bus will run. Call Mindy at (606) 589-6226 or Linda at 633-4948. The Eolia Community Park Committee meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at ECCO. Cumberland River Volunteer Fire Department meets at 11 a.m. the second Sunday of each month at the Partridge station. Volunteers are welcome. The Partridge Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Ovenfork Senior Citizens Center. Come and bring a guest.

This week our prayer list includes Seth Collins, Barb Shelton, Josh Lewis, Stephanie Estep, Raymond Kiser, Lois Young, Judy Branham, Lucy Maggard, Lillian and Nora Walker, Bear Hissom, Kess "Rusty" Halcomb, Ruth Halcomb, Olivia Blair, Geneva Tolaver, Curt Sturgill, Johnny Sturgill, Jr. Carter, Marie Snell Dorothy Nease and Brenda Gross.

Also to be lifted up in prayer are those enslaved by drugs and alcohol, may they be delivered, the troops in Iraq, the United States and Iraq, the leaders of our country, all the children hurt by war and the ministry of ECCO.

You may contact us by writing to ECCO, 135 Emily Lane, Eolia, Ky. 40826 or e-mail us at eccotruth@peoplepc.com.

Until next week from the folks at ECCO, "God bless."