Sunday, December 23, 2007

I hope all of you got the word that our Children's Christmas Program that was to be held last Sunday evening was cancelled and is rescheduled for this coming Sunday morning, December 23 in our 10:45 AM Worship Service. I apologize for any confusion, some of us were trying to think clearly and quickly to determine the right decision and alternative actions in the midst of multiple phone calls. This picture from last Sunday's Browns / Bills game at Cleveland Stadium gives you an idea of why things were cancelled: Should future cancellations be necessary during this winter, please tune your radio to 103.3 FM (WCRF), watch for the "crawler" on our local WEWS - TV/NewsChannel 5, and check the homepage on our church website (http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org/)

Please remember that we will be holding our ABF's at 9:30 AM as normal this Sunday. All children in the program should be here at 9:30 AM and go directly to the auditorium to run over a few things before the program.

There will be NO 6:00 PM service or other children's programming on Sunday. This is because we will be having our annual Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 7:00 PM the following Monday evening. This is always a wonderful service and way to begin a special Christmas time. Many families have made it a part of their family tradition, it would be great for yours as well. It is only about an hour long, but is very special. Several of our young adults who grew up here will be back to minister in song or readings. It will be great to see them, why not make this service part of YOUR family Christmas?

Note that there will be NO Wednesday service on December 26, and NO Sunday Evening service at 6:00 PM on December 30. We have found that the break during this time of year has been helpful to us all. Those who minister in many ways throughout the year appreciate the break. On Sunday, December 26 we WILL have our regular 9:30 AM Sunday school and ABF's as well as our 10:45 AM Worship service, which will feature special guest speaker, Pastor Igor Bagirov whom I told you about in my additional email last week. Remember that our "Gifts for Christ" offering this year will be going to him and his family, and we would like to present it to him on that day. Please give generously.

Speaking of giving, any year end giving to our church should be in the offering on Sunday, December 30 if you would like it to count on your tax deductions for 2007. And Beth and I want to thank you for your Christmas gift to us, it is much appreciated. Your love and prayers mean much to us, thank you.

Pray that God will bless in many ways this Sunday in every church service that proclaims Christ as Savior. May He be the "main attraction" in our services and in our hearts this week and always. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday!

Don Workman, pastor

http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org/

PS - here is a picture of former pastor here, Tony Beckett, who now ministers in Michigan. He looks like the "iceman of the north" this past weekend.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Winter weather has arrived with a vengence in many parts of the country, I hope you are safe, have heat, and are able to drive without getting stuck or sliding. It is crazy to think that my Florida family and friends are probably wearing shorts and T-shirts! Good for them!

Pray for many of us in the midwest / northeast this weekend as the forecast is predicting a more severe storm than we just had. Many of our churches are holding their Christmas programs this Sunday, I hope they will not be cancelled.

We here at Faith will be having our regular Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships at 9:30 AM. This will be followed by our Adult Christmas program in our 10:45 AM worship hour. The choir and readers will present the musical, "On This Very Night." This has been a more challenging piece for us, but it is coming together well. For all involved in this, don't forget our dress rehearsal tonight (Friday) at 7:00 pm - please be early.

In our 6:00 pm service our Children will present their program, "The Worst Christmas Tree." This will be a time of music and drama by our children and teens through 8th grade. They have worked diligently for months on this, please be here to see it. Don't forget, parents, to have your kids at church on Saturday before 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM for their final rehearsal. Be thinking now who you can invite to attend with you and then contact them soon.

All teens in youth group - don't forget that next Saturday, December 22 is your annual Shopping Spree outing. Bring money to buy last minute gifts as well as for supper. Be at the church by noon, and shop 'til you drop or 7:00 pm (which ever comes first!) See Dennis or Barb McMichael for questions or more information.

Plan now to attend our annual Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 7:00 PM. This is not a long service, about an hour long, but is very special and many families have included it in their holiday tradition. I hope you will make it yours as well.

Thanks to all our ladies who baked dozens of holiday cookies to distribute to at least 40 - 50 businesses around our church. Reports came back from those who delivered them that clerks and workers were almost speechless! What a fun and wonderful ministry this is. Pray that outreaches of friendliness such as this will foster good relationships and hopefully ministry opportunities.

No picture of Nicholas this week, but rather a link to a video that Sarah and Sam sent. It is of him with them in their Bob Evans in Kokomo, and Nicholas ate his first whole piece of pie (pumpkin) himself. I know he enjoyed it, and I did not hear of any tummy ache! Click on this link, hopefully it will work for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc2PckVMsIM If it doesn't work for you, jot me an email and I will help. We look forward to seeing him again in a couple of weeks. And pray for all our college kids as they complete semester final exams and projects, then travel home. It will good to see all our own here at Faith.

Pray for all our ministries, and those of other churches, this weekend. As praises are sung, programs presented, lines probably forgotten and prompted, and parents/grandparents smiling - pray that the Lord will be honored as we all celebrate His birth into our world. And thank God for the wonderful plan of salvation He devised and provided for us all.

Pastor Don Workman

www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Our Joshua and Emily recently became engaged - I hope they don't have a discussion like this couple regarding an important part of their ceremony:

Prior to our wedding, David and I met with the minister to discuss our marriage ceremony and various traditions, such as lighting the unity candle from two individual candles.
Couples usually blow out the two candles as a sign of becoming one. Our minister said that many people were now leaving their individual candles lit to signify independence and personal freedom. He asked if we wanted to extinguish our candles or leave them burning.
After thinking about it, David replied, "How about if we leave mine lit and blow out hers?"

Sounds just like a guy, doesn't it? (Careful now)

We had a great adult Christmas Banquet last Saturday evening, you should not have missed it! Dave Milligan catered tremendous food as usual, and our guest Pastor Larry Engle reminded us of the Christmas message through the "songs" in Luke 1 & 2 - as well as some keyboard songs of his own. It was a fun and special time.

It is difficult to think that it is not winter yet with the kind of weather we have had this past week. We have had several inches of snow, some ice, had our parking lot plowed at least once, and the snow shovel and salt sit by the main entry doors. Too early for that, I think. Hopefully it will bring an early spring. Don't let any snowy weather keep you from church this Sunday (use common sense.) We look forward to a full day of services and ministries:

9:30 AM - our Women's and Men's ABF's are heading down the homestretch in their studies, but still have much to offer if you haven't attended regularly. Another ABF is studying "God's Answers to Man's Questions" (various Scriptures) and another is going through a study in the book of Ephesians. We offer kids and teens classes as well as a nursery ministry during this time.

10:45 AM - our worship service will feature more Christmas oriented songs and a duet by Tom and Sandi Goodrich. We will continue our series, "Gifts that Salvation Brings" by considering the gift of being "Eternally Secured by God's Promise." If you skim through the underlined verses in your Bible through John's Gospel, chapters 1 - 10, you will see several points that support our eternal security. If you don't come Sunday and I will help you see them.

6:00 PM - this service features something for everyone! Adults will meet in the auditorium to sing and study a couple of more Gifts - the fact that in salvation we are Baptized and Sealed by God's Holy Spirit. Our teens will meet downstairs for a time of fellowship, fun, and Bible study. And our AWANA children will have a special Christmas emphasis along with their Bible lessons and memory work. A nursery ministry is also available.

Parents, don 't forget that this Saturday morning from 9 - 11 AM will be dress rehearsal for the children's program, "The Worst Christmas Tree." Please have your kids here, on time, and prepared with parts that they must know. There will also be another rehearsal the following Saturday, December 15 at the same time.

All adult choir members, remember we will have an extended practice time this Sunday right after our morning service. See Pastor Tom if you have questions. And remember that both programs will be given on Sunday, December 16 - the Adult cantata, "On This Very Night" in the AM service, and the Children's program in the PM service.

This Monday at 7:00 PM will be our Ladies Ministry meeting featuring a "Cookie Exchange." See Debbie Mace for details. We are also planning on delivering a tray of cookies to area businesses soon, don't forget to make yours. This outreach was well received last year.

The Ladies Bible Study that normally meets on Mondays will meet this Thursday at 7:00 PM instead. See Sandi Goodrich if you would like more information.

Remember that we offer a midweek prayer and Bible study time each Wednesday at 7:00 PM and each Thursday at 11:00 AM. Both times are unique and a blessing, give one a try and you will be blest.

Don't forget about our "Gifts for Christ" offering being collected all month. Use the special envelope in your giving packet or mark one from a pew to participate in the annual offering. We are still determining where it will go (usually a ministry away from us) - if you have suggestions, submit it in writing to me.

Whew, this is a busy week / month! But that is the way December usually goes. In the busy - ness of it all, don't lose focus on the One Who is central to the season - Jesus Christ.

May God bless you as you pray, plan, and prepare for Sunday! Invite someone to attend with you, they just may say "yes."

Pastor Don Workman

http://fbcstreetsboro.podbean.com/ (to listen to sermons)

Nicholas "sympathizing" with Uncle Joshua's broken finger.