Sunday, June 1, 2008

Can you believe the date of this issue? It is already JUNE! That is hard to believe, I feel as if Spring has by passed us almost altogether. But if the next many days are in the 70's as forecast, I will take it!

I should also add that some of you (like my wife) get this note in it's full context through their email window. But I also saw that there are some features that you don't see - such as the services information, blog archives, and "sites to see" list. If you haven't seen it yet, click on: http://www.lookingtowardsunday.blogspot.com/ and that should take you to the web - version of this weekly note.

For those who are at church early on Sunday by 9:00 AM (those in our worship team, or are teachers or helpers, etc.) and have young children, there will be an activity time downstairs in the opening exercises area beginning this Sunday. Nancy Cobb has graciously volunteered to have this supervised time with the children to occupy them until 9:30 when Sunday school starts. Thanks, Nancy for coming up with a great ministry idea! If you have one for any area, please let us know.

Our Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowship teachers work hard on the lessons they have to present each week, so I hope you will make a point to attend as a family on Sunday at 9:30 AM. These groups last for an hour and are a good preparation for worship. And an added benefit for adults especially is that you really get to know one another and care more deeply for each other through prayer and action. This really helps and speeds up the assimilation process for those who are new to our church - please give these classes a try.

Our 10:45 AM Worship service features a great mix of songs and hymns that are all upward oriented in worship. "Holy is the Lord", "We Fall Down", "Worthy is the Lamb", and "Holy, Holy, Holy" are just some of those we will sing. Dennis McMicael is a passionate giver, and his thoughts on giving before the offering should stimulate us all to give open handedly. We will continue our study in the subject of WORSHIP that is pleasing and acceptable to God by considering "Our Body Language of Worship." I am indebted to Dr. David Jeremiah for this week's talk on issues that relate to our posture in worship as well as the controversial matter of lifting holy hands to the Lord. We will glean from several Old Testament passages of Scripture with many New Testament applications for us. This is a subject I have wanted to address for a long time, and I am glad the time is here. Please don't miss it, and please pray that God will use me to present His Word clearly on the matter.

Sunday at Six PM will feature the wrap up of our AWANA season with the Annual AWARDS night. The kids and leaders have worked hard all year, please be present to support them in their achievements. This service will draw our AWANA program to a close for this year; but never fear, Vacation Bible School is only eight weeks away (sorry, Sandi) - July 20 - 24 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. Please mark it on your calendar and let us know (note in offering plate is great) if you will help and how.

Also at 6:00 PM this Sunday we will have our annual Graduates Recognition time. It is usually a "fireside chat" format on the platform with myself interviewing each graduate. It is great to hear of their accomplishments as well as their future plans. Us "oldsters" are always encouraged by their enthusiasm for the future. We hope to hear from Amy Carroll and Kurtis Biltz (both high school grads) and possibly Adam Leech (Ashland University) and Joshua Workman (Baptist Bible College, PA) if they are in town and available. Each will receive a gift certificate from us to a local Christian bookstore, and following this service everyone is invited to a food and fellowship time to rejoice with the graduates. If you would like to honor them with a card, feel free to bring it that night. Also grads, don't forget to come early and set up your table with your accomplishments - most of you know the drill by now. And all are invited to Amy's Open House on June 7 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

Speaking of June 7, the Workman family would appreciate your prayers as we prepare for Joshua and Emily's wedding in a week on that Saturday in Orchard Park, NY. Contact us for directions to the church. And remember that the wedding is at 10:30 AM!!! (this is due to a variety of reasons related to the reception hall.) Pray that I will be "with it" as I have a major part in the wedding - by that time on Saturday mornings I am usually only on my second cup of coffee. Don't be surprised if you are there and I am up front with Bible and coffee mug in hand performing the ceremony! We are looking forward to having a VERY full house next week as family members begin to arrive - we are all preparing for Nicholas to come on Monday with his parents, then the fun starts. Hannah and Jon arrive from Portland, OR next Thursday at 11:00 PM in Pittsburgh, then we leave Friday AM for NY! Busy, busy!

This Sunday should be GREAT for everyone! Prepare early and plan to take part in it all. The Lord is good to those who honor Him, don't forfeit a blessing by missing time in worship and learning with His people. God bless you, I look forward to seeing many of you this week.

Pastor Don Workman
http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org/

http://www.facebook.com/

Sunday, May 25, 2008

I hope you are staying warm this week! Where did our Spring go? My parents are up here from Florida and are freezing, but I assured them warmer weather was promised this weekend. Let's hope so! I took my dad out fishing one evening this past week - note that he is wearing my winter coat:

Here is one that made me smile - may it do the same for you:

When I was a 20-something college student, I became quite friendly with my study partner, a 64-year-old man, who had returned to school to finish his degree. He confessed, with a wink, that he had once thought more than friendship might be a possibility between us.

"So what changed your mind?" I asked him.

"I went to my doctor and asked if he thought a 40-year age difference between a man and woman was insurmountable. He looked at my chart and said, 'You're interested in someone who's 104?'"

If you notice to the right of this screen I added and rearranged some features. There will be a premanent list of our services, so I will only give the highlights of what is coming up (similar to what I've always done.) There is an archive if you care to view past issues, and I added a "sites worth seeing" section and will add other websites to this list that I feel are worthy, interesting, and edifying for the whole readership of this blog.

This is Memorial Day Weekend time, and as we have done for several years now, there will NOT be an evening service or other programming at 6:00 PM this Sunday (we will resume it next Sunday, June 1st when we have our AWANA Awards and Graduates Recognition.) It sounds like it should be a wonderful day weather-wise, so I hope you can use this Sunday evening to strengthen ties with family and explore avenues of outreach with neighbors. And please be safe.

In our 10:45 AM worship service we will sing together some great songs of faith, and then we will consider, " Worship - A Definition You Can Use" by looking at that classic definition of worship by William Temple from 1942. It consists of five key elements which we will examine along with some appropriate scriptures. A good one on which to meditate would be our memory verse for this month, Philippians 4:8. That will prepare your heart for this Sunday.

Last Sunday we voted on the proposals to reallocate some of our missions budget from two missionaries to two others, plus the raising of support for one other. All these proposals passed almost unanimously. They will all take effect over the summer. Thank you for your participation in this important process.

As you can see in our schedule we have two midweek prayer and Bible study opportunities for you. Our Thursday morning group enjoys their time together and are always on the lookout to invite others to attend. Once a month they have their "OASIS" gathering ("Older Adults Sharing In Streetsboro") and last Thursday they enjoyed a cookout and indoor picnic. Here are some pictures from that day, I hope they encourage others to join in this great time:

Last week our ladies enjoyed their "Hawaiian Luau" Mother / Daughter Banquet. It was much fun and great food. The only pictures I have available to me are of my family, here is one of my mother, sister, and Beth: I am sure other ladies have more general pictures to show. Thanks, again to Debbie Mace and her helpers for making it happen. On Mother's Day our Men's Ministry presented each lady with a beautiful rose and we also had a drawing for five hanging baskets.

Tomorrow (Friday, May 23) I travel to BBC and back in the same day to pick up Leah and her "stuff" from college. Please pray for my safety and stamina - it is about six and a half hours one way, and that is if I have "smooth sailing." In this season of road repairs it may take longer.

I have briefly mentioned a while ago that in the past year Beth has had difficulty with her voice and actually lost her main singing ability. Needless to say, this has been quite traumatic, especially for a vocal major in college. To be brief, after about three months of seeing a therapist, she finally saw a specialist at the Cleveland Clinic this past Tuesday. Up until now no one could find out what was wrong. After a thorough exam, including a video scope of her vocal chords, he found a "lesion" on one of them. This was an answer to prayer in that they finally did find something that may be the cause. He recommends surgery to remove it (it won't get better by itself) so we are taking the next step and praying that our health insurance will cover it all. She hopes to get that referral tomorrow when she sees the therapist as well as the ENT who recommended her to the specialist. Please continue to pray with us - thanks.

As always, there is always more to say, but this is enough for now. It is always good to hear from you, either through email or the comments section below. Please add yours. If you are traveling out of town this weekend, please drive safely. Maybe due to high gas prices you are sticking close to home, and in that case I look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Prepare your heart for the heavenly Father's work in your life. And pray for some to make spiritual movement toward the Savior Jesus and progress in the Holy Spirit as we continually strive to live sanctified lives for Him. Work hard in spiritual tasks, one day it will be worth it all.

Pastor Don Workman
http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org/
(also on http://www.facebook.com/)

Well, I hate to add that the CAVS lost to Boston in their series, but Boston better enjoy their victory now because the new CAVS superstar is already practicing! Here he is in action:

Sunday, May 18, 2008

The past week and a half has been quite out of the ordinary for our family, but has been great. That is part of the reason I did not get this note out to you last week before Mother's Day. My parents flew in from Florida on May 6 to enjoy the last warm day we had here in Northeast Ohio, so they and we have been chilly since then. We left the following Thursday to go to BBC to attend Joshua and Emily's college graduation on Friday (he made it - we were never worried about Emily!!) Their wedding will take place on June 7, so that is the next big event to anticipate for our family. We are thrilled that Jon and Hannah will be able to fly in from Oregon for it, pray for their safety.

While all this went on here, our daughter in Indiana, Sarah, participated on a mission trip to Haiti for 10 days with a group from her church and some Purdue University students. Though she has been on several previous mission trips, this one was unique in that her particular ministry was serving as a "dental assistant." Here she is with instruments in a patient's mouth - yikes! if he only knew she had no technical training in dentistry!! But she did well. She also ministered by giving her testimony and helping in any other way she could. Nicholas and Sam were glad when she returned home last Saturday.

This past Monday over 60 ladies enjoyed our Mother / Daughter Hawaiian Luau Banquet here at our church. It sounded like a lot of fun and blessing; it was special to have my mother and sister attend it with Beth. Thanks to Debbie Mace and our Women's Ministry for hosting it. (sorry, I did not get any pictures of it, but I am sure some will be available at church this week.)

This Sunday should be "normal" for us in that we have all our regular services and ministries at their appointed times: 9:30 AM, 10:45 AM, and 6:00 PM. In our morning worship service we will continue our study on Worship by considering "What the Bible Shows Us Our Worship Is" from various scripture passages. You can read John 2, John 12:4 - 8, Luke 10:38 - 42 and John 17 to prepare your heart for what we will see.

In our 6:00 PM time we will have our AWANA for kids program, which this week features the "store" time if I remember correctly. For teens and adults we will meet and continue our study on "Rewards and Crowns" which has been helpful for many as we look to eternity and what some of it may be like.

For all members of Faith, please remember that we will vote during our morning service on an item we presented to you two weeks ago concerning the reallocation of some of our missions support money. We are proposing that we take some funds that became available (the Lounsbrough and Oana support, both totaling about $250 monthly) and move it to three different missionary families with whom we have had contact before (Michael Banks and Michael Bliss, both with ABWE, for $100 monthly each) and one we currently support and would like to increase (Steve Fulks, Baptist Mid Missions) to $200 monthly. We will vote by ballot on each individually. Please contact me if you have questions prior to our voting time this Sunday morning.

Though not a voting issue, please remember that we are planning a summer "hiatus" from our regular 6:00 PM services and ministries from June 15 (Father's Day) through August 7 (our annual "Dinner on the Grounds" Day.) This will give a much needed break to many who go "full bore" for most of the year. There will most likely be some small group meetings in homes or at church for Bible study and fellowship, we will let you know more of that in the future. They will resume on Sunday evening, September 14.

For our Deacons, please remember that we changed our next meeting to Thursday, May 22 at 5:30 PM. Please email any agenda items you may wish to discuss. And remember to bring your own drink, dinner will be provided.

Our Vacation Bible School will be held this year the week of July 20 - 24, and as always we need MUCH HELP from you to make it happen. Sandi Goodrich is looking for teachers and helpers for all areas, so please jot her a note to let her know of your availability. It is in the evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 PM and is always a good time. Plan NOW to attend and help.

Note below a couple of websites that I think you will find helpful and interesting. I will add more to them as I find others that may broadly appeal to us all and be helpful in our growth / walk with Christ. Check them out.

As we worship the Lord this Sunday, pray that God will have His way in all our hearts. I represent every pastor out there when I ask you to pray for me as I plan and prepare to handle God's Word in an accurate way. May it all come together with our singing to acceptably worship our great God Who is worthy of everything we can give Him.

Pastor Don Workman

http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org

(also on http://www.facebook.com)

Sunday, May 4, 2008

How about a smile to begin? My friend, Steve, who lives in Florida sent me some good jokes, and some pictures that speak for themselves - here is a sample of both for you, sure to bring a smile (especially for Sunday School teachers):

A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem . A small child replied, "They couldn't get a baby-sitter."

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, "Johnny, what is the matter?" Little Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."

Thanks, Steve for the smiles!

This Sunday is a special, out of the ordinary Sunday for us at Faith. It will begin with Sunday School and Adult Bible Fellowships at 9:30 AM. We are into a new ABF season with studies in the Bible books of Daniel, Psalms, and Ephesians. All are very good, if you are new to it and don't know where to go, we can help. Come early, get some refreshments, and we will help you find an ABF that fits your needs.

At 10:45 AM we have a unique Worship Service prepared which will feature our time at the Lord's Table (Communion), so please come with your life examined and your heart prepared. It will feature a new ensemble to sing, other great music, a couple of testimonies of God's faithfulness, a brief talk where we will see how Communion fits into our Worship (read over Revelation 5:1 - 10) and the participating in the elements of bread and cup. Plan to give in our Benevolent Fund through yours or one of the offering envelopes in the pews.

Immediately following that service we will enjoy an all church dinner to fellowship with one another. Please plan to stay, and remember to bring the items for which you signed up. As soon as we are done, we will reconvene in the worship center to witness the Baptism of recent new believers, hear their testimonies as well as others who are joining our church family in full membership. Don't miss this time, it will be special, especially as we will have opportunity to be involved in both of the key ordinances of a Baptist church in one day. Our AWANA for kids program will meet at this time. To wrap up this early afternoon service we will have a brief quarterly report time of our ministry teams and finances. We will also address a very important Missions related issue - please stay the whole time, which should be done before 3:00 PM. Please note that there will be NO other services or ministries this Sunday evening at 6:00 PM. But for our teens there WILL BE a time for them at the McMichael's home for fellowship, games, and a campfire supper. See Dennis or Barb for details.

Ladies, please be sure to sign up for the Mother / Daughter banquet to be held on Monday, May 12 at 6:15 PM. And please pay ($7.50 per person) Debbie Mace THIS Sunday so that all needed items for the banquet can be purchased and paid for - we do not have a budget to cover these items, so it is "pay as you go." Thanks.

You may notice as you drive up to the building this Sunday some major changes. It used to look like this: Now it looks like this: We appreciate the help of Lawrence Heeter and his guys from his company to take care of the large pine trees. Several reasons brought about their removal, but a main one was to open up the view of the church from the intersection. I had some very melancholy feelings while they were brought down, so I stayed the whole time with them until it was finished. Thanks, Lawrence for your generous help.

There are many other ways you can help around our church - if you have time and want to jump in, please let us know and we will steer you in the right direction. Just ask Tim Dular who has volunteered for the past several years to do the initial spring straightening up of our landscaping around our entrance and sign. Thanks, Tim for your faithful help!

This will be a great Sunday to Look Toward, please plan to take part. You will be blest in many ways and at the end of the day, glad that you took part. Pray that all the services will exalt Jesus Christ and honor the Father God. And may His Holy Spirit be active and evident in all we do.

Pastor Don Workman

http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org