"Looking Toward Sunday": Sunday, August 31, 2008

School has started this past week for almost everyone, from pre - K through college. Students are excited, and so are the parents. In our house it is "off and running" on another year of K - 4 "prep kindergarten" stories from Beth's students.

As Art Linkletter (don't tell me you don't know who he is) said, "kids say the 'craziest' things." (Actually he used another word I won't use here.) They say things like this little 5 year old:

I took my 5 year old grandson to the optometrist to pick up his new glasses. The glasses were prescribed "to help him read and be able to see the computer better".
When we got back home, he got on the computer to play a game. In a few minutes he called me and said there was something wrong with his glasses.
I asked him what was the problem and he said, "I still can't read."

Yep, that's the kind of stuff they say. I can hardly wait to hear what comes from the "mouths of babes" this year!

Labor Day weekend is upon us already! Please be safe and enjoy it. And remember to be sure to honor God on Sunday by your attendance in church. This Sunday at 9:30 AM we will hold all our regular classes for kids through adults. The "Lifechange" ABF meeting in the worship center will continue their new study in the book of James. I will be teaching that one for Pete this week as he goes to visit his parents in Indiana. We will study James 1:13 - 27 or at least most of it. Read it over to prepare and bring your questions / comments. Our other ABF's are in studies in the book of Daniel and another in John 3:16 (Max Lucado's series) will also meet.

In our 10:45 AM Worship service we have a great blend of songs and hymns to prepare our hearts for our time at the Lord's Table in Communion. I plan to have a little bit of a testimony time with my friend, Keven Waiters, who was the best man in my wedding.

He will be here to visit friends and plans to worship with us. I know you will make him feel welcome. We will look at Hebrews 10:19 - 22 and see how Christ's blood has made a new covenant with us through His sacrifice and our acceptance of Him in our lives by faith.

We will not have any meetings this Sunday evening due to the holiday weekend (unless your small group leaders planned to meet - check with them.) Next Sunday, Sept. 7 is our "Dinner on the Grounds" day, an annnual time of good fellowship and food. Dress is very casual for church that day, as we hope to not only cookout, but also have some activities after our morning services and picnic. In the early afternoon we will have a service where we will hear from Mr. Richard Mook who will tell us how God strengthened him in the course of his life through many tribulations and hardships. His book will also be available that would be a helpful tool to some you know who may be going through a rough time. I hope you will plan to stay for the day, it will all end around 4:00 PM or before.

We have many other opportunities for you that are listed in our bulletin. Some are hosted by other churches or ministries, but all are good things. For our men, this is the "last call" to be involved with the Men's Retreat at Camp Patmos that is sponsored by our sister church, Northfield Baptist. It is going to be held next week, Thursday evening through Saturday. You can get all the information and even register by clicking here.

Next Saturday, Sept. 6 there will be an Open House from 3:00 to 5:00 pm for Kurtis Biltz at their home. Kurtis will be leaving the day after that for Parris Island, SC to begin his stint with the U. S. Marines. Be sure to see him and continue to pray for him and his family.

And AWANA begins a new year on Sunday evening, Sept. 14. If you have questions about it or would like to register your child let us know. And think of some other friends your kids can invite, they will learn and enjoy the time.

And mentioning Sept. 14, that Sunday morning we are pleased to have Dr. Jim Jeffery here to speak in our morning service. He is the president of Baptist Bible College of PA and we are glad to host him and his team while they are in our area for a regional alumni and friends event the Saturday evening before that which our church will host. If you would like to attend the event on Saturday, click here for information and to register.

Please have a safe weekend and prepare your heart through prayer and quietness a bit for our Sunday services. Especially prepare with Communion in mind, if you do it will be much more full and meaningful to you. And pray that many in all our churches will be challenged with the opportunities to trust Christ as their Savior. I pray many will do just that.

In closing, a few more pictures from our Oregon vacation for your viewing pleasure! God bless.