Sunday, July 12, 2009

Beautiful summer weather has been ours this week! I am sorry for those in northeastern PA and New York State where it has rained a lot during this time; I hear it may be on it's way to our area from Indiana soon. But it has been a glorious week here in Streetsboro!

How about a smile to begin with?:

When the Jones family moved into their new house, a visiting relative asked five year old Sammy how he liked their new home.

It's terrific!" he said. "I have my own room, Mike has his own room, and Jamie has her own room. But poor Mom is still in with Dad!"

Isn't it fun to get the perspectives of little ones? We had plenty of opportunity for that at last week's Vacation Bible School. The week went well and we thank all who made it happen.

This Sunday we have a special service at 10:45 AM: Our Japan Missions team will lead the service in congregational singing and a few special songs. These will be some of the songs they will use with the group in the Japanese church. It will be a chance for them to "run through" the songs with a "live audience" before they leave for Japan very early on Thursday, July 16. We will also hold a brief "commissioning" time for the group as we send them to this ministry from our church.

This Sunday morning we will also be hosting a small team from Baptist Mid Missions as part of their "Candidate Training Week." Administrator Mark Seymour will lead another young couple, Jeff and Jenn Cunningham in our Sunday School and ABF time at 9:30 AM. The Cunningham's will speak with our teens and college age group about how God led them to this point in their lives. This will be helpful for our young people and young adults who still may be considering what God would have them do with their lives. Mark Seymour will speak with some of our ABF's in the auditorium from John 14 about "How to Pray for Your Missionaries." Then in the 10:45 AM service the Cunningham's will share in a testimony and then minister in our children's church, and Mark Seymour will preach in our service.

Following our morning service we will have an "all church dinner" to fellowship together and get to know our missionary guests better. Please bring all your own table service, a dish and dessert to share, and drinks will be provided by the church. If you have been to our dinners before, you know how it goes. Please plan to stay for this time, it shouldn't last long but will be meaningful to our guests.

We had a great beginning to our Summer Small Group ministry last week. The Sterner's group met at church at 5:00 PM last Sunday with about 15 present for supper, prayer, a Bible study, and fellowship. Then last Tuesday at 7:00 PM the Workman's group met at their home with 15 present as well. This Sunday the Sterner's group will NOT meet (due to the dinner earlier), but the Mace's group WILL meet at 5:00 PM at the home of Joe Jordan. The Tuesday Workman group will meet next Tuesday as scheduled. There are some informational flyers for each group on the lobby table if you have not received one already. And if you have not been contacted by a group leader yet, choose one of the Small Groups to attend, but let the leader know you will be coming. This ministry has been a great blessing already and will continue to be so through the summer!

Our mid - weekly prayer and Bible times will continue as usual through the summer: Wednesday at 7:00 PM and Thursday at 11:00 AM. Both times are different, but are a blessing. Plan to attend if possible.

Well, after this Sunday it looks like things will slow down a bit as far as church activity goes. Our Sunday AM services and ABF's will continue, our Small Groups will continue, and our mid - weekly prayer times will go on. Other days and times can be great opportunities for you to nurture your own spiritual life and that of your family. I hope you can enjoy one another through informal fellowship and maybe even "day trips" together - wherever you live you have worthwhile things around you to experience. If not, why do so many people from other areas come to your area for vacation trips?? Our family will spend a week of vacation at the end of July here at home as all our kids and their families gather here to do just what I described above. Our area here has a lot to offer, so if you think yours does not, then please come see us. The only requirement is that you have to attend our Sunday morning services and I have to sign your bulletin so that you can prove to your home pastor you were in church while gone! I would be happy to do so and even more thrilled to see you, maybe even serve as a "tour guide." (as long as lunch is on you!)

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I trust the Lord will bless you as you prepare for worshipping Him this Sunday. It is a privilege and duty for us to gather to do this good thing - isn't it great that as we honor God He chooses to bless us in return? Come with "clean hands and a pure heart" (confession and motive check) and God is sure to bless!

Pastor Don Workman
www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org