Friday, August 28, 2009

Sunday, August 30, 2009

It's hard to believe, but the new school year is back in session. I hope yours and that of your kids started well and will continue that way through the coming year. And I hope that all students will learn well this year , not just in "head knowledge" but godly WISDOM as well. Kind of like this: "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is NEVER putting it in a fruit salad."

Remember that our church educational times are going on each Sunday at 9:30 AM for all kids and adults. For adults we will be starting a new ABF for young adults taught by Dan (and Jyll) Oresovic which will begin in the next few weeks.

This Sunday will feature Communion in our 10:45 AM service of worship. Included with this will be good music, several testimonies of God's faithfulness in some lives, and a look at "The Discipline of Our Discipleship" from Luke 9. Discipleship is based on the things we commemorate in our Communion service. And these things involve Discipline in our lives. Join this Sunday with hearts prepared to receive all that God has for us, and giving all we can for Him. (We will receive our Benevolent Fund offering this week, there are many needs. Prepare your offering for this fund with yours or other giving envelope.)

Please note that our Summer Small Groups wind down to a close this week. On Sunday the Sterner's group will meet at 5:00 PM and the Mace's group will meet at 6:00 PM - both at the church. The Workman's group will meet this Tuesday at 7:00 PM. All involved in these groups over the summer seemed to grow and be blest by them. Please note that the week of September 20 we will go back to our regular and usual schedule of weekly services. That includes our regular Bible and Prayer times on Wednesday at 7:00 PM and Thursday at 11:00 AM.

We are gearing up for our annual "Dinner on the Grounds" day here on Sunday, September 13. It is a special and casual day of worship, then a picnic and games in the afternoon. Our special guests for the day will be our missionaries, Mike and Debbie Edwards. Details are in the weekly bulletin and in the lobby. Plan now to participate in the whole day.

Then on Monday, September 14 at 7:00 PM our Women's Ministry will hold their meeting. Details to come or see Debbie Mace. Also for ladies the annual Skyview Ranch Women's Retreat will be held September 17 - 19, so please plan ahead. You can get specific information and register by clicking on "The Fragrance of Beauty."

That is all for this week, but here is a poem from J. Montgomery which will help focus your thoughts in these days leading up to Sunday:

According to Thy gracious Word, in meek humility;
This will I do, my dying Lord: I will remember Thee.

When to the cross I turn mine eyes, and rest on Calvary;
O Lamb of God, my Sacrifice, I MUST remember Thee.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Don Workman
www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Sunday, August 16, 2009

I am sitting in the waiting room of our local GMC dealer waiting for Beth's van to have the oil changed, tires rotated, and generally checked over to prepare for our trip to take Leah back to BBC next Monday & Tuesday. This is a beautiful facility and the waiting area is wonderful - complimentary beverages, wi - fi, TV, comfortable seating, work station for guys like me, etc. These places really cater to the customer. It also indicates some of the expectations people have in churches nowadays, too. Hopefully we can measure up to their expectations, even though I do feel it is unfortunate that the consumer mentality has invaded the minds of those who attend churches in the USA. My only problem in this place is that brand new midnight black 2009 Cadillac CTS - V that keeps looking at me from the showroom floor, calling to me about all the wonderful trips she would take me on. I tried to ignore her, but have to admit that I finally gave in to take a look. But her $69,000 sticker price immediately brought me back to reality and the waiting room for Beth's 2000 minivan.

As you plan for this Sunday, here are a few reminders:

- 9:30 AM is our Sunday School for kids and Adult Bible Fellowships. A study in Colossians, one on "Character", and another on "Following Jesus" are available for adults. All these are great times of learning and fellowship. Come, grab a cup of coffee, tea, and a snack then head to your group.

- 10:45 AM is our Worship Service of singing, giving, praising, and honoring God through heartfelt worship. We will hear what He says to us in the latter verses of the book of Jude as we consider, "Counteracting the Church Creeps." It ends with a tremendous anthem of praise to God the Father, and I hope we will as well.

- 5:00 PM is the time two of our weekly Small Groups meet. See Ron Sterner and Bill Mace (or ones from their groups) to know how to prepare and what to bring.

- From 5:00 to 7:30 PM our Teens will meet at the McMichael's home for an informal swim night - please wear modest swimwear (both guys and girls.) Snacks, fun, and a Bible study are usually parts of these gatherings for our students.

- Since Beth and I need to take Leah back to BBC to begin her senior year (where did the years go??) on Monday and Tuesday, our Small Group will not meet next Tuesday evening. We plan to regroup the following Tuesday, August 25 at 7:00 pm.

Speaking of college students, please remember to pray for "our kids":

- Eric Carroll is already back to Cedarville University preparing as RA for students. He is anticipating working in Youth Ministry.

- Amy Carroll goes to Cedarville this weekend to begin her first year. She is interested in some kind of music major.

- Bethany Cobb goes to Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana August 26 to begin her first year. I think she mentioned to me studying about missions? Maybe music?? Remind me.

- Kortney Biltz continues her work at Tri - C near Cleveland - I think in her third or fourth year, and I think still in the ultrasound field. Look for her on a hospital staff soon.

- James Carr continues to progress in his classes at Kent State University, I think this is his fourth year, working through some kind of aeronautics major. Look for him in space fixing the shuttle soon.

- Please let me know if I missed anyone, (I'm sure some will) it is hard to remember everyone and their majors, especially with this CTS-V looking over my shoulder!

Our midweek prayer and Bible study groups will continue next Weds. at 7:00 PM and Thursday at 11:00 AM. Since this will be the third Thursday of the month, that means it is "OASIS" at 11:00 AM with a lunch following the prayer time. Check with Ron Sterner to be sure.

Let me encourage you to put on your calendar the date of our annual "Dinner on the Grounds" on Sunday, September 13. This is a great day of worship, eating, and playing games together as we celebrate and get better acquainted. This is a great day to bring a guest or relative with you to have them introduced to our church family in a very informal way. Dress is casual and food is ample. Our missionaries to the St. Vincent Islands, Mike and Debbie Edwards, will be here with us to give a report during our combined ABF time and then Mike will speak in our AM service. It will be nice for them to stick around and eat with us so that some can get to know them better. Plan to be here, don't miss this great day! If you have any of your favorite games to suggest, let Jeff Sheldon know about them (maybe a few cornhole games and Wii's for a tournament??)

Well, I am done with this note, but Beth's van is not. I think I might go check out the CTS - V again to see if the price came down within my reach - - - nope, not yet! Guess I'll go check out the TRUCKS!! YEAH!

God bless you, prepare in prayer and by reading the book of Jude again for this Sunday. See you then!

Pastor Don Workman

PS - Beth and I recognized our 31st wedding annniversary this past Wednesday, August 12. Maybe we will celebrate it sometime in the next few weeks. I guess that is how it goes at this point in life as things are busy!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Sunday, August 9, 2009

I was on vacation last week and we kept fairly busy, so I was not able to get this note out to you. But you did a great job remembering that our Japan Missions Team was giving their presentation in our morning service last Sunday, and you packed out our auditorium! Praise the Lord, it was a great morning service as we heard their testimonies and impressions of the trip. They showed us many pictures of: Services at the Living Hope Baptist Church in Kagoshima . They saw many unique sights but the great majority of their trip was spent in ministry through the church and camp . We thank Dennis and Barb McMichael for their leadership in this trip in every way, including their own ministry in telling the story of their adoption of Leah to a church group and using it as a tool for a testimony of how one can have an "adoption" relationship with God through Jesus Christ: . From the Team's report we can tell that friendships were made, and they left with a deeper burden in their hearts for the Japanese people to know Christ as Savior.

As I mentioned, our family had a vacation week in which we were thankful to have EVERYONE here at our home. We went on day trips to Cedar Point, Amish Country, and to the Cleveland Zoo and Rainforest: . We were also able to spend a few days at home with our grandboys having fun - they are enjoyable and we never ceased to be amazed at how they "soak up" everything around them as they grow and learn. We have MANY more pictures if you are interested!!

For this Sunday we have our regular services of Sunday School and three ABF's at 9:30 AM. ABF's studies include: the Book of Colossians, a study on "Character" by Bill Hybels, and a study on "Following Jesus."

Our Worship Service is at 10:45 AM and includes some great songs that honor God in our worship, and we will continue our study on "Church Creeps" from the small book of Jude. Last time we saw their characteristics so that we can spot them, and this Sunday we will look at Jude's final exhortations to us in order to "Counteract the Creeps" so that we can prevent their effect in our church. Read Jude through in preparation for this Sunday.

Our Summer Small Groups minsitry has gone very well, and it continues this Sunday with two of our groups meeting at 5:00 PM - one here at the church and the other at the Jordan's home. These usually involve a meal, prayer time, a Bible study, and fellowship together.

On Tuesday at 7:00 PM the other group meets at our home and features the same ministry. We have learned a lot about "Fighting Spiritual Battles" which has been beneficial in our daily lives. One of the unique things about these small groups in contrast to a regular service is that we can assign HOMEWORK if desired, and you all have been GREAT at completing it weekly. I think this helps in our growth spiritually and as a group together. If you have not been attending, I hope you will get plugged into one of these groups - see me if you have questions or need a recommendation as to which you might like to attend.

Our Prayer groups on Weds. at 7:00 PM and Thurs. at 11:00 AM continue through the summer and are a source of intimate fellowship with God and one another as we pray, share, learn some more from the Bible, and leave with a "boost" for the week. Try one of these times out if you haven't lately.

We look forward to continued visits and contacts from various missionaries through the summer. We are thankful that one of our regularly supported missionaries, Shelly Grimm (Nicaraugua) arrived home safely last weekend for her furlough time. It will be nice to see her regularly, at least at our Weds. evening times, for the better part of the next year. In the midst of her travels reporting to her various supporting churches (ours included on Dec. 6) she has a desire to have Bible studies for ladies either during the day or evening, especially if you have neighbors or friends not attending any church. Contact our church office if you have interest in getting with Shelly to discuss this possibility.

We will be giving you a quarterly financial and attendance report soon as to how we are doing about half way through the year. From my casual glance weekly at the reports I get I think we are "holding our own" though I believe our Faith Promise for Missions fund is lagging behind what we budgeted. Please revisit your commitment to this fund as well as your giving to our general fund. As we continue to give faithfully, consistently, and strongly our ministries can expand. And we have a lot of areas we would like to expand.

Let me close by requesting you to pray specifically for our church in the next steps God would have for us. I am not even sure myself what these may be, but I get these "impulses" once in awhile that God is about to move us in some direction of ministry and outreach as a church, and it seems He has something for us soon. We need to listen carefully to Him, and follow His direction obediently without balking. Pray for clarity, clearness, and boldness to move as God guides us as leaders. Thank you, we need this from you.

Pastor Don Workman
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Papa's little sermon helper, Jonathon - what will I do now that he is back home in Indiana??