Sunday, September 20, 2009

We should have some kind of celebration - I believe this the 100th post in these "Looking Toward Sunday" notes. Actually, it seemed to me that we surpassed that number a while ago. But we will celebrate this week anyway: here have some cake! And thank YOU for being a large part of it all.

Last Sunday we had a great "Dinner on the Grounds" day in every way. Thanks to Jeff Sheldon and his team for putting it all together. The food, games, and fellowship were great. And the ministry of the Mike Edwards family was encouraging.

This Sunday we are back to our regular schedule of services and ministry opportunities. At 9:30 AM we will feature four Adult Bible Fellowships: two for mixed age adults, one for the senior adults which I will teach/lead, and our new young adult ABF. All of them have good numbers and good studies: "1 Thessalonians," "Colossians," "The Life of David," and "Fighting Spiritual Battles." Plan now to attend and approach your Saturday evening appropriately. Also during this time our teens and children's Sunday School will have classes for each age group.

At 10:45 AM we will worship God together in song, giving, and His Word. I will begin a series in 1 John this Sunday by introducing the first section of the book that deals with "The Foundations For Our Fellowship." This Sunday we will consider one of the key foundational components of our fellowship which is "Jesus, Our Savior" from 1:1 - 4. Read the passage (or even whole book) ahead of time, as well as any of the introductory material provided in your study Bibles. By doing this you will greatly enhance our time in God's Word.

At 6:00 PM we look forward to our kickoff of the fall season of AWANA for kids. This year we will combine our program with that of First Baptist in Aurora, and we are excited. Please pray for a smooth transition and enough workers. We have potential for almost 80 kids, so you can see we need helpers, even once a month to listen to verses. I will even let you miss a Sunday evening service to do this! Please consider.

Our Student Ministry will begin their new season as well. They will be studying the topic, "My Heart, Christ's Home" along with games, activities, and food. See Dennis or Barb if you have questions, and don't forget to invite your friends to attend with you.

While all this is going on at 6:00 PM, our adults will meet to sing, share, and study the video series by John Ortberg, "When The Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in The Box." This series will cause us to see from God's Word what are the truly important things in life where need to invest for eternity. What will you take with you into eternity "When the Game (of Life) is Over?" This study will help you clarify what and where you want to concentrate.

Please note that First Baptist in Aurora invites anyone from our church to attend their which will be held tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 21) and next Saturday, Sept. 26. Time for both weeks is 9:00 AM to Noon, and the teacher/leader is Art McMahon whom we have had speak here at Faith several times in the past. His material is Biblically based and applied to real life, and his presentation style will not bore you. If you need more information or would like to attend, please give them a call at: 330 - 562 - 8233.

As you Look Toward Sunday to worship God, be sure to prepare your heart in His Word and Prayer. Prayer has great potential in each of our lives, as illustrated in this quote by Dr. Derek Prime (a retired pastor in England under whom Alistair Begg served as his assistant):

"What is the potential of nuclear energy? The correct answer must be something like, 'It is trememdous, probably beyond the immediate grasp of the human mind, and it has yet to be fully realized.' The same kind of thing - only more so - must be said of prayer. Its potential is synonymous with the power of God and, like that power, it is beyond our minds to grasp its immensity. No Christian has yet exhausted its capabilities." (p. 45) (click picture for info)

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

Please pray for our grandsons: Jonathon at almost 6 months is getting his first tooth and Nicholas who will celebrate his 3rd birthday next week.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

I think by now everyone who reads this little weekly note around the country (and the world!!) is back in full swing with the new school year. Here is a story about a middle school student at the beginning of a new year:

At the beginning of the school year, one seventh grader was reflecting on her chance at being the 8th grade valedictorian.

She said her dad was valedictorian, her mom was valedictorian, and her sister was also valedictorian.

She paused, leaned back in her chair and said, "Looks like the end of an era!"

I hope all our students have a more optimistic outlook for this new school year!

Beth and I had a pleasant time last weekend up at Chautauqua Lake in New York State - thanks for the vacation time! It was nice to spend a couple of days with Joshua and Emily who came out to be with us. Leah had college classes on Labor Day so she couldn't come, but I plan to see her in a few weeks when I go to BBS to attend a two day conference on "Dispensational Hermenuetics" sponsored by the seminary. More on that another time.

For this Sunday here at Faith we have a special day planned: our annual "Dinner on the Grounds" day. This year we will have as our guests missionaries Mike and Debbie Edwards, ones whom we have supported in prayer and financially for many years. They minister in the St. Vincent Islands in church support and Bible college teaching. They also have great evangelistic hearts to those in the communities around them. Please be here in our combined Adult Bible Fellowships at 9:30 AM to hear them, and then Mike will speak in our 10:45 AM worship service. There will be all age classes in Sunday School at 9:30 AM as well.

We plan to give a "love offering" to the Edwards to help with some of their travel expenses, so please consider sharing. Use your own or a pew offering envelope and in the far right box mark the "other" part "Edwards" and your amount. Thank you.

Following these services we will enjoy a cookout together (bring your own meat to grill, table service, and a dish and dessert to share - tea, lemonade, coffee, and ice water will be provided.) Following our meal will be games for children through adults as well as informal time to fellowship with the Edwards and one another. There are no other services in the evening, so leave when you want later in the afternoon, or stick around to help clean up. But don't miss this fun and purposeful day.

This Monday, September 14 at 7:00 PM begins a new season for our Women's Ministry - all ladies are invited. Meetings will continue through the school year on the second Monday of each month.

Wednesday (7:00 pm) and Thursday (11:00 am) prayer and Bible study times continue each week. Thanks for your faithfulness to these meetings, and if you aren't involved please give it a try. You will be blest for it.

For your planning please note that there will be a Work Day here at church on Saturday, September 19 to take care of some outdoor projects that need done before we get too far into the fall season. Also there will be some cleaning and other projects indoors. Please consider helping and see Ron Sterner if you have questions.

Don't forget that the next Sunday, September 20, begins our regular evening programming at 6:00 PM. This includes a service for adults featuring a video series by John Ortberg, "When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box." This study will cause us to think about life and eternity, and when our time here is done what have we accomplished that will benefit us eternally? Also at this time will be our Student Ministries which will study, "My Heart, Christ's Home" along with games and fun. And our AWANA program for children age 4 through grade 6 will be a little different in that we will join together with the AWANA kids from First Baptist in Aurora. This will increase the size and potential of our program, and will hopefully make it possible for both churches to work together to participate in the AWANA Olympics and other such events. Pray for this program and please consider helping as we will need more helpers. See Doug Carr for information.

As I go let me remind you of our all church memory verse for this month from Colossians 3:1 - "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." As you memorize it you can't help but meditate a bit on it. As you do I hope, like me, you will be encouraged and energized by the fact that our Savior Jesus Christ is alive, active, and administrates all things that pertain to our lives and the events of the world!

Pastor Don Workman

www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org

Sunday, September 6, 2009

As you know this weekend is Labor Day Weekend which is traditionally one of the last "hurrahs" for summer. I hope you will enjoy a safe weekend and have time to spend with family and friends. Beth and I decided this year to take some vacation days over this weekend and hope to do some fishing and sightseeing to recharge our batteries for the busy fall season ahead. Please keep us and others in prayer who are traveling.

Even though it is a holiday weekend, our regular services in the morning will go on as scheduled. At 9:30 AM there are four Adult Bible Fellowships from which to choose. This Sunday we begin a new ABF for young adults which Dan and Jyll Oreskovic are teaching and leading. It will meet in Hammond Hall and the material will be a study in 1 Thessalonians. Dan and Jyll did a great job teaching our jr. high kids, and as God has laid the young adults on their hearts I am sure they will do an equally great job with that group. In addition to these four ABF's our regular Sunday School for all kids and teens will meet as well.

In our Morning Worship Service at 10:45 AM we will lift our hearts to God in worship through some great songs of faith. I appreciate that our friend, John Nelson will be here in my absence to give a message from God's Word. Please pray for John as he finalizes preparations and delivers the message God has placed on his heart for all this Sunday.

Due to the holiday weekend there will be NO evening ministries or activities here at 6:00 PM. Thank you to our Small Group leaders and all who attended these groups. They are now finished, and we will go back to our "regular" evening programing on Sunday, September 20. That evening will include the beginning of a revitalized AWANA season as we join together with the AWANA kids from First Baptist in Aurora. Both groups will meet weekly here at Faith Baptist, please pray for a good transition and that the energy produced by a larger group will benefit the whole program. Due to having more kids there is need for more workers - so if you would like to help (especially if you have been out of it for awhile) please let Doug Carr know this Sunday - we need you!

Plan to be here on Sunday, September 13 for our annual "Dinner on the Grounds" day. This is a special day of worship, celebration, and fun as we gather for our regular morning classes and service, then enjoy a cookout (bring your own meat to grill and table service, as well as a dish and dessert to share.) There will be a large grill for you to use to cook meat, etc. In the afternoon there will be games for children up through adults (cornhole, golf, maybe Wii, etc.) which is always a fun time together as a church family. Our guests for the day will be our missionaries, Mike and Debbie Edwards. They will give a report in our combined ABF's and Mike will also be preaching in our morning service. This is one of the key event days of our year, so plan to attend. (Dress for the day is modest -

casual, even for the services.)

I am trying to work out a time for a new membership class that fits the schedules of those interested. I will be letting you know when, but if you have interest in attending it please let me know, it will be soon.

Please pray and prepare your hearts for the Lord's Day this Sunday. Remember that the Apostle Paul tells us that our "labor is not in vain" as we labor for the Lord's cause. May we keep that in mind as we anticipate His blessings on this upcoming Labor Day Weekend. Honor Him in His house this Sunday.

Pastor Don Workman

www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org