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