Blog Archives

May 24th

5/30/2020

Greetings, everyone! Tomorrow is the Lord's Day, and we will once again assemble in the meeting house, Lord willing, at 10:40 am. Last week was our first week back in the building after two months out, and it was so good to see everyone face to face! We still have the same set-up as last week, but a little more relaxed especially as touching hard surfaces. It has been 7 days since the sanctuary has been occupied, so no need for additional sanitizing on the hard surfaces since that is ample time for the germs to become inert. Service audio will be broadcast to the parking lot and video cast on Facebook Live.
You can visit the front page of our website for more information, http://www.fbcmaysvillemo.org/

TODAY take a few moments to read, meditate, and reflect on the following passages that will be read in tomorrow's worship service: Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11. Also, take a moment to read our Fighter Verses below.

THE LORD’S DAY tomorrow brings with it the opportunity to worship together around God's word. The focal passage for tomorrow's sermon is Acts 1:4-11, the last of our series on "Resurrection Scenes." This sermon will focus on Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit, His commissioning of the first disciples, His ascension to heaven, and the promise of His bodily and visible return.

THIS WEEK I hope you will join us for opportunities to pray and study God's word virtually this week.

Tuesday Evening Bible Study at 7 pm: Join Kyle Bridgman's class for a study through Mark's gospel using video from Right Now Media. This is a ZOOM meeting, so contact Kyle if you would like to be invited to the meeting either by e-mail or text.
Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6:30: We read Scripture, sing, share prayer requests and pray together. Invitations for this ZOOM meeting typically go out by email sometime on Wednesday along with the weekly prayer list.
"Farmers to Families" Food Program is in St Joseph at East Hills Mall parking lot, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 5 - 7 pm. There are no restrictions on who receives the food, only that it not be sold. Fresh produce and dairy products are available. If you go, plant to arrive a couple of hours beforehand. They are in great need of volunteers to help with the distribution. If you would like to help, let me know and I will put you in touch with the coordinators.

COMING UP soon, the REAL Women's Ministry will be reading Dean Inserra's 2019 book The Unsaved Christian ($9 from Moody Publishers, make check out to FBC). The provocative title highlights the dilemma of dealing with folks in a highly-churched part of the country who think they are Christians but don't give any evidence of repentance, God's work of grace, or understanding of the Gospel. John Power did a brief review of the book over at 9 Marks which I think you will find helpful.

ICYMI: Last Sunday’s Message "Breakfast by the Sea with the Savior" John 21:15-25

FIGHTER VERSES THIS WEEK:
Isaiah 26:3-4, ESV
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

MAN KNOWS NOT HIS TIME: You have probably heard by this time that one of the foremost apologists for Christianity, Ravi Zacharias, succumbed to cancer this week and went to be with the Savior he loved. Ravi and his ministry, RZIM, had an outsized influence on students and faculty in secular colleges and universities around the world. He was well-known for his gentle, respectful, humorous, and disarming way of engaging with his audiences, often composed of many who disagreed with him. A livestreamed memorial service is planned for Friday, May 29 at 10 a.m. central time. Visit rzim.org for more information.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I plan to drive down to Riverton, Kansas, Sunday afternoon and spend a few days helping my brother and sister as we help my aging parents make some critical, life-impacting decisions. Lord willing, I will return sometime on Thursday. Please pray for safe travel and for productive times.

See you in church! (I am so happy to be able to say that!)

Grace and peace,

Pastor Greg

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Midweek Update

5/16/2020

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Greetings, everyone! Happy midweek!

At the Sunday service, we announced that we would be moving into the building for morning worship on Sunday, May 17 (this Sunday). This will be for the 10:40 service only at this time. In order to provide best for the needs of all in attendance, we want to show deference to those with the greatest concerns.

As we gather, remember the following:

If you feel sick, please stay home until you feel better. Watch service online with Facebook Live.
If you are running a fever (or have in the past 24 hours), please stay home.
If you exhibit any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, please stay home, or if you feel well enough, join us in the parking lot via FM 103.1 radio. (We have tested this, and you can hear clearly from any spot in the main parking lot or on the street parking in front. We will continue to broadcast this signal indefinitely on Sunday morning).
Please check your temperature before you come to make sure you are in the normal range. We want you to join with us if you are well and able.
Door handles, push plates, and other surfaces will be sanitized prior to the service to avoid spreading of germs.
Doors to all entrances will be propped open during the gathering time and dismissal time to avoid your having to touch door handles or push plates.
Every other pew will be taped off to allow for the 6-foot social distancing perimeter front to back.
Longer pews will be marked with a 6-foot space in the middle to indicate appropriate social distance side to side.
Single chairs will be available around the back wall for those who prefer them.
Everyone is free to wear a mask and gloves, but these will not be required for attendees, nor will they be supplied.
The service will be broadcast to the parking lot over FM 103.1, so those who choose to listen to the service over car radio.
The service will also be available via Facebook Live, and we are tentatively planning to have a Facebook Live venue in the old sanctuary/fellowship hall for those who choose to attend in that way. This will also be available as overflow if we reach our "social distancing max" in the sanctuary, which I estimate to be about 80 persons. We will easily accommodate another 25-30 in the overflow if needed.
No printed materials will be distributed in order to avoid hand-to-hand contact. Bulletin will be posted online, and you may choose to print it off beforehand and bring it with you.
While we want you to have the freedom to select your own seats, ushers will be available to assist you in finding your seats if space begins to be an issue.
Restrooms will be available, but you may want to use a tissue or paper towel to touch toilet or faucet handles in order to avoid the spread of germs.

I have probably left something out of this communication. If you think I did, please let me know and I will correct or amend. If you have questions, please ask. You can reach me here or by my personal e-mail gdixongospel99@gmail.com. You can also call or text my cell 479-238-3772. Thank you for your ongoing prayers as we advance with all deliberate expedition.

NOTE: I will be sending out another communication with a "punch list" of tasks that need to be done prior to Sunday service. The list will be posted on the main bulletin board. You can come in anytime between now and Sunday and complete tasks, 8 am - 5 pm, today through Friday. If you need in at at different time, let me know. You can check off any item that you complete so we will know it has been done.

I'm really looking forward to meeting in the sanctuary this week. I miss you all so much!
Remember these words of the psalmist as we prepare to meet this Lord's Day:
"O come, magnify the Lord with me! Let us exalt His name together!" (Psalm 34:3)

Grace and peace,

Pastor Greg

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May 12th, 2020

5/12/2020

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5-10-20
Greetings, everyone!

"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)

As we prepare for this Lord's Day, May 10, we will be having at least one more Sunday morning service that is "Drive-In Only." We did this last week, and it worked pretty well. The cool temperatures will likely keep most off us in our cars, tuned in to our radios. Our deacons will be available to assist you with parking to get the most from the "drive-in" experience. We will still be practicing social distancing to the degree it is possible. We are asking that we limit the need to access the restroom facilities as much as possible, but the building will be open for restroom use if needed.

Since this will also be Mothers' Day, we will take time to recognize and celebrate our mothers (and those who have been "spiritual mothers" to many) at the conclusion of the service. Come prepared to take home a small flowering plant as a token of our love and appreciation!

This will be the first time in two months that we won't have a pre-recorded virtual service available Sunday morning. We plan to video cast the service on Facebook Live, then upload it to our website for viewing later by those unable to attend in person or see it on Facebook Live. The operative words are "plan to." Please bear with us.

We are working our way back to normalcy, and I'm sure we will all be glad to get there. I certainly am ready for it. The question on most everyone's mind as pertaining to church is, "When can we return to the building for services?" The answer is, "Soon."
To borrow an illustration from Gov. Parson, it will be more like turning a dial than flipping a switch. Meaning, of course, we won't be coming back with full schedule all at one time. No small groups or Sunday School just yet. More information will be forthcoming on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings.

We are tentatively planning to hold a Sunday morning worship service on May 17 in the sanctuary. While there are no restrictions on the number of people in the building, we will still be practicing social distancing by family group.
We will continue to broadcast the service by FM radio to the parking lot indefinitely for those not yet ready to come inside by reason of compromised immunity.

I am meeting with our deacons in the morning to discuss a plan for reopening going forward. Remember, anything we plan now is tentative and subject to change. Thank you for remaining flexible. Thank you for extending grace and understanding to one another, especially since there are so many differing opinions of the what, when, where, and how we should move forward. Remember what the Scriptures say in Colossians 3:12-17.

Tomorrow as we gather, we will be studying John 21:1-14 together in our series "Resurrection Scenes." This will be "Breakfast with the Savior, Part 1."

FIGHTER VERSES THIS WEEK:

Lamentations 3:31-33 (ESV)
"For the Lord will not cast off forever,
but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion
according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
for he does not afflict from his heart
or grieve the children of men."

BONUS
Here is an article entitled "Be Our Guest: Onsite Worship Resumes at Various Churches" that describes what several churches have done as they reopen for in-person services. We will be considering what it will look like for us. Pray for us as we seek the Lord's wisdom.
In preparing for this week's message, I thought of this gospel song, Then Jesus Came, here sung by the incomparable George Beverly Shea. Listen, and be blessed.

See you in church!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Greg

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DRIVE-IN WORSHIP SERVICE

5/3/2020

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Greetings, everyone!

Tomorrow morning will be another "First Baptist First" as we meet for Drive-In Worship at 10:40 am, Lord willing. We will plan to meet, rain or shine, but it looks like excellent weather with the rain gone by 8 am and temps in the 60s. Here are a few things to keep in mind as we assemble:

The parking lot will open at 10 am for early arrivers. Deacons will be on hand to direct folks into spaces efficiently.
Entry and exit for the middle and lower lots will be at the south entrance (King Street). Entry and exit for the upper lot will be at the west entrance (Water Street). If we run out off parking space, the grassy lot to the south will also be open for parking. This should keep us from needing to use the breezeway where we will have power cords placed for our sound equipment.
Focal point for the service will be the van shelter. As much as possible, back or pull into spaces to face toward the van shelter.
While we will have speakers set up for public address, the primary way you will be able to hear the service with clarity will be on your FM radio. We are planning to use 103.1 but will let you know when you arrive which frequency to tune to. This is a short signal that covers a radius of about 300 feet unobstructed. You will need to be within that distance to pick up the signal.
We are modifying the service somewhat to fit into an abbreviated time. My goal is for a 50 minute service. This should enable us to limit the need for restroom use. (Those needing restrooms will be able to access the building).
The shortened service should also help families with little ones to enjoy the service while being confined to your vehicle.
We ask that everyone remain in their vehicles as much as possible and practice social distancing. I know after having not seen one other for so long, we will want to be a lot closer. But let's exercise restraint for now until the social distancing guideline is lifted. (I see nothing wrong with rolling down windows while parked a couple of arms length away, and the temperatures should be very pleasant).
We will be singing songs that should be pretty familiar to most (Amazing Grace; How Great Thou Art; We Have Heard the Joyful Sound). But if you need the lyrics, they are available at the church website www.fbcmaysvillemo.org. Just click on the link on our home page.
The recorded video service will still be available on Facebook or YouTube for those who aren't able to join us for the Drive-In Worship Service.
Offerings can be dropped in blue tubs situated at the parking lot entrances either as you enter or as you exit. (You can still mail in or drop off offerings during the week).
The decision of whether to have indoor services on May 10 will be made sometime next week after the governor's reopening order has had several days to be in place. Regardless, we plan to offer Drive-In services indefinitely, even after we return to the building, out of deference to those who may have compromised immune systems or just want to give things more time to settle down.
Our sermon series is "Resurrection Scenes," and tomorrow we will focus on Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus giving the Great Commission to the church through His disciples.
THIS WEEK'S FIGHTER VERSES: "'The LORD is my portion,' says my sould, 'therefore I will hope in him.' The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." (Lamentations 3:24-26, ESV)
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER is Thursday, May 7, at noon. We will plan to meet on the courthouse lawn; in case of rain we will meet at FBC, practicing social distancing as much as possible. Come join together as we pray for our community, our state, our nation, and our world.

I love you all and can't wait to see you!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Greg

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May 24th

Midweek Update

May 12th, 2020

DRIVE-IN WORSHIP SERVICE

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