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GREETINGS, EVERYONE! Tomorrow is the first Sunday in the traditional church season of Advent. Advent means "coming" and is so-called because we remember the first coming of Christ into this world as a baby over 2000 years ago, and we look forward to the promised second coming of Christ on the clouds of glory. While I won't be preaching an entire series of Advent messages, I am encouraging you to supplement (or replace) your regular Bible reading schedule with Advent Bible readings. The Sunday Scriptures will be read in the worship service each week. But the daily readings will be listed in this e-mail for your convenience. Here are the suggested readings for this week (an unusual feature of these daily readings is some are repeated across multiple days):
Week of Prayer for International Missions begins tomorrow. We will be highlighting a different missionary or missionary family serving with the International Mission Board each day. For the first day of prayer, follow this link. Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions will be received during December. Our church goal is $1200. THE LORD'S DAY (11/28)
MONDAY (11/29)
WEDNESDAY (12/1)
SATURDAY
COMING UP
ICYMI: Last Sunday's Messages Demonic Piety vs. True Godliness Luke 8:26-39 Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE schedule is attached. We are in Week 48. See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg
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GREETINGS, EVERYONE! Thanksgiving Day is my favorite holiday of the year for many reasons. For many people, it's all about the three "F"s: family, food, and football! But for me, there is a fourth "F": Faith. And this is the primary reason for the day. Giving thanks to the true and living God for the manifold blessings of this life and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Take time to do that with intentionality this week and especially on Thursday.
Here is what is happening this week: TODAY (11/20) Thank you for indulging me on a personal note as I invite you to hear our eldest daughter, Hannah, perform her senior violin recital for our church and community. So many of you have prayed for and ministered to her during her years in Bolivar attending Southwest Baptist University. This recital is the culmination of those years of study and practice. Please join us in the sanctuary this evening for this violin recital at 7 pm, coupled with piano duet prelude (and a piano trio interlude!). This is not strictly a church-sponsored event, but rather a family event to which you are heartily invited. Featured composers will be Kabalevsky, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, and Novacek. Prelude will be piano duets from Lorrie Dixon and Judy McElwain. Approximately one hour in length, dress comfortably. THE LORD'S DAY (11/21)
MONDAY (11/22)
TUESDAY (11/23)
WEDNESDAY (11/24)
FRIDAY (11/26) - OFFICE CLOSED COMING UP
ICYMI: Last Few Sundays' Messages Hearing and Doing the Word of God, Luke 8:16-21 Jesus, Master of Wind and Wave Luke 8:22-25Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE schedule is attached. We are in Week 47. ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY In 1806, Isaac Backus, influential Massachusetts Baptist leader, died at age 82. Backus began as a Congregationalist, and he even served as the pastor for the Separatist Congregational church in Middleboro. This was the group which stood in direct succession to the Pilgrims who settled Massachusetts. Having been born in 1724, Backus was deeply influenced by Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening of the late 1730s and early 1740s. He was soundly converted in 1741. While pastor in Middleboro, Backus became convinced of Baptist doctrine -- believer baptism by immersion only -- and Baptist ideals -- namely separation of church and state. He started baptizing believers by immersion upon their profession of faith. For a time, he continued to sprinkle the babies of church members (paedobaptism) as well. Not surprisingly, more and more members began to adopt their pastor's convictions which created a rift between the so-called "credobaptists" (those who baptized believers only by immersion) and the paedobaptists. Whenever a believer was immersed in baptism, the paedobaptists would roll their eyes. Whenever a baby was sprinkled, the credobaptists would roll their eyes. This went on for about five years under Backus' leadership. Determining it best to separate from the "separatists," Backus became the pastor of a new congregation of Baptists in Middleboro, largely those who came to Baptist convictions under Backus' preaching. Happily, that church continues to this day as an evangelical Baptist congregation, First Baptist Church of North Middleboro, under an evangelical pastor, Jason Genest. (Their website served as a resource for this paragraph for the things I couldn't recall from the seminary paper I wrote on Isaac Backus many years ago!). Praise the Lord for their faithfulness across many generations. BONUS: And now, some inspirational music for Thanksgiving from Perry Como, the Norman Luboff Singers, and the Boston Pops. Enjoy! See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg GREETINGS, EVERYONE! As I write this, tomorrow is the Lord's Day. You may be reading on the Lord's Day morning as you prepare to attend Bible Study and worship service. Or you may be reading it late on Saturday evening as you are getting ready for bed. Whatever the case, I'm glad you are taking time to consider what is happening in the life of our church this week, and I trust the Lord will bless you in doing so.
ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY 1644, the colony of Massachusetts passed a law against the Baptists, calling them "troublers of churches" and subjecting them to banishment (source: https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/today). Incidentally, 1644 is the year that Particular Baptists (that is those who held to the conviction that Christ died on the cross as the atoning substitute for individual persons in particular, not just universal humanity) drafted the London Baptist Confession. A mere seven churches signed this confession, but it became the doctrinal foundation for many more believers and churches to come. They were convinced of the need for churches to practice the baptism of believers by immersion alone. They rejected the majority Christian practice of paedobaptism, i.e. the baptism of infants by aspersion (sprinkling), affusion (pouring), or even immersion. Consequently, they also embraced the idea of a church made up exclusively of regenerate ("born again") people. They also rejected the idea of the state supporting, endorsing, or otherwise officially being connected with any certain church or denomination. They preferred instead the notion of a "free church in a free state," a radical idea for the time. Though they were often persecuted and banished for their troublesome ideas and practices, they remained true to their Scriptural convictions, and we are the better for it today. Here is what is happening this week: THE LORD'S DAY (11/14)
Fighter Verses: John 14:2-3 Call to Worship: Psalm 16 Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 2:1-10 New Testament Reading: Hebrews 10:11-25 Prayer of Confession: Psalm 32:5-7 Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 32:1-2 Sermon Text: Luke 8:22-25 Benediction: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14
WEDNESDAY
Kingdom Ministry is Shared Ministry, Luke 8:1-3 Cole McCauley - Casa De Mi Padre Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE schedule is attached. We are in Week 46. BONUS: This week was Veteran's Day, and it was once again very moving to see the school children, teachers, administrators, and community members honor our local veterans with a patriotic program. This program was canceled last year due to fears concerning COVID-19, so it was really great to see it back again in full force.The color guard posted the colors, the band played, the choir sang, the children recited pledges, and we heard a stirring speech from a local veteran, Steven Sypkens of Plattsburg. This Veteran's Day program and the Memorial Day observance on the courthouse lawn are two of the finest examples of love for our nation that I have ever seen. If you appreciate the fact that you are living in a free country instead of under the tyranny of communism or fascism today, thank a veteran! A few Wednesday evenings ago, I referenced the stirring "Band of Brothers" speech from Henry V on the eve of the Battle of Agincourt, Oct 25, 1415, as playwritten by Shakespeare and portrayed by actor Kenneth Branagh. I can think of few better ways to recognize the spirit of Veteran's Day than by sharing this scene from the 1989 film Henry V. See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg |
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