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Greetings, everyone!
Please allow me this brief email to let you know what is going on tomorrow. Yes, we will have all services. The parking lot and sidewalks are (or will be) cleared. I hope you can make it to services tomorrow. I have been running a low grade fever most of the day, along with chest congestion, headache, and a bit of a sore throat. With that said, I will not be at church tomorrow, observing the rule that we ask others to observe, that a fever within 24 hours of a given service should mean avoiding attendance at that service. Thank you in advance to Jerry Scott for supplying the pulpit tomorrow. In consultation with our deacon chairman, we will also postpone the Lord's Supper until Sunday, January 30, and the member meeting to the regular February 13 meeting. Thank you for your prayers. I hope to kick this sickness soon. One more thing: Don't forget the card shower for Terry McPheeters birthday, Jan. 19. If you prefer, you can bring your card to the church and we will see to it that it gets to Terry. For many years, Terry made and sent cards to virtually everyone in the church for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Let's reach out to her and Walt for her birthday. Grace and peace, Pastor Greg
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Greetings, everyone, and Happy Saturday! May this be a day of preparation for the Lord's Day as we gather together as the people of God to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.
TODAY (1/8/22): This morning, our Bible Quiz Team ("Sojourners") will compete against 25 plus other teams as they test their memorization of God's Word by quoting verses and answering very specific questions from the books of Romans and Revelation. Please pray that they will remember what they have learned and be able to recall their material. If you would like to watch our quizzers compete, the quiz will meet at Journey Baptist Church, 5708 King Hill Avenue, in St. Joseph beginning at 12:30 and wrapping up about 3:30 pm. At 6 pm, MACH IV Men's Ministry will meet at Oak Christian Church for a meal, fellowship, and devotional. All men and boys are welcome to attend. THE LORD'S DAY (1/9/22)
MONDAY (1/10)
WEDNESDAY (1/12)
COMING UP:
ICYMI: Last Sunday's Message Luke 9:18-22 Who Do You Say That I Am? Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE The Five-Day Bible Reading Plan is attached to this e-mail for your convenience. You may want to access additional resources to support your reading available at this website. GIVING ENVELOPES: Envelopes are available at the back of the sanctuary for your convenience in giving throughout 2022. While an envelope is not absolutely necessary for your contribution, it is from the envelopes that giving records are compiled for end-of-year contribution statements. Pick up as many packs of 25 envelopes as you will use. MAN KNOWS NOT HIS TIME: We extend sympathy to Sue and Kyle Bridgman on the death of Sue's dad, Robert Graham, on Monday afternoon. Services are still pending, but very likely will be in the latter half of next week, held at the church. Sympathy is also extended to the family of Wayne Buckner who passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday afternoon. No service is planned, but a family gathering to celebrate Wayne's life is planned for Saturday, Jan. 15, 11 am - 1 pm, at the church. Grace and peace, Pastor Greg Greetings, everyone, and Happy New Year! Here is information on modified service schedule tomorrow:
As I write this, the snow is steadily falling with no signs of stopping. We are expecting another 4-6 inches of accumulation, and the temps are supposed to be bitterly cold in the morning with a dangerous wind chill. In consultation with our deacon chairman, the service schedule is modified as follows: FOR TOMORROW ONLY
MONDAY (1/3)
WEDNESDAY (1/5)
COMING UP:
ICYMI: Last Sunday's Message Jesus, the Bread of Life Luke 9:10-17 Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE Have you wanted to read the Bible, but haven't known where to start? You can simply start from the beginning (Genesis) and read straight through to the end (Revelation). But the best way, I believe, to read the Bible and get the most from it is to have a plan. I love this blog post from Ligonier because it gives so may options to the person who really wants to have a plan to read through the Bible. Most of these are "read-the-Bible-in-one-year" plans, but at least one is a 2-year plan and one is a 3-year plan. One is chronological, a great way to read the Bible. I have used Grant Horner's unique plan which is not tied to any set time for completion. The plan, not included in the post above, that I have used most recently is the Five Day Bible Reading plan which you might recognize from this time last year. An added benefit to this plan is the additional resources to support your reading available at this website. BONUS: We will be singing the Getty's song "Joy Has Dawned" in worship tomorrow. Here is a video you can watch to become more familiar with this song that takes us from Christmastide into Epiphany. This version is combined with Angels We Have Heard on High, but we will only be singing "Joy Has Dawned." BONUS BONUS: Don Whitney is well-known for his books and articles on the spiritual disciplines (Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life; Spiritual Disciplines in the Church; Simplify Your Spiritual Life, just to name a few). He is perhaps less well-known for his lists to aid in developing disciplines and habits for the Christian walk. Here is a list entitles Ten (More) Questions for a New Year that you might find very helpful as you seek to dedicate this year to living for Christ. See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg Greetings, everyone, and Merry Christmas!
It was a real blessing to be together with the church family last evening for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service. About 70 family and friends gathered for a service of Scripture and song, a brief sermon, and the lighting of candles as a congregation. I believe the Lord was honored throughout. Thanks to all who came out to be with us! This Lord's Day! (12/269)
WEDNESDAY (12/29)
FRIDAY (12/31)
COMING UP: Monthly Member Meeting will be moved to Sunday, Jan. 16, which works out well since January is a five-Sunday month. Make plans to attend this meeting if you are able to. ICYMI: Last Sunday's Message Who Is This Christ? Colossians 1:13-23 Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE schedule is attached. We are in the final week, Week 52. Almost finished! SAVE THE DATE: Mark your calendars and save the date for Sunday, January 24. I mentioned last week that, on that day, Lord willing, we will have Steve Sewell with us. Steve has been a pastor, a hospice chaplain, and is now a speaker on the subject of death, dying, and the accompanying grief. You may remember Steve being with us in fall 2018 for a Holiday Grief Seminar. He will preach in the morning service, and then in the afternoon he will teach a seminar, focusing on the peculiar kinds of grief our congregation has been experiencing. We also hope to have Steve in some area schools to help faculty and staff with these same issues. More details will be forthcoming as the time approaches. MAN KNOWS NOT HIS TIME: Christian sympathy is extended to Jeff and Angie Noland at the death of Jeff's step-dad, Greg Lober. A visitation for Greg will be held Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1600 Rte 291, Liberty, MO 64068, followed by a celebration of life from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. To send online condolences, follow this link to the obituary page. To send expressions of sympathy by mail, Jeff and Angie's address is 1 Lakes Drive, Agency, MO 64401. See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg Ordination to the Gospel ministry is an important event in the life of a church. In Baptist life, it has never been seen as an absolute essential to effective service in ministry (think Charles Spurgeon and D. L. Moody who were never ordained). Nevertheless, ordination represents the opportunity for a church to affirm one of its own in the Gospel ministry. We have such an opportunity with T. J. Burns this Sunday afternoon and evening. T. J. graduated from two Southern Baptist institutions of higher learning: Criswell College in Dallas, TX, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He and his wife, Alana, and their three children will be moving to South Asia in January (Lord willing) to serve with the International Mission Board. They were commissioned by the IMB during a Sending Service on the eve of the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Nashville last summer. They have been waiting until the arrival of their newest baby to go to the international field. Please come out to support them and affirm them in God's call upon their lives. *Note that the times for the council and for the ordination service have changed due to a change in circumstances. The Ordaining Council will meet at 3 pm and the service will be at 5:30 pm, followed by a cake and punch reception in the fellowship hall.
This Lord's Day! (12/19) The Children's Christmas program will be held this Sunday, Dec. 19, at 10:40 am. Please come out to support them as they share the Christmas story with us during the first 20 minutes or so of our gathering. This is the single time of year when we set aside time on Sunday morning for our children to depict Scripture in action and song. We will move directly into the worship service It is also the fourth and final Sunday of Advent. I encourage you to supplement your daily Bible reading schedule with the Advent Bible readings listed below. The first reading of the day is normally repeated across three consecutive days for reinforcement. Click on the link to go to the electronic version.
MONDAY (12/20)
WEDNESDAY (12/22)
FRIDAY (12/24)
ICYMI: Last Sunday's Message What Is a Disciple? Luke 9:1-9 Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE schedule is attached. We are in Week 51. Almost there! Let me take a moment to encourage you if you, like me, have often found yourself behind in your attempt to read through the entire Bible in one year. "Getting it done" is not your primary goal. The goal is to read with thought, with consideration, with meditation. Think deeply about what the text says, what it means, and how it applies to your life. If that means you only get through one-half or one-third of the Bible in a year, so be it! As a former professor of mine, Don Whitney, used to say, "It is better to read less of the Bible if that means you meditate on it more." SAVE THE DATE: Mark your calendars and save the date for Sunday, January 25. On that day, Lord willing, we will have Steve Sewell with us. Steve has been a pastor, a hospice chaplain, and is now a speaker on the subject of death, dying, and the accompanying grief. You may remember Steve being with us in fall 2018 for a Holiday Grief Seminar. He will preach in the morning service, and then in the afternoon he will teach a seminar, focusing on the peculiar kinds of grief our congregation has been experiencing. All of these services will be open to the public. More details will be forthcoming as the time approaches. BONUS: This time of year is a time for listening to great music of the season, and there is no greater music than that of Handel's "Messiah." Often we think of this great oratorio being performed with a choir of hundreds of voices, accompanied by a magnificent pipe organ, or a huge symphonic orchestra. But that is a far cry from the way it would have originally been performed. Take about 95 minutes to watch this video and listen to the Academy of Ancient Music, Apollo5, and VOCES8 Foundation Choir perform this masterwork with 24 expert singers and 16 players on period instruments HERE. It will be well worth your time. If you only have time for "Part the First" (the Christmas section) it is a mere 49 minutes in length. But you won't hear the "Hallelujah Chorus" if you stop at part one since that famous piece is in "Part the Second" (the Easter section). It is well worth listening to "All We Like Sheep" at 53:07 just to hear this limber group take it a bit more up tempo. It only shaves about a 25 seconds off the total time, but it is enough to make a difference. Enjoy! See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg Greetings, everyone!
MACH IV Men's Ministry will meet this evening at 6 pm for a meal, devotional and Christian fellowship at FBC in the fellowship hall. All men and boys are invited to attend. TOMORROW is the Lord's Day! The Children's Christmas program has been postponed to Sunday, Dec. 19, still at 10:40 am. Please come out to support them as they share the Christmas story with us. Tomorrow will be a normal Sunday service. It is also the third Sunday of Advent. I encourage you to supplement your daily Bible reading schedule with the Advent Bible readings listed below. The first reading of the day is normally repeated across three consecutive days for reinforcement. Click on the link to go to the electronic version.
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions will be received during December. Our church goal is $1200. So far, we have received $250. For more information on the LMCO, visit this link. THE LORD'S DAY (12/12)
MONDAY (12/6)
WEDNESDAY (12/8)
COMING UP
ICYMI: Last Sunday's Message Jesus, Lord of Life and Death Luke 8:40-56 Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE schedule is attached. We are in Week 50. See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg GREETINGS, EVERYONE! TODAY at 7 pm, Rezound! Handbell Ensemble will be at FBC Cameron, 202 E. Ford St. This is a holiday concert from a professional handbell group who has performed with the Kansas City Symphony. For a taste of their sound, follow this link to their website. If you would like to go and travel as a group, we will leave from the church parking lot at 6:15. I anticipate returning by 9 pm.
Tomorrow is the second Sunday of Advent. As I mentioned last week, 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 His promised second coming. I encourage you to supplement your daily Bible reading schedule with the Advent Bible readings listed below. (If time constraints require, you may choose to substitute these readings for your regular devotional Scripture reading). Here are the suggested readings for this week. The first reading of the day is normally repeated across three consecutive days for reinforcement. Click on the link to go to the electronic version. Monday, December 6, 2021: Psalm 126; Isaiah 40:1-11; Romans 8:22-25
Week of Prayer for International Missions ends tomorrow. We have highlighted a different missionary or missionary family serving with the International Mission Board each day. For Day Eight of the Week of Prayer, follow this link. We are praying for IMB church planters Larry and Melissa Lewis who have been serving in Czechia (Czech Republic) since 2009. Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions will be received during December. Our church goal is $1200. for more information on the LMCO, visit this link. THE LORD'S DAY (12/5)
MONDAY (12/6)
WEDNESDAY (12/8)
SATURDAY
COMING UP
ICYMI: Last Sunday's Message Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You Well, Luke 8:43-48 Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE schedule is attached. We are in Week 49. BONUS: Here is a flashback from Tim Challies as he mused on how Christians choose to celebrate (or not to celebrate) Christmas. I hope you find it as helpful and thought-provoking as I did. Mind Your Christmas Imperatives See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg 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 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 |
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