GREETINGS, FBC FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
Just a reminder at the start that a MACH 4 Men's Ministry will meet at 6 pm this evening at Fairport Baptist Church for a meal, devotion, and hands-on ministry initiative planning. All men and boys are invited and encouraged to attend. LIVING HOPE, our local food pantry, needs volunteers on Mondays from 2 pm to 6 pm. If you are available to serve drop by their location just drop by their location on Main Street just one block west of the church. THE LORD'S DAY (1/15):
Scriptures for Sunday. Here are the Scriptures we will be reading that will shape our corporate worship. Take a few moments to read and meditate on them as you prepare for worship tomorrow. Click anywhere on the link to see a printable version of these passages on biblegateway
Committee/Ministry Team General Organizational Meeting. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall to organize for 2023. Each committee will meet to elect a new chairman, go over expectations, and plan for the coming year. If you agreed to serve on a committee in 2023, please make every effort to attend this meeting, especially if you have not served before. We will have pizza from Slice & Swirl for all those in attendance. Again, my apologies for needing to reschedule this meeting. Tables will be set up for the following groups to meet. For your convenience, times are suggested to help avoid conflicts, although some couldn't be avoided. Please confer with your other team members to agree on your time to meet. Other ministry teams are welcome to meet at this time, the following are just the ones most likely to need to meet to organize. 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Special Called Member Meeting: At the break of our committee organization meeting at 5 pm, we will have a brief member meeting to approve some additions to our committees/teams from the Nominating Committee. All members are welcome to attend this brief member meeting, which should take no more than 5 minutes. MONDAY (1/16)
WEDNESDAY (1/18)
THURSDAY (1/19)
ICYMI: Last Sunday's sermon audio on Luke 18:1-8 "Always Pray, Never Lose Heart" Other previous messages are archived here. Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. FIGHTER VERSE: Our Fighter Verse this week is Philippian 3:7-8 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. 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. This is a chronological reading plan through the entire Bible in one year. Many Bible reading plans are available at this link. I encourage you to have a plan to read the Bible and stick with that plan. But if you fall behind, don't be discouraged. Just pick up where you left off and carry on. My main encouragement to you is read the Bible daily and read through each book of the Bible beginning to end, regardless of which Bible books you are reading. BONUS: January is Sanctity of Human Life Month. Since the Supreme Court reversed Roe vs. Wade several months ago, we have seen a number of formerly predictably pro-life states overturn pro-life legislation or pass pro-abortion legislation. Please pray for the pre-born and their mothers. Consider supporting the following pro-life organizations who help to stop abortion, help stop human trafficking, and help adoption happen.
See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg
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GREETINGS, FBC FAMILY AND FRIENDS! The New Year came in with much milder temperatures than we had the previous week, along with some much-needed rain, and what a blessing it was from the Lord! Thanks especially to all those who came out to Sunset Home for the vesper service. Eleven of our members joined with six residents for a time of prayer, praise, and devotion. it was our first time back since December 2019 (pre-COVID). The residents really seemed to appreciate us being there!
Right at the start, let me mention that the Committee/Ministry Team General Organizational Meeting scheduled for this Sunday is postponed to Sunday, January 15. I deeply apologize for any inconvenience, but earlier this week, I became aware of a direct conflict in my schedule for January 8. So on January 15, we will meet in the Fellowship Hall to organize for 2023. Each committee will meet to elect a new chairman, go over expectations, and plan for the coming year. If you agreed to serve on a committee in 2023, please make every effort to attend this meeting, especially if you have not served before. We will have pizza from Slice & Swirl for all those in attendance. Again, my apologies for needing to reschedule this meeting. Tables will be set up for the following groups to meet. For your convenience, times are suggested to help avoid conflicts, although some couldn't be avoided. Please confer with your other team members to agree on your time to meet. Other ministry teams are welcome to meet at this time, the following are just the ones most likely to need to meet to organize. 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Special Called Member Meeting, Jan. 15: At the break of our committee organization meeting at 5 pm, we will have a brief member meeting to approve some additions to our committees/teams from the Nominating Committee. All members are welcome to attend this brief member meeting, which should take no more than 5 minutes. **NOTE: This is a slight time change to allow for the maximum number of members to attend. THE LORD'S DAY (1/8/23):
Scriptures for Sunday. Here are the Scriptures we will be reading that will shape our corporate worship. Take a few moments to read and meditate on them as you prepare for worship tomorrow. Click anywhere on the link to see a printable version of these passages on biblegateway
MONDAY (1/9)
WEDNESDAY (1/11)
THURSDAY (1/12)
ICYMI: Last Sunday's sermon audio on 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 "Remember, Anticipate, Commune" Other previous messages are archived here. Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. FIGHTER VERSE: Our Fighter Verse this week is 2 Chronicles 16:9: For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars. 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. The 2023 Five Day Bible Reading Plan is attached. This is a chronological reading plan through the entire Bible in one year. Many Bible reading plans are available at this link. MISSIONS: On a personal note, one of our teens (who happens to be Lorrie's and my youngest daughter), Ruth Dixon, is going on a mission trip to Jamaica in the middle of February. The team will be doing Bible-quizzing in the public schools there. For more than 20 years, Lorie Scott coached Bible Quiz teams from our church, so many of you are aware of just how life-changing it can be to memorize large chunks of Scripture then be quizzed in friendly competition over what was learned. Ruth would appreciate your prayers and support. Please contact her directly for more information. If you or someone you know from our church is planning to take a short-term mission trip, please let the church know so that we might pray for you/them and offer our support for the trip. We encourage you to consider an international mission trip as a way to spread the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe on His name. BONUS: Take a few moments to visit the literature rack in the foyer this Lord's day. We moved it from the area near the fellowship hall to increase visibility. We also updated the literature to include missionaries for whom we pray as well as several booklets and tracts for your edification. See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg GREETINGS, FBC FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
On this last day of 2022, I want to wish you a Happy New Year as we stand on the cusp of 2023. A few years back, I shared with you a list of questions to ask at the New Year or on your birthday. I am once again sharing these questions with you as an attachment to this e-mail. I will also have printed copies available for you tomorrow. These questions come from Dr. Don Whitney and the Center for Biblical Spirituality, a trusted and trustworthy resource. Don Whitney is both a collector of questions and a composer of questions to help Christians grow in the spiritual life. These and other questions are available at this link. As we gather tomorrow for worship, we will celebrate the Lord's Supper. What a powerful way to usher in the new year! I pray that you have had the opportunity to engage in some self-examination in preparation for that service according to 1 Corinthians 11:23-34. The starter questions which I have shared before are also attached to this e-mail. THE LORD'S DAY (1/1/23):
Scriptures for Sunday. Here are the Scriptures we will be reading that will shape our corporate worship. Take a few moments to read and meditate on them as you prepare for worship tomorrow. Click anywhere on the link to see a printable version of these passages on biblegateway
Answer: The reason added to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve God’s glory and their own good), to all who keep this commandment. Scripture: Exodus 20:20; Ephesians 6:2, 3.
WEDNESDAY (1/4)
THURSDAY (1/5)
COMING UP
ICYMI: Last Sunday's sermon audio on John 1:1-5, 14 "Jesus Christ, the God-Man" Other previous messages are archived here. Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. FIGHTER VERSE: Our Fighter Verse this week is Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. 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. The 2023 Five Day Bible Reading Plan is attached. This is a chronological reading plan through the entire Bible in one year. As I mentioned in last week's update, I want to encourage you to read the Bible daily this year. Many methods are available to accomplish this goal. Here is a link to Nathan Bingham's article last year on 2022 Bible Reading Plans, most of which are undated so they will work just fine in 2023. See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE, EVERYONE!
Today we will all gather for Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 6 pm in the sanctuary. Everyone is invited to this service of Scripture, Christmas hymns/carols, a message from God's word, and singing "Silent Night" with our candles in hand. The pastoral staff is hosting this service so that everyone else can relax and enjoy attending. The service will be less than one hour in length. The nursery will be available but not staffed, as will the cry room for those needing them. I hope to see you there! THE LORD'S DAY (12/25): Christmas is on the Lord's Day this year, something that happened in 2005, 2011, and 2016, and it will happen next in 2027. The last time Christmas was on a Sunday was my first Christmas with you all as pastor. This will be my seventh Christmas as your pastor, and it fills me with joy to be laboring in the Gospel with you! With that said, we won't be gathering tomorrow because of Christmas, but because it is the Lord's Day. The regular rhythm of the Christian life is punctuated by the weekly gathering of the local body of Christ for corporate worship and fellowship. So spend time with your family, then come worship the Lord with the Lord's people in the Lord's house on the Lord's Day. If you are traveling or out of town, find a local gathering of faithful believers to fellowship with on the Lord's Day. You will be glad you did!
Scriptures for Sunday. Here are the Scriptures we will be reading that will shape our corporate worship. Take a few moments to read and meditate on them as you prepare for worship tomorrow. Click anywhere on the link to see a printable version of these passages on biblegateway
Answer: One day in seven should be especially devoted to corporate worship and other spiritual exercises that restore the soul’s rest in God and zeal for His name. It should provide physical refreshment and fit one for a week of devoted service to Christ. Scripture: Leviticus 23:3; Isaiah 58:13, 14; Matthew 12:1-14; Mark 2:27; Romans 14:5-6. Question 67: What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? Answer: The fourth commandment forbids dishonoring the Lord’s Day by actions or thoughts that divert the soul from spiritual refreshment, or deprive the body of renewed energy or distract the mind from its special Sabbath focus on the Lord. Scripture: Ezekiel 22:26; 23:38; Jeremiah 17:21; Nehemiah 13:15, 17; Acts 20:7; Mark 2:23-28; Romans 14:5-6. Question 68: What are the reasons attached to the fourth commandment?Answer: The reasons attached to the fourth commandment are, God’s creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh and his blessing the Sabbath day. Scripture: Exodus 20:9-11; 31:16, 17; Genesis 2:2, 3. MONDAY (12/26)
WEDNESDAY (12/28)
MEN'S DISCIPLESHIP GROUPS HAVE RESUMED! Wednesday 10 am; Thursday 7 pm; and one more TBA. We will be doing Fred Parry's study "Walking With Ephesians." Books are $13 and are available in the narthex beginning tomorrow. Make checks out to FBC with "men's study" in the memo line, or with cash in an envelope marked "men's study." You may also purchase the study guide for Kindle by visiting Amazon. INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS GIVING
ICYMI: Last Sunday's sermon audio on Luke 17:20-37 "The Kingdom: Already and Not Yet" Other previous messages are archived here. Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. FIGHTER VERSE: Our Fighter Verse this week is Revelation 5:12-13 “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 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. If you visit that link you will see that the new reading plan will be available on December 26. I will link to that resource and send it out as soon as it is available. As I mentioned in last week's update, I want to encourage you to read the Bible daily this year. Many methods are available to accomplish this goal. Here is a link to Nathan Bingham's article last year on 2022 Bible Reading Plans, most of which are undated so they will work just fine in 2023. See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg GREETINGS, CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS! On this cold, (technically still) fall day, I want to invite you all out to the community Christmas parade at 5:30 this evening, followed by the lighting of the mayor's Christmas tree on the square. The Community Christmas Choir will be singing a couple of selections to celebrate the season and to give everyone a preview of the choir presentation "Noel: Born Is the King". Hoping it warms up a little by then, but in any case, we won't be outside all that long!
THE LORD'S DAY (12/4):
Scriptures for Sunday. Here are the Scriptures we will be reading that will shape our corporate worship. Take a few moments to read and meditate on them as you prepare for worship tomorrow. Click anywhere on the link to see a printable version of these passages on biblegateway
MONDAY (12/5)
SATURDAY (12/10)
ICYMI: Last Sunday's sermon audio on Luke 17:1-4 "Stumbling Blocks and Sinning Brothers" Other previous messages are archived here. Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. FIGHTER VERSE: Our Fighter Verse this week is John 3:36. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." 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. BONUS: Perhaps you heard about the vote in the US Senate this week on the "Respect for Marriage Act." Take a listen to Wednesday's edition of The Briefing for a well-reasoned Christian analysis of this mis-named new law and the implications for the religious liberty of Christian individuals, businesses, and institutions. See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg GREETINGS, CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS! This is a busy Saturday of ministry at First Baptist Church:
Operation Christmas Child Our church deadline for filled boxes to be brought to the church is this Sunday, November 13. On November 20, we will pray and have our "box brigade" at the end of the service. Postage is $10 per box, and checks may be made out to the church for that purpose. Learn more about OCC and how to pack a shoebox by visiting the website here. THE LORD'S DAY (11/13):
God has a purpose for His law during the reign of grace. Ever since the Reformation restored the Gospel of God’s free grace as the way of salvation, Christians have debated just how the commands of the Mosaic Law should be applied in light of that Gospel. Since the Law is fundamentally the revelation of God’s holy will, how and to what extent should it inform the civil code? What authority does the Law have over personal morality and ethics? While Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin arrived at separate conclusions on these two “uses of the Law,” the one area that the Reformers found broad agreement on was this: that God’s Law brings men to a knowledge of their sins. We explore that purpose under the following three assertions:
Further Take Aways:
MONDAY (11/14)
WEDNESDAY (11/16)
THURSDAY (11/17)
COMING UP
ICYMI: Last Sunday's sermon audio on Luke 16:1-13 Righteous Use of Unrighteous Mammon Other previous messages are archived here. Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. FIGHTER VERSE: Our Fighter Verse this week is Romans 3:23-24 “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,...” 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. CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY
See you in church! Grace and peace, Pastor Greg |
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