January 15th, 2023

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): 

• Bible Study for All Ages, 9:30 am. Nursery through Senior Adult, we have a group for you!
• Worship Together at 10:40 in the Sanctuary. The sermon will focus on Luke 18:-14, Jesus' Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. This is arguably Jesus' most well-known parable after the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Jesus addresses those who were pridefully trusting in their own righteousness before God by saying that humility before God is needful. Humble contrition, a penitent spirit, and reliance on God's mercy are all characteristic of those whom God chooses to exalt. We'll learn more about this quality when we gather for worship.

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

• Call to Worship: Psalm 40:1-11
  
• Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 40:16-17
  
• Scripture Reading: Exodus 12:40-51
  
• Sermon Text: Luke 18:9-14
  
• Benediction: Numbers 6:24-26
  

• Baptist Catechism Questions are Questions 76-78 "On the Seventh Commandment." For the entire catechism, follow this link.
  • Question 76: Which is the seventh commandment?
    Answer: The seventh commandment is, "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
    Scripture: Exodus 20:14.
    
    Question 77: What is required in the seventh commandment?
    Answer: The seventh commandment requires that we preserve our own and our neighbor’s chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior.
    Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2; 2 Timothy 2:22; Matthew 5:28; 1 Peter 3:2.
    
    Question 78: What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
    Answer: The seventh commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words and actions.
    Scripture: Matthew 5:28-32; Job 31:1; Ephesians 5:3, 4; Romans 13:13; Colossians 4:6.

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

• Stewardship: Russ Wright, Betty Graham, Randy Morrow, Marsha Smith (treas.), Melissa Phillips (asst. treas.), Randy Hardin (trustee rep)
• Personnel: Peggy Harwood, Ron McElwain, Matt Adams, Judy Hardin, Robert Kendall
• Nominating: Melissa Phillips, Kelly Adams, Alice Stahl, Judy Hardin, Mary Morrow
• Youth: Lorie Scott, Jonathan Hackett

5:00 - 6:00 pm

• Trustees: Ronnie Stahl, Randy Hardin, David Ousley, Chet Owen
• Transportation: Jonathan Hackett, Robert Kendall
• Counting: Sharon Carroll, Jan McElwain, Becky Rhea, Judy Hardin, Melissa Phillips, Ruth Albright, Gary Dolan*
• Mission Vision: Dianna Wright, Marry Morrow, Kyle Carroll, Marsha Smith (finance)

*to be added to team in the special called member meeting

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)

• Monday "Sunday School" online via ZOOM at 7 pm. See Pastor Kyle to join this virtual Bible study group.  To join Zoom Meeting, follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87573789453?pwd=Zjg5ZWZ2N1h5WklxOEFjM3IrVUt1QT09      Meeting ID: 875 7378 9453       Passcode: 478672 

WEDNESDAY (1/18)

• Women's ZOOM Bible Study, 9 am (Jan McElwain, 816-449-0424)  To join Zoom Meeting, use this link (different from the one above):  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3665081666?pwd=N21LSEJaYURhUzZVSmRLcFhPdW8zZz09 Meeting ID: 366 508 1666   Passcode: 844160

• Men's Discipleship Group, 10 am in the library/conference room. Walking with Ephesians with Russ Wright, group leader. Study guides are available on the literature rack in the narthex, $13.
• Kids' Club, 3:30 - 5:15 pm. This after-school ministry is for children, K-6.
• Men's Discipleship Group, 6 pm (Robert Kendall, group leader, 816-724-4155). This group is just resuming and will be using the Walking with Ephesians devotional study guide, available on the literature rack in the narthex for $13.
• Bible Study and Prayer, 6:30 pm in the Great Room, live and via ZOOM.  Join us for a time of prayer and time in God's Word as we study the book of Exodus. We will be in Ex. 9:13 and following this week. The ZOOM invite is sent out in the late afternoon on Wednesday, so watch for it in your inbox.

THURSDAY (1/19)

• Worship Team rehearsal at 6:30 pm
• Men's Discipleship Group in conference room at 7 pm. We will be discussing weeks two and three of Walking With Ephesians by Fred Parry. The study guide is available on the literature rack in the narthex (cost: $13).

COMING UP

• Save the Date: Sunday, February 12, is Super Bowl Sunday. We will have our annual chili cook-off and watch party that evening, Lord willing. Specific times are pending, but those bringing chili for the competition usually need to have them there around 4:00 to allow plenty of time for judging. I would also encourage you to bring items for the Living Hope Food Pantry. Items are listed on the main bulletin board in the hallway, just across from the Great Room, and include:
  • laundry detergent
  • toilet paper
  • deodorant (men and women)
  • shampoo and conditioner
  • dish detergent
  • toothpaste and toothbrushes
  • paper towels
  • hand lotion
  • kleenex
  • bars of soap
  • baby wipes
  • trash

• Justin Peters' Conference, previously schedule for Jan. 13-14, has been postponed to March 3 & 4 at Journey Baptist Church, 5708 King Hill Ave., St. Joseph, with the same schedule as previously advertised. The event is FREE, and if you are interested in attending, let me know so we can coordinate transportation to and from the location.

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.

• Pregnancy Resource Clinic and Willowbrook Women's Center (St. Joseph and Cameron)
• Missouri Baptist Children's Home (campuses throughout the state) and The Lighthouse (Kansas City)

See you in church!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Greg