July 25th, 2021

Summer vacation is officially two-thirds over! I just happened to notice that today is July 23, and school begins (at least at Maysville R-1) on August 23. And that means we are closer than ever to what we hope to be a normal year of ministry to students of every age: preschoolers, elementary aged children, and teenagers. After school and evening midweek ministries were virtually absent during the 2020-21 school year, and we hope to reinstate those with a great kickoff right after Labor Day.

TONIGHT! (FRIDAY) Join us on the Independent Farmers' Bank Parking Lot for our second Outdoor Family Movie event of the summer showing "Big Hero 6," an animated feature with a fanciful, futuristic setting and a touching storyline. We'll start gathering anytime after 8:15 pm, fire up the popcorn popper, have freezer pops available to help beat the heat, and start the feature at 8:45 pm or so. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets!

TOMORROW I will be attending an all-day preaching workshop in Atchison sponsored by Agros, a teaching and equipping ministry of Joe Bridgeman. Joe grew up in the Amity area and still has family in Maysville and Amity. Joe and his wife, Becca, were formerly missionaries in Scotland and came back to the states a little over a year ago. Joe has a heart for the rural and small town churches, especially to help equip pastors who may be bi-vocational or "second career" and unable to attend seminary. Equipping workshops like these help to fill in a gap for many. I share this to commend Agros to you and to ask you to pray for the fruitfulness of it going forward.

THE LORD’S DAY
What a great day in the house of the Lord we had last week, and thanks to all those who were visiting with us that day. A banner day! Just a reminder that when you are away from home this summer, either on vacation or on business, make it a point to attend church wherever you are on Sunday morning. If possible, bring back a bulletin signed by the pastor or other church officer. (This fun-loving suggestion is just a way to emphasize the importance of setting aside one day in seven for worship, study, and fellowship with God's people).
A translation of a thousand-year-old German hymn focuses our attention on the reason we gather every Lord's Day:
Christ is arisen
From the grave's dark prison,
So let our song exulting rise:
Christ with comfort lights our eyes. Alleluia!
All our hopes were ended
Had Jesus not ascended
From the grave triumphantly
Our never ending life to be.
Alleluia! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
So let our song exulting rise:
Christ, our comfort, fills the skies. Alleluia!
As you prepare for the Lord's Day and our time of corporate worship, please take a few moments to meditate on the following Scriptures which will frame and inform our worship service. Invest some time in adoring the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, giving Him thanks, confessing sin, and asking that our worship together would be acceptable as we offer it to the Father, through the finished work of Christ the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit :
FIGHTER VERSE: Philippians 1:6
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 145: 10-21
OT READING: 2 Samuel 11:1-15
NT READING: Ephesians 3:14-21
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Psalm 139:1-6, 23-24
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 John 4:9-10
SERMON TEXT: Luke 7:11-17
BENEDICTION: Numbers 6:24-26

(Missouri Baptist Children's Home birthday offering and Baptist Homes anniversary offering will be received at the conclusion of the morning service).


THIS WEEK

• Monday, July 26, 7 pm: Monday "Sunday School" via ZOOM with Pastor Kyle
• Wednesday, July 28, 6:30 pm: MIDWEEK SERVICE in person and via ZOOM

COMING UP
Saturday, August 28, Biblical Manhood Conference sponsored in part by our Baptist Association, 8:30-3 pm at Frederick Boulevard Baptist in St. Joseph. Our men have been attending this event since its inception in 2017. Keynote Speaker will be Hershael York, preaching professor at The Southern Baptist theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. You will be blessed by this brother, who is also pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in the Louisville area. Breakout sessions will be provided by several area pastors, including yours truly. Cost: $20, includes lunch from Chick-Fil-A. Please let me know if you would like to sign up. I will be making our church reservation on July 30, Lord willing.

ICYMI Last Sunday’s Message Luke 7:1-10 "A Centurion's Faith
Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. 


READ THROUGH THE BIBLE
Week 30 of the 5 Day Bible Reading Program.
Read through the entire Bible following this plan, or read only the New Testament (in italics).
Day One: 2 Kings 7-8; 2 Chronicles 21; Matthew 6
Day Two: 2 Kings 9-10; Psalm 49; Matthew 7
Day Three: 2 Chron. 22-23; 2 Kings 11; Psalm 131; Matthew 8
Day Four: 2 Chron. 24; 2 Kings 12; Psalm 50; Matthew 9
Day Five: Joel; Matthew 10


Visit the website for more up-to-date information!


BONUS: You have given financially over and above your regular giving through a couple of special events recently.

• We concluded our Baby Bottle Offering for the Pregnancy Resource Clinic of St. Joseph/Cameron at the end of June. You gave $1,346.81. Well done! Thank you for giving to this important work for unborn babies and their parents.
• We concluded Vacation Bible School with over $306 given from children and adults through the week. One story of giving from VBS that I love is that of one of the girls breaking her piggy bank and giving everything in it. What a great spirit of generosity! All those funds went to purchase school supplies for children in need in the Maysville school district.

See you in church!


Grace and peace,


Pastor Greg Dixon