Weekly Update

Greetings, everyone! Thank you all for the prayers and words of encouragement over the last couple of weeks of my isolation. After 10 days of quarantine, today is my official "freedom" day. The rest of the family has a few more days to isolate. I haven't had a fever since a week ago Thursday. Most of my symptoms have been like a mild cold the whole time, plus the sense of taste and smell affected. I don't feel terrible. Earlier in the week, I entertained the thought of being back in the pulpit this week. However, I want you to have full confidence that in attending services you won't be unduly exposed. Therefore, I will be out of the pulpit one more Sunday. I believe this is prudent. Thank you for bearing with me patiently. Thanks to all who are shouldering responsibilities while I am out.

TODAY is the first Bible Quiz competition of the season. Please be in prayer for our quizzers and coaches as they compete under the COVID restrictions today. They will very likely be getting to the end of the competition by the time you read this, but pray for them nonetheless. Pray for all the quizzers' continued health as well.

TOMORROW is the LORD’S DAY and we would ordinarily be observing the Lord's Supper on the first Sunday of the quarter, but we have postponed it one week to October 11. Please take time this week to examine yourselves in the light of Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 as you prepare for this ordinance of the church.
In preparation for Lord's Day worship tomorrow, please take a few moments to read and meditate on the following Scriptures that will frame the service. Click anywhere in the link to read the Scriptures online:
Call to Worship: Psalm 19:1-14;
OT Reading: Exodus 20:1-20;
NT Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14;
Assurance of Pardon: Romans 8:1-2;
Sermon: Matthew 7:13-27;
Fighter Verses: Proverbs 4:25-27;
Benediction: Philippians 1:2; 4:23
I have asked Robert Kendall to fill the pulpit for me tomorrow. Please pray for him as he brings the message "The Road Less Traveled" from Matthew 7:13-27.


THIS WEEK

• Sunday, Oct. 4: St. Joseph Baptist Association Annual Meeting will be at 4 - 6 pm, Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church, with John Swadley as guest speaker. Dr. Swadley has been pastor of Forest Park Baptist Church in Joplin since the late 1990s, and was formerly pastor at two of our associational churches, Midway and McCarthy. All members are encouraged to attend, with our church messengers attending as voting participants. (Social distancing and the St. Joseph city mask ordinance will be observed).
  
• Saturday, Oct. 10: MACH 4 Men's Ministry will meet @ FBC @ 6 pm for supper followed by a devotional message and focus on local ministry opportunities. All men and boys are invited to come, and we will need several men to contribute to the meal that evening. I mentioned last time that our usual meal is soup, but it occurred to me that we have a lot of burgers and dogs left over from worship in the park. Let's plan on firing up the grill that day and serving those burgers and dogs. Let me know if you can help with this effort.
  
• Sunday, Oct. 11: Lord's Supper Observance during morning worship at 10:40
  

COMING UP

• Monday - Tuesday, Oct. 26-27: Missouri Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in St. Charles.
  

ICYMI Last Sunday’s Message from Jerry Scott, "New Years' Repentance"


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


Grace and peace,


Pastor Greg