Weekly Update

Greetings, everyone! This is coming to you a little late in the day as I spent a few days helping my aging parents with some things at their place and just returned this morning. Thank you for bearing with me!


THE LORD’S DAY is TOMORROW!
We gather each Lord's Day to remember the resurrection of our Lord Jesus .
Another way to remember the resurrection is through the words of the recently deceased evangelical theologian/pastor, J.I. Packer: "The victim of Calvary is now ... loose and at large."
Yes, He is no longer a victim, but still bears in His body the
"five bleeding wounds ... received on Calvary; they pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for me. 'Forgive him, O forgive' they cry, 'Forgive him, O forgive,' they cry, 'nor let that ransomed sinner die!'" ("Arise, My Soul, Arise!" by Charles Wesley).

The risen and ascended Christ not only died, rose, and ascended for our justification, but is also actively working in us to bring about our practical holiness. This same Christ will one day glorify us as objects of His grace. All of this is not just good news, it is exceptional news! And for that, we offer God our hearty praise, thanksgiving, and wholehearted commitment.
Please take time to prepare your hearts for Lord's Day services by reading, meditating on, and praying through the Scriptures being used in tomorrow's worship service.
Fighter Verses: Psalm 73:25-26
Call to Worship: Psalm 145:1-8
Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16
Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 32:5
Sermon Text: Ruth 2
Benediction: 2 Corinthians 13:14

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW: Sunday, 1-5 pm, report to Journey Baptist, 5708 King Hill Ave., St. Joe
Rebuild efforts are wrapping up from the July 21 flood in St. Joe. There is a big push for volunteers to put drywall on walls and plywood on floors. The effort is for churches to send 5+ people to help. The need is to work on 9 homes (as of today; the number may be fewer now). You don’t have to be an expert or even knowledgeable about construction. The need is laborers, there will be someone at each project to lead the way. Information on Rebuild is  found on Journey Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/journeystjoe/


THIS WEEK finishes up our Week of Prayer for Missouri Missions. I encourage you to ask the Lord how He would have you to give, then set aside that portion for the MMO (Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering) which goes to support a whole host of mission efforts across our state. I sent out daily prayer reminders this week for these mission and ministry efforts, and I hope you were able to use them.

• SEE YOU AT THE POLE (SYATP) will be Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 am on the south side of Maysville High School. All Jr. High and High School aged students are encouraged to attend this event and to pray for their school, their classmates, teachers, administration, and staff. (Adults are welcome at this event, but are also encouraged to participate by praying on the courthouse lawn at 8:30 am that morning)
  
• PRAYER FOR REVIVAL AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING will be Saturday, Sept. 26, 10:30 am - Noon, on the courthouse lawn. We will be praying for our community, our state, our nation, and our world, especially as our nation faces the upcoming election just 40 days hence. Music, Scripture, and prayer will form the core of this event. Come on out and bring your lawn chairs!
  

COMING UP

• 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. Our usual meal is a soup supper with all the trimmings. Let me know if you can help with this effort.
  

ICYMI Last Sunday’s Message "Ruth: God's Faithfulness in Conversion" (Ruth 1)


QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
I recently found a thumb drive that had been missing for four (!) years. On it was a file of quotes I had compiled over a period of several years. Here is one that I found quite pertinent for our times:
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." -- Corrie Ten Boom


See you in church!


Grace and peace,


Pastor Greg