Weekly Update

Greetings, everyone! One of the great joys and responsibilities of ministry is to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). It seems as though there is never a shortage of reasons to weep. The afflictions of this life, whether it be destitution, disease, or death, roll like a flood. Archibald Alexander (1772-1851) was the first professor at Princeton Seminary. He wrote the following words on suffering to young people in his Thoughts on Religious Experience:


"Remember that whatever sufferings you may be called to endure, they are always less than your sins deserve. Consider that these afflictive dispensations are fraught with rich, spiritual blessings. They are not only useful but also necessary. We should perish with a wicked world if a kind Father did not make use of the rod to reclaim us from our wanderings. Besides, there is no situation in which we can more glorify God than when in the furnace of affliction...And when schooled in adversity, you will be better qualified to sympathize with the children of sorrow and better skilled in affording them comfort." (emphasis in the original)


THE LORD’S DAY TOMORROW

• Sunday School (limited classes) will meet at 9:30, Loyal Adults class in the library, Strangers in the Fellowship Hall. All classes are slated to resume on Sept. 13, nursery through adults. We will provide hand sanitizer and masks for those desiring them. If you are immuno-compromised, we ask that you take appropriate precautions. If you have knowingly been exposed to COVID-19, we ask that you take appropriate actions to safeguard the health of others.
  

If you are not yet a part of a Bible study, this will be a great time to join. Sign-ups will be available in the narthex on Sept. 6, and the entire month of September will be enrollment emphasis

• Worship at 10:40 am will be structured around the following Scriptures. Click anywhere on the link to view these Scriptures in ESV:
  

Fighter Verses: John 8:31-32
Call to worship: Psalm 26:1-8
Old Testament: Jeremiah 15:15-21
New Testament: Romans 12:9-21
Assurance of God's Pardon: 1 Peter 3:18
Sermon: 1 Corinthians 5
Benediction: Numbers 6:24-26

• August Birthdays and Anniversaries will be recognized tomorrow during the announcement period. Birthday offerings will be received to benefit the Missouri Baptist Children's Home and anniversary offering will benefit the Baptist Home for the Aged.
  

• Worship in the Park will begin at 4:30 this evening at Bartlett Park (under water tower on East Wilson St) with games and rec for the children, followed by a cookout at 6 pm and a brief worship service at 7 pm. The church will provide burgers, dogs, buns, drinks, chips, condiments, and table service, you bring everything else (sides and desserts). Don't forget to bring your lawn chairs. There are several picnic tables at the park, but you may bring small tables or trays if you wish. Feel free to bring balls and gloves, frisbees, etc. Guests are always welcome, so bring a friend! (It looks like it will be a beautiful afternoon/evening, but in case of rain, we will meet at the church).
  

THIS WEEK
In addition to our regular weekly Monday ZOOM Bible Study at 7 pm, and Midweek Service on campus and via ZOOM, Wednesday at 6:30 pm, there will be a major push to finish the flood cleanup and rebuilding in St. Joseph before Labor Day. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday of this week, 8 am - noon [lunch provided] and 1 - 4:30 pm. With DR food feeding station pulling out to head back east to help with the hurricane, meals for volunteers are also needed. If you can help provided a meal for 10 to 20 volunteers each day, please let me know or contact Bro. Roger Brumley at St. Joseph Baptist Association at 417-440-0425. Please consult the attached PDF for more information about this local mission and ministry effort. (People in these affected neighborhoods are coming to know the Lord through the evangelistic efforts of DR volunteers!)

COMING UP

• Labor Day, Sept. 7: CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
  
• Saturday, Sept. 12: COUNTRY HARVEST ONE-DAY EVENT
  
• Saturday, Sept. 12: MACH 4 MEN'S MINISTRY 6 pm @ FBC Fellowship Hall (tentative since this is also Country Harvest)
  
• Sept. 13-20: WEEK OF PRAYER FOR MISSOURI MISSIONS
  
• Wednesday, Sept. 23: SYATP (See You At The Pole), 7:30 am @ MHS front entrance; followed by community SYATP at DeKalb County Courthouse south lawn
  
• Saturday, Sept. 26: Day of Prayer, 10:30 - noon, Dekalb County Courthouse south lawn
  
• NOTE: Both courthouse events are pending green light from county commission
  

ICYMI Last Sunday’s Message Church Discipline and Exclusion, 1 Cor. 5


Don't Forget:
Pick up your copy of Our Daily Bread devotional booklet in the narthex this Sunday for September-November. If you would rather receive Our Daily Bread in digital form, visit the Our Daily Bread website to sign up for e-mails, download the app, or read online.


See you in church!


Grace and peace,


Pastor Greg

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