Weekly Update

Good morning, everyone! I hope you are all well, safe, and dry today. Emphasis on the dry! We have had some heavy rains these past few days, and I know those chances remain in the forecast. 
Today's update will be in two parts. I will send the remaining part this afternoon.

TONIGHT at 7 pm - Join us for PRAYER, PRAISE, and PIE. We'll gather in the sanctuary for prayer and praise with Bro. M. R. Hamilton and his lovely wife, Katie, in preparation for the community-wide revival. We are inviting folks from the churches in the Maysville area to be with us to pray for God's Spirit to have His way in our hearts this week. Bro. M. R. will share a brief introduction to what he plans to preach this week, and Katie will share in a song. Afterward, we will enjoy pie (and other desserts) in the Fellowship Hall. Come on out and be with us this evening. What better way to spend a Saturday night?

TOMORROW at 9:30 am - All adult and teen Sunday School classes will meet together in the Sanctuary for a time of teaching from Bro. M.R. This will be a great time to hear the word from our evangelist, especially if you are unable to make the evening services, although we want everyone to come who is able to attend. (Nursery, preschool, and children's classes will meet in regular session). Bro. M. R. will leave around 10:15 am to preach at Hopewell's morning service, and we will invest those remaining minutes in sharing prayer needs and praying for one another prior to morning worship at 10:40.

1:30 pm - All hands on deck to help set up tents, inflatables, and game trailer out at the fairgrounds, back side of the June Conley Building. Weather permitting, we will set up for our community revival services with M.R. & Katie Hamilton.

4:30 pm - FAMILY FUN NIGHT at June Conley Building. Hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone inside the building, inflatables and games for the kids outside. Bro. M.R. will be sharing a message especially for younger families, those with children still at home.

6:00 pm - REVIVAL SERVICE with Bro M.R. and Katie Hamilton under the tents outside June Conley Building, weather permitting. In case of inclement weather, we will meet inside the building. Bro. M.R. will be sharing a series of messages on spiritual warfare from God's word.

MONDAY - WEDNESDAY

• Noon each day - Brown Bag Luncheon and Bible Study with Bro. M.R. in the Fellowship Hall at FBC. Everyone is invited to bring their own lunch and join us for an hour of fellowship around God's word. We'll have coffee and bottled water furnished (and maybe some dessert left from Saturday night!), you bring everything else. 
• 6 pm each day - COMMUNITY REVIVAL SERVICES with Bro. M.R. and Katie under the tents at June Conley Building. The plan for inclement weather each night is to be inside the building.
• WEDNESDAY EVENING will be a special night of Katie sharing in song about how the Lord sustained and brought her through her cancer journey. Bro. M.R. will bring the final message of the week. If you know someone who is now facing or has in the past faced cancer, I strongly encourage you to bring them with you on this closing night of the services.

A WORD ABOUT REVIVAL
We use the word "revival" a lot to simply refer to a series of weekday services with an evangelistic thrust. And this is indeed what the community planning team has been praying and planning for. But true revival is a work of God's Spirit in the hearts of God's people. Bro. M.R. Hamilton will preach his heart out, Katie will sing her heart out, but it is up to the Holy Spirit of God to bring new life or renewal to those gathered to listen. Contrary to what the popular early 19th-century evangelist Charles Finney once wrote, revival is not simply a man-made result of the "right use of the appropriate means." True, biblical revival occurs when God's people return to Him in prayer, confession of sin, humble dependence on His sovereign grace, and intercession for the souls of men. While the context was different during the prophet Joel's day (much different due to the temple sacrifice system), the principle remains constant from Joel 2:12-14:
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13     and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
    and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God?


Grace and peace to you,

Good morning, again, everyone! Here is part two:

VBS 2021: DESTINATION DIG is just 2 weeks away! Dates are July 12-16, beginning at 5:30 pm with supper each night. Ending time is approximately 8 pm. Pre-K through completed grade six, with nursery provided for children of workers. Pre-registration forms will be available very soon, so watch this e-mail and listen for announcements at church!
**VBS WORKERS' MEETING will be directly after morning worship tomorrow, so if you are helping, please plan to be there!

THE LORD'S DAY SCRIPTURES: Please take a few moments to read and meditate on God's Word in preparation for corporate worship tomorrow.FIGHTER VERSES: Ephesians 6:10-11
CALL TO WORSHIP: 1 Peter 1:3-5
OT READING: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
NT READING: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Psalm 130
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Psalm 130:3-4
BENEDICTION: 2 Corinthians 13:14




COMING UP

• JULY 5-9
  • SJBA Youth Camp at Grand Oaks. So far we have 12 students registered, but will continue to accept registrations as space is available. Online registration is closed, so any others coming in will need to be paper registrations. Estimated Time of Departure on July 5: 8:30 am; Estimated Time of Arrival Home on July 9: 1 pm
• JULY 12-16 Vacation Bible School at FBC (see announcement above)

• AUGUST 9-13, SJBA Children's Camp at Grand Oaks. Forms are available in the narthex and online. Here are the links to follow for online registration. Deadline for registration is July 13:
  • CHILDREN'S CAMP REGISTRATION
  • STAFF/COACH/ACIT REGISTRATION

ICYMI Last Sunday’s Message audio Luke 6:37-42 "Judging Rightly"
Please visit our YouTube Channel to see the edited service video. 


READ THROUGH THE BIBLE
Week 26 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: 1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; 1 Timothy 1
Day Two: 1 Kings 7; 2 Chron. 4; Psalm 44; 1 Timothy 2
Day Three: 1 Kings 8; Psalm 30; 1 Timothy 3
Day Four: 2 Chron. 5-7; Psalm 121; 1 Timothy 4
Day Five: 1 Kings 9; 2 Chr. 8; 1 Timothy 5


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


BONUS:
I was encouraged to watch/listen to this interview with Conrad Mbewe, the "Spurgeon of Africa" and pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia, where he has served since 1987. Tom Ascol and Jared Longshore interview Conrad on The Sword & Trowel. God is at work through His people through faithful, biblical ministry worldwide.


Here is a video devotional from Bro. M.R. Hamilton on how God blots out our transgressions and remembers our sins against us no more. I found it very encouraging, and I trust you will too!


See you in church!


Grace and peace,


Pastor Greg


Pastor Greg