It Avails Much!

Last Wednesday evening was the first time we have had a prayer meeting attendance large enough that we could break into three groups for prayer. What a blessing it was to have groups spread throughout the sanctuary praying.

Oh how we need to pray. We need to pray because we never quite get the hang of it, do we. We are so needy!

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26 NKJV)

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (Luke 11:1 NKJV)

But we also need to pray because it is so very powerful.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16 NKJV)

So many of our brothers and sisters need something from God. Let us gather tonight, and pray for them!

6:30-7:15 PM

Dimanche Coeur Rouge...

... Or, if you prefer roten Herzen Sonntag or Domingo corazón rojo.

Whatever language you choose to say it in, this Lord's Day is
RED HEART SUNDAY!




Where something RED, as we push out the gray of winter with a blast of color. And join us afterward in Fellowship Hall for great food and fellowship.

A Tuesday Prayer for FBC

Let us all join in praying this wonderful prayer, today, for our church. It comes from the heart of C.H. Spurgeon:

At this time also , great Father, wilt Thou visit this church with Thy great favor; and as Thou hast abounded toward us these many years in blessings, so give us now some new token, some fresh visitation for good. Lord, Thou hast not always given summer weather to the field of nature, but spring comes on and summer returns. Oh, give us summer weather as a church. May there be a great revival of religion in all the members, and especially in the minds of such as are growing cold or indifferent to holy things. Wherever there is any laxity of life, any slight holding of precious truth; wherever the world is creeping in with its corroding influences; wherever there is anything of sin which our eye sees not, but which Thine eye detects, be pleased to put it away. Fill the whole church with unity, with love, with life, with power.

And all God's people said, "AMEN!"

Big Saturday!

Two great opportunities this Saturday - one for service, and one for fellowship.




First, "Setup and Serve" at the Haven of Rest - 10:00. Meet at the Haven of Rest for a rewarding time of living out Matthew 25:40!




Second, join us at Kent Lanes at 3:00 for a great time of bowling, food, and fellowship!

Read it like a love letter

How is the 61 Day Challenge going? Here is some food for thought, which may help you as you take up that challenge to read your Bible, today.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote to a friend, and described how he reads the Bible:

First of all I will confess quite simply I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions, and that we need only to ask repeatedly and a little humbly, in order to receive this answer. One cannot simply read the Bible, like other books. One must be prepared really to enquire of it. Only thus will reveal itself. Only if we expect from it the ultimate answer, shall we receive it. That is because in the Bible God speaks to us. And one cannot simply think about God in one's own strengths, one has to enquire of him. Only if we seek Him, will He answer us. Of course it is also possible to read the Bible like any other book, that is to say from the point of view of textual criticism, etc.; there is nothing to be said against that. Only that that is not the method which will reveal to us the heart of the Bible, but only the surface, just as we did not grasp the words of someone we love by taking them to bits, but by simply receiving them, so that for days they go on lingering in our minds, simply because they are the words of the person we love; and just as these words revealed more and more of the person who said that as we go on, like Mary, "pondering them in our heart," so it will be with the words of the Bible. Only if we will venture to enter into the words of the Bible, as though in them this God were speaking to us who loves us and does not will to leave us along with our questions, only so should we learn to rejoice in the Bible.

And I would like to tell you now quite personally: since I have learnt to read the Bible in this way - and this has not been for so very long - it becomes everyday more wonderful to me. I read it in the morning and evening, often during the day as well, and everyday I consider a text which I have chosen for the whole week, and try to sink deeply into it, so as really to hear what it is saying. I know that without this I could not live properly any longer. ("Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy", pp. 136-137)

Survey is closing down - don't miss your chance!

It's waiting for you on the church website.

Just click here and scroll down to the survey.

The survey will be taken down after 1/15 so we can tabulate the results.  If you haven't participated yet - now's your chance!

Wrapping up - Final Three

We hope you will join us for prayer meeting this evening. We will be finishing up our overview of the 10 Commandments, and we will be praying a lot, too!

Join us at 6:30 in the auditorium. We will be done in time for Zumba at 7:15.