Preferring One Another

Here are a few pics from the Adult Class's recent game night. We're working on a bowling outing next, so stay tuned!

Noisy Offerings

Something new is coming next Lord's Day (and Lord willing, the first Sunday of every month from now on) - the Noisy Offering. It is noisy for two reasons:

1. The children will take this offering.
2. The children will use loud coffee cans to collect.
   

Bring your loose change on the first Sunday of each month, and put it in the noisy cans when the children pass through the crowd. These funds will be added to what we've already budgeted for local outreach, and will go to help our members and those in our community who are in need during these trying times.

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"

The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:34-40 NIV)

Praying, Playing, or Straying?

Leonard Ravenhill, in his book entitled "Why Revival Tarries" made these observations:

No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying.

Poverty-stricken as the church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters.

Failing here, we fail everywhere.

Interesting... and convicting. We have a midweek prayer meeting every Wednesday evening at 6:30. It usually lasts no more than 30 minutes, and is an opportunity for all of us to join the work and ministry of prayer.

Will you join us this week?

Fun and Games

The Adult Sunday School class is hosting a game night this Saturday at 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. We'll provide enough sloppy joe to put you into a coma, and plenty of soft drinks, too. Just bring your favorite munchies, and maybe your favorite board game (keep it clean - remember this is a church activity!), and join us for some fun and fellowship!

Weekend Opportunities

Much of America lives for the weekends. Some work hard all week just so they can party hard all weekend.

Christians ought be no different, really. We, too, look forward to the weekend... just for a different reason. Sunday is the Lord's Day, and as such we anticipate it... enjoy it... rest in it.... It is the best day of the week. The writer to the Hebrews said, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25 NIV)

I hope you'll remember the importance of gathering with God's people on the Lord's Day this weekend.

Here at FBC, we have a couple of other reasons to enjoy this weekend:

Saturday is Haven of Rest service day. Join us as we setup and serve at the Haven of Rest - 10:00 on Saturday morning.

Sunday is "Bye Bye Blahs" Sunday. Wear something red and plan on a fun service of music and testimonies as we say "bye bye" to the blahs of February.