Meet the Missionary

This Lord's Day we will be blessed to hear about the ministry of Neal and Karen Durfey and their family.

They are missionaries to Bolivia with New Tribes Missions and will be presenting their work as well as the work of New Tribes Mission during both the 9:30 and 10:30 services. After the morning worship, we'll have a Meet the Missionary dinner in Fellowship Hall.

Join us if you can... and bring someone with you, too!

How Can We Do Better in 2009?

One must never be satisfied. It is true in our personal walk with Christ.

The Apostle Paul said, Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV)

In other words - never be satisfied... never believe you are done and have arrived at the goal... keep striving to improve, to become more like the Savior.

Well, it's also true in our church. In this beginning month of 2009, we are evaluating everything we do and working hard to improve on what needs improvement, weed out what is not working, and add what is missing. Toward that end, we are asking for your opinions in an online survey.

Would you help us in this effort by clicking on the link below and completing the survey? It will take only a couple minutes of your time, but will help us greatly.

Take Survey

(Note that this survey makes use of a free online survey tool. When you complete the survey it will take you to the website for that free tool, at which point you can simply exit.)

Christmas - A Time To Celebrate

For many, the rush of shopping and activities and preparations smother the spirit of celebration. But Christian, do not forget that these days in December are a wonderful reminder of all that we have to celebrate in Christ. He is the reason for the season.

In our home, we recently viewed the movie "The Nativity", which is a wonderful reminder of just how amazing the birth of the Savior was. In one scene, the actor portraying Joseph takes the newly born King from Mary's hands, just moments after His birth, laughing and rejoicing as he holds Him high in the air. What a picture of the joy we should all feel as we celebrate that birth!

During these days of hectic activity - remember to celebrate the Child... the King... the Savior.

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Here are a couple of activities to remember this week:

Wednesday Evening - Prayer meeting - we'll look at Psalm 23 this week, and then we'll pray for each other. Meet at the church at 6:30 PM.

Saturday Evening - Dress rehearsal for the Christmas cantata. Meet at the church at 6:00 PM.

Sunday Morning - The service will consist primarily of our Christmas cantata - "Wonderful Name". We'll meet as usual for Sunday School at 9:30 AM, and then enjoy the cantata during our morning worship hour at 10:30 AM. Invite somebody to come with you as we celebrate that "Wonderful Name" together.

Happenings This Week

Wednesday Prayer Meeting (6:30 PM) - Last week we started a new series of talks on Wednesday evenings - Selected and Favorite Psalms. Tonight, we'll be looking briefly at Psalm 8 - O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Will you join us in this important service, as we pray one for another?

Saturday - 6:00 PM - Christmas Caroling - We will meet at the church at 6:00 and head out to share some Christmas joy with some of our shutins. Then we'll return to the church for cookies and hot chocolate!

Sunday - 12:00 PM - Christmas Cantata Practice - Please be faithful if you are a part of this program, as we are drawing close to the finish line now. Every practice is important.

Men for Rough Work - Just When Needed

"And the Lord shewed me four carpenters." (Zechariah 1:20)

Many years ago, the great English pastor Charles H. Spurgeon, penned his "Morning and Evening" devotional guide. That work is now in the public domain, and you can find copies of it everywhere. Although the language is dated, it is a wonderful devotional to use in your daily Bible reading. I found today's entry encouraging for a number of reasons. See if you do, too:

In the vision described in this chapter, the prophet saw four terrible horns. They were pushing this way and that way, dashing down the strongest and the mightiest; and the prophet asked, "What are these?" The answer was, "These are the horns which have scattered Israel." He saw before him a representation of those powers which had oppressed the church of God. There were four horns; for the church is attacked from all quarters. Well might the prophet have felt dismayed; but on a sudden there appeared before him four carpenters. He asked, "What shall these do?" These are the men whom God hath found to break those horns in pieces. God will always find men for His work, and He will find them at the right time. The prophet did not see the carpenters first, when there was nothing to do, but first the "horns," and then the "carpenters." Moreover, the Lord finds enough men. He did not find three carpenters, but four; there were four horns, and there must be four workmen. God finds the right men; not four men with pens to write; not four architects to draw plans; but four carpenters to do rough work. Rest assured, you who tremble for the ark of God, that when the "horns" grow troublesome, the "carpenters" will be found. You need not fret concerning the weakness of the church of God at any moment; there may be growing up in obscurity the valiant reformer who will shake the nations: Chrysostoms may come forth from our Ragged Schools, and Augustines from the thickest darkness of London's poverty. The Lord knows where to find His servants. He hath in ambush a multitude of mighty men, and at His word they shall start up to the battle; "for the battle is the Lord's," and He shall get to Himself the victory. Let us abide faithful to Christ, and He, in the right time, will raise up for us a defence, whether it be in the day of our personal need, or in the season of peril to His Church.

By the way, if you'd like to read more of Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, you can find it HERE.

HAVEN OF REST - CANCELLED

For those who serve monthly with us at the Haven of Rest, please be advised that the Haven has cancelled our service time this month, as they have a Christmas activity planned for that time slot.

We'll pick it up again in January!

Happenings This Week

As I read in my Bible this morning, I found this verse encouraging:
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Psalm 9:10 KJV)
I share it with you in hopes that you, too, might be encouraged by the absolute faithfulness of our God. He will never ever let you down.

Here are some opportunities at Friendship Bible Church this week:

Wednesday Evening Prayer meeting - I encourage all who have tried this meeting to join us this Wednesday evening for an open and candid discussion about taking it in a new direction. The Lord has been blessing us with a few more attendees and it is important that we structure the meeting in a way that is helpful and valuable. Join us for that discussion this Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary. Of course, we will also pray for one another, as we do every Wednesday.

Saturday is Haven of Rest service day, and you are invited to join us at the Haven and help in setting up, serving, and cleaning up. Meet at the Haven of Rest at 10:00. We will be done before noon.

Sunday is the Lord's Day and all God's people are to be in church, so we look forward to your being with us. But in addition to our normal Sunday School and Worship Services, this Sunday's activities also include our Secret Sisters' Christmas Tea immediately following morning worship. In order to accomodate this event, the regularly scheduled Christmas Cantata practice has been moved to 4:00 PM.

We'll see you in church!