Love From Your Pastor

Hello FBC!

 

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

 

I like what the ESV Study Bible says about the above verse:  “Paul is drawing on Isaiah 59:17, where the Lord is portrayed as a warrior wearing armor.  Here Christians, as those destined to stand alongside the Lord on the last day, are called to put on His armor (see Eph. 6:10-20).”  And referring to the faith, love, hope, “The triad of essential Christian traits (see 1 Cor. 13:13; 1 Thes. 1:3).”  Since we are people of the day, as opposed to people of the night, we need to “armor up” with faith, hope, and love!

 

This Sunday will be message 4 out of 5 in our 5 SOLAS series, looking at the key doctrines emphasized in the Reformation.  This week we will look at SOLUS CHRISTUS: Christ Alone, which is about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as Savior.  We will again look at numerous passages, but let me give you a few to prayerfully read between now and Sunday: John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-4; and Hebrews 9:15-28.

 

Right after the worship service this Sunday, we will have a membership class, from Noon to around 3pm, with lunch provided.  If you would like to join in on that, please let me know today so I can alert our lunch-makers!

 

Our FBC Family Missions Conference is Oct. 21-22!  There will be programs and activities for all ages, so please plan to join us!  Saturday morning from 9am to around 12:30pm, and Sunday morning, 9am to Noon.  Elizabeth has some fun kids activities planned for Saturday and Sunday mornings.  The Kers from Little Zebra books will be doing Junior Church on Sunday.  Doug Hazen with WorldVenture will be preaching.  We’ll have tables in the fellowship hall with displays from a number of our missionaries, including: The Kers, David Becker with CEF, Teen Challenge, Beth Arends from OSU, Haiti Foundation of Hope, Aaron & Jenny Savage with Youth for Christ.  There will be a panel discussion with some of our guests.  And door prizes will be given away at the end of Saturday’s time, including coffee shop gift cards, missions-themed books, and kid-friendly prizes.  Sub sandwhiches will be provided Saturday.  On Sunday we will be receiving an offering of your “loose change” (or whatever you want to give) to help complete the swing set project at Victory Bible Camp in Alaska.  So please plan to be here at FBC Oct. 21-22!

 

The 7th Annual Trunk-or-Treat, October 31 (that’s only 19 days away!), 6 — 7:30pm.  Right now we have 15 vehicles signed up (we’d like 25 more!).  In the candy contest, the weekly score is tied 1-1, but the National League holds a slight edge over American League, 67 lbs, 10 oz. to 66 lbs, 9 oz.  As you math whizzes can see, that just over 134 lbs. (we’d like to have 300 lbs. more!).  So please hit the candy sales and fill the totes (preferably the NL one)!  And decide on your theme for your trunk, and sign up with Elizabeth or on the sheet in the foyer.  We also need helpers: Set up crew, Parking lot attendants, Food coordinator, kitchen helpers, clean-up crew.  There is a sign up for this in the foyer also.  We’ll need all hands on deck for this!  Please pray that we will shine brightly in our community on that dark evening!  Please pray for contacts to be made with families who need to come to know Jesus and become part of His family.  And please be inviting kids and families you know (there are invite-cards on the table in the foyer as well).

 

Grace and peace to you in the matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Love From Your Pastor,

Michael