First Baptist Church of Brownsville, Oregon

“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10 ESV)

This Sunday’s message is from Isaiah 48, “The Furnace of Affliction.” For His glory and our benefit, God delays His anger and refuses to destroy His people despite their sins.  Have you ever felt like you were being “tried… in the furnace of affliction”? Read this powerful chapter before Sunday’s worship and join us to hear what God will say to us.  We will also be sharing in Communion together, so let’s come with hearts prepared for that as well.

We will have a presentation this Sunday from a member of the Gideon’s ministry. There will be opportunity to contribute to their tremendous ministry, so prayerfully consider a generous gift which can be given after the service.

Please continue to bring items that can be distributed to people through ourencouragement baskets this week! Thank you!

Please consider joining me in Albany on February 23 for Sonlife’s 4-chair discipling seminar.  Click on the following link to register: DISCIPLING SEMINAR.

Youth Mexico Trip Fundraiser – some of our high school youth are planning for the Spring Break mission trip to Mexico.  There will be an enchilada meal after the worship service on February 17th. Tickets will be available for purchase this Sunday. There will also be a list of needed supplies if you would like to help by contributing ingredients.  There is also going to be a dessert auction on the 17th, so plan to help with that as well!

Love From Your Pastor,

Michael

“Our Redeemer — the LORD of hosts is His name — is the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 47:4 ESV)

This Sunday I will be preaching on Isaiah 47, “A Warning for the Wicked.” Maybe not the most uplifting title I know! But all of God’s Word is important, and this is one of those passages that may not be easy, but is extremely valuable for us.  Wicked Babylon is warned about the disaster that will come upon it due to its pride and evil behavior. What does this have to do with us today? You’ll have to come Sunday and see!

There is a simple survey in this week’s bulletin that we’d like to have you fill out regarding your participation in small groups. Please complete one and turn it in this Sunday. Thank you!

Also, the Shepherding Commission will be putting together encouragement baskets for people in our church family who could use some uplifting. There is an insert in this week’s bulletin with some suggestions, but I’ll list some of them here too: Soap or lotion, snacks, popcorn, dried fruit, coffee/tea cup & coffee or tea, small book, Christian magazine, worship CD, candles, dish towels, slippers, CHOCOLATE, written out Bible verse, poems, various “coupons” for meals, desserts, etc., gift certificates, gift cards, cash, games, etc. They will be accepting items for these baskets starting this Sunday. Thank you!

Sonlife will be putting on a discipling seminar in Albany on Saturday, February 23, that I’d like to invite all of you to come to.  If you click the following link, you can register yourself. The cost is $25. If finances are a hindrance for anyone, please let me know, and we will cover you.  If you are interested in the seminar, check out more info here: DISCIPLING SEMINAR. Then please reply to this email and let me know to expect you there!

Please be in prayer for Larry & Karen Bowman.  Larry is currently in Evergreen Hospice in Albany. It appears that it is only a matter of time before he goes home to be with our Lord. But how much time, of course only the Lord knows. Please pray for a peaceful homegoing for him, and for strength and comfort for Karen at this time. Thank you for your prayers.

Love From Your Pastor,

Michael

“…even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” (Isaiah 46:4 ESV)

This Sunday I will be preaching on Isaiah 46, “There is None Like Me.” It’s a short chapter, so please read it ahead of the Sunday worship service. This passage includes the incredible promise of how the Lord carries us from “the womb to the tomb,” or in other words, for all of our lives!

Our 2019 focus is on EQUIPPING God’s people. This part of our purpose reminds us that our goal as a church is to equip the saints for the work of ministry. One way the elders and pastors have have been praying and talking about is trying to get more small groups started, and help get people plugged in to them. So you can be praying along with us. There is a simple survey in this week’s bulletin that we’d like to have you fill out regarding your participation in small groups.

Sonlife will be putting on a discipling seminar in Albany on Saturday, February 23, that I’d like to invite all of you to come to.  If you click the following link, you can register yourself. The cost is $25. If finances are a hindrance for anyone, please let me know, and we will cover you.  If you are interested in the seminar, check out more info here: DISCIPLING SEMINAR. Then please reply to this email and let me know to expect you there!

Men, don’t forget that this Saturday at 8am is our monthly Men’s Breakfast! Please plan to join us for our fellowship around the Word of God and great food!

Thank you for praying for Molly and her friend Becca Reardon as they are serving the Lord in South Africa! Molly just completed her first blog post, so if you click on the following link you can read it, and “follow” it so you can get email updates from her: MOLLY

Love From Your Pastor,

Michael

“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn; from My mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'” (Isaiah 45:22-23 ESV)

Sorry this email is later than usual!

Tomorrow I will preach “Every Knee Will Bow” from Isaiah 45.  What a powerful chapter this is!  Salvation is found in the Lord alone, who calls His people by name.  Please read the chapter and come prepared to hear from the Lord!

You probably have all seen our 3 E’s — Exalt, Extend, Equip — which we refer to as our purpose at FBC. We haven’t talked a lot about them in awhile. At the start of this year I felt like the Lord was guiding us to try to focus in on those a bit more, and to specifically emphasize one of the E’s each year. So we’re going to start with our 2019 emphasis being on EQUIP.  This part of our purpose reminds us that our goal as a church is to equip the saints for the work of ministry. There are many ways the church is already doing this. But one way the elders and pastors have have been praying and talking about is trying to get more small groups started, and help get people plugged in to them. So you can be praying along with us. 
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And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”  Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:5 ESV)

I hope you and your family were able to enjoy a wonderful Christmas, and that it was a Christ-centered celebration!  It was a great season of Advent at FBC as we reflected each week on Immanuel: “God with Us.”  Thank you to everyone who helped make it a special time.

This Sunday as we wrap up 2018 and prepare for 2019, we will look at Revelation 21:1-8.  The message is called “All Things New!”  I hope you will be here for our last Sunday of this year together!

Many of you have told me you were reading along with the Bible-in-a-year reading plan with us this year!  I want to continue to encourage all of us to be regularly in God’s Word, so once again I am recommending a reading plan that we can do together.  I found this article recently, and decided to try using this plan for 2019. It’s the first time I’ve used this particular plan, but I think we’re going to enjoy it!  You can read the article, and download the PDF of the reading plan, HERE.  Or you can pick up a hard copy in the church foyer.  Happy Bible reading!

Thank you for the generous gifts you gave to me and my family, as well as to Pastor Justin and his family.  You are a generous and gracious church family, and we are grateful!

Love From Your Pastor,

Michael

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23 ESV)

This Sunday we will continue our observance of Advent, the season where we are waiting and anticipating the Lord’s coming. During the month of December, our theme is “God with Us.”  This fourth week we will look at how “God with Us Brings PEACE”.  Our world is filled with much conflict and war, but we can experience peace with God and peace with each other because Immanuel, the Prince of Peace, or Lord Jesus Christ has come!

We will be looking at the promise of peace given to the shepherds when they received the birth announcement from the angel.  Read Luke 2:8-14 in preparation for this message, and consider how amazing it would have been to have been one of those shepherds! We will again be hearing from our Brownsville Gospel Choir with “Night of Silence.” Be sure to come, and invite a friend!

Again this year, on Christmas Eve, we will celebrate the season with: Christmas by Candlelight on Monday, December 24th, at 6pm.  There will be congregational singing of carols, some special musical numbers, a beautiful dance by some of our girls, and of course lighting our candles as we sing “Silent Night.”  Please bring some cookies or finger foods to share for a time of fellowship after the service. This is always one of the most meaningful parts of the Christmas season for many of us. Hope you can join us!

Love From Your Pastor,

Michael

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23 ESV)

This Sunday we will continue our observance of Advent, the season where we are waiting and anticipating the Lord’s coming. During the month of December, our theme is “God with Us.”  This third week we will look at how “God with Us Brings JOY”.  In a time of heartache and troubles, what we all need is a deep, abiding joy.  Not a happiness that comes and goes based on circumstances, but a joy that comes because God is with us! 

We’re going to look at how the Lord brought a great joy into the life of Elizabeth (John the Baptist’s mother), removing her shame and granting her great privilege.  To prepare your heart and mind for this message, read again the beginning of the Christmas story found in Luke 1, paying attention to Elizabeth’s place in the story, and how she experienced and expressed her joy.  We will also be blessed with a performance from some dancing angels during the worship service this week. We will also be hearing from our Brownsville Gospel Choir with some selections from Handel’s Messiah! Be sure to come, and invite a friend!

This Saturday at 8am is our monthly Men’s Breakfast.  Please come join in on good food, and a great time together with fellow brothers in Christ.  The gathering will take place in the Fellowship Hall — come, bring your appetite, and invite a friend! There will be a discussion based on R.C. Sproul’s teaching on “From Dust to Glory,” which is an apologetic overview of the Bible. Don’t miss it!

As you’re making your Christmas plans with your family, don’t forget to plan on attending Christmas by Candlelight on Monday, December 24th, at 6pm.  Please bring some cookies or finger foods to share for a time of fellowship after the service. This is always one of the most meaningful parts of the Christmas season for many of us. Hope you can join us!

Love From Your Pastor,

Michael

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23 ESV)

This Sunday we will continue our observance of Advent, the season where we are waiting and anticipating the Lord’s coming. During the month of December, our theme is “God with Us.”  This second week we will look at how “God with Us Brings LOVE“.  Our world is full of movies, books, and songs about love.  But does it understand what true love is and where (or Whom) it comes from? 

We’ll be looking at how Joseph and Mary provide for us a very unique lovestory, as well as how the coming of Immanuel for us demonstrates God’s great love.  To prepare your heart and mind for this message, look back over the story of Mary and Joseph in Matthew 1 and Luke 1.

We will also be blessed with a performance from some of our FBC children during the worship service this week. Be sure to come, and invite a friend!

Remember that this Sunday, December 9th is our All-Church Christmas Dinner, followed by the Annual Business Meeting. This is a great time of fellowship, celebrating what God has done in and through FBC this past year, and looking ahead to our ministry in the coming year. The meal will be after the worship service, and that will be followed by the meeting. The elders are providing the ham for the main dish, please bring side dishes, salads, or desserts.  For members who will be voting on the upcoming officers and the 2019 budget, the information we will be voting on is posted on the bulletin board next to the office, and there are a few copies available to take.

Love From Your Pastor,

Michael

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (1 Peter 3:12 ESV)

Sunday I will be speaking from 1 Peter 3:8-12, a message entitled, “God’s Ears are Open.”  In preparation for our 4 Days of Prayer, we will discuss how God listens to the prayers of His people when we are in right relationship with Him and each other.  Please read the passage before Sunday!

Our 4 Days of Prayer starts Monday (Nov. 26)! We will be praying together from 5-9am & 5-9pm, Monday through Wednesday, and 5-9am Thursday. Please come pray with us! We will be praying for 45 minute sessions with a break between. We will pray for our upcoming Advent season, for our outreach to our community, for our ministry in 2019, for the Lord’s financial provision, and many other things!

Thank you for your generous support of our FBC anniversary special offering!  Here are the totals that were reported to me: Pioneer: $1440.33, East Linn: $2,115.33, Central Linn: $1,075.34. Total Special Offering: $4,631. These gifts will surely be a great blessing to each school.

Lastly, Elizabeth and I have thought of a few families that could possibly use help with Christmas gifts, etc. If you are interested in “sponsoring” a family for Christmas, please talk to one of us. Thank you!

Love From Your Pastor,

Michael