Copy
A weekly update from First Baptist Church of Strafford
View this email in your browser

ACTS: Thanksgiving


<<First Name>>,

Over the last two weeks, I have written about believers developing a routine pattern in their prayer life. One of the easiest and best patterns used for many years in Christian circles involving prayer is the ACTS pattern. This is a balance approach for believers to having a consistent, meaningful, and faithful time with the Lord. We looked at both the AAdoration (we always marvel and give praise to God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) and CConfession (being totally honest about our sins with God) from the acrostic letters spelling ACTS.
 
Today, I want to introduce the letter T or Thanksgiving. Psalm 103:2 says, Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits.” The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
 
Some of us have not made a simple distinction in the difference between feeling grateful and expressing thanks. The classic teaching on this is in Luke 17:11-19, the story of the ten men healed of leprosy. How many of those men do you think felt tremendous gratitude as they walked away from Jesus, completely healed of their incurable, disgusting, socially isolating disease? There’s no question about it -all ten did. But how many came back, threw themselves at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him? Just one.
 
In this story, we catch a glimpse of Jesus’ emotions. He is moved: first to disappointment by people who felt gratitude but didn’t take the time to express it, second to satisfaction by the one who came all the way back to say thanks.
 
Parents, you know how it feels when one of your children spontaneously thanks you for something. I remember both of my sons saying, "Dad, thank you," for taking them to an event that was incredibly significant to them. For example, when I took them to a professional ballgame or to the caves in Kansas City to paintball. I always want to take them back to such incredible encounters for round two. God is our Father, and He too is moved when we express our thanksgiving. 
 
I thank God for four kinds of blessings: answered prayers, spiritual blessings, relational blessings, and material blessings. Almost everything in my life fits into one of those categories. By the time you get through each category, you are ready to go back to adoration concerning all God has done for you. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.”
 
Thank You, Father!


Pastor Rick

Worship With Us This Sunday!


Join us for worship this Sunday, November 15, as Pastor Rick concludes our series based on Del Fehsenfeld's book, Ablaze with His Glory. This week's message, "With All Your Heart" is drawn from Chapter 12. The key Scripture passage is Ephesians 3:20-21. You can preview the service plan HERE and download the sermon outline HERE.

We hope to see you and your family for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:45. We are also continuing to post our services online for those who can't join us in person. The worship service video will be posted no later than Monday to our Facebook page. It will also be available at FreeChurchOnline if you do not have a Facebook account. Be sure to comment and let us know that you're watching with us! If you need any technical assistance, email Josh Erisman.

Christmas Decorating


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...at least outside (brrrrrr...)! Throughout the month of November, we will be making the inside of the church building look that way as well. If you would like to help decorate the church, join us Tuesday, November 17 at 9:30 a.m. and/or Sunday, November 22 at 5:00 p.m. Contact decor team leader Jane Love for details.

Operation Christmas Child


Through the month of November, we are packing shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child! These boxes, filled with toys and gifts, are delivered to children in need around the world. Each box is an opportunity for a boy or girl to experience the love of God in a tangible way and hear the Gospel.

You can pick up an empty shoebox, along with a packing guide, at the table in the lobby. More information can also be found on the Operation Christmas Child website. Please bring your filled shoebox, along with a $9 donation, back to the church by Sunday, November 22. If you have any questions, talk with missions coordinator Shannon Peelor or children's minister Brittany Erisman.

Thanksgiving Benevolence Offering


The Strafford Ministerial Alliance has elected not to host a Community Thanksgiving Service in 2020. Instead, we will be taking up a special offering as part of our worship service on Sunday, November 22. This offering will go toward the Ministerial Alliance benevolence fund, which assists people in our community as well as those who are just passing through. Prayerfully consider what you might give to this worthy cause.

Annual Business Meeting & Christmas Lunch


Our annual business meeting will be held immediately following worship on Sunday, December 6. We will be voting on the 2021 budget as well as new officers and committees. Copies of the proposed 2021 budget will be distributed on Sunday, November 22. If you have any questions about the budget, talk with Terry Bruton (church treasurer) or Josh Erisman.

After the business meeting, we will move to the fellowship hall for a delicious church-wide Christmas lunch, catered by Sheila's Place in Marshfield. The lunch is free (though we will have a donation bucket available for those who want to contribute), but we need you to sign up at the Information Desk by Sunday, November 22.

Hand-Painted Christmas Cards


If you know of a shut-in, someone in the nursing home, someone in the military, someone sick or alone, etc., add their name to the list at the Information Desk. Our painting class would like to send them a beautiful, hand-painted Christmas card to let them know we are praying for them. Contact Jane Love for more information.

SBC Missionary Highlight

For this week's missionary highlight, we’re going to Canada. Two of our missionaries, Robert and Sharon Pinkston, serve there in Quebec. That’s a province, sort of like one of our states. That’s where most of Canada’s eight million French-speakers live. Folks, most of them are lost! Only about 40,000 of those eight million are followers of Christ. Hundreds of towns in Quebec have no Christian church of any kind.

We have sent Robert and Sharon into a huge, challenging mission field! Our church is supporting them financially through our Cooperative Program giving. But clearly they need our prayer support as well.

Many people in Quebec would respond to the gospel if they could just hear it, Robert says. Plus, he says the people are searching for solutions to fill their spiritually empty hearts. Many Canadians who hear the gospel for the first time say, “That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for!”

Let’s pray that Robert and Sharon can plant many new churches that will share the gospel. Let’s ask God to call out hundreds more missionaries for Canada. Let’s ask God to move in Southern Baptist hearts and increase their missions giving to send them.

In every edition of the FirstUpdate, we are highlighting the efforts of the International Mission Board (IMB), the North American Mission Board (NAMB), the six Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) seminaries, and the various Baptist state conventions. Each month, our church and the other 47,000+ churches in the SBC contribute a portion of our undesignated offerings to these important Cooperative Program (CP) ministries. For more information about CP, click HERE.

Giving Options


Even if you aren't joining us for in-person worship on Sunday, please continue to remember your tithes and offerings. The church’s ministries and operational expenses go on in spite of the current situation. We want to be a blessing to our community and it takes resources to do that. Your faithful giving makes it possible!

In addition to dropping cash or checks in the offering box on Sunday morning, there are multiple ways to give your tithes and offerings:
  • Online through Tithe.ly or the Tithe.ly app
  • Mail a check to First Baptist Church, PO Box 367, Strafford, MO 65757
  • Several of our members have begun using online bill pay through their bank to send in their offering. This is a free service that some banks provide. All you have to do is add the church’s name and address as a vendor, just like you would the electric company or any other business.
  • You can also drop your offering by the church office, but please call ahead to make sure that someone will be in the office.
Thank you again, church family, for your generous and faithful giving! If you need help setting up online giving or have any questions, contact Josh Erisman.
Website
Website
Facebook
Facebook
Instagram
Instagram
FB Group
FB Group
Email
Email
Give Now
Give Now
Tithe.ly App
Tithe.ly App

This Week @ FBC Strafford


Sunday, November 15
9:30 a.m. | Sunday School
10:45 a.m. | Worship Service
3:30 p.m. | Choir Rehearsal

Monday, November 16
6:00 p.m. | Men's Group


Tuesday, November 17
9:30 a.m. | Christmas Decorating
3:00 p.m. | Funeral Dinner for Leta Leach Family (Chandra C.'s grandma)

Wednesday, November 18
6:00 p.m. | NOW Free Family Meal
6:30 p.m. | KidsNOW & StudentsNOW
7:00 p.m. | LivingNOW (Adults)

Thursday, November 19
12:00 noon | Painting Class

Saturday, November 21
11:00 a.m. | "Our Daily Bread" Food Pantry OPEN (until 1:00 p.m.)


CLICK HERE to view full calendar.

This Sunday, November 15


ECM | Colleen A. & Emily E.
Greeters | Dennis & Wenda N.

Audio | Jeremy F.
Video | Gibson D.
Security | Randy C. & Mike M.
Counters | Colleen A. & Sandy S.


If you cannot serve on your assigned Sunday, please arrange a substitute and let the church office know by calling 736-2148 or emailing church@fbcstrafford.org.

Thank you to all those who serve our church in these important roles each Sunday morning!
Copyright © 2020 First Baptist Church of Strafford, All rights reserved.


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp