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A weekly update from First Baptist Church of Strafford
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50 Days


<<First Name>>,

Calvary’s Love Story bloomed in all its fullness on Easter—Resurrection Day! The tomb could not hold Him! The stir in Zion--Jerusalem--left some confused, delusional, and others celebrating in worship of the risen Christ. The lingering question, “Now what?” All the head scratching, eye rubbing, and hand lifting in joy created an anticipation that something colossal was about to happen in the lives of Jesus’ followers. 

The countdown had begun! The second of the great Jewish national festivals was on the near horizon. Fifty days or seven weeks from the Paschal Feast--Passover--what is called in the Old Testament the Feast of Weeks or Harvest of the First Fruits. "You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year” (Exodus 34:22). 

The festival and its rituals were thoroughly described in the Mosaic Law. It was the first of the two agrarian (agricultural) festivals of Israel and marked the completion of the barley-harvest, “You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:15-16), which had begun at the time of the waving of the first ripe sheaf of the first-fruits, “He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it” (Leviticus 23:11).

Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, fell on the 50th day after this occasion. The wheat was harvested nearly everywhere representing a harvest-home celebration. This day was observed as a Sabbath day, all labor was suspended, and people appeared before Yahweh to express their gratitude. “Also on the day of the first fruits, when you present a new grain offering to the LORD in your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work” (Numbers 28:26).
 
This old Jewish festival took on a new significance for the Christian church by the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7). The events of that day for Christianity are told in a vivid and dramatic way in the book of Acts. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1). Pentecost occurs in the month of Sivan (May/June). It followed Jesus’ death and resurrection and was the occasion on which the Holy Spirit was given to believers in Jerusalem.

Believers were together celebrating Pentecost when suddenly unusual sights and sounds signaled an event that would have far-reaching implications. “Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying” (Acts 2:2). They saw tongues of fire resting on believers, and each believer was able to communicate in languages they had never before spoken. These wonders got the attention of the Jewish faithful in Jerusalem. Many thought the disciples were intoxicated. However, Peter stood up and pointed out that it was too early in the day for people to be drunk. He also, pointed out the event was fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy that God would pour out His Spirit on all people. Peter linked the gift of the Holy Spirit with the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. His message reached into the hearts of over 3,000 who responded by repenting and being baptized in the name of Jesus and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. 
 
Our new sermon series titled, “The Pathway to Pentecost” will stretch over the next 50 days or 7 weeks from the Paschal Feast—Passover. I want to encourage us to take this time to experience the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

 
Pastor Rick

Worship With Us This Sunday!


Join us for worship this Sunday, April 11, as Pastor Rick begins a 7-week series, The Pathway to Pentecost, leading up to the observance of Pentecost on Sunday, May 23. This Sunday's message, "Entrance Rejected", is drawn from Psalm 90:2 and Genesis 3. 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, with music led by our praise team and band.

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 for those who do not have a Facebook account.

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering


Thanks to your generous giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, our 2021 total was $1,015.10. To God be the glory!

100% of the funds given to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions are used to support and equip Southern Baptist missionaries throughout North America. For more information, visit 
anniearmstrong.com

Quarterly Business Meeting


Our next quarterly business meeting will take place this Sunday, April 11, immediately following our worship service (approximately 12:00 noon). We will NOT share a fellowship meal this quarter. The Looking Forward team will be sharing a brief update on the proposed Family Life Center project.

Gibson-Everett Wedding


Madison Gibson and Logan Everett are getting married on Saturday, April 17 at 4:45 p.m. here at the church. A cake and punch reception will follow in the fellowship hall. The church family is invited to attend.

Missions Yard Sale Donations


To coincide with Strafford's Citywide Garage Sale, the FBC Missions team will be holding our annual Yard Sale on Saturday, May 1. We are now accepting donations! We cannot accept TVs, computer monitors, beds, hideaway couches, desks, and exercise equipment. Talk with Shannon Peelor if you have any questions.

Choices Walk for Life


The Choices Pregnancy Center Walk for Life is coming up on Saturday morning, May 8 at the Webster County Fairgrounds. We would love for you to join our team and help raise funds for this important cause. To sign up, click HERE and make sure to add yourself to the First Baptist Church of Strafford Team. If you don’t plan to join our team, but want to give a donation, visit the Walk for Life website and click the “Give” button. If you have any questions, contact Shannon Peelor.

VBS 2021 | "Destination Dig" | June 6-11


We are looking forward to helping kids in the Strafford community "unearth the truth about Jesus" at our Destination Dig VBS this year. VBS will run Sunday evening, June 6 through Thursday evening, June 10, with family night on Friday, June 11. This week is always a highlight of the year for our church!

We will be holding a VBS volunteers lunch and training meeting on Sunday, May 2 immediately following worship. Sign up at the Information Desk if you are interested in serving during VBS. If you have any questions, talk with Brittany or Josh Erisman.

Read Through the Bible in 2021


We are reading through the Bible as a congregation this year, using a plan from the Bible Project. Here are this week's readings:

THE RISE AND FALL OF ISRAEL'S KINGDOM (continued)
Thursday, April 8 | 1 Kings 14-16; Psalm 98
Friday, April 9 | 1 Kings 17-19; Psalm 99
Saturday, April 10 | 1 Kings 20-22; Psalm 100
Sunday, April 11 | 2 Kings 1-3; Psalm 101
Monday, April 12 | 2 Kings 4-7; Psalm 102
Tuesday, April 13 | 2 Kings 8-11; Psalm 103
Wednesday, April 14 | 2 Kings 12-14; Psalm 104
Thursday, April 15 | 2 Kings 15-17; Psalm 105

You can check out the entire plan by clicking here.

SBC Missionary Highlight & Prayer Prompt

Before meeting Jesus, "Gryta" (name changed for security), a citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia (part of the Balkans), had low self-esteem and a pattern of destructive behavior due to past experiences of abuse, neglect, and health issues. She befriended IMB missionary Amy Williams at an ESL class and learned about the boundless love of Jesus, eventually joining a Bible study and receiving more kindness and acceptance from other Christian women.

In 2019, Amy saw a change in Gryta. Facing another health crisis, Gryta asked God for healing. Even when she didn’t immediately experience her desired results, she continued to praise God and declared His faithfulness to everyone around her. Through her witness, Gryta’s father chose to follow Jesus.

THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM is the financial fuel for reaching every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state, and every nation. Your support through the Cooperative Program gives missionaries like Amy Williams the opportunity to form relationships and disciple others in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

PRAY that Gryta will continue to declare God’s faithfulness and that the Lord will answer her prayer for healing. Pray also for Amy as she counsels and encourages Gryta, as well as shares the Gospel with other European peoples.

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


Saturday, April 10
9:00 a.m. | Men In Service @ Common Grounds Coffee & Café

Sunday, April 11
8:45 a.m. | Worship Team Rehearsal
9:30 a.m. | Sunday School
10:45 a.m. | Worship Service
12:00 noon | Business Meeting
3:30 p.m. | Choir Rehearsal


Wednesday, April 14
6:00 p.m. | NOW Free Family Meal
6:30 p.m. | KidsNOW (Birth to 6th)
6:30 p.m. | M-power Youth (7th-12th)
7:00 p.m. | LivingNOW (Adults)

CLICK HERE to view full calendar.

This Sunday, April 11


ECM | Colleen A. & Emily E.
Greeters | Dennis & Wenda N.
Information Desk | Joann B.
Audio | Wayne S.
Video | Jesse D.
Security | Randy C. & Mike M.
Counters | Clarence B. & Shannon P.

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 © 2021 First Baptist Church of Strafford, All rights reserved.


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