"Life@First Congregational" 6/29/08

Published: Mon, 06/30/08

Volume 1, Number 3 June 29, 2008

It's a Big, Big House with Lots of Room!

Our church's first "Big House" family service took place last Friday night and it was a hit! Everyone enjoyed the dancing, the music, and the characters. We are so thankful to the many, many people who participated to make this such a great experience in the life of our church and our community. Now, our biggest "Big House" challenge is before us. We need to get the word out to our community that we are doing it! We will work hard at getting the information into our local newspapers and we will continue distributing door hangers in our community. However, by far the most effective way of getting someone to try something new is to personally invite them. Do you know families that have children who would benefit from hearing the good news of God's big, big love? Invite them to come! We are busy editing a video "commercial" that we will post on the Big House website so you can send your friends there to see what they're missing! We have three weeks to get the word out about our next Big House on July 18th.


Romans Bible Study This Thursday begins our new Bible study in the book of Romans. We will take the book, which many consider to be Paul's spiritual masterpiece, verse by verse, determining how God speaks to us through the text and deciding how we will respond. We meet in the parlor at 10:00 AM on Thursday mornings. If you can't make that time, consider joining our online Bible study, each week Jason will post the material we discuss in our "in person" group and open up the forum for discussion--no matter where in the world you are! Faith As I was working on my sermon for This Sunday, I ran across a word that intrigued me. Ephesians 2:8 reads, "For by grace are you saved, through faith ..." Faith is a word we hear all of the time; it is central to who we are and what we do. And I talk to a lot of people who wonder if they have "enough" of it. So I decided to do a little research on it. It turns out the Greek (the original language in which most of the New Testament is written) word for faith means something a shade different that what we mean by faith. It isn't a mind game, screwing up our face and mind and heart and trying to the best of our ability to believe something. It has more to do with trust, allowing oneself to rest in something. What a wonderful picture that is of who we are as people of faith--not people who are trying hard to believe "10 impossible things before breakfast," as someone described Christianity, but people who are simply experiencing, resting in, and trusting the goodness of God. Relax! Peace, Pastor Jason www.progressinginfaith.com		This Week's Message The Plan, Part 2 This week, we continue experiencing Ephesians 2:1-10, looking specifically at verses 8-10. You are...saved by grace, God's masterpiece, ad created for good works! Unfortuantely there is no video this week. However, you can still listen to or download the sermon here. Next Week Freed for... Join us as we celebrate our freedom by experiencing together the fifth chapter of Galatians, scripture's manifesto on freedom. We will also share communion together. And beginning the following Sunday, July 13th, we begin a series on the book of Nehemiah. It is the story of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. What needs to be "rebuilt" in your life? Come find out how to do it!
This Week's Opportunities Beth is on vacation this week. If you need to speak to Pastor Jason call the office or his mobile phone, 891-9339. Thursday, 7/3 10:30 AM Romans Bible Study 6:00 PM Big House Rehearsal, Room #6 6:30 PM BINGO, Fellowship Hall Friday, 7/4 Church office closed