Home

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Today is the second Sunday of Advent, and we continue our journey to the manger and the birth of the Savior of the world. We’re in the middle of a series inspired by a book called “The Heart that Grew Three Sizes” by Matt Rawle, which discusses lessons of faith found in the story of the Grinch. This week we’ll explore “When Christmas Just Doesn’t Feel Like Christmas.” Have you ever had an experience of doing all the right things, but they don’t produce the desired result? How does that land on your heart and soul? Click here to join us this morning in person at 11:00 AM, live on Facebook then, or watch any time of Facebook or Youtube to find out how to keep Grinchiness out of your heart and let more Jesus into it. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Be light for our darkness.”
• Today’s songs are “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” and “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The scripture reading is Luke 1:26-33.
• Please let us know how God is moving in your life. You can leave a celebration and/or prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

This Sunday is the start of the Advent season, which is the time of preparation for the birth of the Christ child. First Church is excited to be starting a new Bible Study and sermon series that looks at Christmas from the perspective of the popular character the Grinch. The series is inspired by a book called “The Heart that Grew Three Sizes” by Matt Rawle. This week we’ll explore “When Christmas is All Wrong.” People expect things in life. What happens when news or a season that should bring joy doesn’t meet your needs or expectations? Click here to join us this morning in person at 11:00 AM, live on Facebook then, or watch any time of Facebook or Youtube as we talk about “When Christmas Is All Wrong.” 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Birth new life within us, that we may abide in your perfect love — the love that casts out fear.”
• Today’s songs are “O Come O Come Emmanuel” and “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The scripture reading is Luke 1:5-25.
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Remember God loves you!
No matter how your world looks or feels, you are loved. Trust that, and give thanks.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! It’s easy to be cynical in this world. Our news is full of stories of those who abuse power and act selfishly. Disciples of Christ should not fall into this pattern because we know the truth of God, and that truth gives us an unshakable hope. This Sunday, we celebrate the Reign of Christ and the Thanksgiving holiday. We will hear one of the reminders of why Jesus is indeed King of Kings, and we will also give thanks for the true king who comes from a place of love in all that He does for us. Click here to join us this morning in person at 11:00 AM, live on Facebook then, or watch any time of Facebook or Youtube as we talk about “Not of This World.” 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Blessing and honor and glory and might be unto the Lamb!”
• Today’s songs are “To God Be the Glory” and “Oh How I Love Jesus.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The scripture reading is Revelation 1:4-8; and John 18:33-37
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Doubt happens. Everyone who walks in faith has moments when we question whether God will deliver for us. Pressing through these moments is critical in a life of faith. Join us this morning in person at 11:00 AM, live on Facebook then, or watch any time of Facebook or Youtube as we talk about “Do You Have Nots?” 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “We receive and believe because the One who promised is faithful.”
• Today’s songs are “He Has Made Me Glad” and “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The scripture reading is Roman 8:18-39. 
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Do you like leftovers? A lot of folks do. However, no one likes feeling like they are getting someone’s leftover time or energy. Jesus reminds us that love treats others as priorities, not leftovers. Join us this morning in person at 11:00 AM, live on Facebook then, or watch any time of Facebook or Youtube as we talk about “Leftover Love.” Click here for the stream/video.

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Let us rejoice and be glad in our salvation.”
• Today’s songs are “For All the Saints” and “Leftover Love.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The scripture reading is Mark 12:38-44. 
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

What scares you? Everyone is afraid of something. As we come together on Halloween morning, scary things are front and center. We may not want to admit it, but we can be surprised by some things that scare us. One thing may scare us more than anything else, but it’s the most important thing for us to do. Join us this morning in person at 11:00 AM, live on Facebook at that time, or watch any time of Facebook or Youtube. to find out how to get past “The Scariest Thing.” 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “We will love the Lord our God and our neighbors with all that we are.”
• Today’s songs are “Oh For A Thousand Tounges to Sing” and “Blessed Assurance” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The scripture reading is Mark 12:28-34. 
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Do you want to live at your best? We all need certain things to help us live at our best. This morning we conclude our series “Doer of the Word.” This message focuses on something that teaches us about what helps us live at our best. Join us this week in person or live on Facebook at 11:00 AM as we wrap up how lessons on how to be Doers of the Word. 

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Hear our prayer, Lord. Give us clear sight.”
• Today’s songs are “Oh How I Love Jesus” and “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The scripture reading is James 5:13-20. 
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Would you like to see God do more things in your life? Most people would like that, and so we try to force God’s hand. What if that’s backward? Maybe the key isn’t figuring out how to make God move, but rather trusting God to move when God knows it’s best. That can be a hard lesson to learn, especially for those of us who like doing things. How do we get there? Join us this week in person or live on Facebook at 11:00 AM Sunday as we talk about “Patience.”  

Here is some information to help you participate if you’re joining us online:

• The response to our interactive opening prayer is, “Great are you Lord! Hear our praise today!”
• Today’s songs are “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” and “God Will Take Car of You.” Look up the words online, and you can sing along.
•  The scripture reading is James 5:7-12. 
• Please leave a prayer request in the comment section so that we can celebrate God’s kindness and discern God’s will with you.
• Share an offering in our app in Givelify or send a check to the church.

We’re looking forward to worshipping with you. Have a blessed Lord’s day, everyone!

Announcements for October 10-16

Joys and Concerns for Prayer: 

• Healing: Jean, Lee, Anita, Ken
• Lorne prayers for family health concerns
• Prayers of thanks for Charlotte’s and William’s progress
• Mae asking for prayers for her youth program and personal matters
• Prayers for more fruitfulness and more opportunities to live and share the love of Jesus as God calls us. 

Our next community dinner will be on October 27th. It will be a pancake supper. We will have a sign-up sheet available this week after service for folks to understand what’s needed and what tasks still need to be filled. 

Food Pantry: God continues to bless others because of your generosity! Fresh produce, pasta, flour, oil, dish detergent, laundry detergent, and produce are the primary needs at this point. If you can donate some of these items this week, you can bring them during regular pantry hours or contact the church to arrange a drop-off time. Please consider volunteering some time to help with deliveries if possible. 

Please consider driving for Food Pantry deliveries. It would help greatly to have more members of our church make the deliveries. If you can give 30 minutes to this task, it would help. It could be Sunday as you go home after church or as soon as you leave pantry volunteer time. We can accommodate any time you like. Please prayerfully consider if this can be a way that you serve God. 

Trunk or Treat: First Church will be having a Trunk or Treat in our parking lot on Halloween night! Stop by the church parking lot while you’re out trick or treating for more incredible Halloween candy and fun! If you’re interested in using a parking space or having a table, contact Pastor Scott.

 Surviving the Holidays – November 18 at 7:00 PM. Surviving the Holidays seminar is especially for people who are grieving a loved one’s death. You’ll learn:

• How to deal with the many emotions you’ll face during the holidays
• What to do about traditions and other coming changes
• Helpful tips for surviving social events
• How to discover hope for your future

Wednesday Bible Study: Our Bible study continues helping people discover new truths and get closer to God. This week our focus is the letters of Peter. You don’t have to be completing the Disciple I curriculum to join our conversations. Anyone is welcome to listen and participate as they wish. We keep it real, and we have a great time. If you’d like the link, contact the church. 

Sunday Bible Study:  If you would like to join an interesting conversation about applying Jesus’ teachings and other Biblical principles to your life, this is the place for you. The book and coffee are provided. Just come on out on Sunday morning at 10:00. 

Mark Your Calendars: 

• October 27 – Community Dinner – 6:00 – 8:00 PM
• October 31 – Trunk or Treat – 7:00 PM or trick or treat times in the city
• November 18 Surviving the Holidays – 7:00 PM
• November 21 Thanksgiving Celebration – 1:00 PM