I would like to begin this morning by asking everyone to pray for the tornado victims in Arkansas and Kansas. More severe storms are expected today in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama. The most concentrated storms are expected to be in my hometown today. Several in this congregation have seen and helped with clean up of this type of devastation in Alabama and Oklahoma.
Back to Florida. Yesterday was a very uplifting time of worship. The singing was great and many came away with a new appreciation of our Creator. We were again blessed with many visitors from our community. Next week we will look into another aspect of the supremacy of Christ - His preeminence over the church.
We are down to a couple more 2:42 Group meetings. Next week (May 4th) will be the last week to meet with our individual groups. The next week (May 11th) is Mother's Day and we will not be meeting that night. The following week (May 18th) is our High School Grad Night at the building and the last Sunday in May (25th), all the groups will meet together in the Coffee Shop for our last lesson. Look for the upcoming schedule for our Summer Sunday nights.
MEN: This weekend is our Manland event at a ranch a little over an hour away. The cost is $15 for food (shrimp boil and breakfast). You can bring checks made out to the church on Wednesday night, drop it by the church building or bring it to the event. The main thing is we all do our part to cover costs. It should be a great weekend. If you are planning to go and have not picked up a list of things you will need to bring, please do so before Friday night.
CARIBBEAN LECTURES: Sunday morning after services a packet was handed out to those interested in going to the Caribbean Lectures in Jamaica this summer. The dates are July 12th-17th and will cost around $850-$950. This includes airfare, hotel, meals, and registration. Not everyone has $1,000 laying around the house, which is why we are letting people know early so they could pay in increments. We will need a $100 deposit by this Sunday so we can know how to make plans. It is a great experience.
NEW CLASS: For new converts and anyone in our community that attends and wants to know the basics of the Bible. It is based on the material "The Story" taught by David Paladin and myself. If you are not sure you qualify for this class, please ask.
It was great seeing some back in our worship who have been sick the past few weeks. Continue to check in on those who sit around you or you know who hasn't been here in a while. Make a quick call, write a card, or find out if they are up to a visit. If there is something that needs the elders attention, please let them know.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Easter Weekend
Easter is one of my favorite weekends of the year. First of all, even though we celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ each week, I love a Sunday that is completely focused on this day in history. I also love it because we get another chance at some folks that we only see a few times a year. Even better are those outside of Christ who will give church a chance. We know it doesn't always end the way we want it to, but the opportunity is provided. I heard about one church yesterday who ended service by saying, "For those who only come for Easter and Christmas we want to go ahead and wish you a happy Thanksgiving." Funny, but we never know what the power of the Good News of Christ can have on someone that day. Now we need to pray for those who came. If there was someone you knew, make contact with them this week and invite them back. Ask them if there was anything from Sunday that especially spoke to them. Who knows, they may have been waiting for someone to talk to about things.
For those interested, I wrote a blog Saturday about what Jesus was doing between His death on Friday and His resurrection on Sunday. It was mainly for those on social media who may be thinking about Jesus because of Easter weekend. If you would like to read it for yourself you can click on tracylmooreblog.wordpress.com. Also, I'm planning to write another blog encouraging people to think about all they miss between Jesus birth (incarnation) and resurrection. In other words, if you only hear sermons at Christmas and Easter you are missing a lot of powerful stuff in between.
That being said, we will begin a two part sermon series this week on the Preeminence of Christ (Col. 1:15-23). This Sunday we will look into the idea that Jesus is superior as the creator of the universe. The second week we will see His preeminence as the head of the church.
This weekend the children's ministry put on our annual flashlight egg hunt. The hurricane shutters are pulled down to make everything on the first floor of the Lynn Center completely dark. The kids love it as they get to use their flashlights to hunt for eggs. David Paladin and his crew did a great job. They served a great lunch with barbecue sandwiches, hotdogs, baked beans, chips, and the works.
Joel and his motley crew of teenagers had a wild time at the Wild's land. They used eggs in a whole different way. I think more of them came back cracked than the eggs themselves. Later they would lick their wounds in front of a bonfire.
COMING UP: This Sunday Joel and I will be meeting with anyone interested in attending the Caribbean Lectureships in Montego Bay, Jamaica. We will go over dates, costs, and the overall plans of the trip. Personally, it was one of the favorite trips I made last year.
COMING UP: Manland Retreat (May 2nd-3rd). All the men (and boys 10 and up) are invited to a ranch a little over an hour away. It is an old fashioned camp out. There is electricity, but you must provide your own housing (tents, cots, etc.). The costs is $15 to cover the cost of food. Friday night will be a shrimp boil and Saturday morning a good breakfast. If any of the men would like to help David Paladin with cooking, please let David or myself know. We will have a list of other items that you may want to bring A.S.A.P.
COMING UP: A new class on Wednesday nights for those recently baptized or those who feel they do not have a good knowledge of the Bible. It is a basics class and will be based on the material we used last year on "The Story." The teachers will be David Paladin and myself.
Whew! Enough for today. Remember those who sit around you who were not able to attend. Give them a call, send a card, or call to see if they would like a visit. If it is something the leadership needs to attend to, please call to let us know. Have a great week - Jesus is risen!
For those interested, I wrote a blog Saturday about what Jesus was doing between His death on Friday and His resurrection on Sunday. It was mainly for those on social media who may be thinking about Jesus because of Easter weekend. If you would like to read it for yourself you can click on tracylmooreblog.wordpress.com. Also, I'm planning to write another blog encouraging people to think about all they miss between Jesus birth (incarnation) and resurrection. In other words, if you only hear sermons at Christmas and Easter you are missing a lot of powerful stuff in between.
That being said, we will begin a two part sermon series this week on the Preeminence of Christ (Col. 1:15-23). This Sunday we will look into the idea that Jesus is superior as the creator of the universe. The second week we will see His preeminence as the head of the church.
This weekend the children's ministry put on our annual flashlight egg hunt. The hurricane shutters are pulled down to make everything on the first floor of the Lynn Center completely dark. The kids love it as they get to use their flashlights to hunt for eggs. David Paladin and his crew did a great job. They served a great lunch with barbecue sandwiches, hotdogs, baked beans, chips, and the works.
Joel and his motley crew of teenagers had a wild time at the Wild's land. They used eggs in a whole different way. I think more of them came back cracked than the eggs themselves. Later they would lick their wounds in front of a bonfire.
COMING UP: This Sunday Joel and I will be meeting with anyone interested in attending the Caribbean Lectureships in Montego Bay, Jamaica. We will go over dates, costs, and the overall plans of the trip. Personally, it was one of the favorite trips I made last year.
COMING UP: Manland Retreat (May 2nd-3rd). All the men (and boys 10 and up) are invited to a ranch a little over an hour away. It is an old fashioned camp out. There is electricity, but you must provide your own housing (tents, cots, etc.). The costs is $15 to cover the cost of food. Friday night will be a shrimp boil and Saturday morning a good breakfast. If any of the men would like to help David Paladin with cooking, please let David or myself know. We will have a list of other items that you may want to bring A.S.A.P.
COMING UP: A new class on Wednesday nights for those recently baptized or those who feel they do not have a good knowledge of the Bible. It is a basics class and will be based on the material we used last year on "The Story." The teachers will be David Paladin and myself.
Whew! Enough for today. Remember those who sit around you who were not able to attend. Give them a call, send a card, or call to see if they would like a visit. If it is something the leadership needs to attend to, please call to let us know. Have a great week - Jesus is risen!
Monday, April 14, 2014
A Green Jacket Day
One of the great traditions of The Masters is the winner receives a green sports jacket (that and $1.6 million). When a player puts that sport coat on at the end of the day he knows it has officially been a good day. As a true southerner, I was glad a guy named Bubba took it home.
Yesterday was a green jacket day. Worship was uplifting, we had several visitors from our community, and the Arnold Palmers were delicious. Many of you were kind in your comments about yesterdays sermon. Golf is a great metaphor for life. A special thanks to David Paladin and his crew for making and setting up the Arnold Palmers after worship.
This week is one of the biggest days of the year - Easter Sunday. Not that it is above any day of worship, but one of the few times our community looks for a place to worship. Our goal isn't to tickle their itch but to help them see Jesus. To really understand the resurrection is to understand a lifetime commitment to the One who saved us. Invite someone you know who doesn't attend church. Roll out the red carpet for them and all of our visitors next week. Most especially pray that God would open their hearts - and that He would be with me this week in preparation. 2,000 years ago, the resurrection of Christ changed life as we know it. This resurrection Sunday could be the day that changes another life. If you can get them here by 9:30 am, please bring them to our Coffee Connection. Come with them so they don't feel uncomfortable.
MANLAND: We have a Manland event on May 2nd-3rd at Danny Brackett's ranch. This is an amazing place with all kinds of exotic animals and other wildlife. There will be a shrimp boil on Friday night and a country breakfast on Saturday morning. We will be camping, so you will need to bring camping gear, flashlights, bug spray, chairs, water boots, fishing gear or anything else needed. There is electricity for plug ups and showers for those who want to wash the man smell off of them. Bring $15 to cover the cost of food. We will also need anyone who is planning to go to sign up in the foyer, call the church office, text or email myself to be added to the list. Do not bring your guns. There will be some on hand to shoot skeet, but it would be better if we had a controlled environment. This is for all our guys 10 years and older. 10-15 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. If you have any questions feel free to ask Danny Brackett or myself.
We had several absent yesterday so make sure you check on those who sit around you or you may have personally missed. Send one of our shut-ins a card or a quick call.
Yesterday was a green jacket day. Worship was uplifting, we had several visitors from our community, and the Arnold Palmers were delicious. Many of you were kind in your comments about yesterdays sermon. Golf is a great metaphor for life. A special thanks to David Paladin and his crew for making and setting up the Arnold Palmers after worship.
This week is one of the biggest days of the year - Easter Sunday. Not that it is above any day of worship, but one of the few times our community looks for a place to worship. Our goal isn't to tickle their itch but to help them see Jesus. To really understand the resurrection is to understand a lifetime commitment to the One who saved us. Invite someone you know who doesn't attend church. Roll out the red carpet for them and all of our visitors next week. Most especially pray that God would open their hearts - and that He would be with me this week in preparation. 2,000 years ago, the resurrection of Christ changed life as we know it. This resurrection Sunday could be the day that changes another life. If you can get them here by 9:30 am, please bring them to our Coffee Connection. Come with them so they don't feel uncomfortable.
MANLAND: We have a Manland event on May 2nd-3rd at Danny Brackett's ranch. This is an amazing place with all kinds of exotic animals and other wildlife. There will be a shrimp boil on Friday night and a country breakfast on Saturday morning. We will be camping, so you will need to bring camping gear, flashlights, bug spray, chairs, water boots, fishing gear or anything else needed. There is electricity for plug ups and showers for those who want to wash the man smell off of them. Bring $15 to cover the cost of food. We will also need anyone who is planning to go to sign up in the foyer, call the church office, text or email myself to be added to the list. Do not bring your guns. There will be some on hand to shoot skeet, but it would be better if we had a controlled environment. This is for all our guys 10 years and older. 10-15 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. If you have any questions feel free to ask Danny Brackett or myself.
We had several absent yesterday so make sure you check on those who sit around you or you may have personally missed. Send one of our shut-ins a card or a quick call.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Two Sundays Away!
It is never too early to start thinking about Easter Sunday. It is the #1 day for visitors. Not only that, but it is the best time to invite others to services. Many people look for a place to attend. Therefore, along with Wal-Mart and Target, I want to remind you that we are only two Sundays away. Let's fill the pews. I began work last week on that lesson, "A Place to Rise."
Speaking of visitors, we enjoyed a good number of people yesterday. Some were passing through but many were from our community or surrounding communities. I appreciate those who make them feel at home, taking them to lunch, or making sure myself, or the elders meet them.
As far as this week is concerned, let's continue to check on our sick and shut-ins. Willie Teague, Frank White, Louise Belfonte, Ola Ellis, and Jerry Cutshall come to mind. Add to that, many of our own who are struggling because their loved ones are suffering or recently passed. Be the church this week and send a card or make a phone call to someone on this list.
Wednesday night we will continue our newest men's and women's classes. We heard much positive comments from last week. A big thanks to those leading these classes. The women are discussing "Job" while the men are discussion "Samson."
For all of you golfers out there, this week will be a golf-related sermon called, "The Game of Your Life." It is a good opportunity to invite your golfing buddies to attend. Have them stop by the "19th Hole" we call Coffee Connection, before worship. You may not play the sport but there are some important principles for all of us to learn. So, don't skip out of services Sunday to play 18 holes. Put on your golfing clothes and park your cart in a pew. Arnold Palmers (sweet tea and lemonade) will be served after worship.
Speaking of visitors, we enjoyed a good number of people yesterday. Some were passing through but many were from our community or surrounding communities. I appreciate those who make them feel at home, taking them to lunch, or making sure myself, or the elders meet them.
As far as this week is concerned, let's continue to check on our sick and shut-ins. Willie Teague, Frank White, Louise Belfonte, Ola Ellis, and Jerry Cutshall come to mind. Add to that, many of our own who are struggling because their loved ones are suffering or recently passed. Be the church this week and send a card or make a phone call to someone on this list.
Wednesday night we will continue our newest men's and women's classes. We heard much positive comments from last week. A big thanks to those leading these classes. The women are discussing "Job" while the men are discussion "Samson."
For all of you golfers out there, this week will be a golf-related sermon called, "The Game of Your Life." It is a good opportunity to invite your golfing buddies to attend. Have them stop by the "19th Hole" we call Coffee Connection, before worship. You may not play the sport but there are some important principles for all of us to learn. So, don't skip out of services Sunday to play 18 holes. Put on your golfing clothes and park your cart in a pew. Arnold Palmers (sweet tea and lemonade) will be served after worship.
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