Join us this Sunday night, July 30th, at 5:00 PM for community outreach. This is an excellent opportunity for us to share the love of Christ with our community and invite them to join our church family.

If you are unable to go out and visit, please take this time to text, call, or contact someone who you haven’t seen around the church in a while. More importantly, pray for the individuals you are contacting and also ask God to put on your heart those you might not have thought of.

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Volunteers are needed for Outreach.

We need volunteers to help with outreach bags for school teachers and National Night Out. If you can help, please see Jonathan or Vicki Brown. The schedule is below.

Monday, July 31:

Meet in Fellowship Hall at 1:00 PM to pack bags for both outreach projects.

Tuesday, August 1:

6:00 AM – In the church kitchen, prepare sausage biscuits and finish packing bags for schools.

7:45 AM – Two groups deliver to the two schools, set up, then distribute bags and juices to and greet faculty/staff at 8:00 AM

4:00 PM – In the church kitchen, prepare hot dogs and finish packing bags to have ready to transport to the park at 5:45–6:00 PM

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Distribute bags in the park.

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Giving as of July 25, 2023

Budget for 2023 . . . . . . . .  $348,707.00
Tithes Needed to Date . . . . $200,472.29
Received to Date . . . . . . . . $143,082.73
Needed for weekly budget . . .  $6,705.91
Tithes Received this week . . . . $2,862.06

MID-WEEK DEVOTION

Don’t forget to check out Brother David’s Mid-Week Devotion in the book of Psalms. They are uploaded each Wednesday on the sermon page.

From Our Pastor

Where can we find security, strength, meaning, and purpose in these days?  Everywhere we look, life as we once knew it is being up-ended.  Every part of our world is crumbling before our eyes.  How can we face such things?

We believers know where we can turn.  God Himself is the One who can carry us through these days.  He is a never failing source of strength, guidance, and security. 

I was reminded of this as I came to Psalm 23 in my personal devotion times.  Yes, we have all read and studied this beautiful psalm many times.  But, like a diamond held up to the light, its facets and depths continue to amaze. 

As we begin the psalm, we are reminded of God’s provision.  David said, “I should not want” (verse 1).  Think of that!  David knew he would never be in want of anything spiritual, emotional, logistical, financial, or anything.  Even in these days we have the assurance of God providing everything.  How that ought to give us peace and confidence!

David went on to describe God’s protection even in the “valley of the shadow of death…” (verse 4.)  Think about that description.  That sounds like our current culture!  Whether you are talking about dangerous crime or the emotional toll of these days, we are living in that valley.  But our Shepherd will protect us unto His will.

Not only do we have our Lord’s protection, but we also have his presence, David wrote, “… for You are with me…” (verse 4).  Our Lord is not just watching over us.  He is with us and has promised never to leave us (Hebrews 13:5).  Our wonderful Lord is with us!

Next, we have God’s preparations – all the wonderful blessings that God gives us.  David compared this to a wonderful table – in the presence of his enemies (verse 5).  Even in these dark, difficult, and hostile days God pours out His blessings upon us.  Each day is a time of discovering the blessings that God has prepared for us.

Last, we have God’s plans for us.  By His grace, we will spend eternity with the Father (v. 6b).  Think of what is ahead of us!  Our days upon this troubled earth are few but we’ll spend eternity with Him!

Yes, these days are difficult.  But our Lord will strengthen, guide, and bless us through them and beyond them.  We can rejoice in Him.