Our Blog

Worship Ministry - November 2022

Evidence
At the beginning of this year, I got the dreaded (at least for most people) letter saying that I was summoned to jury duty. I was rather excited because I had never done it before, and it was a chance for me to put my law knowledge to use from all the true crime podcasts I have listened to. On the day of selection, I got there early, picked up my badge, and waited patiently for my name to be called, and it was. I was the last juror selected for the DUI case that was going to start in 20 minutes. As the evidence was laid out in front of us, as witnesses were called and questioned, and testimony was heard, I wrote as many notes as possible not wanting to miss anything that may be important. Unfortunately, my fellow jurors took notice of my note-taking and later voted me the foreman of our group.

At the end of it all, I stood in the jury box and read out our verdict for the man on trial. We found him guilty, forever changing his life. Forever blotting his record in the eyes of
society.

I was struck by the seriousness of the moment. The burden that was placed on my shoulders to lead a group of strangers, peers, to decide whether or not a man was guilty or innocent, hit me. I was flooded with the realization that this is all of our stories when it comes to the judgment of our sin against God. We are all guilty of crimes, sins, against a holy God that makes it impossible for us to be in His presence, impossible for us to spend eternity worshiping Him; and yet when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, we are found not guilty. Not because we deserve it, not because we are perfect, found sinless, but rather God the father looks at His blameless Son for evidence of our righteousness. Jesus is our witness, and His record becomes our testimony, His blood our payment. May we never forget the goodness we have in Jesus Christ and never lose our thankfulness to Him for bringing salvation to us on the cross.

“See the cross, the empty grave the evidence is endless. All my sin rolled away because of You, oh, Jesus.” (Evidence by Josh Baldwin)

Lyric of the Month
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart

Women On Mission - November 2022

Our International Mission study is Wednesday, December 7th at 12:00 pm in the fellowship hall, led by Pastor Bryan Gotcher. We will learn that the Philippines is both a missions field and a missions force. Our IMB Missionaries serve alongside Philippine churches and in unreached areas of the island nation while also mobilizing, training, and
sending out Filipino missionaries to places westerners cannot go.

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. It stretches from the south of China to the northern tip of Borneo. The country has over a hundred ethnic groups. Some of the islands have familiar names to some of us because of World War II, such as Manila, Luzon, Mindanao, Bataan, and Corregidor. The Philippines were liberated by the Allies at the end of the war.

As we approach the end of this calendar year, I wanted to remind our members, as well as inform the newer ones about our World Mission Club. This is an opportunity to give to missions on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. This is collected throughout the year and distributed at the end of the year, as follows:

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering 51.6%
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering 19.6%
Life Change Central (Oakhill Ministries) 10.0%
State Missions Offering 10.0%
State Camp Offering 8.8%
Our Goal for 2022 is $40,000

If you are not currently giving in this systematic way, please consider doing so in 2023.  Boxed envelopes are provided by the church.  You can designate World Missions Offering on your envelope (this is over and above our tithes).  In addition, a special offering is taken for Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering which is added to the club receipts at the end of the year. World Hunger Offering is a separate offering taken in the summer.

The Evansville Rescue Mission has asked us to collect green beans for their Gobbler Gathering Thanksgiving Baskets.  Our goal is 500 cans!  Deadline is Sunday, November 6th.

Women on Mission will meet Thursday, November 3rd at 1:00 pm in the Grace classroom across from the Fellowship Hall.  All ladies are invited to attend.