This weekend …

…we (the beautiful mess known as Faith Community) will continue our trek thought First Corinthians as Tim will be taking us into chapter nine. His message is entitled “In God’s Country”. Hasn’t it been interesting that a first century church can teach us so much about the twenty-first century church? Last weekend I was really challenged by the fact that I show the attributes of both the weak and the strong brothers in the church. I was comforted greatly by the fact that while both of these attitudes are a detriment to the church, Christ covers them all with His eternally sufficient blood.

Sabbatical for me…

Next Monday, January 31st, I will begin a prolonged absence from the office, returning on Tuesday, March 22nd.

January 31st to February 2nd I will be attending the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors along with pastors, elders and staff of our little group of churches that make up the St. Croix Valley LEAD team (New Richmond, Somerset, River Falls & Baldwin). On February 3rd Carol and I will hop into my car and drive to the Phoenix area. We will fly to Orlando on Sunday, February 6th, for a seminar and a few days with Gregg and Heidi Heinsch and watch the Packers win the Super Bowl with them. I assume you noticed the theme of warmer climates?

The plan is to then head back to Phoenix for five weeks of sabbatical. I will spend my time seeking personal renewal, fun with Carol, quality time with Nate and Josh who are both going to school in the area, and work on a project for future implementation in FCC.

My original plan was that I would take ten to twelve weeks of sabbatical, but with the changes that have and will take place due to Dave’s resignation, we (the elders and I) thought it best that we cut the time back a bit. When I offered to pass the sabbatical altogether, they told me I would be taking five weeks. I appreciate their generosity; I could really use a break.

Please be aware in my absence we will be down two pastors from where we were in December, with Tim preaching four times a weekend. Remember if you have a care need you can reach Karen Garden (Care Ministries) by phone, email, or through The City. Check the FCC website for details. We also have some elders who can be deployed when needs arise; simply contact the office at 715-386-4070.

…our teaching pastor Tim Porter will take us temporarily out of First Corinthians in order to help us better understand (that is, live out) the book. The love that Tim spoke of last week will be explored in greater detail as we spend our time in the fourteenth chapter of Romans. We will consider the matter of preferences in the life of the body, and how love and individual freedom relate to one another. We will consider what God is up to in this beautiful mess, the people God is molding ever so certainly into the likeness of His Son. We will also hear a testimony from a dad who will speak of how his journey as a father has increased His understanding of and affection for God.

By the way, have you told anybody new “I love you” this week?

How’s that Connection Center (CC) working out?

I thought I’d take a moment to give you an update as to what is taking place in the (CC) and how that fits into the larger picture of discipleship here at FCC. Hardly a service goes by where we don’t invite newer people to visit the CC. When someone walks in they are greeted by whoever has volunteered to serve as hosts for that service. A conversation begins in which the guest is given opportunity to ask any questions they have about FCC. They are also invited to share as much as they would like of their faith journey and personal story. Additionally we offer them two brochures which help them understand a bit more of what we are about at FCC, the programs and ministry opportunities we have available and how they can get connected with us.

Our visitors are also invited to attend Step of Faith a two week small group experience which is held periodically during the 10:30 time slot. During that time they will meet others new to FCC, gain insight into our mission and direction, and hear a clear presentation of the gospel. We will seek to give them a broader understanding of ministries in which they can get involved, including an invitation to become part of The City. At the end of the second week each participant will fill out a self-evaluation that will help them express where they are at in their journey with God. When we receive that information, we will follow up for the purpose of helping guide them in a direction that will serve them best. For some it will be encouragement to participate in Alpha, others will hear about the opportunity to be in a Life Group.

What we are after is being responsive to individuals in their journey to the degree we are able. We want more than an increased number of people coming to FCC and attending services, we want to help them move along the path of discipleship.

A normal weekend has 2-5 guests who take the initiative to come to the CC. If God has brought them this far, we want to take good care of those people He brings our way. I’ll fill you in a bit more next week on how you can help this area be more fruitful.

Last lesson from Papua New Guinea (PNG)…

…does not necessarily mean that I’ve shared everything I learned while on the adventure, but this will be my last reference to my experience. While this last piece of information saddens me a bit, I do believe it to be true.

Our presence at the dedication brings credibility to the church in PNG. The fact that the dedication included the governor of their province, a deputy ambassador from the US Embassy, as well as about nine other people from the states sent a clear message. The people of Yemli and the surrounding villages found out that the New Testament in their language is a big deal! Zack who accompanied me on the trip said at one point during the dedication ceremony “Why are they making such a big deal out of us when John and Amy (the translators) are the real heroes?” I couldn’t agree with him more.

Yet John, (co-hero along with Amy) is convinced that for the people of PNG our presence adds credibility to their ministry. If it helps the gospel go forward, I’m for it. I simply wish that the people would have an increased appreciation for God moving the Lindstroms across the world for them. What a God! He not only sent His Son, He now moves His church to reinforce that message. What a privilege to partner with them. I’m already planning for us to help them publish the next new language they are already working on. Who knows how many languages we may be able to partner with over the years?

As you can see we want to impact our neighbors and the globe. With a God sized vision of the world we can do both! Thank you for your partnership with us!

Serving with you,

Larry

…in the life of the church of Jesus Christ as Tim will take us into eighth chapter of First Corinthians this weekend. There is an unfolding story that God is working in and through us ever so certainly preparing a bride for a glorious future. It’s a story of God’s love transforming us into a wise and holy and joyful people. I hope you will come hungering and thirsting for righteousness that you may be filled. I hope I will too…I need it!

The City…

…is helping us become more effective on a number of fronts. I’d like to show one more way we can take advantage of this tool. Next Friday, January 21st FCC will have our 2010 annual meeting (that’s right…the 2010 Annual Meeting in 2011). We are having a catered meal (Mexican) and in order to be good stewards an approximate number of those coming would be helpful. In order to help could you please click this link… and look it over. It will take you to The City where you can see a little more information on the evening and communicate your intentions. You can even change your mind and go back on The City and let us know sometime next week.

Another Papua New Guinea Lesson…

…I am processing is what I value compared to what God values. I remember the last time John and Amy Lindstrom were on furlough in the states; we had already made the decision to take a special offering in order to cover the costs related to printing the first edition of the Male New Testament for them. You gave so generously. I remember asking John about how many New Testaments our money would result in. His answer was around five hundred. I remember my initial, internal response was “only five hundred, what a waste of resources!” (I’m much too wise to voice some of my thoughts!). I felt an instant, internal rebuke from God about my response which went something like “So if I read you right Larry, you don’t think five hundred New Testaments is a big deal to me?” I recognized my knee jerk American response does not necessarily reflect God’s economy. Sometimes yes…sometimes (man times) no.

I had a second, similar experience (I’d like to blame it on my Polish heritage, but I’m simply a sinner and slow learner.) when I was on PNG soil in December. When I experienced the small population of the village I asked the question “How many Male speaking people are there?” and John replied “Around three thousand”.

Again my instant, internal reaction was “John and Amy have given nineteen years of their life to translate the New Testament for only three thousand people?” Again, the still small voice answered “It seems you have a problem with my commitment to gain worshippers for myself from every tribe and language and people and nation.” I’m attributing that “voice” to God as it comes from Revelation 5:9. God is worthy enough to send a couple from MN to PNG and have an army of people support them in order to garner praise for Himself. While this may seem less strategic from a mere numbers standpoint, it makes great sense from the point of God’s overall objective of creating worshippers.

It also struck me…wouldn’t it be just like the lavish love of God to move people from the other side of the planet to reach a small people group in PNG? How gracious a God, and how consistent with the passion that sent His Son in the first place.

So I continue to learn and process…should we be committed to making strategic moves to impact as many as possible for the kingdom? Yes we should. Should we surprise when God operates in ways that don’t seem to make sense to us? No we shouldn’t. Still processing, still desiring to obey I am.

2010 tax statements…

…for those getting your 2010 tax houses in order will be mailed out by January 31st in keeping with IRS regulations. Thank you for your continued faithfulness in partnership the shared ministry of FCC. Simply wanted you to know what you could expect.

Look forward to worshipping with you this weekend,

Larry

…we enter our more normal rhythm of activities after experiencing another Christmas season. We will have all four worship services (that includes The Well at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening), as Tim will take us back to 1Corinthians chapter 6. Lifeshaping will also resume at 8:45 & 10:30 (by the way Ben McMullen still needs some help at the 10:30 high school time slot…give him a call or email if you might consider helping).

Remember as we gather together this weekend that we gather as a Beautiful Mess. We display the beauty of the One who is restoring us (Jesus, the second Adam) while we still possess the brokenness of the first Adam. The church is God’s plan A, warts and all. The fact that He loves and accepts us with passion helps us to love and accept one another.

I assume most of you have heard that Dave Gunnlaugsson…

…stepped down from his pastoral position with FCC on January 1st. We have scheduled a meeting for this Sunday evening, January 9th at 7:30 p.m. in order to let those of you who are interested to hear from Dave more about the process that led to his decision and for you to ask any questions you might have. We want to display healthy candor with the body while showing care for Dave and his family in our discussion.

Exciting news for Open Door Rescue Mission (ODRM)…

…which is the name of the ministry that now inhabits the house that FCC owns at 771 Carmichael Road. You may remember that during a service this summer we left the building and walked over to the back yard where we took note of the community garden that people were using and celebrated turning the house over to ODRM. There have been a number of people investing in the transition that the housed needed this fall and winter including a number of Life groups. ODRM got a big boost recently as they received at $20,000 grant from Home Depot in order to move things along. Tom and Barb Hennes (the directors) are excited and hope to be able to open the door to those in need at the end of the month!

One more lesson I learned from Papua New Guinea (PNG)…

…was the amazing amount of support personnel it takes to put translators in a village. While there may be seasons of loneliness for those on the front lines of Bible translation, they are hardly alone; there are many who stand with them in this all important work of bringing God’s word into the heart language of a new group of people.

One of the wonders to behold was the army of people who walked with John and Amy Lindstrom as they helped produce the first New Testament in the Male tongue of PNG. Beside the many people in the states who support through finances and prayer, in PNG there are pilots, doctors, nurses, teachers, carpenters, IT people, linguistic consultants, security personnel, administrators, mechanics, plumbers, counselors and a host of others all committed to seeing the word of God run through the earth. This army will continue to walk with the Lindstroms as they are now working with the “Yamap” speaking people group in a nearby area.

Free audio book…

…Each month Christianaudio.com offers a free download of a book for those who take the time to visit their web site. This month’s offer is The Holiness of God by Jerry Bridges, who was with us this fall at FCC. It is a tremendous book about the character and nature of God. A.W. Tozer said “The most important thing about you is what comes to mind when you think of God.” Perhaps one of your early acts of the year could be listening to this book and growing in your understand of God. Check it out!

2010 FCC annual meeting…

…is set for Friday, January 21st from 6:30-9:00. The evening will include a catered meal and reports of some of the highlights of the past year. Membership is not mandatory but we would encourage those who are interested to attend!

With warm thoughts of you,

Larry

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions you might have; but please don’t be put out if I respond by saying I (we) will clarify what I am able on the 9th as well. This is not meant to be evasive, but to care for everybody involved in a healthy fashion. If you do send any questions you have before the 9th we can do a better job of answering questions that exist on that evening.

We covet your continued prayers and are confident that God is work in and through this season.

Walking with you,

Larry

December 31, 2010

To our Faith Community family and friends,

It is with great humility and sadness today that I write this letter to you as a resignation of my position as pastor at Faith Community Church. This is not a decision that has been easy to make or that has been hasty.

As many of you may or may not know, I stepped aside from my primary responsibilities at Faith Community in July because of my inability to lead my family well in accordance with the commands given by Paul in First Timothy.

Over the past several months I have begun a journey of counseling and self discovery that has uncovered more significant issues than I first realized. While this has been a difficult journey I am thankful for the healing and changes that God has orchestrated thus far and am excited to see where He is taking us. While this journey has been good, it is far from over.

It is in light of this discovery that I have decided at this time that it is best for me to step away from my pastoral role to give adequate space and time to myself, my family and more fully invest in this process of healing and change. Although a difficult decision to make, I trust that it is best for my family and for Faith Community.

I want to make certain that each of you know how thankful we are to this church and this community for the ways in which you have embraced and loved us. I can say with great thankfulness that serving at Faith Community has been a gift to me and my family. I especially want to thank the staff, the Elders, and Tim Porter and Larry Szyman for the countless ways they have supported us throughout this process and continue to stand by us today. Without the gifts of this community, I may have not had the opportunity to experience the grace and healing of God that I am today.
As I close today, I am certain many of you are surprised and left with more questions than answers. I want to encourage you to take time to ask those questions rather than speculate. I will be available (next Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. to answer questions fit for a large group setting), and into the future and would welcome the opportunity to talk with you and share with you the remarkable things God is doing in this journey. My hope in all of this is that you would be encouraged to pursue the struggles in your own life and that God would be glorified in our pursuit of His truth and understanding in our lives.

Finally, I want to share that my family and I plan on being part of the Faith Community family well into the future. This is our home, and we are excited to be on mission with you. I cannot say enough, that WE LOVE THIS CHURCH AND THIS COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO OUR LIVES AND WE THANK GOD FOR EACH OF YOU! MAY GOD BE PRAISED!

With sincere love in Christ,

Dave Gunnlaugsson

This weekend…

…THERE WILL BE NO SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE! We will have our other three gatherings, however (Sunday 8:45, 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.). Happy New Year!

At 8:45 & 10:30 I will be teaching from the second chapter of Acts on the life practices of the early church and their implications. We will participate in the practices of baptism and the Lord’s Supper at the two morning gatherings. If you are a candidate for baptism, please leave a message at the office, on The City, or via email, for Cindy LaBore or me and we will get you ready for the event.

At the 6:00 p.m. (The Well) gathering there will be a biblical teaching coupled with a report by Ryan Miller and Zack Szyman on our trip to Papua New Guinea. Ryan and Zack traveled with me to PNG for a this significant event. Following the service (around 7:20-7:30) we will forgo the regular hangout time that happens during The Well in the auditorium and move into the Community Room for a little pizza, some more pictures and a question and answer time regarding the trip. If you don’t attend The Well, feel free to show up at 7:20 in the Community Room and simply join us there…did I mention pizza? There will also be two other people who were on the trip joining us for this sharing time.

Another lesson from Papua New Guinea (PNG)…

…the difference between developed and intelligent. I came as a person from a highly developed nation. I have a computer, an iPhone, multiple vehicles and a fair amount of other technical stuff. I have a high level of formal education. I am a fairly ‘developed’ person from a highly developed country. One of my observations of the people of PNG is that while very few of them had much education over fifth grade they are a very intelligent people. Most of them speak two languages (Male, a language shared by local villages and Tok Pisin, a language shared throughout the country) and number of others have English skills as well. Significant intelligence is evident.

I saw a group of men assess a need (i.e. a place for people to sit and have shade from the sun) and watched them run into the hillside with a couple of hatchets. A short time later they finished the construction of a bamboo bench complete with a back rest. I was a little reluctant to sit on the bench (it was leaning backward downhill!) but upon taking the risk found out it was very sturdy and I even leaned back with confidence (after a couple of minutes J). I realized if I were alone in that setting I would have a very difficult time surviving. These people were adept and gifted at using the resources God has provided for them to meet their needs as well as the needs of their guests. I also saw the construction of a temporary shelter–that held about eight men– built in the course of a day. Once again hatchets, bamboo, some rope-like material and some leaves for shade; once again erected on a hill (on stilts!). I kept waiting for the group of men to tumble down the hill as they jumped in and out of the structure, but once again it held strong. Their capacities to work with limited resources and make something functional and attractive displayed a simple genius that caused great admiration in this developed American.

Why the big drum enclosure?

I was excited to hear the clear, but not overwhelming presence of our drums because of the new enclosure in our services in the last week. The purpose of the structure is to create the ability to have a good mix between voices and instruments while keeping the overall volume at reasonable levels. By containing the sound in the enclosure the sound is transported through the sound system alone and is easier to manage. We are committed to making our singing accessible by clearly hearing the words being sung over any instrumentation.

I also want to give a shout out to those people who further aid your ability to participate in worship by the excellent job they do in running our projection system. Every time I attend a conference (no matter how large and fancy) or another church I come back grateful for the excellent job our MOPPITS (minister of power point!) do. Did you know that the people who work in our booths volunteer 8-12 hours on the weekend they serve? I am very grateful for their service to Christ’s church.

End of year giving…

…if you would like to give in time to enjoy tax breaks for the 2010 year, make sure you drop off checks at the FCC mailbox or have them postmarked by December 31st. This has been a difficult year for us in terms of income, but I am grateful for the work of the staff and ministry leaders who have practiced restraint in spending while caring for their areas of responsibility. We have not stopped dreaming while recognizing that our greatest earthly asset is not our income but the people who are Faith Community church.

On a personal note…

…2010 was perhaps the most painful year of my life. The loss of my mother and a nephew at the young age of fifteen and a number of other incidents make this a year I didn’t sign up for and hope to never repeat. Yet I have found, paradoxically that I have had regular encounters of joy that have been both intense and satisfying. I am learning (again? still?) that the gospel speaks to my every need while pointing to the day when at long last I am fully whole and pain will be no more. Come, Lord Jesus, come! Until that day, I am so grateful to walk with you…

Affectionately,

Larry

This weekend…

…Tim will continue our advent series “Beautiful Collision” from texts in both Luke and John’s gospels. As we continue to hear and sing more seasonal songs I am reminded of some of the words of the carol Joy to the World!

Joy to the World!  The Savior reigns let men their songs employ! While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy…

I remember that all of creation has a stake in the redemptive plan of God in Jesus. One day the soil and seas will be renewed, plant and animal life will be more vibrant than our small minds could ever comprehend. If they were animated like humans and given the ability to talk what would they say…perhaps maranatha!

Lofty days for me…

…when I return from PNG. I will be vacating the space I have been working out of for a number of years, and move upstairs (did you even know one existed?) to a space above the Information Center. This will allow my current office to be changed into a room that is more focused on our discipleship process of Connecting with God, Growing into Christ and Going on mission. Specifically a Sunday small group experience called Step of Faith will be better fit for the space. On Thursday nights when Alpha meets there has been a group meeting in “my” (it never was mine!) office. It will also be available for meetings and counseling. By the way…this was my idea and I am looking forward to the new space I will inhabit.

As long as I am on the subject of our facilities…

…the elders have decided that given our current economic climate that we will not be moving ahead on our facility expansion in the immediate future. We do have a working plan and are looking for indicators as to when it is time to take the next major step forward. That is part of the reason why I am moving to the loft. We are committed to the discipleship process we have in place and will do whatever it takes to keep moving the ball down the field…we have a mandate to make more and better disciples! Money in our building fund has been invested with a guaranteed rate until such a time as we are ready to use it for our next phase of construction.

For your calendar…

• Christmas Eve services
  December 24th 4, 6 & 11 p.m.
• Christmas Day
  No Saturday evening service
• December 26th
  Normal service times
• New Year’s Day
  No Saturday evening service
• January 2nd
  Normal service times*

*Baptisms will be taking place…at both the 8:45, 10:30am, and 6:00pm services. If you would like to participate in this declarative faith act, please contact the office (715-386-4070) and let us help you prepare for this exciting event.

We will not be renting the YMCA out on December 31st this year.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Gratefully,

Larry

You are the beloved of God in and through and forever because of Christ!

This weekend…

…begins our Advent series “Beautiful Collision” a reminder and hopefully Tim’s message will employ texts from both Luke and John where we will encounter the glory of humility in the life of Christ and it’s liberating capacity for those who follow Him. The Christmas season can be so revealing… it can uncover hearts yearning for more and our empty attempts to fill them with something less than a Christ who makes all things new… surely and more slowly than this impatient man would prefer.

By the time you read this (I’m assuming Friday)…

…Lord willing Ryan Miller, my son Zack and me will have finished flights from Minneapolis to Chicago to Los Angeles to Brisbane, Australia to Port Moresby the capital city of Papua New Guinea to Lae where we will have two nights of sleep before being flown in by helicopter to Yemli the village where we will witness the arrival of God’s word in the tongue of the Malei speaking people.

I really can’t give voice to the sense of privilege I feel to view something so historic as the arrival of the word of God to a people group. There is a very real sense that you, Faith Community are partnering in God’s commitment to see worshippers emerge from every people, tribe and tongue. Thank you for faithfully supporting the Lindstroms for nearly twenty years so that this people would know the glory of the written word of God. Thank you for assisting John and Amy and their team in helping the written word point these precious people to the Living Word. We will represent you with full hearts and great joy!

On a lighter note…

John and Amy Lindstrom have done an incredible job of communicating what we need to bring. I would like to share John’s final instruction before he headed into the village.

“Another reminder, if after you arrive in the village some people with painted faces and spears charge you, don’t be concerned. It’s part of the drama of the dedication reviewing what would have happened when outsiders first came to them bringing the Good News. Dressing up in traditional garb is only done for special days (sort of like dressing up like Uncle Sam on the 4th of July). So don’t be afraid.”

Thanks for including this little tidbit of information, John!

For your calendar…

• Christmas Eve services
  December 24th 4, 6 & 11 p.m.
• Christmas Day
  No Saturday evening service
• December 26th
  Normal service times
• New Year’s Day
  No Saturday evening service
• January 2nd
  Normal service times*

Baptisms will be taking place during the 8:45, 10:30 and 6:00 services. If you would like to participate in this declarative faith act, please contact the office 715-386-4070 and let us help you prepare for this exciting event.

We will not be renting the YMCA out on December 31st this year.

If you or your family would like to serve in the nursery during Christmas Eve services, please contact Karen at 715-386-4070.

Loving you from a distance,
Larry

This weekend…

…Tim will continue helping this beautiful mess that is Faith Community to understand life in this the overlap of the ages. We will consider the challenges of our faith when one’s marriage is between a believer and an unbeliever or when the marriage covenant has been broken. This will be our last look at First Corinthians for this calendar year (it moves so fast) as the next week we will start our Advent series “Beautiful Collision”. We will also be sharing in the Lord’s Supper as a family of families for the final time in 2010.

FCC Business meeting…

…including a vote on the proposed 2011 budget and on the ten people who have applied for membership . This will take place in the south end of the auditorium following the 10:30 service.

A new tool launching this weekend -The City – As you know we are about making more and better disciples, and are committed to using all means possible to accomplish this. We have used technology to reach out to more people through our website, Facebook, and with email.

I’m excited to tell you that we’re taking a bold new step. We’re taking a new approach to more broadly engage our entire church body with each other, with Jesus and with the world around us. We’re going to use a new web based software tool called The City to help out church connect people into community, build deeper relationships, mobilize service and make a lasting impact on our world with the Gospel. We’re going to use The City to communicate. We’re going to use it to encourage each other. We’re going to use it to better accomplish our mission.

This weekend we are launching The City  publically within our church body. We want everyone to move into (join) The City. Why everyone? Because The City is for the whole church. The City will quickly become the main channel for church-wide communication. I realize this might require a little investment of time and effort as you learn a new system. I’m confident, though, that you’ll have the same overwhelmingly positive experience I and others have had as we’ve begun using The City. This is a system that is intuitive, useful and a lot of fun to use. I am confident that you’ll enjoy it as you discover all that The City has to offer.

During this weekend’s services we will be asking each person age 13+ for your email address to send you an invitation to The City. If you are not able to attend this weekend or if you don’t have and email address please contact Bill Junco. You can email Bill at bjunco@fcchudson.com or phone 715-386-4070.

The word “epic” has become the new “awesome”…

…as a means of expression that underscores something really special (really special doesn’t really cut it, does it?). People will speak of an epic moment in a movie, or the climax of a piece of music where the incredible takes place. The dictionary definition of epic speaks of something “heroic; majestic; impressively great.” When I consider the loftiness of this definition I think the word epic might be overused in our culture. Yet I, without hesitation and with humility, announce a truly epic event I will be allowed to participate in because of your generosity and your heart.

On the weekend of December 11-12 the Malei people of Papua New Guinea (PNG) will receive the New Testament in their native tongue for the first time. God’s Word will be presented to this people group so that the story of Christ, His redemptive activity, and His plans for His bride can be made known in a way that has never, ever taken place before. This will be an epic event with the capacity to alter the eternal status of those who up to this point have not been able to read or consistently hear the gospel and its implications upon their lives.

This Sunday I will board a plane with two younger men from FCC, Ryan Miller and my son Zack, to represent our church family for this sacred event. We will fly to PNG and be delivered by helicopter (cool, huh?) to a remote area of this island north of Australia. For twenty years John and Amy Lindstrom have labored for this moment. They invested incredible amounts of time and effort to learn and understand the Malei tongue of the people located in Yemli. They developed an alphabet and begin piecing the New Testament together in an act of love for these people and worship of God. They have learned local customs and stories and adapted parables for maximum impact while maintaining biblical faithfulness. They have taught the locals how to read their newly written language. Twenty years of toil including raising children in a foreign land and bypassing the comforts of home for the sake of the story that changes everything.

You have supported them financially for that whole time and have been instrumental in this partnership. A few years ago we took our annual special offering to cover the production of the New Testaments which will be delivered to them in a matter of days. Thank you for your faithfulness over these years; thank you for your generous offering that allows them to experience a truly historical moment; the arrival of God’s word to their people.

Ryan is part of The Well and senses that God is calling him to cross cultural missions and Zack is wondering if this may be his future as well. They are taking this trip as part of the discernment process for their futures. They also represent a growing commitment of investing in younger leaders for preparation for greater service at home and abroad. I was asked to come to PNG by the Lindstrom’s to represent you. I can tell you that the sense of honor that I feel about making this trip is creating a great sense of anticipation!

There will be no issue of Szyman ZEZ next week as I will not have my computer (or my phone and a lot of other stuff) in Papua New Guinea!

For your calendar…

• Christmas Eve services
        December 24th 4, 6 & 11 p.m.
• Christmas Day
        No Saturday evening service
• December 26th
        Normal service times
• New Year’s Day
        No Saturday evening service
• January 2nd
        Normal service times*

Baptisms will be taking place…at both the 8:45, 10:30am, and 6:00pm services. If you would like to participate in this declarative faith act, please contact the office (715-386-4070) and let us help you prepare for this exciting event….

We will not be renting the YMCA out on December 31st this year.

Lord willing, I will be back in the states on December 17th and start the process of receiving my college kids home for Christmas!

Gratefully,

Larry

Come Ye Thankful People…

…come this Wednesday for our annual service, Hudson Gives Thanks at 7:00 p.m. in which we will gather with the broader church of Hudson at FCC to give thanks to God. The service will be led by leaders from the Hudson area churches with FCC supplying musical leadership. If you didn’t get a chance to bring your shoes for our very strange offering last weekend, drop them by the office on Wednesday or bring them to the service. Feel free to hang out and have a piece of pie after the gathering. If you have a pie that you can share, please bring one…but…no pressure!

All you who stayed home…

…instead of skating to worship last Sunday really missed a great sermon (and made a wise choice-I have a dent on my car!) by Tim on marriage. Carol and I spent some time talking about the implications upon our marriage yesterday…it was really helpful. This is simply an encouragement to listen to what you missed-for your benefit. There are two different ways you can listen or download last week’s message from 1 Corinthians 7. You can go to our website…fcchudson.com, or on The City through Porter’s Porch.

Did someone say free books?

…that would be me. There is a pile of books in my office until Friday, December 3rd. I am pursuing a leaner and meaner book shelf in the future and about 30% of my books are heading out the door. They are free for the taking, so stop in and grab what you want (ON THE FLOOR BOOKS ONLY!) whether I am around or not.

This weekend…

…Tim will continue on the subject of marriage that was addressed to the beautiful mess in Corinth from chapter seven. As I will not be writing again this week, I wanted to point to the weekend as well.

If you are going to be gone tomorrow or this weekend because you’ll be loving up family and friends this week…I hope your heart is filled with the love that God has for us. May He give you eyes to see all that you have, even if there will be fewer people around the table this year. My family will be short two as my mom and nephew are no longer with us. Yet God is good and is worthy of thanks and praise. May He be real to you and yours this Thanksgiving! When you are done celebrating with family, come back to the family of families, the church. We love sharing life together with you!

Love to you all,

Larry