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Happy Wednesday, FCC! We’re almost to Sunday. Can't wait to worship with you!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God,
and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4.7
On Monday, I had the opportunity to officiate at the funeral of Verle Everett Holsteen, Pastor Steve Holsteen’s father. The family did a great job honoring Verle and glorifying God. There was so much beauty on display at the funeral. There was so much honor. Although I did not know Verle that well, I fondly remember spending time with him in Caribou Coffee, when I was invited to sit down as he met with Steve and his grandson, Ben. Verle was quite possibly the most gracious, kind, encouraging and gentle man that I have ever met.
The resounding theme of the funeral service was that Verle loved well, because he knew he was beloved. Everyone who talked, talked about his great love for people. I was inspired to love better and convicted for ways in which I become far more focused on task than on relationship. But over and over again, as I heard story after story, I just kept thinking “Look what the gospel can do.”
The promise of the gospel—the good news of Jesus—is that when we encounter the love of God and bring it into the core of our hearts, it changes us. The love God has for us begins to reshape our hearts, so that we begin to look more and more like God’s love for us, as we love others.
I don’t know about you, but I would be so grateful and humbled, if one day people could say of me, “He loved well.” The great hope I have that this might be a reality one day, is that God is concerned that I love well, too. He has secured this concern by giving his Son, Jesus, so that I can encounter a love that won’t let me go, so I can give that same love to others.
Let’s give ourselves to this. Let’s see what the gospel can do in us!
We’re in a series called “Every Human Heart.” Being made in God’s image, we all have a heart, and the heart is our control center. We do what we do because we want what we want. We all desire purpose, victory, justice, belonging, and many other good things. This Sunday we will learn about our desire for security. We all long for security, and God graciously gives us a security that nothing in life can shake. If you have heard or sung the hymn by Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress,” we will be looking at the psalm that was the inspiration for Luther’s hymn. We’ll be learning from Psalm 46.
Please pray for Pastor Larry Szyman and FCC Elder John Blum as they are currently on the final due diligence trip to Uganda, to ensure that FCC's goal of seeing an African-led, disciple making, church planting movement takes root in northern Uganda. You can read updates from Pastor Larry on the FCC blog at fcchudson.com or on the FCC app:
Participating in the Hudson Backpack Program is one way FCC serves the families in our community, as part of living out our vision of renewed neighborhoods and the valley. With your help, backpacks filled with breakfast, lunch and food items are provided to families at Willow River Elementary and families at E.P. Rock Elementary twice a month during the school year.
James 1:2-3 (Trials)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Go to the App Store or Google Play, then search for the “Faith Community Church Hudson” app and download it to your device. You’ll find quick links to discipleship resources, plus FCC news and event information.
With the new FCC app, we now have new ways to share prayer requests and care needs.
