Happy Thanksgiving, FCC! I am thankful to God for the work of grace in our lives together! Over the last couple of days, I have talked with many families about how Thanksgiving traditions are being significantly adapted this year—our family included.
I just want to remind you that it’s ok to be sad about this—we are all experiencing some loss in all these changes. Also, I want to encourage you to look and see how God is continuing to work in an around you. In the changes, God is still at work. Sadness and gratitude can coexist in our hearts. It’s ok to experience both.
May our hearts be grounded more deeply in God’s love for us, and may our smaller celebrations give great joy to God for all the ways that he cares daily and personally for us!
Happy Thanksgiving!
There is a way to live that creates fear, insecurity and joylessness. The Bible calls it “walking in the darkness.” There is a way to live that increases security, joy and courage. The Bible calls it “walking in the light.” This Sunday, we continue our series, “Walking in the Light: A Study in 1 John.” This week, John, an eye-witness of Jesus, will teach us about what Jesus taught him--that what we love determines how we walk.
Thank you so much for the ways you have adapted during this time! It’s not been easy to be on mission during this pandemic, and I am so proud of how you’ve responded. Thank you for being welcoming and encouraging one another, while also wearing masks and distancing when in the building. It’s especially important that we keep up these preventative practices, as the number of cases of COVID-19 are at an all-time high in our county, in our state, as well as in Minnesota. Health care facilities in our region are strained. Many are at or near capacity for patients hospitalized. In addition, the growing number of health care workers, who have COVID-19 or who are quarantining because of exposure to it, has caused limitations in staffing and additional stress on health care workers, both on the job and personally. Thank you for extending care and love of neighbor by following FCC’s temporary policy guidelines to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This isn’t easy, but God is working in all of this!
Whether you watch at home or are on campus on Sundays, you matter to us and you matter to God—we are one church with one mission, and we want to help everyone meet, know and follow Jesus.
Starting tomorrow night, Thursday, Nov. 26, you can join online on Thursday nights at 7:30pm with either Pastor Larry Szyman or Pastor Pat Stream for an opportunity to connect with others at FCC and and discuss the weekly sermon and conversation guide. I invite you to check it out tomorrow night. It’s a great way to take a next step at FCC! Register for the Zoom meeting today at this link to join in for FCC Online Community! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Wondering what is planned at Faith Community Church for 2021? Come to the Vision Forward meeting is happening this Sunday, Nov. 29, after the 11am service (starting at approximately 12:15pm). Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting! If you’re on campus, find a seat in the auditorium. If you’d like to join online through Zoom, please register at this link. You can find more information about the meeting and the 2021 budget proposal on the FaithBase app.
On Sunday, Dec. 6, FCC covenant members will meet to vote on a by-laws amendment and to affirm the proposed budget. The meeting will take place after the 11am service (starting at approximately at 12:15pm). Again, if you’re on campus, find a seat in the auditorium. If you’d like to join online through Zoom, please register at this link. Learn more about the by-laws amendment and the 2021 budget proposal on the FaithBase app.
Kids LifeShaping for children in kindergarten through fifth grade will not meet this Sunday, because of the Thanksgiving holiday.
2 Tim. 2:24-25 (Godly Living)
24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth…