| From Pastor Jim | |
Dear Friends,
Our enemy does not want those who follow Christ to do what God wants us to do. Therefore, he devises all kinds of tricks to keep us off task, off mission. I found this article and it summed up the struggles most church's face.
IF I WERE SATAN... by Thom S. Rainer
If I were Satan. . . I would focus on the churches. I would get members to demand their own preferences. I would urge them to complain about the pastor's sermons, the music and the color of the carpet. I would set member against member to fight over worship style, length. I would have them complain about the pastor - how he/she dresses, the hours he/she keeps. I would complain and criticize everything.
If I were Satan. . . I would encourage church members to avoid high levels of commitment. I would remind them that they are there to get their needs met. I would whisper to them that they shouldn't be involved in ministry, because that's why they pay the pastor and staff. And I would urge them to fight one another over tertiary and minor issues.
If I were Satan. . . I would let the leaders know that it's okay to minimize and avoid the truths of God's Word. I would encourage them to preach less Bible and deal with more cultural issues. I would make certain that small groups barely dealt with Scripture, but instead spent most of their time talking about gossip. I would suggest that members do not need to spend time in the Bible on their own; a thirty minute sermon each week is sufficient time.
If I were Satan. . . I would make certain church members understood that evangelism is not relevant in today's society. I would tempt leaders to stay away from urging members to be engaged in sharing their faith lest they offend someone. I would dissuade everyone in the church to think about hell. It's really better to keep it at as an abstract concept rather contemplating the eternal consequences of rejecting Christ. And I would tell church leaders to send their called pastors and missionaries to seminaries where evangelism is an afterthought.
If I were Satan. . . I would whisper to Christians in the church not to think about abortion. It is politically incorrect and unpopular to broach the subject. I would tell them not to focus on the reality that over one million babies are killed each year in the United States alone. I would make sure they didn't know that, in the time of a one-hour worship service in church, more than 130 babies were killed in the United States. I would let them know that it's okay not to dwell on the greatest slaughter of humanity in the history of our nation.
If I were Satan. . . I would keep church members so busy that they wouldn't have time to pray. I would make certain that the leaders are discouraged from ever mentioning prayer as a priority in their congregations. I would assure the members that a brief time of prayer during a brief worship service is sufficient for the totality of their prayer lives. I would indeed do all I could to keep people from prayer, because it's such a threat to me and my power.
If I were Satan. . . And if I could do all these things, I am sure I would see churches across America void of power. I would see most churches in both spiritual and numerical decline. I would see Christian fighting Christian. I would see apathy, discouragement, dropouts, and disillusionment. And I would look over the landscape of American churches, and I would see all of my victories. Then I would roar with pleasure at the new church order I see, and I would declare: "It is good. Indeed, it is very good."
Let's turn our back on the deceiver and live like believers!
God is GOOD! ALL the time!
Your pastor and friend...
Jim Weldon
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| News & Upcoming Events |
CHURCH WIDE EVENTS
FATHER/GRANDFATHER CAMPING TRIP
Save the date February 22-24 Details Coming
Soon
FIPC HAITI FUNDRAISER
 Purchase a Brand New Hudson Wheeled Garden Sprayer
January 20 and 27 After Worship
- 3 Gallon Tank
- Wand with 2 spray tips and on/off valve that can be set to a locked "on" position
- 6" wheels
- Piston style hand pump
- Durable, commercial grade construction
Great for applying liquid herbicide, pesticide or fertilizer. Or simply for watering plants. Also perfect for spraying house siding with a water bleach mixture to remove mold and mildew. The wheels keep the tank's weight on the ground and off your shoulders/back making the chore of spraying a lot easier.
Retails for $50.00, sale price $19.99 - all proceeds to benefit the FIPC Haiti mission trip.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
 January 27 After Worship
- Elect Deacons
- Receive the 2013 Budget
- State of the Church Report
FIPC/BLOOD ALLIANCE BLOOD DRIVE
 Sunday - January 27
8:30 am - 12:30 pm - The Blood Alliance mobile will be in the Counseling Center Parking Lot.
- Bring a Florida Driver's License or State ID to the blood mobile.
- Please sign up (at 15 minute intervals) with Ann Roos at the name tag table.
HAITI ADULT MISSION TRIP
 The Missionaries going to Haiti are:
Pete Sites
Jennifer Weldon
Jim Weldon
Maria Mack
David Haznedl
Kristi Haznedl
Tim Worthy
Vicki Perez
Please be praying for this group as they prepare medically, physically, emotionally and spiritually to go and serve the Lord.
SOUPER BOWL OF CARING  Be part of the winning team!
- We are collecting non-perishable food for the Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs.
- Superbowl Sunday Feb. 3
- Before and after worship
With your help, we can make this a "Touchdown" for Clay County!
NEW WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY
 NEW Thursday night Ladies Bible Study begins in February.
Topic: "Unglued" by Lysa Terkeurst
This is a 6 week study to show how to process our emotions and resolve conflicts in ways that lead to a much more peaceful life.
When: Feb 7- March 21
Time: 6:15-7:30pm
Place: FIPC ROCK room.
Leaders: Shon Brewer and Jennifer Weldon
To order books please email Shon Brewer at shonandjim@bellsouth.net or call her at 962.4483. The participant workbook price is $7.00 and the book price is $ 10.00. You will need the workbook for the study. The book is helpful but optional. Please let Shon know by January 29th what you would like her to order for you.
YOUTH KARAOKE SUPERSTAR NIGHT  Come out and test your karaoke skills @ a Youth Karaoke Superstar night.
There will be two separate nights.
Sunday, February 10 Sr. High (9th-12th)
6-7:30 pm
Sunday, February 17 Middle School (7th, 8th)
6-7:30 pm
There is selection of over 4,000 songs and if you have any questions, please contact Philip Hart 334-750-9668.
YOUTH GROUP
The ROCK Youth Group!
 Wednesday Nights!
5:30-7:00PM
5th & 6th Graders
Come Join us for games, fellowship, snacks, small group time and mission work
Invite a friend to get Rocked by Christ!
The Net!
 Wednesday Nights!
6:30-8:30PM
Jr. High and Sr. High Youth
Games, music, small groups, and worship!
Invite your friends!
CHURCH STAFF If you would like to contact a church staff member please go to our website >>>
FACEBOOK
Check out our Facebook page! It's a great way to add photos of events and stay in contact with your church.
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Thanks and Prayer Requests
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 Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving:
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:26
Praise / Thanks:
- To God for all the new families He is bringing to us.
- To God for blessing us abundantly.
- To God for His Word revealed to us in the Bible.
- To God for all those who work so hard behind the scenes.
- To God for our Hospitality ministry.
- To God for our Sunday School Team.
- To God for our Youth Group Leaders.
- To God for our Great Worship Band and AV team.
- To God for all those folks who pray each day for FIPC.
- Thank you God for giving me enough. It may not be all I want but it is exactly what I need and I am humble and blessed.
- Enjoyed the music, Mike's message and Greg's prayer.
- Unexpected came; new women attending Women's Evening Bible Study; $ raised for Adult Mission Trip.
- Mine, a wonderful sermon!! The band.
- God working in me to spiritually lead my family.
- For getting a good evaluation.
- Thank you Mike for a great sermon.
- Great message Mike.
- Great sermon Mike. Loved your examples, stories and scriptures. Thank you!
- Thank you, Tim Hobson, Dan Norton, Carlos Brooks, Charlie Bowling, Oz May, Terry Sexe and Ron Dryden for all the work in the church office on Saturday.
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Prayer Requests:
- For our community.
- For our church's growth in both spirit and number.
- For our Church's Pastor and Staff.
- The grace to live out our faith.
- For FIPC Pastor and family, Staff and families and Elders and families.
- For our Adult Overseas Mission Trip Planning Task Force.
- For families and individuals who are hurting.
- For the PCUSA and FIPC's response to the changes. For our Denominational Relations Committee.
- Eric Berger deployed to Kuwait and his family here at home.
- James & Martha Williams, health issues.
- Claude Faircloth, health.
- Helen Goddard, health.
- Betty Gedrottis, health.
- Rebecca S. and Matthew W, recent engagement.
- Pray for Marlene, health and challenges of blending a family.
- Naomi (Oz's sister) in hospital with possible pneumonia.
- God grant us peace. Surviving despair and sadness.
- Husband, lost and confused.
- My sister, Linda, for healing and a relationship with God.
- Church and gov't officials. Boys in college.
- Dawn's testing goes will this week. Esther flies back to US without complications.
- Continued healing of my molar. Continued supply from our heavenly father.
- Family of Jerry W. for the life he lived.
- Kevin's dr's appointments; Carolina, help her be strong; mom and dad.
- For the healing of Tori's leg and her heart.
- My daughter, Tracy.
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This Week's Funnies
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Pet Pet-Peeves
- Dog: "They keep putting the lid down on the big water bowl."
- Goldfish: "Just because I have a three-second memory, they don't think I'll mind eating the same fish flakes ... Oh boy! Fish flakes!"
- Cat: "Sharpen claws on one stinking curtain and it's curtains."
- Parrot: "Tease, tease, tease -- but do those greedy humans ever really give me a cracker?"
- Cat: "Why are these people in my house?"
- Dog: "What the ... HEY!!! I didn't even sign a consent form for that surgery. Help, Legal Council!!!!"
- Goldfish: "Oh, tap-tap-tap! *There's* a new one!"
A woman in a supermarket was following a grandfather and his badly behaved 3-year-old grandson. It's obvious to her that he has his hands full with the child screaming for sweets in the sweet aisle, cookies in the cookie aisle, and for fruit, cereal and soda in the other aisles. Meanwhile, Granddad is working his way around, saying in a controlled voice, "Easy, William, we won't be long, easy, boy." Another outburst, and she hears the granddad calmly say, "It's okay, William, just a couple more minutes and we'll be out of here. Hang in there, boy." At the checkout, the little terror is throwing items out of the cart, and Granddad says again in a controlled voice, "William, William, relax buddy, don't get upset. We'll be home in five minutes; stay cool, William." Very impressed, the woman goes outside where the grandfather is loading his groceries and the boy into the car. She said to the elderly gentleman, "It's none of my business, but you were amazing in there. I don't know how you did it. That whole time, you kept your composure, and no matter how loud and disruptive he got, you just calmly kept saying things would be okay. William is very lucky to have you as his grandpa." "Thanks," said the grandfather, "but I'm William. The little brat's name is Kevin."
A biker rally is a really bad time for your car horn to stick.
Why? - Do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the
Store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front. - Do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
- Do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
- Do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put
Our useless junk in the garage. - Do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in Packages of eight.
- Do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.
EVER WONDER... - Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
- Why don't you ever see the Headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?
- Why 'abbreviated' is such a long word?
- Why Doctors call what they do 'practice'?
- Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dish washing liquid made with real lemons?
- Why is the man who Invests all your money called a broker?
- Why is the time of Day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
- Why isn't there Mouse-flavored cat food?
- Why isn't there Cat flavored Dog food?
- Why didn't Noah Swat those two mosquitoes?
- Why don't sheep Shrink when it rains?
- Why are they called Apartments when they are all stuck together?
- If con is the opposite of Pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
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| FIPC Calendar | 
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A Record of our Faithfulness | | |
FIPC is a member supported church. We do not receive any outside funding. Everything we do is made possible through your faithful giving.
Attendance
01/20/13 =175
Ministry & Building Funds
01/20/13 = $8,251.95
Offering envelopes are now available in the church bulletin for cash offerings. The envelopes are not necessary for checks. If you ever have any questions about FIPC finances, please call our Chief Financial Officer and Church Administrator, Dawn Vanderpool, at the church office. |
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Sunday Worship Service
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Worship Service is held every
Sunday morning
10:00AM - 11:15AM.
Attire is casual. It is an uplifting, come as you are worship service.
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God never intended for us to go it alone!
We want to help you find the Small Group where you can you grow in your faith and have some fun doing it!
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ChristLife - Senior High Youth
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FUEL - Junior High Youth Group
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Christian Counseling Center
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A ministry of Fleming Island Presbyterian Church
The Christian Counseling Center of FIPC is an outreach of the church to our community.
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Thank You Notes | 
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Thanks to the Hospitality Team for Sunday morning refreshments.
Thank you to the counting team for your continued service to your church!
Thank you to our Awesome Worship Band!
Thank you to those who helped usher/greet last Sunday!
Thanks to our Children's Ministry Volunteers.
Thank you to our Youth Ministry Team.
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| Announcements | | |
Announcements for the E-newsletter, and Power Point Slide Show before worship, during the offering, and after worship should be emailed to Sara by 9 am on Mondays.
Announcements for the bulletin should be emailed to Sara Dryden by 10 am on Tuesdays
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