Dear FIPC Church Family,

Last Sunday's Blood Drive had great results.  12 participated, 10 units accepted = 30 local lives saved.  THANKS so much for your donations.

This past weekend was another great Jr. High Daytona trip.  A total of 19 of our youth experienced a spiritually amazing weekend, and 12 of these youth completed their confirmation training at Daytona.  The Confirmands will be received by the congregation on May 19 during worship.  

Did you know that when you write a prayer request or give a praise report on the yellow welcome cardsthat the whole church staff prays for you during the next week?  If ever you need to speak to me about a prayer request, feel free to give me a call. 

National Day of Prayer is this Thursday, May 2^nd.  In times of great crisis, our nation has always turned to prayer for guidance, answers, and hope.  In 1981, Ronald Reagan said, "While never willing to bow to a tyrant, our forefathers were always willing to get on their knees before God." He called on all Americans to "join with him in giving thanks to Almighty God for the blessings He's bestowed on this land and the protection He affords us as a people." Seven years later, he signed a law declaring that the first Thursday each May be set aside as the National Day of Prayer. 

Having a National Day of Prayer was actually started in 1952 by an act of Congress.  It was an annual event for Americans to take time to pray for our country and its leaders. Praying for our country, has roots in the very origins of our country itself. In 1775 during the first Continental Congress, citizens were asked to pray for God's guidance in the formation of this new nation. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln called for a day to be set aside each year for specific prayer for the needs of the nation.  Throughout our history, many trials have brought us to our knees: the Civil War; the First and Second World Wars; the Great Depression; September 11, 2001; and more recently, the bombing in Boston. In times of great crisis, this nation turns its collective heart to prayer for guidance, answers, and hope.

The theme for 2013 is "Pray for America," which emphasizes the need for all citizens "to place their faith in the unfailing character of their Creator, who is sovereign over all governments, authorities, and men," said John Bornschein, vice chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. The Scripture reference for all events is Matthew 12:21: "The nations will put their hope in His name." Pastor Greg Laurie, this year's honorary chairman, has written a special prayer that will be read nationwide at noon on 5/02.  Visit national day of prayer.org for more information.

2013 National Prayer - Pastor Greg Laurie

Father, we come to You to pray for our nation, the United States of America. How You have blessed us through the years, Lord! We rightly sing, "America, America, God shed His grace on thee." Yet we see trouble in our culture today. We see the breakdown of the family, crippling addictions, and random acts of horrific violence. 

Lord, we need Your help in America. In recent days, we have done our best to remove Your Word and Your counsel from our courtrooms, classrooms and culture. It seems, as President Lincoln once said, that we have "forgotten God." But Lord, You have not forgotten us! You can bless and help and revive our country again.

Scripture tells us that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). Lord, in Your mercy, we ask that You would exalt our country again. We have had a number of great awakenings in America. We have experienced times of refreshing, and revivals that changed not only the spiritual but also the moral landscape. As the psalmist said, "Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?" (Psalm 85:6)

That is our prayer for America today, Lord. Send a mighty spiritual awakening that will turn the hearts of men and women, boys and girls back to you. You have told us if we will humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, that You will forgive our sins and heal our land. (2 Chronicles7:14)

Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this troubled land that we love so much.  We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ.  

Click for the link.  

Grace and Peace,

Jim

Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it.

A woman received a call that her daughter was sick.  She stopped by the pharmacy to get medication, got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys inside.  The woman found an old rusty coat hanger left on the ground.  She looked at it and said "I don't know how to use this."  She bowed her head and asked God to send her HELP.

Within 5 minutes a beat up old motorcycle pulled up. A bearded man got off wearing an old biker skull rag, and asked if he could help.

She said: "Yes, my daughter is sick. I've locked my keys in my car.  I must get home.  Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?"

He said "Sure."  He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the door was open.

She hugged the man and through tears said "Thank You SO Much!  You are a very nice man."

The man replied "Lady, I am NOT a nice man.  I just got out of PRISON yesterday, I was in for car theft."

The woman hugged the man again sobbing, "Oh, thank you God!  You even sent me a Professional!"  Is GOD Great or What!?

Officers at a military installation were being lectured about a new computer. The training officer said the computer was able to withstand nuclear and chemical attacks.
 
Suddenly, he saw that one of the officers had a cup of coffee and yelled, There will be no eating or drinking in this room! You'll have to get rid of that coffee."
 
The officer said meekly, "Sure, but why?"
 
"Because a coffee spill could ruin the keyboard."
  

Surprise Party - As my son's seventh birthday approached, his excitement was reaching fever pitch. As usual, Tommy was allowed to invite about a dozen kids who live on our block.

The morning of the big day, a woman called to say she couldn't make the party. I must have sounded confused, so she added, "I'm Tommy's teacher." She paused, then said, "Didn't you know he'd invited me?"

"No," I said, "but you're welcome to drop in later for a slice of birthday cake."

After another pause, she said, "Did you know he asked the entire class... 33 children in all?"

I thanked her, hung up and turned to Tommy, who was fairly bursting with glee. I asked why he had done such a thing.

"I always wanted a surprise party, Mom! Are you surprised?"

One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

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 

Worship Service is held every  

Sunday morning  

10:00AM - 11:15AM.

Attire is casual. It is an uplifting, come as you are worship service.

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!

A ministry of Fleming Island Presbyterian Church.  The Christian Counseling Center of FIPC is an outreach of the church to our community.    

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.

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