Issue 4 Volume 12 - Week of January 26, 2014

From Dr. Jim Weldon, Jr.

Dear FIPChurch Family,

Congratulations to our very own Kyle Ludlum for becoming an Eagle Scout! Since it was first awarded in 1912, more than 2 million young men have achieved the Boy Scouts of America's highest rank. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout must progress through the ranks in the following order: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and lastly, Eagle. They must earn 21 merit badges, including: First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science or Sustainability, Personal Fitness, Camping, Family Life, Personal Management, Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving, Cycling, Hiking, or Swimming. He must also do the following - serve six months in a troop leadership position; plan, develop, and give leadership to a service project for any religious organization or any school or community; take part in a Scoutmaster conference; and successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

Congratulations Kyle! We are proud of you!!

My wife Jennifer wanted to share this with the FIPC family:
Last week our family opened our home to our first foster child. He is a 9 year old boy by the name of Hennessey (he says "after alcohol").   He arrived with 3 garbage bags of dirty laundry, some toys, ketchup packets, used candy wrappers, old straws, clothes way too big and some way too small (he informed us that they belonged to his brother and sisters and that was all he had left of them). He also brought an empty big box.

Foster care kids often hang on to anything they can since that is all they have. We asked him about the box and he stated he liked to hide in it. We later found out that when he was younger he was put in a pen as his parents would leave him in it while they left him. The box was his safe place the first few days with us.   The box remains in his room.

Hennessey has been in 6-8 foster homes since age 4. He has had 3 homes prior to our home in the last 6 months. He has a history of explosive anger and it has worn out the foster parents. Last summer he was excited to get adopted with his siblings. However, due to his anger outbursts he was not adopted, but his siblings were and he is back in the foster care system.   This little boy has been abandoned, abused, rejected for most of his life.   He came to our home with cuss words written on his arms and "Monster" on his chest. He is a lost, angry little boy needing structure, nurturance, love and a family.

He is responding well to his behavior/chore chart. He is eager to please...he already says "Mom and Dad" and "I love you." He knows how to play life. He adjusted too fast as he has had to do this in many homes over his lifetime...he has tried to cover his hurt/fear by his anger. In just 6 days of living with us we are seeing less anger and a heart softening.   He has already been a huge blessing to our family.

Thank you for welcoming Hennessey into his new Church Family. Thank you for introducing yourself to him.   Thank you for the prayers of support as we try to parent him. Let's pray for God to use our family and Church family to make a difference is his life. Remember the words Jesus says in Matthew 19: 14 " Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

God is Good All the Time!

Your Pastor and Friend,

Jim

Adult Ministries

Next Class: February 9, at 1:00 pm!

We would love for you to join the church and continue your discipleship journey by partaking in one of these classes. If you are interested in joining the church, please contact Sara Dryden.

New Adult Sunday Morning Bible Study!
Begins February 2 at 8:30 am in Classroom 2

Led by the Rev. Bill Pennewill, this new study will take you verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark, learning about how the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Mark to write of Jesus, the Messiah, and our Lord and Savior. This class is for everyone who is yearning and serious about digging deeper into the Scriptures, allowing the Bible to interpret itself, and discovering how this applies to everyday life.

Please RSVP on your yellow welcome cards at church on Sunday, or feel free to contact Ann Roos for more information.

New Small Group Coming in February!

Begins Monday, February 3, 6:30 pm
Gathering Area

This awesome Bible study is being led by Rev. Jim and Jen Weldon, and Jason and Rebecca Like. This 6 week video based small group study offers an innovative approach to a healthy lifestyle. It's not a fad diet, it centers on five key essentials that will launch your journey to health: faith, food, fitness, focus and friends.

Contact the Weldons or the Likes for more information.

YOUTH

Youth Group

Sr. High Youth Ski Trip

DEPOSIT DUE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29!

Go online now for more information and to register. Spots are limited!

The Net Wednesday Nights

Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm!

Jr. High and Sr. High Youth

Games, music, small groups, and worship!

Invite your friends!

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Daddy Daughter Valentine's Dinner

RSVP BY FEBRUARY 5TH!

February 9, from 5-7 pm in the Gathering Area

Save the date! Don't miss out on this wonderful event for fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers and their children (ages K-6). We'll have dinner, games, crafts, and much more. Cost TBD and more details to follow. Please contact Carissa Hogan for any questions. RSVP and Register Online today!

The ROCK Wednesday Nights

Wednesdays, 5:30-7:00pm

5th & 6th Graders

Come Join us for games, fellowship, snacks, small group time and mission work.

Thanks and Prayer Requests

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.
Family & friends; answers to prayer; thank you to Elder Ann's team's service; new Elders coming on board soon; great job Joie with children's sermon and prayer.
Blessed with a good family.
Thankful our son is getting a 2nd opinion on his medical condition.
To all our church teams for their amazing love and support of FIPC.
Thank God for my grandson coming to church with me today.
Safe travels; our church.
Jim and Jennifer for their loving support in the life of a child.
Dedication of Elders and Deacons to FIPC.

Prayer Requests:

For our community.
For our church's growth in spirit, connections, and number.
For those who do not know Christ.
For our Church's Pastor and Staff.
The grace to live out our faith.
For our FIPC Pastor, Staff,Elders, Deacons and their families.
For families and individuals who are hurting.
For the PCUSA and FIPC's response to the changes. For our Denominational Relations Committee.
Jason Hersperger, deployed to El Salvador.
Martha and James Williams, heath.
Faircloth family, health.
Pastor Jim, healing from surgery.
Sydney Ward.
Jason McCreanor, healing from eye surgery.
Linda Sexe, health.
Charlotte M., health.
Lena & Children, pray that they find safe shelter from their abusive home.
Prayers for Lee as out-of-town family descended on him this week for the purpose of dismantling his mother's home and disposing of her lifetime of possessions.
Membership growth; adult leaders for summer camps; Warren M., grieving, Suzanne S., health issues.
May God bless those who foster and nurture children in need.
Donna, Brittany & Josh; Kyle, bone marrow; Pete, throat cancer.
Linda Sexe and family.
Linda's renewed health; family member, adoption.
Anxiety at work; finding a wife; loving the Lord.
Josh Calloway and Ms. Tina for his surgery and test results.
Lee, Gayle & Tate, loss of son and brother; Jana W., loss of a special friend.
Healing prayers for friends fighting cancer, Lucy & Kathy; continued strength and healing for friend, Pam, who is in recovery.
Please pray that my family once again puts Christ first. Bring us back to church together.
Brian K., personal struggles and needs.
Continued healing.
Chris and Evan in Orlando; church and gov't leaders.
John, brother, testing this week, strength and guidance for doctors; Donovan, nephew, leaving for basic training on Tuesday; Charlotte, continue to get stronger; Charlie, continue to gain strength and endurance and for my mom as she cares for him.

In This Issue

From Dr. Weldon

Youth

A Record of our Faithfulness

ChristLife - Senior High Youth

FUEL - Junior High Youth Group

ROCK

Thank You

Announcements

Featured Article

FIPC Calendar

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:

01/26/14 = 164

Ministry & Building Fund Offerings:

01/26/14 = $8,348.94

(2014 Weekly Need = $10,048)

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 CFO & Church Administrator, Dawn Vanderpool, at the church office at (904) 269-2412 ext. 701.

Sunday Worship Service

Worship Service is held every

Sunday morning

10:00AM

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!

ChristLife - Senior High Youth

FUEL - Junior High Youth Group

ROCK / CHILDREN

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.

Church Celebrations!

Current Message Series Encourages Congregation to Seek out Spiritual Transformation!

Pastor Jim is teaching the congregation from the 12th chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans, and encouraging us all to seek out and live as spiritually transformed followers of Christ.

If you've missed some of these messages, be sure to catch up this Sunday! Worship starts at 10:00 am.

Thank You Notes

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

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

Christian Counseling Center

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

Quick Links

www.myfipc.org

This Week's Funny

This Week's Devotional

"The Wild Card: Your Choices"

by Rick Warren
PurposeDriven.com

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

You've heard this phrase over and over: "Forgive and forget." There's only one problem with it: You can't do it. It's impossible! You really can't forget a hurt in your life. In fact, you can't even try to forget it. Because when you're trying to forget, you are actually focusing on the very thing you want to forget.

Forgetting is not what God wants you to do. Instead, he wants you to trust him and see how he can bring good out of it. That's more important than forgetting, because then you can thank God for the good that he brought out of it. You can't thank God for things you forget.

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (NIV).

It doesn't say that all things are good, because all things are not good. Cancer is not good. Disease is not good. Death is not good. Divorce is not good. War is not good. Rape and abuse are not good. There are a lot of things in life that are evil. Not everything that happens in this world is God's will.

But God says he will work good out of the bad things in life if you will trust him. When you come to him and say, "God, I give you all the pieces of my life," he will return peace for your pieces. He gives you peace in your heart that comes from knowing that even if you don't understand the hurt in your life, you can still forgive, knowing that God will use that pain for good.

You don't have to forget the wrong thing that someone did to you. You can't do it even if you tried! But God says you don't have to forget it. You just have to forgive and then see how he will bring good out of it.

Fleming Island Presbyterian Church

1743 County Road 220

Fleming Island, FL 32003

904-269-2412

www.myFIPC.org

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