Issue 31 Volume 12 - Week of August 3, 2014

From Dr. Jim Weldon, Jr.

Dear FIPC Church Family,

As you may know, I am a huge fan of Rick Warren. Did you know that I have personally met him and spoken with him on two occasions? The first time was at a Church Planting Conference in Orlando. I stuck around after he was done speaking and we talked for a long time. The second time was a few years ago. A friend from Atlanta invited us to come to Amelia Island where he had a private speaking engagement. Jennifer and I talked with him. Rick has influenced my life and faith for the good. Here is one of His Daily Devotions. Read it and you will see why I am a fan.

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You're Happiest When You Give Your Life Away

by Rick Warren

"If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live." (Mark 8:35 LB)

God wired the universe so that happiness does not come from status, salary, sex, or success.

Happiness comes from service. God designed you to be happiest when you are giving your life away. Why? Because he wants you to become like him. It's all about love!

"If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live" (Mark 8:35 LB).

To have a happy heart, you have to practice service and generosity every day.

Matthew 20:28 says, "Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many" (NLT).

Jesus came to serve and give. Those are the two things that will bring more happiness in your life than anything else, and they define what it means to follow Jesus. If you're not serving, if you're not giving, then you're not following Jesus. It's very simple.

God also wired the universe in such a way that the more you give yourself away, the more God gives to you and the more blessed and happier you are.

In Philippians 2:17-18, Paul says, "Your faith makes you offer your lives as a sacrifice in serving God. If I have to offer my own blood with your sacrifice, I will be happy and full of joy with all of you. You also should be happy and full of joy with me" (NCV).

Your faith makes you offer your life as a sacrifice and serve God by serving others. Sacrifice and serving are two of the keys to lifelong happiness - generously giving your life away for the sake of the Gospel.

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Did you know that you will always find one of Rick Warren's daily devotionals at the very bottom of this weekly e-newsletter? Be sure to check it out each week.

Amen! Remember...God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!

Grace and Peace,

Jim Weldon

Church Celebrations

Random Acts of Kindness Scavenger Hunt

The ChristLife Senior High were busy last Wednesday night performing random acts of kindness around Fleming Island. Check out these photos of them in action!

Pandamania In Our Children's Ministry

Thanks to our Children's Ministry Team for the new signage and classroom decorations!

Church Announcements

5th Quarter Is Back!

Help us put on the best 5th Quarter season yet! Donations of the following items are needed:

dry snack goods (chips, pretzels, candy)
s'mores ingredients
canned soda (no diet)
bottled water
hot snack items (tailgating fare)
firewood
monetary donations

Stop by the Golden Eagle in the Gathering Area to pick up a football tag with specific donation items that are still needed.

We also need 40 plus adult volunteers for each 5th Quarter event. Stop by the 5th Quarter Volunteer Table in the Gathering Area to sign up to volunteer at one or more of the events. The volunteers have almost as much fun as the youth!

5th Quarter Dates

August 22

August 29

September 12

September 26

October 3

October 24

Trivia Night & Silent Auction

August 15 @ 7:00 pm

FIPC Worship Building

Our 3rd annual 5th Quarter fundraiser is only weeks away. Reserve a table for 8 for just $120 and invite your family and friends for a night of fun in support of our biggest outreach ministry. Individuals can also sign up for $15 per person and be assigned to a table. Register online today or sign up on your yellow welcome card during worship!

Donation items are also needed for our Silent Auction. Please contact Dawn deAbreu or Donna Bedsole, if you have new items or gift baskets that you wish to donate. Below is a sample list of items that have been auctioned in the past:

Vacation Timeshares

Gift Cards to Restaurants and Retail Stores

Themed Gift Baskets

(such as Movies, Cosmetics, Pets, Beach)

Direct Sales Gift Baskets

(such as Pampered Chef, Mary Kay)

Jewelry

Artwork

Personal Services

(such as cooking, hair care, nail care, massage)

Our Trivia Night & Silent Auction fundraising goal for 2014 is $5,000. Please help us reach that goal!

Blackboard writings A good example is the best sermon

Upcoming Messages

Don't miss out on the important messages that FIPC has planned this summer:

August 10 - Pastor Jim Weldon - How to Handle Temptation Part 2 James 1:2-18

August 17 - Mike Horst - To be announced

August 24 - Pastor Jim Weldon - How to Handle Temptation Part 3 James 1:2-18

August 31 - Mike Horst - To be announced

September 7 - Pastor Jim - How to Build a Christ Centered Home Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Pastor Jim invites conversation on the topics before the scheduled Sunday.

Dates and topics subject to change.

Adult Ministries

Christian Growth Classes

August 10 @ 1:00 pm

Worship Building

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 or attending one of the classes, please contact the Director of Membership Sara Dryden.

Women's Beach Retreat

One Ocean Resort & Spa

September 20-21

Single room rate $ 275

Double room rate $ 185

Triple room rate $ 160

Quad room rate $ 145

Deposit of $75 Due: extended to August 17

Final Payment Due: September 7

The above rates are for a luxury room at the exquisite, award winning One Ocean Resort & Spa. These rates also include the following:

Saturday Lunch at North Beach Fish Camp
Saturday Dinner at Ragtime
Sunday Breakfast

Pick up a brochure at worship on Sunday or in the Church Office during the week for additional details and to register. Or, register online today!

Youth Ministries

Lock-Out Olympics

ChristLife Senior High

Friday, August 8

7:00 pm - 7:00 am

Adventure Landing Go Karts

Mini Golf

Midnight Bowling

Pancake Belly Buster

Wal-Mart Scavenger Hunt

Early Morning Basketball Knock Out Challenge

Cost is $25 per person due the night of the event.

Rock The Universe

Grades 8th-12th

September 5-7

Universal Studios, Orlando

Rock The Universe is Florida's biggest Christian music festival. This is going to be a fantastic weekend of worshiping Christ with bands such as Third Day, Jeremy Camp, Toby Mac, and Lacrea, as well as a great time for our youth group to fellowship and have fun at Universal Studios. The trip will be chaperoned by 5 qualified FIPC leaders.

Departing from FIPC on Friday, September 5 at 4:00 pm. Staying at the newly established, Cabana Bay Resort on Universal Property. We will have early access to the park on Saturday morning before it opens!

Cost of the trip: $275.00
First Payment: $140 Deposit (Due August 6)
Second Payment: $135.00 (Due August 31)
Cost includes: Travel, 2 night stay hotel accommodations, 2 full days (Saturday and Sunday) in Universal/Islands of Adventure with park hopper passes, and Rock the Universe admission Friday and Saturday nights!

Please register and pay online today to reserve your spot, since spots are limited!

In This Issue

Church Celebrations

Church Announcements

Adult Ministries

Youth Ministries

Thank You

Thanks and Prayer Requests

This Week's Funny

This Week's Devotional

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:

08/03/14 = 146

Ministry & Building Fund Offerings:

08/03/14 = $10,999.42

(2014 weekly need = $10,048)

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

Sunday Worship

Worship Service is held every Sunday morning
10:00 AM

Attire is casual. It is an uplifting, come as you are 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 - Jr. High Youth Group

ROCK / Children

Thank You Notes

Thanks to:

The Hospitality Team for Sunday morning refreshments!

The counting team for your continued service to your church!

Our Awesome Worship Band!

Those who helped usher/greet last Sunday!

Our Children's Ministry Volunteers!

Our Youth Ministry Team!

Announcements

Announcements for the e-newsletter, power point slide show during worship, and web site should be emailed to Dawn Vanderpool 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.

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.

Quick Links

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News

Related Topics

More On Us

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.

Praise from the Welcome Cards:

Praise God for all my blessings, family, job, friends, church family, relationships and personal strength.
Great message and energy this morning. Thank you all for the grace you show my son, Josh.
Mike Horst for his awesomeness with the youth group.
Thank you Jesus for our FIPC family.
Happy birthday, Jim!
Thanks Greg for reminding me of our responsibilities.
God's amazing blessings. Great job, Greg.

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.
Martha Williams, health.
Faircloth family.
Sydney Ward.

Prayers from the Welcome Cards:

Family, friends, church, and special unspoken.
Travel mercies and safe travels for Chris. Flying to San Diego, Marine training.
Pray for the upcoming women's retreat.
To bless our church family and guests.
My mother-in-law, Doris, test results come back good.
That Charlie recovers from his pneumonia soon. My brother-in-law Pete's health. Sara's stepdad's health.
For Bill S. as he begins therapy. For my daughter, Mandy, as she goes through her divorce. She needs to recover from abuse.
Don H., peace for his heart. Upcoming 5th Quarter, pray for success.
Prayers for a medical test this week. Help Ginger with final exams.
Pray for the health and welfare of Jan as she fights breast cancer.

This Week's Funny

Be sure to remember Pastor Jim's birthday this Friday, August 8th!

This Week's Devotional

"Good Relationships Take Time"

by Rick Warren

PurposeDriven.com

This Week's Devotional

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)

Good relationships take time. They don't happen by accident. They take cultivation, work, and time to build a deep connection with somebody. That requires commitment.

Proverbs tells us, "A friend loves at all times." That means even when it's inconvenient, when you don't feel like it, even when they don't deserve it, even at personal cost. That's what real friendship is all about.

Friends are in your corner when you're cornered. And they see you through when everybody else thinks you're through. They walk in when everybody else walks out.

You don't need many friends to make it in this world but you do need a few good ones. Focus on quality not quantity. You can have many acquaintances but that means nothing. The acquaintances are not going to be there in the crisis. They're not going to be there when you need them. Friends will. And every important close connection begins with a commitment.

At every stage of your life you're going to need these kinds of relationships. You're going to need a group of people for different reasons in different ways. You need to get connected. You need people in your life. You say, "I don't need them now." You're going to need them someday. You need to give and you need to receive.

Fleming Island Presbyterian Church 1743 County Road 220 Fleming Island, FL 32003 904-269-2412 www.myfipc.org Directions