Issue 46 Volume 12 - Week of November 16, 2014

From Dr. Jim Weldon, Jr.

Dear FIPC Church Family,

How do you hear God? How do you listen to His voice?

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Jake and Melissa Kircher write:

Conventional Biblical wisdom says to have advisors when it comes to orienting your life and ministry. To listen to your family, friends, peers, elders, and church leadership-and this is in fact a very prudent track to take. When living amidst the demands of ministry, you want to have trusted people around you who can help with making big decisions, make sure your life is balanced, and support you through trying times.

For many of us in ministry, the issue isn't so much about having voices involved in our life and ministry; we typically have more than enough! The question we all need to be asking though is whose voice is, and should be, the loudest? Is it your senior pastor's voice? Is it your spouse's? Is it the church board? Or your children? Who do you listen to as you plan your schedule, as you live out your professional and personal life?

What can happen all too often, is that these great and wonderful advisors might drown out God's voice. There is the potential for the waters to be muddled, so to speak.

A personal example of this is our very recent, and ongoing, health struggles. Our son contracted a waterborne intestinal parasite this spring and spread it to the entire family. We have all been very sick for months and months and months. Thankfully the children have slowly been getting better, but Melissa has been getting worse and worse. We listened to the doctors. We listened to the naturopaths. We listened to family and friends and Google and did everything under the sun to get her well. Nothing worked. Finally, Jake suggested we should take a day and pray...something we should have done from day one! And what did God say? "Eat whatever you want."

Now this was against every sort of medical advice and naturopath advice and against Melissa's symptoms. But when a call from the doctor the next day confirmed that there was no ongoing infection, we decided it was time to listen. The next morning Melissa ate chocolate chip pancakes, something that should have sent her into immense bouts of pain, and she was fine. The healing is still a day-to-day walk of faith, but we trust his words that she can eat "whatever she wants" without harming her stomach further.

Sometimes God's voice agrees with conventional wisdom and sometimes he asks you to do something that takes a leap of faith. The thing is, you'll never know what he's saying unless you ask him and then wait for him to speak. God's voice is the most important voice to listen to in your life, in your youth ministry, in your marriage, and in your family and daily life. So how can you carve out time to listen to him this week? In what ways can you make sure you're hearing God's voice above all others? See more at: Listening To God's Voice.

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God's ways are not our ways. His timing is not our timing. God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!

Grace and Peace,

Jim Weldon

Church Celebrations

All Church Potluck Lunch

We had an amazing turn out for our all church pot luck lunch Sunday. We estimate that we had about 100 people enjoy the lunch. There was even plenty of food to feed our first time guests that decided to stay. We will host some type of potluck each quarter, so plan to join us for the next one!

The Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs Donations

As part of the Potluck Lunch and our ongoing food drive, we collected and donated 175 pounds of food to The Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs last week. Since then, we learned that The Food Pantry is almost out of food with the holidays fast approaching.

To help with their needs, we encourage you to bring in any of the non-perishable items from the items listed below now through the end of the year:

oatmeal spaghetti & sauce

grits Ramen noodles

rice cake mix

boxed: cookie mix

macaroni & cheese pie filling

rice sides jello

mashed potatoes jelly

stuffing peanut butter

pasta condiments

canned: sugar

tuna tea bags

beef stew soap

pasta toilet paper

vegetables

soup

Church Announcements

Christmas Offering

Now through December 29

During this holiday season, a season of generosity, we would like to offer you the opportunity to give to a special Christmas Offering. This Christmas Offering is intended for gifts above and beyond your regular giving. The Christmas Offering will be dedicated to the FIPC Building Fund with the goal of raising the equivalent of one month's mortgage payment ($9,287.26)! Each Sunday, you will be provided with a special Christmas Offering envelope to use for your gifts to this offering. The Christmas Offering begins this Sunday, November 16, and the last day to give will be December 29. As you are making your gift giving list and checking it twice, be sure to remember a gift to your church. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Perry, Treasurer, or Dawn Vanderpool, CFO & Church Administrator.

Love Offering

A Gift of Appreciation for Our Pastor and Staff

Now through December 7

FIPC Family,

During this special season of generosity, if you would like to give thanks to our Pastor and four paid staff members, the Session invites you to contribute to a special "Love Offering". This gift will be presented to them prior to Christmas. Since our Pastor and staff have not received raises in two years and do not receive a Christmas bonus, I know these gifts will be deeply appreciated. If you would like to contribute, please place your gift in an offering envelope and mark it "Love Offering". You can put your envelope in the offering plate any Sunday until December 7th or give it to one of the Elders to be handled.

Thank you for your support and generosity.

Joe Perry, Treasurer

You Are Cordially Invited To

FIPC's Annual Adult Christmas Dinner

Thursday, December 11

Town Hall Event Center (Behind Island Life Grill)

1859 Town Hall Circle, Fleming Island

6:00 pm Social Time / 6:30 pm Dinner

Seared Chicken with Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce

Carved Round of Beef with Natural Jus

Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes

Fall Squash and Vegetable Medley

Mixed Field Greens Salad

Bakery Rolls

Dessert

RSVP and pay by December 7
$20.00 per person (includes gratuity)

Make checks payable to FIPC

Bring a $10 nice gift (ONE PER PERSON) to exchange
Dress is party casual

Women's Ornament Exchange

December 15 @ 6:30 pm

This is an annual event for the women of our church that you won't want to miss! Invite a friend and enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share and a wrapped ornament to exchange ($5-$10 limit). For more information, please contact Ann Roos at 887-2265.

Christmas Eve Family Service

December 24 @ 4:00 pm

Sanctuary

Looking for Hams, Divas, and SuperStars for our Family Christmas Eve Service! We have speaking, as well as non-speaking, roles for Children, Youth, and Adults! Practices will be for one hour on Sundays after church beginning December 9th. Don't like the spotlight? We need volunteers for set decoration, costumes, and stage hands (community service hours for youth volunteers!). Contact Carissa Hogan at 449-0703 for more information.

Blackboard writings A good example is the best sermon

Upcoming Messages

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

November 23 - Pastor Jim - Daniel Series, Part 7: In The Lions' Den.

Daniel 6

November 30 - Mike Horst - To Be Announced

December 7 - Greg Cruice - To Be Announced

Pastor Jim invites conversation on the topics before the scheduled Sunday. Dates and topics are subject to change.

Adult Ministries

Great Banquet

Mandarin Presbyterian Church

Men's

November 20-23

72 hour spiritual retreat held at Mandarin Presbyterian Church. Sign up on your yellow welcome card during worship or contact Elder Iris Cruice.

Christian Growth Classes

January 11 @ 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 Sara Dryden, Director of Membership. 1st Base participants, please sign up ahead of time in order to receive information to be discussed at the meeting.

Youth & Children's Ministries

The NET Wednesday Nights

6:30-8:30 pm

The Shack

November 19: Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner--bring a dish to share.

November 26: Thanksgiving holiday--No NET.

December 17: Ugly Sweater Christmas Party--bring a $5 gag gift.

ROCK Wednesday Nights

5:30-7:00 pm

ROCK Room

ROCK stands for "Reaching Out for Christ's Kingdom" and is a youth group for 5th and 6th graders. Check out the fun that is planned this Fall:

November 19: Dinner TBA--Study: Who is the God of Heaven?

November 26: Thanksgiving holiday--No ROCK.

In This Issue

Church Celebrations

Church Announcements

Adult Ministries

Youth & Children 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.

New Members This Year: 21

Attendance:

11/16/14 = 177

Ministry & Building Fund Offerings:

11/16/14 = $6,836.00

(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

Register Now

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:

The study of Daniel has been very enlightening; great presentation relating to today's life.
Surviving I-95 accident; God's gift of love.
Beautiful songs today; Pastor Jim, great message.
Thank you FIPC for being such a wonderful church family to us. Love, the Hobsons.
Thanks for such a great church family; thanks for the praise group.
Thankful for the gifts and skills I have to help others.
Great Banquet experience was like heaven on earth.
Thank you for All-Church Pot Luck.
Thank you WEBS for coordinating hospitality.
Thank you for love, acceptance and forgiveness.
Thank you Lord, for keeping Georgiann in your hands; I am your servant, Lord.
Great message Jim.
Mom is doing well; Karen, niece, is going to church again PTL.

Prayer Requests:

For our community.
For our church's growth in spirit, connections, and number.
For those who do not know Christ.
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.
Betty Gedrottis

Prayers from the Welcome Cards:

For my dear sweet friend, Tara, for strength, she needs this prayer really bad.
Thank you Lord, for giving me the opportunity to serve my church members and family.
Bruce, cancer diagnosis.
Ruth Thomas.
Rafael, speedy recovery and blessing on Wednesday's surgery; our family.
Seeking full time employment with medical benefits.
My dad, Tim Hobson's, best friend passed away; they were best friends for 36 years.
For strength, comfort, and peace for friend, Gil, who lost wife and facing 1st holidays without her; also fighting cancer.
Our family moving back to Orlando this coming weekend; safe travels.
Safe travels for my family; Tim, cancer; church and gov't leaders.
Prayers for Monty as she undergoes a sonogram for a mass on her kidney.
Mother-in-law, Sara, continued healing, bypass surgery; friends who are struggling; myself, some issues.
Friends who lost their baby this week.
For better employment opportunities; for safe holiday travel.
Our friend, Ann, going to start chemo; Elizabeth Ann with her back treatment.
Chuck M. upcoming cancer surgery; reconciliation within the Gossett family.
Pray for son, Colt, and fiance, Bev., salvation, hearts turn toward God and truth.
Shannan, Desiree, Lorraine, Lou, John; RIP Jerry, Ginny.

This Week's Funny

This Week's Devotional

"Live With Integrity"

by Rick Warren

PurposeDriven.com

This Week's Devotional

"So stand ready, with truth as a belt

tight around your waist."

(Ephesians 6:14a GNT)

Integrity matters. The Bible says we're in a war "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world." And we can't battle those spiritual forces that threaten to derail our lives if we're not living with integrity.

Essentially, we're committed to taking the truth of God's Word and applying it to all areas of our lives, such as our moral, financial, relational, and sexual lives.

It's why Paul tells us we need to put on the Belt of Truth before we go into the spiritual battles that are all around us. He says, "So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist" (Ephesians 6:14a GNT).

The Belt of Truth holds up everything. Without truth, your life will fall apart, and spiritual darkness will take over.

We put on our Belt of Truth by living with integrity. Integrity comes from the word "integer," which means "unit of one." Your life of integrity isn't the pieces of the pie; it's being the whole pie.

To live a life of integrity, don't just know the truth; live it out. Like your belt, integrity gives you stability. It holds you together in the middle through tough times. It gives you much-needed strength.

Of course, living with integrity doesn't mean perfection. It doesn't mean always doing what's right. If perfection were the standard for integrity, no one would have it. We all stumble at times.

To live with integrity, let people see on the outside what's going on inside. It means what you see is what you get.

Hypocrisy is the great enemy of integrity. We practice hypocrisy when we know the truth and don't do it. It's when what we say isn't the same as what we do.

And it's dangerous - very dangerous. A lack of integrity in any area of your life will leave you vulnerable to Satan's arrows. In fact, the moment you start segmenting your life into different pieces - your church life, family life, sex life, etc. - you've lost your integrity. You're not living the same in all areas of your life.

Does life seem overwhelming? Do you feel like darkness is winning the battle in your life? It always will if you're living a double life. Check your integrity. Do what God's Word teaches in all areas of your life, not just where and when it is most convenient. You have no hope without that kind of integrity.

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