Issue 49 Volume 12 - Week of December 7, 2014

From Dr. Jim Weldon, Jr.

Dear FIPC Church Family,

What do you know about repentance? What is repentance supposed to bring? Guilt? Shame? No! God wants us to repent so that we can experience joy! Read how Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend put it.

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The Benefits of Repentance and Joy

by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

2 Corinthians 7:8-10 - "Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it-I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while- yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

The Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Corinth mentioned the reality of problems that occur in relationships and ministry. Likewise, when we encounter our own failings and sins, it is a painful experience. We see the disconnect between who God meant us to be and who we are in reality, and it is a large gap. Sad, remorseful feelings are part of godly sorrow and are the proper result of knowing our failure (as opposed to crippling guilt or anger at the truth about who we are). The Christians in Corinth were feeling godly sorrow as they listened to Paul's letter and they realized how far they had fallen.

However, there is a second emotional experience in this situation as well, and it is joy. Joy comes when we understand that we are not lost in our sin and failures, but that God loves us and will help us. We are not alone, condemned and hopeless. Joy replaces the remorse as we realize the big picture and follow him. We become grateful. We may have made some bad choices in our life: a relational mistake, an impulsive decision, a destructive habit. We can celebrate because, just as the early Christians understood the words that had been made known to them, we can understand God's Word as well, and can find hope and direction in him.

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God wants us to experience joy filled lives! Maybe the first step to getting there is repentance!

God is good all the time! All the time God is good!

Grace and Peace,

Jim Weldon

Church Celebrations

Operation Angel Tree

The Empty Nesters Small Group sponsored the Salvation Army Angel Tree at FIPC again this year. The tree was decorated with 60 angels bearing the names of children in need this Christmas season. All 60 angels were adopted by our congregation and the overflowing gift bags came pouring in. If you adopted an angel and have not turned in your bag(s) yet, please contact Sara Dryden at the Church Office at 269-2412 ext. 702. Thank you all for your participation and generosity!

The Net (Youth) Thanksgiving Dinner

Church Announcements

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

Reservations and Payment Were Due 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

Gathering Area of Worship Building

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 or Sara Dryden at 269-2412 ext. 702.

The Perfect Christmas Gift

Don't know what to buy someone for Christmas? Want to give the perfect Christmas gift that will last, is guaranteed to fit, and won't be returned or regifted? If so, consider ordering an engraved brick paver for FIPC's Walk of Faith.

To place an order, simply complete the Walk of Faith Brick Order Form. Drop off your order form and payment to the Church Office or place it in the offering plate during worship. Contact Dawn Vanderpool at 269-2412 ext. 701, if you have any questions. We want to see your family, your friends, and your loved ones represented on our Walk of Faith!

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.

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.

Blackboard writings A good example is the best sermon

Upcoming Messages

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

December 14 - Pastor Jim Weldon - Christmas is Forgiving, Part 3. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

December 21 - Pastor Jim Weldon - Christmas is Forgiving, Part 4.

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

Adult Ministries

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

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

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: 22

Attendance:

12/07/14 = 141

Ministry & Building Fund Offerings:

12/07/14 = $9,960.04

(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:

Sonya and family are home with us.
So proud of Molly, Dean's List while finishing her B.S. and working full time.
Burl White does a nice job reading the scripture. Thanks for your reading of the Word.
To those who have decorated the church.
Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you bestow; that I don't even know about until afterwards; looking back I see Your hand in my life.
All the teams and their hard work especially at Christmas.
Great message today.
Praise for a son's generous heart.
The Calloways for their talents; meaningful sermon Greg.

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 Carolyn, outpatient surgery on Friday; church and gov't leaders.
Peace for Bruce and family.
Tender mercy for Bruce who is in hospice care and for his loving family and friends.
My dad, Sara, Shannon, and anyone who is hurting or lonely and needs peace.
Pray for daughters, sister, brother and father to accept Christ and have a personal relationship with Him.
Please pray my family makes peace with some difficult times. I feel guilty to ask for prayer because I feel fortunate, but I also realize help with prayers are needed. God's good and brings me peace.
To calm the unrest in California, New York, Fergusion, and other places.
Pray for peace in the lives of the Santiago family.
Asking for travel mercies for my family as they come to the USA next week.
Continue prayer for Gayle as she battles breast cancer.
Ruth Thomas, Carol Anne Hallam, Patricia Gray; friend, Patrick recovering from brain surgery.
Sonya Loader Moore physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

This Week's Funny

Pace Yourself People!

This Week's Devotional

"Are You Too Busy To Meet With Jesus?"

by Rick Warren

PurposeDriven.com

Weekly Devotional

"Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act."

(Psalm 37:7 NLT)

The reason why most people never hear God speak to them is that they never slow down enough to let God talk to them. Hurry is the death of prayer! You've got to slow down. You've got to be quiet. And, you've got to wait expectantly.

Psalm 37:7 says, "Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act" (NLT).

The only way you're going to be able to do this is if you get up earlier, which means you're going to have to go to bed 30 minutes earlier. So the decision comes down to this: Who do you want to spend time with, Jesus or Conan? That's your choice! Because you're going to have to get up earlier so you're not rushed and able to spend some time and start your day with God.

There is nothing on nighttime TV that will change your life. Nothing! Spending those 30 minutes in the morning with God, however, will change your life.

If I told you that tomorrow morning at 4 a.m. the queen of England, the president of the U.S., and the pope all wanted to meet with you privately, you probably wouldn't even go to bed tonight. You'd take a bath - you'd probably take two baths! You'd go find an all-night barber or beauty salon, get a new suit, and get spiffed up. You'd be at the meeting 30 minutes early.

The Creator of the universe wants to meet with you tomorrow morning! You don't even have to get dressed. You can be in your PJs. You don't even have to leave your home. But you do have to plan an appointment. That means you have to stop doing something so you can start doing what God wants. If you're burning the candle at both ends, you're not as bright as you think you are. You've got to decide what's more important to you: another 30 minutes of late night TV or time with God every morning.

One day God's going to ask you, "Which one did you choose?"

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