Issue 50 Volume 12 - Week of December 14, 2014

From Dr. Jim Weldon, Jr.

Dear FIPC Church Family,

Another great devotional from Max Lucado...

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Prayer Wimp

Hello, my name is Max. I'm a recovering prayer wimp. I doze off when I pray. My thoughts zig, then zag, then zig again. Distractions swarm like gnats on a summer night. If attention deficit disorder applies to prayer, I am afflicted. When I pray, I think of a thousand things I need to do. I forget the one thing I set out to do: pray.

Can you relate? It's not that we don't pray at all. We all pray some. But wouldn't we all like to pray ... More? Better? Deeper? Stronger? With more fire, faith, or fervency?

We aren't the first to struggle. The sign-up sheet for Prayer 101 contains some familiar names: the apostles John, James, Andrew, and Peter. When one of Jesus' disciples requested, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1 NIV), none of the others objected. No one walked away saying, "Hey, I have prayer figured out" The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance.

In fact, the only tutorial they ever requested was on prayer. They could have asked for instructions on many topics: bread multiplying, speech making, storm stilling. Jesus raised people from the dead. But a "How to Vacate the Cemetery" seminar? His followers never called for one. But they did want him to do this: "Lord, teach us to pray."

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer (Luke 11:1-4).

Could you use the same? It seems to me that the prayers of the Bible can be distilled into one. The result is a simple, easy-to-remember, pocket-size prayer:

Father, you are good.

I need help. Heal me and forgive me.

They need help.

Thank you.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Let this prayer punctuate your day. As you begin your morning, Father, you are good. As you commute to work or walk the hallways at school, I need help. As you wait in the grocery line, They need help.

Keep this prayer in your pocket as you pass through the day. Don't think for a minute that he is glaring at you from a distance with crossed arms and a scowl, waiting for you to get your prayer life together. Just the opposite. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me" (Rev. 3:20 NCV).

Jesus waits on the porch. He stands on the threshold. He taps ... and calls. He waits for you to open the door. To pray is to open it. Prayer is the hand of faith on the door handle of your heart. The willing pull. The happy welcome to Jesus: "Come in, O King. Come in." "The kitchen is messy, but come in." "I didn't clean up, but come in." "I'm not much of a conversationalist, but come in." We speak. He listens. He speaks. We listen. This is prayer in its purest form. God changes his people through such moments.

He is changing me! Yes, I am a prayer wimp, but a recovering prayer wimp. Not where I long to be, but not where I was. My time in prayer has become my time of power. The Pocket Prayer has become a cherished friend. Its phrases linger in my thoughts like a favorite melody.

My friend, he wants to talk with you. Even now, as you read these words, he taps at the door. Open it. Welcome him in. Let the conversation begin.

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

Grace and Peace,

Jim Weldon

Thank You

Thank You For The Love Offering

The Pastor and Staff at FIPC would like to thank our church family, Session, and Treasurer for your gracious generosity in providing us with a Love Offering this Christmas season. We hope that we can continue to serve and minister to all of you, as you continually and abundantly do to us. It warms our hearts to know that we can all support and love each other as a church family. May the Lord bless you all this Christmas.

With Much Love,

Jim, Sara, Mike, Dawn & Danny!

Church Celebrations

Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated

On Sunday, we celebrated the sacrament of baptism of Rubiana Aurora Varney:

Church Announcements

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 7th. 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 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 25 @ 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:

12/14/14 = 169

Ministry & Building Fund Offerings:

12/14/14 = $3,831.50

(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:

That we had safe travel to and from Hong Kong and that Hannah is doing great.
Congratulations to Mike Horst on completing school; Hospitality Team; thanking the Calloway family for spending their weekend decorating the church. So blessed to have the Calloways in our church family for all they do.
Awesome message.
Mike, degree accomplished.
Lauren Poidevant graduated from UNF!
Thank God for family, Christmas and all God's blessings.
Sonya is healing, kids are in school, God is Great!
Thank you for faithful worship team who sing the way my heart feels.
Church is decorated beautifully, thank you!
Thankful to God for keeping our son safe while serving in the Air Force.
Carolyn's procedure went well.

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:

Co-workers: Andy, kidney transplant and Kim, dad had heart attack; church and gov't leaders; neighbor, Bruce, heart attack.
For our pastor and staff that they are given love and peace.
For healing and pain relief for friend, Kathy, who is fighting cancer.
Sonya and family; Kevin at work.
Sonya's continued recovery; for us to share Christ's love with family and friends.
Our friend, Kim, starting her treatment for breast cancer.
Safe travel for all; successful 2015; love in my heart for others.
Marriage.
Sandy, quick recovery from health issues.
New year on Session; Otero family.
For more people to believe in Christ in our country.
For my grandparents and grandma. Also for my friend, Sydney, with her MS.

This Week's Funny

Male vs. Female Shopping Patterns

With only 9 shopping days left until Christmas, maybe it's time to send the men out to shop (hunt) for the gifts!

This Week's Devotional

by Rick Warren

PurposeDriven.com

Weekly Devotional

"He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

(Ephesians 2:10b NLT)

If you want to get your joy back, you 1) admit it's gone, then you 2) analyze the cause. Then, 3) correct what's wrong, and 4) get an attitude of gratitude.

There are three more steps to recovering your joy that we'll talk about today.

First, you have to spend time with God every day. It may be hard to imagine that God wants to spend time with you. He's got a whole lot of things going on, doesn't he? But throughout Scripture, God invites us to come into his presence. And there's a joy that comes when we spend time with God in a daily quiet time, because we learn to hear his voice and find out what he wants us to do with our lives. The more time you spend with God, the deeper your friendship with him develops.

Second, you need to find a way to give back. The Bible says this in Ephesians 2:10: "He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago" (NLT). In tough times, it's very easy to get self-centered. But the truth is, the more you focus on yourself, the more joy you lose.

I've traveled around the world, and I've been in many closed countries where people are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. You know what I've discovered? The persecuted Christians are the most joyful people in the world. Why? Because it means something to them. They're not casual, "take it or leave it" Christians. The right to worship and their freedom in Christ means something to them. And, they're far more joyful.

You need to find a way to give back. Once you take the focus off yourself, you'll find your joy returning.

Finally, to recover your joy, you need to tell somebody about Jesus. Nothing will restore your joy faster than becoming concerned about the salvation of a friend. The Bible says that every time somebody accepts the Lord, they throw a party in Heaven. Did you know that? Luke 15:7 says, "There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life" (NCV). The day you stepped across the line, they threw a party in Heaven for you. And the day you help somebody come to know the Lord, there's going to be a party in your heart. The joy returns as you share with others.

Pray this prayer today: "Father, help me to return love for hate, joy for grief, and kindness for apathy. May the joy of the Lord be so evident on my face that people will want to know why and know the hope that is in me. Help me to be obedient to what you have told me to do. Help me to focus on your blessings in my life so that I will have an attitude of gratitude for your faithfulness. Restore the joy of my salvation so that I can share that joy with others and help them to find their own joy through a relationship with you. Thank you that I can have hope and joy through Jesus Christ. Amen."

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