Issue 2 Volume 13 - Week of January 11, 2015

From Dr. Jim Weldon, Jr.

Dear FIPC Church Family,

Need some ideas how to live out your fiath? Below are 20 of them. Good luck!

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The Power of Small Things: God's Open Secret

by Joe McKeever

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed." (Matthew 13:31)

"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much." (Luke 16:10)

When the Heavenly Father gets ready to do something major, He loves to begin in tiny, unseen ways.

When He was ready to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt, He called an 80-year-old has-been who was keeping sheep on the backside of a mountain. When the Lord got ready to redeem the world, He sent a Baby.

When He decided to do something grand, He called you.

So many scriptures make the point that God specializes in using the tiny and insignificant to accomplish great things. The parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31-32 says it The question of Jonathan in I Samuel 14:6 says it. The Lord's approval of the widow who brought her tiny offering says it (Mark 12:41ff). The little boy's lunch in John 6:9. Old Simeon and Anna in Luke 2. Mustard-seed faith in Luke 17:6. Ordinary people in I Corinthians 1:26.

Zechariah's question-"Who has despised the day of small things?"-lays the matter squarely before us (Zech. 4:10).

Who despises small things? The unthinking and the shallow-minded, that's who. The carnal-minded who want glitter and drama, who prize celebrity and gaudiness.

We have learned about the power of small things. There is the atom. Nuclear energy. The hummingbird. Honey-bees. Bed bugs. Viruses. Babies. Puppies. Words of encouragement. And a hug.

Books on thinking small have rolled off the printing presses in the last few years. "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff-and it's all small stuff" sold a zillion copies.

Financial columnist Michelle Singletary (her newspaper column is "The Color of Money") recommends a book to assist people toward financial health with the intriguing title "One Small Step Can Change Your Life." The author is Robert Maurer, a clinical psychologist at UCLA.

Maurer says the quickest way out of debt is to start thinking small. Choose the overdue account with the smallest outstanding balance, he recommends, and pay that off. That tiny step encourages you to go on to the next larger invoice. Your enthusiasm builds.

To get started on controlling your overspending ways, Maurer suggests removing just one item from your shopping basket before heading to the checkout. Start small.

He says, "By taking steps so tiny that they seem trivial or even laughable, you'll sail calmly past obstacles that have defeated you before."

I think he's right.

Perhaps the journey of a thousand miles begins with a few very small steps.

Throughout most of my ministry, I would pray for the Lord to "do something big," something "God-sized," in revivals and outreach events. However, these days, as I preach in churches of all sizes, near and far, the Lord has led me to encourage His people to make small adjustments in their lives. Asking someone to begin praying each morning or reading the Bible each day is not nearly as intimidating to people as suggesting they "reach your neighborhood for Christ!" but the results can be impressive and just as long-lasting.

Here are 20 small things with great power...

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Click on the blue hyperlink above to open Joe McKeever's article and read about the 20 small things with great power.

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

Grace and Peace,

Jim Weldon

Church Celebrations

Pastor Jim in Israel

Be sure to check out FIPC's Facebook page to see more of Pastor Jim's pictures from Israel. Please continue to pray for his safe travels and prepare to welcome him home on Tuesday, January 20.

Join us for a

Lawn, Garden & Patio Shower for

Mike Horst and Keri Pound

Wednesday, January 21 @ 6:30 pm

Fleming Island Presbyterian Church

Plan to join us as we shower the happy couple with lawn, garden, and patio gifts.

We will also be collecting money after church in the gathering area for the purchase of larger gifts and to make a money tree.

Also, gift cards are welcomed!

Mike and Keri are registered at:

Sears

Target

Bed Bath & Beyond

Williams-Sonoma

Adult Ministries

Women's Monday Evening Bible Study
2nd & 4th Mondays @ 6:30 pm

Worship Building Room #2

Currently studying "A Beautiful Offering: Returning God's Love With Your Life" by Angela Thomas. Given the enormity of God's grace and love to you, do you long to show your gratefulness by offering your life to Him? Angela Thomas, author of the best-selling "Do You Think I'm Beautiful" did. Enthralled by God's love, she turned to the Sermon on the Mount to learn how to glorify her loving Father with her life. Along the way, she came to see the Beatitutes not so much as a list of commands but rather a list of "when you are's" offering a spiritual inheritance. Rather than requiring perfection, discover that God simply requires your gracious obedience. In His eyes, your life, complete with mistakes, blemishes, and imperfections, is A Beautiful Offering.

A Beautiful Offering is an 8 session Bible study experience. The member books are available for purchase at LifeWay for $10.95. This group meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from 6:30-8:30 pm. They meet for fellowship, a light meal, prayer, and Bible study and are open to all women. Contact persons: Ann Roos, C: 904-887-2265 or Candy Cafcules, C: 904-303-7674.

New Lunch Bunch Small Group

Wednesday, February 4 @ Noon

Gathering Area

Led by Pastor Jim

Bring a dish to share and come enjoy the fellowship. All the details of this small group, such as how often to meet, will be determined at this first meeting. Contact person: Pastor Jim Weldon, C: 904-553-8493.

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 Ministries

The Net Wednesday Nights

Resumes January 14 (Tonight)

Wednesdays

6:30-8:30 pm

Jr. High & Sr. High Youth

The Shack

Games, music, small groups, and worship! Invite your friends!

Children's Ministries

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.

January 14: Dinner and Study: What Does God Say About Bullying?

January 21: Dinner and Study: TBA

January 28: Dinner and Study: TBA

In This Issue

Church Celebrations

Adult Ministries

Youth Ministries

Children's 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: 0

Attendance:

01/11/15 = 152

Ministry & Building Fund Offerings:

01/11/15 = $5,902.00

(2015 weekly need = $8,154)

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:

Daughter's surgery a success. Thank you Lord for a safe, fun vacation and safe travel.
Church family; Pastor Jim in Israel; Lifers; WEBS; Reunion Group, Sat. Sonrise.
Family, Don and Ann's; New year to be grateful; prayer for FIPC; so thankful for the topic, Discipleship.
Thank you so much for our faithful singers and musicians sharing their awesome talents with all of us.
Planning wedding with daughter-in-law to be.
Carolyn Overstreet and her amazing voice. Nice job praise band.
Great sermon, Mike. Love the metophor about facebook request.

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 sister-in-law, that God blesses her as she receives chemo again this week.
Sister, Kathy to get well; friend, B. and family.
Pray that Kevin finds a job.
Stokes & Ally families; Richard and Linda; for my son to continue his walk in faith; Mathew continues recovery for stroke.
The children in Uganda learn that they are loved and the wonders of God.
My friend, Mary, for her healing. Be with her while she goes through treatment.
Mom and sister's safe return home.
Desiree, Shannon, Lou, John, Robert.
Our son Evan is moving to Colorado to work. He is leaving 1/14. Please pray for safe travel, good choices, and God's protection over him. Thank you.
My mom, Donna, health; hubby, Frank, health/unspoken; me, wisdom/direction with family time management.
Discernment.
Healing for my siblings, Cathy and Paul; physical healing, Natalie; niece in Europe, protection; continued leading for Don & Ann to do His will, serve Jesus.
For my grandparents to have good health and for for my grandma. Also for my sister and my friend, Sydney with MS.
Mary E., flu.

This Week's Funny

This Week's Devotional

"Think About These Things"

by Rick Warren

PurposeDriven.com

"Think about Jesus' example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying."

(Hebrews 12:3 NCV)

For mental health, you must focus your mind on the right things.

Think about Jesus. You've heard the saying, "You become what you think about most." If you want to become more like Jesus, you have to fill your thoughts with him. Hebrews 12:3 says, "Think about Jesus' example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying" (NCV).
Think about others. The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, "Don't just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing"(TLB). Do you realize how counter cultural that is? Everything in the world teaches you to think about yourself and nobody else. But Jesus was counter-cultural, and when you think about him, you'll more easily think of others.
Think about eternity. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). When you start focusing on truths like that, all of your problems are going to seem inferior compared to the glory, the joy, and the pleasure of the things we have to look forward to in eternity.

Your mind is your greatest asset and also the greatest battleground. Ask God to help you make the choice every day to feed on God's Word, free your mind of destructive thoughts, and fill your mind with Jesus, others, and eternity. Then, you'll have won the battle.

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