Dear Brothers and Sisters,
December has been a busy but wonderful time of focusing our attention on the coming of our Savior. I give thanks to the Lord for your generosity shown through the response to the Advent mercy project to raise funds for DuPagePads. Our church raised $4140.00 to donate toward the interim housing project. How awesome to see the fruit of the Spirit in our church for the good of our community!
As we look toward the new year, we have the opportunity to recommit ourselves to developing the practice of daily communion with the Lord. We commune with the Lord individually through bible reading and prayer and corporately through worship. Protecting and cultivating daily intimacy with God is vital in order to bear fruit in our lives and in our churches. Individual time with God is not something we just “check off,” it is a special opportunity for us to go deeper in our relationship with him. It is a privilege we have as his children, not something that makes him love us more.
One way to help us stay in the Word is through a Bible reading plan. Click here to access free one month, 6 month, and 12 month reading plans from Crossway.
Here are two other excellent resources to help you abide in God’s Word this upcoming year:
Unfolding Grace: Forty Guided Readings Through the Bible: This resource provides a big picture overview of the storyline of the Scriptures in forty readings. It’s a helpful resource for understanding God’s wondrous plan of salvation from Genesis to Revelation.
Every Day Bible: 365 Readings Through the Whole Bible: This Bible provides daily readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Each day is intended to take approximately fifteen minutes.
This Sunday we return to our Acts sermon series You Will Be My Witnesses. We left off with Paul and his companions on the coast of the Aegean Sea waiting to set sail for Macedonia. We will pick up with Acts 16:11-40, where the Gospel lands for the first time on the shores of Europe.
Furthermore, Anna Huggins will share on Sunday during the Missions Moment about her upcoming ministry work with Kids Alive in the Dominican Republic. We will hold a special offering to support Anna as she prepares to serve in the DR.
Please take time before the worship service this Sunday to prepare your heart in prayer and confession to partake in the Lord’s Supper.
Click here to access the livestream for this Sunday’s service.
Congregational Meeting (Sunday, January 23)
All church members are encouraged to attend the congregational meeting on Sunday, January 23. The meeting will take place in the Mission Center following the worship service.
Sunday School Resuming January 30
Sunday school will resume for adults, children, and youth following the worship service on Sunday, January 30.
Office Administrator Job Opening
We are currently seeking to hire a part-time office administrator (20 hrs/wk). If you would like to inquire about the position, please contact Pastor Rhett.
Prayer Requests
Bryan Van Zanten: Please pray for encouragement and healing following a lymphoma diagnosis.
Karla Van Der Molen: Pray for God’s mercy and care for the Van Der Molens as they address Karla’s ALS.
In Him,
Pastor Rhett