Dear Faith Community Church Family,
Do you ever feel tired and frustrated when it comes to your prayer life? Sometimes, it seems that the harder we try to pray, the more easily distracted we become when praying.
Or maybe you’ve had this experience: You put together a long prayer list, fully intending to pray faithfully through the list on a daily basis, only to find that within a few days, you are unmotivated and burdened with guilt for not sticking with your prayer plan.
In A Praying Life, Paul Miller writes, “Jesus does not say, ‘Come to me, all you who have learned how to concentrate in prayer, whose minds no longer wander, and I will give you rest.’ No, Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, ‘Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.’”
Praying well requires that we must learn how to pray well, and that includes learning to rely on God’s grace to become people of prayer.
This Friday evening and Saturday morning, we are holding the A Praying Life seminar led by Bob Allums, director of A Praying Life ministry. Registration will begin at 5:30pm and the evening session will start at 6:00pm. On Saturday morning, refreshments will be available at 8:00am, with the morning session beginning at 8:30am and concluding at 12:30pm.
It’s not too late to register by contacting the church office ([email protected]; 630-231-8230). Participant manuals are $8.00 and can be paid for by cash, check, or through our church’s website. On Saturday morning, we will have a voluntary love offering which will go directly to A Praying Life ministry.
I want to thank everyone for the many encouraging letters and the gifts I received on Sunday. I am grateful to the Lord to pastor such a caring congregation. I’m thankful for each one of you and I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippian church: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy.”
This Sunday in our Kingdom Prayer series, we will turn our attention to the fifth petition in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Click here to access the livestream of this Sunday’s worship service (9:30am).
November 3: Women’s Self-Defense Seminar (5:00-6:00 pm; Mission Center)
On November 3 (5:00-6:00pm), Natalie Wierenga and Donna Siefert will lead a self-defense seminar in the Mission Center. Val Austin will share the gospel and also about the ministries of our church. This is a fun class with lots of opportunities to practice. Dress comfortably and invite friends and neighbors! Childcare will be available.
Women’s Ministry Embracing Hope Gathering: Saturday, November 12
The next Embracing Hope Gathering will take place on Saturday, November 12, from 9:30-11:00am. Enjoy coffee, tea, food, and fellowship and hear a story of hope shared by Karla Van Der Molen. Please RSVP to Amy Paglia.
Providing Meals for Sharon Vaughn
If you would like to provide a meal for Sharon Vaughn as she recovers from back surgery, meals are being provided through this Friday. Please go to: takethemameal.com, click on “Find a Meal Schedule,” enter Last Name: Vaughn, Password: (password in email). If you need assistance with signing up, please contact Don Johnson or the church office.
Prayer Requests
Cornelia Popescu: Please pray for strength and encouragement for Cornelia as she recovers from surgery.
Karla and Gary Van Der Molen: Pray for encouragement for Karla as she manages ALS.
Sharon Vaughn: Pray for continued recovery for Sharon following back surgery.
In Christ,
Pastor Rhett