As we gear up for Fall ministry and looking to potentially make some changes to our weekly activities I want to encourage you to do two things. First, please consider downloading the FBC Weston Church App. The app is a great way to have all things "Life at First Baptist" at your fingertips and in your pocket! It is also the primary way the church communicates sends out Prayer Requests. The app allows for interaction among one another! You can download the app here: FBC Weston Church App

Secondly, please encourage others to sign up for this very email! You can do so by navigating to our website and clicking the link in the banner at the top of the home page. This is the primary way that ministry changes are communicated out as well as the way we celebrate the great work God continues to do here at FBC Weston! 

Be sure to make note of additions all the ways you can involve yourselves in the "Life at First Baptist"!

As the years go by, the more I preach and the older I get, the more I am learning about myself. Sunday afternoons and often times Monday's are a time of reflection. Many Pastors take off on Monday, but I've found that it helps to do something with my hands as it gives my head something else to focus on. Following most Sunday's "Amen" the process of evaluating the sermon, thinking through the quick hallway counseling session, the missed introduction to the first time visitor, etc. begins nearly immediately. I had to leave pretty quickly after service to join our friends over at Camden Point Baptist Church for an Ordination Council as they welcome their new Pastor. That 20 minute drive solidified something for me; my spiritual gift is hindsight! 

I know... what began with serious tone ended with a joke. In all seriousness, I was reflecting on the sermon as I set out north and it dawned on me that I often do something in my preaching. I will often point out the glaring issues, in context of yesterday's sermon it was the unbelief of the Chief Priests and elders in the Temple, but fail to sometimes draw that line to us! I referenced the the Prophet Nathan and his bravery for calling out David in his sin delivering that famous line, "You are the man!" 

It almost comes too easy for us to see and point out the sin in others but let us be reminded this day that if it were not for the grace of God we would stand condemned in our unbelief like those that Jesus calls out in Matthew 21. Don't forget, "You are the man!" If you need it printed on a mug feel free to use the mock up I have provided fo you here. As I exercise my spiritual gift I want to be sure to emphasize that. The Lord has been gracious to us! 

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." -2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Graciously yours in Christ, 

-Pastor Ricky

As many of you are aware the Sands' started hosting Youth Bible Study at their home on Sunday evenings. That has gone remarkably well seeing an average of 10-12 students gather each week! However, not all of those students are technically of Youth Group Age. As it continues to grow alongside the rest of our Children's Minsitry (seeing 40+ kids each Sunday morning) and with the success of our ministry efforts to children (exemplifed by another wonderful VBS) there has been discussion around expanding what we have been doing on Sunday evenings. As it continues to grow we will outgrow the living room and it would be helpful to offer more age appropriate ministry to each group. 

There have been several mentions of starting an "Awana-like" ministry at the church. This would be a ministry that invites all age groups to a weekly gathering of fun, food, and fellowship around the word together. We thought it would be wise to poll the church to see if this is something worth exploring. In order to pull off a ministry like this it would require both "buy in" (for lack of a better word) from parents who would see this as a priority for their child(ren) and from volunteer standpoint. We also understand that lives are busy and you'll find optional days/times for this potential ministry. 

Fill out the form here!

Join us Saturday mornings at 7:00 a.m. for a weekly walkthrough of "Disciplines of a Godly Man" by R. Kent Hughes. 

The Sands' will be hosting a new Bible Study beginning August 12th. The time runs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a meal. The study will utilize Midwestern Seminary's For the Church Institue's dive into Church History. The first leg of the study will span the next 10 weeks and cover the early church up to the Reformation. Then, in the Winter we will study the Reformation forward. This Wednesday, August 5th the group will gather to discuss details and to get signed up. There is an option to interact with the material directly and even receive a certificate of completion if one desires to go that route.  Contact Pastor Ricky and join us at the Sands Residence this Wednesday if you are interested in jumping in! 

All women are invited to the next Book Club on August 20th at 5:30 p.m. at the Avalon Cafe. They will be reading and discussing the book, A Light in the Wondow, by Jan Karon. Pick up your copy of the book at the link below!

Please note the date change for this event!

All FBC Youth & their Families are invited to kick off the school year with a pool party and cook-out. We will be gathering during our normal time at the Duryea Residence. If Students need a ride please let the Sands' know by the week of! 

Every month the men at FBC Weston gather for a time for fellowship around the word and a meal. Join us! 

Join us Sunday, August 30th for Baptism Sunday. Following service we will have a special celebratory Potluck Meal. Please bring a dish to share! 

Baptism Candidates please plan to attend a Special Baptist Class during the Sunday School Hour on Sunday, August 23rd. If you have not spoken with Pastor Ricky prior please do so to plan accordingly!

Isaiah served as God’s mouthpiece to the nation of Judah but also to the surrounding nations. His message echoes into our lives today as we read his call to rely on the Lord. Using the genres of poetry, narrative, and prophecy, Isaiah communicated clearly that followers of God could trust in Him.

As you study the chapters Isaiah wrote—from his challenging words to the nation of Israel to his prophecies of the Messiah to come—learn to rest in God's promises and grow in trust. Unpacking Isaiah’s words will reveal that you can trust God more than your own human effort or the counterfeits the world suggests. You won’t be striving harder, but instead trusting more deeply the Faithful One who is so worthy of our utter dependence. In Him you'll find the comfort and peace you need to sustain you.

From the opening chapters of Genesis through the final verses of Revelation, God is known by many names—names that reveal who He is, what He does, and how He relates to His children. He is El-Roi, “the God who sees me.” He is Jesus, “the Lord is salvation.” He is the Spirit, your Comforter and Counselor. And you? You have a name, too. You are His beloved child, a Christian, one who bears His name.

In this 8-session Bible study for women, teachers Kristi McLelland, Caroline Saunders, Blair Linne, Jennifer Rothschild, Kelly Minter, and Elizabeth Woodson will walk you through the pages of Scripture. Together, you’ll examine names for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and you’ll discover the impact each of God’s names has on your relationship with Him. Each name you encounter will inspire you to worship God for who He is and challenge you to consider how your life can be transformed in light of His character.

More details coming soon!