Maybe you remember Janice. A few of us met Janice near the halfway point of her journey across the country on bicycle. We were able to give her a safe and cool place to sleep for the evening. She joined us for dinner and even the prayer meeting we held in July. It was an evening that I don't think any of us will forget! Before she left I was sure to pass along my contact information and told her to keep us in the loop when she makes it. Last week I received the following email from her:

Hi Pastor Ricky! 

I want to reach out to say hello and to let you know I completed my journey to Washington  DC on August 7th.

I am currently resting and visiting with my sister in PA and will head back home soon to Arizona.  

In all this I want to say THANK YOU again for the accommodation you provided for me on my journey. 

It was a blessing for me to  meet you and your beautiful family. 

From this time forward I will always remember my experience at your church and the prayer service. 

 

Best to you!

That evening we talked about all kinds of things, swapping stories, sharing memories, and learned a lot about each other's lives. The most important thing we talked about was Jesus, the Gospel, and salvation. Janice was not shy to discuss these lofty matters. When I think about true biblical hospitality I think that this exchange will come to mind for the rest of my life. We didn't know her, she didn't know us.. yet, she was welcomed in. Pray with me that as we put into practice welcoming in the sojourner that it planted seeds that the Lord will water and grow into blossoming faith! 

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

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.  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! 

Join us for this year's Chili Cook-off! We will be gathering at the Pospisil residence for a time of good fun, good food, and good fellowship. Entries into the Chili Cook-off must arrive by judging time at 4:30 p.m.