LINKS

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From Faith To Faith

December 2004                                                                                                                                VOL. XX No. 12

PASTOR: Dr. Carl W. Bogue   

On December 5, 2004 we will be taking up a special offering. offering. This special offering taken during our communion service will be equally divided between our own deacons fund and “Mission to the World’s Compassion Ministry. Enclosed in your newsletter is a brochure entitled A Bridge of Grace. Please read this brochure and prayerfully consider how the Lord is leading you to help. The Compassion Ministry is designed to alleviate suffering and misery in the lives of hurting people. Natural disasters, earthquakes, floods, mud slides, hurricanes and typhoons produce suffering people, hungry children and homeless families. Changing political circumstances can mean refugees displaced from their homes and forced to flee with few, if any, personal possessions. As they reach out in the name of Christ, showing His mercy, sharing His grace, individuals and children and entire families are rescued in His name.

Mark your calendars! Our annual congregational meeting/covered dish dinner has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 22^nd. There will be a covered dish dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. followed at 7:30 p.m. by a brief Prayer & Praise, then the meeting with a presentation of the 2005 church budget. This is a very important meeting and all Faith members are encouraged to attend.

Attention elders and deacons...there is a combined Session – Deacon meeting on Saturday, December 18^th. Elders and Deacons will meet separately beginning at 9:00 a.m. and then come together to meet at 10:00 a.m.

There will be a box in the vestibule until December 19^th for you to place your food donations in. Please remember, no perishable items. Suggestions would be: dry grocery items, canned goods, paper products, soaps, etc. All food collected will be distributed to needs within our own congregation first, and the surplus to local food banks. Anyone wishing to give a cash donation rather than canned goods may do so. Please see Mel Channel with your request.

Debra Kobb will be holding Quilting Classes for all interested in learning to quilt. The next class is scheduled for December 18^th from 9:30 a.m. to noon. 
If you are interested or for more information please contact Debra Kobb.

Morning Nursery: This is the Sunday for which you have been assigned responsibility for the nursery during morning worship. If you are unable to provide care on your day please find a replacement. 

       December 5:                  Stacey Woolbert

       December 12:               Betsy Woolbert

       December 19:               Kristi Kadlecek

        December 26:             Dawn Duff

       We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper during the morning worship service on December 5, 2004. Please prepare your hearts and minds to come to His table.

Faith Church would like to host a wedding reception for Dr. and Mrs. Bogue on their upcoming marriage Dec. 3rd. Upon their return to Ohio we would like to welcome Deb to our church family by hosting a wedding reception following morning worship (during the congregational dinner) on December 19^th. The congregational dinner is the same as always, (bring a dish to share) however a wedding cake and punch will also be served. Please remember to bring a card and a hearty welcome!

The January Newsletter will be published one week later due to the holidays. The deadline to submit articles for the January 2005 Newsletter will be Monday, December 27^th, 9:00 a.m. The January Newsletter will be distributed to the congregation January 2, 2005.

A new adult Sunday School class will begin Sunday, December 5^th. The class will meet in the sanctuary and is a video series by R.C. Sproul, led by Elder Woolbert. The title of this video series is “The Promise Keeper: The God of the Covenants.”

        The Stone Family has a new telephone number. Please mark your church directory:

Missionary News: 

December Preaching Schedule

Dec. 5:            AM:     Rev. James Kobb

                       PM:      Elder Dr. John Bower

Dec. 12:          AM & PM: Rev. Earl Fair

Dec. 19:          AM:     #25 “Lawful Vows”; Deuteronomy 23:21-23

                       PM:      Pastor Jack Campbell, Missionary to Spain

Dec. 26:          AM:     #26 “Solemn Fastings”; Esther 4:16

                       PM:      “When Fasting is Wrong”; Mark 2:19

Prayer Chain

Oct. 26:          Margaret Bruder, Jim Bruder’s mother, fell and has a spinal fracture of her left hip. She will be having surgery to repair the fracture. Pray for healing so she will be able to enjoy her 100^th birthday on Nov. 13^th.

Oct. 28:          Please pray for Dr. Bogue as his marriage to Deborah Feil on December 3^rd approaches. Pray for them both, for their marriage, and that all the arrangements fall into place.

Oct. 30:          Jim Bruder’s mother came through the surgery well.

Nov. 9:           Please pray for missionaries David Jones and Tom Wright who are currently in the U.S. and haven’t been able to return to the Ivory Coast, and their families, due to violence and upheaval in the country. Pray for their safe and speedy return.

Nov. 12:         Betty Channell’s daughter, Betty Lou, is seeing a heart specialist today. She had a recent stress test and her doctor referred her to a specialist. Pray that this is a precaution and nothing serious is found.

Nov. 13:         Betty Lou will be having a heart cath. on Monday. The doctors found a possible blockage. Pray for healing quickly.

Nov. 18:         The Jones family has been reunited.

WIC Officers for 2005:

November 13, 2004 three new WIC (Women in the Church) officers were installed. Your officers are:

President:                    Kelly Rastetter

Vice-President:           Avone Blasiman

Secretary:                    Karla Richards

Treasurer:                    Melinda Althuis

Missions:                     Fern Richards

Christian Ed:               Marianne Sevcik

From the Pastor’s Study

       I would like to use this forum to be more personal that is normally the case when I write some thoughts in the newsletter. The invitation on the facing page, as most of our readers know, represents the results of what has been occupying much of my time since June.

       As I have communicated to many of you, God has been very gracious to me over the past year and a half, blessing and sustaining me and my family during the darkest days we have ever faced, and now in more recent months, granting to me a most wonderful gift of a loving companion with whom I may share my life. I cannot tell you in a way that begins to communicate what I know and what I feel, how utterly wonderful God has providentially brought all this about and how great the happiness is with which God has now blessed me in bringing Deborah into my life.

       I am posting a copy of the invitation in this newsletter for an important reason. While sent to the church, we are very much aware that our church family is wider than just the members of our local congregation. There are former members as well as some who for one or more reasons have a connection with us. It is my hope that those of you who receive this newsletter would consider this invitation as personally meant for you.

       I realize that attendance for almost all of you would not be possible, but as my family and I gather in Phoenix for this very important event in my life, please know that your presence to share in this event would be a blessing to us. And even if you are not able to join with us, we would covet your prayers, both for a service that would honor our great God, and for His blessing for Deb and me in the years to come.

Postscript to the Presidential Election

(A good friend of recent years wrote some reflections the evening of the election before the outcome was known. I thought it might be worth sharing as sort or a postscript t the 2004 presidential election.)

November 2, 2004 6:00 PM

I’m about to leave the office to go home, and on the way I plan to vote. Later tonight someone on the news will tell us one of three things, which most of you have probably heard by the time you read this. Either President Bush will be re-elected to a second term, John Kerry will be elected to serve a first term beginning in January, or the election (for whatever reason) will not be over and we will have to wait to find out who will sit in the White House from January, 2005 through January 2009.
Every four years many Christians seem to forget that what matters most is not who is in the White House, but Who is on the throne. We will have a president, one way or another. More importantly, we have a King. His Name is Jesus.
Daniel 2:20-21, says:
“Daniel answered and said, ‘Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons, he removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding....”

      Most of us understand that Daniel was living in exile when he spoke these words. As we approach this year’s election many of us may hearken back to the last presidential election. The election that didn’t seem to end.
As I write this I do not know who will be elected president. I don’t know whether he will be a good man or an evil man. But I do know, as Daniel did, that God alone removes kings and sets up kings.
When Daniel said this, he may have hearkened back himself to Isaiah’s words, when God calls the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar His servant. Daniel had no way of knowing when he said these words that Nebuchadnezzar would become a believer. But he did know what you and I can know-that God sets up kings.
We need not fear what lies ahead-because God knows and has promised that the gates of Hades will not prevail against His Church. We can bless the Name of God for ever and ever because He alone sets up kings. He alone gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. And He has promised to care for us.
Tomorrow morning many Christians may be fretting over the election of John F. Kerry. The Republicans may lose the Senate. Theoretically even the House of Representatives. But no matter who is ruling inside the beltway-Jesus rules from Heaven without fail.
Psalm 2 says that kings rage against the Messiah-but that the One in the Heavens laughs at them. He knows. He knows that they must stand on His lap to slap Him in the face. He knows that they are not mighty-and that they will fall at His command.
Seven years ago I was diagnosed with adult onset asthma. Several times over the past seven years I have come close to death because I could not bring that next breath into my lungs. I have lived for years now with the ever present awareness that God holds every breath that we take-both for me and you.
Sparrows don’t fall to the ground without God’s knowledge. God knows when we sit down and rise up. He knows the words we speak before they are on our tongues. God’s thoughts for each of us outnumber the sand! Do we need to fear what man can do to us?

      Psalm 118:6-9-“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”

      Is our trust in princes? May it never be! Our help comes from the Lord on high-and He has not ceased to sit upon His throne for one nano second since He ascended on high almost 2000 years ago.
Whether our President be George W. Bush or John F. Kerry-Jesus is our King. Let us live today and every day trusting in Him alone. Let us worship Him with every breath that is in us and glory in His providence every moment.
“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (Ps. 118:29)

                      James Lansberry
                        Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
                       Marquette Heights, IL 61554