Weekly Update – March 9th, 2023
In just a few weeks, we as Christians celebrate the cornerstone of our faith. As the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “if Christ has not been raised, then our faith is in vain.” What this means is that the resurrection does matter. We can’t simply resort to saying that Christianity is about doing good for others or living a morally pure life. If Christ has not been raised, then he is just like us, another man to succumb to the curse of death. But Christ was raised and He is alive today. Therefore we celebrate with Christians from all over the world the new life we have in Him because of the resurrection. As believers at First Baptist Church here are a few ways in which we will celebrate this year.
First, we will have a service on Thursday evening, April 6th at 7:00pm. This day is called Maundy Thursday and it has been remembered by the universal church since its early days. Maundy literally means “commandment” which specifically comes from what Jesus said in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” It is then on this Thursday evening, the night before the crucifixion, that we remember this call to unity through loving one another with the shadow of Christ’s death in the background. We will specifically remember this time through singing, a short message and through taking the Lord’s Supper together.
Second, on Monday through Friday, April 3rd-7th, there will be a devotion posted on Facebook and our Youtube page each morning. The goal of these devotions is to highlight the events that occurred each specific day of the holy week. Each day of that week was significant in the life of Jesus and, Lord willing, we will see how each day leads up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how each day impacts our faith. I hope that you will tune in that week.
Third, on Easter Sunday, April 9th at 9:15am we will host an Easter Brunch in the Faith Center. As we gather around a table filled with family, friends and even perhaps a few people we don’t know, we consider the reason for which we are gathering. We are eating together in celebration of what the Lord has done through raising Jesus Christ up from the dead. This will be a time to connect with guests as well as to invite family and friends before we have our service. We will have a full spread of different types of breakfast foods, but we need you to commit to help. This breakfast will be potluck style, so sign up this week to bring something for this occasion.
Lastly, on Easter Sunday at 10:30am we will have our service celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We will join together in one song and in once voice around the message of Christ and his gospel. We have something truly amazing to celebrate as Christians. In Jesus, death is not the final say for us, but instead we can have life now and for all eternity. Because of the resurrection we can say along with Paul, “death is swallowed up in victory,” and we can be thankful to God “who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55, 57).
I hope that you will join us throughout this week as we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to take advantage of this time of year to not only celebrate our risen savior but to pray and invite someone else to hear of why we celebrate, so that they too might join with us. There we will be cards available in the weeks ahead for you to pick up and hand out as an invitation. We have a great opportunity before us, let us use it fully to the glory of God.
Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson
Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson
Fighter Verse for the Week
"[Therefore,] since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" - Hebrews 12:1
Announcements:
Men’s Spikeball Tournament: Mike Smalley will be hosting a spikeball tournament in the Faith Center Gym at 5pm on Saturday, March 11th.
Baby Sprinkle: All ladies of the church are invited to a baby sprinkle for Faith Dove at 2pm on Sunday, March 12th. Please let Trisha Neal or Faith Anne Norman know if you plan to attend.
Food Train: Baby Asher was born to Matthew and Nicole Stanwix on February 23rd. More information about the food train for the Stanwix family can be found in the email update or by contacting the office.
Ladies’ Bible Study: The Ladies’ Bible Study is on Tuesdays at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Sheryl Nelson is leading through Jen Wilkin’s study “Abide.” If you are interested, see the signup in the hall.
Elder Q&A: On March 12th at 6:00pm, there will be a question and answer time for prospective elders. The men who are being nominated are Clint Blankenship, Scott Neal and David Hutchison. If you have a question that you would like asked that evening, please submit it to to the offering box or to the office before that date.
Prom Dresses: We have several weeks for the prom dress giveaway coming up. Go HERE for more information or look for a signup sheet in the hall to see how you can help.
Members’ Meeting: Our regular quarterly members’ meeting will be held on Sunday, March 26th. Following the morning service, we will head to the Faith Center for a potluck lunch and then back into the sanctuary for the meeting.
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering: Every year at this time, we raise funds to support missionaries all over North America who are serving with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). This year, our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $8500. You can give on Sunday mornings through one of our offering boxes located in the foyer or the welcome center. Just mark your envelop as “missions” or “Annie.” Or you can give online HERE and choose “missions” under the Fund tab. You can find more information about this offering HERE.
Easter Schedule: There will be many opportunities to connect with us this Easter season. First, join us on Palm Sunday on April 2nd at 10:30am. Second, Maundy Thursday will be on April 6th, at 7:00pm. Lastly, celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with us on April 9th. That morning we will resume our annual Easter Brunch at 9:15am with our Worship Service to follow at 10:30am. Also, during passion week (4/3-4/7) there will be a short daily devotion posted on Facebook and Youtube. These devotions will aim to highlight some of events that occurred the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. More information to come in the weeks ahead.
Volunteers Needed: Volunteers are still needed during the 10:30am nursery time. Check the update or email the office for more information on how you can serve.
Awana
Join us for Awana Bible Clubs on Wednesday nights. Dinner is at 6:00pm and Awana Clubs are from 6:30-8:00pm.
Equipping Hour
We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. War of Words will meet in the Sanctuary, a biblical exposition of Joel, Amos, and Obadiah will meet in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the Old Testament will meet in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.
Giving
To Give Online, Go HERE.
You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030
Home Groups
Home Groups typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Please contact Pastor Michael if you would like to join a Home Group. You can find more information HERE.
Prayer
An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE.
Prepare for Sunday
Guide for Worship can be found HERE.
Worship Service
Worship Service begins at 10:30am on Sunday mornings. Nursery care for children ages 0-4 years is available during the worship hour.
Livestream
Continue to join us at 10:30am on Sunday mornings.
Facebook live: HERE.
YouTube: HERE.
Join us and invite a friend or family member to watch with you.
Sunday School
Children and Youth Sunday School take place at 9:15am on Sunday mornings.
Ages 0-4 meet in the nursery suite.
Grades K-3rd meet upstairs in U-5.
Grades 4th-6th meet upstairs in U-6.
Grades 7th-12th meet downstairs in the youth room.
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