|
From Pastor Dave
|
November is here...The season of "Thanks". Let's give thanks to the Lord for He alone is great and mighty and worthy to be praised. My heart is truly overflowing as I write this to you all and I just must share. I love you all so much. Thank you Lord for allowing me the honor and pleasure of being the Shepherd of the FCN sheep. As the Apostle Paul writes to the people of Jesus Christ at the Church of Philippi: "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." I echo those words from Philippians 1:3-5. I am thankful and joyful because God called us to this beautiful family.
I would like to give thanks and praise to God for what He is doing right here in the midst of our FCN Family. As the Lord is sending revival among us I would just like to say thank you for praying. Many of you have shared that you have been praying for revival for years. God is honoring that. (Hold on while I have a fit.... WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!) I also want to thank you all for your love and support towards me and my family but above even that, your prayers. We feel peace and strength through that. All y'all are our family and we are so blessed to be your parsonage family.
As most of you know I attended the AWAKENING prayer conference in Arlington on Oct. 20-22. It was absolutely life changing and as most of you also know, our family experienced a miracle as God healed Kathy of MyoFascial Pain Syndrome in which she has been suffering through for 12 years now. She wasn't even able to attend with me but by the power and the grace of God, she didn't need to. God can do what He wants, when He wants and wherever He wants. (Hold on while I have another fit.... WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!) GOD IS GOOD!
 The time that I dedicated to the Lord during the week of the AWAKENING was truly life changing for me as an individual, as a pastor and for my ministry here. It's funny you know, we get caught up on so many things when it comes to the "church way of life"...what we think ministry is and should be, and so on. We have expectations but God has desires. God desires us to be hungry, thirsty, and overflowing with love. God desires time with us, He doesn't desire our cars, houses, or our status. God desires us to fellowship with Him. He literally desires sweet communion with us. (THAT IS JUST MIND BLOWING!) People want just enough God to be considered a Christian. This is not even close to enough of God. I want "all of God" and God wants, no desires, all of me and you. FCN Family, God is desiring sweet communion with Him and we are experiencing His presence with us and it is the result of many of you desiring God in your lives and in your church. Gone are the days of complacency here at FCN, gone are the days of bitterness from days past, gone are the days of fretting over finances and worrying about how the church could survive another week. God has brought the harvest, He has brought the blessing, He has brought the healing. Our response...."Praise and Prayer". Thank You, Lord.
It has been a journey for many of you who chose to stay and fight for the life of the FCN mission and calling. It reminds me of the beautiful "post-exile" story which is found in
Ezra 3:1-6
. The Israelites were returning from exile only to begin with the rebuilding process. When the people went to rebuild, the first thing they rebuilt was not the walls but the altars. This represented an important first step in the work of revitalizing the nation's religious life, since the altar was the place of sacrifice, repentance, rededication, and acceptance by God. Before the greater work of rebuilding the Temple could commence, there was this need felt in the hearts of the people to erect the altar, and to get right with God. I rejoice with you all today because our church is coming to life amazing because of our new heightened commitment to prayer and lives lived out for the Lord. The priority for the Israelites was to "press" into God's presence and it is the new priority of myself and the FCN family. So Let's go FCN! "Let's press into the Lord's presence together." It's a new day y'all!
Loving you and lifting you,
PD
|
| Prayer Centered LIfe Group |
 Prayer Centered Life Group-
Starting Wednesday, November 2, we will be meeting at 7:00 p.m. for corporate prayer. Join us each week in the Prayer Room as we gather at "the well". Don't miss this exciting time in God's presence! Come and discover the powerful difference that prayer is making in the lives of people.FCN is a place where prayers are answered and miracles still happen!
|
| All-Church Thanksgiving Meal |
|
|
| Youth Department - WYBT1 |
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands."
-2 Timothy 1:6
This is the verse I read on Monday morning in my daily devotional. The author is talking about how when a fire burns down and you have coals that you might not be able to see because they are covered by ash, but then you put a log on that fire and stir it around the coals will reignite the flames. Just like this verse is talking about "stir up the gifts of God."
How many of us have gifts from God that we are allowing to just sit and smolder, not putting to use. Maybe we don't know how to use or we just don't want to use them. Then there are those that want to use their talent in a big and mighty way but not to glorify God. They want the pat on the back, the "look at what I can do."
The author ended with this comment; "Any time you take a chance, you can fail. But it's better to try than to never have anything happen in your life." I would rather try and fail than never try at all.
My prayer for everyone is that they use their talents to glorify God in everything you do.
I would like to extend a great big thank you to everyone who baked items or worked the Bake Sale on Saturday, October 22. It was a wonderful success. God blessed us.
Your sister in Christ,
Sherry
|
| FCN Art Show & Sale |
An Art Show & Sale will be held at FCN on Saturday,
November 12, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. This
is a fundraiser for Nazarene missions. If you are interested in submitting art such as paintings, photography, sculptures or if you'd like to volunteer to help that day, please contact Julia Hehn at
325-668-5811. Your giving of any kind will help build God's Kingdom through missions. The Youth will also be serving lunch as a fundraiser for their mission trip in 2017. Please be in prayer for this event and for our Nazarene missionaries.
|
|
Nazarene Missions International
|
November Emphasis: World Evangelism Fund Thank Offering
We will be taking a special offering and the Mission Money March collection for November will go to the World Evangelism Fund. The World Evangelism Fund is the backbone of Nazarene Missions.
Prayer for the Persecuted Church-Nazarene Missions International (NMI) encourages Nazarenes to join Christians around the world in prayer on November 13, 2016. The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) provides opportunity for Christians worldwide to focus on those suffering for their Christian faith.
Thank you for praying and giving to help spread the love of God around the world!
Gayla Hastings
NMI President
|
|
FCN Book Club
|
FCN Book Club is reading "Murder with Peacocks" by Donna Andrews. The book after that will be "Defending Jacob" by William Landay. The next meeting will be Monday, November 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Mad Coffee & More, located at
8049 Hwy 83/84 (the corner of FM 707 & Hwy 83/84).
|
| Men's Basketball |
Men's Basketball will not meet in November. We will resume in December. Contact Robert Hehn for details. |
|
Prime Timer's Senior Adult Ministry
|
The Prime Timers (Senior Adult) Group will be meeting at the Ball Ranch on Saturday, November 5, at 7:00 p.m. The cost is $20 per person. Please see Pat Bigham for more information.
|
|
Disc Golf Outing
|
The monthly Disc Golf Outing will be Saturday, November 5, at Will Hair Park, located on Ambler between North Treadaway and ACU. We will begin at 9:00 a.m., weather permitting.
Everyone is invited, regardless of age.
There is no need to sign up, we are just going out to have fun! Hope to see you there!
|
| Online Sunday Morning Services |
| 
Our Sunday morning Worship Services can now be found online! Go to: http://www.fcnabilene.org/sermons and click on "First Church of the Nazarene on USTREAM" |
| November Birthdays & Anniversaries |
|
|
Birthdays
5 Rosie Esparza
9 Bill Billings
13 Ella Hehn
19 Madison Hunt
Meagan Hunt
28 Isabella Levi
30 Beverly McAnally
|
Anniversaries
No anniversaries
|
|
|
|
