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The Informer

 Life at Abilene First
 
 Abilene First Church of the Nazarene                                 September 2017 
From Pastor Dave
    
Righteousness bring Happiness which brings great joy which in turn brings of peace!
 
"I want a fresh and new touch".   This is a statement that I have heard over and over again as a pastor.  As I am typing this, I am desiring a new and fresh touch from the Lord.  I am also praying as I type this that not only will I receive a new and a fresh touch from the Lord, but that you as well will receive a new and fresh touch.  One way for us to find true happiness is to get into God's Word which never disappoints and always shines through and brings something new and exciting into our lives.  I want to be closer to the Lord more and more, each moment of my life.  "God, move on your people as they move into you."
 
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that the way to enjoy life to the fullest is to live righteously.  He says we are blessed if we will say NO to the sinful ways of the world and say YES to the godly ways of His Word.  There is no other way to truly be happy.  Even though we might suffer for living a righteous life, Jesus declared that we would be blessed by God.
 
That goes against all our natural thinking.  We want to avoid anything that would cause us pain.  But what Jesus is telling us is that God knows what is best for us.  God knows that gratifying our natural desires will not bring us true happiness.  God knows that following the ways of the world will not bring us true happiness either.
 
That is because sin is at the root of our flesh and the world.  And sin always ends up being destructive to us.  God created us and He knows exactly what we need to enjoy life to the fullest.
 
He has revealed that to us in His Word.  Psalm 1 tells us that we will be blessed if we will delight in His Word and meditate on it day and night.  God wants us to know that righteousness will bring us happiness.  We have to be willing to trust that God knows what is best for us and obey what He tells us.
 
Blessings on y'all.
 
Loving you and lifting you,
PD

Adopt-A-Light Program
FCN is in dire need of replacing our stage and sanctuary lighting.  The fixtures are obsolete and cannot be repaired.  We need your help!  In order to not incur debt, the Church Board is introducing the "Adopt-A-Light" program.  The cost to replace all stage and sanctuary lighting is $21,130.15...this includes labor costs.  This factors out to be approximately $275 per light.  If 76 people adopt a light, we would have most of the needed funds for this project.  Consider giving in memory of a loved one.  You can also give in increments if $275 is too much to give at one time.  Please seek the Lord as to what He would have you give.  Please mark your contribution as "Lighting" or "Adopt-A-Light".  For more information, please contact Robert Hehn or Pastor Dave.

Nazarene Missions International
NMI Logo

MONTHLY EMPHASIS:  Alabster
 
 
What is Alabaster?
 
The Alabaster Offering provides funds for property and buildings around the world. While we understand the church consists of the people of God and not a building, buildings erected for the purpose of ministry help provide a sense of permanence, functionally enhance ministry efforts, and convey an  attitude that the Church of the Nazarene intends to "put down roots." Alabaster funds help provide land for many Work & Witness projects, and the entire Alabaster Offering goes toward the purchase of land and construction of churches, schools, medical facilities, and homes for missionaries and national workers.
We will be taking the Alabaster offering during the month of September. 
 
Thank you for your support for Missions!

Gayla Hastings
NMI President

Band of Brothers Men's Group

We will begin our Fall session on Sunday, September 10, at 4:00 p.m. in the Conference Room.  Our study will be Cold-Case Christianity.  Written by an L. A. County homicide detective and former atheist, Cold-Case Christianity examines the claims of the New Testament using the skills and strategies of a hard-to-convince criminal investigator.
 
Christianity could be defined as a "cold case": it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs. Including gripping stories from his career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom, Wallace uses illustration to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity.
 
A unique apologetic that speaks to readers' intense interest in detective stories, Cold-Case Christianity inspires readers to have confidence in Christ as it prepares them to articulate the case for Christianity.
 
Contact Jimmy Thomas, 325-829-6528, for more information.

Men's Dove Day 2017

Neal King and Robert Hehn would like to invite all the men of the Church to a dove hunt in Caps, TX (approximate 3 miles south of Abilene just off US HWY 277 South) on Saturday, September 9, at 4:00 p.m., weather permitting.  You'll need to ensure you have a current hunting license, a shotgun, shells, insect repellent, and a chair.  Water and Gatorade will be furnished. Please RSVP to Neal or Robert by Thursday, August 31.  Hopefully we will get enough dove to have a church dove dinner soon after!  See Neal or Robert for directions to the hunting site or for any additional questions.  Spectators are welcome!  Hope to see y'all there!  Happy hunting!

Sunflower Ladies Ministry








It's Coming!
4th Annual Craft Show & Ministries Fair
Saturday, October 28
10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Still accepting vendors!  Contact Julia Hehn for more information!


FCN Book Club


The FCN Book Club will be starting again on Monday, September 11, at 
6:30 p.m.  We meet at Mad Coffee & More, located at 8049 Hwy 83/84 (the corner of Hwy 83/84 & FM 707).  Bring a favorite book suggestion and a friend.  Contact Carol Hehn for more information.
 

College/Career Life Group

College/Career Life Group meets every Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. and every Wednesday night at
7:00 p.m.  Both nights are in the "Gathering Place" room in the East Wing.  We are doing the Dave Ramsey Financial Planning study on Wednesday night and Sunday night is our fellowship and growing together nights. If you are a high school graduate & under 30, we welcome you to come join our crazy bunch!  Contact Kathy Kessell for more information.  

Online Sunday Morning Services

 

Our Sunday morning Worship Services can be found online!  Go to:

 

 http://www.fcnabilene.org/sermons and click on

 

"First Church of the Nazarene on Livestream"


 

You can view on a computer or any device through the Livestream app found at the App Store, Google Play, or Roku.  Click on the appropriate link to download your app.

 

September Calendar

Check out events on the FCN Calendar.  See the events and times listed (they are even color coded)!
 
September Birthdays & Anniversaries

 

Birthdays 

  6  Jo Mort

  7  Bill Shelton

  8  Jimmy Thomas

10  Hannah Cunningham
      Larry Smith

13  Betty Camarillo

17  Gracie Koppinger

18  Braxten Bullock

22  Ben Miller

28  Thomas Peters
      Layden Joy
Anniversaries
 
12  Ed & Judy King

18  Steve & Gayla Hastings



From the Staff and Ministry Leaders of
Abilene First Church of the Nazarene
www.fcnabilene.org
325.677.9429