Worship Gathering – Sunday, Nov 17, 2019

Recently I read that a major health study identified something that “creates a greater health risk than obesity” and “is more destructive to health than smoking 15 cigarettes a day?”  It’s  isolation and loneliness.  This week, we’ll be looking at something that can literally save lives.  It’s the creation and experience of community.  Community is an important part of living life on mission, and it’s a not an option for people who follow Jesus.

We’ll be at the Samuel’s house this week.  (Sunday night, 6-8pm).  Send me a text at 904-599-2889 to let me know if you can join us and we’ll connect you with the food and location logistics!

I hope you can be with us – and if not, I hope you have plans this week to engage in authentic community.

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Healing Service Sunday November 3

Next Sunday we’ll gather under the cover of Nicholl’s Barn (3445 N SR 13, 32259) at 6pm for a time of fellowship, sharing a meal, and a worship service of healing prayer.  Specifically, we’ll be praying for healing among the youth of the First Coast and for healing of the deep political divide in our country.

What is a healing service?

The church is called to heal.  The followers of Jesus are called to be healers.  Its a ministry that every follower of Jesus is invited into.  So, we’re having a healing service.

  • Jesus healed – read all about it in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
  • His disciples also had healing ministries (i.e. Peter and John in Acts 3)
  • And so did those who learned the faith from them. (i.e. Phillip in Acts 9)
  • And the earliest writings make it clear – so did the early church.

I remember receiving a really wonderful experience of healing in the Spring of 2015.  I was at a week of training on leading the church in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Some friends there sensed that I was carrying a wound, still hurting from things I’d experienced.  In a very intentional, but graceful way, they listened to my story, loved me through it, and prayed for me in a way that allowed me to experience God’s healing touch.   I recall being delivered from a lot of pain – pain I didn’t even know I was carrying.  It was such a marked difference that I was a little nervous going to sleep that night.  I was worried the pain might return when I woke up.  Well, when I got up the next morning, the pain was still gone – and it stayed gone.

Coming out of that, I got a very clear impression from God that what He does for us, He delights to do through us.  We are hold healing services in response to what God has done.

Our focus this year came as a result of our service earlier tonight (October 27).  In response to our time of worship, we want to focus our time to pray for healing among our youth and also for healing of the political divide in America.  (There are some connections between the two.)

The famous verse from the Old Testament  says that God will heal the nation when his people who are called by his name humble themselves, pray, seek the Lord’s face, and repent, then he will hear from heaven and heal their land. (See II Chronicles 7:14)  Even if you can’t join us at Nicholl’s, why not set aside time next Sunday night to join us in prayer.

May the Lord bless you, keep you, and make his face to shine upon you.

Amen!

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Gathering Next Sunday Night

Have you ever noticed that our God loves to do great works through small things?   Zechariah 4:10 warns us not to despise the day of small things, because “‘It’s not by might, and not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord!”
 
Next week we’ll gather to share a meal at 6:00 and worship and pray together afterward.  
We’ll be having grilled pork.
Let us know if you are coming and we’ll coordinate food!
 
Hope to see you next Sunday.  Put the following dates in your calendar so we can be together.
Because it’s a lot easier to do all those “one another” commands when we get together
 
  • Sunday, Oct 27 – 6-8pm – Gathering place to be determined
  • Sunday, Nov 3 – 6-8pm Healing Prayer at Nicholl’s Barn
  • Saturday, Nov 9 – 9:00-1:00 Half Day Retreat at the Bays
  • Sunday, Nov 17 – 6-8pm Gathering (place to be determined)
  • Sunday, Dec 8 – 6-8pm Gathering at the Tabers
  • Dec 20 or 21 – 6-8pm Party
  • Discipleship Groups and Bible Studies are on-going.  Stop by a gathering to learn more.
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Upcoming Events

Here are some dates to put on your calendar.  If you want to host one of the gatherings, send an email.

Missional Community Gatherings:  Throughout the New Testament, you will find the phrase “one another”:  love one another,  pray for one another, be kind and compassionate to one another, encourage one another,  etc.  We can’t do these one- another things alone.  They require community, and community requires spending time together.  We encourage people to spend time with each other two ways: 1) coming to organized events.  2) just getting together organically.  The organized gatherings are a great way to start, and a great way to come into the community.  We typically get together in an organized way twice a month in order to “spur one another on to love and good deeds…” (Hebrews 10:24-25)  If you’d like to be a part, let us know!  

  • Sunday, Oct 13 – 6-8pm – Gathering at the Alexanders
  • Sunday, Oct 27 – 6-8pm – Gathering
  • Saturday Nov 2 – 6-8pm Healing Prayer at Nicholl’s Barn
  • Saturday, Nov 9 – 9:00-1:00 Half Day Retreat at the Bays
  • Sunday, Nov 17 – 6-8pm Gathering
  • Sunday, Dec 8 – 6-8pm Gathering
  • Dec 20 or 21 – 6-8pm Party
  • Discipleship Groups and Bible Studies are on-going.  Stop by a gathering to learn more.

Threshold Crossing Opportunities  Jesus would often pull his disciples out of their daily routine and lead them to a place and time where he could let them know more about who he was.  Breakthrough often resulted – and the disciples saw the world differently.  That’s why we encourage and recommend retreats, mission trips, and time at camp.  We get out of our routine and see Jesus differently than we did before.  There are several upcoming events.  If you feel Jesus is inviting you, maybe now is a good time to respond!

  • Oct 17-20: Womens Great Banquet
  • Nov 7-10: Mens Great Banquet
  • Feb 21-23: LFC Retreat @ ECO Lodge

Opportunities to Serve

  •      w/ Young Life – see Jesse, Nicholl, or Tom
  •      w/ an Evangelistic Outreach team around Jacskonville – see Nicholl
  •      w/ Teen Moms and Babies through Young Lives – see Lee or Rita
  •      w/ Grieving Families -see Norma
  •      w/ Special Needs Kids & Families – see Heather
  •      in Nocatee – see Tom or Barbara
  •      on the 210 Area – see Sara or Brandon
  •      in Julington Creek – see Jesse or Heather

Prayer Focus

  • For us to grow more deeply aware of how Jesus touches every aspect of our life.
  • For us to grow in our ability to speak the truths of Jesus into one another’s lives.
  • For Christ, who lives in us by the power of the Holy Spirit, to do something in us and through us wherever we find ourselves.

Hurricane Dorian Update

At one of our gatherings a few weeks ago, we talked about how to help with relief in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.  You can read about that here.  But we decided to send some money.  As of today, we’ve sent $2555 to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM.ORG).  We chose that route mainly because they work through churches in the affected areas that are a part of the relief effort.  We did something similar after Hurricane Michael.  If you want to give, here’s a link to their Dorian Relief Page.

Something to Think On

“If we are to help one another grow up into Christ in every way, we need to learn how to speak the truths of Christ into everything – every aspect of life, every situation we face, and every issue we address.” Gospel Fluency, Jeff Vanderstelt.

005

“So we see Jesus living Up-In-and-Out, and we’ll be trying to do the same…”

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Dinner and Worship Sunday Night

(This Sunday night, we’ll be at the Wehmeier’s (258 ConquistadorRoad) for dinner and worship from 6:00 to 8:0.  How to see you there!)

Maybe I spent too much time in seminary, but one of my favorite words is atonement. I have found that understanding what Jesus has done and is doing essential for sustaining hope and living with courage for life on mission – and we tend to make it narrow – but Jesus’ atoning work has changed and is changing everything!

And how does the atonement connect to the gospel? to the good news of Jesus Christ?  to the good news that God’s Kingdom has come near?

Let me know if you’re coming (email pastorjessealexander@gmail.com) so we can share preparation for food and responsibilities for our worship time!  Looking forward to seeing you there!

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