The Pretender

 Pastor’s Pen…

As I announced last Sunday, Kathy and I will be away this weekend representing the ministry of The Worship Channel in one of our supporting churches (of which FCC Wylie is one, thank you!)

 

John Royal will be preaching for me the Sunday, and I know you will be blessed by his ministry. John will be preaching on “The Pretender,” and his text will be 1 Samuel 15. If possible I would encourage you to read that chapter prior to services Sunday. 


I love it when the Holy Spirit leads different preachers who preach in sequence regarding what to preach on, and I believe the Lord has led John to this passage. The reason is, the following Sunday I will begin a biographical series on the life of David, who went from ignored as the youngest in his family and shepherd boy to slayer of the giant Goliath to court musician to fugitive on the run from King Saul to Psalmist and ultimately the one chosen by God to be King over Israel.  If you feel so inclined, I would encourage you to read beyond 1 Samuel 15 through the rest of that book, through2 Samuel and the first two chapters of 1 Kings. By doing so you will have gained an overview of the entire life of David, and will be well prepared for not only this Sunday for the upcoming fall series as well.  Please let me know via text or e-mail, or in person next Sunday (8/16) if you completed that reading opportunity. (some would call it a challenge)

 

Let me again thank all who help sanitize our facilities for services each Saturday morning in preparation for Sunday worship. Also, to those who make it possible for us to ‘live-stream’  on Facebook at 10:45 each Sunday morning, and to post each message on our website (www.fccwylie.org) each Sunday afternoon. We continue to hold our Sunday services with all safety protocols and pre-service sanitizing in place. No Sunday school yet, and the nursery is not available.  We will continue following the protocols as outlined by GA-18 guidance.  Face masks, social distancing, no physical contact. We use bulletins printed untouched by human hands, with songs, etc. printed therein, and pre-packaged communion elements. Offering plates are located at the rear, or giving can be done online at www.fccwylie.org.

 

If you still feel uncomfortable attending, you can join our live-stream on Facebook (at 10:45 am) which includes communion and the worship hymns, or the website, where the message is posted each Sunday afternoon.  We are blessed to have the technology available that allow us to still worship, and those in our church family who have the expertise to post the service online.

 

 

Prayer items: 

Barbara’s son and daughter-in-law COVID-positive. Barbara continues under quarantine. Continue praying for her step-daughter Angie and three children in the loss of Angie’s husband

Donna Hancock is much better. It turns out she was false positive and did not have COVID 19. She has several other health complications

Kim Ramsey would appreciate our prayers for her health and her son Kevin

Our India translator, Sarita Samuel, was not able to have her scheduled surgery, as she tested COVID positive. H

Feel free to contact me with urgent prayer requests, and I will endeavor to include them in my weekly ‘Pastor’s Pen’ texts

                                                             *******

RADIO THIS EVENING: According to data from U.S. Census Bureau, in light of the COVID 19 crisis, over one third of the U.S. population now suffers from depression and related anxiety.  This weekend on Encouragement Live Christian Psychiatrist Dr. Tom Shoaf of the Hope Speaks Clinic joins me “live” to discuss overcoming depression.   

Encouragement Live can be heard Saturday at 7:05 PM central time on American Family Radio (www.afr.net) and on theworshipchannel.org.  Re-broadcast Sunday 9 pm on The Worship Channel.

May our Savior’s grace and peace continue to encourage you as you trust in Him during these challenging times.

Don Hawkins, D. Min.                                                                                                                          Interim Pastor

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