FaithFaith411 411

Monthly Newsletter of Faith Community Church Connelly Springs, NC

March 2016

Pastor Patrick’s Ponderings… Jesus told his disciples in Ma�hew 16 that it was necessary for him to go to

Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the

elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the religious law. He would be

killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. But Peter took him

aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,”

he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away

from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely

from a human point of view, not from God’s” (Ma�hew 16:21-23). So crucial is the

cross to our faith that Jesus reminds Peter, and us, to remove the cross is satanic.

The cross of Christ was no accident. The cross was accomplished through the

passion of Jesus, it was ordained by the Father’s plan, its purpose was to save

sinners, and the result should be the praise of the saints. Paul highlights these

truths in Gala+ans 1:4-5, Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father

planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God

forever and ever! Amen.

The Passion of Christ

Paul said Jesus gave his life for our sins…

No one took Jesus’ life from him; He willingly laid it down on His own

accord (John 10:18). Why did He die on the cross for us? Did He do it because we

deserved it? Did He do it because we were good and just needed a li�le help? The

Bible is clear that none is righteous and no one does good (Romans 3:10;12b).

Scripture also illustrates that we did not deserve Jesus’ sacrifice: Because of our

faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege (Romans 5:2).

Jesus’ ul+mate reason for laying down his life was to glorify the Father. Jesus said

in John 17:1; 4, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory

Keep in mind… 3-1

Outreach/Missions Team Mtg. 3-8 & 22

Elders meetings

3-10

Stewardship Team Mtg. 3-14

Women of Faith

3-20

Palm Sunday

3-24

Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service

3-25

Good Friday

3-27

Easter

3-28

Band of Brothers Mtg.

Con+nued on page four

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Dear Friends, Thank you for your dona+on of

$4,442.00 to our Wall of Faith program raised through

the 2016 Souper Bowl. We are truly grateful for your

con+nued support which enables us to provide

quality end of life care for our pa+ents, families, and

communi+es regardless of their ability to pay. We

honor you by displaying your church photograph at

the Burke Pallia+ve Care Center. Also, we display your

church name with our Wall of Faith supporters at vari-

ous Burke County events. With deep gra+tude and

apprecia+on.

Aaron Housh,

President and CEO, Burke Hospice and Pallia+ve Care.

Nursery Help Needed! Jana Farris, our new Nursery Coordinator, is seeking

volunteers to keep our FCC children (infants to age

5) on Sunday mornings during Sunday school, 9:30 –

10:15 AM. She would like to have enough people to

serve on a rota+on basis to make this possible.

Some Sundays, there may not be any children in our

nursery during the Sunday School hour, and on those

days, the person assigned would be able to go to a

Sunday School class of their choice. This also offers

the opportunity to help minister to our children with-

out missing the 10:30 AM worship service!

If you are interested, please

respond or contact Jana Farris

at jlangness24@yahoo.com .

Quilting Supplies Needed Jeane�e Norman has volunteered to collect and mail items

to the Free Quilts Organiza+on. Free Quilts is a group of

volunteers who turn donated materials into quilts. Since

1994, thy have given more that 10,000 quilts to people

facing adversity, including natural disaster survivors, people

ba�ling cancer, and the homeless, poor and elderly. They

locate these folks through churches, shelters, schools,

etc. They are in need of sewing supplies, especially baJng,

flannel, fleece, needles, thread, old scraps and thimbles.

They will also accept anything else sewing related. If you

are willing to donate any of the items listed above, please

bring them to Jeane�e. Thank You!

New ELDERS Installed New elders (from leM to right) Kevin Farris, Karen

Gath, and Steve Lewis were installed by Pastor Kyle

Canerday during the worship service on Sunday

January 31st. The installa+on was followed with them

serving communion to the church family. Our thanks

to Carroll and Aleta Hoyle for their faithful service

comple+ng three years on the elder board.

Sunday, March 7 Munch and Movie

It is our plan to take the student ministry to eat at Taco Bell followed by watching the

movie Risen at Carmike Theatres in Hickory Sunday, March 7th. We are asking for parents to

sign a release form. In addi+on, we ask that the students bring $10.00 for the movie. The

student ministry budget will supply the food.

Student Ministry

CCCChildren’s Ministryhildren’s Ministryhildren’s Ministryhildren’s Ministry UPDATE: The children’s ministry team leaders have made great strides in puJng

together an exci+ng, energe+c, engaging discipleship environment for our children on

Sunday nights. The goal is to officially kick-off this new ministry with a four week trial

run during the final four weeks of our current Grow Group schedule. The trial run will

set a great founda+on for the next Grow Group ten week session. We know God has

great things in store for our children. Thank you for your pa+ence.

Current Series: The Ba�le Plan for Prayer

The students had the opportunity to watch the War Room. The movie was a great

founda+on to begin our new series on prayer. This series will be an eight week study to

equip our students and to encourage them to go to their Loving Savior for all of their

needs. We are so excited on how God will use this study to display His power and

presence in the hearts and lives of our teens.

Sunday Mornings for Children: 9:30-10:30 AM

Children from 1st –5th grade enjoy Mrs. Tammie Canerday on Sunday mornings during the 9:30

hour. Tammie has such a passion for children and love for the Lord and it is evident by her

teaching. If you are looking for a way to get your children interac+ve with the truth of God’s

Word, we strongly encourage you to bring them to Mrs. Canerday’s class.

Beginning Sunday, March 6: New Study during Sunday School

Disciples Path for Student Ministry will be led by Pastor Patrick. This curriculum will help students

discover what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

CRASH Ministry: Children will experience a gospel-centric worship

during the 10:30 hour. The Gospel-Project shows how the stories of the Bible

point to the person and work of Jesus.

Parents, feel free to drop off your infants in the nursery and toddlers in the JAM

Room before service. Your baby will be loved and cared for, and your toddler will

engage in a worship experience tailored to minister to your child.

Ponderings part 2... back to you. I brought glory to you here on earth by comple-ng the

work you gave me to do.” Another reason Jesus gave up his life was

because He loved His own. Jesus said in John 10: “I am the Good

Shepherd. The good Shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep” (John

10:11). And again in John 15:12-13, “This is my commandment: Love

each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love

than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

The Plan of the Father

Paul con+nued just as God our Father planned…

When Adam and Eve sinned against God, God was not caught

off guard. He was not pacing in heaven wondering what He would do

because of their disobedience. 1 Peter 1:20 states, “God chose him

(Christ) as your ransom long before the world began…” The ESV

translates it: “He (Jesus) was foreknown before the founda-on of the

world…” Again, when Peter preached his first sermon on Pentecost he

said, “This Jesus, delivered up to the definite plan and foreknowledge

of God…” (Acts 1:23). God had already set in mo+on a way for our

salva+on before the founda+on of the world. This is why in the midst

of the curse God could say without hesita+on that one would be born

of the seed of woman who would crush the serpent’s head. All of

history either points to the cross or flows from it. Just as God planned

for the first coming of Christ so He has already fixed a day for His

return (Acts 1:7; 17:31).

The Purpose of the Cross

Paul adds, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live…

God’s plan for our salva+on stemmed from His jus+ce for sin

and His love for us. The cross is a vivid reminder of the horrors of sin

and the hope of salva+on. 1 John 1:7b; 9 states, “the blood of Jesus his

Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and

just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The cross is not supposed to be a pre�y picture. Some+mes I think we

roman+cize it. The cross was violent, brutal, and bloody. It is where all

the sin of mankind was placed upon the Sinless One. He who knew no

sin became sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) in order to absorb God’s jus+ce on

our behalf. The cross is where the jus+ce of God violently collided

with His mercy and love. As God’s wrath was being poured out upon

His Son for our sins, simultaneously the blood flowed from his back,

his hands, his feet, his head and eventually his pierced side to offer us

grace and mercy, forgiveness for our sins. Therefore, when John

writes, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins’” he reminds us

God is just because jus+ce was dealt upon his son. God never winks at

sin. God doesn’t brush sin under the rug, no ma�er how minimal we

might consider it to be. Every sin must be paid for. Every sin must

meet the jus+ce of God. And because of the cross John states, “the

blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” This is Good News!

And this Good News pours forth from the good God who loves you

Con+nued on page five

MarchMarch BirthdaysBirthdays

2 Ronnie Abee 2 Lila Burney 2 Ann Catherine Hatley 2 Micol Hatley 7 Ryan Stamey 8 Jerry Baker 9 Blaine Blackwell 9 Cindy Phelps 9 Phyllis Yoder 10 Natalie Baker 10 Carol Brinkley 10 Carolyn Murphy 11 Morgan Dale 16 Kevin Farris 20 Candace Stoudenmire 21 Jaron Johnson 23 Ann Blackwell 25 Mona Powell 25 Delayne Sherrill 27 Kyle Canerday 30 Eloise Campbell

May God bless you!May God bless you!

ThankThankThankThank You!!You!!You!!You!!

Ponderings concluded and me. Paul states in Romans 5:8, but God shows his love

for us in that while we were s-ll sinners, Christ died for us.

Through Jesus and his cross, God rescues us from this evil

world (Ephesians 2:1-6). We are no longer slaves to sin

(Romans 6:17) but slaves to righteousness. We no longer

belong to the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13) but

transferred into the kingdom of light. We are no longer our

own (1 Corinthians 6:19) but indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We

no longer have to fear death, instead possess resurrec+on

hope (1 Corinthians 15:55). Oh, the glories of the cross!

The Praise of the Saints Paul ended by saying, All glory to God forever and ever!

Amen.

The only appropriate response to God’s redemp+ve

work through the Suffering Servant is to give Him all of our

praise. God is glorious and deserves all the glory! There will

come a day when we will be able to dwell in the presence

of our Great King! Jesus died upon the cross. He was buried.

But on the third day He rose from the grave! Death could

not hold our Conquering King. Jesus told John to record in

Revela+on 1:17;18, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the

Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever

and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave!” Jesus

has all authority. Death has lost its s+ng. There will be a

day, for those who have placed their faith and trust in

Jesus’ atoning work on the cross for their sins, when the

saints will stand face to face with their great Treasure (1

Corinthians 13:12; Revela+on 22:4). John writes in

Revela+on 22:3-5, “No longer will there be a curse upon

anything. For the throne of God and the Lamb will be there,

and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face,

and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be

no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord will

shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.”

This Easter might you look upon the cross and see

the passion of Christ, the plan of the Father, and the

purpose of Christ’s sufferings. And might all of this lead

your hearts into gospel-centric, God-glorifying praise!

The utmost importance: Christ died. He was buried.

He rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3).

-Pastor Patrick

We would like to thank

FCC for their love and support. We are over-

whelmed by your generosity. We thank you for

puJng together a wonderful baby shower on Em-

ery's behalf. The giMs given will help us provide for

her needs. We love you all and appreciate each of

you. The Sheldons

TOWN HALLTOWN HALLTOWN HALLTOWN HALL MEETING MEETING MEETING MEETING

with POTLUCK Covered dish luncheonwith POTLUCK Covered dish luncheonwith POTLUCK Covered dish luncheonwith POTLUCK Covered dish luncheon

Sunday, March 20th Immediately following worship

“The grass withers, the flower “The grass withers, the flower “The grass withers, the flower “The grass withers, the flower

fades, but the word of our fades, but the word of our fades, but the word of our fades, but the word of our GGGGod od od od

will stand forever.”will stand forever.”will stand forever.”will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

from the Family Room... Shower for Baby Emery Mei Lia Sheldon

FCC officially

welcomed Emery

Mei Lia Sheldon on

Sunday, February

21st with a baby

shower, hosted by

the Women of

Faith.

Baby Emery begins Journey HOME! We con+nue to give the LORD praise for His faithfulness to us through-

out our adop+on of Emery. However, we want you to know that God

used your prayers, support, and generosity to help bring baby girl

Sheldon home! We look forward to sharing with Emery how God used

His people to bring her into our family. When I say “our family,” I mean

it beyond the Sheldon name. She is not only a part of our family, but she

is a part of yours too! Thank you for coming alongside us in this faith

journey to help make the desires of our heart reality—to God be the

glory! It is our prayer that one day Emery’s heart will be drawn to the

love of God because of how God’s love poured out of you. We are

thankful she is home. But the cry of our heart is that her real ci+zenship

will not be China or the United States but in heaven with our Loving Sav-

ior and Lord.

Love, the Sheldons

Service ofService ofService ofService of BaptismBaptismBaptismBaptism

On Sunday, Feb.

21st we celebrated

the public profes-

sion of faith and

step of obedience

as Erik Bentley,

Alyssa Jacks, and

Dalaina Stallings

followed the Lord,

Jesus, in bap+sm.

Praise to the Lord!

Holy Week Services

Thursday, Mar. 24th @ 6 PM

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Pastor Jeffrey and Morgan! On Sunday, January 31st the congrega+on held a

recep+on for Pastor Jeffrey and Morgan Dale in

apprecia+on for their service and to wish them God

speed as they move to new areas of serving the Lord.

6:45 AM at the Trail of Faith in Valdese

6th Kent & Kathy Loomis Wendy Abee & Linsay Kennedy Liz Dupuy & Debra Kennedy McGees & Stoudenmire

13th Hugh & Ann Blackwell Bridget Treadway & Lori Blackwell Starr-Nell B. & Paula Metcalf Bernards & Fryes

20th Debbie Benfield & Gail Powell Becky Beech Tina Farris & Karen Gath Blackwells & Cli9ons

27th Tim & Suzy Bernard NO J.A.M (Easter) NO CRASH (Easter) Berry & Loomises

The WOF will meet March 14th at noon. We will have

lunch at Maria's in Morganton. Maria's is an Italian res-

taurant next to More Lace. If you would like to carpool,

meet at the Rock School at 11:30. All ladies are encour-

aged to attend for a fun time of fellowship.

NEXT MEETING

MONDAY, March 28th 6 PM @ FCC

and

Grace Offering: The January Grace Offering distributed in February

was $2260.33; $335.36 was carried over from January, so the total

amount available for distribu+on was $2595.69. Funds were dis-

tributed in the following manner:

· $50.00– Assistance to a church member

· $205.48– Good Samaritan Clinic

· $100 – Pregnancy Care Center

· $100 – Christ Centered Recovery

· $250 – Back2Back (Gabo & Kelly Velasco)

· $100 – House of Refuge

· $100 – Christopher Bumgarner

· $200 – House of Refuge (to purchase meats)

· $100 – Paul Ollis funeral expense

· $500 – Burke Hospice (Souper Bowl for Hospice)

· $250 – Faith in Community Day

· $200 – Cam Monroe funeral expenses

· $200 – Emergency medical assistance

· $200 – Gi9 Card for special need

· $40.21 – Carried over to March. The first 11% of our weekly offering goes as a +the to meet needs in our

community and around the world. You are a part of this vital ministry

when you give.

Monthly General Budget need:

$19,421.00

February giving: $22,189.61

*Variance: $3,896.11

Building Fund Giving

February giving: $1,530.00

*Total: $3,430.00

*Year to date

GRACE

Giving

Nursery J•A•M CREW

March Nuts and Bolts...

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Outreach/

Missions team

mee+ng 6 PM

2

Choir 7 PM

Praise Team

8:30 PM

3 4 5

6 7 8

Elders Mtg.

6 PM

9

Choir 7 PM

Praise Team

8:30 PM

10

Stewardship

Team mee+ng

6 PM

11 12

13 14

Women of

Faith Lunch

15 16

Choir 7 PM

Praise Team

8:30 PM

17 18 19

20

PALM

SUNDAY

21 22

Elders Mtg.

6 PM

23

Choir 7 PM

Praise Team

8:30 PM

24

MAUNDY

THURSDAY

Tenebrae Ser-

vice @ 6 PM

25

GOOD

FRIDAY

26

27 28

Band of Bro.

Mee+ng 6 PM

29 30

Choir 7 PM

Praise Team

8:30 PM

31

Phone 828-874-1255 Mail: PO Box 957, Valdese, NC 28690 www.faithgoandgo.org

March 2016 Sunday Schedule 8:45 AM Praise Tm Reh.

9:15 AM Choir Rehearsal

9:30 AM Sunday School

10:30 AM Worship