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PRESS RELEASE
Date: September 1, 2010
Subject: Non-Denominational Cancer Support Ministry
Begins Sunday evening, September 12th - 7:00 PM
First Congregational Church in Emporia
12th Avenue & State Street
Contact: Joe Patterson, Church Deacon (620) 340-3268
Andrew McHenry, Pastor (620) 342-6854
First Congregational Church of Emporia is pleased to announce the beginning of a new cancer support ministry. The goal is to minister with people in the area who are battling cancer – as well as their family members and loved ones.
This ministry is founded on the experience of one of First Congregational Church's Deacons, Joe Patterson. Joe has been in a battle with cancer since May of 2008. The experience has been extremely difficult for him and his family, but also very inspiring in how it has drawn him closer to God and deeper in his faith.
Joe will be leading this ministry. It will begin at First Congregational Church on Sunday evening, September 12th at 7:00 PM. Please enter by the west office door.
More information can be provided by contacting Joe Patterson at (620) 340-3268, or the church office at (620) 342-6854, or by visiting the church website at www.firstchurchemporia.org.
Testimony from Joe Patterson…
“There isn't anything like the fear of losing your life to get you to think about your life.
In the week of May 22, 2008 I was diagnosed with incurable cancer. Dealing with the fear and shock of that news initially was the time that my wife and I now call ‘hell week’. We knew nothing at that point of the battle ahead or even IF there could be a battle. Like most when I heard that word I thought my life was over.
I remember one day as I thought about dying, I simply gave all my worries and fears to my Lord Jesus Christ. He answered me with the knowledge of his love and his grace. That is when I knew I was living with cancer and could fight this disease – that I was living, not dying.
In the following months God spoke to me in ways that helped me understand my life better, why I am who I am, and how he has always been in my life whether I was a willing receiver or not. As my wife and I have often said, I am the one that sometimes needs the most drastic measure to get my attention, and the Lord did get my attention at last.
Now I share my faith and love of the Lord with others whenever the Lord puts those opportunities in my path. The more I share the more God reveals to me.
As Matthew 10:8 says, ‘Freely you have received, freely give.’
As Christians we need each other. We are instructed by the Bible to help each other. Join me and others like me who have been in my situation or with a family member in a similar situation to share living in his word and doing battle together.”
- Joe Patterson
First Congregational Church E-pistle - August 11, 2010
In this e-pistle...
1. VAN ACCIDENT IN KENYA
- prayer needs for the Happy Life Children's Home
2. CHRISTIAN WOMAN STOPS ROBBERY WITH FAITH
- as reported by ABC News
3. HYMNS BY OCCUPATION
- church songs that go along with where we work
4. RUMMAGE, ICE CREAM, AND LIFE TOGETHER
- upcoming things to note at First Congregational Church
5. WHAT NON-CHRISTIANS THINK OF CHRISTIANS?
- commentary on survey results from Scot McKnight of North Park University
Please feel free to forward this e-pistle on to others who are interested!
1. VAN ACCIDENT IN KENYA - prayer needs for the Happy Life Children's Home
Pastor Peter Ndungu recently informed us that there had just been an accident with the HLCH van and one 11-month old child died. There were three adults and five children in the van and they were coming back from the courts. One of the children is being taken to a hospital for a broken leg. The three adults and three children were released from the hospital.
Pray for all concerned in this tragic happening as this is very hard for the staff at the Home. We are thankful for God's mercy! We can be perplexed with the question WHY? Yet, we know God is faithful!
Several days ago I read in an e-mail from a church that decided to give Happy Life $25,000 towards the building programs... The Lord is faithful!
Also pray for the Team going to Happy Life in August: 13 of us! Pray that we will be able to minister to the staff at Happy Life and bring joy and love to the kids.
Also pray that the voting on a new constitution August 4th will not bring f orth any unrest.
- Rev. Jim Powell, U.S. Director for Happy Life Children's Home
Read more news at... http://www.happylifekenya.blogspot.com/
2. CHRISTIAN WOMAN STOPS ROBBERY WITH FAITH
- as reported by ABC News
Held up at gunpoint, a store clerk invoked her faith to turn the desperate thief into a repentant gunman.
When a man tried to rob a MetroPCS cell phone store at gunpoint in Pompano Beach, Fla., store manager Nayara Goncalves, 20, calmly talked to the man about Jesus and her faith until he left without taking any money.
Goncalves said she doesn't know why she began to talk to him about Jesus. “I believe it was the Holy Spirit of God that really made me want to tell him about Jesus,” Goncalves told ABCNews.com. “I would never be able to do that myself. I would never think that God could use me the way that he did,” she said. “[God] impressed me.”
Read the full report at... http://abcnews.go.com/US/faith-stops-florida-robbery/story?id=11288067
3. HYMNS BY OCCUPATION
- church songs that go along with where we work
- The Dentist's Hymn:
.....Crown Him With Many Crowns - The Weatherman's Hymn:
.....There Shall Be Showers of Blessing - The Contractor's Hymn:
.....The Church's One Foundation - The Tailor's Hymn:
.....Holy, Holy, Holy - The Golfer's Hymn:
.....There is A Green Hill Far Away - The Politician's Hymn:
..... Standing on the Promises - The Optometrist's Hymn:
.....Open My Eyes That I Might See - The IRS Agent's Hymn:
.....I Surrender All
Read the full list at... http://heavenawaits.com/lightside/hymns.html
4. RUMMAGE, ICE CREAM, AND LIFE TOGETHER
- upcoming things to note at First Congregational Church
- This Thursday, August 12th
7:30 a.m. - CHURCH BREAKFAST at Braums - This Friday, August 13th
10:00 a.m. - BIBLE STUDY at the church with Kathy O'Mara - This Sunday evening, August 15th
5:00 to 7:00 PM - ICE CREAM SOCIAL @ the church - Next Friday & Saturday, August 20th & 21st
RUMMAGE SALE... Great bargains!
7:00 a.m. to 6:00 PM Friday
7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday - Next Saturday, August 21st
8:00 a.m. - MEN'S BREAKFAST @ the church. Cost = $3
1:00 p.m. - BOWLING with Dale, Art, and the fellows from the West Riley group home. Come and be a part of the fun!
Location: Flint Hills Lanes - The Wednesday after Labor Day, September 8th
6:30 PM - MIDWEEK FALL KICK-OFF PICNIC We'll provide the hot dogs & hamburgers. Please bring a side dish to share with everyone. Games, fellowship & fun! For all ages. - The Thursday after Labor Day, September 9th
6:30 PM - POTLUCK & ANNUAL MEETING All church members are requested to attend. In Congregational polity the church belongs to Jesus, and is governed by how He guides His people. Everyone has a vote. Please come! - The Sunday after Labor Day, September 12th
9:45 a.m. - MOVIE: "Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace" - in the chapel
This movies looks at the life and discipleship of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who opposed Nazism and was ultimately killed in a concentration camp. It's an account of Christian struggle and bravery.
It will be shown in 2 parts, concluding on the following Sunday - September 19th. - Saturday, September 18th
9:30 a.m. - SISTERS IN FAITH meets at the church. They'll be learning how to do facebook together, along with a good presentation on “USING THE POWER OF PRAYER TO FORGIVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS”. All women are welcome.
LIFE TOGETHER CAMPAIGN BEGINS...
- Sunday, September 19th
8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Guest preacher: REV. BOB FORD
Bob is a member of the English section of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer International Theological Society. He served 35 years in ministry as a chaplain, campus minister, and pastor. He is the father of Floy Schwilling's grandson-in-law, Colin Ford.
9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - CHURCH MINISTRY FAIR in Douglass Hall. Different church ministries will have display tables. Come and see all that the church has to offer!
Also --> Copies of the book Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer will be available, along with 40-day reading plans. Don't miss out!
Also --> Small groups will be forming. Are you interested? Call the office to sign up! - Monday, September 20th
7:00 a.m. - DAILY WORSHIP begins. We will have 40 days of daily worship, with short daily chapel services taking place Monday through Saturday, up through October 28th. Services will be about 30 minutes in length. The Lord's Supper will be served every Thursday morning. Friday morning chapel services will be led by Christine Chambers, and Saturday morning ones will be led by Rick Carl. - Saturday, October 9th
MID-AMERICA CONGREGATIONAL FELLOWSHIP Annual Meeting...Come and enjoy fellowship with sister churches around Kansas and the midwest. - Sunday, October 17th
7:00 PM - CHURCH CHOIR-FEST... Join us for a service with choirs from Congregational, Methodist, Baptist, and other denominations.
All kinds of church information is available at...
http://www.firstchurchemporia.org
5. WHAT NON-CHRISTIANS THINK OF CHRISTIANS?
- commentary on survey results from Scot McKnight of North Park University
The big theory out there today is that non-Christians have a negative stereotype of Christians, especially of evangelicals. They say Christians are hypocritical, judgmental, anti-gay etc. For some reasons, many have embraced the negative stereotype and turned against the Christians... you see his point. If someone else has a negative stereotype we often criticize the stereotype and the stereotyper -- we might take them to court. He suggests there is such a thing as “Christophobic.” Stereotypes are not rooted in reality but ignorance and prejudice. Think about what our culture thinks about women in the sciences.
Read the full comment at...
http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2010/07/are-christians-really-7.html