"Bro. Calvin's Comments"

This morning as I write this column, the sky is blue and the temperature is cool. It is refreshing weather, even though it is the last full week of August. It really makes me want to go camping. It also reminds me that the change of seasons is near.

Change is near. Our new church year begins September 6. Some of you will begin serving in “new to you” places in our church. Some of you will continue to serve on committees, as teachers and leaders in on-going ministries of the church. We will start a new Wednesday night ministry – AWANA – which is a significant change in the church’s ministry. Thank you for your willingness to serve the church and community. I encourage everyone to pray for our workers, and that the Lord would continue to send workers to our church. If the Lord prompts you to serve, obey Him and let me or Bro. Max know so that we can get you plugged in to the Lord’s work.

Even though there is change, there are constants as well. Harvest Sunday is still on the second Sunday in September (September 13th). Sunday School classes for all ages and Sunday Worship continue to give everyone an opportunity to worship God, hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, grow in the grace and love of our Lord Jesus, spend time together with the saints, and seek and find ways to help one another and our neighbors.

Change and consistency. These two terms seem so completely opposite of one another, yet they make me think of an event in Israel’s life. Change had come to Israel. Some of the people had returned from the captivity. Construction on the new (second) temple had started. When the foundation of the temple had been laid, the people sang and praised the Lord. However, some in the crowd wept, because they had seen the first temple (Ezra 2:10-13). But the Lord (the one constant in all things), through the prophet Haggai, sent word to the people. He called to the leaders, “Be strong” and to all the people, “Work! For I am with you.” Haggai then told the people, “The final glory of this house will be greater than the first” (Haggai 2:1-9). How was the second temple greater than the first? Jesus himself walked in and worshiped in that second temple.

Change has happened at North Acres. She changed while she was Southside Baptist Church. She changed when she became North Acres Baptist Church. She has changed in the years since. And she will change again in the future. Yet one thing stays the same – Jesus Christ, “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Let us go forward in the work that the Lord has for us now. Let us put our history in perspective, not trying to recapture it, but learning from it. Let us work with clean hands and clean hearts in the anointing power of the Holy Spirit, eagerly anticipating the blessings that the Lord has for us.

Bro. Calvin

Things are a changing! Wednesdays this fall will include the AWANA program for our preschoolers and children. AWANA is a children's club for ages three years old through sixth grade. It is a Bible based kids’ club designed to reach boys and girls with the Gospel of Christ and to train them to serve Him. It is a Bible memory program which seeks to instill character and Godly values in boys and girls. The club meeting consists of three parts: Games, Achievement, and a Bible story time. AWANA is designed as a partnership with parents and guardians to support them as the primary spiritual trainers of their children. The acronym AWANA comes from "APPROVED WORKMAN ARE NOT ASHAMED" (2 Timothy 2:15). The AWANA Kickoff will be Wednesday, September 2, at 6:00 p.m. They will meet each Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. — Note: There will be a vote Sunday Morning, August 30, to change the times for other Wednesday meetings.

Is there someone you know that was not in Sunday School last week?

Would an invitation from you help them to come?

So why not invite them?

Invite someone today to Sunday School and Worship!
I'll See You Sunday! MAX

Praise Report

August Totals
Building Fund  - - - - $4,389.00
Tithes & Offerings  - - - - $17,706.90
Total Receipts  - - - - $22,155.90
Sunday School (8/2-8/23)  - - - - 95  - - - - 91  - - - - 95  - - - - 83
SS at the Arbor  - - - - 12  - - - - 11  - - - - 13  - - - - 13

Year-To-Date
2009 Building Fund  - - - - $40,326.93
2009 Tithes and Offerings  - - - - $145,710.32
2009 Budget Requirements To Date - - - -  $153,951.32
2008-09 Sunday School Average  - - - - 93

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NORTH ACRES BAPTIST CHURCH

SUNDAY

9:00 AM - - - Sunday School

10:15 AM - - - Worship Service

5:00 PM - - - Discipleship Training

6:30 PM - - - Evening Worship

WEDNESDAY

6:00 PM - - - Youth "Unconformed Worship"

 6:00 PM - - - AWANA for Children

6:45 PM - - - Prayer Meeting

7:30 PM - - - Church Choir Practice

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