Script #114

Beloved,

Before reading on, please read this flyer!

Excellent!

This will be a great opportunity for you!

Uh, I don't mean just for you!

That wouldn't be very, uh, Christian.

This is a great opportunity for you to honor Him by inviting and offering to transport neighbors, family, friends, and others to this great evening of music and fellowship!

You will be glad you did!

People will be blessed!

He will be honored!

And, uh, whenever we bless, we are...

Also, if you're still concerned about the future of locally owned businesses in Boone County and are still staggered by what happened to Sullivan's and several businesses in downtown Belvidere and would like to be a part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem, pick up your Pacemaker Countryside Markets "Community Sharing Program" card today for a hassle-free way of supporting significant anchors to our county knowing our family of faith gets a 2.5% rebate every month for every dollar that you spend!

Psst.

Pacemaker also has one of the best kept secrets in the area - an incredibly great and authentic Mexican restaurant open daily until about 7.

Again, you will be glad you picked up your card from the church office, Karen, or me.

Boone County and Belvidere will be blessed!

First will be blessed!

He will be honored!

And, uh, whenever we bless, we are...

Blessings and Love!

Script #143

Beloved,

Before reading #1, please read Ezekiel 2:1-7.

Really, not joking, read Ezekiel 2:1-7 first.

1. Only a person who thinks an elephant is a mouse with glandular problems does not "get" what's going/gone wrong in our world, nation, families, churches, denominations, and even District 100.  It's all unraveling before our eyes!  If it were not for such rebelliously deluded and defiant recipients of His consistent graces, the answer could be "seen" as so simple: 2 Chronicles 7:14.  There will be a special prayer meeting in the chapel (soft music, open prayer, leading by the...) at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday (5/8).  While there will be no restrictions to adorations, confessions, intercessions, and supplications, there will be an emphasis on the many teachers, coaches, administrators, support staff, parents, and children who are being discouraged/alienated/hurt in District 100 so unnecessarily.  We will begin at 5:00 p.m. sharp and conclude at 6:00 p.m. at the opening of Deeper Discipleship;

2. Speaking of DD, remember, beginning on 5/15, it begins at 5:30 p.m. and concludes at 7:00 p.m.  throughout the summer;

3. Please check out www.belvpresbyterian.org and www.bnnsradio.com along with weekly worship bulletins for important information regarding 5/22 and 6/8;

4. Speaking of www.bnnsradio.com, I rarely herald something related to me.  For example, you will rarely read/see/hear me heralding the radio version of www.koppdisclosure.com on www.bnnsradio.com that hits the airwaves every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.  While it's a deep matter for me that you wouldn't understand if I had to explain it, I'd rather you listen to Confessing Moments, Crazy Love, or Have You Heard?  However, I'm gonna make an exception and encourage you to listen in live tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. or go to the archive when you can.  When I was a homiletics professor - uh, still am on occasion - I warned seminarians about paying attention to affirmation/antagonism about their sermons/messages/homilies; and if I have to explain that, you wouldn't understand anyway.  Moretheless, yesterday's message during the first service was not repeated in the second service because of the wonderful music of Dan Holmes that aligned our hearts together in Him.  Many folks who attended the first service have urged me to, uh, preach/deliver/whatever it asap.  So while we can never repeat a kairos moment, you can hear a summary with feedback from Kathie, Bill, and Tony tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. on www.bnnsradio.com; and

5. Don't forget to pick up your "Pacemaker Countryside Markets Community Sharing Program" card from Karen or me (see below for more information).  Simply, all you have to do is present the card during a purchase and our family of faith receives a 2.5% rebate for every dollar that you spend!

Blessings and Love!

Script #142

Beloved,

Please invite folks to the homecoming for Dan Holmes during the second service this Sunday (10:00 a.m.) as he honors our Lord through his music ministry!

Parenthetically, while Dan will not be at the first service, we will still worship in the chapel as usual at 7:20 a.m.

While hospital visitations are a top, top, top priority of my undershepherding, our family of faith has more and more and more saints in nursing homes who may be called home to Jesus at any moment.  While that is good news because heaven is the best and why we worship Him the most, that verity has caused me to rethink my weekly calendar; and I want you to know what He has decided for me.

While hospital visitations will remain a top, top, top priority, I will be visiting, on a rotating basis, at least one nursing home many times every week.  While I visit daily the hospitalized in crisis through His providential healing, I will now add visits to at least one nursing home many times every week as a top, top, top priority. 

I have no idea how this will affect lesser priorities; but I feel our Lord has called me to expand this part of my wineskin and wanted you to know.

As our family of faith continues to add new members so steadily and solidly, we have increasing opportunities to love, bless, disciple, and so on.

Please pray for the energies and calendar management that will honor Him by being available to His.

Blessings and Love!

Script #141

Dearly Beloved,

All Midweek activities continue tonight - see #139 for more scheduling information - including Intercession Prayer in Chapel, Awesome Angels, Doves, A'Pealing Sounds, and Chancel Choir.

A very special edition of Deeper Discipleship commences at 6:00 p.m. and concludes at 7:00 p.m.  While President Obama will not talk about it, private and public education on all levels will not teach it, media will not report it, and many Americans refuse to see/hear it, we will scratch the surface of the truth about it, talk about it, and then, most critically, pray about it.  If you plan to come, please do not be late as every minute counts!!!

Blessings and Love!

Script #140

Beloved,

Quickies:

1. Don't forget our spring clean-up on Saturday at 9:00 a.m.

2. There's still time for you not to miss out on April 24 - tomorrow - before 9:00 a.m.

3. Check out script #139

Blessings and Love!

Script #139

Beloved,

Reminders:

1. Snooze and lose!  Don't forget to be a blessing in 48 hours!  If you don't know what that means, caught ya deleting!  You do not want to miss this opportunity!

2. There are much deeper issues beneath the horrors of Boston (see below).  Deeper Discipleship will take a detour this Wednesday (6:00 - 7:00 p.m.) to scratch the surface of what's really going on/wrong in America.  Linked to our Midweek activities, DD begins at 6:00 p.m. punctually and ends at 7:00 p.m. punctually.  This DD will address the issues, provide an open forum for discussion, and conclude with extended prayer.  You can catch a live  preview tomorrow on www.bnnsradio.com at 11:30 a.m.

3. Have you had your picture taken for the directory?  C'mon!  Every Sunday after the second service in the chapel!

Dates:

1. "Mo Howard Ministries in Concert" on the corner of Lincoln and Main on May 22; beginning at 6:30 p.m. with "East Lincoln Avenue."  More information available via www.bnnsradio.com, www.belvpresbyterian.org, bulletins, and newsletters.

2. VBS Kickoff and community picnic on June 8 at 1:00 p.m.  Again, more information available via www.bnnsradio.com, www.belvpresbyterian.org, bulletins, and newsletters.

3. July 7 is the date for the third annual Patriotic Celebration at the Belvidere Community Building at 10:00 a.m.  Rehearsals for the community choir in our sanctuary (first one was yesterday) are May 19 (2:00 p.m. in our sanctuary) and July 5 (TBA at the BCB).

4. Midweek continues through May 8.

5. Deeper Discipleship will continue through the summer; beginning a little earlier (5:30 p.m.) and concluding at the same time (7:00 p.m.) but meeting in the Gathering Room avec goodies!

Blessings and Love!

Script #138

Beloved,

Mitch Zimber has just left for several months of study in Japan; and our Lord has provided an opportunity for us to encourage his academic adventure with useful tokens of personal affection.

Specifically, studying abroad is very expensive - books, lodging, food, travel, etc., etc., etc., - and by sending some necessities like toiletries, packaged foods, gum, AA batteries, toilet paper, treats, beef jerky, office supplies, and so on, Mitch will not have to divert precious resources ($) from his studies for 'em.

So as we announced in worship yesterday, we are collecting those items - a table in the office is reserved for the pile - this week and asking you to drop off goodies for Mitch through Thursday so we can ship on Friday.

BTW, if you would like to help pay for the postage, please write a check made out to "First Presbyterian Church" designated "Mitch" or give cash to Karen.

Blessings and Love!