Love Unbounded, Wonderful, Deep, and Strong

by Dr. Jeff Mathis

At the end of our Sunday morning worship service these last weeks, our congregational response has been the chorus of a hymn by Fanny Crosby titled, "Praise Him, Praise Him." As we have sung it, it's not just the melody that resonates with me; it's the profound message it carries, particularly the line, "Love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong." 

These words capture the essence of Jesus's place in our lives and the depth of His love for us.

God's love for us through His Son, Jesus, is unbounded—infinite, immeasurable, and beyond our comprehension. Jesus stretches the limits of our worldly understanding and reaches beyond the boundaries and limitations we may construct. 

Those who have tasted God's love know it fills us with awe and amazement. God's love never ceases to be a source of wonder because it continually reveals new facets of God's character and grace. 

The depth of Jesus's love is unfathomable. In times of joy, Christ's love is our celebration, and in moments of sorrow, it's our solace. His love is our anchor in the turbulent seas of life. Nothing is trifling about the love that Jesus offers us. 

And we profess, of course, that Jesus's love is strong and unwavering. This kind of love sustains us through trials and empowers us to overcome challenges. It's a love that never wavers, a steady presence in our lives, and a source of strength when we feel weak.

As we prepare to gather in the Mission and Fellowship Center this Wednesday night for our first Dawnings meeting, I can't help but think about the significance of our congregational response. Our congregational meeting on Wednesday evening represents a new chapter in our journey as a church family. It's our first dedicated gathering to share our personal stories, providing a starting point for discerning God's promising future for our church.

Our stories are a testament to the unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong love we sing about at the end of worship. The stories we will share will reflect how Jesus's love has touched and transformed our lives. Sharing our stories is not just about recounting our experiences; it's about bearing witness to the work of Christ in our midst.

In the spirit of the love we proclaim at the end of worship, I invite you to join us at 5:30 PM for a potluck meal before the meeting begins. It's more than just a meal; it's a time for us to practice the love that is unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong. It's an opportunity to come together as a church family, sample the tasty food we've brought, share laughter, and strengthen the bonds that bind us. 

As we prepare for this congregational meeting, let's carry the melody of "Praise Him, Praise Him" in our hearts and be inspired by the depth and strength of Jesus's love. Together, we can embark on this exciting journey of sharing our stories, discerning God's path for our church, and practicing a love that knows no bounds.

NEW Bible Study to Begin THIS Monday, September 25

A Bible Study will begin Monday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m. in the Gathering Room.  Janet Ford will lead a study based on the book Praying Backwards by Bryan Chapell.  Books ($15) are available in the church office. Plan to come and learn different ways to pray.

Mission Moment 5.13.23

Rev. Xiomara Reboyras-Ortiz 

 Senior Pastor, Comunidad Cristiana Nuevo Pacto in DeLand, FL

 “Don’t pray about it.”

“You can’t pray for those irrelevant things.”

 “You ask God for the important and big things, not for the little things.” 

These were some of the responses I received as a child to some of my prayer requests. And I believed, if the instruction was coming from the Christian adults in my life, then it must be true. That’s how in my early years of Christian formation, prayer became a confusing and frightening process. On the one hand, there was the fear of offending God with imprudent, incorrect or unimportant words and prayers. On the other hand, there was the confusion between my need to be heard by God and my ignorance of what was important or relevant enough to require or deserve a prayer. The confusion began to feel a lot like pain because, in my preteen years, those little irrelevant things were very, very important. The questions then were about faith… is it worth praying, believing, waiting for what you want or need? Even faith in myself; how much of what I am and desire is relevant enough to deserve to be heard by God?

With time, the pages of the Bible revealed to me some necessary truths about prayer. In 1 John 5:15: “And if we know that He hears us; whatever we ask; we know that we have what we asked of him.” Also, John 14:13: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Finally, Matthew 21:22: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” 

Whatever, whatever, whatever… without condition of greatness or importance aside from myself and my need for God’s intervention in my life and in my reality. The answer to prayers was not conditioned to the relevance or greatness of the request; rather it was the relevance and greatness of the one who listened to my prayer, according to His infinite love, that determined the answer to it. 

It was not the importance of my request that made God listen to me; it was through the importance and relevance that I received through the love and blood of Jesus that I could and should “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

In the midst of the complicated, painful and convulsive realities of adult life and ministry, I sometimes feel like that little child, wondering if my prayer is now too big, too risky, too daring, even too irreverent. Then I hear God’s voice saying again, “whatever, whatever, whatever.” I hear God’s Word reminding me that as a mother that “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?” (Mt. 7:11). 

Whatever, whatever, whatever; nothing is too small, nothing is too big NOT to pray for it. Whatever the prayer, my loving Father will be glorified.

Pray. . .Give. . .Go.

Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!

We heard the nursery was rockin’ on Sunday with songs and dance to the story of Jonah! 
Thank you, Sandi Allen, Lexi Allen, and Reagan Devoe for making the nursery a fun place to be!

Next Sunday, September 17, Pearl Hall and Carrie Nelson will be “rockin’” in the nursery. 
Thank you, Pearl and Carrie!

On September 10, Sandi Allen is in charge of the nursery.  Thank you Sandi!

There is still room on the schedule to serve “the least of these”
on Sunday mornings.  It is a blessing to see their smiles and enthusiasm as you spend
time with our infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. 
Please contact Cheryl Beck (cabeck@ncsu.edu) if you would like to help.

Recipes Appreciated!

Each week we include a recipe in the Church Chimes and we hope that you are enjoying reading and trying them. You can add your favorite recipes to the Chimes by sending them to Cheryl Beck at cabeck@ncsu.edu. This is an ongoing WMU project.

Thanks for participating!

Sunday School and Childcare is Available!

Homecoming 2023 Is Sunday, October 15

We are thrilled to announce a very special Homecoming celebration as we honor Dr. Bob Holquist for his remarkable 40 years of dedicated service as our Minister of Music. This momentous occasion calls for a grand reunion, and we are calling all FBC Choir alumni to join us in this joyous event.

On Homecoming Sunday, we will gather on October 15 in worship to celebrate Dr. Holquist's incredible contributions to our church and community. Prepare your vocal cords, as all former FBC Choir members are invited to return and raise their voices during the 10:30 AM worship service. Let us fill the sanctuary with the harmonious sounds of praise and gratitude!

In addition to the exciting reunion of our FBC Choir, we are honored to welcome former FBC pastor, Rev. Ed Beddingfield to fill our pulpit. Presently serving as the pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Buies Creek, NC, Rev. Beddingfield will grace our service with his leadership. 

After the worship service, we will continue the festivities with a feast for the ages in the Mission and Fellowship Center. It will be a time of fellowship, laughter, and reunion. This is an opportunity not to be missed as we commemorate Dr. Holquist's extraordinary tenure and the impact he has made on our church family.

Please help us spread the word about Homecoming 2023. In particular, share this announcement with any FBC Choir alumni or former members of our congregation who may not be aware of this special Homecoming celebration. Let's come together to make this day truly spectacular!

Save the date, mark your calendars, and join us on October 15 for a day filled with reunion, celebration, and gratitude. We look forward to seeing you there!

Grits and Sausage Casserole

Ingredients
2 cups water
1/2 cup uncooked grits
4 cups grated cheddar cheese
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound sausage

Instructions
Cook sausage, drain.  Cook grits in 2 cups water.  Mix all ingredients.  Pour into 13”x9” baking pan.  Let set overnight in refrigerator.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for 50-55
minutes.

– Provided by Ruth McConnell

Grits and Sausage Casserole

Click here to download a printable version.

--Provided by Ruth McConnell

A Message from Carol Cloer to the Youth at First Baptist Church

We have all been on long journeys. We think of them in terms of vacations, trips to Grandma’s house and major events or big venues like ballgames and amusement parks. Journeys also include changes in our normal routine. A Journey can be physical, but it can also be spiritual. We are all on our own spiritual journeys. Sometimes our paths cross with others and we travel together for a time and then move on. When the time comes to go, it can be challenging for both the one leaving to continue their personal journey and those they leave behind, with whom they have traveled for a time. 

As most of you know by now, that time has come for me. I pray all the best for you guys. I challenge you to be strong as you are confronted with things in life that might cause you to stumble. Be brave when you are faced with circumstances that are new or difficult. Hold on to your faith and each other when the road is hard and lift each other up daily in prayer. Be a family of faith that supports each other in trials and celebrates with each other in triumphs. By supporting each other through your daily lives and holding each other accountable in love, you will all grow stronger in your faith. 

I wish you all the best as our journeys part. I know that you all have great things ahead of you and l look forward to hearing from you as you grow into the amazing 20 somethings I know you will be! 

Remember when Peter saw Jesus walking on the water during the storm? Peter said, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus answered, “Come.” At first, Peter was doing pretty well. Bur do you remember what happened next? Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and started watching the waves and he began to sink. The lesson is, keep your eyes on Jesus! Encourage each other and help each other keep your eyes on Him as you walk the path that God has laid out for you, both individually and together! 

You will be in my prayers always. 

In Christ, Carol 

Please join us for a reception immediately following Worship
on Sunday, September 24 as we thank Carol Cloer for her ministry with us. 

Clothing Donations Needed

We have a clothes closet for our students in need at Jackson Community School and are currently in need of belts (both male & female), bras/sports bras in larger sizes (L, XL, 2XL). Also, hot weather clothing such as shorts, short sleeve tops, etc. in larger sizes.

I hope we can collect some donations of these items with the help of our congregation. There will be a collection box in the Loving Kindness Room. Thank you for your consideration. –Brooke Drum