Songs We Sing, 12/29 - 12/30/12 - Fellowship Bible Church

This week we began a series about the gospel: "The Gospel: In/Through/Beyond." Pastor Joe shared about how we are rescued and restored because of the gospel. It was a great call for us to trust the gospel--not only for our salvation, but for our transformation. You can listen to or watch the entire message and service here. Here's our service plan from this weekend:

Welcome "In Tenderness" (G) [W. Spencer Walton, Adoniram J. Gordon, Nate Garvey, arranged by Citizens] "Before The Throne" (A) [Charitie Lees Bancroft, arranged by The Modern Post] Greeting Time/Announcements Message - "The Gospel In Me" [Joe Hishmeh] "Jesus Take All Of Me (Just As I Am)" (C) [Charlotte Elliot, Brenton Brown] "Stronger" (C) [Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan] "Jesus Paid It All" (C) [John T. Grape, Elvina M. Hall, Alex Nifong] Dismissal

Thoughts: This was another great weekend! We sang some of our church's favorite songs from this year. It was truly enjoyable to sing four renewed hymn arrangements together this weekend, too (maybe that's why they are some of my favorite songs...). Our church was singing really well this weekend, and it seems that has been a growing trend over the past month or so. God is doing great things in our church. One special thing that Joe shared with us this weekend was the result from our Christmas offering giving.

Our goal was to raise $75,000 for four initiatives: 1) Community Transformation Dinners in an impoverished neighborhood known as Hi-Crest 2) A local sports camp called Doxazo for this same neighborhood 3) An air drop of food & supplies for persecuted Christians from southern Sudan and South Sudan who are in hiding in the Nuba Mountains (www.SaveTheNuba.com) 4) The Aquaponics facility in Santiago, Dominican Republic, which will help feed and provide for an entire community living in and around a trash dump (www.TrashMountain.com)

How did our church respond? We raised over $121,000 for these efforts! I love seeing how generous our church is becoming. God is doing amazing things in an through our church, and I'm excited to see how these ministries are affected as a result. The gospel is going forward! Praise God!

Have a happy new year! If you are reading this, I am especially grateful for your time and for the opportunity to share what the Lord is teaching me and how the Lord is shaping my ministry here at Fellowship. He is faithful. May He richly bless you with more confidence in His gospel and a greater awareness of His presence with you in the new year! Love y'all!

What were your thoughts or experiences on your worship experience this weekend?