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As our nation and our community continues to live in a state of uncertainty and unrest, allow me to share a thought.
Some things are just evil. They can be feelings, events or even people. Joseph was one of those people who experienced evil things. You see, Joseph was his dad's favorite and it went to his head. Joseph couldn't help but throw this fact in the faces of his brothers. Instead of killing Joseph and solving the problem, they instead sold him into slavery. This horrible, backstabbing act of betrayal, led to a very long season of pain and suffering in Joseph's life. Sure, it worked out in the end, but that doesn't erase the evil. Remember what Joseph said about the evil actions of his brothers? He said, "As for you, you designed evil against me, but God designed it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are to today." This incredible story of human trafficking and betrayal in Joseph's life had an evil design, first by his brothers and then by Potiphar's wife, but with this same event, God's design was good. Joseph, as he sat in jail, had to decide which design to live under, God's good design or the evil design of his brothers. That's a hard one to accept. Anything that you and I experience, whether good or evil, lives under the sovereignty of God and contains two choices for us. Like Joseph, everyone of us makes a daily decision to live under God's good design or the enemy's evil design. As we continue to experience evil, the question is a simple one..."Whose design are going to live under?". Please join us this Sunday at 9:30am, as Pastor Norm continues our series, "Gazing at God's Glory". Our focus will be on John 1:35-51. In this story, Jesus tells Nathanael that as a disciple, he "will see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man". With this statement, Jesus is letting the disciples know that the glory of God will be seen throughout his ministry. There are two options for accessing our Sunday service: 1. Attend our live "in-person" gathering. No reservations are required and we will continue to follow all necessary COVID guidelines. Please wear a mask so we can keep everyone safe and healthy! 2. We value our online church community and will continue to livestream our church service at 9:30am for those who wish to participate. Also, don't forget to stick around after the service for our "after-church zoom gathering". We start at 10:45am. Also, it is not to late to sign-up for our Parkside Women Zoom Discipleship Class titled, The Sermon on the Mount. This online class, led by Melanie Annes and Melissa Predmore, meets every Tuesday at 7:00pm You can register for this class on our facebook page. Here is the link: www.facebook.com/events/712020736392195 Nominations for Church Council If you know an active member of Parkside Fellowship with outstanding leadership ability, you can nominate them by submitting their name via email to doug.boyd@parksidefellowship.org or there will be submission forms available on Sunday. All submissions will be due no later than January 18th. Thank you for being a church that values prayer! "See" you Sunday. Pastor Doug I want to begin this edition of TAB with a prayer...
God almighty, you are capable of healing all diseases, parting the seas, and raising the dead to life. We worship you and praise you. Heavenly Father, we ask now, in the name of Jesus, that you would heal our land. Our country is in desperate need of you. Please use your church to point people to the light of Jesus. God, I also ask that you would heal those who are sick and in pain. Cradle them now and heal them. Thank you that you hear us. Thank you that Jesus healed those who were laid before him and that you still bring healing today. In the name of your Son, Jesus we pray. Amen. Attached to this email is our weekly prayer list. Please take time to look through and pray for those on the prayer list. Both Bill Walker and Loren Sheets are recovering from hip fractures. Pastor Roger's wife, Mary Jo and their son-in-law have tested positive for COVID. Pastor Roger and their daughter Emily tested negative and are in quarantine. Please pray that there will be no complications, no further infections and for a speedy recovery. ATTENTION: Parkside Women Zoom Discipleship Class titled The Sermon on the Mount. Begins Tuesday, January 12th at 7:00pm. This is a 9 session study facilitated by Melissa Predmore and Melanie Annes. We will "gather" by zoom on Tuesday evenings beginning January 12th, from 7:00pm-8:15 pm. Below is a brief description of the class. What does it mean to be a citizen of the kingdom of Heaven? Matthew's gospel opens with three chapters containing Jesus' longest recorded message--a sermon given to His disciples early in His ministry to articulate what the life of a Christ-follow would look like. Both practical and profound, the sermon asks of us the same questions it posed to its original hearers: How should a disciple relate to sin? To others? To the Law? How does a disciple think, speak, and act? What is the nature of true righteousness? Seat yourself on a mountainside to learn at the feet of Jesus. You can register for this class on our facebook page. Here is the link: www.facebook.com/events/712020736392195 Parkside Fellowship Annual Meeting (Celebration). This year's annual meeting will take place on Saturday, February 27 at 3:00pm. At this year's meeting you will have the opportunity to vote on new members to the church council. A nominating committee has been put in place and is actively seeking recommendations to fill these open positions. The members of the nominating committee are Mark Hester (chairman), Bev Lynam, Mary Stevens and Pastor Doug. If you know an active member of Parkside Fellowship with outstanding leadership ability, you can nominate them by submitting their name via email to doug.boyd@parksidefellowship.org or there will be submission forms available on Sunday. All submissions will be due no later than January 18th. Finally, we are excited to be able to offer in-person services on Sundays at 9:30am. Please feel free to join us. No reservations are required and we will continue to follow all necessary COVID guidelines. Please wear a mask so we can keep everyone safe and healthy! We value our online church community and will continue to livestream our church service at 9:30am for those who wish to participate. Also, don't forget to stick around after the service for our "after-church zoom gathering". We start at 10:45am and the zoom link is below https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768 Hope to see many of you on Sunday! Pastor Doug Happy New Year Parkside Fellowship.
While this year has been challenging for all of us, there has been a lot of good too. I want to celebrate our Parkside family who endured a sudden pivot to online church. Thank you for being patient as our tech team quickly navigated the best path to bring church into your home. During a time of disconnection, you found ways to stay connected. From parking lot services to meeting over zoom, you showed up and pursued authentic community...way to go Parkside! A special "Thanks" goes out to Tim and Bitsy Law and Jim Small who put in extra hours to help us continue to spread the message of Jesus. I also want to thank Roger, Larry and Norm who endured long nights of recording their sermons to an empty room. I could not have done it without this incredible team of volunteers! As we move into 2021, I am excited to announce that beginning this Sunday, January 3rd at 9:30am, we will be offering an in-person worship service. All social distancing protocols will be followed and masks will be required. Also, as much as we desire to see all of you in-person, please stay home if you have any of the following:
This Sunday, we will start a brand-new series titled Gazing at Glory. Through the Gospel of John, we will learn about a loving God, who sent his one and only Son, Jesus, to die on a cross for our sins. Thankfully, Jesus rose from the grave and ascended into heaven where "God gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father". (Philippians 2:5-11). Don't miss this Sunday, January 3rd at 9:30am, as we begin a journey towards a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Also, for those who will be watching from home, don't forget to join us at 10:45am for our "after-church zoom gathering". Finally, attached is the weekly prayer list. "See" you Sunday. Pastor Doug Merry Christmas Parkside.
This year, many families, including ours, will be spending Christmas with only those in our immediate household. However, even though this might make things a little less chaotic than normal, the danger of missing the birth of Jesus remains. As we prepare to spend Christmas in isolation, apart from family and friends, the danger of including Jesus in our quarantine protocol is amplified. As you prepare for Christmas, I want to share a quote from the book, Because of Bethlehem, by Max Lucado: "On that first Christmas night, the innkeeper missed Jesus knocking at the door. Today many still do. They miss the chance to open the door. They let the birth of Jesus pass them by. The miracle of Bethlehem still happens. God enters the hamlets of our lives and speaks to us. He speaks through scriptures, sunsets, the kindness of a friend, or the warning of a medical report. He sings to us through Christmas carols. He calls to us through Christmas sermons. He reaches out through the Christmas story. 'Here I am!' Jesus invites. It's not too late to open the door and invite Jesus in. You are never too old, too messed up, or too worn-out. Elijah was depressed. God still came to him. Abraham was old. God still led him. Moses was long retired. God still called him. Jonah ran from God, Peter betrayed Christ, Thomas doubted Christ, but each learned it was not too late. It's never too late to come to Christ for help". This Christmas, as you celebrate either apart from family or only with close family, don't miss the message of Jesus. A message that reads, "I came to lift burdens, not add to them." Please join us tomorrow for our Christmas Eve candlelight service. This year, due to COVID restrictions, our Christmas Eve service will be online ONLY. You can access our service on our website, www.parksidefellowship.org. Click on the "Parkside Fellowship Christmas Eve Virtual Candlelight Service" picture located near the top of our homepage. Once you click on this link, you will be directed to the service recording. The Christmas Eve service will be available beginning at 4:00pm and can be accessed anytime after that time. Finally, attached is the weekly prayer list. Pray for those you know who will be spending Christmas apart from family. Merry Christmas! Pastor Doug "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17
God's never-ending, unconditional, unfathomable love is the focus of week #4 of Advent. Any doubt of God's love disappeared the night God was wrapped in strips of cloth and laid in a manger. Don't miss our online service this Sunday at 9:30am, as we continue our series, Surprised by Jesus. As we continue to have church online, I want to remind you how to access our livestream service. You can access the livestream on our website, www.parksidefellowship.org. Click on the "YouTube live" link located on the home page where it reads "Schedule". Once you click on this link, you will be directed to our livestream service that begins at 9:30am. Note: There will NOT be an After-Church Zoom Gathering this Sunday. Please continue to pray for each other, our neighbors, our community and our nation. "See" you Sunday. Pastor Doug Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. For many, Christmas might spark this question, "What's the big deal about the baby in the manger?" The "Big Deal", the reason we sing...no shout...Joy to the World, is because of the baby in the manger. Because of the baby in the manger, God is with us. God is where we are.
As we prepare to close out 2020, now more than ever, we need the truth of God with us! God in our homes, God in the doctors office, God at our workplace, God in our family struggles. The joy of Christmas is knowing that wherever we are, whatever fears, doubts, questions or struggles we might be experiencing...God is always near us. God is always rooting for us. God is our biggest fan and because of this, we are forever on God's mind and in his plans. "She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:23 Don't miss our online service this Sunday at 9:30am, as Pastor Norm continues our series Surprised by Jesus. As we shift back to an online church service, I want to remind you how to access our livestream service. You can access the livestream on our website, www.parksidefellowship.org. Click on the "YouTube live" link located on the home page where it reads "Schedule". Once you click on this link, you will be directed to our livestream service that begins at 9:30am. After the service please consider joining us at 10:45am (note the time change) for our "after-church" gathering on zoom. Please continue to pray for each other, our neighbors, our community and our nation. "See" you Sunday. Pastor Doug "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." John 14:1-3 NLT
While these familiar words of Jesus surprised his first-century audience; today they can bring hope, love, joy and peace to those who embrace the promise of an eternity spent with Jesus in heaven. Don't miss our online service this Sunday at 9:30am, as Pastor Roger continues our series Surprised by Jesus. As we shift back to an online church service, I want to remind you how to access our livestream service. You can access the livestream on our website, www.parksidefellowship.org. Click on the "YouTube live" link located on the home page where it reads "Schedule". Once you click on this link, you will be directed to our livestream service that begins at 9:30am. After the service please consider joining us at 10:45am (note the time change) for our "after-church" gathering on zoom. "See" you Sunday. Pastor Doug As I type this email, I'm still recovering from a self-induced "Turkey, Ham, Corn on the Cob, homemade bread, lil' smokies, chocolate silk pie" coma.
Even in the midst of a global pandemic, we have so much to be thankful for and I hope each of you were able to celebrate this Thanksgiving with family and friends, even if it meant celebrating by phone, face-time or zoom. This Sunday at 9:30am, we will continue our series, Surprised by Jesus. We will also light the first candle of Advent, which represents Hope. Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 33:18 and Jeremiah 29:11 are a few passages that speak of the hope we have because of our faith and trust in God and His son, Jesus. Please join us this Sunday as we turn our attention to the upcoming celebration of Jesus willing leaving his throne in heaven in order to become human so that he could die for the sins of all mankind. I love what J.I. Packer writes about the true message of Christmas... The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because at the Father's will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later he might hang on a cross. As we shift back to an online church service, I want to remind you how to access our livestream service. You can access the livestream on our website, www.parksidefellowship.org. Click on the "YouTube live" link located on the home page where it reads "Schedule". Once you click on this link, you will be directed to our livestream service that begins at 9:30am. After the service please consider joining us at 10:45am (note the time change) for our "after-church" gathering on zoom. "See" you Sunday. Pastor Doug What are you thankful for?
As you reflect on this past year, your initial response might be...nothing...absolutely nothing! After this initial "off-the-cuff" statement, let me encourage you to take some time this week and look up, look around and look within and say, "Thank you, Lord, for..." Here are a few, "Thank you(s) to get you started:
Our God is truly worthy of our highest praise. To Him goes all the glory! This past Wednesday, I sent out an email letting you know our Sunday plans for the rest of 2020. Based on the latest restrictions and the continued spike in COVID cases, we have decided to shift back to online services for the rest of the year. Below are some of the points I shared in that email:
After the service please consider joining us at 10:45am (note the time change) for our "after-church" gathering on zoom. We will be spending one more week with Roger and his discipleship class, "Habits for our Holiness". After this week, our "after-church" zoom gathering will return to its regular format of sharing and a time of prayer. I, along with Roger and our church council, thanks you for your continued support and prayer as we discuss, pray and make decisions in what has become a constantly changing environment. Allow me to close with this prayer from Jude 24-25. "Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen." "See" you Sunday. Pastor Doug I am so blessed to be a part of this church family. Thank you for being a family that I want to spend time with. I have really enjoyed the past several weeks, as many of us have been able to gather together in-person to worship, learn from God's Word, pray together, share in the joy of communion and hear from members of our church family how God is using them to share his love...even during this pandemic. I have seen God show up in some amazing and unexpected ways.
During the past year, I have been reminded often that the church is not a building. It is us. It is because of Jesus. It is because we take Jesus with us everywhere we go, and we have in us the power of prayer. As we continue to navigate the pandemic restrictions that have been placed upon us, please don't forget that we are still the church and the church is never closed or cancelled. Based on the latest restrictions ("freeze") and the real possibility that it could be extended, below is what will be happening at Parkside Fellowship for the remainder of 2020:
Please continue to pray for our leadership as we pray and ask God to lead us where he wants us to go. May God grant you His peace and protection. Pastor Doug |
Doug Boyd - Sr. Pastor Archives
January 2021
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