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It's hard to believe that 2019 is upon us and we are almost half-way through January.....crazy!
As I reflect on what God did in the life of our church this past year, let me take a moment and recap some of the highlights for you! First of all, he brought us Pastor Avery to lead us in worship. Although Avery continues to lead Common Ground as their Lead Pastor, somehow, he still finds the time to come alongside and help me design a service that brings glory to God and helps us become more like Jesus. Be sure and say, "THANKS" to Avery the next time you see him. God also brought together an amazing team of individuals within our own church family, who made the commitment to lock-arms and strategize ways to increase Parkside's influence in our community. One of the key tasks undertaken by this team was to help our congregation understand the need to change the name of our church. This was not an easy job and not without it's obstacles, but I'm so thankful that you chose to rally around this decision to change our name from First Baptist Church to Parkside Fellowship. I have heard from many in our community who like our new name and see it as a positive step forward in increasing our ministry effectiveness. Thanks Grow Young Team! I could not have done it without you! Finally, just this past December, we were able to close the books on two important financial transactions that will help us moving forward. First, we were able to secure a new loan with the Northwest Baptist Foundation. This new loan agreement, with a lower interest rate, allowed us to decrease our monthly payment from $11,600 per month to $6,768 per month. Then, on December 31st, we closed on the sale of the orchard property to Tualatin Hills Park and Rec District. With the proceeds from the sale of this property, we were able to decrease our loan amount from $1.42 million dollars, to just over $1 million dollars, which again, lowered our monthly payment from $6,768 to $5,700 per month. This decrease in our loan payment will allow us the freedom to dream about how best to reach our community with the Gospel. Please join us on Sunday at either 9:15am or 10:30am, as we give glory to God for "every perfect gift" that he has chosen to rain down on us during 2018. At 9:15am, we will begin a new series called, Love God, Love Others. Our focus will be on the Great Commandment and what it truly looks like to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. For this week's message, you can get a head start by taking a moment to read the story of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10:38-42 and ask yourself the question....."Do I possess the heart of Mary or the heart of Martha?"....after Sunday, your answer might change! At 10:30am, we will be asking the question, "What is the foundation for our belief in God and Jesus of the Bible?", as we begin a new series called, Who Needs God. If you know someone who is skeptical of Christianity, or not quite sure if Jesus is for them, this would be a great series for them come to with their doubts and questions. Pick a service that fits you and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday! Pastor Doug Hi Parkside Fellowship Family. It's hard to believe that 2019 is upon us and we are almost half-way through January.....crazy! As I reflect on what God did in the life of our church this past year, let me take a moment and recap some of the highlights for you! First of all, he brought us Pastor Avery to lead us in worship. Although Avery continues to lead Common Ground as their Lead Pastor, somehow, he still finds the time to come alongside and help me design a service that brings glory to God and helps us become more like Jesus. Be sure and say, "THANKS" to Avery the next time you see him. God also brought together an amazing team of individuals within our own church family, who made the commitment to lock-arms and strategize ways to increase Parkside's influence in our community. One of the key tasks undertaken by this team was to help our congregation understand the need to change the name of our church. This was not an easy job and not without it's obstacles, but I'm so thankful that you chose to rally around this decision to change our name from First Baptist Church to Parkside Fellowship. I have heard from many in our community who like our new name and see it as a positive step forward in increasing our ministry effectiveness. Thanks Grow Young Team! I could not have done it without you! Finally, just this past December, we were able to close the books on two important financial transactions that will help us moving forward. First, we were able to secure a new loan with the Northwest Baptist Foundation. This new loan agreement, with a lower interest rate, allowed us to decrease our monthly payment from $11,600 per month to $6,768 per month. Then, on December 31st, we closed on the sale of the orchard property to Tualatin Hills Park and Rec District. With the proceeds from the sale of this property, we were able to decrease our loan amount from $1.42 million dollars, to just over $1 million dollars, which again, lowered our monthly payment from $6,768 to $5,700 per month. This decrease in our loan payment will allow us the freedom to dream about how best to reach our community with the Gospel. Please join us on Sunday at either 9:15am or 10:30am, as we give glory to God for "every perfect gift" that he has chosen to rain down on us during 2018. At 9:15am, we will begin a new series called, Love God, Love Others. Our focus will be on the Great Commandment and what it truly looks like to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. For this week's message, you can get a head start by taking a moment to read the story of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10:38-42 and ask yourself the question....."Do I possess the heart of Mary or the heart of Martha?"....after Sunday, your answer might change! At 10:30am, we will be asking the question, "What is the foundation for our belief in God and Jesus of the Bible?", as we begin a new series called, Who Needs God. If you know someone who is skeptical of Christianity, or not quite sure if Jesus is for them, this would be a great series for them come to with their doubts and questions. Pick a service that fits you and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday! Pastor Doug Let me begin by wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I plan to keep this edition of TAB brief, as I want to encourage all of us push the pause button on the hustle and bustle that comes with Christmas and spend a few moments reflecting on the day Jesus came to us.....in the flesh. As you reflect on what the arrival of our Savior means to you personally, take a moment and read this excerpt from the book, God Came Near, by Max Lucado..... "The noise and the bustle began earlier than usual in the village. As night gave way to dawn, people were already on the streets. Vendors were positioning themselves on the corners of the most heavily traveled avenues. Store owners were unlocking the doors to their shops. Children were awakened by the excited barking of the street dogs and the complaints of donkeys pulling carts. The owner of the inn had awakened earlier than most in the town. After all, the inn was full, all the beds taken. Every available mat or blanket had been put to use. Soon all the customers would be stirring and there would be a lot of work to do. One's imagination is kindled thinking about the conversation of the innkeeper and his family at the breakfast table. Did anyone mention the arrival of the young couple the night before? Did anyone comment on the pregnancy of the girl on the donkey? Perhaps. Perhaps someone raised the subject. But, at best, it was raised, not discussed. There was nothing novel about them. They were, possibly, one of several families turned away that night. Besides who had time to talk about them when there was so much excitement in the air? Augustus did the economy of Bethlehem a favor when he decreed that a census should be taken. Who could remember when such commerce had hit the village? No, it was doubtful that anyone mentioned the couple's arrival or wondered about the condition of the girl. They were too busy. There was too much to do to imagine that the impossible had occurred. God had entered the world as a baby. Those who missed His Majesty's arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren't looking. Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?" Plan to join us this Sunday at 9:15am, as we gather together to celebrate the birth of Immanuel.....God with us! If you can't make our Sunday gathering, please consider joining us for our Christmas Eve service, Monday, at 4:00pm. This brief service will include carols, a brief message from God's Word and a time to pause, light a candle and sing, Silent Night! See you Sunday. Pastor Doug "Until the Whole World Hears" is more than just a catchy Christian mission phrase. It's a lifestyle that says, "I want to feel the heart of Jesus and see the world through His eyes. I want to be His hands and feet. I want to live a life that leads people to Him."
This Sunday, Parkside Fellowship will begin a week-long global mission emphasis revolving around the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This emphasis is not just about writing a check; nor, is just about praying for our global missionaries......that's the easy part. The hard part is making a personal commitment to join the harvest. Every farmer wants a harvest. His eyes see an empty field that is overgrown with weeds and covered with rocks. But his mind sees his field covered with strong, healthy crops. And the promise in his mind, not the problems before his eyes, takes him into the field to work. First he breaks up the hard dirt, so the seeds can grow easily. Then he plants the seeds. As they grow, he pulls out the weeds that try to choke the new plants. He makes sure they have enough water, and he protects them from birds and bugs. He does his part, knowing that only God has the power to make the seeds grow. When the time is right, the farmer goes into the field, gathers the fruit of his harvest and takes it to his storehouse. There, he collects new seeds for the next planting season--more seeds than he started with. So his harvest grows greater every year. This is the parable of the harvest found in Matthew 13. For generations, farmers or what today we call missionaries, have been preparing and spreading the seeds of the Gospel and now, more than ever, they need harvesters to go out into the fields and harvest the seeds that have been planted and are now ready to be harvested. In Matthew 9, Jesus displays true emotion as he looks out over the crowd that has gathered to hear him teach and turning to his disciples says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." What field might God be calling you to go and join the harvest.....if only for a week or two.? All must Pray.....Many will Give......Some will Go. Join us this Sunday, as we ask God to show us our role in the harvest. One easy role is to make a personal commitment to invite one person, who doesn't know Jesus, to our Christmas Eve service, which takes place at 4:00pm. Who is God placing on your heart to invite? FYI.....don't forget tomorrow's (Saturday) Young @ Heart Christmas Party. It takes place from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in the Fireside Room. See you Sunday......or Saturday. Pastor Doug First of all, let me apologize for not sending out my weekly TAB email the last few weeks. I'm sure you can agree with me when I say that there are times in life when things pile up and you find yourself running from one thing to another. Hopefully things will start to slow down a bit, but with Christmas quickly approaching, I'm not sure that will happen. Thanks for you prayers and understanding.
Speaking of Christmas, I want to focus this edition of TAB on this crazy time of the year when we waver between getting caught up in the excitement of the season and trying to stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas. Sadly, apart from the angels nudging a few scared shepherds and a handful of wise star-gazers who were able to decode a cryptic star, many missed out on that very first Christmas when Christ was born in Bethlehem. Missing the prophetic mystery of Jesus' birth means missing God-with-us, God-beside us, God becoming one of us. Missing out on Jesus changes everything. Like many, we can become lost in crowded malls, financial debt, and endless lists of gifts to buy, only to miss out on the one gift that can truly satisfy our thirst for more. How do I keep from missing Jesus?......focus on the eternal over the temporal. Colossians 3:2 reads, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." We are celebrating the arrival of our Savior. The significance of giving presents is to be directly related to God's presenting us the gift of His Son. Next, Christmas is the time of year when people are wide-open to the Gospel. Remember who we represent. We are His chosen ambassadors, doing His business, so let's do it this Christmas. Share Jesus with a co-worker or invite a neighbor to our Christmas Eve service, which will take place at 4:00 pm and include carols and candlelight. Finally, one of the most effective maneuvers of the world system is to create a false sense of excitement. As Christians, we are in danger of climbing the Christmas mountain, only to get lost in the afterglow of the New Year. Guard yourself. Enjoy the 25th.....but not at the expense of the 26th. Make Hebrews 12:3 your theme verse for Christmas and beyond....."Consider Him.....so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Join us this Sunday, at 9:15am, as we begin our Christmas series titled, "He Came...." This week, we will focus on the fact that Jesus came to rescue us from our suffering and our sin. Our passage will be Isaiah 53. Take some time over the next few days to read this incredible chapter showing God's incredible display of love through His Son, Jesus. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug First of all, I want to thank all of you who helped make this past week's Room 4 Hope a successful one. I know the families appreciated being able to stay on our campus and were overwhelmed by the amount of love and care that was shown to them by our church family. Also, I want to say a special "Thank You" to Brenda Rhine for being our Room 4 Hope Coordinator. This ministry would not happen without her efforts. In case you missed out on participating this past week, our next Room 4 Hope hosting week will be January 13-19. Please mark your calendars now and make plans to help us provide hope and love to families in our community who are experiencing homelessness.
This Thursday November 15th, our Adults on Mission and Young @ Heart ministries will be joining forces to provide us with a unique opportunity to hear about and pray for all that God is doing in the Pacific Northwest. The day begins at 10:30am as Lance Caddell will join us for our monthly Adults on Mission meeting. Lance works for the Northwest Baptist Convention in the area of church health. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of our Southern Baptist leaders. Once this meeting is over, we will move into a time of fellowship as we feast on Turkey and other delicious offerings. Please join us next Thursday as we gather together for a time of fellowship and thanking God for His many blessings. This Sunday at 9:15am, we will continue our focus on the book of Judges. This week, we will be in Judges 2 and 3, as we look at how quick and easy it is to choose one king over another. You might consider reading Joshua 24:14-28 and Judges 2-3 in preparation for our time together. In our 10:15am service, we will go on a road trip with Jesus as He is led by God into the wilderness for the sole purpose of being tempted by Satan. Now, why would God, who just a few verses earlier announced to the world that "this is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased", lead Jesus into the wilderness, not eat anything for 40 days and then invite Satan to come and tempt Him? Why would God do that? Join us on Sunday at 10:30am as we seek to answer this and other questions about the temptations we face. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug WOW......Parkside Fellowship! Feels kind of weird, but in a good way. It means we understand that in order for the message of Jesus to penetrate TODAY'S culture, we have to change our method of communication and ministry style. Notice I didn't say, "our message must change", because while our methodology for presenting the Gospel will change, the fact is, we are still a church firmly grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible still drives everything we say and do......even if our name is different.
The core values of Parkside remain the same, as we are still a church that is intent on being..... Biblically Based. We believe practical, relevant teaching from the Bible can be the catalyst for life transformation. Scripture is inspired by God, completely accurate and our final authority regarding Christian beliefs and the guide for living as a Christ-Follower. Safe Community. We believe that all people matter to God and ought to matter to the church. We want everyone to experience God's grace and love. Discipleship. We believe that Christian growth happens best in relationships. We encourage active participation in a small group or Sunday School class. Equipping Leaders. We believe enabling people to discover and develop their gifts is God's strategy for changing the world. Reach our Community. As Parkside, we believe God calls us to bring the life and love of Jesus to a lost and broken world. Together, we choose to serve and love others in our community simply because Jesus loves them. I want to personally thank our Grow Young Team for the time and effort they put into making the launch of Parkside Fellowship a reality. I could not have done it without each one of you! This Sunday we begin a brand new message series in each of our two services. At our traditional 9:15am service, we will begin a 6 week series in the book of Judges. Join us as we wade through the heart of human rebellion, in order to shine a light on the truth of God's grace in the midst of our wickedness and how only the divine can redeem the fallen. At our more contemporary and interactive 10:30am service, we will spend A Day in the Life of Jesus. There is no person Jesus won't touch. No place He won't go. Each Sunday, we will look at a different aspect of how the divinity of Jesus intersects with His humanity, so He can be near enough to touch, yet strong enough to save. Consider joining us this weekend at one of our two services. See you Sunday! Pastor Doug |
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