As the Boyd family continues to mourn the loss of an exceptional pastor's wife, mom and grandmother, I want to thank you for your prayers, cards and words of encouragement.  Each day, as I think about my mom, I am drawn back to the words of Jesus in John 14:27...

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid." 

Peace.  Jesus says I give you peace.  He says I don't give as the world gives.  I don't give expecting something in return.  I just give because I love you.  Jesus doesn't make empty promises.  The peace of this world is the absence of noise or an emptiness, a quietness.  Jesus says, My peace means I'm going to be in your life.  You'll have a presence and a purpose you never dreamed possible.

This Sunday, as we wrap-up our series in John called, Gazing at Glory, our focus will be on John 14.  John opens this chapter with these famous words...Don't let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, and trust also in me.  Join us this Sunday, April 11th, at 9:30am, as we look at the promises Jesus made that will help us navigate the storms of life that causes our hearts to tremble with fear and doubt.  Don't forget to join me in my office at 8:45am for a time of prayer before our worship gathering.

Note:  Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating.

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.

Note:  For our "after-church" zoom gathering, we will be joining our newest discipleship class led by Larry Annes.

Discipleship Study:  Not the Way It's Supposed to Be
10:45am to 11:45am
In-person and on zoom
Zoom Link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768  

Thanks for keeping Parkside Fellowship a "House of Prayer".

Parkside Family, as you prepare your hearts to be together on Sunday, let me leave you with this prayer...

Jesus, we thank you that you understand us.  We thank you that you give us answers, that we can talk to you about anything.  You answer our prayers, you promise to never leave us.  Lord, when we look at the trouble in our lives and what it does to our heart, the storms that it brings, there's part of us that thinks nothing can calm them.  But we put our faith in your word.  We put our faith in you, Jesus.  We ask you to calm our troubled hearts.  We ask you to bring us your peace as only you can.  In your name we pray.  Amen.

See you Sunday.

Pastor Doug

I'm excited to be back after a much-needed 2 week break.  Thanks to Roger and the rest of our leadership team for keeping things moving forward while I was gone.  God has blessed Parkside with some incredibly gifted leaders and I feel privileged to be able to serve alongside them!

Reminder:  Parkside Fellowship Annual Meeting, tomorrow (Saturday) at 3:00pm.
Don't forget that tomorrow (Saturday) is our Parkside Fellowship All-Church Annual Meeting.  You have the option to attend in-person or on zoom beginning at 3:00pm.  Here is the zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84138184552

Join us on Sunday at 9:30am, as we continue our series "Gazing at Glory." This week's focus will be on John 6, as we look at Jesus: The Bread of Life.

NOTE:  Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating.

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. 

NOTE:  For the month of February, our "after-church" zoom gathering will be joining our discipleship class titled, "Resolving Everyday Conflict".  See below for information on the class.  To receive a book, please email: roger.sharp@parksidefellowship.org

Sunday Mornings in February: “Resolving Everyday Conflict”
10:45-11:45am
You will need a copy of the book “Resolving Everyday Conflict” and your Bible.
In-person and Zoom options 
Link for zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768

Hopefully you are continuing to join Roger and I as we spend this Lent season, focusing on our Savior, Jesus.  Below is a verse from day 5 that I thought was so appropriate during this season of life.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matthew 11:28-29

Finally, attached is the weekly prayer sheet.  Thanks for praying!

For His Glory.

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."  John 3:16

This is arguably the most well-known verse in the Bible.  Even non-believers have probably heard variations of this verse, or at the very least, they've seen signs with John 3:16 written on them.  Martin Luther referred to John 3:16 as, "the gospel in miniature".  In other words, one can sum up the entire gospel with this one verse.  John 3:16 is a culmination of all that happened from Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, to the moment when Nicodemus knocked on Jesus’ door in John 3:2

This Sunday at 9:30am, we will continue our series, Gazing at God's Glory, as we unpack the amazing truths found in the life-altering words of John 3:16. 

NOTE:  Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating.

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. 

NOTE:  For the month of February, our "after-church" zoom gathering will be joining Pastor Roger's discipleship class titled, "Resolving Everyday Conflict".  See below for information on the class.  To receive a book, please email Roger at roger.sharp@parksidefellowship.org

Sunday Mornings in February: “Resolving Everyday Conflict”
10:45-11:45am
You will need a copy of the book “Resolving Everyday Conflict” and your Bible.
In-person and Zoom options 
Link for zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768
 
We all encounter conflict - whether it be with a coworker, family member, friend, or complete stranger. And yet we all desire harmony in our relationships. Resolving Everyday Conflict is a practical, biblical, and concise guide to peacemaking in everyday life.  This biblical guide written by Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson will take you far beyond simply ending conflicts. Instead, true, life-changing reconciliation can take place in your relationships.

Topics that will be covered include:

• understand where conflict originates
• take a biblical view of conflict
• own your role in a conflict
• offer forgiveness and arrive at reasonable solutions

 
See you Sunday!

Pastor Doug

This Sunday, as we continue our series, Gazing at God's Glory, our focus will be on a "secret" meeting between Jesus and a religious leader named Nicodemus.  As strange as this may sound, I want you to read the words below from Ezekiel 36 in preparation for this Sunday's message.  Don't worry, it will all make sense on Sunday...I hope!

"For here's what I'm going to do:  I'm going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land.  I'll pour water over you, and scrub you clean.  I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you.  I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not self-willed.  I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands."  Ezekiel 36:24-27 (The Message)

NOTE:  Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating.

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.

Parkside Fellowship Annual Meeting.  February 27th.  3:00pm

Our annual meeting (celebration) will take place at 3:00pm on Saturday, February 27th.  Please save this date and plan to join us either in-person or on zoom.  Also, about a week prior to the meeting, we will send each member an electronic ballot that they can complete and email back to the church.  This will allow members the opportunity to vote using an electronic ballot.  At our meeting, we will present the proposed 2021 budget and Church Council nominees for approval.  Pastor Doug and Pastor Roger will also share what God accomplished this past year, even in the midst of a global pandemic, along with goals for 2021.
 
I also want to thank all of you for your continued financial commitment to the ministry of Parkside Fellowship.  During the early months of the pandemic and even into the fall, many churches struggled financially and had to make some tough financial decisions.  Thankfully, because of your faithfulness, we were able to weather the storm and continue our commitment to the love God and love our community.  Thank you so much for your faithful giving!
 
Finally, thank you for praying and for giving of your time, talent and treasure.  Continue to pray for Parkside Fellowship, asking God how and where he wants you to serve His church, so that others would know him and experience His glory! 
 
With love & appreciation,

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:

• A fever of 100.4 or greater
• A new cough that you cannot attribute to another health condition
• New respiratory issues that you cannot attribute to another health condition
• Have been in contact with any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the last 14 days

NOTE:  For those who are still not comfortable attending an in-person service, we will continue to provide our livestream service at 9:30am each Sunday.

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