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Happy Thanksgiving Parkside Family.
When things fall apart, the broken pieces allow all sorts of things to enter, and one of them is the presence of God (Shauna Niequist) There is no promise of comfort for those who walk by faith. God doesn't promise an easy life, but He does promise His presence and a hope-filled life. Hope is a gift given to us by God, through the Holy Spirit, to provide us with confidence, security and peace, as we wait for God's presence to be revealed in our lives. This Thanksgiving, take a moment and give God praise for his never-ending presence in your life and the hope of a future spent with God in heaven. Below is a prayer of thanksgiving: God, I praise You that in Your presence is fullness of joy, that the lines of communication between us are always open. Right here, right now, I give You thanks for all! By faith, I trust You in every circumstance in my life with sincere gratitude. Amen. Join us this Sunday at 9:30am, as we begin the countdown to Christmas. A season when we expectantly anticipate, patiently wait for, and will, on December 25th, joyfully celebrate the birth of Jesus. This Sunday kicks off the 4 Sundays of Advent, a time designed for Christians around the world to prepare their minds, their hearts and their daily activities for the arrival of our Savior, Jesus. For this first Sunday of Advent, we will focus on the HOPE that began in the Old Testament, when God set in motion His redemptive plan, and a New Testament Hope that reminds us of a glorious future. Following our service, our Adult Sunday School class will continue their titled, "Going Viral: The Birth and Advance of the Church". As Jesus ascended into heaven, he looked at his disciples and proclaimed, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8. What we will encounter in our study of Acts is a group of people who, after hearing the gospel and receiving the Holy Spirit, became bold witnesses for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Deck the Halls: Finally, consider joining with some others from Parkside, as we take some time to prepare our campus for the Christmas season. The date is Tuesday, November 29th from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. Sign-up this Sunday in the church lobby. Thank you for being a praying church. See you Sunday. Doug Join us this Sunday, at 9:30am, as we wrap-up our series, Resilient Hope. This week we will conclude our short look at II Peter. As we do, I want to take a moment and look back at where Peter has led us over the last several weeks. The pointed message Peter wants to leave as his legacy can be summed up in two commands: "Beware!" and "Be ready!" In both of his letters, Peter has urged us to avoid the corruption of the world. In I Peter he accomplished this by reminding us that we are elect exiles, chosen by God to pursue holy living. In his second letter, Peter reminded us of the fruitful Christian life expected of those who have been equipped with everything necessary for godliness. As the sure foundation for faith, Peter directed believers to Scripture as the Spirit-breathed, inerrant Word of God, encouraging us to stand strong in the truth. Peter concludes with two final reminders: 1) God's Word is trustworthy, and 2) Jesus will return and establish a new creation where there will be no more pain and suffering!
Following our service, our Adult Sunday School class will continue their titled, "Going Viral: The Birth and Advance of the Church". As Jesus ascended into heaven, he looked at his disciples and proclaimed, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8. What we will encounter in our study of Acts is a group of people who, after hearing the gospel and receiving the Holy Spirit, became bold witnesses for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Troy Smith Celebration of Life will take place tomorrow (Saturday), November 19th at 2:00pm at Parkside Fellowship. For those who are unable to attend in-person, the service will be available via livestream. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/mGsUxJTLXyA Please continue to pray for the needs within our church family. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug The churches of Asia Minor were not just struggling with the persecution and suffering addressed in Peter's first letter; they also had strife and dissension within their ranks. This Sunday at 9:30am, we will begin a brief 3 week study in the book of II Peter. What would have prompted another letter to the same group so soon after the first? As we will see, it appears that Peter had received reports of false teachers in and among these churches. The apostle Peter wanted to encourage them to stand firm in their faith and to instruct them on how best to do that.
In looking at II Peter, it almost seems that this letter was written for us today. Every word of it is so pertinent, so filled with practical advice, that it is a confirmation of the freshness and the vitality of God's Word. It also suggests that perhaps we have come full circle--that we find ourselves living in days very similar to those in the first century--that today's church is experiencing similar external persecution and internal strife, as was experienced by the early first century church. Join us Sunday, at 9:30am, as we dive into Peter's second letter to the early church, a letter whose theme is that of faithful truth in the face of falsehood and the certainty of the coming of Jesus! Adult Sunday School is back!! Join us after the service for week #2 in our study of Acts. The study is titled, "Going Viral: The Birth and Advance of the Church". As Jesus ascended into heaven, he looked at his disciples and proclaimed, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8. What we will encounter in our study of Acts is a group of people who, after hearing the gospel and receiving the Holy Spirit, became bold witnesses for the gospel of Jesus Christ. This study will remind us that Parkside Fellowship is made up of people who Jesus has saved and sent to be missionaries in the world. As we will see, the early church could not have advanced without the unwavering commitment of those early believers. Just as he did in Acts 1:8, Jesus sends all of us out to be His witnesses. Join us at 10:45am, as we take a deep-dive into the rapid advancement of the early church. Ladies: Don't forget this Saturday, November 5th is our 1st Annual Handmade Holidays Women's Craft Event. This fun opportunity to craft, chat and connect will happen from 10:00am to 12:30pm, at Parkside Fellowship. Each attendee will learn to create handmade decorations for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will supply all the materials, instruction, coffee and tea. We are asking each lady to bring 2 dozen of their favorite homemade holiday treat to share. If you did not sign-up and would still like to attend, please email Pastor Doug at doug.boyd@parksidefellowship.org. FALL BACK: Don't forget to set you clock back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night! Troy Smith Celebration of Life: As many of you know, Troy Smith went home to be with Jesus on October 20th. There will be a Celebration of Life service here at Parkside Fellowship, on Saturday, November 19th, at 2:00pm. Please continue pray for Lenora, the kids and the rest of the Smith family as they mourn the passing of Troy into the arms of Jesus. Please continue to pray for the needs within our church family. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug This Sunday at 9:30am, we will finish up our journey through the book of I Peter. As Peter closes this letter, written to churches and believers all throughout Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), who had been scattered due to persecution, he reaffirms the overall exhortation of his letter. Because we hold to the true faith in a trustworthy God, we can stand firm in God's grace. In the midst of all oppression, mistreatment, temptation, or trials, we can endure with hope because of the sustaining power of God. In short, through Christ, we can have unwavering hope. Join us Sunday at 9:30am, as we gather together to give praise, glory and honor to our faithful God, who reigns forever and ever!
Adult Sunday School is back!! Stick around after the service as we begin a brand-new study. Join Mark and Jonella as they walk us through the book of Acts. The study is titled, "Going Viral: The Birth and Advance of the Church". As Jesus ascended into heaven, he looked at his disciples and proclaimed, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8. What we will encounter in our study of Acts is a group of people who, after hearing the gospel and receiving the Holy Spirit, became bold witnesses for the gospel of Jesus Christ. This study will remind us that Parkside is made up of people who Jesus has saved and sent to be missionaries in the world. As we will see, the early church could not have advanced without the unwavering commitment of those early believers. Just as he did in Acts 1:8, Jesus sends all of us out to be His witnesses. Join us at 10:45am, as we take a deep-dive into the rapid advancement of the early church. Trunk O Treat is this Saturday (tomorrow) from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Thanks to everyone who has supplied candy, stuffed goody bags with information about Jesus and Parkside, and to those who will be helping with food, games and passing out candy. We are excited to host this year's Trunk O Treat, as we love and serve the families in our surrounding neighborhoods. Pray that the weather cooperates and that Jesus is glorified! Ladies: Don't forget to sign-up for our 1st Annual Handmade Holidays Women's Craft Event. This fun opportunity to craft, chat and connect will take place on Saturday, November 5th, from 10:00am to 12:30pm, at Parkside Fellowship. Each attendee will learn to create handmade decorations for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will supply all the materials, instruction, coffee and tea. We are asking each lady to bring 2 dozen of their favorite homemade holiday treat to share. Sign-ups will continue this Sunday. Finally, attached is this week's prayer list. Please continue to pray for the needs within our church family. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug This month has been especially hard for our church family. Even as we anticipate all that God is going to do, as Parkside commits herself to becoming a healthy, growing congregation that seeks to make Jesus non-ignorable through making joyful, passionate disciples of Christ, we are still impacted by the pain of those within our church family. Several of our members are struggling with health-related issues and the loss of loved ones. Many are in need of a hope transfusion. Hope in the promise of a God who is present, hope in a God who is active, a God who hears, and a God who loves.
There is nothing like gathering together as Christians, singing God's praises and hearing His Word preached, to reassure us that our God is: "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." (Psalm 103:8) Join us this Sunday, at 9:30am, for a hope transfusion, as we continue in our series titled, Resilient Hope! Until then, remember, when we rest on the promises of God... Our illnesses don't seem nearly so final. Our fears fade and lose their grip. Our grief over those who have gone home to Jesus is diminished. Our desire to press on in spite of the obstacles is rejuvenated. And when you come across a season of pain and suffering, lean on the words of the apostle Paul: "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (I Corinthians 15:51-55) Parkside Happenings: 1. Saturday, October 29th Trunk O' Treat 4:00pm - 7:00pm Needs: bags of candy, volunteers to decorate their car trunk and pass out candy, volunteers to help with concessions/bounce house/hay ride, etc. Sign-up this Sunday in the church lobby. 2. Saturday, November 5th Handmade Holiday: A Women's Craft Event 10:00am - 12:30pm Join with women from Parkside Fellowship and other campus churches as we gather to craft, chat and connect. This will be a fun day of building relationships, as you learn to create handmade holiday decorations for your home. Parkside will supply all the materials, instruction, coffee and tea. Please bring your favorite holiday treat to share. Sign-ups begin this Sunday. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug Throughout the New Testament we read of the changed life that follows genuine conversion. When God freely and fully forgives the sins of our former life--when the righteousness of Christ is credited to our account and the Spirit of God takes up residence in our hearts--the old things pass away and all things become new (II Cor. 5:17). This week, Larry Annes will be preaching as we continue walking through I Peter. Beginning with chapter 4, the apostle Peter is going to remind us, as followers of Christ, that we have entered into a glorious relationship with our Heavenly Father, made possible through His Son Jesus Christ. In addition to a new relationship with God, Peter also addresses how this new life impacts our way of thinking and living. Our lives should look very different from the culture around us.
Though almost 2,000 years separate us from Peter's original audience, many Christians today can identify with the apostle's words. Written for a particular time, his words are nevertheless timeless. They speak with incredible relevance today--especially his comments regarding the reaction of those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Join us this Sunday, at 9:30am, as we continue in our series, Resilient Hope. Note: Not only is Larry Annes preaching this Sunday, but we will also be celebrating Larry's recent ordination by our church council! Congratulations Larry! Special Invitation: Immediately following this Sunday's service, please join me as we gather together for a special time of thanking and praising God for his past faithfulness. During this time of prayer, we will also ask God to give us boldness in proclaiming our salvation through Jesus and for a spiritual awakening to grip our city. Finally, we will ask God to guide us in our endeavor to be a light in our community. This "Concert of Prayer" will begin at 10:45am in the large Sunday School classroom directly across from the Fireside Room. Thank you for being a church that actively prays for one another. See you Sunday. Doug I have been a follower of Jesus for over 45 years and yet, I still find the process of spiritual growth to be a long and often painful process. If you've been a Christian as long as I have...or even longer, I'm sure you've experienced moments along your Christian walk, when you've said things that made others question your spiritual age. Like a toddler who doesn't get their way, we are susceptible to temper tantrums, or we may pout like preschoolers, or argue and complain like teens. All the while, we should be conducting ourselves as mature believers, setting an example to those younger in the faith. Unfortunately, even the spiritually mature have moments when they find themselves back in days of the "terrible twos."
This is Paul's purpose for including a barometer for spiritual maturity in his letter to the early church. In I Peter 3:8-12, the apostle Peter sums up what he sees as the kind of lifestyle that epitomizes Christian maturity. In just 5 verses, Peter points out 9 virtues that act as a sort of measuring rod for spiritual growth. As a tangible, objective set of checkpoints, we can use Peter's list to discover areas of our lives that may need some attention. Sunday at 9:30am, we will listen, as Peter describes for us this strange life that we are to pursue, as aliens and ambassadors in a strange land. Again and again, Peter ties this lifestyle of holiness to the life of hope--consistent anticipation of the reward that will come with the return of Christ. Join us this Sunday at 9:30am, as we continue in our series, Resilient Hope. Special Members Meeting: I want to thank everyone who has attended informational meetings, asked questions about, and has spent time praying for the recommendation from our church council that Parkside Fellowship vote to be adopted into the Calvary Family of Churches. By joining with other Great Commission driven, Gospel-centered churches, Parkside will be poised to make Jesus non-ignorable in Beaverton and to the ends of the earth! This Sunday, at 10:45am, you will hear a motion from our church council regarding being adopted into the Calvary Family of Churches. Each member will then be given the opportunity to cast their ballot regarding the motion presented. Our prayer and hope throughout this process, has been and continues to be, that each member of Parkside Fellowship will make a prayerful, informed voting decision. This special members meeting will take place in the large Sunday School classroom, directly across from the Fireside Room. This meeting will NOT be live-streamed. For those who are unable to attend in-person, I will send out an email, early Sunday morning, stating the motion and how to cast your vote. You will have until noon on Sunday, to submit your ballot via email. Please reach-out to me with any questions or concerns you may have. I can be reached via email at doug.boyd@parksidefellowship.org or by phone at 949-838-6981. In addition to our church, please continue to pray for those who are hurting. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug I want to thank all those who attended, either in-person or online, last Sunday's presentation from the team with the Calvary Family of Churches. While myself, along with our church council, continues to be excited about the possibility of partnering with this family of Gospel-centered, Great Commission-driven churches, we also recognize that some of you are experiencing mixed emotions that go along with any potential change. Our prayer and hope throughout this process, has been and continues to be, that each member of Parkside Fellowship will make a prayerful, informed voting decision.
With this goal in mind, each member of our council is available and ready to meet with you, in-person, over the phone, through emails or whatever method is appropriate, in order to answer any questions or concerns you might have regarding our recommendation to join the Calvary Family of Churches. Please don't hesitate to reach out to any one of our council members (Bitsy Law, Kurt Lynam, Shirley Anderson, Mark Hester or Pastor Doug) and we would be happy to schedule a meeting with you. This Sunday, at 9:30am, please join us as we continue to walk through the book of I Peter. Due to his own struggles as one of the original disciples, Peter had developed a heart for the hurting and broken. He had a ministry to the suffering. So we shouldn't be surprised that Peter wrote his first letter to hurting people on the brink of hopelessness. Sincerity and truth, encouragement and exhortation. The words provide us with a proper foundation for our study in I Peter. Join us on Sunday, at 9:30am, as we continue are series, Resilient Hope. Special Invitation: Immediately following this Sunday's service, I am inviting you to join me, and our church council, as we continue to pray for God's discernment in the future of Parkside Fellowship. We will meet at 10:45am, in the large Sunday School room directly across from the Fireside Room. Remember, prayer is the foundation for any new direction a church might take. Prayer leads us to humility. Prayer produces faith. Prayer is a privilege and is a powerful tool! Join me this Sunday as we engage in the ancient practice of bold, relentless, dependent, expectant prayer! Thanks for continuing to pray for those in our church family who are hurting. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug You and I, as followers of Jesus, currently find ourselves living as foreigners in a strange and at time, hostile world. Although we're temporary residents of particular nations here on earth, we're actually eternal citizens of another land. But God has planted us here to be the ambassadors of a different kingdom and to lead others to a better home whose architect and builder is God. Look at what the author of Hebrews writes:
"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith--for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." Hebrews 11:8-10 This Sunday, at 9:30am, as we continue our series in I Peter, we will begin to look at the second major section of this letter, and the longest of the three. In this section, Peter challenges his readers to remain focused on the hope of Jesus and the promise of heaven. He urges his audience to take the grace they have received vertically, and extend it horizontally to an unbelieving, sometimes hostile world. Peter shares how this principle is key to living as elect exiles in a foreign land. Join us this Sunday, at 9:30am as we dive into I Peter 2:13-25 Special Announcement: At 10:45am, following our worship service on Sunday, we will have the opportunity to meet with leaders within the Calvary Family of Churches. The purpose for this meeting is to hear more about the vision, mission and purpose behind the Calvary Family of Churches (CFC). They will also be sharing details on how the CFC would come alongside Parkside and provide us with resources in order to help us become a healthy, growing Great Commission, Gospel-Focused church for our community. Note: This meeting will take place in the worship center at 10:45am. For those who attend our service online, the meeting will be available via livestream. Simply stay online at the end of the service and the meeting will begin at 10:45am. Please continue to pray for our church council as we seek God's will and direction for our church family. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug Last Sunday, we kicked-off a brand new series called, Resilient Hope. In this series, we are reading the book of I Peter together and diving into some of the incredible truths and insights that Peter gives us about God, the gospel and our pursuit of holiness. Last week, we focused our time on the question, "How can I remain joyful in the midst of suffering?" In his opening remarks, Peter emphasized that our hope, in the midst of pain and suffering, grows stronger as we focus on the promise of heaven.
This week, Peter will address the question of, "How can I stay clean in a corrupt society?" Throughout history Christians have responded to this question with all sorts of extremes. However, the Bible tells us that we, as believers, have a mission to accomplish in this world, and therefore we can't afford to lock ourselves outside the world. Charles Swindoll writes, "The Christian's solution to the problem of holy living in an unholy world is not isolation, but insulation." This week, I Peter 1:13-21 will challenge us to be different from our depraved society without completely separating ourselves and living as underground Christians. Join us this Sunday at 9:30am as we continue to walk through the book of I Peter. Reminder: As our church leadership, along with our church family, continues to discern where God is moving, so that we can join with Him in what He is already doing, please continue to pray in 4 specific ways:
Thank you for praying for our church. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug |
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