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Happy "almost" Fourth of July.
It's hard to believe that this Sunday is July 4th. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the freedom we have in this country to worship God than by gathering together to do just that. The writer of Hebrews tells us not to neglect meeting together, especially as we look forward, with anticipation, to the return of Jesus. This Sunday, Larry Annes will kick-off our summer series called, FOCUSED. Our vision behind this series is to enter into a season where we intentionally regain our focus on who Jesus is and who He has called us to be as a church. When we focus on Jesus, transformation in our lives and the lives of those around us is inevitable. Focusing our attention on Jesus will ultimately lead to an intimacy with Him which in turn allows us to experience abundant life. Focusing on Jesus also brings freedom in our lives and allows us to see His purposes for us. In any area that we are struggling, as we set our eyes on Jesus, we will receive power to overcome those areas of weakness. Now more than ever, we need to keep our focus on Jesus, so that He can bring clarity to what may seem chaotic and unclear. Last week, I tried to illustrate this with an object lesson. I started with an empty jar and filled it up with little rocks, then I tried to squeeze in a big rock at the top. When I did this the big rock wasn't able to fit in the jar and was sticking out the top. But when I placed the big rock in the empty jar first and then poured in all the little rocks, everything fit. In this illustration, the little rocks represent all of the things that can easily fill our time and energy: work responsibilities, family, to-do lists, entertainment, school, etc... If we put these things first, we won't be able to fit the big rock: Jesus and the things Jesus is calling us to do in our lives. But if the big rock comes first, all of the little ones will find their place. That is what it looks like to live a focused life. Jesus Himself lived a focused life. He was concerned with completing the task that God had given Him (John 17:4) and He was able to do that by keeping the right focus. In our lives, if we don't start first with Jesus, everything else will get out of line. Note: Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating. 1. Attend our live "in-person" gathering. No capacity restrictions, no mask requirements, no COVID protocols to follow! 2. We value our online church community and will continue to livestream our church service at 9:30am for those who wish to participate. Please Note: Due to the July 4th holiday, our discipleship class on Revelation will NOT be meeting. Finally, continue to pray for those in our church family. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend the SBC Annual Convention in Nashville. One of the speakers I had the privilege of hearing from was Dr. Hearshel York. Dr. York is the Dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. York preached on Psalm 44 and the title of his message was, The Humiliation of Rejection. Preaching on a passage that deals specifically with God's rejection of his people seemed odd, and even out-of-place at a time when so many of us were looking for hope in the midst of chaos and division. However, through his message, Dr. York reminded all of us that "The cross is the answer to Psalm 44, because while we don't always know why at times God seems so distant, we do know that while we may feel defeated, humiliated and rejected, God is at work in order to redeem us through the cross". Dr. York's words are an important reminder to never lose faith that God is still on His throne.
This Sunday at 9:30am, Pastor Roger will be continuing our trip through the book of Acts. His focus this week will be on Acts 20:13-38. As you prepare your hearts for Sunday, take some time to read Acts 20:26-27. With these two verses, Paul provides us with two convictions that had been with him since his conversion. First, he had deserved to die on the road to Damascus, but the Lord extended mercy; each day after that was a gift of grace. Second, he had to preach Christ with every day given to him. Very little mattered to Paul beyond these two convictions. What convictions dictate how you live your life? Do you live your life knowing that each day is a gift from our Savior, Jesus? Plan now to join me and others in my office at 8:45am for a brief time of prayer before our worship gathering. As a reminder, individuals attending church services at Parkside Fellowship, who are fully vaccinated, will not be required to wear a mask or social distance from others who are fully vaccinated. According to the CDC, a person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their second dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 14 days after a single dose vaccine, such as Johnson and Johnson's Janssen vaccine. We ask those who are not fully vaccinated to continue to wear a mask and social distance for your own health and the health of those around you. In addition, anyone who does not yet feel comfortable attending church services without a mask is encouraged to continue wearing a mask or face covering. 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. After our worship service, consider joining our discipleship class led by Trudy Reusser. Trudy is leading a discussion based on the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation unveils the glory of Jesus Christ. Written by the Apostle John, Revelation is a reminder to remain faithful and trust God, even when things around us don't make sense. See class details below: Discipleship Study: Revelation (The Christian's Ultimate Victory) Facilitator: Trudy Reusser 10:45am to 11:45am In-person and on zoom Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768 Finally, continue to pray for those in our church family. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug As most of you are aware, on Tuesday, May 18th, the Oregon Health Authority released updated mask and social distancing guidelines. Based on these guidelines, our church council has adopted the following mask policy for Parkside Fellowship, beginning this Sunday, May 23rd.
Individuals attending church services at Parkside Fellowship, who are fully vaccinated, will not be required to wear a mask or social distance from others who are fully vaccinated. According to the CDC, a person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their second dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 14 days after a single dose vaccine, such as Johnson and Johnson's Janssen vaccine. We ask those who are not fully vaccinated to continue to wear a mask and social distance for your own health and the health of those around you. In addition, anyone who does not yet feel comfortable attending church services without a mask is encouraged to continue wearing a mask or face covering. I don't know about you, but these newest guidelines from OHA provide me with a sense of hope that the end of the pandemic is near and a "new normal" is right around the corner! If you have any questions, please email Pastor Doug at doug.boyd@parksidefellowship.org Then join us on Sunday at 9:30am, as Pastor Doug continues our Fasten Your Seatbelts series. Our focus this week will be on Acts 9, as we peek into the unlikely conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who would later become known as Paul the Apostle. Luke's description of Saul's hatred for Christians drips with intrigue. Earlier, the narrative indicates that Saul had supported the plot to arrest, convict, and stone Stephen. Saul then began a reign of terror in Jerusalem, ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Saul's persecution may have lasted as long as 3 years. But instead of destroying the church, his efforts sent the gospel farther, faster. Later on, we will learn how Paul's past actually helped in his newfound role as chief protagonist for Christianity. Please join us at 9:30am, as we gather together to give glory to God for all He has done for us! Also, don't forget to join me in my office at 8:45am for a brief time of prayer before our worship gathering. Note: Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating.
Note: For our "after-church" zoom gathering, we will be joining Mark Hester, as he continues his discipleship class titled, Informed Christianity. Be sure and join us at 10:45am, in-person or on zoom. See details below on how to join. Discipleship Study: Informed Christianity 10:45am to 11:45am In-person and on zoom Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768 Finally, continue to pray for those in our church family. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug With yesterday being National Day of Prayer, I had the privilege of joining with 5 other pastors for a prayer walk through downtown Portland. One moment that sticks out in my mind was an opportunity our group had to share Jesus with a man named James. James currently lives in transitional housing near PSU. He shared with our group that while he recognizes his sin and his need for forgiveness, he can't understand how Jesus could die for sins that he has not even committed yet. We were able to share with him the complete and eternal forgiveness that was made possible through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. While James did not commit his life to Christ, I am hopeful that he will continue to investigate the forgiveness Jesus offers to everyone and that one day, he will accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Until then, please join me in praying for James and your "One" who needs Jesus.
This Sunday, we will continue our Fasten Your Seatbelts series, as we look at the first Christian to be killed for their faith in Jesus. While the life of Stephen only makes up two chapters in Acts, his impact can be felt even today, as churches all around the world struggle to maintain their commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission. Please join us at 9:30am as we will be in Acts 6 and 7. Also, don't forget to join me in my office at 8:45am for a brief time of prayer before our worship gathering. Note: Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating.
Note: For our "after-church" zoom gathering, we will be joining Mark Hester, as he continues his discipleship class titled, Informed Christianity. This four-week class will combine Bible study with practical application, as Mark explores questions like:
Discipleship Study: Informed Christianity 10:45am to 11:45am In-person and on zoom Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768 Finally, continue to pray for those in our church family. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug Let me begin by thanking Pastor Roger, Pastor Norm and Pastor Avery for joining me last week, as we continued our journey through the book of Acts. I hope you enjoyed hearing from each of these men as they shared their thoughts on what it would look like if our church looked more like the church in Acts.
This week, we will continue our Fasten Your Seatbelts series, as we take a peek into one of the first challenges faced by this brand-new movement called, "The Church". Please join us at 9:30am as we will be in Acts 3 and 4. Also, don't forget to join me in my office at 8:45am for a brief time of prayer before our worship gathering. Note: Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating.
Note: For our "after-church" zoom gathering, we will be joining a brand-new discipleship class titled, Informed Christianity, led by Mark Hester. This four-week class will combine Bible study with practical application, as Mark explores questions like:
Discipleship Study: Informed Christianity 10:45am to 11:45am In-person and on Zoom Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768 Finally, Wayne Smith passed away yesterday morning. Please pray for Josie and the Smith family as they mourn the loss of Wayne. Even though Wayne is no longer with us, we celebrate his homecoming, knowing that he is in the presence of Jesus. See you Sunday. Pastor Doug 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 This is Pastor Roger filling in today to update you. It is with a difficult heart that I inform you that Pastor Doug's mother passed away yesterday (Friday) morning. Please keep Pastor Doug, Rose, the kids and the entire family in your prayers as they go through this time of mourning. Doug's mother, Kathy, recently had back surgery and was recovering. An unexpected heart attack is the initial understanding of her passing. We are comforted knowing she walked a long life with the Lord and will see her again.
Day 36 in 40 Days with Jesus devotional that we have been going through offers this hope: The best part of your life lies ahead - stored up for you in heaven, awaiting your arrival. This is true for all Christians, both young and old...When you "graduate" to heaven, your soul-Joy will instantly expand - exponentially! And God, will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. -Revelation 21:4 As we turn our attention to Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter, let us be reminded of the living hope we have in Jesus. We are all broken vessels but await that glorious day when we will be in heaven with our Savior & Lord! This Sunday, at 9:30am, we will combine in worship with Bedrock Community Church as Pastor Nathan leads us to observe Palm Sunday. Please consider joining us in-person. You can also join me in Pastor Doug's office at 8:45am for a time of prayer before our service begins. 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 Zoom options Link for zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768 Let me also invite you to our GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE at 7:00PM at Parkside. This will be a time of rejoicing and preparing our hearts for Resurrection Sunday. Iglesia El Buen Pastor will also be holding a Good Friday Service in the Fireside Room. In keeping with COVID protocols, we ask that Parkside Fellowship members park in the north parking lot and enter through the north entrance prior to the service. Thank you for being a church that prays! See you Sunday! Pastor Roger As we near the end of Lent, I want to jump ahead and share with you a portion of tomorrow's reading from the devotional 40 Days with Jesus that we have been going through as a church family:
Day 32. I am perpetually with you, taking care of you. That is the most important fact of your existence. You need not fear the future, for I am already there. When you make the quantum leap into eternity, you will find Me awaiting you in heaven. Your future is in My hands; I release it to you day by day, moment by moment. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow. (See Matthew 6:34) I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do. Don't be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is how to receive abundant life, which flows freely from My throne of grace. This Sunday, at 9:30am, Pastor Norm will continue our series, Gazing at Glory, as he unpacks for us John 11. Please consider joining us in-person. You can also join me in my office at 8:45am for a time of prayer before our service begins. NOTE: Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating.
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 11:30am In-person and Zoom options Link for zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768 As I mentioned at our Annual Meeting, we have two ancillary committee vacancies. We need to fill one open seat on our Personnel Committee and one open seat on our Legal Committee. This Sunday, March 21, church members will have the opportunity to vote to confirm the following candidates for these two open positions. Legal Committee: Jonella Malinowski Personnel Committee: Greg Malinowski For those who attend in-person, you will be able to fill-out your ballot either before or after the service. For those of you who wish to vote by email, you may do so by replying to this email. Simply type the name of the candidate and type YES or NO next to their name. Please include your name, so that we can confirm your status as a member of Parkside Fellowship. Should you have any questions about this process, please email Pastor Doug at doug.boyd@parksidefellowship.org or Mark Hester at mark.f.hester@gmail.com Thank you for being a church that prays! See you Sunday! Pastor Doug I want to start off this week's edition of TAB with three important reminders:
Each participant will receive a book. For those who will be attending via zoom, please email roger at roger.sharp@parksidefellowship.org, so that he can get you a copy of the book. Zoom link for discipleship class: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768 Please pray today during this Week of Prayer for North American missions. Your prayers help transform lives! Bobby and LaKeisha Williams have a simple goal—to meet the deep need of New Orleans with the even deeper love of Christ. In the city, some buildings are still boarded up from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The area around the Williamses’ church plant is predominantly African American and low-income. “A lot of what we strive to do is provide resources,” Bobby said. “We try to educate people spiritually, financially, intellectually, you name it.” That’s how their church—Next Level Church—got its name. They want to see people take their life to the next level starting right where they are. The church provides its neighbors with multiple forms of assistance from health fairs to meal distribution, all with the goal of creating community and leading them to Jesus. “Despite the challenges, we’ve been able to make an impact, and we want to do even more,” Bobby said. Prayer Requests
Pastor Doug Yesterday, I attended a virtual conference called, Future of the Church Summit (our SBC President J.D. Greear was a featured speaker). One statement that stuck with me, was made by Chris Hodges who pastors Church of the Highlands in Alabama. In talking about the future of the church, he said that even with all the fast-moving changes happening around us, the one thing he believes will never change is "a person's need to be known and their need to be needed"...to be a part of a community. As the church shifts and pivots with an ever-changing culture, we must never lose sight of a person's need to be loved! Today's lent reading spoke directly to this point.
I have loved you with an everlasting love. Before time began, I knew you. For years you swam around in a sea of meaninglessness, searching for love, hoping for hope. All that time I was pursuing you, aching to embrace you in my compassionate arms. When the time was right, I revealed Myself to you. I lifted you out of that sea of despair and set you down on a firm foundation. Jeremiah speaks to this as well in Jeremiah 31:3. "Long ago the Lord said to Israel: 'I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself." This Sunday at 9:30am, Larry Annes will continue our series "Gazing at Glory." This week we will focus on Jesus as the Light of the World from John 8. Don't forget to join me in my office at 8:45am for prayer! NOTE: Our Sunday service continues to meet at 9:30am, with two options for participating.
NOTE: For the month of March, our "after-church" zoom gathering will be focusing on prayer as we prepare our minds and hearts for Easter. This week we will be joining with other SBC churches all across America in praying for North American Missions. Sunday Mornings in March: "Prayer Focus" 10:45am to 11:30am In-person and Zoom options Link for zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125779768 As I mentioned at our Annual Meeting, we have two ancillary committee vacancies. We need to fill one open seat on our Personnel Committee and one open seat on our Legal Committee. On Sunday, March 21st, church members will have the opportunity to vote to confirm the following candidates for these two open positions.
If you currently have a listed prayer request, please let us know of any changes to the request. You can do that by replying to this email or emailing Pastor Doug at doug.boyd@parksidefellowship.org See You Sunday! Pastor Doug |
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