Fairfield Good News KNOWING HIM AND MAKING HIM KNOWN

Transcription

1 Fairfield Good News KNOWING HIM AND MAKING HIM KNOWN Upcoming Events Sunday, Oct. 1 World Wide Communion Sunday Monday, Oct. 2 6:30 Consistory Saturday, Oct. 7 6:00 OCC event Sunday, Oct. 8 noon Pot Providence Luncheon with Maranatha Fellowship October 2017 From the desk of Pastor Scott: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1 2) This October marks the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. While its roots are deeper, most scholars mark the beginning of this movement to the actions of Martin Luther, who nailed a copy of 95 Theses (questions directed at the Catholic Church s practice of offering indulgences to shorten time spent in purgatory) to the door of Wittenburg Church. This singular act began a series of events that shook not only the Catholic Church, but also the world. The aftershocks are still with us today. Monday, Oct. 16 7:00 Eveready Friday, Oct. 20 6:30 Chili/Baked Potato Dinner & Bake Sale Sunday, Oct. 29 Reformation Sunday Fairfield Reformed Church 360 Fairfield Rd. Fairfield, NJ reformedchurch@gmail.com oldchurchnewsong/ While the Reformation addressed many issues including how the church was governed and how worship should be practiced, the greatest matters were theological. The main goal of the Reformation was to return the Church back to the Bible and its teachings, without the barnacles of tradition and corruption that had accumulated in the Catholic Church and had covered the Gospel. Luther, Calvin and others stressed the recovery of the biblical truth of salvation. Traditionally, these truths have been referred to as the Solas of the Reformation. Sola meaning alone or primary. The reformers thought that five were of upmost importance. (cont d next pg)

2 These Five Solas are: 1. Sola Scriptura ( Scripture alone ): The Bible alone is our highest authority. 2. Sola Fide ( faith alone ): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ. 3. Sola Gratia ( grace alone ): We are saved by the grace of God alone. 4. Solus Christus ( Christ alone ): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King. 5. Soli Deo Gloria ( to the glory of God alone ): We live for the glory of God alone. These truths from Scripture helped free the church and believers from the bondage of the traditions of the church that had prevented many from understanding and receiving the Gospel. These five truths are just as relevant today as they were 500 years ago. While the Catholic Church has changed over the last 500 years, some of the same concerns that motivated Martin Luther still exist today. In addition, Modern Secular Culture has begun an assault upon these truths of Scripture as well. This is abetted by the memory loss of the Church concerning these fundamental truths of Scripture, as many churches today rush to embrace pragmatic solutions rather than biblical ones. For this reason in the month of October, as we celebrate the legacy of the Reformation, we will be looking at each of the 5 Solas in turn during our afternoon services. Plan to be with us for each service as we consider anew the faith once delivered to the saints. Sunday, October 1 World Wide Communion Sunday 5 Art Nelson 6 John Wert 10 Betty Gwin 13 Phil Epifanio 18 Ken Myron 19 Tannette Butterly 27 June Favatella 30 Joyce Griffin Adult Bible Class & Fellowship Time noon Worship Service 1:00 PM World Communion Sunday, held annually on the first Sunday of October, is a celebration of the unity of the worldwide church through Christ. Christians in congregations around the world participate in the Lord's Supper. Monday, October 2 Consistory October 7 Russ & Laura Safar

3 October 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat World Wide Communion Fellowship & Adult Bible Study Consistory OCC Event 8 Luncheon Fellowship & Adult Bible Study 7:00 Eveready Chili Baked Potato Dinner & Bake Sale 22 Fellowship & Adult Bible Study Reformation Sunday Fellowship & Adult Bible Study 30 31

4 October Schedule Saturday, October 7 6:00 PM Montclair Community Church 143 Watchung Avenue, Montclair, NJ Discover how God used a simple shoebox gift to touch the life of Elizabeth Henry who was born and raised in Eastern Ukraine, grew up in a broken family and ended up in an orphanage when she was only 7 yrs. old. She was devastated by the tragedies in her family and felt very alone. Hear her powerful story of how she began to have hope that God would not leave her at rock bottom but would meet her there and become her family. See flyer on Missions Bulletin board for more info. Sunday, October 8 12:00 noon Pot Providence Luncheon with Maranatha Fellowship (Adult Class is canceled this week) Set up will be at 11:30. Hurts to Touch A young woman was constantly complaining about how everywhere she touched on her body it hurt. Her grandma told her to go and see a doctor. Once there, she explained to the doctor how everywhere she touched, it hurt. She said, If I touch here, it hurts, if I touch my arm, it hurts, if I touch my foot, it hurts. No matter where I touch, it hurts! The doctor gave her a complete physical and then delivered his findings. Her finger was broken.

5 October Schedule Cont d Monday, October 16 7:00 PM Eveready Ladies - Fellowship Hall Agenda: set up for Chili/Baked Potato dinner Friday, October 20 Chili/Baked Potato Dinner and Bake Sale (sponsored by Eveready Ladies) Get your ticket today, $16 each. Sunday, October 29 Reformation Sunday In 1926, RCA General Synod voted to "designate the Sunday nearest October 31 as Reformation Day. More information: October is Pastor Appreciation Month An opportunity to thank Pastor Scott for the ways he has blessed you!

6 We thank & praise God that the renovations on the church building are completed. IT IS BEAUTIFUL!! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!

7 Rescue Redeem Restore Good Shepherd Mission is one of the Fairfield Reformed Church supported missions. Rev. Mike Viera of The Good Shepherd Mission writes in the GSM August newsletter: Recently, for the first time in my life I spent a week in the hospital. My wife Joan began notifying many of our friends in the body of Christ asking for prayer. The diagnosis was an enlarged heart, rapid heartbeat and a small leak in one of the valves. The technical term is Arterial Fibrillation, which the doctors believe can be taken care of with medicine. Your prayers and medicine given me have already worked wonders. I do have a procedure on August 22, which would shock my heart back to a normal rhythm. When I first came to the Mission in 1979, I was like most of the men who come through our doors; I had abused my body using drugs and alcohol. Unknown to me at the time I had Hepatitis when I decided to detox. I ended up getting very sick, but because I did not have insurance, the hospitals would do very little to treat me. Then one day I believe I heard God impress upon my heart something that moved my faith which gave me an intense desire to pursue healing through nutrition and exercise. It took me a couple years to understand that God s purpose in His healing me was also His way of preparing me for ministry. The former director retired and the Board of Directors believed I was called to take over the ministry. I resisted at first, but God reminded me of something the former director said to me one day. He said, Mike, I need to tell you something about a dream I had last night. He said, in this dream you were going to take over the ministry. Shortly, in 1983, I took over as director but God had to do something extraordinary because I had very little experience or confidence in my own ability. Regardless, the Board of Directors prayed and God gave them the faith to trust Him with this decision. Then God gave me the kind of faith that the mission would never have to beg, borrow or sell anything as long as we trusted Him. I also found myself believing for people that most everyone else had given up on. God soon gave me a helpmate in my life and in my ministry, my wife, Joan, or known by the men as Mother Joan. I can assure you that I would not be the man I have become or the ministry have grown to become the beautiful facility it is today without her Godly presence. My intention to share my testimony was not to impress you with my faith, it is my hope and desire that God would touch all who read this as an honest evaluation of my relationship with God. During this present stay in the hospital, I found the last thing I had a desire to do was read the Bible, or pray, because I was too busy dealing with my discomfort, but the Comforter (Holy Spirit) came and brought to remembrance Jeremiah 31:3 which says, The Lord appeared to us in the past: I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with everlasting kindness. I believed God was simply telling me all He wanted me to do at this time was rest in His love for me. I have found when my faith fails me: His everlasting love for us is the place we find rest. I consider my present physical situation as another step in God fulfilling His promise to me Philippians 1:6, being confident of this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.

8 Operation Christmas Child UPDATE We still need: Combs or brushes, 10 Coloring books for young children Some fun items we have included in the past: hand held games, balls, jump ropes, small Slinky s, pinwheels, toy cars/trucks, girls headbands, bracelets, pocketbooks or YoYos. We are filling 10 shoeboxes for each of 3 age groups: 2-4 yrs. 5 girl shoeboxes, 5 boy shoeboxes; 5-9 yrs.- 5 girls, 5 boys; yrs.- 5 girls, 5 boys Also remember we pay Samaritans Purse for shipping each box (this year $9.00 ea.) so any donations toward that cost are appreciated. REMEMBER: ITEMS MUST BE SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT IN A SHOEBOX WITH ALL THE OTHER ITEMS Found on the bulletin board in the secretary s office: Beginning the Day I got up early one morning, and rushed right into the day; I had so much to accomplish that I didn t take time to pray. Problems just tumbled about me and heavier came each task; Why doesn t God help me?, I wondered. He said, You didn t ask. I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on grey and bleak; I wondered why God didn t show me. He said, You didn t seek. I tried to come into God s presence, I used all my keys at the lock; God gently and lovingly chided, My child, you didn t knock. I woke early this morning and paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish, I HAD TO TAKE TIME TO PRAY! What is God s name? A Christian man had just died and was on his way to Heaven. When he got to the gates of Heaven he met an angel. The angel asked him what God s name was. Oh, that s easy, the man replied, His name is Andy. What makes you think his name is Andy? the angel asked. Well, you see at church we used to sing the song, Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me.