The First family enjoys a diverse mixture of ages, backgrounds, and talents, all unified by our common faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ. He is truly the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
There is a place for you here! Come and share God's good gifts! We are First in Christ - Sharing His Blessings. And we desire to share His blessings with you!
In Christ,
Pastor David Renfro
To hear and view the sermon from 8/29/2010 click here.
For other past sermons, children's messages, and recordings from our services click here.
Letter from Pastor Renfro
(from the 9/1/2010 newsletter).
Dear First Family:
How many times in the past few weeks have you heard someone say, AWhere has the summer gone?!@ Truly, it seems the school year just ended and now it=s time for the cycle to begin again!
As we look to September with its many programs and meetings and classes beginning, our thoughts turn especially to the educational ministries of the congregation. Please keep our childcare, preschool, classical day school, Sunday school, confirmation classes, LifeLight and all Bible studies in your prayers and your participation. Pray to the Lord of the Church for growth in His Word.
As we crank up the fall program in the life of the church, I pray that our ministry together may be characterized by abiding joy in our Lord. Joy. What a beautiful word! David wrote in Psalm 51:12, ARestore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.@ Joy is a gift from God. If we don=t receive a gift and use it, it won=t benefit us. That=s definitely true of the gift of joy.
We often confuse joy with happiness, but there=s a big difference between the two. Happiness has its roots in Ahappenings.@ Happiness, in great part, is determined or at least greatly influenced by what happens in our lives. But part of the problem is that this is not permanent. Circumstances change. People fail us. Events don=t always happen according to our plans or desires. Since happiness is largely determined by events, it is fleeting and temporary.
Joy is rooted in God. God has made us for joy, creating us to live in harmony with Him and all things. Through sin we lost this harmony and joy;
but Jesus Christ, the mediator between God and man, restored peace and harmonyCand, with it, joy. He did this by the cross of Calvary and the empty tomb. Through faith in Jesus, our Lord and Savior, we are right with God. Joy comes from our restored relationship.
The reality is that we sin every day. But, by daily contrition and repentance, the Old Adam in us is drowned and dies with all sins and evil desires, and the new person daily emerges and arises to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. All through Christ and because of Christ.
Jesus assures us of His gift of forgiveness and its attendant gift, joy. As we daily pray David=s prayer: ARestore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me,@ we recall and claim the Apostle Paul=s words to the Philippian congregation: ARejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus@ (Philippians 4:4B7).
My beloved church family, may the God of our salvation fill you with His peace and joy!
In Christ,
Pastor Dave Renfro
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“HOW DO I JOIN THE CHURCH?”
If you are interested in becoming a member of First Lutheran Church and you do not have a Lutheran background, we invite you to attend a class entitled Faith Renewal. Each week, for approximately 7 weeks, this class meets for about two hours and provides an overview of Lutheran teachings, as well as an introduction to the various activities and groups at First Lutheran.
If you are already Lutheran and would like to move your membership from your home church to First Lutheran, please contact the church office. You may also want to attend Faith Renewal, not only as a refresher course, but also as a way of making new friends and discovering other opportunities for Christian fellowship in the congregation.
If you have any questions, please email the church office, or the Pastor, or call the church office at 549-3311.
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