MARCH 2010

DR. RANDY SMITH, LEAD PASTOR

FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

WWW.FAITH-COMMUNITY.BLOGSPOT.COM

Staying Strong
For students in school this is the
stretch between Christmas
vacation and Spring break. It is
no time to let your guard or your
studies down. ISTEP, SAT, ACT,
and all the other tests make
spring an important step to our
future.

As a church we are in the midst

of the Lenten season, that period
from Ash Wednesday leading up
to Resurrection Sunday. This is a
time of diligence, faithfulness, Biological Church Growth: Thanks to James & Julie and Eli Douglas
staying plugged in.
haul. It doesn’t work to COMING UP
One of the greatest functions of
simply show up in crisis Just so you know, we will be
the local church is to stabilize
mode - we have to be there providing concrete teaching
our lives in Christ. Our church
for the doldrums as well. related to the family in the
families are there for us when
coming months and
things are going well and when Hey friends, don’t get tired of programs for all. Beyond my
hard times hit. But the key is each other. Hang in there! own regular
staying involved over the long

WE REALLY ENJOY seeing the Cavalcante SISTERS? Cousins having a great time SAFETY FIRST The family is God’s first line
grandkids whenever they are able to make it hanging out. Are you getting your kids to FCC of instruction in our children’s lives. Churches,
over to FCC. for all of the quality children’s programming? clubs, and schools are there to supplement, not
replace.
preaching, I am lining up our
stellar Christian Education AROUND CAMPUS
teachers for the 2010-2011
season. Together we aim to There’s a wedding coming up in
Lindsay’s life this Spring
keep our FCC family strong.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore
encourage one
another and build
each other up, just
as in fact you are
doing. (NIV)
Lenten Thoughts
KenCollins.com
•••
We avoid Lent and Holy Week because it isn’t a
happy and uplifting time—but to be honest,
neither is most of life. Sometimes we come to There’s a baby on the way
church all scrubbed up, dressed nicely, with for the Conrads this Fall
smiles on our faces, and when people ask how
we are, we reply that everything is fine and we
even boast how wonderful things are—but it is
all a lie. Life is not always uplifting, or wonderful, one who could exorcise him. Jesus faced the man lost something. But we who are Christians can
or pleasant, or joyous—but we have been taught who lived in a cemetery, naked and screaming all endure unhappiness and sadness and loneliness
the lie that for spiritual people like us, it must be day and night and calmed his spirit and healed his and backstabbing and betrayal and friendlessness
so. soul. How can you think that this same Jesus and poverty and hunger and thirst; we can face
would be repelled by your pessimism or your mourning and grief and even death, because Jesus
Yet when Jesus came in the flesh and dwelt among cynicism or your sadness or your grief? How could faced all those things. As Christians, we know that
us, and suffered hunger and thirst and heat and a man who seeks the company of demoniacs be Jesus’ suffering was His way to glory, and his
cold and betrayal and loneliness, and finally also repelled by you? Crucifixion was the door to His Resurrection. We
pain and agony and death upon the cross, He gave know that He ascended on high and sits, alive and
dignity to His little ones who suffer. He gave The people of this world believe in the power of well, at the right hand of His Father, where He
dignity to us! Everyone avoids a sad person, positive thinking and in happiness, and in rules over all things. We can face our own
except Jesus Himself who is much acquainted with believing these things, they are very shrewd. For crucifixions in life, because we know that we will
sorrow. Jesus was the only person who gave the people of this world have only the present share in His Resurrection on the Last Day!
demoniac of the Gadarenes his dignity, the only moment, and if they are unhappy in it, they have

WELCOME HOME: WILL WE SEE YOU THERE?

Sunday School for all ages 9:30am 54662 Ash Road, Osceola, IN 46561
Sunday Worship 10:45am 574-674-8494

Wednesday Nights 6:30pm faith-community@sbcglobal.net Lenten Season

www.faithcommunityonline.us