Heart to Heart
The Halloween decorations and candy bags on the end caps in mid-August should have been the first clue. If that didn’t trigger our memory, then the Welcome Back signs and aisles of school supplies on sale should have provided fair warning. Summer is virtually over, and the Fall is racing toward us like a turbo-charged car rocketing around the Big Sky Speedway racetrack.
I’m not sure how things are looking in your world, but I’ve been planning for Fall activities for months now. We all get to jump into the Labor Day weekend, and then first thing Tuesday morning, the new school year starts. That means some major adjustments as everyone resets to the Fall schedule.
Let me share how the Fall is shaping up at FAC. We start with seven consecutive days of prayer, at our PRAY FIRST gathering from September 3rd thru the 9th. Every night (except for Sept 8th), we will meet in the FAC sanctuary for a time of praise and prayer together. Each night will feature a different focus. There will be a mixture of both corporate prayer, and personal prayer. We want to intentionally increase the measure of prayer at FAC.
On September 4th, some people from FAC will join others from 20+ churches in Billings, to invite guests to the Joe Gibbs outreach breakfast at the Metra. Pray with us, that we will fill all five tables with those who are seeking to know God in a personal way. We are also hosting another Discover Class @ FAC on Sunday the 8th, with a free lunch for those interested in learning more about who we are as a church, and how to get plugged in to FAC.
A week later, FAC will host a free Welcome Back BLOCK PARTY @ Gorham Park (4pm-6:30pm). We’re inviting our neighbors and the parents & children from Central Heights Elementary School to join us for free food, family-friendly games, door prizes, family photos, and much, much more. We’re still looking for volunteers to man booths, and offer a smile and warm welcome to our neighbors (contact the church office if you can help).
Pray with us that some of our guests will decide to check out First Alliance as a church. Our Explorers children’s ministry and Unashamed Youth group will kick off their Fall ministries as part of this event. We look forward to seeing our FAC family, interact with our guests, and love on them, in Jesus’ name.
The Adult Bible Class resumes on Sunday, September 15th @ 9am in the downstairs Youth Room, as we continue our study of 1 & 2 Thessalonians. The adult LIFE groups also resume that week, as we move into our Fall ministry schedule.
At the end of the month (Sept.27-29), we will be hosting Cassanda, an Alliance IW from SE Asia (and also part of our Rocky Mtn District family). Activities will include a Family Gym Night on Friday, a Women’s Ministry event on Saturday afternoon, and Cassandra sharing in the Sept. 29th worship service, followed by an all-church Potluck Lunch and interaction time. Come prepared to hear how God is working to light up SE Asia with the light of His Gospel.
Are you tired yet? Just thinking about everything packed into September makes me tired. But I’m also energized, anticipating God working in and through us as a church family.
May the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit, be evident as we lift up Jesus Christ as Lord and look to our heavenly Father for the mercy & grace as we journey through life in this broken world. Grateful for the eternal hope that is ours, in Christ.
Standing with you in earnest prayer,
Pastor Adriaan & Diana ><>