SERMON SERIES FROM 1 PETER
This week we begin a new sermon series from 1 Peter entitled: “Stand Firm.” In this series, we are encouraged by the Apostle Peter to hold fast to our faith and face our hardships with endurance because our hope is in Christ, not this world! If you’re curious about the difference in value between the blood of Christ and gold and silver, or if you’re wondering how the two compare as objects of inheritance, stay tuned!
IMPORTANT DATES!
- Saturday, July 10 – Invitation to Bridge of Grace dinner/fundraiser, 5 pm!
- Tuesday, July 13 – Leadership Team Meeting!
- Sunday, July 18 – Semi-annual Meeting after morning service!
- Sunday, July 25 – All (five) churches Sunday! BBQ after service!
- Sunday, August 1 – Youth Sunday!
NEW DATE FOR SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING!
Our semi-annual meeting has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 18, at 11:30 a.m. There are exciting developments in Midway’s vision of an intracultural church that we will be sharing with you. Our financial picture is another reason for praise. We will also be hearing reports from our ministry leaders. See you on the 18th.
DONATIONS ACCEPTED!
Our upstairs classrooms are being used more frequently as we and our sister churches hold Sunday School and midweek events up there. With the onset of summer and higher-than-normal temperatures, the heat has been somewhat stifling. We are in need of 3 portable air conditioners for the most affected classrooms. If anyone would like to donate a portable air conditioner (we are in need of 3), our youth and teachers would be ever so grateful!
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE…
A young preacher, new to a small town in the Midwest, was tasked with holding a graveside burial service at a pauper’s cemetery for a poor man with no family or friends. Not knowing where the cemetery was, he made several wrong turns and got lost. When he eventually arrived, the hearse was nowhere in sight. A backhoe was next to the hole, and two workmen were sitting under a tree eating lunch. The diligent young pastor went to the open grave and found the vault lid already in place. Feeling guilty because of his tardiness, he preached an impassioned and lengthy service, motivated to honor the man now deceased. As he returned to his car, he overheard one of the workmen say to the other, “I’ve been putting in these septic tanks for twenty years and I ain’t never seen anything like that!”
JOINT SERVICE/BBQ ON SUNDAY, JULY 25!
Our next joint service is just two weeks away! Please be in prayer for all churches (Ministerio, Bridge of Grace, Spirit and Truth Worship, City of Rain, and Midway Community Covenant) as we look to the Lord together in preparation. Also, plan to stay for a pull-out-all-the-stops BBQ following the service! The meat and BBQ are being provided by Spirit and Truth Worship. We are asking all other churches to bring side dishes/desserts that reflect your culture so that we can all enrich our dining repertoire as we fellowship together!
DIGGING DEEPER
Fill in the blanks using the words in the box below.
Last Sunday, Pastor Shaunpreached on Malachi chapter 4. He gave us ___ challenges: (1) Be resolved to know what the Word of God says, and (2) be resolved to stay underneath His covering. He said the most fundamental thing we need to be doing is standing on this Word, marinating in it, and letting God through his Word have his way with us. We need to remember the Word of God and stand on it! Why? Because someday our _____ may depend on it! Verse 2 says “To you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in his wings.” The fear of the Lord in this verse refers not to a fear of _____ but to a great awe and reverence for God. We are so blessed because our God is the Creator of the Cosmos and we have the Lord as our Savior! With this awareness, how can we not have awe and reverence for Him? Pastor Shaun recalled his work on the mission _____ in Africa and those times when he felt like he was spinning his wheels and it felt like he would take one step forward, then four steps back. He knew God was with Him, but it didn’t _____ that way. When he turned to the Word, he came to a verse about being still and waiting patiently for the Lord. He stood on that verse. Pastor Shaun also spoke about staying under the covering of the Lord. The days of persecution are open us. We need to refuse to conform to this world and _______ to turn to the left or right (out from under His covering).
| harm field refuse two feel life |
SUMMER YOUTH GROUP!
The youth group will meet twice a month throughout the summer. Here’s the schedule so you can put the dates on your calendars. In July, we will meet on Thursdays from 3-5 pm–July 15th and 29th. In August, we will meet on Wednesdays from 3-5 pm–August 11th and 25th. See you this Thursday! Bring a friend! J
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT…
From the memoirs of Johnny Cash: My wife and I prayed a lot…I’m a free man now…Every once in a while, I meet a youngster who knows I used to be a drug addict, as he is now. He asks what he can do to kick the habit. I tell him what I’ve learned: “Give God’s temple, your body, back to Him. The alternative is death.”
HELPING HANDS BULLETIN BOARD!
The list of sign-ups is filling! Thank you, Midway families! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the opportunities. “As each part of the Body does its work, the whole Body grows stronger in love.” –Ephesians 4:16
PRAISES/PRAYER REQUESTS
1. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!
2. Pray for the upcoming joint service with our sister churches on July 25. Pray for Spirit-led collaboration and for those from our community to hear and respond to the gospel.
3. Pray for the Leadership Team meeting on July 13.
4. Pray for health and safety for all during this summer of record-high temperatures.
5. Continue to pray for safety and wisdom for the first responders in our community.
6. Continue to pray for our nation and world.
SERMON SCHEDULE
July 11: Rev. Shaun Higgins, 1 Peter 1:1-25
July 18: Rev. Shaun Higgins, 1 Peter 2:1-25
July 25: Rev. Shaun Higgins, 1 Peter 3:1-22
August 1: Rev. Shaun Higgins, 1 Peter 4:1-19
CHURCH & OFFICE INFORMATION
- The Church Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Office phone number: 206-878-4861 // Office email: office@midwaycovenant.org
- Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary (or online at live.midcov.org)
- Children’s Sunday School upstairs at 10:30 a.m.
- Women’s Discipleship Lunch Group: Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall
- Men’s Bible Study Breakfast Group: Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. at Tuscany’s in Des Moines